[132] Born 14th November 1567.
[133] See the English translation of the Tactics, by Captain John Bingham, 1619.
[134] Hear, for instance, Tavannes, whom his writings prove to have been in many respects an excellent soldier: "Cette grande invention d'exercice pratiquée en Flandre avec leurs demi-tours à gauche et à droit—les anciens qui n'en usaient pas (!) ne laissaient de combattre aussi bien ou mieux que maintenant" (Mémoires). Tavannes began to write in 1599-1600, and died in 1629.
[135] Perhaps the following explanation will make this clearer:—Where an English officer would now give the word "Form fours" (to convert two ranks into four), the Dutch officer would have given, "To the right hand double your files." Where the Englishman would give the word "Front" (to reconvert four ranks into two), the Dutchman would have said, "To the left hand double your ranks."
[136] 1599.
[137] Its bore was of thirty bullets to the pound.
[138] These stoppages were known even then by the name of "off-reckonings."
[139] Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Gelderland, Overyssel, Frieland, Groningen.
[140] I have followed the narrative of Sir Clements Markham (The Fighting Veres) in preference to that of Motley in the description of the battle, being satisfied after careful consultation of the authorities that his account is the more accurate.
[141] Hexham. This is the first instance that I have encountered of the word parade, which is evidently of Spanish origin.