fol. 3r
Of Knyghthode and Bataile
[Military Manuals (Veg. 1.preface)]
Sumtyme it was the gise among the wiseOnce manner
line90To rede and write goode and myghti thingis,
And havetextual note 1 therof the dede in exercise.textual note 2deed exercised [in the mind]
Pleasauncetextual note 3 heryn hadde emperourtextual note 4 and kingis.explanatory note 1Pleasure in this
Otextual note 5Jesse flour,explanatory note 2 whos swete odourexplanatory note 3 our kinge is,Jesse’s flower (i.e., Christ)
Do me to write of knyghthode and bataile
line95To 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 advance
line100Cast outtextual note 6 therof thetextual note 7 cloude of ignoraunce,
Sette up theryn Thiself, the verrey light,true
Therby to se Thi militaunce aright.militarism
O Lady myn, Maria,textual note 8 lode-sterre,lodestar
Condite it out of mysttextual note 9 and nyght, that dark is,Lead
line105To write of al by see and lond the werre.all the war by sea and land
Help, angelys, oftextual note 10 knyghthode yetextual note 11 ierarkyshierarchies
In heven and here. O puissaunt patriarkys,powerful patriarchs
Your valiaunce and werre in see and londewars at sea and on land
Remembering,textual note 12 to this werk putte your honde.hand
line110Apostolys, ye, with th’almyghti swoorde
Of Goddis woord, that were conquerourysGod’s
Of al the world, and with the same woorde
Ye martirys that putte off sharpe shourys,footnote
Ye virgynys pleasaunt and confessourysvirgins
line115That with the same sworde have had victory,
Help heer to make of werretextual note 13 a good memory.account
fol. 3vAnd every werreour wil I beseche,warrior beg
Impropurly where of myn ignorauncetextual note 14[If] incorrectly out of
Of werre I write, as putte in propre spechetextual note 15[that you] put it more properly
line120And mende me, prayinge herof pleasauncetextual note 16correct
To God be first, by Harry,textual note 17 kyng of Frauncetextual note 18Henry VI
And Englond, and thenne ereither londe,then in either
Peasibilly, that God putte in his honde.Peacefully
Thus seide an humble invocatioun
line125To Criste, His Modir, and His sayntistextual note 19 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,
line130By lond and see, what feat may best prevaile.
[Definition of Knighthood]
Knyghthode an ordir is, the premynent;preeminent
Obeysaunt inGod, and rather deyeObedient to die
Then disobeye; and as magnificentexulted
As can be thought; exiled al envye;
line135As confident the right to magnifie
As wil the lawe of Goddis maundement,textual note 20God’s commandment
And as perseveraunt and patient.explanatory note 4persevering
[Celestial Example of Knighthood]
The premynent is first th’Almyghti Lord,
Emanuel,explanatory note 5 that every lord is undir
line140And good lyver; but bataile andtextual note 21 discordrighteous person
With him hath Sathanas: thei are asondirSatan they are as separated
As day and nyght, and as fier wasteth tundir,fire destroys tinder
So Sathanas his flok; and Cristis oostetextual note 22Satan [destroys] his flock Christ’s army
In gemmy gold goth ardent, every cooste.bejeweled goes gleaming coast
fol. 4rTh’Emanuel,textual note 23 this Lord of Sabaoth,Heavenly hosts
line146Hath ostistextual note 24 angelik that multitude,Has hosts of angels
That noon oftextual note 25 hem, nor persone erthly, wotetextual note 26not one of them earthly, knows
Theirtextual note 27 numbir or vertue or pulcritude.
