Petard
144. He beareth a petard
hung upon a gate by a fork.
This is a petard fixed vpon its Madrier and soe set against a Gate to blow it open. The petard is made of fine red copper with a tenth part of brasse, they are made of diverse weights, according to the places they be imployed at, as from 15 to 60 or 70 pound weight of mettle. It is made wider in the mouth then the breech, and the mettle much thicker there, then at the Mussell ring: the charg being ramed in, with towe or Linen raggs, a wooden Trencher or plug of an Inch thick, Justly filled; must be put in and molten wax or Rosin powred on it to close the rifts and to keep water from getting in if perchance it should fall into the water. The pipe in the touch hole must be laded, with a slow mixture of fine powder, sulphur and salt peter, made into a past with oyle of peter, that beeing fired the Petardier may haue leasure to retreat, before the reverse of the petard surprize him. The easiest way to hang it on Barrs or gates is by a fork as thes figure sheweth: and between the petard and the gate there must be a Madrier or Wooden Planchier placed; the perticulars are set down in the succeeding figures numb:145. 152.
Petard
145. In this square are two war
engins: that in cheif is called a petard,
or petarre by the French called a petart,
it is made of Brass or Iron after the
forme of a Bell or Mortar, and filled
with powder, and then with towe or
Linnen raggs hard ramed down. It is
fixed vpon the out side of a citty or
castle gate, which being fired is able to
blow the portculis and gate to peeces
thereby to make an easie entrance into
an enimyes strong hold.
Rolling bridge
In the base is the rowling Bridge
fixt on two wheels for it more easie
conveyance: of some termed the chariot
or carriage of a petard, for the petard
being set on the forks at the further
end, it is then rowled away to the gate,
which if it haue a ditch before it then
it is by the slight of handspikes raised
vp at the petard end, and so run full to
the Bridg or gate notwithstanding the
ditch or other hinderance in the way.
Only there is this difference betweene these two, the Rowling bridge is couered with planks, and is of an equall breadth from one end to the other; and the chariot hath the rails or peeces held together with barrs a foot or more distant from each other, the picked end, or points are but one foot in breadth, and at the other end 3 foot broad: the length to the wheels 20 foot, and from them to the hinder part 6 foot, where it must haue a counterpoise at the taile; the wheeles are about 3 foot and halfe high, turning on an Iron Axletree.
Related text(s) Tortoise
Roman captains head
Image from proof plate146. He beareth a Roman captain's head armed with a scarf about his shoulders.
Roman captains head
Image from proof plate147. He beareth the head of a Roman captain or centurion.
Armed men
Image from proof plate148. He beareth two Armed men cap a pee, combating.
Armed man
Image from proof plate149. He beareth a man armed supporting an escutcheon and holding a staff
Roman captain
Image from proof plate150. He beareth a demy Roman captain with a Bastinado, or captain's staff.
Gabions
Image from proof plate151. He beareth three cannon baskets.
These are also called Gabions, they are basketts filled full of earth and set before the canons and great guns in field fights as the next example will manifest.
Cannon and gabions
Image from proof plate152. He beareth a Canon mounted and placed betweene two canon Basketts.
Madrier
In the sinister chief is a Madrier, that
is a strong and thick planchier or plank
with strong plates of Iron, on both sides,
this they use to tye the petard vpon,
thereby to hang it vpon a gate or portculis, as i haue shewed before in
numb:
114. 145.
Barricades
Image from proof plate153. He beareth a Barrocade: else say two square posts, with a Barre barbed, throw them. This is a way whereby passages, and high rodes are often stopped vp, that neither horse nor foote come that way: and oftymes wayes are thus blocked up to hinder the pursute of an enimy, (and for diuers other causes) with posts, chaines, carts, Harrows, and crosse peeces of great tymbers, &c.
There is also an other way of Barrocading as this in the dexter base of this quarter doth demonstrate; which is by setting vp of pales at a little distance, and fastening them by overcrosse barres, or by wreathen boughs crosse wayes between them.
Ancient british town
Image from proof plate154. He beareth an auncient British towne, or Fort. This was the Maner of our Ancestors fortifying themselves, against their enimyes, which was nothing else, but staked and wound hedges about their houses, who would liue quietly and ciuilly togather: the more ruder sort liued in woods and caves.
Caesar
Image from proof plate155. He beareth a Caesar or Roman Emperour in his auncient robes and Habilments.
Roman soldier
Image from proof plate156. He beareth a Roman souldier Turned Backwards.
Morocco or blackamoor king
Image from proof plateA Morocco, or Black-Moor King in his cordirobe habite, or Roman habilments, and Mantle on his back; holding a couered cup in his right hand.
Fort
Image from proof plate158. He beareth in a field of Mars, a foure square fort with as many flankers, a Mote or ditch, with retrenchments. This fort according to the termes of Art and according to the Inginers rule is called a fort royall, a cittadell, or a Fortification vpon a quaderangle compassed with a ditch, and counterscarpe, and strengthened with Ravelines.
Related text(s) Fort types Fortifications Fortification lines and angles Town fortifications
Bulwarks
Image from proof plate159. In this quarter are two formes of Bulworked made for the defence of a place. The first which is in the cheife is a Line, or courtine extended throughout the field, strengthend or Fortified, or Flanked with a double tongue, between two Bastions, or Bulworks.
The second is that in fesse, which is a Line flanked with a Redoubt betweene two Bulworks, strenthend with a Moat or ditch and counterscarpe, haueing a Raveline, and horne workes before it.
Fortifications
Image from proof plateIn the cheife part of this quarter, is a kind of Fortification, which Inginers according to their termes of Art call, a Line or Fortification strenthened, or flanked with three Bastons made with Orillons (or Casements or Eares). This hath bine an old way of making Bulworks with it flankers turned round, or else cut with Angles after this maner, as the flankers are in the figure engraven in the midle of this same square. But the use of both is now cast out of doors as uselesse.
The second maner of Fortification is by stone walls, by which Cittyes, and great townes are compassed in, which are also fenced by high Mounts, watch Towers and such like, as the figure on this quarter doth demonstrate, being a semicircle wall of stone, fenced with foure sentinell or watch a. the angles of the face of the bastion towers.
Palizados
Image from proof plate161. He beareth fixed to a Barre in basse, couped fiue pales pomettee; headed with pointed spikes. These in souldiers terme are called Palizados: of which there are two sorts, those for a wall, which stand with their sharp ends forwards, which is to preuent scaleing of a fort. These for a gate, which stand with the points vpright, and are to hinder an enimyes surprizeing of a gate, or stop him in his pasage. Some terme these stacados, or pickados erected.
Related text(s) Military architecture Fortification orthography Military terms Besieging Things necessary for armies Rules of fortification Irregular fortifications
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