mistaken which think their e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit quanquam claris ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit Leo. Tract cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour without any qualification or merit there being other things more reall and essentiall f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro Scientiam virtutem providentiam autoritatem fortunam Lips polit lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer namely Knowledge experience valour dexteritie c. To be under command for a time depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth especially in young men which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander Moreover it accustometh a man to danger and g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. cap. 15. maketh him couragious so as being suddainly assailed he can recollect himself without astonishment a most necessary thing in a commander Adde to this that by using himself to travell and labour watching hunger thirst rain and frost and by h Mars is therefore called Gradivus as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinem militaria officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis deia centurio mox castris praefectus Tacit. lib. 2. c. an orderly ascent by degrees from a Corporall to a Quartermaster from thence to a Cornet and so to a Lieutenant he prepareth himself for a Captains charge He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies and accordingly entrusteth them with employments Honour must be his chief end to attain which he must be very vigilant not to loose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvare quà m virtus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy studying how to prevent him or endammage him alwayes bearing in minde this maxim That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k Quid fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sis cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse tecum Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour without acquainting his officers with his counsels And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers as to take particular notice of such as deserve well and to reward them accordingly and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards He must alwayes aspire in way of l For this Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Varenus lib. 5. cap. 19. vertuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversus pecuniam animo Plutarch in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie Gaming he must detest n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit deinde delicias luxum eorum optimè invertit Omnes inflammavit ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus gestirent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res roborat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good armes and horses wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth He must be continent and sober not given to luxurie nor o The States edict of Marshall law provideth that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence shall not therefore be any way excused but the more severely punished Art 67. drunkennesse but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of Above all let him set before his eyes as the originall and foundation of all perfection the feare of God carrying himself so farre as may be internally and externally inculpable For the horrour of a guiltie conscience and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together take away all courage and valour And thus having reformed himself he shall the more easily reform his souldiers and make them fit for every honourable enterprise CHAP. II. Of officers in particular Of the Generall of horse TOuching the particular officers the a Iphicrates resembled an army to a mans body calling the heavy armed the body the light armed the hands the horse the feet and the Generall the head Plutarch Generall of the horse as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour having in charge the nerve of the principall forces and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie especially in battells where the charging of the enemy in good order usually giveth victorie and contrariwise the b Witnesse the battell of Gembloers described by Meteren lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse So did the Burgundians Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers Phil. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 3. disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie The Generall of the horse was wont to supply the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie True it is that the Lord Marshall forasmuch as he giveth the orders used to have some superioritie of command according to the opinions of some whence it cometh that the Lord Generall absenting himself from the army used to take along with him either the Generall of horse or the Lord Marshall to avoid the occasions of competition It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service c Perscrutaberis qui se in bello stremè gesserint illisque idoneos honores habebis ignavos antem quo par est supplicio constringes Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and d Monsieur de la Noiie reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Collonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discours Polit. Milit. honouring them in publique when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side e Omnes culpas legibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours
especially not to alight for it If he were to charge a flying enemy whether horse or foot he was also to assay to break his standard The Cornet of cuirassiers in march hath his place at the head of the company and also presenteth himself in the allarm-place but in fight he is to be in the middle of the troop leaving ⅔ parts of the souldiers behinde him b Optimus cujusque decuria praponi ductor caeterorum omnium esse debet Aelian cap. 5. Curandum ut etiam jugum secundum milite constet idoneo Ib. cap. 13 The reason is because the first rank being the edge it must be made good by the second and the rest if occasion be those before him must be of the best armed and most couragious He must also keep a list of the companie to send so many to the guard as the Captain or Lieutenant shall appoint Once a day at the Lord Generalls first passing by the troop he is to do obeysance by inclining the cornet towards the ground CHAP. IX Of the particular Quartermasters THe a The particular Quartermasters the Romanes called Metatores Veg. lib. 2. cap. 7. Also Mensores qui in castris ad podismum dimetiuntur loca in quibus milites tentoria figant vel hospitia in civitatibus praestant Ibid. Metatores sive mensuratores praemittes qui castrorum ambitum in quo castra ponentur dimetiantur certam quandam mensuram cum proportione justa unicuique turmae tribuant Leo Tact. cap. 9.7 particular Quartermasters should be men so qualified as reasonably they might pretend the Cornet and in absence of the Cornet might command the companie When all the companies are lodged together they accompanie the Quartermaster Generall in making the quarters but being to be lodged in severall places as often it happeneth some accompanie the Lieutenant Generall others the Commissary Generall Where a Captain commandeth the quarter the particular Quartermaster of that respective company maketh the quarter There is much fidelitie required in them in consideration of distributing the word and the billets They use also to distribute the souldiers pay in the King of Spains warres but on the States side the clerks of the companie onely meddle with the souldiers pay and account to their Captain having a cuirassiers pay and being exempted from bearing arms or doing the duties of a souldier In going with the Quartermaster Generall to make the lodgings the Quartermaster must be very diligent taking with him one or two souldiers such as the Lieutenant shall appoint him which shall return to their companie and conduct them to their quarter CHAP. X. Of the Corporalls COrporalls are very usefull in a troop of horse They must assist the Lieutenant in placing the sentinells when the souldiers of their particular squadron are to perform that service The harquebusiers are usually sent to discover or scoure the high-wayes and to be forerunners or scouts under the charge of one of their Corporalls a Mistakes in such as are sent out to discover do often bring much trouble upon the army and shame upon themselves A memorable example hereof is recorded by Phil. de Comines of the Burgundians who taking a field of great thistles to be a grosse of their enemies lanciers reported it so to their Chiefs and caused a great hurly burly in the whole army Lib. 1. cap. 11. for which respects he must be a man of experience Some passage or place of importance being to be guarded a Corporall is sent thither with his squadron He must be able to write and reade keeping a list of his squadron The Captain alloweth him half a place of forrage and a share of 10 per cent CHAP. XI Of the Trumpeters IT is not enough that a Trumpeter know how exactly to sound all the severall sounds of the trumpet but he must also be discreet and judicious not onely to be fit to deliver embassies and messages as they ought but at his return to a Ne manco si lasci troppo usare la frequentia di venire trombetti tamburri perche in quel'essercito tall'-hora son huomini molto astuti pratichi da poterti nocere assai G. Cataneo di fortif ' cap. 4. report what he hath observed concerning the enemies works and guards and what he hath further gathered and spied To do this he must be wittie and subtile knowing how to invent and affirm things which are not artificially concealing whatsoever passeth among those of his own side He must sound the b That is set on the saddle being the first sound when the horse are to march the next is a chevall that is mount on horseback the third and last is a standart that is repaire to your Cornet See chap. 32. boutezselle precisely at the houre appointed him and when the Cornet giveth him the list of the guards he must signifie it unto them One Trumpeter must alwayes lodge with the Cornet to whom the Captain is to give means for his entertainment He must alwayes have his trumpet about him to have it ready at a sudden allarm CHAP. XII Of the Auditor ON the Spanish side in the Low-countreys the Cavallrie have an Auditor by themselves who must be a man of great integritie well seen in the laws and of great practice In the absence of the Auditor Generall he supplieth his place He heareth and judgeth the causes of the Cavallrie and maketh report of all that passeth to the Generall or the Lieutenant Generall in his absence without whose order he cannot execute any of his sentences The Cavallrie lying in garrison he condemneth not to death without reporting first to the Lord Generall and Auditor Generall He is to keep neare the person of the Generall or Lieutenant Generall who are to see him duely respected He is to take notice of the prices of victuall which are brought to the quarter of horse that they be sold at a reasonable rate and to see that the victuallers suffer no extortion by the Provost Marshall or his officers But in the States army the horse and foot have but one Auditor or Fiscall Generall who passeth no sentence himself but that is done by the a The councel of warre among the Romanes consisted of their Legates Questor Tribunes and the Centurions Convocato concilio c. omniúmque ordinum adhibitis centurionibus Caesar Com. lib. 1. cap. 16. councel of warre wherein every Captain hath a voice CHAP. XIII Of the Provost Marshall OF all things in the charge of the Provost Marshall his principall care must be about the victualls He must be an honest man and content with his fees He is to look to the weights and measures and to guard the victuallers or sutlers from insolencies Himself or some of his men must alwayes be in the market-place or where the victualls are sold and he is to inform himself where and at what price the sutlers buy their victuall that the Commissarie and
