fol. 41v Ultima pars urbes parat, obsidet atque tuetur, Bello navali finit et ornat opus.

[Proem]

This IIIde part, as long as othre tweyne, third other (first) two partsline2225 Halt providence of myghtiest bataile, Concerns the guidance The morthereer to bringe undir the cheyne. murderer chain There al his olde craft shal nought availe, not help But hate of ire and angush of travaile hateful rage laborious anguish To fynde. And aftir al that to descendeline2230 To th’everlasting deth, if he n’amende. does not amend [his misdeeds]

In Brutis Albion is not to spende (i.e., England) This myghti knyghthode and bataile alone. To Normandie and Fraunce it is t’assende, to rise Til Cristis and the kyngis foos uchone Christ’s king’s foes allline2235 Be dryven out or chastised, and noone Alyve ylefte that wil not wel beleve Left alive who And uttirly the myscreaunt myscheve. punish the misdoers

Here ende I that, and to my werk releve return The laste part, anoon to bringe an ende,line2240 And aftir in correctioun it preve. Criste truste I, that the kyng it wil attende And werreours to knowe it condescende. That leve I there, and write as is th’availe believe To bilde and sette assege, and see bataile. build lay siege

[Need for City Fortifications (Veg. 4.1)]

fol. 42r Nature or art assureth a citee, artifice securesline2246 A dongeoun, a castel, or a tour. tower In lake or in mareys or in the see marsh Sette it; that element is thi socour. And if the lond shal be propugnatour, defenderline2250 A mountayne or a clyef, a cragge, a rok cliff Sette it uppon, and saf it is fro strok. attack

And in foreste, in feelde, or in champayne, open country With craft or art it is to make a strengthe, And if nature assiste, it is t’attayneline2255 Effect anoon, as when the brede or lengthe at once A rok, ryver, mareys, or see wil strengthe; But art alone if noon herof availe, artifice none of these aids [you] Shal make it stronge with wisdam and travaile.

[Layout of Walls (Veg. 4.2)]

Mak bosumy and angulous the wal, curvy and angledline2260 And so sette out therof the fundament foundation With touris and turrettis overal, towers and turrets That scale, engyne, or rammer therto sent ladder, [siege] engine, or ram Be over sette, and faile of his entent, overtaken When he is unbegon and al to-donge surrounded destroyedline2265 With al that may be kest fro wallis stronge. cast from strong walls

[Constructing Terraplein Walls (Veg. 4.3)]

In this manere a wal it is to make, to be made To stonde an infallibil thing forever: impregnable An intervalle of XXti feet be take, 20 feet is measured A wal on either side herof dissevre, build separatelyline2270 Caste in the moolde, sadde it with mal and lever, Throw earth, compress mallet Out of the dich caste it bitwix the wallys, And ramme it doun with punchonys and mallis. piles and mallets

fol. 42v Mak the inner wal wel lower then withoute, inner [part of the] wall than the outer That esily, as by the clif, ascendeline2275 Me may unto the loupis al aboute, Men embrasures Or by an esi grice hem to defende. easy flight of steps Thus mad a wal, the ram may nat offende. For thaugh he fronte awey this uttir cruste, The grounde is stronge ynough with him to juste.

[Protecting Gates from Fire (Veg. 4.4)]

line2280 For firing of the yatis make obstacle, Because burning gates Cover hem with hidys and with iron plate, hides And make aforn a myghti propugnacle, build in front defensework A portcolys to plumpe adoun therate Aftir thi foon. Atwixte it and the yate Between gateline2285 Thei checked ar. The machcoling may thenne machicolations Chastise hem that thei shal nat sle ner brenne. slay nor burn

[Constructing Ditches (Veg. 4.5)]

The dichis ar to make brode at al ditches broad at all [points] And deep at al, so that me may not fille men Hem in no wise, and renne uppon the wal. run [directly] againstline2290 The myner is his labour heer to spille. his (miner’s) work waste And rathest if the watir hem fulfille: most ideal fills them (i.e., the ditches) For now hath he twey grete impedymentys; two great impediments Depnesse is oon, another th’element is.

[Protecting Men on the Walls (Veg. 4.6)]

The multitude of shot is to repelleline2295 With sheeld, pavice an here and duble say. Shot perceth not ther thorgh. Eek wittis felle Also many wisemen Han cratys fild with stoon at every bay, Have crates wall opening And if th’assault come up, adoun go they Out of the crate. At every loup is oon embrasureline2300 Of these. It quelleth ordynaunce and mon. stops formations and men

[Insuring Food Supplies (Veg. 4.7)]

fol. 43r In mony wise assault is and defense, And on manere is by enfameyinge. causing famine Hoolde foode away, and watir, kepe it thens, keep it safe And hem to honde anoon shal honger bringe. hungerline2305 But if we wite a seege on us comynge, know a siege Anoon gete al the foode within our wonys places [i.e., walls] And faste have in the multitude of stonys

Corn everydel, larder, fisch, foul, forage. All the grain, salted meats And that may not be brought in, is to brenne. And what is to be burntline2310 Wyn, aysel, herbe, and fruyt and cariage, Wine, vinegar baggage Logyng, let brenne it up, or cary it thenne. Lodgings So bare it for our foon that whenne thei renne, carry it from foes run (i.e., forage) Thei fynde nought. And use we vitaile victuals With such attemperaunce, that it ne faile.

