Jacob de Gheyn II

The Exercise of Armes For Calivres, Muskettes, and Pikes

After the ordre of his Excellence. Maurits Prince of Orange Counte of Nassau etc. Governour and Captaine generall over Geldreland. Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht. Overyssel. etc.

Set forthe in figures by Jacob de Gheyn.

With written Instructions for the service of all Captaines and Comaundours. For to showe hereout the better unto their jong or untrayned Souldiers the playne and perfett maner to handle these Armes.

Printed at the Hage. With Priviledge of the Emperours Ma.^tie the King of Fraunce, and the Noble and mightye Estates General of the united Provinces

To the Prince.

Nor your highnes, nor any man to whose vew this present booke shall come, shall need to finde it strange, either, why it hath borrowed an English habitt, or shrowded it selfe under so great a protection: since on the one side it represents unto You that manner of exercise of Armes, which hath for many yeares bene practised in this schoole of warre, the United Provinces, and that, by a Captayne whose worth (I thinke) not any part of the world is ignorant of: in which warre the valure of the English and Schottish nations (now Brittaynes) hath bene of that speciall marke and note, that, for readye use of theyr Armes, provident care of the Commaunders and commendable obedience of the Souldier towards his chiefe, it can not be denyed but that the Provinces have received verye acceptable services at theyr handes. On the other side: to whom could I (in judgement) more fitly and (as I may saye) justly, addresse the proprietye of a worke of this worthe and nature? then to a Prince descended from so many powerfull and victorious Kinges, who even by destyny and judgement of all the world, is not onely the heyre of theyr Fortunes, but an inheritour of theyr vertues also: then to a Prince the sonne of the most puissant Kinge of all his predecessours: who, though he blesseth his Realmes with the sweetenesse of peace, yet (doubtelesse) he placeth the securitie of that content, in the due and lawfull exercise of Armes. Lately, to whom rather (I saye) should I dedicate this worke? then to a Prince, that through the light of his owne proper example, doth so much beautifye and ennoble the practise of Armes, who even in the fore-springe of his yeares and amidst so many other princely entertaynements fitt for his youth and state, doth yet give such a lustre to this of Armes, by the coutinuall familiaritye he hath with them in his often practise, that I thinke I may saye, and saye truely, that the most true and perfect knowledge of them is rather to be found with your Highnes, then brought to You. Therefore, as all those excellent professours of excellent sciences (wherein yet your Highnes excells them all) are every one in speciall duety bound, to give the best testymonye they can of theyr thankefulnesse, both in regard of the favour which some receive in being nere You, and also of the honour which You doe to all theyr professions, in not disdayninge to participate with theyr industries: So have I in all humble and due respect, thought it fitt, to tender You this acknowledgement of myne, hopinge that your Highnes shall receive no small contentement, by addinge the longe experience of the Nether-lands practise to Your owne knowledge of ancient Histories, and those wise and deep-grounded instructions of that great Monarche the Kinge Your Father.

Your Highnes his. Most humble servant in all duetye at command.

Jacob de Gheyn.

To Those That Love the Exercise of Arms Wissheth Jacob de Gheyn Heath and prosperitie.

It is out of all doubt, that neither the quietneße of a common wealthe without armes, nor the armes without convenient or due exercise, can stand or be maintained. Which hath not onely bene well considered by the old sages or wise, that have undertaken to give any examples of lawe, but is approoved by the effectuall experience of the most famous Townes and People, that have preserved their Estate chieflye by those meanes. And examining the further course of the whole World, we shall find, that the soveraigne powre hath alwayes bene by those which here in did most surpasse theyr neighbours. The Grecians, in the time thye have bene in theyr most shyning glorie have much embraced this point, and therein by theyr witt not little proffited. Yet the Romains have farre surpaßed here in as well those as all others, and ever exercised theyr youth at all kinde of armes by those whom they called Campi-doctores or Mastres of the field. Which maner is playnelye showed unto us, in the writinges that are thereof come to our handes, the same reason standeth fast for ever, and with all nations. But in regard that not onely the use but even the armes themselves are much changed chiefly sithence the findinge out of Gun pouder, it can not be denied but that wee can reape small or no benefite by the old rehearsals, without wee have neewe instructions. His Princely Ex^ce. therefore the Earle Maurice of Naßau &c. to whose care (by the Lords Estates generall of the united Provinces) is left the charge of defending so worthie countries and the conducting of a warre which is taken for a schoole or patterne to the whole World, Like as he throughout the whole militarie order (before his times much decayed) hath restored and partelye brought to the examples of the old, partely by his owne inventions amended and adorned, so hath he taken great regard to the exercise of Armes, as one of the principall partes of the militarie ordre, where out are risen such comodites as unto every man is knowne not onely in these Countries but also in the uttermost partes of the worlde. This hath bene the chiefe cause that hath mooved me to give out the order which his Princely Ex^ce. in the using of the Calivres, Muskets and Pikes doth observe as the perfectest and best patterne, as well to pleasure those whose duety it is to followe the order of his directions, as to accomodate any other who shall seeke to draw benefytt to hym self by so necessary exercise and practise of armes. Having to that purpose drawne all the postures that come in the holding or using of the armes by order and the same described with his reasons and wordes of com̄and: A worke (without question) very fitt for novices and yonge souldiers to whom it belongeth to exercise themselves with great diligence herein, verye necessarye also to all Captaynes and Comandors the better to looke to the exercising of souldiers, and lastly verie proffitable to all Princes and People, be it in tyme of warre the better to defend them selves, and offend theyr ennemyes or be it in time of peace with the more facilitye (by this kinde of exercising) to draw a better aßurance to themselves, and become the more dreadfull and redoubted to others. Seeuing then our meaning goeth no further then to instruct the untrained souldiers and to reinforce the minde of the expert by the sight and reading of it: No man shall finde it strange that wee in drawing of the Pikes, onely set that which for the use of the same is most necessarye, omitting diverse māners of toßing of the pike by forme of recreation, which in militarie exercise bringeth little benefite or profite. Concerning the different or sutable apparell and armes of the figures, there is to be considered, that the shott with head peeces, and the Muskettiers with hattes are drawne and differently appareled, not that we holde it for neceßarie, but that such varietye might give the fuller ornament to the figures, and to showe to posteritie the manner of souldiers apparel used in these dayes, Like as on the other side the Pikemen are all armed after one sorte or kinde, for no other reason then to represent the right māner and fashon of the arminge of his Ex^cc. owne Garde, as it is at this tyme. ln the small shot and Musquettiers, you shall also consider that the first figure showeth how a man shall holde a Musket or Caliver already charged upon his shoulder, and the other pictures followinge tell what is further to be done bothe for discharging, and lykewyse for charging againe of the peece. And because that every man standing still shall knowe how to behaue him self in tyme of need, there is pro-

