subiection to a mightie and powerfull Master and gained Libertie which if it were not in our Age would seeme incredible But haue come to such a height of wealth and power that they are extreamely redoubted by their Enemies and respected by their Friendes Hence it was that our Heroicke King ROBERT the First of most famous memorie left in His Testament that our Scots should neuer make a long Peace with Englād knowing well that the Exercise of Armes was the onely meanes to maintaine our Credite Honour and Libertie and that the desuetude thereof was the losse of all Since then the benefite of the Arte Militarie is such that the poore haue growne rich the weake strong the vile and abiect valorous and of good Fame Since it is the onelie meanes to Conserue the Honour and Libertie of a Nation I hope there are no worthie and Generous mindes but will apply themselues to Militarie exercise and take Armes if not for other ends yet for defence of the Honour and Libertie of their Countrie now when it is in danger And I hope they will spend their Blood before they suffer this our Antient and Noble Kingdome which hauing euer beene Externi immunis Domini out-braues the rest of the Nations of the World with Nunquam victa now to be subiected and to fall in the hands of any forraigne vsurper A well gouerned Common-wealth in time of Peace will prepare for Warre knowing the course of the world to bee still subiect to change and alteration resembling the ebbing and flowing of the Sea constant in nothing but inconstancie yea a vvell Setled Minde in time of Prosperitie vvill prepare for Aduersitie Metuens alteram sortem How much more ought vve now vvhen the Time of Peace is gone and the Dayes of Warre come vpon vs vvhen a fearefull Invasion is threatned by a mightie and powerfull Enemie Now to rouse vp our Spirites and prepare for Resistance Shall vvee bee still slougishlie secure and lye in a lavish senslesnesse without making any addresse for Defence Where is the Antient Vigour of our Scottish Blood Where are those vvho not onely at Home defended their Libertie against forraigne Hostilitie limiting the proude Roman Triumphes at our Borders repressing the Furie of the Goathes Danes Vandals But also assisted their Friendes and Allyes abroad vvhere are those vvithout vvhom Nulla unquam Francis Fulsit victoria castris Those I say vvho put Crownes vpon Kings their distressed Friends heades Those I say vvho at the Conquest of Italie vvere alwayes the first in acquiring and last in surrandring vvhen adverse Portoune brought necessitie although that assistance bee now by them ingratfullie buried in oblivion Where are all those Braue Spirits now in this Age Now I say vvhen not our Friends Allyes stand in neede of our helpe But the Daughter of our King the Sister of our Deare Sacred SOVERAIGNE is in extreame distresse The true and liuelie Image of his owne Goodnesse Gratiousnesse A Princesse although suppressed by Fortune yet of Her selfe vvorthie to whom the World should ascribe and on whom the Heauens should bestow the highest Degree of Glorie and Felicitie that Humane condition is capable of Whose Worth no Lynes can expresse nor Fame duelie report of Beeing endued with all Royall Graces and Vertues and cheifelie with an Invincible Fortitude of Minde in the midst of Her Calamities farre aboue the Condition of her Sexe Shee is by the consent of all The Flower of Princes The Grace of Queenes and The Queene of Graces The Delight of the World the Glorie of Her Sexe yea by confession of Her owne Enemies The Iewell of Europe A Princesse whose rare Vertues are so infinite and eminent vvhose Maiesticall Cariage is so sweete and so Gratious that I dare avouch Neuer Eye did see Her whose Heart did not admire and adore Her And vvhen Her so many Princelie Children partake Her Calamities But aboue the rest That most Hopefull Prince Fredericke Her first Borne A Plant out of vvhich all Heroicke Vertues doe budde Adornde vvith all Princelie Qualities of a singular activitie in all exercises of bodie becoming His Highnesse Of an Admirable Iudgement and Vnderstanding in all Noble Sciences farre aboue His Age Hee is of so rare Hopes and such exquisite Perfections that I cannot remember Him without Admiration I wish my Penne were as able to expresse Their due praises as my Sword shal be reddie to Redresse their Wrongs Can a true hearted Brittaine liue in Securitie and thinke of the Distresses of those Princes Can a Minde anie wayes affected to Grace Vertue not be commoued to see the very Temple of Vertue defaced Can neither the duetie which vvee owe to those afflicted Princes nor the Safetie of our owne Countrie moue vs to tak Armes Shall vvee bee still slow in advancing the affaires of the Magnanimous and Invincible KING of Denmarke a Prince vvho for his Royall Courage His Incomparable Valour His Compleetnesse in all Martiall Vertues is to bee paralelled vvith the Greatest Kings and Princes and