[Insuring Supplies for the Wall (Veg. 4.8)]

line2315 Glew, tar, and picch and oyle incendiary, oil And sulphour herwithal to brenne engyne. burn [siege] engines Charcole and cole, and al that necessary coal Is forto make armure and arowys fyne And shelde and spere, hundirdys VIII or IX, 800 or 900line2320 And coggys, cogulys, and pibblis rounde, stones, cobbles pebbles Fil up the wal with hem by roof and grounde. from top to bottom

Stoon of the flood is saddest and so best, river most dense For fourneysinge a wal and every loupe, furnishing loophole And outher with engynys to be kest others castline2325 On hegh, adoun to falle on hed or croupe, head or hindquarters Or fro the scalyng forto make hem stoupe ladders fall And have of grene tymbour grete rollys green timber large cylinders And loggys leyd to route uppon her pollys. logs hurl upon their heads

fol. 43v And beemys is to have of every sise sizeline2330 And boord of every soort, and also nayl. board nail Ayenst engyne, engyne is to devise, Against [an] engine And that the stuf be prest, is thin availe. High if it be, pulle over their topsail, And if thei come in touris ambulary, mobile siege towersline2335 Hem myghtily to mete is necessary.

[Insuring Supplies of Sinews (Veg. 4.9)]

Nerf is to have or senewis aboundaunce, Tendon sinews The crosbowyng to stringe and bowe of brake. crossbow Hors her of mane and tail, if suffisaunce Horsehair Therof ther is, therto good is to take.line2340 Of wymmen here tho stryngis eke thei make: women’s hair those strings also With stryngys of their her Romaynys wyvis Roman wives Saved her owne and her husbondis lyvis. husbands’ lives

[Insuring Water Supplies (Veg. 4.10)]

Raw hidis ar to kepe, and every horn hides The portcolis to covere, eek sheeld and targe portcullis alsoline2345 And mony a thing, it may not be forborn. thrown out And if so be your watir be not large, To synke a welle anoon it is to charge. to be ordered For lak therof, theym that the water brynge, With shot defende outward and hoom comynge. defend [them] coming back

line2350 And if the welle is out of our shotinge, range Make up a tour and putte archerys there, tower For to defende tho that watir brynge. bring [from the distant watersource] Cisternys who can make, it is t’enquere. Make up of theym in placis everywhere.line2355 Rayn watir kepe in hem. When wellys faile, wells Rayn watir in cisternys may availe.

[Insuring Salt Supplies (Veg. 4.11)]

fol. 44r A see citee this is, and salt is geson: Kest watre salt in vesselling that sprede; Cast saltwater spreads [it out] Salt wil the sonne it make in litil season. sunline2360 But thus we dar not fette it in for drede, But [if] fetch The see gravel, gete it up in this nede, sea sand, gather Fresh watir it, and let it drie in sonne, And salt withoute doubte herof is wonne.

[Defending a Wall Assault (Veg. 4.12)]

They that the wal assaulteth, bith terribil are a terribleline2365 A multitude, and trumpis proudly rynge. The citee nys but simpil and paisibil, city[-folk] peaceful And ferde thei are at this first counteringe, fearful And in goth they. But if the spritis springe go they (the enemy) spirited [men] And putte hem off, in comth an hardinesse, them (the enemy) line2370 And egal is fro now forth the congresse. equal conflict

[Names of Siege Weapons (Veg. 4.13)]

The tortoys or the snayl, the rammys grete, tortoise great rams The sekel or the sithe and vyneyerd, sickle scythe vineyard The cagys pluteal it is to gete mobile screens And tourys ambulary nere aferd,line2375 The musculys eke with the pety berde — mantelets also little beard Lo alle these wil this citee assaile With crafte, and yet with craft shal it prevaile.

[Constructing Ramming Weapons (Veg. 4.14)]

Of tymbir and of boord it is to make A tortoys or a shelled snail, and soline2380 They name it. Whi? For when hem liste awake they desire [to] awaken It, out therof the hed and hornys go [ramming] head and horns And in and out ayein. Oon horn or too, One two Croked or streght, hath it, right as a snaile, Right as it semeth hem their moost availe. help

fol. 44v The bak of this tortoys, snail, or testude, testudoline2386 Wherof it hath figure and also name, gets its shape With felt and heere and hidis rawe or crude, hair-mats raw hides Lest theron fier doun cast, brenne up the frame, burn Wel covered is; the sidis beth the same. areline2390 Pendaunt theryn ther goth a beem alonge, Therof the hed is iron-steeled stronge.

Tweyne hornys if it have, it is a snaile. Streght may thei stonde, or the lifte horn may croke may be crooked Outher the right, as may be moost availe, Or most helpfulline2395 The wal to breke and stonys out to rooke. to tear out stones And if it have but oon horn, and it hooke A croche, it is a sikel or a sithe, [Like] a crook scythe It breketh and out bringeth stonys swithe. quickly

[Defending Against Ramming Weapons (Veg. 4.23)]

And when the frount is mad to breke and brese, shatterline2400 It is a ram for that similitude, To rush uppon the wal and al to crese crush The stuf in it. Yet wil thei this delude, they (the defenders) hinder this And with oon crafte thoo craftis III conclude: those three weapons Of quylt and felt a trusse thei depende, quilt bundleline2405 Ther as the ram entendeth for t’offende. Where

Or by the hed they kecch it with a gnare snare And hale it up, or by the wal endlonge, haul Or turne it up-so-doun thei wil not spare. Hem semeth it to hurte it is no wronge. It seems to themline2410 And other have a wulf, this ram to fonge: wolf grab That wulf is as a payre of smythis tongys, pair of smith’s tongs Toothed, that in a wayt alway to honge is. weight always to hang [down]

fol. 45r That wulf gooth on the ram, and by the hed Or necke anoon pulde is he up-so-doun,line2415 Or so suspended that his myght is deed. dead And other fro the wallis of the town [the] other [defense is] Or out of tourys hye or of dongeoun high towers Wil caste an huge ston or a pilere pillar Of marbil, and so breke it al yfere. shatter it (a ram) completely

line2420 And if the wal be thorled therwithal, pierced As happeth ofte, or doun it gooth anoon: goes at once Awey with every hous, and mak a wal make a [new] wall Withinne that of planke or lyme and ston; mortar And if thin adversayris come uppon,line2425 Conclude theym bitwixt the wallis tweyne, End them between two And so be quyte of this perile and peyne. finished with peril and danger

