yee may by this Motion bring your File-leaders who are your best men to encounter with him for it was euer the use of good Cōmanders to bring the front of their Battel against their enemies Thus Frōtinus witnesseth Alexāder Iulius Caesar to haue bene accustomed to bring the Souldiers who were in acie or the Front of the Battell to fight against their Enemie (l) Frontinus Strat. lib. I. c. 3. Alexander Macedo cum haberet vehementem exercitum semper eum statum belli elegit ut acie confligeret Caius Casar Bello civili cum exercitum vete ranum haberet hostium autem tyronem esse sciret acie semper decertare studuit COuntermarching of Rankes is when one wing of your Battell is brought in place of the other OF Counter-marching of Rankes or the wings into the midst of the Battell or one wing to double the other This Countermarch is also threefolde as the former of Files for it is Macedonian Laceden onian and Chorean The Macedonian taketh the ground which is on the contrare wing from the Enemie and therefore seemeth to march away from him The Lacedemonian taketh the ground which lyeth on the side of that wing which is towards the Enemie therefore maketh a show of charging him The Chorean keepeth still the same ground whereon the Battell stood before the Countermarch Aelian speaketh but little of those coūtermarches by Rāks neither haue I sene them much used in our exercise Yet for your vnderstanding I will set downe their Motion and their figures because some good use may bee made of them In the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke the right hand corner File faces to the left hand stands the rest of euerie Ranke passes through and place themselues orderlie behind their right hand sidemen beginning either with the vttermost File on the left Flanke or with the File next the right hand File and so they take vp the ground which was on the right wing of the Battell RSVX STXY R S V X is the Battell before the Countermarch S T X Y the Battell after the Countermarche which hath left the place it had and takin the place vpon the right wing and are all faced about to the left so that the front before R S is now become the right Flanke S T. The right hand File before S X is now become the Front The words of command Left wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the right wing or Rankes Countermarche from the left wing to the right The Lacedemonian Countermarche by Ranke is when the left hand corner File turnes his face to the left hand the rest of euery Rank passe through to the left and place themselues orderly before their left hand side-man beginning either from the vttermost File on the right hand or from the File next to the left hand File ABDE BCEF Yee see this Battell hath left the place where it stood B C E F and taken the ground beyond the left wing A B D E they are all faced about to the left The Front before the Countermarch was B C and is now become the right Flanke A B. The right hād File C F is now the Front A D The left hand File B E keeping still its place becomes the Reare The wordes of Command Right wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the left wing or Rankes Countermarche from the right wing to the left The Chorean Countermarche by Ranke is when the right hand corner File faces to the left and marches forward to the place of the left hand File the rest of euery rank following it the body mouing joyntly together while the right hand File come to the place of the left hand File and the left hand File to the place of the right hand File so that the bodie keepeth still that same ground it had before or to doe this more easily face only about your Battell to the left and then command a Countermarche of Files and this will produce the samine effect for it is all one to bring the front of your Battell to the Reare when it is faced to the right as to bring the right wing to the left before it bee faced GHIK In this Battell ye see the first man of euery Ranke with his Sydman that is to say the first two Files on the right Flank H K are turned are Counter-marching through the distances betwixt the Ranks the rest hath followed them on to the right Flank and hath left the place of the left Flank G I so-much voyd as the first two Files hath marched through the Ranks from the place of the right Flanke So that the right hand File shall marche on till it come to the place of the left hand File G I And the left hand File till it come to the place of the right hand File H K and so the Battell shall maintaine the samine ground it stood in and bee faced to the left The words of Command are Ranks to the right or left hand Countermarche and maintaine ground Our words of Command are Countermarch your Ranks to the right or left hand The use of Countermarching by Ranks is when the enemie appeareth on your left wing to charge you yee may by this motion oppose him with your best men and bring your right wing in place of the left against him and may applie your left wing to some advantage as a Riuer Marish or Trench that thereby it may be secure from encompassing or else it serues to bring one of your wings in place of the other when beeing embattelled ye minde to change the forme of your embattelling as if yee desire to set the right wing of your Battell against the right wing of your enemies Battell for some advantage of fight This did (m) Herodot in Calliope 248. Plutarch in Aristide Pausanias generall of the Grecian armie at the Battell of Platea against the Persians who hauing embattelled the Lacedemonians in the right wing of his armie and the Athenians in the left Mardonius the Persian Generall gaue the Thebans and other Greekes his right wing and the Persians the left wing Now Pausanias desiring to oppose the Athenians against the Persians as beeing better acquainted with the Persian fights then the Lacedemonians he Countermarched his right wing to the place of the left and so brought the Athenians against the Persians which Mardonius perceiuing did the like immediatlie Countermarched his right wing of Thebans to the left wing of the Persians as fearing to joyne the Persians with the Athenians By this manner of Countermarche yee may bring your wings in place of the body of your batallion which is this done Your right hand File faces to the left the left hand File to the right and marche both in towards the center of the Battell while they meet other face to face the rest of each Ranke vpon both wings followes them and marches out vntill the two middle Files
