the right the outmost-men move forward and rank to the right with the last man in the Reer of each division face to your leader and move forward two paces Reducement Reer division face about middle-man of the first rank of each division move forward and rank two to the left into Front and Reer Files close into the midst to order ranks close forwards to order Halfe-files double the Front to the right intire Ranks rank outward into the Front every man placing himselfe on the outside of his right and left hand men Ranks file to the right and left inward Files double your depth to the left Face to your Leader It might be expected that I should shew the severall Charges upon all these Figures but in regard I may perhaps meet with some of them again in greater Bodies or the like I shall for present passe them over and in those places endeavour to give them the best satisfaction I can In the mean time they may with ease finde out in every one of them such charges as may instruct the Souldiers how to fight whether it be to Front Reer both Flanks or Angles they may be shewn and exercised in them according to the discretion of him that shall command them whether they be Muskettiers or Pike-men and therefore thus much shall suffice concerning the exercising of a file for matter of Figures In the next place followeth the Exercise of greater Bodies The end of the first Booke THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY The Second Book CHAP. 1. Concerning the Artillery and the Military Gardens together with the Private Meetings in and about the City of LONDON THe great delight in handling of Arms in Military Exercises makes the City of LONDON and the Suburbs thereof famous through the whole World by reason as I conceive of those two great Nurseries or Academies of MILITARY DISCIPLINE the ARTILLERY and MILITARY GARDENS from whom as out of pure Fountains all other our Private Meetings as of Town-ditch and Cripplegate c. are derived The Artillery Garden deserves the first place in respect it is the greatest Meeting from whence as it were out of a Nursery have been transplanted many able knowing souldiers both at home and in forreign Countries to the great honour of our Nation The Military Garden is famous likewise for the great improvement of diverse worthy persons of quality daily thither resorting whose excellent skill in Military Exercises hath raised many of them to high preferment here at home and places of honourable command abroad The Captains in chiefe of these Academies are Major Generall Skippon and Major Henry Tyllier which later was the first that ever shew'd in the Military Garden of which I am a member the marching of the Souldiers in a Regiment all way whose great pains amongst us deserves much honour and high commendation shewing unto us such variety of matter in a Souldier-like way as was never before seen by any member thereof Not to ecclipse the fore-mentioned Private Meetings in London but to give them that due which belongs unto them they likewise are of great honour and same for their frequent exercising of their Souldiers in the handling of their Arms whether it be of the Pike or Musket and instructing them in the knowledge of Drilling and drawing up of Companies and Bodies of men furnishing both Kingdoms with able knowing souldiers My hearty wishes therefore that all and every one of them may be propt up and supported to all ages that when need shall require we may draw from these fountains such skilfull and experienced Commanders and Officers as may be as it were a Bulwark to this our Nation Not to dwell any longer upon this discourse I come therefore briefly to set forth severall Exercises formerly practised by me amongst those loving Gentlemen of Town-ditch according to the usuall numbers there appearing whether they be great or small practised for the most part with 24 or 32 men and somtimes although seldome with 64 men unlesse it were upon generall days when they were drawn forth into the field at such times perhaps there might be an appearance of greater numbers as 120 and upwards My purpose therefore is to pitch upon and to make use of all and every one of these numbers making 12 Exercises dividing them by threes untill I have run over them all conceiving them sufficient for the industrious to gather from thence matter enough for his intended Exercise And for the more enabling of them I shall indeavour in these curious times to walk a long in as plain a way as possibly may be giving directions unto all Words of Command for the better performance of the same wishing all my loving fellow-souldiers to conceive well of my good meaning intended to them desiring withall to be rightly informed of what part soever they fall upon that they proceed leasurely and orderly in the same which will not only be an incouragement unto the Authour from whom they gather their Exercises but will bring much prayses and commendation to themselves But to leave every one to their own best thoughts whilest I proceed to practise what before promised concerning the severall Exercises following CHAP. II. The first Exercise of four Files six deep EAch File-leader as being his duty having gone over the Postures shewing and instructing his file with their uses and neat handling of their Arms hearing the Drums beat a Call for all to repair and stand to their Arms begin to lead up their files according to order the Leader then closing their ranks and files to close order craving their silence may proceed to shew unto them all their severall distances and facings according unto the former rule set down and after he may proceed to Doublings if he pleaseth as followeth CHAP. III. A Doubling consisting of sixteen in number every one differing from the other and not reduced untill the last Word of Command Command FIles file to the right intire advancing Command Bringers-up double your Front to the left Command Half-files double your Front to the left Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right intire Command Right half-ranks double your left flank intire advancing Command Half-files double your front to the right intire Command Left half-ranks double intire the Depth of your right flank Command Files file to the left intire advancing Command Bringer-up double your front to the right Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right and left outward following your Leaders Direction Reer half-files face about the file-leaders are to turn off to the right and left the rest are to follow them untill they are marched down into the Reer and have doubled it to the right and left outward Command Half-files double your front inward intire Command The two out-most files upon each flank double intire the Depth of the inmost files Direction The two out-most files face about inward and move streight down cleer of the standing part afterwards face inward march