perly set downe in the ende ech severall picture with his severall difference of stand or posture and that to give truer light to the judgement of the observer. But above all is to be well considered that which seemes here to require a leasurly and slow proceeding in the apprehension (by reason of the smalenes of the sculpture which could not conveniently be otherwise formed) that I say) must the industrious learner with a diligent practise strive to bringe to a nimble and quicke readines of action. Nevertheleße so, as that in the best fashon and with the most care and providence he make it appear that it is to offend the ennemy without hurting or anoynig him self or his fellowe, the rest the written instructions and the pictures shall shewe.

Shorte Instruction Upon the Contrefaictinges, Touching the Right Use of Calivers, for the yonge or inexpert Shot, which instruction by Cypher letters is agreeing or answering orderly with every picture. And because here to are joyned some pictures of standing still for sentenels, to shew how the souldier in tyme of need (readie with his peece) shall stand, there fore doe the writinges also there of agree with every figure or picture, according his number.

Shot.

First of al is in this figure showed to every Shot how he shall stand and Marche well, and also hold and carye his Caliver, Matche and Rapier: That is to say, he shall in laying on the peece joyne the Seer close to the shoulder, holding it with the left hand, and that about the hollowe or thumb-hole of the stock, and not at the end there of, remembring alwayes to cary it with the mouth up, least if by chaunce the peece went of, he should hurt his fellowe, he shall also hold the match burning or kindled at bothe the endes, betwixt the two least fingers of the same left hand, holding the same hanging downewards within the stock, to the end that he may lenghthen the same at all tymes, and to use and change one end after an other, shall also besides his flaske or charges, carye about him a tutchboxe with tutch pouder, to put out of the same and not out of the flaske or charges, the sayd pouder in to the pan.

In the 2. figure is taught, how he going and preparing him self to shoote, shall take the peece from the neck, that is to say, he shall not with the left hand pull the peece from the shoulder, but shall take it with the right hand onely (like as this figure sheweth) beyond the great skrue, because the peece fals there, (benig ballanced in the hand) much lighter, and shall take it of with one hand alone (whereby shall be sene that he is mayster of his peece) sinking it a little in the left hand without bending or hanging his bodye towards it.

In the 3, how he shall hold and governe the peece before he take it in the left hand, he shall with the right hand hold the peece in ballance, with the mouth upwards, without tutching the bodye, and have readie the left hand to meete the peece and to receavce it in the same.

In the 4. how he shall carye the peece in the left hand, standing and going, not onely easely and well, but also hold it in ballance in the same hand, that it doe not lye to high nor to low, and also not hurt his fellowe if the peece went of by chaunce, setting for ease and suretye sake the elbow against his hyppe, like as this figure teatcheth.

In the 5. how he shall well and proprelye take the match out of the left hand with the tumb and second finger, holding alwayes the peece in a due hight, as well for the ease, as for not to hurt his fellowe unadvisedlye, and although that generally (for some good respects) we have ordayned to take the matche betwixt the thumb and second finger, yet is it not our purpose so precisely to binde a man thereto, as that he maye not take the same betwixt the thumb and two next fingers, if that be easier for him.

In the 6. how he shall blow of the match and hold it wel betwixt the thumb and second finger, before he do put it upon the Cock, that is to saye, he shall bring the match handsomely neare the mouth, and blow of the same under the hand, without bending him self to much thereto, like as this figure sheweth.

In the 7. how he shall with the thumb and the second finger, bring the match into the Cock, and not skrue it in, for to loose no tyme and is te be understood, that he alwayes a fore hand, shall direct the widenesse of the Cock to the thicknesse of the match, for to be the sooner readie to shoote.

In the 8. how he shall hansomly trye his matche and with the thum and second finger governe the same, to the end he may make it presently longer, shorter, as also higher, and so set the fame that the peece do not faile or refuse him.

In the 9. how he shall blow of the match speedely and well, and being well blowne of, finely with open armes and with the two fore fingers cover the pan lid for the sparkes, and shall open the same

Jacob de Gheyn II

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