which both Generall and Officers must make use of in the time of fight or skirmish HAving collected the best Observations that my poor indevours could attain unto for the fitting of all thing requisite before the time of fight now it remains to discourse of such necessary principles as are convenient to be used in the time of fight so that there may bee nothing omitted which may bee an inducement or furtherance to a victory Wherefore presupposing that the Battell Standards are pitcht and the Army ranged accordingly as before is shewed the first thing that is to be done is to draw out a certain company of Horse and Foot to surprize the enemies Ordnance in which they are not bound to keep any array or order but to run disbanded and fall pell mell upon the enemy whereby his Ordnance will be disabled from shooting above once In the mean time the Forlorn Hopes and such disbanded Shot are to skirmish with the enemy partly to see if they can disorder any of their Divisions or gain some prisoners whereby the Generall may learn how they are imbattelled and what Stratagems they intend to use with the true number both of their Horse and Foot so as he may the better fit himself for them as also by their first onset to breed courage in his own men and to make them disdain their enemy The Forlorn Hope is duly to bee supplyed with men and munition either from the Wings of the main-Battel or else some Maniples appropriated for that purpose according as they prevail against the enemy so they are to be strengthned if the enemy bee too potent for them then they are to retrait behind the main-Battell and when the two Battels joyn these are to sally out and charge the enemies Flanks Some Stratagem or other ought to bee put in practice at the first encounter for a small matter if it comes unexpectedly will discourage an enemy If there be any Ambuscado's secretly laid for to charge the enemies in the Flanks or Rear let them execute their charge when the two Battels joyn in fight whereby they may be disheartned If in case the enemy take the charge and make a retrait those Officers that lead up the Forlorn Hopes to skirmish must not pursue the retrait nor suffer the souldiers to follow the enemy no further since that this skirmishing is to no other end than to breed a certain impression and good opinion in the minds of your own souldiers The absolutest way to disorder the enemies Troops is to charge their Battalia's either with your Horse or Foot both in Flank and Front * and then having certain Troops of Horse ready formed in manner of a wedge-Battell that shall indevour to enter the point of the Battell and so disorder their Ranks The Generall is to cause it to bee given out in the time of fight that hee hath a new supply of men comming unto him and may make a shew of some matters like a truth that may signifie his Succours to be neer at hand This may take effect to discourage them so that with little difficulty they may be vanquish'd Sulpitius put all the servants and labourers belonging to the Army upon beasts unfit for fight causing them to bee ranged in such sort that they seemed afar off to be a great number of Horse-men whom he sent up upon a mountain some what neer unto his enemies Army commanding them to keep themselves close untill the Battell was begun and that then they should shew themselves in many Troops like Horse-men faining to march down to charge the Rear of the enemies Army this put the enemy to flight But if the Countrey be plain so that no Ambush can be laid then there must be Trenches digged and men laid privily in them and covered over with green boughs Also such kind of Ditches may be digged and covered over slightly with boughs and earth laid slightly over and certain firme places bee left betwixt the Trenches with good marks for to find them at which places they may retire that are sent to charge the enemy faining to be afraid in their speedy retrait to cause the enemy to follow them the faster and so to fall into the snare Note that upon the disordering of the enemy the main-Battell is not to follow the pursuit but certain Troops of each Wings both of the Horse and Foot are to pursue the victory If any accident should happen unto the Generall during the Combat which might dismay his souldiers it is a point of great wisdome for to cover it and to make the best of it presently as Hostilius who seeing that his assistants which should have entred Battell with him went their waies without striking stroke hee knowing their departure would have greatly dismaid his souldiers caused it to be given out through all the Army that they went away through his commandement this did not only appease the people but did moreover incourage them that they were victorious Sylla having part of his Troop slain fearing lest his Army should be discouraged hee said he sent them of purpose to be slain in regard they conspired against him In the Battell of Flanders when the enemy had cut off the whole Regiment of Scots that were sent to guard a passage one only man brings the newes of it his Excellency caused him to be slain lest he should have frighted the Army by the report of so sudden an accident A Generals care must ever be to avoid confusion of fight which is to begin before your time which causeth such inconveniences as are cause oftentimes of losse Therefore in the beginning of your fight take great heed you invade not nor fight confusedly wheras every part of the Army hath his ordinary time to fight neither suffer any part of your Army to fight with your enemy in any other fashion than you appointed them At your first onset in charging the enemy the Army must give a mighty terrible shout to dishearten the enemy and then afterwards keep great silence that the sounds of the Drums and Trumpets may be heard and distinguished as also such commands as Officers shall give If your Horse-men be oppressed with your enemies Horse-men send for succour a supply of Musketires who may scattering and out of order as occasion shall serve shoot at the oppressors and upon occasion retire and returne very often to these you may send a guard of Pikes for rescue the better to bring them off safe But if you invade your enemy with Musketires with your guard of Pikes send some Horse so that both may defend them from invasion of the enemies Horse-men Likewise to give the enemie his hands full follow him with a Battalion resolutely to put all or one of his Battalions to rout and having discomfited any one of his Battels send only a small or convenient company to pursue the chase and with the rest invade quickly some part of his Army fighting with any one