utriusque Horti Stratiotici Militaris Officialium unus Johannes Hunnings For his much respected Friend and old fellow Souldier Major RICHARD ELTON ENcomiums cannot add unto the prayse Of those that much deserve their Works will rayse Themselves a Name as this great Work of thine With no small pains the which thou makest to shine Renowned Elton loe in thee I finde Bellona's Casket opened and the minde That Mars himself enjoy'd for what thou know'st That others may obtein therefore let all Who do desire to learn Rules Martiall Peruse this Compleat body where they 'l finde That which delights the Fancy please the Minde In Facings Doublings Wheelings with their Distance Both Open Close to us he gives assistance He doth direct new Figures for to rayse Preceding times knew not but these our days New Forms of Battail shown with each their Firings With Rules to guide in Onsets and Retirings Thus have we Elton's skill here brought to light Which none can it obscure no not dark night Of Envies rage can blur what he hath done But he shall shine as glorious as the Sun Thomas Walker Captain To my honoured Friend Major Richard Elton YOur Book needs not my Plaudit it to sell It is enough if but your name it tell Who sees its Front and doth it understand Must needs condemn himself or prayse your hand More could I say and would but more to say Were to light candles to the Sun-shine day For such as read and do it not advance Of Envy do it or of Ignorance John Brett Captain To the Authour his much valued Friend Major Richard Elton LEt them that undertake to prayse a book Not on the Title but the matter look To ground their judgment on For to commend The Work because th' Author is our Friend Is an obsequious flattery and doth yield Some savour of the Court none of the Field From depth of knowledge then we ought to rayse The high expressions of deserved prayse But then with equall knowledge if we can Judge and declare the merits of a man The envious will say when we have shown The Authors worth we publicate our own But let those Momi talk This work of yours Heroick ELTON all assaults endures And all convinceth of Detractions part And shortly will the Ignorant convert And make them Souldiers too so sweet and plain Your Demonstrations are that they will gain Myriads of men now to bear arms that bore Nothing but onely shapes of men before Of Cock-braind Militasters store there are That do pretend skill in the book of War Can Military Discipline express In words of art and windy flourishes Big looks and language lowder than the Drum As knowing more than your Compendium When silly Vapours they nere read or saw More than the Statutes of the Martiall Law Such now must cast the feathers of their pride And here if docible be edified Here 's the true art of Arms. Jehovah grant That as 't is like we shall no Souldiers want The Practise of it onely may extend To settle Right and Peace That 's Wars true end Abraham Stanion Captain To the worthy Authour of the Art Military T' Was said of old that arms do silence Laws And learning by their rude illiterate aws The Proverb lyes for courting in one sheet The Souldier and the Scholler here do â—eet The Sword and Pen Mars doe's himself commense Doctor of War and doe's not more incense Then teach to fight and by his learned Bands An Areopagus midst of Athens stands And by a new found happy union Parnassus and the Campaigne are made one Whence quickly tutor'd from that sacred Rise The Souldier may descend and exercise Till now we did but butcher Victories And were but sloven Deaths-men whil'st our eyes Were wanting to our hands we fell upon A Miscellaneous Execution So that it griev'd the slain that they must die Without a method and disorderly But now we have attain'd the handsome skill By order method and by rule to kill From which we owe the beauties of our death The features of our wounds to you whose breath Formed into this your polemick word Makes you th' Amanuensâ—s of the Sword And as when Cadmus Serpents teeth did sow A crop of armed men from thence did grow So from this learned issue of your brains We may behold to spring well order'd Trains Of exact Myrmidons and as at the sound Of Orpheus harp all the unweildy round Of Lyons Bears and Tygors learn't to meet Well order'd measures with obedient feet Such is your book at whose most sober word The hand the foot the Musket Pike and sword Those livelesse lumps of steel do act and use Obediently the Motions you infuse We read the Persian chivalry was such As teaches Elephants in a slender touch Of brideling art most orderly to storm Liking their strength like bears into a form So the rude multitude whose strength would be A ruine to themselves through Anarchy Bad Masters but good servants are made good By you most regularly to let blood Order's the soul of things then souldiers are The body but your book the soul of War Mars thus conjoyned with Phoebus some may fear Hor. mil. Menc Sans Thunderbolts will transcend Jupiter Sam. Jervis Captain To my Ingenious Friend Major RICHARD ELTON RIch Jems best prayse Themselves 't is understood The Bush is useless where the Wine is good How do they erre who with their looser Rime Prophane thy Prose and with the adulterate Lime Of wit erect some Parapet or Port To raise their Fancie equall to Thy Fort. This Crime 's collaterall mine who strive to raise And mix my Ivy with thy glorious Bays Whose Branches in thy learned Book do spread Themselves in Garlands to impale Thine Head How durst I then draw one Excentrique Line Or thus Intrench upon this Work of Thine This Work of Thine whose well composed Page Shall strike amazement in the aemulous Age Such as their Captive judgements shall surprize And force their eares do Homage to their eyes Imperious Style which can at once advance Our towring thoughts and strike them in a Trance How happily hast Thou Improv'd thy Parts Who art Proficient both in Arms and Arts Mars and Minerva who are counted two Divided essences both joyn in You Whiles Practick and the Theorick Arts appear In You their Center and their proper Sphear But stay Thy Prayse Dear Friend needs heer no more Than Gold in Peru or a Map on shore They that would know thee better let um look Upon these Leaves and read Thee in Thy Book William Short Captain To his ever honoured Friend Major RICHARD ELTON MAny have fanci'd to themselves that this Is the Worlds leaden age and think it is Far worse with all mens wits then with the time That they live in but cleerly from this crime Thou hast redeem'd us no man ever writ Better of Martiall Discipline for it Thou rightly hast display'd in th' Compleat Body Of th' famous and renown'd Art
brest with front and reer give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after face about and move down into their places then face all to their leader Command The four first divisions stand the rest face to the left and march cleer of the standing part then let the Pikes face to the front and march up even a brest with the Muskettiers Reer divisions of Muskettiers face to the front and move up likewise Muskettiers face inward move all three or four paces untill they stand in form of the second figure face all to your leader Reer division of Pikes face about and move down three foot cleer of the reer to your leader which produceth the last figure Upon this figure let the reer division of Pikes face about and Muskettiers face outward then let Pikes port and let the first divisions of Muskettiers give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then face about and interchange ground with the reer divisions and face again to front and reer and let those that came up into their room give fire in like manner and fall off down again into their places Then let the next divisions give fire fall in the reer of themselves and let the Pikes charge on and being retreated back again into their places command the two middle divisions of Muskettiers to face to the reer and move down and range even with the reer then let every division of Muskettiers give fire on the ground they stand to both flanks and reer and fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may charge on again and those Muskettiers that moved down into the reer may face about and move