48338 m144"

most splendid siglit in the world, and so well organiscd ... It looked like a great city, with rows of tents forming long strccts and crossroads, largc scjuares for assemblics, and markets where thc workmen and merchants gathered with thcir goods ... with taverns and entertainment just like in Paris; and the walls were madę from waggons so well fortified and eąuipped and fuli of armed defenders tliat no-one would have dared conte near.’

When the camp was raised the mcn-at-arms would be warned of the departure by two trumpet calls; on thc first cali, horses were saddled, and on the second cali they would mount their horses. Armies gcncrally marched by day; there are

The siege of a lown, I5th century. Every conventional method of siegecraft is illustrated here: artillery, sicge-ladders, and an abortive attempt at mining the corner tower in the fore-ground. Miners would normally have been strongly covered by both artillery fire and wooden defences, which would forestall their sorry situation in this picture. The main besieging army advances on the left, its dismounted men-at-arms to the fore, while a crossbowman in the foreground draws his composite weapon with a windlass; notę his next arrow characteristically stuck down the back of his neck, and the rondel dagger slung at his waist. (Bibliotheąue Royale Albert i'^r, Brussels) occasional instances of night marching in order to surprise the enemy, but in spite of great precautions, men were sometimes lost. Main roads were used where possible, but these were often too narrow, and troops marched through the bordering fields.

Unless a battle was imminent men-at-arms wore light clothing on the march, leaving their armour with their pages. In 1467 the Lords of Brabant marching on Malines wore their mail shirts", while their helmets and part of their armour were worn by pages.

The usual order of march was that adopted by the French and English during the entire period dealt with in this book. A typical order consisted of:

(1)    A dctachment ofscouts from the vanguard, who obtained information on the conditions ahead, and on the enemy if they were nearby. They would sometimesbe accompanied by a few men-at-arms, and in 1466 during the march to Dfnant the Marshal of Burgundy, chief of the army, travelled with them.

(2)    The vanguard, composed of:

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