and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm possuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates per discat compendia diverticula montes stamina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hilly or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approaches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgeings as forrage water c. In so much as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc a prudentioribus locorumque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them seperated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their runÌ„ing away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodiae mancipare additâ poenae ostentatione vel praemii c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they doe their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. The knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddainly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsails and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consâ—lia aliâ viâ pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium raptúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travail and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitús prosecturus fidelissimos argutissimosque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressu a tergo dextrâ leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carry with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they finde the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the reare or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approach the enemies armie assaying to take some Centinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses there about And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant b How abundant Antiquitie was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Roman and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Poliaenus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled d and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew them selves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for feare of some embuscado which gives leasure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have 2 or 3 houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out if the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Everie Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appeare at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar gli esserciti in tre squadrons cioè vanguardia Battaglia retroguardia che ogni giornato si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis diebus altera legio alterum cornu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battail and reare That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the reare and they which had the reare the battail So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting
whereas the Cuirassiers have but 2 foot their hutts are also of 10 foot broad and 8 foot deepe for 2 Harquebusiers and 8 foot for the litter of their two horses and 10 foot for their Stable And 5 foot for a street betweene their huts and the mangers for their horses their Suttlers streets their Suttlers huts c. are as the Cuirassiers The maner of Quartering the Pr. of Orange his Army both horsse and foote Fig 5. Par 3. Cap 2. When the quarter is to be in some suspected place it should if possibly it could be made in the day time before the approach of the night that so the fittest place for the alarm place might be made choice of and also for the corps-du-guard also the better to discover and observe the approaches of the enemie and to appoint the stands of the Sentinells that so the souldiers finding all things readie be not put to finde out their lodgings in the dark with lighted straw in danger to fire the houses besides a Lieutenant with 25 Harquebusiers useth to be sent out before and to place themselves beyond the further side of the village where the quarter shall be placing Sentinells a good distance before them to prevent the enemies suddain approach on that part The best house must be appointed for the Generall as neare the Corps-du-guard as may be the rest of the officers are to be accommodated in their order Everie Captain must lodge among his souldiers The troops being come neare to the quarter make Alto and receiving information by the Quartermaster Generall or one of the particular Quartermasters that the quarters are readie the Chief giveth license to the Captains to enter their quarters They which have the guard are to be conducted to the place by the Quartermaster Generall But if the armie be encamped in the field the Cavallrie is to be quartered according to the b The Romanes manner of quartering or encamping is shewed in figure by Lipsius in his book de Milit. Rom. lib. 5. dial 4. Also by Sr H. Savile in his annotations upon Tacitus And by Sr Cl. Edmonds in his observations upon Caesars commentaries lib. 2. cap. 9. And described by Veg. lib. 3. cap. 8. manner of quartering of a regiment c For the modern quarterings see S. Stevin his castrametarion Also D. de Solemne and others represented in figure 4. part 3 chap. 2. And of the whole armie in Fig. 5. CHAP. III. Of the necessitie of securing the quarters NOthing sooner deceiveth an unexperienced Captain then to perswade himself that he is superiour in forces and in advantage of place and so farre distant from his enemie as he cannot or dare not assail him Upon which supposition the a Militibus ad capiendum cibum occupatis aut munera facienda dispersis facilè nectuntur insidiae Noctis obscuritas necessitas somni pascentium equorum dispersio occasionem supervenientibus praestat Veg. lib. 3.8 surprisings of quarters are often grounded it being no marvail that secure disordered men should be assaulted by vvel ordered men resolute among the Cavallrie especially where the souldier cannot arm himself without help his horse-boy nor himselfe being scarce themselves as but newly rouzed out of their sleep by the alarm can hardly tell where to finde bridle or saddle or light so as the enemie is upon their jacks before they can mount or at least unite themselves together These things oftentimes happen but are justly derided by good souldiers b Castrorum munitio curanda nihil enim neque tam salutare