back again into their places and face all to the front Reducement Reer division of Pikes advance forward to the left into the front the two inmost divisions of Muskettiers face about and march cleer of the reer then face to the right and left outward and place themselves behind the reer divisions of Muskettiers outmost divisions of Muskettiers face inward and move streight in the reer of the front divisions and let the Pikes fall in the reer of their front divisions and face all to their Leader Half-files of Muskettiers double your front to the right and left inward and after move forward and even the the front they are reduceed The end of the second Book THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY The Third BOOK CHAP. I. Concerning the drawing up of Regiments with their severall numbers forms manner and ways HE that shall be desirous to be truly knowing in this point of Military Discipline in the drawing up of Regiments whether they be of lesser or greater Bodies as in some 6 other 7 8 10 or 12 Companies they must be drawn up into Battalia either in one two or three Squadrons or grand divisions of Pikes flanked with Muskettiers having alwayes in the Reer a sufficient number of Muskettiers for the guard of the Bagage Cannon or to be Convoys for to convey Ammunition and Victuall to the rest of their fellows Who are to be drawn forth by the discretion of the Major from each particular Company according to their severall strengths as in greater Companies more files then in those which be lesser ordering them timely reliefe whereby the severall duties amongst the Souldiers throughout the Regiment by an equall way may take their turns Now for as much as the true stating of the dignities of every particular Officer in the opinions of many differ very much and our former Military Authors have been very sparing in their pains in setting down their due places of honour I shall for the satisfaction of those which desire to be rightly inform'd collect out of the many former practised abroad and at home one good way to perfect it But here by the way I must crave pardon from the courteous Reader by reason I foresee certain objections like rubs or blocks lying in my way to digresse a little from my intended purpose to give answers unto each of them which are first that I seem to slighten the pains of former Authors Secondly that it will be a means to occasion much idlenesse in the Souldiers Thirdly that it is too great a knowledge to be laid open to their view To the first I answer that the reason as I conceive why they have been so sparing of their pains in this kind was not for want of abilities or knowledge amongst any of them whose works for the most part I highly honour and esteem but rather believe that they left it forth for the curious search of such who are called unto Field-officers places knowing well that before they are capable of that preferment they must be good proficients in this part of Military Exercise 2 Although many that know but a little may be puft up with high conceits of themselves conceiving what the Authour hath done 't were easie for any man to performe the same yet to them of riper judgements the more variety in this kind is presented to their view the more painfull they are in the curious practise thereof thinking every moment lost which is not spent in the searching after and informing of their judgments in this point of Military Discipline If it had not been for the worthie paines and labours of our ancestors published to the view of the world this our age might have been ignorant both in this and all other Sciences for from them we borrowed our first light God putting it in their hearts to publish their severall gifts to after generations which though at this day much refined yet for our first grounds and principles we are beholding unto them Therefore give me leave according as God hath inabl'd me not to conceale or keep back any thing which may concern the good and welfare of my country for I conceive there is none worthie to receive benefit from those that have gone before him if he conceales that good to such as shall come after him And if I happen to lie under the hard censure of some for my paines it makes no matter so the major part receive benefit thereby for as I gathered somwhat of others so my desire is that others may doe the like by me The opinions of Souldiers in the drawing up of Regiments are very various both in their formes and figures according to the custome of their Countries commands of their Generals or Officers in cheife which neverthelesse may prove very good and serviceable when need shall require I shall therefore for the satisfaction of the ingenuous souldier set before them the best collections drawn from them all such as may be most usefull for to fight against the enemy according to the situation of the place the number of men and aptnesse of ground to contain them which in the next place comes to be handled CHAP. II. The manner ef drawing up a Regiment consisting of six Companies containing in it a Collonel a Lieutenant Collonel a Major and three Captains every one having
THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY Exactly compiled and gradually composed for the Foot in the best refined manner according to the practise of the Modern Times Divided into Three BOOKS The First containing the Postures of the Pike and Musket with their Conformities and the Dignities of Ranks and Files Their manner of joyning to the compleating of a Body their severall Distances Facings Doublings Countermarches Wheelings and Firings With diverse Experiments upon single Files The Second comprehending twelve Exercises Viz. Three with 24 Men. Three with 32 Men. Three with 64 Men. Three with 144 Men. The Third setting forth the drawing up and exercising of Regiments after the manner of Private Companies with the forming Brigades and Armies the placing of Cannon and Artillery according to the practise of severall Nations Armies and Commanders in Chief Together with the duties of all private Souldiers and Officers in a Regiment from a Sentinell to a Collonel As also the duties of the Military Watches Lastly directions for ordering Regiments or Private Companies to Funerall Occasions Illustrated with Varietie of Figures of Battail very profitable and delightfull for all Noble and Heroick Spirits in a fuller manner then hath been heretofore published By RICHARD ELTON Serjeant Major Cant. 3. 