Our chivalers of hem similitude
line150Take as thei may, but truelytextual note 28 that ful fertextual note 29 is,
As gemmys are ymagyned to sterrys.footnote
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, they
line155The vigoroux vertutextual note 30 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?explanatory note 6seraphim
Yit true it is, man shal ben angelike;explanatory note 7
line160Forthi their hosteyingetextual note 31 the Lord hath shewedTherefore 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 fewedreduced and made small
Her numbir was, and it is Goddis wille,Their God’s will
line165That myghti men her numbir shal fulfille.explanatory note 8replenish
[Contents of the Book (Veg. synopsis)]
Of myghty men first is th’electiounselection
To make, and hem to lerne and exercise;
An ooste of hem for his perfectioun,army
Be numbred thenne; and aftir se the gisesee the manner
line170Of strong bataile, fighting in dyvers wise;
In craft to bilde, and art to make engynebuild engines [of war]
For seetextual note 32 and lond, this tretys I wil fyne.explanatory note 9treatise complete
[Regional Recruitment (Veg. 1.2)]
fol. 4vTh’electioun of werreours is goodselection of warriors
In every londe; and southward ay the more,but the further southward
line175The more wit thei have and lesse blood,textual note 33
Forthi to blede thei drede it,textual note 34 and therforeTherefore
Reserve theim to labour and to lore.explanatory note 10
And northeward hath more bloodtextual note 35 and lesse
Wit, and to fight and blede an hardinesse.explanatory note 11
[Rural Recruits Are Best (Veg. 1.3)]
line180But werreours to worthe wise and bolde,become
Is good to take in mene atwixtextual note 36 hem twayne,common between these two
Where is not over hotetextual note 37 nor over colde.too hot or too cold
And to travaile and swete in snow and rayne,footnote
In colde and hete, in wode and feeldystextual note 38 playne,woods and flat fields
line185With rude fode and short, thei that beth used,textual note 39
To cheretextual note 40 it is. The citesens seclused.footnote
And of necessitee, if thei be takethey [city-dwellers] are assigned
To thattextual note 41 honour as to be werreourys,
In grete travaile her sleuth istextual note 42 off to shake.labor their sloth
line190And tolleraunce of sonne andtextual note 43 dust and shourys,sun showers
To bere and drawe, and dayes delve and hourysfootnote
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 elonge
line195Fro their cité, streyt out of that pleasaunce.footnoteexplanatory note 12
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 doubtauncearmy A man fears his death
Ful smal, that hath had smal felicité.Very little, who little fortune
line200To lyve, and lande-men such lyvers be.rural men
[Age of Recruits (Veg. 1.4)]
fol. 5rOf yonge folk is best electioun,selection
In puberté thing lightlier is lerned,youth things are easier learned
Of tendre age up goth perfectiounFrom raised up
Of chivalers,explanatory note 13 as it is wel governed.knights
line205Alacrité to lepe and renne unwerned,leap and run without limits
Not oonly be, but therto sette hem strongeset 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 reached
210Then olde men dolorouxly disdeyne,Than sadly regret
Thattextual note 44 thei here yougthe intextual note 45 negligence ha’spilde.their youth have spent
The yonge maytextual note 46 seen alle his daies fildedays filled
In disciplyne of were and exercise,training for war
That age may not have in enytextual note 47 wise.any way
line215Not 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,textual note 48dig defensive trenches excavate
line220As istextual note 49 to do; lerned this governaunce,
No fere is it to fight,explanatory note 14 but pleasaunce.
