A Table, shewing the signification of sundry forraine
words, vsed in these discourses.


GEntle Reader, for as much as in these Military discourses, I
haue vsed some words and termes, somwhat straunge vnto
such as haue not frequented forraine warres, nor haue anie
great insight in forraine languages, I haue therefore thought 
good both to declare the signification of such words, and al­
so to shew my reasons for vsing the same.

First you are to vnderstand that most of our termes now
vsed in warres are deriued from straungers;as the French, the
Italian, the Spaniard and the Dutch; wherin euery one almost haue their seuerall
pronuntiation; therefore I hold it good, to vse such war termes and words,as
we do borrow from straungers (as most languages doe borrow some, more or
lesse, one of another)neare after the same nature, orthographie & accent, as those
nations do, from whom they are deriued : and not to pronounce and vse them o­
uer corruptly,as we commonly doe. As for example. The word Caporall, which is
a meere Italian, and also vsed by the French,we corruptly do both write and pro­
nounce Corporall : for Caporall doth signifie the head and chiefe of a squadra,
or small company of souldiers :and is an officer ensigning and gouerning (in his
degree) the sayd company : and is in Spanish more aptly called Cabo de esquadra 
which is the head of a small squadra of 20 or 25 souldiers. And againe , wee
vse both to pronounce and write, Core de guard; which by the French is written
Corps de guard, and by the Italian and Spaniard, Corpo de guardia; which signi­
fieth the body of a watch : the which French or Italian word I haue rather vsed in
my writing, then our corrupt English terme. Moreouer wee both pronounce
and write the word Canuasada, the which(in truth)ought to be written and pro­
nounced Camisada, being a Spanish tearme; and doth signifie the inuesting a
shirt ouer the soldiers apparell or armour; the which is vsed in the night time
when any suddaine exploit or peece of seruice is to be put in practise vpon the e­
nemy, vnexpected or vnseene: to the end, that in the darkenesse of the night, the
attempters may thereby the better one know and discerne another. These few
words and termes, I suppose sufficient for my reasons. And for the signification
of all other straunge and forraine words by me vsed, I will here following parti­
cularly set downe, in order of alphabet,as I shall call them to memory. 



A

Abanderado,  is a souldier which carrieth the Ensigne in steede of the Ensigne-bearer some­
times. 

Al'arma,   is a word vsed among men of warre, at times of the enemies suddaine approching, and
at their discouerie and doth signifie, to armes or weapons. 

Alferez,  is a Spanish word, and signifieth the Ensigne bearer. 



Alguazil,  a Spanish word, is an officer attendant on the Campe-maister Generall, to apprehend
offenders, and to see execution done. 

Alerta, an Italian word, vsed vnto the souldiers, when there is any suspition of the enemy, and
signifieth to be watchfull, carefull and ready 

Alvarado,  a Spanish word, and is the discharging of the morning watch, by the sound of the
drumme. 

Ambuscado,  a Spanish word, and signifieth any troupe or company of soldiers either foot or horse, lodged secretly in some couert, as in woods, hollow ways, behind bankes, or such like, to entrappe the enemy secretly attending his comming. 

Aquaducts, are conduits to cary or conuay water into any Citie, Castell, or Citadell. 

Armada,  a Spanish word, is a Nauy of ships for warre, or one great ship of warre. 

Artillaria,  a forraine word, and is that which we call the great Ordinance. 


B

Bando,  a Spanish word, and signifieth, an act, or law made by the Generall and Counsell of war,
in the Campe, and published by sound of the drumme or trumpet vnto the souldiers. 

Bisognio or Bisonnio,  a Spanish or Italian word, and is, as we terme it, a raw souldier, vnex­
pert in his weapon, and other Military points. 

Burgonet,  a French word, is a certaine kind of head-peece, either for foote or horsemen, couering
the head, and part of the face and checke. 