first order Double your Rankes to the right hand Double your Rankes to the left hand SEcondlie Rankes are doubled by the Bringers-vp when the last Ranke aduanceth through the distances betweene the Files and after it the nixt last Ranke and so the rest successiuelie till the Bringers-vp bee in Ranke with the Leaders The 9 Ranke with the 2. the 8 with the 3. the 7 with the 4. The Bringers-vp middlemen with the Leaders middle-men so your Front is doubled with your best men and this is done as the former either to the right or left hand If the Command bee to the right the Bringers-vp with those that follow goe vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders if to the left they goe vp vpon their left hand as in these figures folowing appeareth IKLM NOPQ The figure I. K. L. M. is a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the right hand where ye see the 10 Ranke with the 9. and 8. following it are marching through the distances of the Files and going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders vntill the 10 Ranke come to the Front I. K. And as the Ranks marcheth vp to the Front they leaue as many voide places towards the Reare L M. as in the figure yee may see marked by these points ... The figure N O P Q showeth a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the left hand where the 10. Ranke with the rest following it are marching vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders towards the Front N. O. and leaues the voyde spaces towards the Reare P. Q. as did the former Let the Pickemen obserue when they begin to double that they Aduance or mount their Pickes and when they haue doubled that they order or ouer-end them and in reducement that they turne to the contrarie hand as I shew before in the first doubling (c) Count Mansfield in his directions of Warre Count Mansfield calles this Motion A doubling by induction The wordes of Command are Bringers-vp as yee were Bringers-vp double your Front to the Right Bringers-vp double your Front to the Left Our Scots words of Command are Tenth Ranke to your first Order Tenth Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Tenth Ranke to the Left hand advance to the Front THirdlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files that is to say The last fiue Rāks marcheth vp through the distances betwixt the Files till the Bringers-vp Middle-men bee in evin Front with the File-Leaders so that the sixt Rank of 10 deipth doubleth the first the 7. the 2. the 8. the 3. the 9. the 4. the Bringers-vp the Leaders Middle-men And this is done either to the right or left hand as the former whē the Middle-men goeth vp either to the right or left hand of the Leaderes according to the worde of Command as the figures following showeth RSTV XYZA Those two figures are battells of Pickes onelie which I haue set downe for breafe perspicuities cause for yee may imagine the like Motions to be done by Musquetiers on the Flankes The Battell then R. S. T. V. is a doubling of Rankes by Middle-men to the right hand where ye see the sixt Rank with the 7.8.9 10. following it is going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders to the Front R.S. and leauing the voyde spaces where they stood towards the Reare T. V. so that the deapth which was before from S. to V. is now diminished to the half X. Y. Z. A. is a doubling by Middle-men to the left where the samine rankes marcheth vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders to the Front X. Y. leauing their voyde spaces toward the Reare Z. A. and diminishing the deapth as the former The wordes of Command Halfe Files as yee were Middle-men or halfe Files to the right hand double your Front Middle-men or halfe Files to the left hand double your Front Our Scotes wordes of Command are Sixt Ranke to your first order Sixt Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Sixt Ranke to the left hand aduance to the Front Obserue that those doublinges are to bee done at open order FOurthlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files enteare or by diuision enteare when the halfe Files or last fiue Rankes faceth about to the hand to which they are commanded to double marcheth out altogether from the Body till they bee cleare of it and then face to the Front and march vp to joyne themselues in evin Front with the File Leaders By diuision when those halfe Files doe face the one halfe to the right hand the other to the left and so going out from the Bodie they march vp vpon both Flankes vntill they come and Front with the File-Leaders as may bee seene by these figures following ABC DEF GHIK The figure A. B. C. is a doubling of the Front by the halfe Files to the right hand enteare where yee see the last fiue Rankes C. are passed out together from the Bodie and are marching vp vpon the right Flank B. to joyne in evin Front with the first 5. rākes The figure D. E. F. is a doubling to the left hand where the last fiue Rankes F. are gone out from the Bodie to the left and are marching vp the left Flanke D. to front with the rest as the former