[Height of Recruits (Veg. 1.5)]
The semelyest, sixetextual note 50 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 position
line225Yet is it founde in every regioun,
That smale men have had myght and renoun:strength and renown
Lo,textual note 51Tideus, as telleth swete Homere,Tydeus
That litil man in vigour had no pere.explanatory note 15textual note 52peer
[Recognizing Good Recruits (Veg. 1.6)]
fol. 5vAnd him, that is totextual note 53 chese, it is to sechoose observe
line230The look, the visagynge, the lymys stronge,eyes, face, strong limbs
That thei be sette to force and firmytee;
For bellatours, men, horsis, hondystextual note 54 yonge,warriors hounds
As thei be wel fetured, istextual note 55 to fonge.accept
As intextual note 56 his book seith of the bee Virgile,As Vergil says of the bee in his book
line235Too 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 sluggish
line240The lymes hery, scabious, and ruggy.limbs hairy unshapely
That be wil litil do, but slepe and ete,
And al devoure, as gentil bees gete.explanatory note 16devour all, as noble bees get it
Sotextual note 57 for bataile adolescentys yonge
Of grym visage and look pervigilaunt,ever-alert
line245Upright-necked, brod-brested, boned stronge.broad-chested
Brawny, bigge armes, fyngeres elongaunt,long fingers
Kne deep,explanatory note 17 smal wombe, and leggys valiauntKnees shapely, firm-bellied ready
To renne and lepe: of these and suche signysrun and leap signs
Th’electioun to make ascribed digne is.worthy
[The Trades of Good Recruits (Veg. 1.7)]
line250For 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,explanatory note 18trades hinder men from battle-storms
It is to se;textual note 58 fisshers, foulers, forletefishermen, fowlers, bypassed
Hem alle, and pigmentaryes be foryete,dyers be disregarded
line255And alle they that are of idil craftys:idle trades
Their insolence and feet to be forlaftetextual note 59 is.footnotetextual note 60
fol. 6rThe ferrour andtextual note 61 the smyth, the carpenter,ironworker blacksmith
The huntere of the hert and of the boor,textual note 62deer boar
The bocher and his man, bed hem com nere,butcher bid them come near
line260For alle tho may do and kepe stoor.maintain merit
An old proverbe is it: Stoor is not soor,explanatory note 19Merit is not hardship
And commyn wele it is, a werreoura common truth
To havetextual note 63 as wel good craftetextual note 64 as gretetextual note 65 vigour.
The reaumys myght, the famys fundament,footnote
line265Stont in the first examynatiounDepends 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,
line270Wheryn 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,
line275And shame wil refreyne hemtextual note 66 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.explanatory note 20explanatory note 21
What helpeth it, if ignobiliteeunworthy [men]
Have exercise in werre and wagysexplanatory note 22 large?compensations
line280A traitour or a coward if he be,
Thenne histextual note 67 abode is a disceypt and charge.deceit and burden
If cowardise hym beretextual note 68 away by bargebears him away
Or ship or hors, alway he wil entendeintend
To marre tho that wolde make or mende.footnote
fol. 6vCiviliansexplanatory note 23 or officers to makeJurists
line286Of hem that have habilité to werre,textual note 69affinity to combat
Is not the worship of a lond t’awake.Will honor land awaken
Sumtyme also lest noughti shuld com nerre;footnote
Thei sette hym to bataile, and theryn erre.send them [the unworthy] into
line290Therfore 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 lyftimmediately into knighthood
A bacheler elect;explanatory note 24 let first appareselected recruit be revealed
And preve it wel that he be stronge and swift
line295And wil the discipline of werrys lere,will learn
With confidence in conflict as hetextual note 70 were.
Ful oftyn he that is right personabil,
Is aftir preeftextual note 71 reported right unabil.demonstration incompetent
He putte apart, putte in his place another.[If] he is pushed back
line300Conflicte is not so sure in multitudenot so much about numbers
As in the myght.explanatory note 25 Thus proved oon and other
Of werre an entré or similitude,an introduction to war or its likeness
Istextual note 72 hem to shewe. But this crafte dissuetude
Hath take away; here is noon exercisefootnote
line305Of disciplyne, as whilom wastextual note 73 the gise.as once was the case
How may I lerne of hym that is unlerned?