[Constructing Siege Screens (Veg. 4.15)]

The vyneyerde is lighter tymburynge, vineyard VIII foote brode, VI footys high, XVI 8 6 16 Footys in length, and dubil covertinge [a] double coveringline2430 Hath it of boord and fleyk. Of twyggis grene boards and hurdles (interwoven frame) The sidis are, and fier forto sustene, to survive fire With felt and hidis grene it covere they, raw hides So that to brenne or breke it, is no wey. burn

And made ynowe of these, ar sette yfereline2435 Unto the wal, as summe sette a vyne, Up to vine And tre pilers upsetting heer and there, setting up wooden posts To make it falle, undir the wal thei myne, mine That, puld away the stulpis VIII or IXne, 8 or 9 supports Doun go the wal, this vyneyerd remeved, [having been] removedline2440 Lest it and al ther undir be myscheved. all those

fol. 45v The cage pluteal of twiggis plat, mobile screens pleated twigs Of heerys hath covert and hidis grene. hair-mats raw hides Not over high the roof ner over flatte, nor too flat That shot and fier suffice it to sustene.line2445 On whelis III to go thei thise demene, 3 wheels guide As goth a cart. And fele herof thei make many With mony a wit the wallis forto awake. assail

[Constructing Mantelets (Veg. 4.16)]

The muscle shelle is but a smal engyne, mantelet Mightily mad on whelis forto go,line2450 And bere away the wallis when thei myne. carry they mine [them] Thei bringe stuf the dich to fille also. And on the werk it may go to and fro And sadde it up, that tourys ambulary fill it up mobile siege towers May men ynowe uppon the wallis cary.

[Constructing Mobile Siege Towers (Veg. 4.17)]

line2455 The muscul eke is good, the way to mende, mantelet also path to construct For eny thing. Of tourys ambulary, To se the crafte is now to condescende, Th’artificeer it nedeth not to vary. The constructor Make hem like other housing necessary,line2460 A XXXti foote or XL foote square, 30 40 And otherwhile of Lti feet thei are. other times 50

Of bemys and of boord be thei compacte, constructed And competent, the brede hath altitude, in breadth as needed for height With hidis grene or felt sadly coacte raw hides pressed togetherline2465 The robinge and the sidis are enclude. shell covered Their apparaile ashameth wallys rude, workings simple walls At every lyme herof ar huge whelys limb (i.e., axle’s end) wheels And brood withal the sole of every whel is. broad rim

fol. 46r Present perile is, if this tour ammoeve tower is movedline2470 Unto the wal. The place is in a doubte, An impossibil is it off to shove, impossible [thing] Of myghtieste theryn is mony a route, [the] mightiest [men] a number And briggis in, to renne on from withoute, bridges inside run And scalis of al maner farsioun, ladders manner of constructionline2475 From eny part to renne on up and doun. any part [of the tower]

The rammys are alongh as first engyne, along [the side] And not a fewe, a wal to overthrowe. And undir as a vyneyerd they myne under [the tower] And briggis in the myddis are a rowe,line2480 And fro the toppe they shote and stonys throwe. Thus undir and above and everywhere The wall besette. Who dar abide there? Who dares stay there [besieged]

[Defending Against Siege Towers (Veg. 4.18)]

Yet here ayenst is divers medycyne. First, if the chivalers with confidenceline2485 Go myghti out and fire this engyne, [set] fire [to] First pulde away the firys resistence. First [having] pulled fire And if thei ha not this magnificence, Shote at hem molliols, also fallayrys. malleoli fire-spears But what thei ar, to knowe it necessayir is.

line2490 A malliol, a bolt of wilde fier is. fire-dart (malleolus) Greek fire A fallary, a shafte is of the same. fire-spear (falaricus) Thorgh felt and hide hem shoote: al on a fier is. But shoote hem thorgh into the tymber frame. With myghti alblastris go to this game, ballistaeline2495 Brymston, rosyn, glewe, oyle incendiary rosin, glue, burning oil With flax doon on this shafte is necessary.

fol. 46v Or prevely with fier out of the toun secretly Over the wal, whil this tour is asclepe, asleep A feleship of fewe is let adoun, small company of menline2500 That fiere it, as noo watir may it kepe. set fire to And triced up at hoom thei skippe and lepe gathered up at home To se this ambulary touris brenne. This hath be doon, and yet ful seelde whenne.

[Adding Height to City Walls (Veg. 4.19)]

And otherwise is doun, the wal t’arise,line2505 And over-go the touris altitude. Yet ther ayenst is used to devise against this practice A subtiltee, tho wallis to delude: to take down In the utter tour, an inner tour t’enclude; outer [siege] tower And when thei sette uppon this wallis blynde walls [with the inner siege towers] hiddenline2510 With gabils and polifs hem overwynde.