did vpon the right G. H. I. K. is a doubling to the right and left by diuision where yee see the last 5. Rankes I.K. hath diuided themselues and gone out from the Bodie the one halfe K. marching vp the right Flanke H. the other halfe I. marching vp the left Flanke G. to joyne all in evin Front with the rest The wordes of Command are Halfe Files as ye were Halfe Files to the right double your Front Enteare Halfe Files to the left double your Front Enteare Halfe Files double your Front to the right and left by diuision I haue not seene our Scots Commanders use this Motion in their exercease and therfore I cannot set downe their wordes of Command In this Motion if you would keepe your shot and your pickes together yee must cause your shot on the Flankes to edge out-ward and leaue a distance for the Pickes to come vp and joyne with the rest and your Shot that doubleth marcheth out and joyneth with rest of the Shot I haue heard many Commanders slight this Motion as vnprofitable but I doe not approue their opinion for I hold it the most usefull Motion that can bee practised in doubling of Ranks and more seruiceable thā any other doubling whatsoeuer because all other doublings must be done at open order therefore cannot bee used when the enemie commeth to charge or in time of fight because that distance is not fit to receiue the charge of the Enemie but these doublinges are done at close order therfore may be used in time of fight and at all other times without any trouble Againe other doublings disturbes the Battell maketh a confusion by marching through the
see the first ranke is casting it selfe in a File behind the right hand man V. X. is a Fileing to the left hand where the first Ranke is going to File behind the left hand man and as the first Rankes in both doeth so yee must imagine the rest to doe in an instant Y. Z. is a Fileing to the right and left by division where yee see the halfe of the first Ranke falling in behind the right hand man and the other halfe of it behind the left hand man which also yee must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to doe The wordes of Command File Ranke as yee were Rankes File to the right hand Rankes File to the left hand Some say Rankes File by conversion to the right or left hand Files as yee were Rankes File to the right and left by division Or Rankes File by inversion to the right or left There is yet a Doubling of Files by wheeling the Rankes to the right or left hand If the word be to the right the right hand man turnes to the right and the rest of his Ranke wheele together and come aboue him on the left hand all the Rankes doeth the like If the command bee to the left the left hand man turnes to the left the rest of his Ranke commeth all aboue him on the right hand and so all the other Rankes CD AB The figure A. B. is a wheeling to the right hand where yee see the first Ranke wheeling about the right hand man and comming vp vpon his left hand C. D. is a wheeling to the left hand where the first Ranke is wheeling about the left hand man and comming vp on his right hand and so doth all the rest of the Rankes The words of Command Rankes as ye were Rankes wheele to the right hand Rankes wheele to the left hand Yee may wheele Rankes also to the right or left by division The use of Doubling of Files is to strengthen the deapth of your Battell to resist the Enemie The use of Doubling of Files when yee thinke hee mindes to breake through and diuide your forces It serues also to let the shot goe through your Files when ye are marching towards an Fort for which the first maner of Doubling is proper the Fileing of Rankes to the right or left hand Also to giue a Vollie of Musquetados vpon either Flanke or both or to make a streete for a Generall or some great Commander to goe through or else to lodge the Colours The Fileing of Rankes to the right or left or both by division or the wheeling of Rankes performeth this It serueth also to make your Forces seeme small to allure the Enemie to fight as did (u) Polien Strat. lib 2. in Cleandri §. 4. Cleandridas against the Leucans who first first drew out his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a greath deapth whereby his enemies contemning his apparentlie small number did charge him but hee instantlie doubling his Ranks did encompasse them and ouerthrow them But ye must take heed as the Emperour (x) Leo Tact. c. 14. §. 109. Leo advertiseth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. That when yee double the deapth of your Battell yee make not the Front of your Armie too narrow and so giue occasion to the Enemie to ouerfront you encompasse you which was (y) Polyb. histor lib. 1. §. 10. Marcus Attilius Regulus his error in the Battell against the Carthagenians for hee fearing the Forces of the Carthagenian Elephants to breake through his Armie drew his Battell to so great a deapth that it was easilie encompassed by the Carthagenian horse-men led by Zantippus the Lacedemonian and by them vtterlie defeate and himselfe taken prisoner For as too much weakening of the deapth and doubling the length of your Battell puts in danger to bee diuided and broken So too much Doubling the deapth and diminishing the length puts it in perrill to bee ouerwinged and encompassed And therefore a wise Commander will haue a care if his Front bee narrow to take the advantage of a Trench River or Marish thereby to secure his Flankes that the Enemie may not annoy him there and if hee can attaine to none of those yet to make use of his owne Waggons Obserue that this Motion of Doublings alters the forme of the Battell changing both the length and the deapth thereof which no other Motion doeth Obserue also that in Doubling the length of your Battell ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in doubling the deapth ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (z) Aelian Tact. c. 29. Aelian (a) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian speaketh of a Doubling of the deapth in place which is nothing but an opening of Rankes to a geater distance Of Evolution or Counter-March Tit. 8. EVolution or Countermarch called by the Grecians (a) Aelian Tact. c. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Motion of the whole Battell whereby the Front is brought in place of the Reare or one Flanke in place of the other And therefore Countermarch is two fold of Files or of Ranks and both of those saith (b) Aelian Tact. c. 26. Aelian is threefold for either they gaine ground in marching not in charging or loose ground or keepe that same ground the first is called the Macedonian Countermarch the second the Lacedemonian the third the Chorean or Persian The Macedonian Countermarch by File so called from the Macedonians who were the inventers and users of it is described by (c) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the File-Leader turneth his face and the bringer vp with all the rest goe against him on the right or left hand and passing on to the ground before the Frōt of the phalanx placeth themselues in order one after another according as the File Leader himselfe hath turned his face Or it is when the File-Leader turneth his face and the next to him passing by him on the right or left hand placeth himselfe behind him so all the rest one after another As ye shall see in the figure following EFABCD A B C D is the Battell before the Countermarch E F A B the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground A B C D wherein it stood which yee see marked with points and taken the ground before it E F A B and are all faced about to the Reare A B which before the Countermarch was the Front doeth yet remaine the Front but the right hand File B D is become the left hand File B F and the left hand File A C the right hand File A E. the Reare C D is now the Reare E F. The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and gaine ground The Lacedemonian Countermarch by File so called from the Lacedemonians who invented and practised this Motion is set downe by (d) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those
they likewise get their distance commanded so that in this Motion as in the other openings the Battell shall possesse in length after it bee fully opened the double of the ground it had before the opening The words of Command for these Motions To your open oder or any order else Files open to the right hand Files open to the left hand Files open to the right and left Or as some say open both wayes and some onlie files open for when there is no nomination of any hand it is vnderstoode as before in closing an opening from the middle to both hands Our wordes of Command To your first distance or any distance else Open your Stringes to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes OPening of Rankes is an extension of the deapth of the Battell in place and is performed but one way to witte towardes the Reare which is thus done The File-leaders or the first Ranke standes still and the rest of the Rankes falles backwardes towards the Reare vntill the second Ranke haue gotten its distance which then standes the rest of the Rankes moues still backwardes vntill they all haue gotten their distance commanded IKLM IKLM is an Opening of Rankes where yee see the 2 and 3. Ranks hath moued backwards and hath alreadie taken their distance and ye must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to be mouing from the Front IK backwardes to the Reare LM vntill they all get their distance required The wordes of Command Rankes open to your open order or any order else Our wordes of Command Open your Rankes to your first distance or any distance else Some vse an opening of Rankes also forwards from the Reare to the Front if the ground permitt The action of these Motions of opening which I haue now showne both of Files and Rankes by making the Files presse vpon their Sydmen and the Ranks vpon their Followers is according to our common moderne exercise which differs much from the action of the Ancient (e) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greeks for they in opening Files and Rankes did performe the Motion by Facing but in my opinion our common forme is rather to bee followed for although it want not its owne inconvenients beeing subject to stumbling on stobbs stones or holes in the way Yet in respect the terminus ad quem is not certaine nor seene as it was in closing of Files and Rankes The last Ranke or the vttermost File which beginneth the Motion of opening shall never bee assured where to stand or in what part to set themselues to giue a due competent ground to all the Rankes or Files to take their distance commanded neither can the samine be discerned be the ey of the Commander and therefore the Motion must bee begun and the distance must first be takin from the terminus à quo which is seene and certaine to wit the Ranke or File that stands and so euerie one after other shall assuredly get their distance commanded which they could not do behind their backs if they used a Facing but in this I submit my selfe to the judgement of the more learned For I think also that Souldiers may bee taught to take their distance by pacing Obserue that closing and opening both of Files and Ranks are one anothers reducemēts as if ye closed Files to the right hand and would reduce them to their first station command them to open to the left if ye opened Files to the left hand to bring them as they were yee must close Files to the right hand if yee closed to the middle open to the right and left by division and so they are reduced