How may a thing informaltextual note 74 fourme me?explanatory note 26instruct
Thus I suppose is best to be governed:In this way
Rede up th’istoriestextual note 75 of auctoritee,the histories of the authorities
line310And how thei faught, in theym it is to se,
Or better thus: Celsus Cornelius
Be red, ortextual note 76Caton or Vegetius.explanatory note 27Cato [the Elder]
fol. 7rVegetius it is, that I entende
Aftir to goon in lore of exercise,
line315Besechinge hem that fynde a faut, amendetextual note 77those 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.explanatory note 28
[Training: The Military Pace (Veg. 1.9)]
line320First 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 diffacedeface this [good order]
That seyntextual note 78 our enemye wil our oste assaile,Who say
And jumpetextual note 79 light; to goon is gret availe,And [thus] jump [too] quickly
line325And XX ML pace in howrys fyvea pace of 20 miles in five hours
Wel may they goon, and not goon over blyve.explanatory note 29too 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,running
line330To smyte first in fight, and also whennestrike first
To take a place our foomen wil forrennefootnote
And take ittextual note 80 erst; also to serche or sture,explanatory note 30textual note 81first scout or take action [in battle]
Lightly to come and go, rennynge is sure.
Rennynge is also right good at the chace,explanatory note 31chasing [of enemies]
line335And 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.footnotetextual note 82
For myghtily what man may renne andtextual note 83 lepe,
line340May wel devicte and saf his party kepe.defeat [his enemy] and keep safe
[Training: Swimming (Veg. 1.10)]
fol. 7vTo swymme is eek to lerne in somer season:swim is also [best] learned in summer
Men fynde not a briggeexplanatory note 32 as ofte as flood.find bridges less often than rivers
Swymmyng to voide and chace an oste wil eson;footnotetextual note 84
Eeke aftir rayntextual note 85 the ryveres goth wood.Also rivers run wild
line345That every man in th’oost contextual note 86 swymme is good:
Knyght, squyer, footman, cook, and cosyneresquire kitchen-man
And grome and page in swymmyng is to lere.explanatory note 33groom learn
[Training: Shields and Posts (Veg. 1.11)]
Of fight the disciplyne and exercise
Was this: to have a pale or pile uppighttextual note 87pole or pillar erected
line350Of mannys hight,textual note 88 thus writeth olde wyse.a man’s height
Therwith a bacheler or a yong knyghtrecruit
Shal first be taught to stonde and lerne fight:
A fanne of doubil wight tak him his shelde,footnote
Of doubil wight a mace of tre to welde.double weight wood to wield
line355This fanne and mace, which either doubil wight istextual note 89each 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.explanatory note 34
And noo man (as thei seyn) is seyntextual note 90 prevailesay is said [to] prevail
In felde or in gravel though he assaile,In fields or in rocks
line360That with the pile nathtextual note 91 first gret exercise —pole did not
Thus writeth werreourystextual note 92 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 castespeed must he prepare
line365To fighte stronge, that he ne shapetextual note 93 him fro,stoutly not retreat himself from
On him with shild and sword avised so,
That thou be cloos, and prest thi footextual note 94 to smyte,ready
Lest of thin owne deth thou be to wite.your own death you will be blamed
fol. 8rEmpeche his hed, his face, have at his gorge,Assault throat
line370Bere at the breste, or servetextual note 95 him on the sideThrust breast
With myghti knyghtly poort, eve as Seynt George,explanatory note 35show 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
Hewtextual note 96 of his honde, his legge, his thegh, his armys.hand arms
line375It is the Turk:explanatory note 36 though he be sleyn, noon harm is.
[Training: Strike with the Point (Veg. 1.12)]
And forto foyne istextual note 97 better then totextual note 98 smyte.thrust than to slash
The smytertextual note 99 is deluded mony oonys:The slasher [on] several counts
The sword may nat throgh steel and bonys bite,textual note 100bones
Th’entrailys ar covert in steel and bonys.are covered
line380But with a foyn anoon thitextual note 101 foo fordoon is:thrust foe is undone
Tweyne unchys entirfoyned hurteth moreTwo inches thrust into [the body]
Then kerf or ege, although it wounde sore.blade or edge
Eek in the kerf,textual note 102 thi right arm is disclosed,Also in the act of slashing exposed
Also thi side; and intextual note 103 the foyn, covertbut in the thrust, covered
line385Is side and arm, and er thou be supposedeven before you are
Redy to fight, the foyn is at his hertthe 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 placetextual note 104 ereither is t’observe.