Spaniard could come with his forces By this I hope you may see how difficult it is for Islanders and Maritine Countries without Shipping to make resistance against an invading Enemie wherefore Marriners and Shipping must be maintained by us that are Islanders else can we not long abide in safetie and so I will conclude with Saint Pauls speech Acts 27. 31. Vnlesse the Marriners abide in the Ship ye cannot be safe CHAP. XI Of the provision of Souldiers and Land-forces AS it is needfull for Islanders and Maritine Countries to maintaine Shipping and Marriners So is it as needfull for them to maintaine Souldiers and Land-forces which though they bee the last refuge yet are they the safest and strongest defence and must wholly be relyed on For it is possible that the enemy may over-power us at Sea or he may by helpe of Windes and Mistes or other advantages that may bee gotten gaine footing on our shore though we have a more potent Navie than he on the Seas and how shall we deale with them on land if we maintaine not our Land-forces and Martiall discipline for which this Island hath beene very famous in times past Should wee suffer our souldiery and the Art of Warre to decay amongst us ten thousand of the Enemies well trained would foile forty thousand of ours that are not flesht nor know the use of their armes were they never so valiant For Valour in the warres without skill availeth but little As may appeare by the example of Alexander the Great who with no more than 40. thousand well-trained souldiers Macedonians in the fields of Adrastia overthrew sixe hundred thousand Persians that were unskilfull in the use of their Armes I would to God that notice might be taken hereof and that greater care might be had of our Trainings than is that they might no longer be used as matters of disport and things of no moment but as needfull for the training up of souldiers and enabling of men for the Warres against times of danger and hostilitie so should our Prince and his Kingdomes receive both honour and securitie But as Trainings are now used we shall I am sure never be able to make one good souldier for our custome and use is now adayes to cause our Companies to meet on a certaine day and by that time the Armes be all viewed the Muster-master hath had his pay which is the chiefest thing many times he looks after it drawes towards dinner time and indeed Officers love their bellies so well as that they are loath to take too much paines about disciplining of their souldiers Wherefore after a little carelesse hurrying over of the Postures with which the Companies are nothing bettered they make them charge their Muskets and so prepare to give the Captaine a brave volley of shot at his entrance into his Inne where having solaced themselves a while after this brave service every man repaires home and that which is not well taught them oh the shame is easily forgotten before the next Training Whereas if we trained but twice in the yeare and at each time kept the Companies together but three or foure dayes at the most they would be better acquainted with their Armes and the use of them so often practising of them at one time would make them remember what is shewed better than seven yeeres practice as now we goe to worke But peradventure some will thinke that to keepe souldiers so long together at once would damnifie the Country by reason of neglect of husbandry But as farre as I conceive it would rather be beneficiall to the Country for now every Moneth in the Summer they lose a day by reason of the Training and the greater part of the Souldiers use to fall a drinking after the Training and happily lose the next day also and so in the Moneths of Iune Iuly and August which are busie times for Hay and Harvest they lose three dayes or more which is more damage to them than eight dayes in May and September for these are the two times in the yeare wherein husbandmen have more leisure than in any other of the Summer-Moneths in May because all their seed is then in the ground and no Hay nor Corne ready in the latter end of September because Harvest and Hop-time for the most part is over and wheat-seed not fully come wherefore I thinke with lesse damage they might spare foure dayes together in May and so many also in September than to spare in every of the Summer moneths but one We have other inconveniences also which attend our Trainings and hindreth our breeding of Souldiers for we appoint our meetings commonly neare some great Towne as indeed it is meet for the reliefe of the Companies but this inconvenience followeth thereon when we are in the Field many of our souldiers so regardlesse are they of the Service slip away and are in the Innes and Tavernes tipling when they should be exercising in the field And this is another cause why divers of them are so ignorant in the use of their Armes hereby also they get an ill habit of drinking which is the disgrace of our Nation and the losse of many of our souldiers at such times as they are imployed in forraigne service As appeared in the taking of the Groyn where by immoderate drinking many of the soldiers became senselesse and unserviceable being altogether carelesse both of their proper healthes present danger and imployment By this inordinate drinking the Plague was bred among them and which is worse the sword of the Enemie might have cut them off had not the Generall for redresse hereof caused the head of all Wine-vessels to be strucken out according to a former president upon the like occasion in the conquest of S. Dominigo Jago c. For prevention of which abuse the Captaines must either have more power to punish or if they have power enough already they must better put it in practice upon such malefactors or we shall never be able to make them Souldiers Secondly we admit into our trained Bands without judgement or discretion any that are offered how unlikely or uncapable soever they be of the Art militarie yea which is worse we suffer them almost every Training to alter their men and put in new ones and how is it possible with our best skill and paines to make such men souldiers Mercuries Image is not to bee made of every wood nor every dull heavie fellow to be made a Mars or man of Warre care must be had to correct this abuse also if we will have able souldiers to oppose against an enemie We must therefore herein imitate the worthy Citizens of London who in the Reigne of Queene Elizabeth chose out of their severall Companies three thousand of the most likely and active persons whom they appointed to be Pikemen and shot These that we admit into our trained Bands must be likely and active for every one that will be a souldier must