8. They all handled the Sword and are expert in War LONDON Printed by ROBERT LEYBOURN in Monkswell Street neer Creeplegate MDCL VERAET ACCVRATA EFFIGIES RICHARDI ELTONI GENEROSL BRISTOL NEC NON ARTIS MILITARIS MAGISTIRI ANO 1644 If Rome vnto Her conquering Ceasrs raise Rich obelisks to crowne thier deatfiles Praise What Monument to Thee must Albion reare To shew Thy Motion in a brighter Sphere This Art 's too dull to doe 't t is only done Best by Thy Selfe so hights ' the World the Sunne Wee may admire thy Face the Sculptor's Art But Wee are extasi'd at th' inward Part W S Fiut Iohn Droeshout Sculp Lon TO THE MIRROUR of CHIVALRY And HONOUR of all MARTIALL DISCIPLINE The most Victorious Thomas Lord Fairfax HIS EXCELLENCIE CAPTAIN GENERALL of all MILITARY FORCES for the PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND All Health and Happinesse here and hereafter Most Eminent and Illustrious SIR May it please Your Excellencie THe Glory of all Arts is Action the Honour of all Action is Vertue the Crown of all Vertues is Perfection the Excellencie whereof according to the perfection of Humanity is so essentiall in your Excellencie that you are become at once the Wonder and the Honour of Europe Neither can that immortall Fame of Yours be conceal'd from the rest of the habitable World who shall from age to age record and from Antiquity to Infantry relate those matchlesse Victories and unimitable Atchievements which the Bounty and Blessing of Heaven hath enrich'd your Hand and beautifi'd your Name withall In all whose Honourable and succesfull Undertakings I had an aim at no greater happiness then to have been the least Part in so Noble an Employment under your Excellencie towards the perfecting of the Welfare and Happinesse of this Kingdom and Common-wealth had not the Military affairs of this Honourable Metropolis unavoydably engaged and obliged me to attend the service of their own Militia And therein My Lord I have spared neither Diligence nor Study that might conduce to the great Work of Arms then in Embrio now in Perfection excepting only Opposition and Envie which the greatest Honours never yet were free from A part of which Perfection hath always flowed from the industry of the Officers and practice of the Students of that Warlike Academy wherein although I have not as a Member thereof with such dexterity as Cadmus sent out well experienc'd Souldiers in a Day yet have I not sitten so idle as Lepidus and wish'd to be warm'd more from the Sun than my own Labours of which the effects are now upon the publike Test but more formidably under your Excellencies censure to whose Patronage and Protection I have presumed to devoted the Eldest Son and First-born of all my forepast Studies Practise and employment in the gradation of Military affairs for the space of a double Apprentiship in that noble Science All the following sheets which relate to that Heroick Subject such as they are and in such a dress as now they have put on submissively and primarily present themselves with all their worth and beauty if any be discernable within them unto Your Excellencie as to their tutelar Angel and most Orthodox Warriour that either Pole can boast of In confidence therefore of your Excellencies native Candor towards all Ingenuity and more especially That wherein your Own transcendent and unparalleld Honours are more perspicuously and really delineated than all the vain and empty Glory of the Dull and Phlegmatick Pretenders to Chivalry can Map or Landskip by the effeminate hand of Flattery this late abortive in full shape due proportion and if Truth deceive me not in just Maturity hath broken from the Wombe of my fourteen years endeavours to see the Light both of the censorious and judicious World and in that Light it cannot but live if your Excellencies goodness shall vouch safe to foster it and must not die except your displeasure please to wound it And whether this shall live or die I shall not further aspire at any loftier pitch of Honour than to have Commission to subscribe my self Your Excellencies most humbly devoted Servant Richard Elton The Right Honourable the judicious and grave Trustees and Guardians of the Militia of the Honourable City of LONDON The Lord Major Isaac Pennington Sir Iohn Wollaston Knight Thomas Atkins John Fowke William Gibs Thomas Foot Christopher Packe Rowland Wilson Aldermen of the City of London Major Generall Philip Skippon Collonel Francis West Lieutenant of the Tower Col. John Venn Col. Edmund Harvey Francis Allen Major Richard Salway Gregory Clement Col. Owen Row Col. Robert Tichborne Col. Matthew Shephard Col. William Vnderwood William Wyberd John Deathicke Iohn Strange Daniel Tayler Col. Richard Turner Col. Nathaniel Camfield Lieut. Col. Doyley Master Maurice Gethin C aptain Nath Lacy Major Edmund Waring Col. Robert Manwaring Col. Iohn Heyes Thomas Arnold Samuell Moyer Thomas Noell Stephen Eastwick Richard Shute Mark Hildersly Iames Russell Tempest Milner Captain Blackwell senior Iohn Pocock Right Honourable Honourable and ever to be honour'd Heroes WHose Honors joyntly and severally are all sprung more from your just deserts than ambitious desires whose provident industry for this Citie and Kingdoms security shall more eternize your Names unto Posterity than your magnificent opulencie can make you after Death survive and flourish in your hopefull issue Since it always seem'd good in your Eyes even from my first initiation into your Military Service more out of an in-nate humanity of yours wherewith your Honours abound than from any merits of mine own which I acknowledge but mean still to number Me for one and the same both in degree and service in your Noble and Martiall Imployments notwithstanding the many changes occasioned by the necessity
that doth teach to fight He that shall look on thy Conformities Of Ranks and Files the severall Dignities How these compos'd as Members do compleat A Marshall-Body fashions it so neat As that each part is fixt in 's proper place And not Chaost together but a face Of distance order's seen he would soon say The like 's not not extant at this very day And well may I found forth the very same Who have beheld the book to which the name Of Elton's set It 's for thy lasting prayse Which will survive the ancienst of thy days And for the honour of this Commonweal That it hath bred one who by wound can heal That 's skilfull to destroy and thereby saves Our life of Freedom keep it from the Graves The Enemies have digged that it's Memory When therein laid might not be seen in Story I Face about thy Facing to behold And face again when once I do unfold The work of others to thy gallant Mode And there my thoughts do rally for there is show'd Such Wheelings Doublings Firings that report So loud the worth of no man in that sort As these do thine Thy File-experiments Are pleasurable and breeds discontents In none but those who 'd be superlative In Martiall Art let them forbear to strive Thee to excell For who can go beyond Perfection thereat every man must stand And exercise his Genius got so far Among the Planets let â—e fix this Star Of Military Art and round about Twelve places Exercises Then Mars look out With glorious Splender and in bloud would wade For to maintain the rest are retrograde Ye men Strologicall if ye would view These Signes below ye must speak it as true Astrology that those above are bright But Mars array'd in these of greatest light And wonder not to see a Man of War Of so much beauty as to want a scar In Discipline Order is the shield Keep off advantages often win the Field As well as Valour who can suffer rout That 's on thy side let him but face about That fears to be o'recome and well observe Thy Stations Motions eye where thy Reserve Doth stand where Intervals are made Where Cannons play and he may drive a Trade Of buying Courage and by these Figures cast On which side Conquest will triumph at last And if in Battell life is dispossest Of it's possession house of Clay the best By entry of force tenure arbitrary Thou hast Mars cloth'd in Sable Military For to attend thy forced Funerall This is the sequell of thy manly fall Elton I 'le leave thee at the very Grave But living and when dead thou wilt sure have Breath in the Body of this work a Gaile Unto posterity thy worth to saile Collonell John Backsteed An Ogdocostick on his much esteemed Friend the AUTHOUR BArriff did bravely Barrâ—ff's dead yet lives His Worthâ—ull Workâ— his Name a being gives â—xcelling Elton this of thâ—ne is such That after Ages shall applaud as much Thy fame this thy Renowned Theory Will teach a Practique raise thy Memory When thou art dead and lend thy Living