Brauest Generalls that euer liued who hath adventured His Life His Crowne His Posteritie for our Quarrell our Safety and Restitution of these distressed Princes who by His onelie power with-holdeth the Enemies Forces from falling vpon vs Shall vve then be still insensible of our owne Danger and of the Obligation which wee owe to this Most Valorous KING Shall vvee contribute nothing to the furtherance of those levyes vvhich our Most Sacred SOVERAIGNE out of the Duetifull respect vvhich hee ought to Him and the tender Loue which Hee caries to His Deare Sister and the Earnest Care vvhich Hee hath of oursafetie hes granted vnto Him O let it never bee said and let the aversnesse of sundrie from this Service bee amended that they may eschew the note of Disloyalty to their King and Countrie and of ill affected mindes to these Princes I can not likewise but remember with due Praises those two Worthie and Generous minded Noble-Men vvho haue left their Ladies their Children their estate in this Countrie and with extreame difficultie and great charges haue lifted their Regiments and haue consecrated their Fortunes Blood and lifes for the Service of their King their Countrie and those afflicted Princes vnder the Banner of that Most Valorous CHRISTIAN Generall and also all those Worthie Gentle-men who haue accompanied them in this expedition as vvell Officers as priuate Souldiers And likewise all other Noble-Men Gentle-men and well affected Subiects who haue bent their whole power to further and advance those Levies What praise is due vnto their merit and with what Commendation ought they to bee extolled Let their Fame liue for euer and the Sinceritie of their mindes bee knowne to all those who are interressed in our Querrell The example of those Braue Spirits Noble and worthie Reader I hope will allure You either to follow them that yee may bee partaker of their Honour for I assure You that our Countrie-men both with that
haustu Mitia legittimo sub judice bella movere But now the tymes are changed according to the Dispensation of the Almighty and euer-turning vicissitude of the World The Temple of Ianus which hath beene long shut is now opened there is an Invasion threatned by the Enemies of this Kingdome It is your partes to put off your Gownes and to take the Sword in your hands for defence of your Country Yee are Patrons of all men in this State and with your tongues yee defend their Lands their goods as your Clients and ought yee not aswell to proue Patrons to them when not their goods and their Lands but their lifes and their libertie are in question not theirs but your owne also not only theirs and yours but the Honour of our Prince the safetie of our Country thâ— standing of our State is in danger Nunc pro aris foâ—is diâ—â—icandum est Yee have examples of this in Ancient times and all well gouerned Common-wealthes had their men ready for both The fountaine of Greeke eloquence Demosthenes to omite Pericles Themistocles Alcibiades Epaminondas and many other Braue Grecians who did excell both in learning and faits of Armes was a resolute Souldiour and did use the Sword for defence of his Countrie although Plutarch most vniustly blaemisheth his courage with the note of couardice at Thermodon and did behaue himself very valiantly in all exployts as he shewed at the taking in of (a) Polyenus Stratag lib. 3. in Demost Pilus from the Lacedemonians in overthrowing the Peloponesians who exceeded him farre in number All the Graue RomaÌ„ Orators The Fabii Camilli Scipiones Pisones c. were also expert Souldiers and beeing In utraque militia fagata togata pariter exercitati did as good seruice to their Country in time of warre with their Swords as they did in time of peace in their Robbes And there was none of eminencie amongst them that did not enable himselfe to bee such a one who Si bella vocabant Miles erat si pax positis toga gestiat armis Cato was a graue Orator and braue Souldier and did write of the Arte Militarie Plutarch in his life setteth downe his valiant actes against Antiochus testifies of his learned writings (b) Veget de re milit lib. 2. cap. 3. Vegetius sayeth thus of him Cato ille maior cum armis invictus esset consul exercitum sepe duxisset plusse reipublicae credidit profuturum si disciplinam militarem conferret in literas Nam unius aetatis sunt res quae fortiter fiunt quae vero pro utiltate Reip. scribuntur aeterna sunt And in another place he citeth (c) Veget de re milit lib. 1. cap. 15. his Books de disciplina militari which by iniurie of time are perished The Prince of Latine Oratours himselfe if he had not bene sufficientlie instructed in the knowledge of Armes hee could neuer haue acted his part so brauelie in preseruing the Common-wealth from the coniuration of Catiline And hauing the Roman Armie committed vnto his charge in Cilicia did wisely valiantlie carie himselfe in all exploites and gained such notable victories at Amanus that he was