neque tam necessarium invenitur in bello Idem lib. 1. cap. 21. and therefore all diligence must be used at all times as if the enemie were at hand readie to set upon the quarters everie moment CHAP. IV. Of the manner of securing the quarters ALl the diligences used about securing of the quarters seem onely to serve for the gaining of time a Subita conterrem hostes ustata vilescant and that the enemie may not charge you on the suddain so as the souldiers have not convenient time to arm themselves mount their horses and assemble at the place of arms To effect this there is no better way then to b The Romanes manner of fortifications about their camps for securitie are fully described by Veges lib. 1. cap. 24. If the enemie were neare all the armie stood readie for battell to guard them which behinde them wrought about the trenches And this was done by every centurie by turns every souldier becoming a pioner for the time Ibid. cap. 25. make sure the enemies approaches If the quarter be in a suspected place the companies of Harquebusiers are to be quartered in the advenues of the village the Lances if any be and Cuirasfiers in the middle At the entrances of all the streets either trees or c For a suddain defence of the quarter it being in a champain countrey destitute of any other it hath been usuall to enclose the quarter with waggons and carts So did the Helvetians now called Swissers as Caesar recordeth it Com. cap. 10. And to this purpose vide Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. Persae imitantes Romanae ductis fessit castra constitâ—â—â—t quia areâ—â—sa sunt propè omnia sâ—â—â—â— quâ—â— iâ—â—â—es portaverant ex pâ—â—verâ—â—â—â— qua 〈◊〉 â—â—rra compâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 facium ibid. waggons are to be placed acrosse giving order to the Harquebusiers to guard those passages and that none of them mount on horse-back without speciall order that so the rest may have time to assemble at the place of arms if the enemie come upon them unto which a new passage must be cut for the more privacie and securitie If there be Dragons then they are to guard the said approaches If infanterie then is it their task to do it If the scituation of the place be such as that the enemie may environ it round the usuall entrances or approaches to the village are to be stopped up and new ones cut in some secret places as gardens or the like distant from the usuall wayes that so the enemie may be afraid to charge home a Centinell or Corps-de-guard thereby to enter with them as they retreat The quarters are to be well barricadoed about except the new cut passages leading to the Rendez-vous CHAP. V. Of the Rendez-vous or alarm place THe alarm place is that place without the village where the souldiers are to assemble to withstand an assailing enemie being a place of great consequence In the election of this place consideration must be had of the scituation of the villages and countrey whether it be large or strait also of the time whether it be by day or night again whether the Cavallrie be lodged together or in severall villages If together in one village and in the night when the enemie may come upon them the more at unaware as not being discoverable very farre then this place must not be in front of the village as being
and to hold it on the left side with the muzzell upwards 9. Gage your flasque He is to take the flasque into the right hand and with his forefinger to pull back the spring and turning the mouth of the flasque downward to let go the spring 10. Lade your pistoll Having gaged his flasque as in the former posture he is to presse down the spring which openeth the flasque with his forefinger and so to lade his pistoll 11. Draw your rammer He is to draw his rammer with the right hand turned and to hold it with the head downward 12. Lade with bullet and ramme home Holding the rammer-head in his right hand as before he is to take the bullet out of his mouth or out of the bullet bag at the pistoll case being in fight with the thumb and forefinger and to put it into the muzzell of the pistoll and the rammer immediately after it and so to ramme home 13. Return your rammer He is to draw forth his rammer with the right hand turned and to return it to its place 14. Pull down your cock With the bridle-hand he is to bring the pistoll towards his right side and placing the but end upon his thigh to pull down the cock 15. Recover your pistoll He is to take the pistoll into his right hand mounting the muzzell 16. Present and give fire Having the pistoll in his right hand as in posture 15 with his forefinger upon the tricker he is to incline the muzzell with a fixed eye towards his mark not suddainly but by degrees quicker or slower according to the space he rideth and that not directly forward toward the horse head but towards the right turning his right hand so as the lock of the pistoll may be upward and having gotten his mark he is to draw the tricker and give fire 17. Return your pistoll He is to return his pistoll into the case and then to draw his other pistoll as occasion may serve and to do as before Now concerning the snap-hane pistoll those postures wherein it differeth from the fire-lock pistoll are these as in figure 18. Bend your cock Holding the pistoll in the bridle-hand as before hath been shewed with the right hand he is to bend the cock 19. Guard your cock With the right hand he is to pull down the back-lock so to secure the cock from going off 20. Order your hammer With the right hand he is to draw down the hammer upon the pan 21. Free your cock With the right thumbe he is to thrust back the back-lock and so to give the cock libertie But the more compendious way of lading for the gaining of time which in the instant of skirmish is chiefly to be regarded is by using cartouches Now the cartouch is to be made of white paper cut out of convenient breadth and length and rowled upon a stick or the rammer if it be not too little fit according to the bore of the barrell to contain a due quantitie of powder the bullet The proportion of powder usually required is half the weight of the bullet but that is held too much by such as can judge Having