Name A Room i' th Golden Kalender of Fame What thou hast here with Skilfull Study done I'â—h Basis once by Barriff was begun Onely begun he fram'd a Preparation I saw it when it was in Agitation And surely had e're this atâ—ain'd it's Birth Had not he been translated from the Earth How new are thy Designes How full of Worth How well approv'd with what Rare Art set forth Th' Ingenious Reader that shall over-look And view with single-sighted Eye thy Book Must say that Writers all of th' Art of War Of thee both Forreign and Domestique far Come short Well may that Body be compleat Where such a Genuine Genuis has his Seat This Art thou hast compiled so exact So gradually compos'd throughout thy Tract That well the compleat Body of that Art It 's styl'd where every Member and each part Of all Three Books in manner best refin'd On him looks lovely That to read's inclin'd Far bee 't ô far from me the thought to flâ—ght Th' Offensive or more just Defensive light Bequeath'd to us by Souldier's head or hand Though born with us or sprang from Forreign land Yea or the knowing Skill of those that Thrive In Mars his Methods and do now Survive I much commend them all Praise worthy men Yet thee extoll must most of all my Pen. Plenty of Postures and many Motions Various Figures and Delightfull Notions Of these large Volumes I have seen but who Such Regimentall Forms as thine can show â—achivell â—arkham Hexham Weymouth Ward Aelâ—â—n Bingham Roberts Cruso Gerrard And divers other honour'd Sons of War Their famous learn'd Tractates extant are Where we may read rare Castra-metations With deep Stratagemick Demonstrations Of the Persians Thebans and Athenians Of Lacedemons and â—aeâ—nians With grave Grecian and Italian Writers Brave Roman and Macedonian Fighters Accomplisht Atchievements of Illyrians Actings of th' Asians and Europaeans â—odels of Marching and levying Forces Incampâ—ng Trailing Drilling Discourses Oâ— both English-and Low-countrey Spirits Whose victorious valour Honour merits Bellona's Bleeding Battails day and night Both Ancient and Modern I might recite With Distances Doublings Wheelings Facings And Front Reer Wings Midst and other placings Though with Minerva mighty Mars conspire With their conjoyned Cunning Craft and Ire Where 's thy Peer Martiall or Military Private Practiser or Artillery Thine Initiation yet is fresh in Mind When by thy selfe thou wer 't at first Assign'd For Christ-Church meeting and entertained Friendly Which is weekly still maintained Thy little then sithence so much acquired Knowledge of Arms is far and neer admired What though the Ignoramus Doltishman Do scoffe or Momus spit what Spite he can It matters not here 's no conceited froth T is solid Substance and Experience both True Discipline display'd no Painted Puffe No Empty Imped or Bumbasted Stuffe Heroicks all that love the Warlike way These Expert Exercises read then say Doubtlesse you will for you shall finde it true Elton thou doest Excell Elton Adieu JOHN HAYNE Serjeant Major Ad amicum charissimum Richardum Elton Subchiliarchum in hoc suo opere praeclaro MArtius hèu nimium vere fuit Anglia Campus Et non una rubet ferrallibus Allâ—a fastis Sic ut defleret nostros vel Hibernia Casus Decolor erubuit Thamesis vitreosque cruore Mutavit fluctus caruerunt arva Colonis Non aliter Cadmi pubes simul edita sulcis Emicuit stringunt gladios pectora ferro Donec quae cunas dederat dat terra sepulchrum Ergò quid obductum jam recrudescere vulnus Quid malè sopitus juvat hèu renovare favillas Et licet infidum fallax turbare serenum At non ista tibi mens est qui nempè venena Describit succos adhuc ignota novercis Gramina non ideo facit ut Locusta perita Disceret hinc stamen properatae obrumpere vitae Palmatas alii trabeas sellasque curules Electicandoris
equos nominis arum Jactent at noster quanto praestantior Author Ipso victor ovans ducit de Marte triumphos Pila Latinorum cedant Grajaeque Sarissae Gesaque Gallorum Rostrato Belga covino Nec fidas nec Maure tuis pharetratè sagittis Exemplar petat hinc ambit quicunque Trophaea Non posthac dubiis nutet victoria pennis Cui faveat totus jactantior explicet alas Certa ille qui te sequiente se addicere parti Ovans posuit Composuit Henricus Potter Eidem Ejusdem WHat make we thronging our Encomiums here Before thy Book racking the Readers eaâ—e To gloss thy Work for we can do no more Let him read thee read thy Polemick store There he shall know thee better then Poesie Can render thee or the choicest fancie Reach too though dropt from Homer's learned quill Or thee by culminate Pernassus Hill There both the Scipioe's were they here agen Might discipline their valours and their men Of War by a new method teach to spare More the Conquering Caesar now in War There the bold Macedon might learn to gain An other World and keep it with less pain Let Europe rise and learn to war by thee They 'de make the World in time one Monarchy If Poets that the Acts of Heroes sing Be crown'd with Bays let them the Lawrell bring And wreath thy Temples this thy Work will tell The World Thou hast done best though many well To the worthy Author his honor'd friend Serjeant Major Richard Elton TO give thee prayse according to thy skill I want both Virgils verse and Homers quill Experimentall knowledge of thine art Commands my Muse to sacrifice her part To thy Compendious Body so compleat It may be term'd a Lezbian squires feat Such sure defence was ne're in Ajax shield As Mars and Pallas met in Eltons field Heroick art indeed that doth unite In one a number numberlesse to fight As if one hand did guide them all nay more Ne'r were such Principles in Print before The mighty Whale hath not so nimble motion As many smaller fishes in the Ocean But many times would brush against a rock And break himselfe in pieces by some knock Wer 't not for th' little Musculus his friend That swims before and safely him attends A multitude that put on spear and shield If want this Musculus must loose the field But Musculus their friend their eies their guide Thou keep'st them safe though rocks on every side That shew'st them Distances both broad and long Facings and Doublings in our English tongue Thy Counter-marches and thy Wheelings are Fit for the mighty King of Swedens War Thy experiments with single files descry Mars and Minerva joyned dexterously But when thy many Maniples I see Drawn from on Cohors in thy four times three Composed Exercises private Companies In regimentall forms placing Artilleries Cannons both great and small denominations With the prime Artists of their severall nations Duties how private Souldiers may excell Though lain Perdu or set as Sentinell Minors and Majors too doÌ„ not refuse To learn your duties oh that 't were in use Amongst all Souldiers Lust should make no man bleed Would day nee'r saw so tragicall a deed Variety of figures when we mark The Romane writers surely were it 'h dark But thou enlightenest them and all the earth By forming sundry Stars in this new birth The Heathens God of War which heretofore How er'e great Greece and Rome did him adore But an apprentice was so short of thee The master of their trade and now made free Fame blow aloud from every Marshall heart Here 's one impales a Kingdome by his art Teacheth what 's Modern and of ancient dayes Make him a garland of your greenest Bayes Adorn'd with richest trophies quickly too For he deserves a deeper dy then blue Elton Telon thy name shall never dy T is Anagram'd in Souldiers memory John Hinde Captain In honorem RICHARDI ELTONIS SI vir sit quisquam militaris doctus