line390This fanne and mace ar ay of doubil wight,are always of double weight
That when the bacheler hath exerciserecruit
Of hevy gere, andtextual note 105 aftir taketh lightWith heavy gear
Herneys, as sheeld and sword of just assise,Harness standard sizing
His hert avaunceth, hardynes t’arise.heart cheers, [his] boldness rises
line395“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. 8vAnd over this al,textual note 106 exercise in armys
The doctourexplanatory note 37textual note 107 is to teche and discipline:drillmaster
For double wage a wurthi man of armysdouble wages
line400Was wont to take, if he wer prevedtextual note 108 digneable were proven proficient
Aforn his prince,explanatory note 38 ye,textual note 109 tymes VIII or IX.Before 8 or 9 times
And whete he had,textual note 110 and barlyexplanatory note 39 had the knyght
That couthe nat as he in armys fight.footnoteexplanatory note 40
Res publica right commendabil is,explanatory note 41‘The common good’
line405If chivalers and armys there abounde,
For, they present, may nothing fare amys,textual note 111[where] they [are] present amiss
And ther thei are absent, al goth to grounde.all goes to dirt
Intextual note 112 gemme, in gold, in silk be thei fecounde,gems even if they are numerous
It fereth not. But myghti men in armysCause no fear [among enemies]
line410They fereth with the drede of dethtextual note 113 and harmys.harms
Catonexplanatory note 42 the wise seith: where as men erreCato 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,footnote
line415Or 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,textual note 114 inwit, to thi preceptys!again, mind, to your teachings
With sword and sheld the lerned chivaler
line420At pale or pile, in artilaunceexplanatory note 43 excepte is;footnote
A dart of more wight then is mester,javelin weight standard
Tak him in honde, and techetextual note 115 hym ittextual note 116 to ster,steer
And caste it attextual note 117 that pile, as at his foo,
So that it route, and right uppon hym go.root [into it]
fol. 9rOf armys is the doctour heertextual note 118 t’attende,
line426That 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 awake
line430And craft to caste and smyte shal encrece;
The werreours thus taught, shal make peax.explanatory note 44peace
[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 longeAre trained to shoot
With arowys. Heryn is doctryne and art:doctrine
line435The stringys up to breke in bowes stronge,footnote
And swift and craftilytextual note 119 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 eye
line440Shoot nygh or on,textual note 120 and if so be thou ride,
On hors is eektextual note 121 the bowys bigge uphale.footnoteexplanatory note 45
Smyte in the face or breste or bakexplanatory note 46textual note 122 or side,
Compelle fle, or falle, if that he bide.flight remain
Cotidiantextual note 123 be mad this exercise,Daily make this practice
line445On 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,explanatory note 47 therof in bookys writeth he,Cato
Among the discipline of chivalerys,In [his books on]
450And Claudius,explanatory note 48 that werred mony yeres,fought for many years
Wel seide, and Affricanus Scipioexplanatory note 49textual note 124Scipio Africanus
With archerys confounded ofte his foo.foe
[Training: Casting Stones (Veg. 1.16)]
fol. 9vUse eek the cast of stoon with slynge or honde.casting of stones
It falleth ofte, if other shot ther noon is,It often happens
line455Men herneysed in steel maytextual note 125 not withstonde
The multitude and myghti caste of stonys.
It breketh ofte and breseth flesh and bonys,explanatory note 50bruises
And stonys in effecte aretextual note 126 everywhere,
And slyngys ar not noyous forto bere.troublesome to carry
line460And otherwhile in stony stede is fight,often warfare happens in stony places
A mountayn otherwhile is to defende,textual note 127[Or] a
An hil, a toun, a tour, and every knyghttower
And other wight may caste stoonexplanatory note 51 on ende — person
The stonys axe, if other shot be spende.textual note 128Ask for the stones
line465Or ellys thus: save other shot with stonys,textual note 129
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 goodtextual note 130 to take fyve.