C

Cabo de esquadra or Caporall,  a Spanish word, is the head or chiefe vnder the Captaine of a
small number of souldiers, in number 20 or 25, or more or lesse, according as the company
is deuided into. 

Caporal,  the Italian word, is as Cabo de esquadra in Spanish. 

Cabo de Camara, a Spanish word, is a souldier vnder the Caporall, and is the chiefe ouer euery
10 or 12 souldiers. 

Camarada,  a Spanish word, is a small number of 11 or 12 soldiers, and is the one halfe of a squa­
dra, being vnited together in their lodging, and diet, and friendship, the chiefe man of whom
is the Cabo de Camara. 

Camisada, a Spanish word, and doth signifie the inuesting or putting on of a shirt ouer the souldi­
ers apparell or armour; the which is vsed in the night time, when any suddaine exploit or
peece of seruice is to be put in practise vpon the enemy, vnexpected or vnseene , to the ende
that the attempters may thereby the better one know and discerne another. 

Campania, an Italian word, and is a field. 

Campania Raza, an open field without hedge, ditch, or other incombrance, razed playne. 

Campe-maister, in Spanish Maestre del Campo, is a Colonell: being the chiefe Commander or
officer ouer one Regiment or Tertio. 

Camp maister Generall, in Spanish, Maestro del CampoGenerall, is a great Commander, and
is with vs the high Marshall of the field. 

Castellano, is the Captaine or Commander of a Citadell, or Castel, as in Millan, Antwerp, Metz,
and such other places. 

Cannonera, a Spanish word, and is the place or roome where the Cannon is placed in a bulwarke. 

Casamatta, a Spanish word, and doth signifie a slaughter-house, and is to place built low vnder the
wall or bulwarke, not arriuing vnto the height of the ditch, seruing to scowre the ditch,
annoying the enemy when he entreth into the ditch to skale the wall. 

Cauagleria, an Italian woord, and is the Companies of souldiers seruing on horsebacke, of what
sort soeuer. 

Cauaglere, an Italian word, and signifieth a Gentleman seruing on horsebacke, but in fortificati­
ons, a Caualiere is to mount or platforme of earth, built and raised high, either within or
without the wall or to plant great Ordinance vpon. 



Caualliere à Cauallio, is a high mount or platforme of earth raised very high, so that the Artillery
vpon the same, may shoote ouer the walles and bulwarkes, to scoure and cleare the fields
all about. 

Centre, a French word, is the middle of a battell, or other things. 

Centinell, a Spanish word, and signifieth the souldier which is set to watch at a station or post,
a certaine distance from the Corps de guard, or in a
certaine litle garret or watch house
vpon the walles, or at certaine places in the field without the ring of the Campe. 

Centuria, was amongst the Romaines, a companie of Souldiers to the number of 100: whose
Captaine was called Centurio. 

Cohort, was, amongest the Romaines, the 10 part of a Legion. 

Chieffront, a French word, is the arming for the forehead of the horse. 

Conuoye, a French word, is a certaine guard of souldiers, sent to conduct and guard, victuall,
victualers, marchants, munition, and such like, from one place vnto another. 

Contra Round, an Italian word, is a certaine number of commanders and officers going, visiting
the Corps de guard, watches, Sentinels, and also the Roundes, to see if they performe their
duties and be vigilant and carefull. 

Colonell or Coronell, a french word, is the commander of a regiment of certaine companies of
souldiers, called with the Spaniards Maestre del Campo. 

Contrafront, or spurre, is the inner part of the wall of a bulwarke. 

Citadella, an Italian word, is a Castell or spacious fort, built, not onely to defend the City, but
also to keepe the same in awe and subiection, as that at Antwerp, Millan, and Na­
ples&c. 

Cornet, a French word, is the ensigne which is caried by the Launciers. 

Corps de guard, a French word, is the body of a watch, of a certaine number of souldiers set
for such purposes. 

Corslet, a French word, is the armour of a foote souldier, complete. 