è contra Againe if yee close ranks forwards open them backwards and so yee bring them as they were è contra (f) Aelian Tact. e. 28. Aelian calleth an opening of Files or Rankes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a doubling of the length or deapth in place which in my opinion is not fitly spokin for although Files and Rankes bee opened to a greater distance yet the Battell cannot bee said to bee doubled The use of opening and closing the Battell in length and deapth yee may finde (g) Supra Tit. 3. before when I spoke of distances to the which I remitt you for I will repeat nothing only this I adde that Battells are opened and closed when a Generall will make his Armie appeare strong or weake according as hee mindes to terrifie or allure the enemie Files are closed to the right or laft hand when a troupe of Horse or Foote or Waggones with bagadge are to passe betwixt either of your Flankes and some strait Files are closed to the right and left by division when yee will make a streete through your Battell for a Generall or some great Commander to passe Of Conversion or VVheeling Tit 10. COnversion or Wheeling is a Motion of the whole Battell towards the Flankes or Reare changing the ground And therefore Wheeling is two fold the one when the Battell makes a quarter turne to the right or left Flanke which the Greeks calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or conuersion the other when it makes an halfe turne to the Reare be the right or left hand and this they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or inflexion no other languadge except the Greeke doth expresse this Motion in two seuerall wordes Epistrophe is described clearely by (a) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c When closing the Battell bee the Sydemen and the followers we turne it whollie as the Body of an man either to the Picke or the Target it beeing carryed about the corner File-leader as about a center and changing the place of the Front transfer the countenance of the Souldiers to the right or left Flanke (b) Aelian Tact. c. 31. Aelian in an other place setteth it down more amplie it is thus to be performed Ye must commād the Files to close to the hand to which ye mean to Wheele the Rankes to close also forwardes Then yee cause the Corner File-leader on the samine hand to stand still as the fixed foote of a compasse but moueing in his owne place and all the rest keeping their Files and Rankes closed to turne to the samine hand joyntly about the corner File-leader vntill the Front of your Battell be towards the Flank to which yee Wheele so that the Front of the Battell beeing wheeled falles like a perpendicular line vpon the Front of the Battell before it Wheeled making a right angle of 90 degrees at the corner File-leader about whome they Wheele and the Flanke falles vpon the Front as a parallel which the figure following showeth ABCDEF GHIKLM The figure ABCDEF is An Epistrophe or whee ling to the right hand CDEF is the Battell before the Wheeling whereof CD is the Front DF the right hand File The Command beeing given the right hand File-leader D who is thus marked * stands in his place
march in Battell to be the more ready to withstand the assaultes of the Enemie The Captaine in the Front commandeth the first diuision of Musquetiers to halt then commandeth the first diuision of Pickes which the Enseigne leadeth to march vp vpon the left hand of them thereafter the first Sergeant to bring vp the second diuision of Pickes vpon the left hand of the former Lastly the second Sergeant to march vp with the second diuision of Musquetiers vpon the left hand of all so they stand embattelled as they were at the first Obserue when they march in Battell the Enseigne goeth in the Front of the Pickes with his Colours fleeing chiefelie if hee bee in sight of the Enemie or yet bee going out or comming into his Quarter or entring vpon Guarde but in fight he is to retire into the middle Ranke of the pickes The Drummes beates also in the Front but in fight they must draw aside to the angles on the Flankes The chiefe Drumme is to attend the Captaine to deliuer his Commands by touke of Drum to the Souldiers when the voyce cannot bee heard The Sergeants marcheth in the Flankes the oldest in the right the other in the left hauing care that euerie man march orderlie and keepe his distance and that no man goe out of his Ranke The Lieuetenant remaines in the Reare bringing vp the Companie and seeing that no man fall backe but that euerie man doe his duetie That which I haue shown of a single Company may bee vnderstood of a diuision of a Regiment a brigada or any greater Body but thē the diuisions both of Pickes and Musquetiers must bee framed according to the number of your Bodie and the Officers are placed according to the Sergeant major his Direction Obserue that when yee march by diuisions commeth to a narrow Straite where onelie one or two can goe in Front as ouer a little Planke or the straite of a Ditch Yee must make them march away by Files leading out one File after another or by Rankes commanding Rankes to ranke 1. or 2. or 3. according to the capacitie of the Straite and that either to the right or left hand as the Straite shall ly vpon the right or lef Flanke of your diuision If vpō the right then the right hand man marcheth fordward with his sideman if the place suffer 2. and the nixt 2. sidemen of that Ranke followeth And so the rest of the Rankes till all the diuisions bee past ouer which being done he is to command Ranks Ranke as yee were And so they returne all to their first Station and Posture Obserue also that if yee bee to draw vp your men in a Battallion Quarre or Square Battell I meane of men not of ground that is a square Quadrate which is a (b) Eucl. lib. 1. in