with 7000 foot and 30 Troopes of Horse to a convenient place neere Osterhout where hee Incamped within three miles of the Enemy where he confronted the enemy and anticipated the place of great advantage for the Prince of Orange to have relieved the Towne by it After that the Prince of Orange did perceive their was no hopes of relieving the Towne hee provided for his safe Retreate to which end hee raised divers Workes to hinder Spinola from pursuing him As first upon a convenient passage hee raised a Fort to Retire his men into and to defend them from the sudden pursuite of the Enemy and upon the side next Spinolas Campe by which hee was to make his Retreate hee raised a Brest-worke along the Causie with a deepe Ditch to cover his men from the Enemies shot and also to obscure them in their Retreate Spinola fearing the Prince of Orange should have assaulted some of their Garrisons with his Army Hee commanded Grave Hendrick Vanden-Bergh to dog him with his Army to prevent his designes This Siege having lasted part of Summer all Winter and part of the Summer following which was a thing thought impossible to have bin done being eleven Months The Governour of Breda founded a Parley and was content to surrender the Towne they being almost famished if Spinola would agree to such Articles as hee should propound For the performance of which Articles there were sufficient Hostages from either side to confirme the Agreement I have set downe the Articles they being a most fit patterne for all Governours to shape their Agreements by The Articles follow First a Captaine of the Garrison of Breda brought Spinola two Copies of the Articles betwixt them that hee might first signe them both which done hee carried them backe to the Governour for him to signe one part of them was brought backe to Spinola Vpon the signing of these Covenants the Governour demanded 1200 Waggons and 60 Boats to carry away sicke and maâ—med persons and others with their Carriages and Housholdstuffe which was by Spinola granted Imprimis It shall bee lawfull for the Governour of the Towne with the rest of the Officers and Souldies both of Horse and foot to March out of the Towne armed Souldier like viz. The Foot with flying Colours Drums beating compleatly Armed Bullet in mouth Match lighted at both ends their charges full of Powder and Shot The Horse with their Trumpets founding Standards displayed Armed in such sort as when they March towards the Enemy And that no Souldier shall bee of what Nation soever questioned or detained for any cause or pretext whatsoever not though he had formerly bin in the Enemies service All without exception having free liberty to march the best and most commodious way to their next Garrison without injurie hinderance or wrong done to their owne persons their Armes Horses or Baggage and this with all safety and assurance possible And further it shall bee lawfull for them to take their Wives Children Houshold Housholdstuffe Horses and Carts with the Armes of all Souldiers dead or hurt sicke or runne away without any search or inquiry made after them Item All Ministers or Preachers of the Word Commissaries of Musters Officers of Contribution with their Clerkes Ingineers Gentlemen of the Artillery the Auditor of the Souldiers Masters of Fire-workes Captaines of Pioners Canoners Surgions of Regiments and private Companies with all such as belong to the Traine of Artillery Marriners Notaries Overseers of Workes Provosts Pioners Carpenters Smithes Commissaries of the Victualls and all persons whatsoever any way belonging to the Artillery or Engines with their Wives Children and Servants Horse and Armes shall bee comprehended in the former Article and enjoy the same priviledges Item All Boats found about or in the Towne at this present as well those which arrived last with the Colonells as with any others shall be permitted with all their necessaries and tackling to returne to their next place of refuge guided by their own Pilots and Marriners in which it shall bee lawfull for them to Imbarke their Families and Housholdstuffe with the Armes and Baggage of the Colonells Captaines and other Officers of the Armie sicke persons with such as attend them and all others whosoever desire to passe by Water into their next safe Garrison And to this purpose the River shall bee open for them during the terme of twelve dayes and then within that space they may safely repaire to and joyne themselves with their other men of Warre and from thence take their journey to what place they please the Boats remaining still to their owne Masters and owners And during the sayd terme of twelve dayes no man shall dare to molest or hinder those Boats but shall permit them to passe freely with their Passengers without searching them for any cause or pretext whatsoever And if it chance that the passage of the River bee not yet freed and made Navigable againe by which their journey may bee any way hindered the time in which by that meanes the journey hath beene stayed shall not bee reckoned amongst those twelve dayes which terme they enjoy freely and withall assurance as well in the River it selfe as upon either shore of it where Marriner or any other Passengers shall have occasion to land for their commodity or affaires And if any of the Boats belong to any man who shall desire to reside still in the Towne of they shall bee tyed notwithstanding to helpe to transport Passengers and Baggage out of Breda and afterwards returne home to their Masters Item Spinola shall allow the Governour any reasonable and sufficient number of Waggons as hee shall demand to transport his owne the Colonell Captaines Officers and other mens Baggage of the Garrison to their next Garrison from whence they shall returne them safe and faithfully againe Item It shall bee lawfull for the Governour to carry out with his Garrison any foure Peeces of Artillery and two Morters hee shall make choice of with all their appurtinances and as much Powder and Ball as they will beare at sixe charges and it shall bee at his choice to transport them with their Carriages either by Water or by Lane And for this purpose the Marquesse Spinâ—la shall allow the Governour if hee shall demand it all Canon-Horses and others with their Waggons and Waggon-men as shall bee requisite for the transporting of these Peeces of Artillery and Morters with all their appurtenances Item What goods or Housholdstuffe belongs to the Prince of Orange it shall be lawfull for him or his Deputie to transport them to what place hee pleaseth within the time of sixe Moneths at which time a free passage shall bee given without any molestation or hinderance in the meane time the goods to bee safely preserved Item If it chance that any man comprehended in the two first Articles shall bee unable for his sicknesse to goe out of the Towne with the Garrison it shall be lawfull for such to remaine in the Towne
