[Book 3. Chap: 20, Plate 1 in the 1905 edition, which suggests that this chapter was "evidently meant to come here", though in the original MS it is placed "after Chapters XXI. and XXII". In this edition it is treated as Chapter 18 Plate b. The entries are not numbered. and the numbering indicated by Randle Holme does not fit the surviving text. The chapters and sections have therefore been numbered following on from Plate 18a; The cross-references listed below have been copied to the headings of the sections indicated.
No original plate survives but most of the text descriptions are accompanied by their images.]
HAVEING now done with souldiery: and some other sorts of beareings haueing presented themselues to my view I could not passe them ouer in silence, seeing they are so remarkable, though they should haue come in before in former plates.
Add these following to Martiall engins, ca. 18. [preceding section of chapter 18]
At n.11. Adde these to things for distillation, ca.11.
At n.30. Refiners of Metells Instruments.
At n.36. Adde these to chirurgions Instruments, ca.11. 12.
n.29 Bookbinders Instruments adde to ca.9.
Vine or shade
This engine of war was by the Romans called the Vinea, this is the Vine or shade, because it secured the souldiers from the
violence of stones and darts. It was made and compact of light timber, about 8 foot high, 7 foot broade, and 16 foot long. The
couering of it is with boards and Hurdles, the out sides couered with raw hides or Tilt clothes that it might not be set on fire: a
number of these are set or ioyned together in a row, vnder which the besiegers being safe do peirce the foundation of a wall to throw it down.
Pluteum
This is an other kind of engine of the like Nature and is called Pluteum or Pluteus, which represents a desk or a couch frame for an
approach to an enimyes wall. It is made after the maner of a vault or arch with boards or Rods and couered ouer with lether, and
are moued as it were a cart, where soeuer they will with sheeles. These do the besiegers bring to the wall and stand vnder them
to be defended against arrowes, stones, and darts, while they are vndermineing of it, to cast it down.
But that which they called Agger, being a kind of Bulwork or counter-Mure, is a work raised of earth and wood against a Wall, from which darts are thrown vpon the enimy.
Roman fire arrow
This is a Roman Fire Arrow, and is them termed Malleolus, which is by Mr Coles English
a Bavin or Spray too fire a place, they are
great Arrows, or darts, wrapt about with Brimstone, Rosen, pitch, and towe socked in oyle apt to burn; which being cast by violence
of their other Engins, burn all things where they light.
Related text(s) Phalarica
Sambuca or roman siege tower
These are the formes of two of the Roman wooden Towers or Turrets, by which they used to assault and take the walls of a citty or castle:
they are termed Sambuca, that is a frame of timber, with a tower for souldiers to stand in, fixt on the top of it, with ropes and a Bridg to
draw vp and let down, either at the bottom or midle of the said frame.
Petard carriage
The Bridge which is thus drawn vp and let down is termed Exostra, which now we English to be a Petard carriage to advance it to a Gate
to break it open: so these bridges were suddenly stretched out of the tower vnto the wall, for the souldiers to issue forth and go ouer it to
invade the walls, such kind of engines were used by Judas Maccabeus as you may read.
Tolleno
This Instrument called a Tolleno or Tollonius, a sweep or engine to draw water or the like up, and in warr is made of a Beam made fast
in the earth or with feet, on the top thereof is an other beam ioyned ouerthwart and turned on an Iron pin, so that when one end is pulled
down the other riseth up, at which end is fastned with ropes an Hurdle or round Vessell or boards for a few men to stand on; Then
pulling the contrary end down with ropes, the men are lifted vp, and so set vpon the walls.
Roman catapault
This is an other kind of Roman engine devised to shoot both stones and arrows.
Balistrum magnum
This is an other Roman engine to cast forth great stones as out of a sling: and I suppose this was it with which they
termed Balistrum magnum, or Balista Fulminaris being very great, usually set to defend the Banks of a Riuer and
keep an enimy from landing.
Mortar
A Morter peece as it is without its carriage.
Mortar carriage
The forme of the carriage of a Morter
Peece.
Petriero
The Petriero [as] some call it ---- they are great wide mouth guns with single
rings about them, all the length of them and
open in the top neere the Breech at which
place they are charged with [a] muscole or moveable chamber, loaden with powder and
small scattering shott, which is clapt in at
the open place, and soe fired. A single
person may manage on of the guns though
they may be long and wide; for they are set
in a Rest on a carriage made for them, which
rest will turn any way so that the Guner doth
in a moment turn the mouth any way which
he perceiues his enimy to come vpon him:
they are most used in sea fights, for the
cleareing the decks, when a ship is boarded
by an enimy.
Petriero carriage
The carriage of a Petriero, with the rest
fixed vpon the top of it which is all Iron and
in an Iron socket put into the carriage it
turneth round as the Guner pleaseth. Some
Guners call this kind of Carriage a Cavaletto,
haueing onely three feet, two before and one
behind, each haueing a small wheele at the
bottome.
Ballons
This is an other kind of devouring much
like the Morter and is by the French a Trabucchi, we in England a Ballons call it.
Muscole
This is a fire peece, and is termed a Muscole, of some a Moscolo, it is a moveable
chamber whereby a Petriero is charged and
fired and then taken out again to charg.
Spire
A Spire fixed on a tomb, Imbraced or enwraped with an Ivie branch.
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