declared Imperator a Triumph (d) Plut in Cicer. decerned vnto him by the Senat which out of a humble modestie hee refused A short narration of this ye shall finde in his owne (e) Epistola lib. 2. ep 10 lib. 45. ep 4. Epistles And in diuerse of them hee stileth himselfe M. T. Cicero Imperator That hee did alike worthilie behaue himselfe in his Armes as in his Gowne for his Countrie yee shall see the testimonie of Cato in an Epistle to him (f) Epistolaâ— lib. 15. ep 5. M. Cato M. Cicer. Imperatori S. P. D. Quod Resp me nostra amicitia hortatur libenter facio ut tuam virtutem innocentiam diligeÌ„tiam cognitam in maxi nis rebus â—ogati domi Armati foris pari industria administrari gaudeam Calphurnius Piso descended of the Noble and warlike house of the Pisones To whom it is saide Armorumque decus praecede forensibus actis was himselfe a braue and renowned Warriour and also such a facound eloquent Orator that how much hee did by his discourse in pleading rauish the heart of the Iudge and by his forceable speaches moue his minde to sorrow ioy anger or any passion hee pleased may bee seene in these words (g) Luean ad Pisonemâ— Laudibus ipsa tuis resonant fora namque ubi Piso Iudicis affectum possessaque pectora tentas Victus sponte suà sequitur quocunque vocasti Flet si flâ—re libet gaudet gaudere coactus â—ttedante capit judex si non habet iram And thereafter Quis non attonitus judex tua respicit ora Quis regit ipse suam nisi per tua pondera mentem I will giue you but one instance of our owne dayes Braue Desdisguieres so much beloued of Henrie the Great the late French King was an Advocat in the Parliament of Aix and finding that hee might bee also steadable to his Countrie by the Sword did take Armes and by long and fortunate service came to that perfection of the arte Military that for his martiall valour he was both honoured at home by receiuing the Supreame Dignitie of his Kingdome was also such a terrour to the Enemies of his Countrie that I haue sene them affright their children with the name of Aldiguera But what doe I talke of Mortalitie The fountaine of all Artes and Sciences The Eternall Himselfe is a Souldier as the (h) Exod. chap. 15. vers 3. Scripture sayeth The Lord is a Man of Warre His Name is IEHOVAH But I will goe further on with you and evidentlie proue the profession of Armes not onelie to become your profession fitlie to bee ioyned therewith but also to bee farre more Noble more excellent then yours or any other else I will not produce Testimonies from martiall men least yee reiect them as partiall but I will bring an irrefragable conclusion from him whose sentence I hope yee will not decline and it is from your owne Doctor and Master who although out of an inconsiderat Poeticall humour did cry Cedant arma togae Yet when hee was in his owne setled and wise disposition hee freelie confesseth the veritie and sayeth (i) Cicero in Orat. pro L. Muraenâ— Acâ—…nimirum dicendum est enim quod sentio Reimilitaris virtus praestat caeteris omnibus haec nomen populo Romano haec huic urbi aeternam gloriam peperit hec orbem terrarum parere huic imperio coegit Omnes urbanae res omnia haec nostra praeclara studia haec forensis laus industria latent in tutela ac praesidio bellicae virtutis And immediatelie before hee said Multo plus affert dignitatis res militaris quam juris civilis gloria Vigilas tu de nocte ut tuis consultoribus respondeas ille ut quo
or Contubernium the Leader of it Decanus Decurio or Caput Contubernii The deipth of a File according to our moderne Discipline is 10. howsouer the Spanyards and the Italians maketh it incertaine for the deipth of 10. is thought a sufficient thicknesse to receiue all charges Euerie man in his File is placed according to his worth and dignitie The first man in dignitie is first in place and is called by (k) Leo Tac. cap. 4. § 71. Leo and (l) Aelian Tac. cap. 5. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Leader or Forestander Hee hath commmandement ouer his File seeth that euerie one of them doe their duety both in March and Fight and in exercease as he moueth and turneth so must the rest of his File doe The second man in dignitie is last in place and is called (m) Leo and Aelian ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bringer-up or Reare-commander Hee hath command ouer the File next vnto the Leader and seeth that those before him keepe a right Line The third and fourth dignitie is in the 5. and 6. place and they are called middle-men the one middle-man to the Front the other middle-man to the Reare The fist sixt and seuenth Dignitie are in the 2.9 4. places The eight ninth and tenth Dignitie in the 7.3 and 8. places as this Table sheweth Number of place  Number of dignitie 1. 0. Leader 1. 2  5. 3.  6 4  7. 5. 0. Middleman 3. To the Front 6. 0. Middleman 4. To the Reare 7.  8. 8  10. 9  6. 10. 