moulded the paper the one end of it is to be turned in to keep in the powder and the due charge of powder to be put into it at the other end which powder is to be closed in by tying a little thred about the paper then the bullet is to be put in and that also tyed in with a little thred When the Cuirassier is to use his cartouch he must bite off the paper at the head of it and so put it into the barrell of his pistoll with the bullet upward and then ramme it home By b For the more speedy lading of the pistoll and avoiding the trouble of carrying either flasque or touchbox there is a late invented fashion of spanner or key which I have represented in figure 1 which contains six charges of powder at the least and priming powder sufficient for those charges for the cartouches wherewith the pistoll cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will finde to be of very good use when he is used thereunto this means he shall much expedite the lading of his pistoll The Cuirassier being become ready in his postures his next and chiefest study is to be an exact marks man And to this end he must frequently be practised at some c The Romanes exercised their souldiers at severall heights at stakes set up in Campo Martio Ad palum quoque vel sudes juniores exerceri percommodum est cùm latera vel pedes aut caput petere punctim caesÃmque condiscant Veg. lib. 2. cap. 23. But their manner of fighting with their swords was not caesim but all upon the thrust or point because that manner sooner pierced the vitalls and laid not open the bodie in fetching of a blow Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 2. marks to be set up at some tree or stake of severall heights Now because the Cuirassier is armed pistoll proof he must not give fire but at a very d La pistolle ne fait quasi nul effect si elle n'est tirée de trois pas Monsieur de la Noüe discours 18. neare distance being carefull to bestow his bullets so as they may take effect The principall place of advantage to aime at is the lower part of the bellie of the adverse Cuirassier also his arm-pits or his neck Some would not have a Cuirassier to give e Les Reitres bien instruits ne deschargent point leurs pistolles qu'en heurtant qu'ils addressent tousiours aux cuisses ou aux visages Ibid. fire untill he have placed his pistoll under his enemies armour or on some unarmed parts If he fail of an opportunitie to hurt the man he may aime at the breast of the horse or his head as he shall see occasion He usually giveth his charge upon the trot and seldome gallopeth unlesse it be in pursuit of a flying enemie or such like occasion Having spent both his pistols and wanting time to lade again his next refuge is his sword whereof the best manner of using is to place the pummell of it upon his right f As is shewed in the posture 22. thigh and so with his right hand to direct or raise the point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth either at the bellie of the adverse horse-man about the pummell of the saddle or at his arm pits or his throat where if it pierce not as it is very like it will not fail by slipping under the casque yet meeting with a stay in that part of the bodie where a man is very weak and having a sword of a very stiffe blade as afore-said it will doubtlesse unhorse him Being past his enemie he is to make a back-blow at him aiming to cut the buckle of his pouldron whereby he disarmeth one of his arms c. Basta highly commendeth the aiming at the enemies fight and
files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the bodie Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the bodie moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the center Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the commander a Vox autem percipi interdum non petest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorun transitum himitum multitudinis strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35. but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usus invenit c. Tria generasignorum Vocaliae semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3. cap. 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kindes of militarie signes or directions 1 Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2 Semivocall by trumpet or other war like instrument to the eare 3 Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.82 distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64 horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8 in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5 in file though the companie consist of 100 horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors Melzo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first next after him two attendants with spare horses they bearing his armour then the trumpeters then the cornet in the first rank of horse But VValhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the reere Flamin de la Crore would have them march in divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant Quartermaster are to come in the reare And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part THE SECOND PART OF MARCHING THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparati In itinere minùs armatus minùsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu vel fraude repente turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of suddain charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3. heads 1. The knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2. The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3. The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Meteren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by usuall wayes the use of mappes may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain
of the troops of his neighbour garrisons untill he be superiour And by making embuscadoes two or three times in this manner it will terrifie the enemie in so much as that it may be conjectured that though afterward he make embuscadoes with fewer horse the enemie will not hazard to come forth and so he may the safelier take bootie When the armie marcheth there is usually some Cavallrie left behinde in embuscadoe in some eminent place from whence they may discover farre off by that means to be secured from the enemies Cavallrie which usually is sent to charge the reare of the marching armie to take some prisoners or to get intelligence But these must not go to their place of ambush by the right way but having passed the place they must return to it by some by-way lest the enemie following them discover them by their footing To employ all the Cavallrie supposed to be 4000 in 40 troops in Embuscadoe three troops must be sent before towards the enemie under an able Commander giving notice onely to him and the Captains where the embuscadoe shall be letting none of the souldiers know that any more horse are to follow them lest any of them in the enemies charge being taken prisoner should reveal it to the enemie Of these three troops 100 are to be sent to the enemies camp viz 50 Cuirassiers with their Captain and Lieutenant 50 Harquebusiers with their Lieutenant Of these Harquebusiers f Pauci equites praemittuntur vallida manus per alia mittitur loca primi ubi ad agmen inimicorum pervenerunt equites tentant leviter atque discedunt c. tunc illa Manus superveniens opprimit ignorantes ibid. 25 shall advance before with a good Corporall attempting to take horses prisoners c. as they shall be able In view of these Harquebusiers at the distance of a canon shot 25 Cuirassiers must make Alto under command of their Lieutenant to receive those 25 Harquebusiers when they return with bootie The Captain with the other 25 Cuirassiers 25 Harquebusiers shall keep behinde some half league off divided into two troops the Harquebusiers being placed nearest the enemie in convenient manner partly to succour the said 50 horse which likely will be charged by the horse of the enemies guards also to make their retreat wherein the Cuirassiers are of principall use These 4 troops must still retreat in fitting distance one from another one of them still turning face to the enemie unlesse the enemie so charge them as they must be forced to flie in disorder The other 200 horse being 150 Cuirassiers and 50 Harquebusiers shall enter the embuscadoe with their Chief about half an houres riding off from the other 50 horse which when they see returning and charged they shall issue out The 50 Harquebusiers first giving a charge rank after rank then the Cuirassiers leaving 20 horse in the reare to make the retreat The grosse which had taken another way lest the enemie should perceive by the footing that there was a greater number and so should stay or turn back must be in ambush about an houres march behinde the said 200 horse And seeing them return charged as surely they will the enemie thinking himself the stronger shall suffer them to passe and the enemie also that so they may charge them on the reare when they see their time For better assurance it were good to lead out with them as before was intimated some g C. Cassius in Syria adversus Parthos ducens aciem equitem ostendit à fronte cùm à tergo peditem in confragoso loco occultâsset dein cedente equitatu per nota se recipiente in praparatas insidias perduxit exercitum Parthorum cecidit Frontin Stratagem 2. lib. cap. 5. 500 musketiers and 300 pikes which must be in ambush about a league behinde the grosse of Cavallrie on the way by which the said 300 horse should return charged These foot must take heed they be not discovered untill the enemie be come up to them and then shall give them a full volly to disorder them Upon this the grosse of Cavallrie now issued out shall charge them on the reare and flanks and then the said 300 horse are to face about and sustain the charge by all which means it is not like that the enemie can escape without much losse According to this proportion a greater or smaller number may be ordered so as if you would make an embuscadoe with 100 horse onely 50 of them must be sent before towards the enemies camp or village where he is quartered Of these 50 15 are to advance before the rest to take some prisoners or horses the other 35 shall be in ambush about half a league behinde them in some place if it be possible whence they may see those 15 but if not then to place 2 horse between themselves and those 15 to give notice when the said 15 shall return charged Whereupon 25 of these 35 shall advance leaving 10 of the best mounted at the place to let the enemie see there is a greater number of horse These 10 must make good the retreat untill the other 50 arrive which lay in ambush two leagues behinde with Sentinels to discover afarre off towards the other 35 betwen which about the midway two horse were also placed to discover the motions of the first 50 and thereof to inform those 50 which were in ambush behinde them These seeing the first 50 return charged shall let them passe and then issue out against the enemie the first 50 making their retreat by 13 or 15 of their best mounted horse-men having reunited themselves and taken breath they must make h The word Alto or Alte is used in all languages in Christendome and signifieth to make a stand I cannot guesse whence it should be derived unlesse it be from the highdutch word halte which is as we say hold and with us is used in the same signification Alto and assist the other as hath been shewed This order is to be observed when you have certain intelligence by your discoverers that the enemie hath no forces thereabout But when you cannot be assured of that lest the enemie with a troop of 50 or 60 horse casually meeting with some of your said small divisions should defeat them there might be 20 or 25 horse first sent out whereof 15 to advance to take some bootie the other staying about half a league behinde in some covert place shewing themselves when those 15 return charged so to give suspicion to the enemie or to make their retreat The rest might be in ambush all together some two leagues behinde them demeaning themselves as before hath been shewed In i Est autem optimum instruendi artificium ut plus inferas adversariis copiarum quà m primo aspectu ostendas Aelian cap. 47. grosse ambushes they must make their number seem as small as may be k Sin parvum habeas exercitum