defin figure Equilaterall and Rectangulare whose Rankes and Files shall be of equall number It is quicklie and exactlie done by extracting the radix quadrata or the Square roote of the number of your men which will bee both the length and deipth of your Battell As for example ye haue 400. men to put in a square Battell yee seeke out the square-roote of 400 which yee finde to bee 20. And therefore in an instant you draw vp your men 20. in File and 20. in Ranke But if yee bee to make vp any other square Battell Quadrilaterall which is (c) Euel lib. 1. in def Figura alter a parte longior called by the French Battallion Quarreen lōgue ye haue nothing to doe but to diuide the number of your men by the deipth giuen and the quotus shall bee the length of your Front which I shew before as in this instance diuide 400. by the deipth of 10. the quotus 40. shall giue you 40. in Ranke and siclike of any greater number the figure following A. B. sheweth the first C. D. the second A.B. C.D. Obserue by the way that with a contrarie operation ye may at the first sight find the number ofa Batallion passing by it and counting the length the deipth therof multiplying the one by the other as in the former instance multiplie 40. in Ranke by 10 in File ye shall find the whole number to be 400. I will not here speake of the other Battels which are not square as of Round Demilunar concave or convexe Rombus or Diamond Triangle or Vedge which is halfe a Diamond and such like others because they are not fitte for march neither are they now much used in Battell or fight as also they are discribed (d) Aelian Tact. cap. 46 47. by Aelian where they may bee found by any who are curious to vnderstand them But before I goe further I must advertise of one thing that the Souldiers bee acquainted with the seuerall beates of the Drumme and to vnderstand when the Drumme beates a Call or Gathering a March a Troope a Charge a Retreate a Releife and according as the Drumme beates swift or slow so to accommodate thair motion as to march slowe or fast to charge with greater or lesse violence to retire with greater or lesse speede and so foorth Of the seuerall Postures of the Picke and Musquet T it 5. IN the next place the Souldiers are to bee taught the use and postures of the Armes that euerie one of them doeth carie bee they Picke or Musquet and to handle them gracefullie The Postures then which the Picke-men should use either standing or marching are these following In the columne vpon the right hand are contained the tearmes of command in our Scots Language on the left the English for I thought good to acquaint you with both seeing sometimes the wordes are different 1. Take vp your Picke 2. Shoulder your Picke 3. Slope your picke 4. Levell your picke 5. Order your picke 6. Aduance your picke 7. Traill your picke 8. Cheeke your picke 9. Recouer your picke from traill or cheeke by palming 10. Port your picke 11. Charge your picke 12. Charge to the right hand 13. Charge to the left 14. Charge to the Reare by the right or left 15. Charge at the foote against horse and draw your Sword 16. Lay downe your picke 1. Lift your picke 2. Shoulder your picke 3. Sclant-carie your picke 4. Plate-carie your picke 5. Ouer end or set down your pick 6. Mount your picke 7. Traill your picke 8. By the point hold your picke 9. Recouer your pick by palming 10. Porte your picke 11. Present your picke fordward 12. To the right hand or right about present your picke 13. To the left hand or left about present your picke 14. To the Reare or to the lefe roud about presēt your picke 15. Foote your picke and draw your Swords 16. Lay downe your picke Obserue that those three Postures Take vp your Picke Order your Picke Lay downe your Picke are to bee done onelie standing The rest standing or marching but yee must remarke that when your Souldiers charge standing to
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
wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the File-Leader turning his face about to the Picke transferreth the whole File to a place equall to the first the rest following standeth behind him or else When the Bringer-vp turnes his face about and hee that stood next before him passing by on either hand is placed againe next before him and the rest following takes place one before another as they stood till the File Leader be first GHIKLM G H I K is the Battell before the Countermarch I K L M the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground it stood in before and taken the ground behind it the Flankes are changed as in the former figure H K the right Flanke to K M the left and G I the left Flanke to I L the right But the Front G H is brought to be the Front L M contrarie to the former where the Front of both figures A B did keepe still one place The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and loose ground The proceeding of this Countermarch is contrare to the former for the Macedonian tooke the ground before the Battell but this possesseth the ground after the Battell In the Macedonian the Motion is from the Reare to the Front in this the Motion is from the Front to the Reare The Macedonian seemeth to runne away but the Lacedemonian to charge and therefore it is preferred to the Macedonian by (e) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian because sayeth hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a show of falling on the Enemie appearing behind Whereas the Macedonian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a semblance to the Enemies appearing in the Reare of flying away neuerhelesse in some cases the Macedonian is of greater use as if ye desire to gaine some ground of advantage or else when yee desire to March on not giue Battell for by it ye doe noways hinder your March