[Defending Against Siege Towers (Veg. 4.20)]

And beemys otherwhile, ye overlonge, beams very long Ordeyne thei, and sette on iron hornys, They construct horns (i.e., hooks) And as a rammys hed thei make hem honge. like a battering ram This tour with hem forbeton and throgh born is, batter and beaten throughline2515 And sette ofiere, and utturly forlorn is. set aflame Yet otherwise, out of the toun a myne, Undir the way therof, sleth this engyne. slays

When this engyne on that concavitee excavation Goth with his wight uppon his myghti whelis, Goes weight wheelsline2520 Doun goth it, into helle as it wold fle. And this to se, the toun in joy and wele is. town happiness But th’ooste withoute al in dolour and deel is, sorrow and despair Al desperate of help by their engyne, And al by witty makyng of a myne. clever construction

[Taking the Walls from a Tower (Veg. 4.21)]

fol. 47r But if this tour sauf sette uppon the wallis sits safeline2526 With every shot of dart, of shaft, of spere, And dynt of axe, of swoord, billys, and mallys, blow bills, and mallets And caste of stoon thei ley on everywhere, they (the besiegers) lay on That fro the wal awey they fle for fere. they (the defenders) fly away for fearline2530 Now to the wal, the briggis forto avale is, bridges are brought to help And mony oon goth doun anoon by scalys. many men go scaling ladders

Thei trice in other with the tollenon: hoist tolleno (swing-beam) The tollenon a tymbir pece on ende [is] a wood pole on end (upright) Is sette, another twye as long theron. planted twice [balanced] on its topline2535 The lighter ende of it adoun thei bende. A cageful of men therwith thei sende Uppon the wal, when they with cordis drawe Adoun that other ende, as is the lawe.

[New artillery (Veg.4.22)]

Sumtyme ayen this werk, the bowe of brake,line2540 Carribalistys, and arcubalistis, Carroballistae arbalests Onagris and fustibulis wer take, Onagers (catapaults) fustibali And mony a dart that uncouth and unwiste is unfamiliar and unknown Amonge us heer. The taberinge of the fistis drumming fists Uppon the bowe, and trumpyng of the gunne thundering of the gunline2545 Hath famed us as fer as shyneth sonne.

Thei trumpe adoun the tourys ambulary. thunder down [siege] towers Thei overthrowe as wel ram as tortoys. rams as well as tortoises The cage and vyneyerd therby myscary. screen and vineyard The muscul may not with his dynt and voys. mantelet cannot [contend]line2550 And countir as it goth, ther is noo choys, But deed or quyt. For and it onys touche, It goth for al that hangeth in the pouche.

[Defending Against Attacks from Mines (Veg. 4.24–25)]

fol. 47v A conynger, that now they calle a myne, rabbit burrow, what Goth undir erth unwist. By that caverne Goes underground unknownline2555 Come in t’a toun, ye, tourmys VIII or IXne, into a town 8 or 9 troops [of men] And prevely they rise in sum taverne Or desolat hous, so noo wight hem werne. no [towns]people warn [about] them And sodenly by nyght uppon the yate gate They hewe, and leet their frendis in therate. attack there

line2560 And ther ayenst, if that the dwellers be against this townspeople In touris, on the wal, or housys hye high houses Uppon the strete, is ther yit comfort? Ye! Yes So stonys out of numbir on hem flye, As stones beyond number hurl As thaugh the buldir hailed from the skye, boulderline2565 They wil anoon retrete out at the yatis. at once gates Now steke hem out, and stynted this debate is. drive ended

And if thei do not thus, anoon their foo at once their foe Of providence her yatis may lete stonde, their gates Until as fele as fle, wil been ago, many as will have fledline2570 And thenne in ease have hous and toun and londe. But God defende us that we be not fonde found Aslepe so that foon lede us away Withoute strook, or seide hem onys nay! said once to them no

Lo, man, womman, and childe may keste stoon cast stonesline2575 Uppon his foo from every place o lofte. aloft And therto redy sone are everychon ready at once By day and nyght; this holpen hath full ofte. has helped very often Ha stonys out of flood or feeld or crofte, Have [ready] river enclosed farmland Store hem on high, that in a sodeyn fere frightline2580 Fynde hem ye may, and on your foo bewere.

fol. 48r This conynger hath eek another gise: Undir the wal to crepe pryvely, And sette up postis heer and ther by sise, supports here and there And pike away the fundament wightly, pick foundationline2585 Ramayle it wel, the postis by and by. Shatter And when their ooste was redy, make it brenne. burn Doun goth the wall; in and uppon hem thenne!

[Defending Against Besieger Stratagems (Veg. 4.26)]

Peraventure ther is a countir-myne, If by chance countermine So that thei faile, and feyneth a dispayre, feign despairline2590 And hem remeveth mylys VIII or IXne, retreat 8 or 9 miles Now best bewar, at market or at fayre, you must beware Or day or nyght. Thei thinketh to repayre, They (the besiegers) return If there appere among hem negligence. them (the defenders) Therfore now do grettest diligence.

line2595 Now se the wacch abide uppon the wall, see [that] the watch stays And houndis wise and grete is good to kepe. watch-dogs Eek gees is good to have in special, geese are For thei wil wake folke that ar aslepe, people who are asleep The foo comynge her welth away to repe. seizeline2600 The mavlard in the dich and in the wallis, mallard ditch The martilet at scaling wont to calle is. martin (European swift) climbing [men]

[Defending the Siege with Breastworks (Veg. 4.28)]

The toun eke on th’assege sodenly the besieging army Is wont to falle, if it be negligent. Therfore a dich thei make up myghtily,line2605 Without shot of everych instrument, Out of reach And stake it, pale it, toure it to th’entent, post build it up Ther to be sure hemself and holde hem inne. Thus wayteth uch on other forto wynne.

[Naval Warfare (Veg. 4.31)]

fol. 48v The craft t’assaulte a citee and defendeline2610 By myght and wit of knyghthode and bataile, Honour to God, therof is mad an ende. Now go we forth unto this fight navaile, naval warfare That is fight on the see, no light travaile, sea, no simple labor And not o londe. As there is so grete drede,line2615 Therfore of governaunce hath it gret nede.