with the tender care which we professe of concerning the Subjects in security the State in strength the Government in peace to open the great vaine by which the Common-wealth might bleed not as Fevers pestilent ad animi diliquium but rather as in the heart of Seneca when hopes are desperate ad vitâ— exitum For this must be the issue of an unlawfull act which excludes all manner of satisfaction for wrongs besides that of the sword which observes no measure These Challengers doe likewise strongly crosse the line of their owne pretended levell and if malice did not stand too much in the light of reason they would easily confesse For they pretending above all things to regard honour for a flourish yet to satisfie their owne inordinate desires they flye the certaine judgement of the Court of Honour which is purposely erected to scourge such delinquents as shall dare to transgresse causing them to give sufficient satisfaction for the regaining of the Honour lost The wrongs which are grounded of quarrels are eyther verball that is when one Gentleman accuseth another of some dishonest fact or gives the lye Or Reall by which is meant blowes stripes or hurts in all degrees though they differ in proportion and besides all scornefull lookes acts or figures that implie contempt all Libels published in any sort to the disgrace of any Gentleman or person whom that Gentleman is bound in credit to defend as himselfe for all these sayes his Majestie trench as deepely into reputation as the stabbe it selfe doth into a man that esteemes honour wherefore whereinsoever reputation is agrieved though it bee but in the weight of one graine it ought to be repaired and as much restored as hath beene diminished by which the seeds of Quarrels shall be bruised in the bud before they come to beare the bitter fruites that are ever gathered in stormes Wherefore he hath commanded the Lord High-Marshall and the Lords Lieutenants and their Deputies in their severall precincts that so soone as they shall have notice of any abuses either by blowes or speeches whereby a quarrell may be grounded that they commit the party thus offending either to his owne house or chamber onely in respect of disobedience to his royall prohibition Leaving him to the Earle Marshals discretion in what kinde hee shall giue the party agreeved satisfaction according to the rules and formes which vpon like occasions aswell within our Kingdome as in forraine States are vsuall before hee be set at full liberty For it is true that this small instrument the tongue in the body of man being kept in tune by the wrest of awe prevents many fearefull accidents that are apt to spring vp out of neglect of discipline If from a foule word vpon which a quarrell is begun the answere leape at the first bound to the lye or a blow be given from which a Challenge is produc'd or if Choller breakes apruptly into a Challenge at first as many times it happens because the property of distempers is to confound all dealings to put custome out of course it ought to be punished both for it selfe and in it selfe ab origine the Saxons layd a fine of sixe shillings as appeares by antiquity vpon every one that uncivily misgreeted his Country men In Spaine Vn hombre dislingado a man that vseth ill language out of his liberty or loosenesse according to his rancke is either whipped in the open streetes or sent to the Galleys and especially for this verball injury the Lye which workes such conceit of horrour unto gentlemen well borne that they had rather indure the racke then the reproch this his Majesty was pleased to ranke with the highest verball wrongs and to be punished by the Earle Marshall accordingly Wherefore his Majesty leaues the Earle Marshall and other Lords authorised by Commission to use their best discreete indeavours in devising meanes to satisfie the party that is wounded by the giving of the Lye wherefore his Majesty manifested his pleasure that whosoever should stand convicted thereof in the presence of the Earle Marshall or of the Lord Lieutenants or their Deputies by proofe sufficient should bee presently committed to prison and that hee be not suffered to depart out of durance before he shall acknowledge both an errour in his Iudgement and a breach in duty in vpbrayding anyman with that uncivill terme which his tender caution hath very sharply prohibited hee shall also aske forgivenesse of his fault in presence of the Lords and renounce that interest which men claime in these dayes in righting themselves by the fury of the sword when Iustice eyther Marshall or Civile or both provides with so great tendernesse for their indemnitie Touching the first branch of actuall offences by blowes with the hand stripes with a rod bruises with a Cudgell stabbes with a Dagger or hurts with a Rapâ—er his purpose was out of the sense of honour to extend his punishment as farre above those ordinary degrees which are now in use as the facts themselues exceed all humanity wherefore he leaves the proportions and degrees of satisfaction for such inhumane wrongs to the caution and temper of the Earle Marshall or the Lords Lieutenants or their Deputies For wee resolue saith his Majesty in this offence by blowes as in the other comming vpon words to punish the breach of order before or in a higher straine then wrongs of reputation wherefore all offenders in this kinde that shal be convicted orderly before the Lords eyther by the strength of witnesses or by their owne confessions of striking hastily for any other cause then their owne defence vpon assault shall instantly be committed to prison to the end that during this time of breathing and respiring they may learne that Princes remit not actions of such high presumption and contempte without due punishment So that if any man shall so transgresse by quarrelling if he were not in commissioÌ„ of the peace before the fact committed it was his Majesties pleasure he should be peremptorily disabled from being put in for the space of seaven yeares next ensuing and if hee were of the peace upon notice given to the Lord Chancellor from the Lord high Marshall or the Lords Lieutenants he is to be removed and put out instantly beside such parties offending shall not be quite free before they have acknowledged their offence at the Councell Table for breaking the Kings ordinance he shall promise before the said Lords sollemnly never to offend vpon like occasion in the like contempt hee shall bee bound to the good behaviour during the space of the next sixe Moneths ensuing and if they bee of his Majesties household they are to absent the Court besides his Majesties pleasure is that the person which is eyther hurt or stricken shall besides these satisfactions given him take the benefit of his action of battery at common Law with a meaning that such censures be reputed rather Cumulative