That used hem of old wer grete estatys.footnoteexplanatory note 52
line470As archerys, they wolde shote and dryve
Her foo to flight, or leve him not alyve.Their foe
This shot commended DioclisianDiocletian
And his co-emperour,textual note 131Maxymyan.explanatory note 53Maximian
[Training: Mounting Horses (Veg. 1.18)]
The chivalers and werreourys alle,knights
line475Quicly to lepetextual note 132 on hors, and so descende
Uppon the right or lyft side, if it falle,however it happens
That exercise istextual note 133 for to kepe an ende:
Unarmed first, and armed thenne ascende,
And aftir with a spere or sword and shelde.explanatory note 54
line480This feet is good when troubled is the felde.feat
[Training: Carrying Gear (Veg. 1.19)]
fol. 10rAndtextual note 134 LXtextual note 135 pounde of weght is goodtextual note 136 to bere,60 pounds of weight bear
And go therwith a chivalerys pace,knight’s pace (i.e., a military step)
Vitaile andtextual note 137 herneysing and sword andtextual note 138 spere,Victuals and harnessing
Frely to bere; al this is but solace.Readily to bear child’s play (ironic)
line485Thinge 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.footnote
[Training: Wearing Armor (1.20)]
And exercise him uche in his armure,armor
As is the gise adayestextual note 139 now to were.explanatory note 55manner nowadays to wear
line490And se that every peece herneys be sure.piece of harness is secure
Go quycly in, and quyk out of gere,textual note 140
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.explanatory note 56
[Training: Keeping Watch (Veg. 1.21)]
line495To warde and wacche an oste ittextual note 141 is to lerneguard and watch an army learn
Both holsom is that feettextual note 142 and necessary.proper skill
Withinne a pale an oste is to governe,palisade
That day and nyght saflytextual note 143 theryn they tarysafely they remain
And take reste, and nevertextual note 144 oon myscary.have no one come to harm
line500For faute of wacch, hatextual note 145 worthi not myscheved
Now late, and al to rathe? Is this nat preved?footnoteexplanatory note 57
[Where to Construct a Camp (Veg. 1.22)]
To make a fortresse, if the foon be nygh,fort foes are near
As sure atextual note 146 grounde, and se that ther be fodesee that there is food
For man and beest, and watir deeptextual note 147 myd-thigh,explanatory note 58[at least] mid-thigh deep
line505Not fer; and se there wode or grovys goode.textual note 148Not 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
Maytextual note 149 hurte, anoon set of the ground therfro.footnoteexplanatory note 59
fol. 10vTher flood is wont the felde to over-flete,Where [a] to overflow the ground
line510Mak ther noo strength; and as is necessaryno 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;obstructed
line515Tak eve ynough, and hoom have uchtextual note 150 man dressed.footnote
[Shape of a Camp (Veg. 1.23)]
Trianguler, or square, or dymy-rounde,semi-circular
The strength it is to maketextual note 151 of hosteyinge,for [each] campaign
Th’avis therof is taken at the grounde.plan
And estward,explanatory note 60 or uppon thi foo comynge,in the direction of the foe
line520The yatys principal have ussuynge,primary gates for issuing out
To welcom him; and if an ost journey,army is on the march
Thotextual note 152 yatis ar to sette uppon his wey.Those gates
The centenaryes theruppon shal picchetextual note 153centuries (i.e., the cohorts) pitch
Her pavilons, and dragonysexplanatory note 61textual note 154 and signysTheir dragons and standards
line525Shal up be set, and Gorgona the wiccheexplanatory note 62[images of] a Gorgon witch
Up sette they — to juste batail condigne ispermitted
Uch helply thing. Another yate andtextual note 155 signe is:[there] is
Ther trespassers shal go to their juesse,judgement
That oponeth north, or westward,explanatory note 63 as I gesse.opens
[Constructing a Camp (Veg. 1.24)]
line530In III maneer a strengthe is to be walled,By three means a fort
If ther oppressetextual note 156 noo necessitee.