0. Bringer-vp 2. Ioyning of Files produceth Rankes which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for if ye jone 6. Files or 8. Files together yee make 6. men or 8. men in a Ranke and the more Files ye joyne the more ye extend the length of your Battell for as the File measureth the deipth or thicknesse so doth the Ranke the length of the Battell Those who are in one File are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leaders and followers Those of one Ranke are called Of Rāks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Sidemen A Ranke then is A row of men standing one by another in a right Line shoulder to shoulder or as Aelian describeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the side-men beareth straight foorth in length The length is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the dimension of the Battell from the one winge or Flanke to the other The deipth is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is the dimension of the Battell from the Front to the Reare The first Ranke is A row of File Leaders and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Frons Acies The Front The last Ranke is A row of Bringers-vp and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cauda the Reare As men in their Files are placed according to their worth so are the Files ranked in the Battell according to their dignitie The first place of dignitie hath the File on the right hand which is the right Flanke The second place hath the File on the left hand which is the left Flanke being the tenth if there bee onelie 10. in Ranke The third and fourth dignitic hath the 5. and 6. Files which are in the midst of the Rankes The fift sixt and seuenth dignitie hath the 2.9 and 4. Files The eight nynth and tenth dignitie hath the 7.3 and 8. Files Lefe Flanke Number of place Right Flanke 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2 1. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 2. 6. 10. 8. 4. 3. 7. 9. 5. 1. Number of dignitie Count Mansfeilde his discourse in this varieth from his Table C. Mans in his Direct of war Pag. 31. 32. Euerie man in the first Ranke is Leader of a File euerie man in the first File is Leader of a Ranke ABCD This Figure A B C D sheweth you the distinction and disposition of Rankes and Files A. B is the Front C. D. the Reare B. D. the right Flanke A C the left Flanke The Lines A. B. and C D. with the others betweene them are Rankes consisting euerie one of 10 men The Lines B. D. and A C with the others betweene them are Files consisting euerie one of 10. men also The number of Files is from B to A which is the length of the Battell The number of Ranks from B. to D. which is the deipth of the Battell From B. to D. are Leaders and Followers from B. to A. Side-men In placeing our best mē in the Frōt of the Battel putting our brauest Souldiers in the Auantgarde of the Armie we follow the custome of the Grecians who put alwayes their choisest Souldiers in the Front of the Phalanx contrare to the custome of the Romans who placed the Maniples of their Hastati Souldiers of least experience in the Frōt of the Legion their principes Souldiers of better worth in the middle their Triarii the oldest Souldiers and of greatest vallour in the Reare who were not to joyne with the Enemie till the former had beene beatten or retired Of Distances Tit. 3. SOuldiers being armed and put in a Bodie they must then know their distances for all Ranks ought to bee parallel one to another as also Files and therefore a Souldiers chiefe care should bee to haue an eye to his Leader his Sideman that hee may keepe an equall distance both in his Ranke and File for not keeping of distance breedes confusion and oft-times is the cause of the ouerthrow of a Battell and too much thronging together maketh a Souldier vnable to use his Armes too much standing remoued weakneth the Battell and maketh way to the Enemie to breake it as (a) Veget. de re Militari lib. 1. cap. 26. Vegetius pertinentlie admonisheth Nec ultra magis quam expeditant conglobent agmen aut laxent nam constipati perdunt spatia pugnandi sibi in vicē impedimento sunt rariores atque interlucentes aditum perrumpendi hostibus praestant Wherefore due distances are the midst betwixt those extremities Distances than in our moderne Discipline by the opinion of the most learned Commāaders are three First second and third distance or open Order Order and close Order Open Order or first Distance is when your men both in Ranke and File stand remoued sixe foote from another This distance containes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 4. cubits in square at this distance yee are to exercise your Companie Order or second distance is when they stand remoued 3. foote both in Ranke and File one from anothere this distance is used when ye embattell your Troupes and lead them against the Enemie or when yee come to stand or meanes to wheale the Bodie This distance is called of the (b) Aelian Tact. c. 11. Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Densatio and taketh vp 2. cubites that is three foote as the former did 4. cubites for a cubite is a