that is due to the principalls themselves His Majesty chargeth all persons of whatsoever ranke or quality which are present in the place where a quarrell first begins that upon paine of his Majestiâ—â— high displeasure they first apply their best perswasions and endevours to the taking of the ground of the contention away and the reconcilement of the partyes mindes if it be possible if not to call in with all expedition an Officer of the peace that may bring the matter before the Lords in Commission before it be too farre exasperated and â—nvenomed Further his Royall Majesties pleasure was that whosoever published a Challenge or any one that did but relate any part of the quarrellous businesse should be brought Ore tenus or otherwise as the cause requireth into the Starre-Chamber and there bee punished at the discretion and censure of the Court for their high contempt against his Majestie and to be banisht the Court c. And which is heaviest of all his Royall Majestie did protest for his owne part he should never account of them but as Cowards for it is ever held the part of a man to shew his courage when hee is by Authority put to it in action but hee that seekes his reputation by plurality of voyces amongst simple people it is to be accounted to proceed from the knowledge and jealousie of his owne weake imbellicke parts as if a man could not winnâ— honour but per â—â—â—dicata suffragia in Ordinaries and Taverns And to conclude his Majesties publication he wills every man that should find himselfe grieved with any whisperings or rumours spread abroad or any other way abused to resort to the Earle Marshall who shall right him in his reputation if hee finds hee be wronged Thus you see what a soveraigne salve it hath pleased his Majestie to prepare for the saving and repayring of Gentlemens reputations so that now you must confesse with me that there is no dore left open for the Sword to passe out at unlesse men would runne willingly to destruction by undergoing the penalty of the Law here and the eternall wrath of the great God of heaven who hath reserved revenge to himself and none but himselfe shall repay it and let us blesse God that his Royall Majestie hath Authorized an Earle Marshall of so Noble bloud and so conscious and respective in desciding such affaires hee according to his owne worth hath a tender care to render the due rights of honour and reputation to those that shall sue to his Noblenesse giving them a free admittance to crave his honours warrant for the conventing any such delinquent before him and upon conviction imposing due punishment upon such refractary fellowes with his Noble Injunction to the party offending to restore the blemisht reputation of the complaynant before he depart his presence so that never any that came before his Lordship had ever cause to complaine of partiallitie or remissenesse in his Honoured course of Iudicature And for mine owne advise to gentlemen having three severall times tasted of this bitter fruit which hath growne by the Sword in the field not so well then understanding my selfe as riper yeares and more mature considerations hath since ingraven in me I doe rather wish a fayre reconciliation then a foule fray for the reconciling of an enemy is more safe then to conquer him my reason is because victory onely deprives him of his power but reconciliation of his will and there is lesse danger in a will that will not hurt than in a power that cannot and againe power is not so apt to tempt the will as the will is studious to finde out meanes to provoke power if the enemy be base it is a dishonour to meddle with him if hee be worthy let his worth perswade thee to attonement for hee that can be a worthy enemy if once reconciled may be thy worthy friend for if in a just cause he dares fight against thee in the like cause as valiantly fight for thee It is pollicy to bee reconciled to a base enemy bee it but to charme his slandrous tongue and use him as a friend in outward fairenesse but beware him as an enemy apt to reassume his base quarrells for a base foe cannot but prove a false friend And further let Gentlemen know that take a delight to busie themselves in such litigious affaires Sicut not Martyrom pana sic non fortem pugua sed causa as it is not the punishment that makes the Martyr so it is not fighting that declares a valiant man but the fighting in a good cause when his King and Countrey injoynes And he that makes use of this dangerous Salve to skinne up his Honour let him not use it as a delight but as a necessitie to constrayne him for the lawfulnesse is not to be questioned when a man is prest with injuries or violent abuses hee may by the law of nature and of all Christian Kings fight in his defeneâ— to preserve his person and honour I have taken the greater paines in this discourse in regard Gentlemen and Souldiers might be fully satisfied of the unlawfulnesse of Duells which is proved by undeniable arguments likewise to informe them if â—ase injuries be offered them how they may gaine lawfull satisfaction by the ayde of Authority provided for that purpose In the next place I shall proceede to discourse of the particular duties of all Officers beginning at the meanest and so proceede untill I shall come to the office of the Generall of an Army THE OFFICE AND DVTY OF EVERY PARTICVLAR OFFICER IN AN ARMY SECT X. CHAP. LXI The Duty and Office of a Drumme to a private Company and of the Drum-Major of the Regiment BEfore we can further proceede in our intended discourse I hould it fit to entreate of the duties and offices of all the officers belonging to an Army and that for two respects first that all young Officers that never followed the Warres might at the first view know their places and the duties belonging to them Secondly that all Souldiers might likewise observe and take notice of every particular Officers duty hee is to performe and the Command he is to beare that they may the better learne to obey them and obsâ—rve such documents as their Officers shall give them in charge wherefore first I intend to begin with the meanest Officer of a private Company and then proceed to discourse of every particular Officer of a Regiment and likewise of the chiefe Officers of the Field with their dependanâ—es A Drummâ— is one of the 〈…〉 Officers to a Company and divers 〈◊〉 of waight and moment hee is to be imployed in for many times they are sent to Parlie with the Enemie and to redeeme Prisoners from the Enemy therefore hee ought to be a man of personage faithfull secret and trusty He ought to speake severall Languages especially the Drumme of a Colonels Company ought to bee thus qualified he hath the command of all the