[Shipbuilding (Veg. 4.34)]

To make an hous, good stuf it is to take: materials Good farsioun, and good stuf is the hous. design But rather he that shippis is to make, Se that his stuf ne be nat vicious. inferiorline2620 A feebil hous nys not so perilous feeble is not As is a feebil ship, other a barge. Forthy therof the more it is to charge. Therefore pay attention to

Fir and cipresse and the pynappul tre cypress pine tree Therfore is good, as seyn the bookys olde,line2625 And ook is holden good in this cuntré. oak The nayles are of bras wel better holde brass Then iron. Whi? For ruste thei wil and olde they (iron nails) will rust age And kanker and consume. There as bras, corrode Whereas Consumed al the ship, is as it was. [Even if] the whole ship is destroyed

[When Timber Should Be Cut for Shipbuilding (Veg. 4.35–36)]

line2630 Fro Juyl Kalendis unto the Kalende July 1 Of Janyveer, that is by monthis sixe January 1 The seson is, tymbur to falle an ende, on end Th’umour dryinge in treen. Now sad and fixe Is every pith. But fallinge is bitwixe felling is [best] betweenline2635 XV and XXIIti, when the mone the 15th and 22nd moon Is wanyng; dayis VII is this to done. 7 days

fol. 49r In other tyme or seson if me falle, I fell [them] Worm-eton wil it ben, eek it wil rote. Worm-eaten be, also rot The tymbourmen of craft this knoweth alle. woodcuttersline2640 Of rynde or bark is rende away the cote And dryed thorgh, er it be put to note, dried through, before use For tymbir weet, so wroght, wil aftir shrynke wet And ryve and with right grete disconfort drynke. tear apart drink [seawater]

For if the shippe unto the marynerline2645 Drynke of the see, sone aftir of the same Thei drinketh al, and are of hevy cher. Forthi, the carpenter is wurthi blame Therefore That into shippis wil weet tymbour frame, wet And wurthi thonk is he, that frameth drye,line2650 So that in his defaulte no men deye. error die

[Types of Warships (Veg. 4.33, 37)]

The namys of the shippis as for werre Myn auctour writeth not, save a liburne liburna (a small galley) He writeth of as myghtier and herre higher Of boord, and wight of foote, and light to turne. sideboard swiftline2655 As to the wastom of this shippis sturne, size ship’s stern Thei hadde V or IIII ordris of ooris, orders of oars Or fewer, as the vessel lesse or more is.

And every grete liburne a balynger balinger (i.e., a small ship) Hath had, and that a scafe exploratory scouting skiffline2660 Was named, forto aspie fer and neer. scout far and near Of oorys hadde that not but oon story. one But wight it was to go for a victory. swift The seyl, the maste, and every marynere mariner With see colour wer clad forto unnapere. sea-blue were covered to disappear

[Names of the Winds (Veg. 4.38)]

fol. 49v A navey and an oost that wil governe [whoever] will leadline2666 Uppon the see, him nedeth forto knowe The wyndis. And the wedir to discerne, weather He moste ha wit, leste he be overthrowe. must have knowledge And first the foure cardinals arowe cardinal directionsline2670 Be knowe, as Est and West and North and South, How thei amonge hemself discorde, is couth.

Th’eest cardinal is called Subsolan, East [wind] (Latin: Subsolanus) And on his lifte hond hath he Sir Vulturne, left East-southeast (Latin: Vulturnus) And Colchyas is on his right hond tan, East-northeast (Latin: Caecias) locatedline2675 Septentrion, that cardinal so storne North [wind] (Latin: Septentrio) Out of the North the see wil overtorne, Thocastias his right, and his lift side North-northwest (Latin: Thrascias) Halt Aquylo, what se may theim abide. North-northeast (Latin: Aquilo)

Auster is cardinal meridian, South [wind] (Latin: Auster)line2680 Nothus fol grymly goth on his right side, South-southeast (Latin: Albus notus) And Chorus on the lifte hond forth thei han, South-southwest (Latin: Corus) And Zephirus that cardinal, abide West [wind] (Latin: Zephyrus) Wil in the west, and when him list to ride, when it pleases him Grete Affricus shal ride on his right honde, West-southwest (Latin: Africus)line2685 And Duk Favonius on his lift honde. West-northwest (Latin: Favonius)

If III or oon or tweyne of these up blowe, 3 or one or two Tethis, of hir nature that is tranquylle, Tethys (i.e., the sea) Thei lene uppon, oppresse, and overthrowe, And causeth al crye out that wold be stille.line2690 Thei rore ayeyn, of her thei have her wille. roar The shippe that this conflict seeth and hereth (Heryn beleve me!) his hert it fereth. heart is afraid

fol. 50r Sum varyaunce of tyme will refreyne Her cruelous and feers rebellioun,line2695 Anothir helpith hem to shake her cheyne chain As all the firmament shuld falle adoun And Occian lepe over Caleys toun. Ocean leap Calais And after in a while it is tranquylle And playne and calme, as whos seith, “Husht, be stille!”

line2700 Therfore a storme is whisedom to prevyde, foresee And good it is for se serenyté, to see serenity And fro the storme abide or stopp atide, stop for a time And with meanabil wynd sette on the see. [more] amenable Ful hard it is in peril hym to se, to see him imperilledline2705 That of the wyndes had inspeccioun, Who Is raysonabil in direccioun. [And] is reasonable

[When to Set Sail (Veg. 4.39)]

