Instruction on the Fortification of Cities

Straight down twelve feet deep; from this point, draw an upright line back up twelve feet high. Over this, a cornice should be made around the entire bastion original: "pastey" three feet high, so that it rests against the overhanging wall at the top.

And according to this ground plan, I will now look at the structure from the front and also draw it in elevation. One should also make good, strong corbels original: "kragstein," stone brackets used to support a ledge or overhang on the outside of the battlements at every corner of the bastion, as well as one in the middle between them. This is so that, if necessary, boards may be laid upon them, where one might stand to build or repair something. Many things are also devised to protect the face of the bastion from the enemy’s shot: some hang high, thick planks that, as soon as they are struck, bounce back and yet do not break, for they hang in iron rings; some hang double wet blankets a pace's width apart from each other, or weave such works from thick, twisted wet hay or ropes and cords. Some pull canvas cloths around the top of the bastion, painted in stone color like the masonry of the bastion, which is intended to deceive the enemies. Also, large, thick sacks filled with wool may be sewn and hung in front.

But I hold more to this: that one remains clear so that the shooters can hit their mark well, or else remain unshot; and when the enemies come near, they can be driven off with fireworks Dürer refers here to incendiary weapons, early grenades, or "fire-pots" used in siege defense. The soldiers know well how to make such defenses and the like, for one can sometimes break the enemy more through cunning than through other means, provided one only thinks upon it and is manly and undaunted. Terror and fear in wars destroy every victory one might have. For one notices this in a dog that is hunted by many others: as long as he flees, they all run after him; but when he can go no further and turns to defend himself in earnest, they all fall away from him—some run past and do not turn back, and against the others, he may defend himself with a forceful bite. Therefore, if he had not turned to defend himself, he might have been completely torn to pieces.

But the bastions that are vaulted below should be covered at the top with a light shingle or tile roof, in such a way that if one wishes, it can be quickly knocked away. For if the bastions are not covered on top, the lower vaults and passages would become damaged over time and rot through the moisture of rain and snow, and thus the upper weight would later sink.

However, whoever wishes may also build such a bastion, as mentioned above, only with the outer masonry and close it off, and fill the inside entirely with earth. Also, building nothing inside saves much cost. But the flanking defenses original: "streych wöre," structures designed to allow defenders to fire along the face of the wall to "sweep" the ditch must then be led around specifically down in the ditch with an upright wall that is twenty-three feet high and four feet thick, from one side of the city wall to the other, so that inside, the space between the bastion and this wall remains thirty feet wide. Dividing walls should also be led from this wall to the bastion toward point k. for the sake of strength; however, they should all have wide gates so that one may move around with the artillery original: "geschoß," referring generally to projectile weapons or cannons. Entrances should be made into these flanking defenses through the bastion. Also, this flanking defense should be open at the top, and yet be strongly barred with wood inside, thirteen feet high above the ground. Such a bastion may be left open at the top at all times.

Likewise, where it might not be convenient for a lord to make the lower flanking defenses and internal structures in the manner I first described—to avoid the costs that would be incurred—he might have the flanking defenses built up in a circle like a wide well, as far down as he wishes to have them, and cover them at the top with strong grates through which the artillery could be easily aimed and the smoke could have a sufficient exit.