Captaine of the Watch or to bee commanded our with some Troopes for the guarding of some passage to prevent the Enemies approches Hee is to exercise his Company in all their postures he ought to bee gallantly apparelled with a faire Sword and Brigandine if hee be commanded to passe upon any Service with part of the Company he is not to carry his Colours also if the 〈◊〉 Company are to guard some dangerous Out-workes as a halfe Moone or a Redouâ— the Company is to troope thither and he is to leave his Colours in the quarters with a sufficient guard over them and hee is to take for his weapon a good Pike Also every Souldiers honour is highly ingaged to defend and preserve their Ensigne and if occasion of necessity should happen they must not spare to runne upon the Pikes to releeve him as divers valiant Souldiers formerly have done Histories have eternized to their immortall fame the honourable exploits of Captaine Morerula and his two Brothers one of them being his Ensigne at the siege of the Citie of Africa in Barbary in Charles the fifts time when Iohn de Vega Vice-Roy of Sicilia scaled the Walls of it this Ensigne being sore wounded and overthrowne his Brother being Serjeant seconded him and recovered the Colours who advancing forwards like a valiant Souldier was slaine the Captaine Brother to them both tooke up the Colours and performed the Ensignes office who in the scaling of the Wall was sore hurt and died thereof thus three valiant brethren died honourably in defending their Colours if an Ensigne should lose all his Colours from the staffe and hose it is no dishonour When an Army is drawne into Batalia the Ensigne ought to stand out before the front of it some five paces and if the Generall or some other chiefe Officer of the Field passe by he is gently to vaile his Colours holding the butte end of his staffe at his girdlested Also a maxime that no Souldier moves Hat or Helmet to the greatest Commander that is but only to bow his body to him Likewise in time of Battell the Ensigne is to withdraw himselfe for his safety into the middle-most Ranke of the Pikes Likewise in a March the Ensigne is to march before the first division of Pikes with his flying Colours If a King or great Prince passeth by the Ensigne is to vaile his Colours close to the ground with his knee bending in token of Alegiance and submission every Ensigne of private Companies ought to observe how the Ensigne of the Right hand of the Battell orders his Colours after the same manner hee is to order his every Souldier upon an Allarme is speedily to repaire to his Colours likewise not to forsake them untill they be lodged when any Company shall march either into Campâ— Guard Fortresse or Castle no Souldier ought to disarme himselfe untill they see first the Colours placed and the Ensigne disarmed Likewise no sooner shall a Souldier see the Ensigne take up his Colours but they should arme and ranke themselves immediately No Ensigne ought to disarme himselfe upon any Guard Campe or Field untill hee sees that with safety hee may doe it Likewise an Ensigne should shew himselfe forwardest with his Colours in assaulting a Fort or entring a Breach to incourage the Souldiers manfully to fall on to defend and make way for them he ought to behave himselfe so that he may gaine the love of all the Souldiers whereby his owne person shall be in the more safetie when he shall attempt any perrillous exploits for love will command a Souldier to fight when all things in the world else 〈…〉 him forwards and let him know that the vertue of the Ensigne 〈…〉 the vertue and valour of the Captaine and his whole band I could wish 〈…〉 Captaines would be pleased to be more circumspect in their election of 〈◊〉 and not to put undeserving fellowes of base birth and qualitie into place of 〈◊〉 which deserves Gentlemen of quality to officiate the Office of 〈…〉 place of repute and honour doth not sâ—te with every Yeoman Taylor or Fidler as I have knowne to one Company in Essex all these oâ— the like Mechanick fellowes have had the honour to beare the Colours before a generous Captaine of Noble birth whose name I forbeare to relate but let it be an 〈◊〉 to all generous Captaines to make choyce of Officers that are well bred and deserving otherwise they doe but disgrace themselves and abuse his Majesties service and the reputation of our Countrey CHAP. LXV The Office of a Lieuâ—tenant to a private Company and his duty both in Garrison and in Field declared A Lieuetenant is an Office of high credit and reputation and he ought in all respects to bee well indoctrinated and qualified in the Arts Millitary and ought not to bee inferiour in knowledge to any Officer of higher authority for an unskilfull Captaine may better demean himselfe with an experienst Lieuetenant then an unskilfull Lieuetenant can â—adge with a skilfull Captain because all businesse belonging to a Company is for the most part ordered by the Lieuetenant the Captaine having other imployments of greate importance hee is to see the company fitted in all respects for service hee is the right hand to his Captaine in ayding and assisting him as well in the brunt of Battell as in Peace hee is to see to the fitting and furnishing of all things necessary belonging to the Company hee is to keepe a perfect roule of all the Souldiers in the Company and to observe that every Squadron bee compleate hee is to view the sufficiency and â—â—â—enesse of the Armes and to give order for the repayring of such as shall bee found defective hee is to order and ranke the Company fit for his Captaine to March with hee is to divide his Company into foure divisions making two divisions of the Pikes and two of the Musquetieres hee is to ranke the first division of Musquets in the Front and the second division of Musquets in the Reare of the Pikes hee is to March in the Reare of the Company into the Field and in Marching out of the Field the Captaine is to March in the Reare and the Lieuetenant in the Front he is carefully to passe upon his duty to see the squadrons drawne to the Guards for to Watch hee is to bee very carefull and diligent in exercising his Company either by squadrons uppon the Guards or the whole Company in the Field assuming fit and convenient times hee is to leade on the left Wing of shot in time of service in time of exercising hee is to helpe order the Company so that his Captaine may have the more ease and freedome hee ought to bee silent and to cause silence in the Company during the time of his Captaines exercise he ought to bee in the Reare of the Company to instruct the Souldiers how to act and observe the Captaines commands he ought to call over the Company and take a particular survey