Thenne is to se the monthis and the dayes Of navygaunce. Forwhy? Not al the yere navigation year The wyndis on the shippis make affrays,line2710 Sum monthis ever are of mery cheer, Some months And summe loure a while, and after cleer some frown (become overcast) Ynough they loke, and summe ar intractabil And ragy wood, ancour to breke and gabil. raging mad, anchor cable

The VIth kalende of Juyn, when Pliades (i.e., 27 May) Pleiadesline2715 Appereth — what is that? the sterrys VII — Appears 7 stars The wyndes alle ar bounden to the pees, bound to peace So that ther nys noo truble undir heven, there is no trouble Until the berth of Arcture al is even, rising of Arcturus That is of Octobir the XVIIIth kalende. (i.e., 14 September)line2720 Seecraft plesaunt hath at this day an ende.

fol. 50v Tho dayis ever are of mery cheer, Those days (i.e., 27 May to 14 September) And thenne unto the IIIde Ide of Novembre (i.e., 11 November) The dayis wil now loure and now be cleer. be gloomy clear For unto now, as bookys me remembre,line2725 Arcture, as from the first Ide of Septembre, (i.e., 13 September) His reigne he hath, and in this meanewhile The firmament wil loure amonge and smyle. at times

Novembir in tempest is al to shake, And aftir unto Marchis Idus VI, (i.e., 10 March)line2730 Viage thenne on see nys noon to take, Voyage sea is not to be taken But in the woose it is t’abide fixe. mud (i.e., water’s edge) to await Also by londe unused is betwixe Alhaleweday and March to goon or ride, All Hallow’s Day (i.e., 1 November) But if a grete necessitee betide. Unless

line2735 Short is the day, the nyght is overlonge, Thicke is the myst, and thestir is the mone, dim is the moon And aftir in ther comth of wynde a thronge, gale That forto stonde he hath ynough to done, [just] to stand That is o londe. A strom is aftir sone Who is on land stormline2740 Of leyt, of wynd, of rayn, of hail, of thondir, lightning That woful is the wight that goth therundir.

And, ovir this, in Marche, Aprile, and May, this [being] over Antiquytee of navigatioun Ancient authorities Dyvers sollennytee and grete aray Diverse festivalsline2745 Was used have in high devotioun, And eke of arte exercitatioun practice To kepe in honde. And as for feat of werre, hand war Thei bood until the sonne ascended herre. waited sun here

[Signs of the Weather (Veg. 4.41)]

fol. 51r And tokenys of tranquille and tempeste, signsline2750 Of wynde and rayn, thei hadden in the moone. moon Of tokenys this was surest and best: Reed is the mone, it wil be wynde right sone, Red moon soon To take see theryn is good to shone. take sail shun The pale mone is lyke to have a rayn.line2755 The pale rede is wynde and storm, thei sayn. pale red [moon]

And when the mone ariseth glad and bright, clear And namely the day that is the pryme, first appearance of the new moon Withoute humour, in hornys sharpe and light, clouds crescent To take a grete viage is right good tyme. long voyageline2760 But if the sonne telle of eny cryme, crime (i.e., bad weather) As is if he arise undir a cloude, That day in rayn and wynd is wont to croude. likely to be full

His bright arisith is like a mery day, His rede arisith is like a breef to blowe,line2765 And maculous, is shour or cloudis ay, variegated And pale arisith wil reyn or ellis snowe. A tokyn eke of rayn is the raynbowe. In wynde and ayer, in fish and foule, Virgile air fowl The signys seyth that may no man begile. Records the signs beguile

[The Tides (Veg. 4.42)]

line2770 The maryners, thei sayn, have al this art mariners Of wydiringe. And thei be wedir wise, weather-reading. If weather By discipline of it ha thei no part, schooling But of a longe usage or exercise. Wel knowe thei, the reume if it arise, tide (Greek, rheuma)line2775 An aker is it clept, I undirstonde, current called Whos myght ther may no ship or wynd withstonde.

fol. 51v This reume in th’Occian of propur kynde the Ocean Withoute wynde hath his commotioun. The maryner therof may not be blinde,line2780 But whenne and where in every regioun It regneth, he moste have inspectioun. It occurs be mindful of it For in viage it may both hast and tary speed and slow And unadvised therof al myscary. [those] ignorant of it

The marinere, er he come at congresse before he comes to strikeline2785 Or counturinge, uppon the see bataile, sea battle Wil his navey so for the reume adresse, tide prepare As may been his adverser dissavaile enemy And hindiraunce, and also his availe. help This may be doon anoon, for a liburne liburna (a small galley)line2790 With wynde or oorys, as me wil, may turne. oars

[Navigators (Veg. 4.43)]

The maister marynere, the governour, master mariner He knoweth every cooste in his viage And port saluz. And forthi grete honour welcome ports He hath, as worthi is, and therto wage. wages accordinglyline2795 The depper see, the gladder he. For rage deeper [the] sea Of wynde or of bataile if ther abounde, The surer he, the ferre he be fro grounde. further he is from land

He knoweth every rok and every race, rock current The swolewys and the starrys, sonde and sholde, whirlpools depths and shallowsline2800 And where is deep ynough his foo to chace. And chese a feeld he can, bataile to holde, choose a field And myghtily sette on liburnys bolde, liburnae First with the frounte al undir see to route, forward underwater ram destroy And, as a thought, anoon be brought aboute.

fol. 52r The maister of the shippe, he muste be wyis.line2806 The mariners most be ful diligent, And myghti rowing up at point device rowing in perfect order Is to been had at his commaundement, That storne and ooris go by oon assent stern and oars oneline2810 Forth right to sette uppon, and light to turne, Ful gret avauntage haldeth this liburne.