acer Hic ELTON certo carmina cerne mea Qui res conjungit varias concordia libri Ut justo belli fulmine Turca fleat Respice RICHARDI Xisti certamina belli ELTONIS studio te colit ornat amat Munera fac igitur capias haec fronte remissa Carmina quin meritis inferiora tuis Johannes Hinde Captain To his Honored Friend the worthy Authour AN Army without rule a tumult is Great Powers have come to nought because of this But Friend hee 'l see who doth thy labour read Confusion methodiz'd and ordered And he that studies thee in thee shall finde A martiall hand rull'd by a peacefull minde Thy Book doth teach the use of Arms and then Thy example how to lay them down again War is good Physick but t is no good diet 'T is the best art to study to be quiet And in a safe wel-grounded peace to rest Of all the Postures in thy Book 's the best The good Centurion THere is a Fort impregnable a Tower Whose top's in Heaven which neither force nor power Can scale or undermine within 's no guilt It 's wall'd with brass and on a Rock t is built Time cannot starve nor treason make it yield Good conscience is a Feast and Faith 's a Shield Hee 's the best Souldier who hath learn'd this art To keep with diligence his life his heart William Clark Captain For his intimate and worthy Friend the Author Major Richard Elton SHould Art with Valour strive 't were hard to say Which of the twain should bear the bell away But both conjoyn'd succeeding consequence Some makes discovery of eithers Excellence Art under-valued by power or will Craves valour its assistant conforming still To Reason Judgment Experience and Skill Where Valour breaking forth to its ut-most length Unfurnished of Judgement Skill or Strength Is tearm'd Fool-hardiness and oft recants The lack of that which should supply its wants Thy Book my deerest Friend both comprehends Valour b'ing taught by Art Art force extends To Reason Judgment and Heroick Ends. Lo in one Volume here thou dost explain What Germany Italy Netherlands or Spain Can render us and to our doors hast brought What many thousands have so deerly sought Nay without flattery thou dost out-vye In this thy Body of th' Art Military The exactest method yet produc't to th' eye Not underval'ing those whose love and merit By private acts declare a publick spirit Whose study charge delight and industry Are the supporters of arms art deny From whence as from the Ocean doth flow Those Rivolets that make us perfect grow In this rare art to encounter with the fo Then ere I leave thee give me leave to say To any he that shall thy book survay Love Art and Valour center in thy brest Love Art-commands and art obeys Loves Hest Valour attending both who can deny But Eltons Work may to posterity The name of Elton keep in memory Ex animo tuo Armis Artibus bellacibus benecupiens
12. Jer. l. 42. Esay v. 28. lXVI 19. XXII 6. Ezec. XXVI 8. XXIII 24. 1 Chro. XII 8 24. VIII 40. X. 3. 11 Chro. XIIII 8. Zech. IX 13. Psal lXXVIII 9. Amos 11. 15. of Bow Arrow Buckler Launce Spear Sheild (a) Neh. VII 7. Ezech. XXXII 2. Jer. XXXVI 1. 13. 11 King IX 17. Watches and Wards (b) Deut. XXXIII 17. Numb XXXI 14. 1 Sam. VIII 12. Exod. XVIII 21. Armies of Myriads Reg'ments of Thousands Bands of Hundereds Fifties Files of tens (c) 11 Chron. XIII 3. 1 King XX. 14. Closeing Hosts for fight And what I have not roome to write PTRPRY THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY The First Book CHAP. I. A discourse of the Postures and the handling of Arms. HE that will be a compleat Souldier must first begin to learn the use of his Arms laying that down in his thoughts for his first foundation But this hath beene the neglect of many in our times who have strived to know high thoughts in the Art Military before they can well performe their Postures Therefore my advice shall be unto all such that desire to thrive in this Art that they will not soar too high but first learn the A B C thereof after which they may proceed by degrees to pronounce to the Souldier with boldnesse their proficiencie therein He therefore that with safety ease and delight desireth to handle his Arms must set tiâ—es apart frequently to practise himselfe therein And here I cannot but much blame the Officers of our Trained Bands in London of two great neglect the first in making men File-leaders either out of respect or favour they bear unto them or else because one man hath a better Buf-coat than another I speake not this to encourage any man to come slovenly habited when he shall march forth with his Captain but rather advise all Souldiers to fit themselves with the best array they can and could wish all the Serjeants in drawing up their Files to pitch upon such Gentlemen to be File-leaders as may take charge of his File and shall be able willing and ready upon all convenient times to instruct and teach his File in all their Postures and neat handling of their Arms which if carefully observed they would reap the benefit of much ease to themselves and the private Souldiers readinesse in the performance of the Postures would much redound ro the honour of the Captain that shall lead them But for the farther satisfaction of the ingenious Souldier that shall enquire what Posture is I shall briefly resolve them thus Posture as I conceive is a garbe or figure that a man stands in in the handling of his What Posture is Arms which he useth for the better grace and becomming of them There are severall motions belonging to each Posture which some call Postures but they much deceive themselves as shall appear clearly unto them by the survey as they shall be set down in order And first we will begin to set down the Postures of the Pike CHAP. II. Severall reasons why the Pike is the more honourable Arms. FIrst I shall begin to set down the postures of the Pike before the postures of the Musket for these reasons following as conceiving First They are the more honourable Arms in respect the Colours flying upon the head of them and upon the drawing up of the Company there is the most properest place for the Captain to be either upon a Stand or upon a March provided he have ground sufficient to March them all a brest If upon a Stand the Captain shall have occasion to engage against an Enemy thither his Officers may repair unto him upon the head of the Pikes there to receive directions And if the Captain shall cause the Serjeants to draw off part or all the Muskettiers from the Body of Pikes to fire against the enemy the Gentlemen of the Pikes in the mean time stands undauntedly to undergoe all the cruell shot of the Cannon from the contrary part for to preserve their Colours who are likewise a place of Randezvous for the Muskettiers to repair unto when they shall retreat from fight Farther it hath been the ambition of many Gentlemen both in Holland France and in these our late unhappy Wars in England to trail Pikes with severall Commanders whom they shall thinke fit And lastly to conclude all that the Pike is the more honourable Arms it is so in respect of its antiquity for there hath been the use of the Pike and Spear many hundred years before there was any knowledge of the Musket as in many Histories you shall finde And so for present I wil conclude this discourse of the Pike desiring the Muskettiers to have a favourable censure of me for I intend not by it to perswade all Souldiers to the handling of the Pike and none to be Muskettiers for that cannot be I should rather advise all Captains that have occasion to raise their Companies to have two thirds of Muskettiers and but one of Pikes that is to say if they