so little as you will have him Likewise to make him keepe his head alwayes towards the Enemie being in fight at single duell you must make him goe sidewayes with his hinde part onely and his fore part stand party steady to performe this you must turne your bridle hand somewhat on that side you touch him likewise you must helpe him with your rod by striking him therewith on the contrary flanke behinde Further take notice the carriage of your Horses head is a matter of no small consequence his forehead being the strongest part of his head his snought or mussell the weakest and tendrest the more he thrusteth out his mussell the more he distendeth his backe and beareth the lesse force in his actions and it is impossible hee should ever make good Manage observe time keepe order or continue in breath any space of time together whereas by bringing in his mussell and extending his forehead he uniteth his force together and gathereth his strength in his backe whereby he becommeth more nimble in his actions Secondly he shall see his way the better and be in lesse danger of falling in running and if he should chance to fall he is the abler to rise speedily Thirdly in his performances against an enemie he shall be able to execute or suffer more with his forehead than can be expected from his Mussell being the tendrest part of him Fourthly he cannot be so apt to be urged right forwards upon a sudden as otherwise he might doe Lastly the Horse that Raynes well and bringeth in his head shall alwayes bee better stayed both of head and necke and have a better mouth than otherwise Wherefore if your horse will not bring in his head at any time when you stop him with your bridle hand then holding your hand still at that stay correct him sometimes with your right Spurre and sometime with your left and sometimes with both your spurres at once and at the selfe same instant thrust him with your right hand upon the necke towards his eares to force him to bring in his head but if he will not yeeld with that then by pulling your bridle towards you cause him to goe backe some three paces and then to returne faire and softly to his first place this being put in action divers times together and every time he thrusteth out his nose correct him as before is shewed Moreover if your horse by wresty so as he cannot be put forwards then let one take a Cat tyed by the tayle to a long pole and when he goes backewards thrust the Cat towards his stones where she may claw him and forget not to threaten your horse with a terrible Noyse or otherwise take a Hedgehog and tye him streight by one of his feete to the inside of the horses tayle so that he may squeake and pricke him Likewise if your horse be fearefull and shie so that he is afrayd of every thing he sees you must take heede that in no wise you correct him for it least he should take the thing he beholdeth and shunneth to be the cause of his chastisements and so become more fearefull than before but rather stay a while and doe not force him forwards but by gentle meanes make him by little and little aproach neere the thing he feares which if he performes cherish him with your speech and hand and you shall set by standing still sometimes to looke on it and sometimes by going towards the object he feares he will be so acquainted therewith as he will not feare it and when he commeth at it let him gaze and smell on it a good while to the intent he may be more assured thereof Further to embolden your horse to make him hardy in the warres you must use to incounter upon a soft pace or trot with another horse man face to face in one path but beware they dosâ—e not one the other but rather let the adverse horse bee compelled backe a few steps which will harty the other or if you please you may incounter one with the other riding in two sundry pathes the one comming cheeke by cheeke within a foote of the other the pathes being both of a just length each of them containing about tenne paces to the intent in managing your horse too and fro upon a trot you comming one towards another from two contrary ends may both meete right in the midst of your course passing one by another which you cannot chuse but doe if you keepe true time as well in their trotting as in their â—urning also not forgetting upon what hand soever the one turneth the other must doe the same and in the selfe same instant Moreover when you trot the Ring you may embolden your horse by entring both together into the Right Ring then turning your horse tayle to tayle follow you the right hand and let him follow the left in the same Ring the ring path being so inlarged that at your meeting in ryding it about you may not touch one the other Having ridden thus about twise you may enter the left ring and doe as before was shewed CHAP. CVI. How to make a Horse endure Pike Sword Gunshot Drumme and the like IN this Chapter we are to deale with the difficultest matter of all and that is now to make a Horse abide Pike Gunshot Sword Drumme and the clattering of Armour or to runne upon any hazard to performe this you must acquaint him throughly with the rod or truntion so as he may not feare it sometimes coying him therewith upon the Necke and by holding the point right forth by his eye or betwixt his eares so as it may bee alwayes in his sight and being throughly assured of the rod then appoint a foote man having a staffe in his hand or pike to stand in your way as you should passe and as you aproach let the footeman by little and little make signes seeming to strike your horse upon the head then encourage your horse to goe on towards the footeman who at the same instant must retreate backe as if he would flee in doing this you shall much imbolden him Likewise to make him abide the sword a footeman must performe it in the same manner as he did with the Pike but be ware he strikes him not After this cause half a dozen footemen or more to stand in his way making a greâ—t shouting and noyse threatning him with their loude voyces against whom you must incourage him to goe forwards first with a soft pace secondly with a trot thirdly with a gallop at which time let the footemen retreate fayning to runne away also let them threaten them with their staves Pikes or swords To make him dure Gunshot Drumme or clattering of Armour or any hideous noyse whatsoever let your horse goe hard by another horse or rather betwixt two other horses that are accustomed to the like noyse and are not afrayd and as you ride together cause