[Tactics in Naval Warfare (Veg. 4.45)]

And as o londe an oost may be prevent on land fleet And leyde awayt uppon, right so by see laid wait upon (i.e., ambushed) sea At ilis or in streytys pertynent isles suitable straitsline2815 A bushement to falle uppon may be. An ambush Rathest out of aray is good to se Most especially out of order see When that thei be. The reume and strem and wynde tide current With you and countour hem is good to fynde. against

Or wayte on hem, for wery or aslepe, wearyline2820 Or when thei leest of thi comynge suppose, least Or in a rode as is no wey to crepe anchorage creep Away, but that ye must been in their nose. (i.e., in front of them) Al that is you to wynne, is hem to lose, And if thei can avoyde alle your cautelis, avoid strategemsline2825 Thenne uch his right, the feeld and fight to dele is.

Thenne in a feelde a frounte of this liburnys these liburnae It is to sette, and not as on the londe not [in straight lines] land An oost. And whi? For inward it to turne is, The hornys as a sharp cressaunt to stonde, sharp crescentline2830 A bosomynge amyddis to be founde, curving in the middle That umbego ye may your adversary surround And close hem enviroun, and with you cary. close around them

[Naval Battle Described]

fol. 52v But on the hornys be liburnys sturne wings liburnae stout With myghtiest and booldest men of werre,line2835 Aboute our foon of myscreaunce to turne, our foes With confidence hem for to seyn: “Ye erre! You err! Com undir us, and knowe your over-herre Be obedient [to] us overlord Moost gracioux, knowe him your souverayne. And wil ye not? At youre perile and peyne!” pain

line2840 The beemys, up thei goth out of the trumpe planks trumpets And every brayn astonyeth their reson. The firmament, lo! clariounys crumpe curved horns To crye uppon, and lo! it comth adoun With angelis, ye, mony a legioun,line2845 To countour perjurie and myscreaunce perjury And surquydrye and disobeyssaunce. pride

In every man thei setteth fortitude they (the angels) bolster strength And high magnificence and confidence, Perseveraunt for trouth to concludeline2850 With adiuvaunce of myghti patience, assistance And on the part adverse, an impotence opposing party With couwardise and diffident dispayre despair lacking in confidence Wil ferdfully with trembelyng repayre. fearfully

The canonys, the bumbard, and the gunne, cannons bombard gunline2855 Thei bloweth out the voys and stonys grete, sound of battle and large stones Thorgh maste and side and other be thei runne. mast hull propelled In goth the serpentyne aftir his mete. serpentine target The colveryne is besy forto gete culverin An hole into the top. And the crappaude top [of the ship] crapaudeauline2860 Wil in. The fouler eek wil have his laude. veuglaire also praise

fol. 53r The covey fleeth as foulis thorgh the sayle. The pavice are accombred with coventys, Yet on thei come, and us thei wil assaile. The bowe unnumerabil redy bent is, innumerable bowsline2865 The shaft fro th’ere anende it goth. Apprentys Th’onagir is and the carribaliste, The fundubal and the manubaliste. slinger manuballista

The catafract, plumbate, and scorpioun, cataphract, lead balls The dart and arpagoun in dayis olde grappling-hookline2870 Were had. And are amonge us leyde adoun Crosbowys yet. And crankelons ar bolde, crank-bows With wildefier to brenne al in the folde: Greek fire to burn The malliol goth out with the fallary, fire-dart (malleolus) fire-shaft The wildefier to bere our adversary.

line2875 Yet on they come. Awaite uppon the toppe top [of the ship] Good archery. The storm of shot as hail So rayketh on. Thei dar not shewe her croppe their heads Ner in the mastys topp, ner undir sail. mast’s top, nor Yet haile hem in a myghti voys: “Hail, hail!line2880 Come undir your Kyng Harry! Fy! O pride!” Thei wil not th’rof, attonys on hem ride. will not do it, at once

Bende up, breke everych oore in the mytside Pull break every oar midships That hath a rash. Help hem, lo! thei goth undir. has action To this mysaventure hemself thei gide. they lead themselvesline2885 Lo, how thei cracke on every side asondir! asunder What tempest is on hem! What leyt and thondir! lightning and thunder On grapesinge anoon, let se their fleete, grappling What hertys are in hem with us to mete! hearts to meet [in battle]

fol. 53v Armure and axe and spere of over wight of exceeding strengthline2890 Is over light. As sparkelys in rede, Are shining bright sparks in red [flames] So sparkel they on helm and herneys bright. harness The rammys and twibil the side out shrede rams two-bill axe Of ship and mast. Doun goth the sail in dede! indeed Up goth our hook! Now it is on their gabil. [grappling] hook riggingline2895 Lo! ther it lyeth! This batail is notabil. lies

Summe into se go, fisshes forto fede, [the] sea to feed Summe undir hacch ar falde adoun for fere, under hatches are fallen down And summe above, her hert blood to bleede, [remain] above decks, their heart’s And summe seke hemself they wote ner where.line2900 And summe crye: “Alas, that we come there! Mischefe upon mysgovernaunce betide! Lo! pride hath us betrapped! Fy, O pride!”