but coÌ„tinueth the same in the meane time may mak your Musquetiers giue fire vpon the Enemie so that ye both March fight But the Laced emonian falleth on vpon the Enemie and interupteth the March (f) Zenephon bistor grec lib. 6.605 Agesilaus the Lacedemonian Generall seemeth to haue used this Countermarch when hee made his Armie to March out of the Straites of Mantinea perceiuing that his Enemies were to charge his Reare from the Hilles he made his Reare-guarde to Countermarch and goe out of the Straites himselfe staying last with the Avantguarde The samine (g) Zenoph hist grec lib. 4.519 Agesilaus hauing embattelled his Troupes at Coronea against the Thebans himselfe had the right wing of the phalanx put the Argiues on the left wing of the Theban Armie to flight but the Thebans hauing beaten the Orchemenians who were vpon his left wing forced a passage through them to the Baggadge which hee vnderstanding did presentlie Countermarch his phalanx ledde against them where after a fnrious chocke hee killed manie of them and manie fled away to Helicon after their Confederates The Persian or Cretan Countermarch used by the Persians and Cretans is also called Chorean from the similitude of the Grecian Dances which â—he Dauncers called Chorus used for they ordered themselues in Rankes and Files and danced one through another keeping the same bounds of the place This Countermarch is described by (h) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Chorean is when the File-leaders turning to the Picke or the Target preceedeth the File The rest following till the Leader haue gotten the place of the Bringer-vp the Bringer vp the place of the Leader the Bedie mouing joynthie together so that this Countermarch maintaines and keepes the samine ground the Batell stood in And this is our Moderne Countermarch which wee use in our exercease NOPQ Yee see the figure N O P Q where the File-leaders of euerie File with their next followers that is to say The first two Rankes are turned to the right hand and hath begun to Countermarch and are in the distances betwixt the Files so that the two last of euerie File that is The 10. and 9. Rank hath marched vp with the rest to the Front N O. and hath left the place of the Reare P Q so much voyd as the first two Ranks hath marched through the Files from the place of the Front so that the File-Leaders shall march vntill they come to the place of the Bringers-vp P Q. and the Bringers vp till they come to the place of the File leaders N O. and there doe stand and face about with the rest Captaine (i) Bingam in his Notes vpon Aelians Tact. c. 28. Bingam expresseth this Motion more liuelie by figures of Armed Picke-men The wordes of Command Files to the right hand Countermarch Files to the left hand Countermarch Our wordes of Command are Stringes to the right hand Countermarch Stringes to the left hand Countermarch Because this Chorean Countermarch is that which is used in our exercease How the Motion of this Counter-march is done I will shew you how the motion is performed If the word of Command be to Countermarch to the right hand then all the File-leaders at one instant stepeth foreward with the right legge and bringing about their left legge turneth their Bodie to the right hand and so march downe through the Files till they come to the place of the Bringers-vp where they shall stand the rest that followeth the File-leaders must not offer to turne before they haue come vp to the place of the File-leaders If the Command bee to the left hand then the File-leaders must step foreward with the left leg and bringing about the right legge turne their Bodie to the left hand march downe as the former The figure N O P Q showeth a Countermarch to the right hand The other to the left hand by it may be easilie vnderstood for if yee make the File-leaders to turne toward N P. which yee see now turned towards O Q. it shal be a Countermarch to the left haÌ„d It seemeth to mee to be this Chorean Countermarch whereof the Emperour (k) Leo Tact. c. 12 § 65. Lee speaketh giuing this word of Command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is to bee obserued in this Motion of Countermarch that cuerie follower remarke his Leader and his right hand man that by them hee may keepe a due distance for otherwise the least disorder in this Motion will breed a confusion of the whole Bodie Obserue also that this Motion of Countermarch cannot bee done but at open Order Also it ought not to bee practised when the Enemie is neare hand for if the Enemie should suddenlie charge a Battell while it is Counterraarching hee should assuredlie ouerthrow it so that in this case the best expedient is to face about your Battell The use of Countermarching of Files is if the Enemie appeare in the Reare and come to charge you
halfe turne the Files K O and K N shall come to bee the Flankes of the Battell and I M and L P shall joyne in the middle This is of good use against troupes of horse comming to charge both your Flankes for the Pickes may withstand the charge of the horse and the Musquetiers play vpon them from the middle The wordes of Command Whele your Battell to the right and left hand about by division If ye wold reduce any of those to their first station ye haue nothing to doe but to face to the contrarie hand and to wheele your Battell back the contrary way quarter turne or halfe turne as they wheeled first and then they face as they were (g) Aelian Tact. c. 24. cap. 31. Aelian describeth an triple wheeling which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I thinke it is an superfluous and foolish Motion neither can I belieue that ever the Greeks did use it for to what effect shall ye make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triple wheeling of your Battell to