three or foure Pistols to be discharged first a good distance off then neerer hand according as your horse beginneth to abide them during which time forget not to make much of him Likewise every morning before he is drest discharge a Musket or two and sound a Trumpet and beate a charge with your drumme and then when he is patient feede him and cherish him the Groome may sometime dresse him in bright armour hee may be used to eate his Oates from off the Drumme head you may ride him against an armour plac't upon a stake that he may overthrow it and trample it under his feete Every horseman that doth not observe these briefe observations and fit himselfe and his horse in all respects before hee come to be trayned they will prove both unfit for service neither would I wish any Captaine to approve either of man or horse that in some reasonable manner hath not attained to this perfection for an Oxe well Managed may in possibility doe better service than an ill ridden wresty horse neither can any security or reputation bee expected by any service they shall undertake if the Officers be not diligent to see their Troopes well ordered and demeaned Thus premising every Horseman is or will be in this nature qualified wee will proceede to the Exercising of private Troopes and breefely shew all their Postures and how they ought to be imbattelled but first it is necessary to give a touch about the severall kinde of arming both of Curassiers Harquebuzires Carabines and Dragoones as followeth CHAP. CVII How the horse Troopes ought to be devided and distinguished by their severall armes apt and fit for divers services and what proportion of Cavalry ought to be joyned with the Infantry WE are to understand how our Generalls of late ages have divided their horse Troopes into foure severall kindes proper for divers Services and accordingly their armings are sutable to their Offices as The arming of the Câ—irassier Harquebuzier Carbine Dragoone is chiefely Defensive Offensive Offensive and Defensive The light armed which are the Harquebuziers Carabines and Dragoones are imployed to begin a charge against the Infantry upon flanke and reare at once the Front is dangerous if the two armies of foote be ready to joyne then the heavie armed viz. the Cuirassiers shall take the advantage of such disorders as are procured by the light armed for their compleate arming is efficatious to defend their bodies from the push of pikes the better to thrust in amongst them The light armed are also more apt and fit to be sent upon services that require expedition which the heavie armed are unfit to performe for the Cuirassier is to be compleately armed Capapè with a good Buffe coate to preserve his body from the pinching of his pondrous armour his horse is to be fifteene hand high and upwards he is also to have his Bedee Nagge and a Boy to carry his Armes and Snapsacke and to get him forrage for his horses his Saddle and Bitte must be strong and good whereunto must be fixed upon each side of it a case of good Firelocke Pistolles the barrell being full eighteene inches long and the bore of twenty or twenty foure bullets in the pound with his Spanner and flaske boxes a good sword and a scarffe over his armes to distinguish him from the enemie His service in the warres is chiefely defensive As for the proportion which the horse should beare to the foote there are divers of sundry opinions but the Prince of Orange used to allow three to tenne or twelve at most viz. 3000. horse to 1000. or 12000. foote and every troope consisting of five score horse which are ordered twenty in ranke and five deepe in file the which custome they use the rather because of the scarsitie of their horse and againe they are opiniated that in regard each horse man hath two Pistolles they may perfect their fight as well as a Troope of Musquetiers that are tenne deepe in â—yle having but one Musquet apeece but from this hath proceeded many inconveniences as Captaine Beumount hath observed wherefore his advice was to have the horse Troopes consist of sixe score so they may be ranked twenty in breast and sixe deepe in file they being then more apt and proper to double their rankes whereby their front may be extended or if being in skirmish with the enemy any shot should be drawne out to give fire upon them in the reare then the two hindmost rankes of a horse may peckiere about and put them to retreate and the foure foremost rankes in the front may be the better able to prosecute their fight wherefore my discourse shall be to shew you how the Troopes consisting of 120. horse ranked twentie in brest and sixe deepe in file shall be exercised and fitted for the warres and leave it to the judicious Commander to take his choyse CHAP. CVIII How the Harquebuziers and the Carbines ought to demeane themselves THese kinde of horse men are to be armed with an open Caske Gorget backe and brest more than Pistoll proofe with good Buffe coate to preserve their bodies from bruising Their Harquebuzes are to be two foote and a halfe in length their bores of seventeene bullets to the pound about their neckes a strong leather Belt with a Swivell to hang the Ring of their peeces upon a Flaske and Touch boxe and Pistolls like to the Cuirassiers Their horses ought not to be under the size of fifteene hands in height when they passe by the Generall or Troope through the streetes of a towne they place the but end upon their right thigh and their right hand grasping the barrell towards the middest of it the locke towards their bodies otherwise in their march if the enemy be not neere they hang downe by their sides Likewise the Carbine requires a smaller horse a faire Buffe coate his Carabine twentie seven inches long the bore of twentie foure bullets to the pound and he is to demeane himselfe upon all points like the Harquebuze having his sword in a strong belt Flaske and touch boxe CHAP. CIX How the Dragoones ought to arme and demeane themselves THe Dragoones are no lesse than a foote company consisting of Pikes and Muskets only for their quicker expedition they are mounted upon horses they are of great use for the guarding of passages and fordes in regard of their swiftnesse they may prevent the enemies foote and gaine places of advantage to hinder their passage Their Pikes are to have thongs of leather about the middle of them for the easier carriage of them The Muskets are to have a broad strong belt fastened to the stocke of them well neere from one end to the other whereby he hangs it upon his backe when hee rideth holding his match and bridle in his left hand any horse if he be swifâ— will performe this service in regard they alight and doe their service a foote so that when tenne men alight the eleventh holdeth