Delve up the torf, have it togedir malled,turf piled
Therof the wal be mad high footys IIIthree feet
Above grounde; the dike withouten beditch outside
line535IXtextual note 157 foote brode, and VII deep dounright;nine feet broad seven [feet]
Thus dike and wal is wel X fote in hight.
fol. 11rThis werktextual note 158 they calle a dike tumultuary.explanatory note 64temporary (hastily raised) ditch
To stynte a rore, and if the foo be kene,stop a tumult foe is keen
Legytymat dykinge istextual note 159 necessary:Proper ditchwork (i.e., a fosse)
line540XII 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,textual note 160lined [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) arise
line545Thus 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 himselvestake of strong wood
Hath born,explanatory note 65 on oneward is it forto delve.Have carried, are driven in above
And this to do, pikens, mattok, and spadepicks, mattocks
line550And tole ynough ther most be redytextual note 161 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’footehorsemen footmen
Embataile hem, to showve away their myght.Engage them
That other half, to dike foot by foote,dig the ditch
line555Be sette, and an heraude, expert by roote,herald, according to form
The centrions other the centenaryiscenturions centuries
In ordre forth hem calle,textual note 162 as necessary is.
And ay among the centrions enserch,ever among [them] the centurions inspect
The werk, if it be wrought, kept the mesure,
line560In 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 ensurearmy thus trained trust
Intextual note 163 prevalence, whos debellatiounIn victory defeat
Shal not be straught by perturbatioun.caused by disarray
[Training: Maintaining Order in the Lines (Veg. 1.26)]
fol. 11vWel knowen is, nothinge is more in fighttextual note 164known [it] is more [advantageous]
line566Then exercise and daily frequentaunce.textual note 165practice
Uch werreour therfore do his myghtEach 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 declare
line570And also perilous is over-thynne,
Thei sone fle that be to fer atwynne.textual note 166too 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 sheeldeordinarius
line575And 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 ustextual note 167 embataile,made [to form]
Governed, undir grateexplanatory note 66 to prevaile.explanatory note 67under attack
A sengil ege is first to strecch in longe,single line length
line580Withoute 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,
line585And 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,
line590How 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. 12rAnd over this, an olde usage it waspractice
To make walk thryes in every mone,march thrice a month
line595And tho they wente a chivalerys paas[at] a knight’s pace (i.e., military step)
X myle outward, the men of armys, noneTen miles
Unharneysed: the footmen everychone
Bowed, tacled, darted, jacked, saladed;explanatory note 68textual note 168
Vitaile eke born withal, hertextual note 169 hertis gladed.Victuals also carried hearts
line600In hom comynge among thei wente fasteReturning to camp at times
And ranne among. Eek tourmys of ryderysran troops of riders
Sumtyme journeyed on foote in haste,
Shelded and herneysed with myghti sperys —
Not oonly in the playn, but also where is
line605A mountayn or a clif or streyt passagys.difficult paths
Thus hadde thei both exercise and wagys.
Ereithre ege in this wise exercisedAll lines [of the army] way
Was by and by, so that no chaunce of newesurprise
Nas to be thought that thei nere of avised,footnote
line610And hadde way the daungerys t’escheweto avoid
Undaungered. And this wisdom thei kneweUnharmed
By discipline of their doctour of armys,drill instructor
To wynne honour withouten hate or harmys.textual note 170injury or wounds
[End of Part I]
Th’electioun and exercisetextual note 171 anended,Recruitment and training complete
line615An ooste is now to numbre and dyvideordered in numbers and divisions
And seen uchtextual note 172 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!
line620To write wel this werk and nottextual note 173 to tary.explanatory note 69tarry