Criniere, a French word, is the arming of the horse mane or necke. 

Cuisset, is the armings of a horseman, for his thigh vnto the knees. 

Cuyratz, a French word, is the arming of the body; the breast part and backe part only, either of
horseman or footman. 

Colours a word vsed by us, for the Ensigne, being of variable colours. 

Curtine, a French word, is the long wall running leuell from bulwarke to bulwarke. 


D


E

Enginero, a Spanish word, is one skilfull in fortifications, and other machines and stratagems
for warre. 

Escalada, a Spanish vocable, and is the skaling of a wall or fort with ladders. 

Esquadra, a Spanish word, is a certaine part of a company of souldiers of some 20 or 25 souldiers
whose chiefe is the Caporall. 


F

Fil, Italian word, is the order, row, or line of all such souldiers as do stand or march conse­
quently on after another, in ordinance or aray of battell, extending from the front vnto the 
traine of the battell. 

Flancque, a French word, is the side of any squadron of men. 

Fronte, a French word, is the face or forepart of a squadron or battell. 

Front, is also the forepart of a wall or bulwarke. 

Forlorne Sentinell, a compound word of Dutch and French: and is a souldier either horseman



or footeman, set to watch and espie the enemies desseignes, neare vnto the enemy, and with­
out the word: for sundry considerations. 


G

Garrita, a Spanish word, is a little watch house or towre, for the souldier to stand in at Sen­
tinell, seated vpon the walles. 

Grueues, a French word, is the arming for the legges, from the knees downeward. 

Guantlet, a French vocable, is the arming or gloue to the hand. 

Guidon, a French word, is the ensigne which is borne with the shot on horsebacke. 


H

Hargubuzier, a French word, and is the souldier, carying and vsing a peece called a Calliuer or 
Hargubuz. 

Hargulutier, an Italian and French word, and is the souldier seruing on horsebacke, unar­
med, vsing a Calliuer with a snap hance. 


I

Infanteria, an Italian word, is all sort of foote souldiers. 


K


L

Launcier, a French word, is a souldier on horsebacke, armed and vsing a Launce for his chiefe
weapon, but not so heauily armed, as is the man at armes, and therefore of some called a
Demilance. 

Legion, amongest the auncient Romaines, was certaine companies of their people of warre: con­
sisting of 5 or 6000 footemen, and 300 horsemen. 


M

Maniple, is a part of so many rankes and files of souldiers throughout a battell or squadron of 
pikes, drawne foorth to march through any straight or narrow passage. 

Maestre del Campo, with the Spaniards, is as our Coronell with vs. 

Mayordome, is with the Italian and Spaniard, the steward of a house; but in war he is the stew­
ard and Guardian of the munition for warre. 

Moderne warre, is the new order of warre vsed in our age, 

Mediterraneall, is Inland countrie, or countries distant from the sea. 

Maritime, is sea coast countrie, or countries adioyning vnto the sea. 


N


O

Orecchion, an Italian vocable, is the part of a bulwarke which is called some, the pome,
guard, or shoulder. 


P

Parapet, an Italian word, is the vpper part of the wall, which shadoweth the souldiers from
the sight and annoyances of the enemy. 

Pendent, is the bending or slopenesse of the Parapet outward. 

Pel mell, a French word, and signifieth the mingling of men together, buckling by the bosome one
with another. 

Percluis, a French word, is the grate, either of iron or wood, framed within a gate or port of a
Citie or Castell, to be let fall or slipped downe, to barre the enemies entrance. 



Pectron, a French word: is the arming of the brest of the horse. 

Place of armes generall: is the place of assemblie; where the people of warre are ranged in order
of battell. 

Phalanx, a Greeke word: an order of imbattelling of men in one graund square, vsed by the Gre­
cians. 

Pietranelli, an Italian word, and is the souldiers seruing on horsebacke, well armed with a paire of
Cuyrasses, and weaponed with a fire-locke peece of snap-hance. 