should have 18 Files to cause twelve of them to carry Muskets and the other six Files Pikes And in my judgement they shall performe the better service unto any Nation where they shall be employ'd and I shall farther desire the Souldiers especially those that be of low stature to handle and take delight in the use of the Musket for it is an exceeding great honour to him so to handle his Musket as that he doth it with ease and in a comely manner and he that shall become expert therein I have often observed this commendation to follow him by the report of others Such a one is a good Muskettier and an able Souldier concluding thereby he that will take the pains to be a good Muskettier certainly cannot be idle but hath gained somthing more to make him capable of such praise To conclude I shall desire the Gentlemen of the Pikes and the Gentlemen of the Muskettiers to goe hand in hand in love like dear brothers and neither of them to envie each other and in so doing God will give a blessing to all their undertakings But now fearing I have dwelt too long upon this discourse of the Arms I shall next proceed to set down first the postures of the Pike then the postures of the Musket with all the words of command tending to their Motions after collect them in order in a brief way and then set forth unto you the equality of number that the one Arms hath with the other in the postures as followeth CHAP. III. The Postures of the Pike THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of command will be stand to your Arms. Handle your Pike Raise up your Pike to your Open Order Order Close Order Charge with the But end of the Pike at the inside of the right foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over your left arm Charge to the Front Right Flank Left
108 men in a Company and the three Field Officers 144. which makes compleatly up 756 men whereof two thirds are Muskettiers and one third of Pikes the Files being six deep THe generall place of Randezvous being appointed out unto the Major it is his care to take a timely view thereof that there be ground and room sufficient enough for the drawing them up And having received orders from his Collonel Major Generall or other superiour officers for the Regiments marching thither he may appoint the Companies to march either of these two ways either by succession or dignity If by succession first the Collonels Company moves away next the Lieutenant Collonels in the reer of him then the Majors and so consequently all the rest from the eldest to the youngest who brings up the reer of all If by dignity first the Collonels Company and in the reer of him the youngest Captain and after him the eldest then the Majors then the second Captain the Leiutenant Collonel bringing up the reer of all But it concernes the Major before their marching to give notice unto the Leiutenant Collonel and the eldest Captain to countermarch their ranks of their two perticuler Companies as soone as they come into the place of the generall randezvous before he shall draw them up to preserve the honour of the right hand File-leaders and Bringers-up of both armes He is likewise to be there before hand attending their marching in and after the Collonels company have made Alt to draw up each perticuler company on the left of him all in one even range commanding them to close ranks forward to order and files into the midst unto the same distance He is likewise to informe himself of the Captaines Lieutenants and Serjeants how many files of Pikes and Muskettiers they have in each perticuler company and accordingly he is to enter it down in his paper book and to make use thereof as followeth He is to require one single file apiece of Muskettiers to be drawn off from the three smaller Companies and two files apiece from the greater which makes 9 files and contains 54 men which are to be led away by an able Serjeant into the Reer for to be a guard to the Bagage or other occasions From thence he may proceed commanding all the Muskettiers to stand and the Pikes to advance their Arms and move forward 10 or 12 paces and then to stand and close their files outward to order three of their colours moving with their Pikes to the right hand the other three moving away to the left After he may command Muskettiers to close their files outward to order and they will stand in four divisions two of Pikes and in the reer of them two of Muskettiers as underneath is set forth the Captaines being all upon the head of the Pikes with their Ensignes and the Lieutenants in the reer the Serjeants attending upon the flanks of each division This being done command each division of Muskettiers and Pikes to face outward and to move to such convenient distance that being faced to the front there may be room sufficient upon the subdividing of each division of Muskettiers for their moving up and flanking each body of Pikes After which the Major may assigne unto every Captain and Lieutenant his due place of honour as they stand all abrest And that they may also naturally fall into their proper places upon the march which shall be set forth in the next figure standing in two grand divisions the one in the reer of the other which may happen sometimes for want of ground but provided they have ground enough they ought to stand in one even range as in folio 5. The Major after they are thus drawn up in one even range will find three files of Muskettiers more in the second grand division and two of Pikes then is in the first therefore he must take from thence one file of each Company and adde them to those nine files in the reer which makes them twelve and then he will have ballanced the divisions equall taking off one file of Pikes and placing it amongst the eldest Captains Pikes CHAP. III. The Reasons follow for the placing of the Captains their Colours and their Lieutenants after the manner before set down WHat hath formerly been declared concerning a Rank or File six a brest or six deep may be satisfactory in some kind unto this point which takes his rule from hence For all private Companies smaller Bodies or single Files must or ought to be as neer as they can conformable to greater Bodies as to Regiments and consequently they to Brigades Therefore take notice that this rule ought ever to be obsâ—rved in the drawing up of Regiments that the right flank as neer as may be ought to be sutable with the left both in strength number and dignity and likewise to be so when they are drawn forth upon a long March the Front equall with the Reer Now suppose thâ—se two grand Divisions stood even a brest we will begin to examine the first worth which is the Collonels and the fourth worth which is the eldest Captains and placed upon the right and left of the first grand Division with the second and third worth who are the Lieutenant Collonel and Major drawn up upon the right and left of the second grand Division and you shall finde they are every way equivalent in number worth and dignity with that of the first In the next place there are no more to place but the fifth and sixth worth who are the second and third Captains and therefore since it is the first place of honour among the Captains in a Regiment to lead the first Body or Stand of Pikes it must then consequently follow that the second place of honour must be to lead the second grand Division of Pikes and therefore the fifth worth is brought into and placed between the second and third that he may aptly stand there to to lead the second Body of Pikes wherein the Lieutenant Collonel the Major and his own Colours are placed so that there remaines no more but the sixth worth or youngest Captain to place who is drawn up between the Collonel and eldest Captain Now if we shall further proceed to ballance it more cleerly consider them by dividing them by two's in their places as first we will begin with the Collonel the first worth who hath joyned to him the youngest Captain which is the sixt worth and they two make the number 7 then compare the Lieutenant-Collonel who is the second worth unto the second Captain joyn'd with him which is the fifth worth and they make a like the same number after compare the Major and eldest Captain who are drawn up into the midst of the Regiment whose places carry the third and fourth worth and their number is sutable with the rest And thus much may be spoken in generall now I shall come more perticulerly to give further satisfaction both for them