Battell and it is assured that a few number of men well disciplined and beeing perfect in their Militarie Motions are able to rencounter and ouerthrow great multitudes without practise of Armes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (a) Aelian Tact. cap. 3. sayeth Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wee finde often great Forces to bee by their disorder ouercome by a few well ordered and exercised and therefore the chiefe thing that Souldiers are to vnderstand is their Militarie Motions for the Science of thir Motions is the definition of the Arte Militarie These then I shall sette downe in some fewe Titles with as great varietie and perspicuitie as I can touching onelie the auncient exercise in so farre as it is a ground or doeth agree with our moderne Discipline The Motions of Troupes are two folde of the whole or of a parte of the whole either in keeping ground or changing ground Keeping ground when euerie person moueth in his proper place as in Faceing Changeing ground when the Battaillon changeth the ground it stood in as in counter-march and wheeleing The Motion of a parte is when a part of the Battell moueth and a parte standeth still as in doublinges closinges openings for in those Motions some Rankes or Files standeth the rest moueth I will then begin with Faceing Faceing is a Motion transferring the Souldiers face to the Flanke or the Reare of the Battell And therefore is of two sortes the one when the Souldier maketh a Quarter turne to the right or the left hand the other when hee maketh an halfe turne The first Motion the Greekes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is defined by (b) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Motion of the Souldier turning his face to the Picke or the Target that is to the right or the left hand For the Grecians as I told you before caried a Picke in their right hand and a Target in the left but I wonder why Aelian calleth it a Motion of the Armed Souldier onelie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did also use this Motion The action of this Motion is thus performed How to performe the Motiō the Souldier standeth firme with his left Legge and turning onelie vpon his heele draweth backe the right Legge if hee face to the right hand or bringeth foreward the right Legge if hee face to the left hand this is to bee done in a stand but in a March faceing to the right hand they must bring foreward their left Legge The use of the Motiō The use of this Motion at a stand is to be ready at an instant to receiue the charge of the Enemie if they assaile either of your Flankes But if ye face and march yee may thereby preuent the Enemie from falling vpon your winges (c) Leo Tact. c. 7. § 79. as Leo showeth by bringing your Battell to some Riuer or other Strength and also to eschew some dangerous ground as Alexander did at Arbela who perceiuing that Darius had strowed the ground betweene the two Battels with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Calthropes faced his right winge to the right hand and marched about (d) Polienus Stratag lib. 4. in Alexandro § 17. See Polienus But if the Enemie charge both your Flankes at one time yee must face the halfe of your Battell to the right hand the other half to the left that is the halfe of your Files which are vpon the right Flanke faces to the right hand the other halfe which are vpon the left Flanke faces to the left hand and this is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (e) Aelian Tact. c. 38. Aelian and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Captaine (f) In his Notes vpon Ael Tact. cap. 25. Bingame sayeth The formes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yee shall see in the figures following ABCD EFGH IKLMNO The figure A. B. C. D. is a faceing of the whole Battell to the right where that which was before the right Flanke B. D. is now become the Front the Reare before C. D. is now become the right Flāke the Front before A. B. is now become the left Flanke the left Flanke before A.C. is now become the Reare The figure E. F. G. H. is a faceing of the Battel to the left where that which was the left Flāk before E. G. is now become the Front The right Flanke F. H. the Reare The Front E. F. the right Flanke The Reare G. H. the left Flanke The figure I. K. L. M. N. O. is a faceing of the Battell to the right and left by diuision where the one halfe of the Battell K. L. N. O. consisting of 5. Files of Pickes and 5. of Musquetiers faces to the right hand and maketh the Front L O. which before was the right Flanke the other halfe I. K. M. N. consisting of alike Files faces to the left and maketh the Front I. M. which before was the left Flanke so that thereby it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a double fronted Battell The wordes of command are these Face to the right As yee were Face to the left As yee were Face to the right and left by diuision As yee were Some say onlie To the Right To the Left c. Our Scots wordes of command are Right about To your first oder Left about To your first oder Right and left about To your first oder But they are not so proper as the former The second manner of faceing is when the Souldiers maketh an halfe turne to the Reare by the right or left hand The French calleth it Demy tour a droit or a Gauch The Greekes calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (g) Leo Tact. cap. 7. § 79. 