Pistollier, a French word; and is the souldier on horse backe, armed as the Pietranell, weaponed
with a pistoll. 

Pouldon, a French word, and is the shoulder arming. 

Posta, a Spanish word, and is the place or station where the Sentinell souldier is set stand at
guard and watch. 


Q

Quarter, is the part of a Campe, whereon any companies, or numbers of horsemen or footemen be
quartered and lodged. 

Quarteret, is the diminutiue of quarter. 


R

Ranke, is the row, order or aray of soldiers standing shoulder by shoulder, extending from flanke to
flanke throughout the battell or ordinance. 

Rauelline, or Tenaza, a Spanish word : and is the vttermost boundes of the wals of the Castell or 
skances without the walles. 

Rampier, a French word, and is a fortification or wall of earth. 

Regiment, a Dutch word, is a number of sundry companies vnder the charge of Colonell. 

Recoia, a Spanish word: and signifieth the call or assembling of the souldiers together into the place
of armes, by the sound of the drumme. 

Ronda, an Italian and Spanish word: and is a company of certaine souldiers and officers, which
do go visiting the Corps de guards, Sentinels and watches at sundry houres in the night, to
cause them obserue order: and to see whether they be vigilant and ready. 

Roupt, a French word; and signifieth the breaking of a squadron, troupe, or battell, and turning
to flight. 


S

Sallie, a French word: and is an issuing foorth of men to skirmish or fight: and is also a secret
issue for the souldiers to passe out of a wall, bulwarke or fort. 

Srerée, a French word: and is when the souldiers in squadron do ioyne and locke close together,
thereby to become the more strong. 

Serracenesca, a Spanish word: and is the percluis or grate of a gate. 

Skance, a Dutch word: and is a small fortresse built of turffe and earth, commonly vsed in the
low countries. 

Scalada. a Spanish word, is a skaling of a wall with ladders. 

Spontone, an Italian word: is a small long instrument of iron , sharpe at the ende, to thrust
thorough anie loade of haie, straw, or such like, to prove if any souldiers lie hidden
within the same. 

Squadra, a Spanish word: and is a certaine part of a company of some 20, or 25 souldiers, whose
chiefe is the Caporall. 

Squadron, a Spanish word, and is a great number of souldiers pikemen, reduced in arraies to
march, and also is a certaine companie of musketiers framed in order to march of fight,
and is also a certaine number of men, aranged in order to march, or charge. 


T

Taladro, a Spanish word, and is an instrument or engine to mount any peece of ordinance vp into



the Cariage. 

Taisses, a French word, and is the arming of the thighes, annexed vnto the forepart of the
Corslet. 

Terraplene, an Italian word, and is the earth that is rampired and filled vp vnto the inside of
any wall or bulwarke. 

Tertio, a Spanish word, and is a Regiment of souldiers. 

Tertiare, a Spanish word, and is to third the pike, either to beare the same upon his shoulder, or
to charge the same ouer hand. 

Trauessa, a Spanish word, and is a flanker of a wall. 

Tragon, is the reareward of the squadron, or battell. 

Trench, a French word, is the ditch about the wall. 

Tenaza, a Spanish word, is a little hold or Keepe made of one Curtine or Bulwarke. 


V

Vanbraces, a French word, and is the armings for the arme from the pouldrons downeward to
the hand wrest. 

Vanguard, a French word, and signifieth the forepart of the battell. 

Vollie, a French word, and is when any kind of shot do discharge altogether. 


W

The Word,  which we call the watch Word, and is by the French called Mot de guet, and by
the Spaniard Ennombre: wich is a word or name deliuered by the Generall or other high Commander, to be giuen vnto other officers and souldiers, standing Sentinell at their
postes, whereby their watches are nightly gouerned,&c. 



Toute Puissance, honeur, glorie & louange, soit à nostre bon 
Dieu eternel.



FINIS.