the Picke or the Target when a single wheeling or quarter turne to the contrary hand will effect the samine with greater readinesse and thrise alse little paines and time as for example if you make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Target that is if yee wheeled your Battell thrise to the left hand yee bring the Front of it to the right Flanke against the enemie now if you make but one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or single wheeling to the right hand yee doe the same thing and I think there is no man of sense but will accorde that it is superfluitie to use three turnes when one turne will doe the businesse and chiefly in affaires of warre where the lest moment of time doth carrie with it a great weight This I thought good to advertise anie who shall read this Motion in Aelian that hee may eschew it for it is not only against our moderne excercise but contrarie tosense and reason Of the particular exercising of Picke-men and Musquetiers Tit. 11. OVr Pickemen as I shew before represents the heauie armed our Musquetiers the light armed both of the Grecian Phalanges and the Roman Legions Their heauie armed did carie for defence a Target besides the compleat arming of the bodie but whether the Discipline of our time hath done well or not in laying aside the Target from our Pickemen I will not disput because it is thought heauie and vnwealdie for an armed man and verie noysome in a March yet I thinke that custome and exercise would alleviat those difficulties and I belieue no good Commander will deny but it were expedient that stronge able men beeing File leaders of euerie Battaillon were appointed to carie large Targets of proofe after the Macedonian fashion that vnder the shaddow of them the rest of the Battaillion might be sheltered from the shot of the Enimie and also the Battaillion might be kept strong against the charge of the Enemie minding to breake it as the Greckes did when they made their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which did mightilie astonish the Romans themselues when they had adoe with them for (a) Plutar. in Emilio Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consul Lucius Aemilius saepe apud Romanos confitebatur se nihil unquam vidisse terrililius Phalange Macedonicâ Now as for the particular exercise of the Pickemen alone there is no other but that they ought exactlie to doe their Postures shown (b) Supra Tit. 5. before the Motions which I haue hitherto described beeing alike competent to them the Musquetiers for ordinarlie the pickemen in time of fight or skirmish doeth nothing vntill the Battells come neare to push of picke and then onelie they charge their pickes against the Enemie for the burding of sustaining the fight before that lyes vpon the Musquetiers of both sides during which time the Pickemen stands as idle spectators seruing onelie as a prop for the Enemies shot and neuer beeing able to offend them which is a pitifull consideration To remead this inconvenient the Gentlemen Souldiers of the trained bandes of the Artillerie Garding of London doe practise a shooting with the Bow they who are Pickemen without anie disturbance or hinderance of the use of their picke which is thus done They haue a Bow tyed to the picke in that place where they shoulder by a little engine or vice about which it turneth as they list so that plāting the But-end of the picke on the ground against the right foote and holding the Bow with their left arme the picke sloped and beeing as it were a rest vnto the Bow they shoote off their volie of Arrowes which hang in a Cace at their Girdle behind their backe with great ease dexterity if they be exercised therwith therafter they may fasten their Bow to a little pinne and recouer their picke order advance shoulder or doe anie other posture commanded as well with the Bow as without it When the whole Battell shoottes the followers must shoote throw their owne File ouer their Leaders heade they must stand in order at the least But when the Enemie commeth neare hand to charge the first fiue rankes must close to their close order and if it bee against horse while they foote their Pickes to receiue the charge and haue their swords drawne the last fiue Rankes may shoote their volies of arroues and doe great execution against them whereas without their Bowes they can doe nothing but stand with their pickes ported The wordes of Command for the use of the Bow with the Picke are those Order your picke Slope your picke Vnfasten your Bow Draw out your Arrow Noke your Arrow Shoote whollie together Recover your picke Fasten your Bow Advance your Picke This weapen is of excellent use both against the Enemies foote and his horse as for the foote it ouerthroweth cleane the Musquetiers seeing they are vnarmed the pickmens face armes and legges are also subject to the wounds of the Arrow which partes being hurt maketh them vnable for seruice but it doth especiallie gall the horse for a horse beeing wounded and hauing an hooked Arrowe fixed in his flesh hee will so rampage and runne to and fro that hee shall disorder the whole Battell They serue also to shoote fireworks into the Enemies Trench or Fort and also are steadable for convoyes who oft-times are assallied by horse But yee will say that those onelie of the first Rankes can use this Bow and that it cannot bee handled by them of the middle and Reare of the Battell for they will harme their owne Leaders To cleare this I would ask you How did the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or light armed of the Grecians anie seruice beeing placed in the Reare of their phalanx or the Roman Velites in the Reare of their Maniples for they were sundrie times so ordered as yee may see in (c) Aelian Tact. c. 7. 15. Aelian and (d) Leo.