84 Leo calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aelian (h) Aelian Tact. c. 24. defineth it to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Translation of the former aspect to the Reare The Motion is done as the other How to doe the Motion except that the Souldier maketh twise so great a Turne for standing fast with his left Leg he onelie turneth vpon his heele and draweth backe his right Legge if hee face to the right about and bringeth foreward his right Legge if hee face to the left about but in a March faceing to the right about hee must bring foreward his left Legge The use of it is The use of the Motion if the Enemie charge your Reare then yee are readie to receiue him by turning the faces of all the Souldiers of your Battell to the Reare against him which (i) Plutar. in Pyrro Pyrrhus King of Epirus did comming out of Argos beeing pressed with a multitude of Enemies and (k) Zenoph Cyroped lib. 7. 189. Cyrus comming from the walls of Babylon to his Campe often faced about his Armie to receiue the Enemie who saliing out of the
the first ranke hath giuen fyre it standeth still the Ranke next it passeth vp through the same Ranke and presenteh in due distance before it and giueth fyre the third Ranke passeth through them both and giueth fyre before them and so the rest of the ranks successiuelie till the bringers-vp haue giuen fyre in the Front But I thinke this not so fit for seruice as to show the varietie of exercise If the Commander please to make more execution against the enemie hee may command the second Ranke to double the first and to giue fyre altogether so that for fiue shotte hee may shoote ten and for ten twentie The use of this exercise is to advance and to charge the Enemie if yee bee stronger than he and to gaine ground vpon him But if ye desire not to gaine ground as beeing more fite to defend then offend yee may make the Rankes giue fyre where they stand without advancing and fall away to the right or to the right and left as before If ye sustaine a charge both in Front and Reare then they who hath giuen fyre falleth away to either hand and joynes in the the division made through the middle of the Battell betweene the two middle rankes as in the figure following ABCD A B C D is a winge of 100 Musquetiers wherof the one halfe of the rankes giues fyre in the Front A B The other halfe of the Rankes giues fyre in the Reare C D and the Ranks that hath giuen fyre both of A B and C D to wit the first and the tenth falles away to the right and left hand and joynes in the division E euerie man toward his owne Front the Rankes next them presentes giues fyre and falles away as the former and so all the rest Or else they may fall away by Countermarch as I haue said before but in so doing they must bee expert Musquetiers and carie their Peeces aright otherwise they will disturbe the whole Ranks And it is a verie comelie sight to see this Battell when the pickes are charged both to the Front Reare the Musquetiers doing their duetie that is giuing fyre and falling away by Countermarch gracefullie and with readinesse as I haue seene the Souldiers of the Artillerie Garding doe it most exactlie How to Giue fire in the Reare The second way of Giuing fyre is in Reteiring from the Enemie and then they giue fire in the Reare which is in this manner The Captaine marching in the Reare for that is his place in a retreit from the Enemie honour beeing alwayes accompanied with danger commands the last Ranke to make ready and then to the right hand about and giue fire which they doe the body still continuing their marche and thereafter turnes off to the right hand or if they be many to the right left towardes both Flankes or else through the divisiones of the body which are made for that end and marches vp a good swift pace to the Front where euerie man falles in the Front of his own File As soone as the last Rank is turned to giue fire the next Rank makes ready and when the last Ranke is fallen off and marched away it turnes about giues fire falls off and doth all as the former did and so all the rest of the Rankes successiuelie one after another as in the figure following FGHI F G H I is a winge of an 100 Musquetiers Retireing from the enemie where yee see the 10 Ranke in the Reare hath giuen fire turned to the right hand divided it selfe and fallen