“Com on! With us ye shal go se the kyng, The gracious. Have of anoon this gere! Take off at once this gearline2905 Ye muste have on another herneysing: harnessing A gyngeling of jessis shal ye were. jingling of fetters wear Ye shal no lenger stondyn in this fere. stand in this company O Silver Bere, O Lilial Lioun, Bear Lily-white Lion O Goldon Eagle! Where is your renoun?”

line2910 Thus may be doon, if that it be forseyn foreseen Of our meryte in souverayn providence. in the sovereign’s providence Forthi forwith do every wight his peyne his effort Sleuth out to holde, and have in diligence Sloth diligently Sette up the werk. And spare noon expenseline2915 Of Goddis honde. Although ye have victory, Yet in the knotte is al th’onour and glory. knot [of the Trinity]

fol. 54r Knytte up the werk, and say: “Hail, Haliday! Holy Day The werre intraneous of al this londe internal war Is at an ende!” Here nys no more affray. is nothing more to fearline2920 Justice is heer peasibilly to stonde. peacefully And al the world shal telle of Engelonde And of the kyngis high magnificence, king’s And been adred t’attempte it with offense. afraid

[Naval Weapons (Veg. 4.46)]

But forto knytte a knotte uppon this book, compose a conclusionline2925 That is to sey, therof to make an ende, What is the ram, this twibil, and this hook, two-bill axe That helpeth us this shippis thus to shende? these ships destroy The ram, a beem is, by the mast suspende, beam That as a saylis yerde is smal and longe, like a yard-armline2930 On either ende an iron hed to fonge. fasten

A rammys or a snailis hed theron ram’s or snail’s head Ther may be sette, with streght or caumber horn. angled horn On either side it may sette on our foon, side [of our ship] beset foes With myghti hand adoun that thei be born.line2935 Ther nys nothing may stonde ther beforn. before [it] For of the shippe it breketh out the side, Unnethe may the mast his myght abide. Scarcely strength

The hook of iron kene is and of strengthe, sharp iron And like a sithe uppon a myghti sperre, scytheline2940 And not to gret, but of an huge lengthe, too large And polissed to bace and make it herre. on pulleys to lower higher The gabelis that in a ship of werre cables war Bere up the sail, herwith may be fordone, cut So may the stay and shroudis everychone. shrouds (rigging ropes)

fol. 54v The twibil is an axe with double bite. two-bill double edgeline2946 And therwithal in myddis of the maste with that, in the middle What maryneris dede, is hard to wite, mariners did know But fele it hurte. And fele it made agaste. many afraid Now faste until an ende I wil me haste, quickly to the conclusionline2950 Yet first th’onagir and carribaliste, onager carroballista What thing it was, it were good we wiste. it would be good for us to know

[Naval Weapons (Veg. 4.22)]

Th’onagir was an huge and myghti bowe, Strynged with nerf. Therwith the stonys grete, sinew great stones In maner of a thonderynge were throwe. like a thunderingline2955 And for defaute of nerf, hors heer was gete if lacking sinews, horse hair To strynge hem with, and rather then forlete abandon The help therof, their heer Romaynys wyvis, the hair of Roman wives Kitte of, to strynge hem with, and save her lyvys. Cut off lives

Theim lever was to have her goode husbandis Their preferenceline2960 With honestee, and with their hedis bare, Then dishonest be led to straunge londys, Dispareged, her mariage forfare. forfeit O, mony oon of yon goode wyvys are, That charge more vertue and honestee care more aboutline2965 Then worldly good or bodily beautee.

In carris had for hem, carribalistis carts built carroballistae Wer sette. Thei were as bowis are of brake: like crossbows Oon more of hem then X manubalistis, Of nerf or heer stringis for hem wer take.line2970 Their myghti shot made herte and herneys quake. heart harness They and th’onagre bowys myghtieste: [are the] mightiest bows Tymbir that oon, stonys that other keste. that other (the onager) cast

[Epilogue]

fol. 55r Of th’olde world the brightest herneysinge, ancient harnessing Best ordinaunce and myghtieste mad were.line2975 O chivalers, to you this is to bringe, this (the old ways) The beste ye chese. And yet a point go nerre: O Lady myn, Maria, lode-sterre, Mary, lodestar Licence me toward the lond. Beholde! Guide See-seke am I. Ful fayn o lande I wolde! Sea-sick Very glad on land

line2980 Hail, porte saluz! With thi pleasaunt accesse, happy port Al hail Caleis! Ther wolde I faynest londe. Calais most gladly land That may not Joon! Whi so? For thei distresse John (i.e., a fellow) Alle, or to deye, or with her wrong to stonde. either to die their wrong That wil I not to wynne al Engelonde! [even] to win all Englandline2985 What myght availe? A litil heer to dwelle, result here And world withouten ende abide in Helle!

O litil case, O povere hous, my poort poor house Saluz thou be, until that ayer amende, Happy heir That is to sey, until another soortline2990 Governe there, that by the kyng be sende. Yit let me se, what way my wit is wende. mind is turning In this tretys, first is th’electioun the selection Of werreours: as for the legioun, legion [they should be]

Yonge, and statured wel, of up o londeline2995 And laborers, be taught to pace and renne run And lepe and shote, and with a dart in honde leap and shoot Shakyng uppon the Sarrasins that grenne, Saracens snarl To shote quyk, and to swymme over whenne The ryver is to deep. There every gise meansline3000 Of hosteyinge and fight hath exercise. warfare practice

fol. 55v The part secounde hath the divisioun Of al an oost, wheryn is tolde of th’aide, the auxiliary That subsequent is to the legioun, Wherin t’everych office his part is leyde. discussedline3005 Theer of a feeld al ordinannce is seyde, With evitatioun of al perile. avoidance Who redeth it, therate among wil smyle. reads smile

The IIIde part, provideth and vitaileth provides supplies And paeseth th’ooste, and voydeth al myschaunce, pacifiesline3010 And al that in the journeyinge availeth, Is here to rede, and what feeld may avaunce to [be] read An ooste to fighte, and every ordinaunce How is to sette, and in conflicte how VII fighting how 7 Weyis ther ar the quyckest undir heven. Ways