Military Here did I finde that which did please me better Then could another Indie's every letter To me 's an Orient Pearl and all thy words Are silver Mines in short thy book affords So vast a treasure that I dare fore-tell It will long flourish without parallel The postures of the Pike and Musket thou Dost teach with their conformities and how The dignities of Ranks and Files must be Stated in giving each his due degree Of Martiall Honour with their sev'rall Motions As Facings Doublings Wheelings and quaint Notions Of Firings who ever yet did see Such Motions ELTON as are done by thee It caus'd my admiration when I found How thy luxuriant wit disdaining bound Did vary it's Experiments upon A single File hence I went viewing on To thy twelve Exercises thy setting forth The drawing up of Reg'ments a thing of worth Neer to be rightly valu'd forming Brigades Placing artillery with other aides To Martiall Discipline but heer 's too much To out-vie all our ancients had but such Brave rules been taught Achilles sure less far Then twice five yeers had end'd the Trojan War William Johnson Captain To his much honored and ever renowned Friend Richard Elton Serjeant Major Anagram RICHARDUS ELTON I HELD ARTS CROUN Distic To honour Art and eke my Name renown Mars condiscends to say I held Arts Croun Acrostichon Rich in thy Art brave ELTON lo thy Fame Is crown'd above to eternize thy Name Can this thy Work be carped at let none Have such a Thought t is Momus carps alone Away away let Silence be the word Read ere thou censure this Work doth afford Delight and Skill even to the knowingst men Unto the weaker sort lo here thy Pen Such Rules lays down in Battail and Retreat Each one is made as this thy work compleat Leave then thy Work with us now thou hast done The Fame thereof doth crown thee Mars his Son Of all that merit worth o◠Art would gain None holds the Crown but Elton by his pain John Walker Lievtenant To his much honor'd friend Serjeant Major Richard Elton IF Authors ancient and of modern days Justly by us deserved have much prayse Who of the Military art have writ And for to honour them it was thought fit Then much more thon brave Elton who hast showne Such skill in these thy labours as yet none E're saw before for hereby men may learn A skilfull Artist rightly to discern Here thou hast taught us how to use alike The Postures of the Musket and the Pike How every man his place may truly know And how of Files a Body great doth grow But why do I endevour for to show Thy worth my pen to do it is too slow I only can admire thee and will leave it To some brave English Homers pens to do it Then Fame by them thy glory loude shall rayse And trumpet out thy just deserved prayse That so the World may at no time forgit How by thy worth thou hast advantag'd it Richard Hobby On the COMPLEAT BODY of the ART MILITARY composed by my Good Friend Major RICHARD ELTON I Was no Poet born nor ere could mount the Muses sacred Hill or reach their Fount o swoop thereof and come a Poet thence Prithee my Genius then tell me from whence is it I have this my new whiffling Gale for Meterizing it is hence men faile * Seldom have Archetypes of this Nature been perused by any but who have been impuls'd to put to their Approbationall or Commendatory Verses Witnesse the Books of Sir Thomas Kelly Ward Barriff and not a few more seldome of such a Trade-winde when they passe the Point of Mars ' is or Bellona's place Or can't one tho he would endight so nigh (a) Files call'd by Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Romans VERSUS Possibly from an old fashion of Writeing the Words of a Verse not to the side of but under one another Martiall Verses but he shall versifie The Influence came from that pure breath that bid thee write and from the fertile blasts that did blow from that Quarter of the World where those of Good Deserts are Honour'd not with Prose bur measur'd scanned lines and Voices that can tune it and their Numbers modulate Where it is held a crime to talk about Meriting Works and not to Rhyme-it-out 'T is thence Go forward now and Warble forth this Book 's rich Contents and therein it 's worth The Pike's and Musket's Postures with their (b) How much concerning the right Handling true Vse of that famously succesfull engine for Arrows the Bow was laid-down in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spoken of 2 Sam. 11. 18 I ken not But Bows and Arrows would be of speciall Service in the hands of our meerly defensive Picquiers For by these Feathery weapons they might annoy those who by fiery ones too oft directing destructive Bullets against subjective Stands have shamefully laid low abundance of Proper-men And I remember I have read in the Book call'd Londons Artillery of some fights where Archers have put Gun men to flight Use and necessary Motions which conduce as Media's to attain them Those Wayes best most ready safe short easie comeliest (c) A Metonymie so generally approved that the Name Picquiers or Pike-men is rarely heard given to them though those who carry Musquets are commonly called Mousquettiers The Pikes and Muskettiers conformity in Posturing Places of Dignity ordained so that all the parts are deck't with men of equall worth and like respect And to en-body them the joyning Files flank-wise effecting Ranks the Band compiles Due Distances whereby just PARALLEL Rank keeps to Rank and File to File as well when they do Ope Close Move as when they Stand and save their Even-ning Straightning Post-command * I speak freely To bid the Company after every Motion to even Ranks and streighten Files speaks no lesse than the Commander extream fond Or them very untoward Me thinks they are Shameing-words Faceings no more nor fewer than you see th' in-ner and out-ter Sides and Angles bee Lengthning or Strengthning Doubling Files or Ranks Battell Front Reer both one or both the Flanks (d) We read of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saltatio Pyrrhica A Daunce in order of Battell taught by Pyrrhus to his Souldiers Plin. lib. 2. cap. 16. Without doubt the Motions were not unlike those at the Coraean Laconic Macedonian Evolutions Yet I can't but think that in those days they were more nimble at them than in these and did 'm Galiard-like frollickly From the Noise which durante motione their Armes made the Dance was epitheted Bellicrepa Daunce-like Counter-Marches Wheelings (e) Wheelings are the most Nice Motions of all and if they may be so exprest Solicitous Coagitations That Angular-man who is as the Hinge of the Motion moving so much slower than the other Corner end of the same Rank to which he ever-and-anon casts an eye as it hath a larger compasse to