away the on halfe through the division H F betwixt the Musquetiers and the Picks the other halfe through the division K and are marching away vp to the Front but if yee would keepe the bodie of your Musquetiers whole ye may make the Ranke which giues fyre divide it selfe and the one halfe fall away to the right hand the other to the left so that the halfe which falls away through the division K shall fall away by the Flanke I G. The ninth Ranke hath turned about and presented and after it giueth fyre divideth it selfe and marcheth away as the former and so doeth all the Rankes successiuelie one after another continueing still their march and giuing fyre vpon the Enemie If yee would make more execution vpon the Enemie yee may make the penult Ranke double the last as I show before in doubling the Front The use of Giuing fyre Reteiring is when the Enemie is stronger than you and followes you in the Reare yee beeing much weaker and not able to encounter him yee march away and makes haste to gaine your owne Quarters or Trenche or Forte from whence you sortied or to joyne with moe of your owne arme and yet ye skirmish with the Enemie giuing fyre vpon him and no wayes hindering your owne marche The third way of Giuing fyre is How to Giue fire on the Flankes Marching by an Enemie which is done vpon the Flanks after this maner The outmost File of the Flanke next the Enemie is commanded to make ready and to turne to the right or left hand according as the Enemie appeares vpon the right or left wing and to giue fire altogether thereafter they march not with the bodie but stands still and keepes their ground and charges their Musquets againe Now whensoeuer the foresaid File turnes to giue fire the next File vnto it makes readie keeping alwayes along with the Body till its bringer-up bee past a litle beyond the leader of the File that gaue last fyre and then the whole File must turne and giue fire and doe all as the former did Thereafter the first File marches up and joynes with the second File Assoone as the second File turnes to giue fyre the third File which is now outmost towards the Enemie makes ready turnes about giues fyre and doth all as the other two and so the rest one after another and then the first two Files marcheth vp to the third and those three to the fourth after it hath discharged and so foorth all the rest till the whole wing of shotte be gathered together and then they all marche vp and joyne in equall Front with the Pickes as yee see in the figure following KLMN K L M N is a winge of 100 Musquetiers marching by an Enemie who showes himselfe on the right Flanke of the Battallion L N Your first File P. towards him hath giuen fyre vpon him and hath charged their Musquets againe in the place they stood The next File hath also giuen fyre vpon him and are charging againe in the same ground also the third File hath turned to the right hand and so hath presented to giue fyre after which yee must imagine the first File P. to march vp and joyne with the second File O. and both of them to marche vp to the third File and so foorth till the whole wing gather and joyne together againe after they haue given fyre The like yee
intédit mature cum exercitu perveniat te gallorum illum buccinarum cantus exsuscitat tu actionem instituis ille aciem instruit tu caves ne tui consultores ille 〈◊〉 urbes aut castra capiantur And a little thereafter Summa dignitas est in iis quae militari laude antecellunt Omnia enimâ—quae sunt in Imperio in statu civitatis iis defendi firmari putantur summa enim utilitas siquidem eorum consilio periculo cum repub tum etiam nostris rebus perfrui possumus What can be better and more truelie saide for the Dignitie Excellencie of Militarie profession Since then the carying of Armes is a thing so Noble so Generous so befitting your profession I doubt not but yee will all applie your mindes to the vnderstanding and practice of the Arte Militarie For yee haue Strength Courage Iudgement Learning and other qualities befitting a perfect Souldier and in this yee adde great praise and happinesse to your Countrie Seeing (h) Veget. de re milit lib. 1. c. 13. Nihil est neque firmius neque laudabilius neque foelicius republica in qua abundant milites eruditi I haue set downe some Militarie instructions for your vse which I haue learned by sight and practice abroad in my Trauells or by discourse of learned Commanders or by my owne reading Whereby I doe not presume to instruct You whose knowledge exceedeth mine in all things but onlie to stirre vp you of greater gifts than I not onlie to take the Penne and publish more perfectlie in this kinde but also to put the same in practice as I haue done either abroad or at home for service of your Countrie For Bellona and Minerva are my two Mistresses whom I haue this long time equallie Courted whose Service I haue with equall affection prosecuted although of them I haue obtained but small Fauours beeing alwayes infortunate in my loue Yet if anie of you of better merite wil giue attendance vpoÌ„ them yee may bee better rewarded and in this loue I will not envye but will cherrish my Corrivalles and shall bee readie to impart to anie the small fauours which I haue receiued So that at this time I haue set downe in the first part of my Treatise as copiouslie perspicuouslie as I could the moderne Exercise of Infanterie and hath clearlie descriued all the Postures and Motions belonging to Companies of Foote together with them vse and manner how to performe them and hath illustrate them by precepts of the best Tactict writters Aelian the Emperour Leo giuing you their owne wordes confirming them by examples of practice of the brauest Greeke Commanders to show you a conformitie betweene the Auntient Militâ—rie Discipline and our Moderne I doubt not therefore worthie Colleagues but yee will follow out reallie that which I haue aymed at heereafter accustome your selues to doe service to your Countrie as well by the Sword as the Gowne Seeing it is a thing so Generons so Honourable so convenient for your calling I speake not to Base Spirits whose onelie happinesse is to liue in a brutish sensualitie and to deride all Vertue But to the Generous minded who by following Vertue and doing actions worthie of memorie are desirous Ipsorum ut vivat post funera fama Those I loue those I honour to those I offer my endeuours and to those I will bee while I liue An affectionate Friend and Servant T. K. To the indifferent Reader NOBLE worthie and courteous Reader although I haue set out this Treatise principally for the use of my Fellow-Lawers coting the chiefe instructions and termes of Aelian and Leo the best Masters of the Arte Militarie in their owne Idiome yet I haue had a care to put the same passages in our language for the use and profite of those who vnderstand not the Greeke tongue and haue set downe a plaine description of all the Motiones of Infantery with a demonstration of them in figures so that I thinke they shall be facile and perspicuous to the meanest capacitie whereby I hope the Noble and worthy-minded Reader shall be allured not only to a further vnderstanding of Martiall exercise but also animated to put the samine precepis in practise for the well and seruice of his Country For I hope hee is not ignorant of the worth and dignitie of the Arte Militarie and how much It and the professours thereof haue euer beene esteemed in the World (a) Plutar. in Lycurgo Lycurgus in his Lawes did Ordaine that no Epitaphe should bee made nor no mans Name remembred vpon his Tombe except of him who had beene a Souldier esteeming them only worthy of memorie When the seuerall Prouinces of Grecia sent their Ambassadoures to (b) Plutar. in Pelopida Artarxerxes King of Persia be preferred Pelopidas the Theban friendship to the rest because hee heard they were the best Souldiers best practised in the faites of Armes not respecting the wealth power of the Athenians Spartans other Cities Philip of Macedone King of a poore Country by exactly learning the Exercise of Armes practising a new militarie discipline invented as some say by himselfe did not only frie his Kingdome from the oppression of the Poeonians Illirians but also subiected the most goodly rich Prouinces and Cities of Grecia to his Crowne So that making a preparation against the Persians he died and left his young Sonne Alexander successour of his Kingdome and of his Designes who beeing carefullie instructed by his Father in the discipline of Armes and surpassing him farre in martiall valour Vt Telamonem Aiax vt Pelea vicit Achilles did not only execute his Fathers designes against Darius by overthrowing him in two great Battells but also in a shorte time did ouercome and subdue the most populous Kingdomes of Asia And by terrour of Armes made all the World to tremble at his Name The Romans rose from nothing to bee Masters of the World by no other meanes but a continuall Exercise of Armes and when through lazinesse they left off their use they were ouer runne by the barbarous Gothes and Vandals And in the time of their Imperiall Governement how many were there vvho by Militarie vertue did rise from a meane Birth and condition to Supreame Honours yea to Sway the Imperiall Scepter As Severus Pertinax Valerius Aurelianus Maximinus many other whom ye shall finde in Historie The Suyzers a basse mechanicke Nation of little account beeing provocked by Charles of Burgundie to take Armes against their will like Oxen ignorant of their owne strength hath euer since continued in that course hath gained such credite reputation amongst Christian Princes that the mightiest of them are glad to buy their friendshippe at a great price Our Neighbours the States of the vnited Belgick Provinces latelie were reputed a dull poore lazie people But by taking Armes and maintaining the professours of Armes they haue not only vindicate themselues from