would still preserve the Figure then let every ranke before they give fire march up into their leaders ground Having either marched or skirmished upon this Figure or both and then would come to reducement First face all the whole body to the proper front and cause the Pikes that are flankers to face inwards and to close their divisions This being done cause the Muskettiers which are in the middle part of the Battaile to double their files to the right Secondly let them face inward and close their division Next let them face all to their leader and wheele front and reere into the right flanke which being done and they faced again to the front proper they will be reduced into the ordinary square the Pikes being flanked with the Muskettiers as at first CHAP. CIII Of the Hollow Square girdled with shot THe Hollow Square Girdled with shot is a Figure to be used at such times of necessity as the Commander shall see occasion who well knowing that hee shall be enforced to fight having found some commodious advantage or ground drawes forth his battell into this forme and array The use whereof is that within the hollow parts of it he may convey such of his carriage or whatsoever else may not prove usefull for the strengthening of some part of the battell Having drawne his men speedily into this forme lest that the enemy should take the advantage to breake their order by entring at any of the Angles they are speedily to cast up a Rampart of earth in each of those parts of the Angles Or if they have not time or that the ground be not fit they may supply that defect by placing some of their Wagons Carts or other of their Carriage so orderly that it may be sufficient to fortifie those parts which are the weakest This Figure may be as well made with the Pikes foremost but because that the Musketiers may more commodiously fight before their Pikes and with lesse danger to their owne body therefore I conceive it fittest at first to place them in front of their Pikes And if the enemy shall too hotly presse them with his horse then at the discretion of the Commander they may safely retreate behinde their Pikes the Pikemen making good the ground of the Muskettiers For better satisfaction observe the direction to make the following Figure First command a Serjeant to draw forth all the odde files of the right flank both Muskettiers and Pikes and wheele them to the left crosse the front That being done command the odde files of the left flanke as well Muskettiers as Pikes to face to the reere and let them in like manner be wheeled to the left crosse the reere following their Bringers up For the rest of the body that remaines undrawne forth let them close to the right and left outward untill the Reere-Angles of each division stand diagonally opposite to each other Then let them be all commanded to face to the Center or midst of the hollow square where the Commander is to give them such incouragement directiōs as shal be meet Lastly let all face about to the right and present For the manner of firing upon this Figure it is as followeth The first ranke of Muskettiers to each front having presented and given fire they are to wheele all off to the right And because that eight or tenne men are too many to wheele downe one Intervalle for that they will bee so long before they can cleere the front therefore you may cause Intervalles to be made betweene the midst of each division as you may perceive in the Figure The first ranke having fired and wheeled off the next ranks are to move forwards into their ground they which wheeled off in the meane time placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The next ranke of Muskettiers having fired in like manner are to wheele off and to place themselves as aforesaid the rest of the rankes of Muskettiers successively are to doe the like untill they have all given fire once or oftner over that way according to the occasion And in this interim may the Bow-pikemen be bountifull in bestowing their showers of arrowes amongst the thickest of their enemies If the horse prevaile so much that the Muskettiers may not endure to beare the brunt of them then let the Muskettiers after they have fired wheele off and place themselues in the reere of their following divisions of pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground charging with their pikes as they see occasion for securing the Muskettiers in the midst This notwithstanding if the enemies horse shall still presse forwards and with their shot shall continue to annoy the body the pikes on this figure being especially defensive then cause the Pikemen to charge at the foot and your Muskettiers to give fire over them according to former directions on the Convex halfe-moone After this manner the battell may be continued to the last ranke When you have given fire in this order your Muskettiers being all in the reere of your pikes and that you be minded to reduce them into the first orderly square this is one way for it Passe through your Muskettiers before your front of pikes as they were before the firing that being done let the Commander face the whole body to the left Angle of the front-division by which meanes he shall there finde the halfe of his file-leaders This being performed let them march and so even their ranks and straiten their files the reere division of Muskettiers and Pikes orderly following after the front division of the like Armes After this let the halfe-files which then are which indeed are the residue of the file-leaders double their ranks forwards to the left which being performed the men are reduced as at first If you would reduce them some other way without passing through your Muskettiers as I have formerly said then first let the whole body face to the left Angle of the front-division and march evening their ranks and files as aforesaid Which being done cause the halfe-files which then are to double their front to the left which being in like manner performed all your Muskettiers are still in the midst Your next worke is to cause your Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward and your pikes contrariwise to face inward and so to passe through and interchange ground Thus being faced to their front proper they will be reduced as at first If any will be practising of this forme of battell with a smaller number of men as with 64. or fewer whereby they will be constrained to double their halfe-files then they will be reduced the same way onely they shall not need to double their halfe-files againe in their reducement as they must needs do were the number larger CHAP. CIIII. Of the Sollid Square with Muskettiers in Center and Angles The way to make the figure with a private Companie how to fire upon it and to
he useth in the handling of his Armes consisting of severall Motions for atchieving of each Posture The Motion being the working part the Posture the alteration or act either in circumstance or matter As to rest your Musket being one Posture to shoulder your Musket another so likewise for the rest howbeit some perchance will object as formerly hath bin to one of Athens making a long Oration in the praise of Hercules his valour who ever doubted of it So to me who ever questioned these for Postures yet I have known them not only questioned but written against peremptorily concluding that there are but three Postures to be used for the Musket whose errours I shal easily confute But more of this after the Postures of the Musket Wherefore for the more orderly proceeding conceive their Armes to lie before them on the ground and then the first command will be to stand to their Armes The Postures of the Musket TAke up your Bandeliers Put on your Bandeliers Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket and Rest Rest your Musket Now if you please you may performe your saluting Posture Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Take your Rest into your right hand and you are armed ready to March Now to begin to make ready which may be done either standing or marching Take your Match between the fingers of your right hand Put your Rest string about your left Wrist and carry your Rest in your left hand Return your Match between the fingers of your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your Pan. Cleer Prime Shut Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose Corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Treile your Rest ballance your Musket in your left hand Charge with Powder Bullet Draw forth your Scowring stick Shorten Put your scowring stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your scowring stick Shorten Return Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket and recover your Rest Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Coale Cock your Match Fit Guard your Pan. Blow the Ash from your Coale Open your Pan. Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning your Rest to the outside of your Musket Uncock and return your Match Cleer your Pan Shut Poise your Musket Shoulder Take your Match between the fingers of the right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering your string from your wrist Return your Rest into the left hand the string loose Return your Match into your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Rest your Musket Set the But-end of your Musket on the ground Lay down your Musket and Rest Match Take off your Bandeliers Lay down March from your Armes There is likewise the Sentinell Posture which is The Muskettier having his Musket charged with Bullet his Match cockt his Pan guarded stands with his Musket rested to performe such duty as shall be commanded or given him in charge Some have likewise taught to make ready on or from the Sentinell Posture But note that as none comes to stand Sentinell but comes ready charged So if any occasion happen that he must give fire in the time of his standing Sentinel it causeth a generall Alarme So that he will have no fit time to make ready upon his Rest Wherefore I conceive it superfluous but will ever conforme to better judgement We have also the Funerall Posture which from the Rest is to be performed at 3. Motions which cannot so well be exprest in writing as it will expresse it selfe in Action Wherefore seeing that it is rather an Ornament to Obsequies than truly necessary for Armies I will not spend more time about it but come to the Postures of the Pike Yet before I passe upon them give me leave to answer some which out of a Criticall humour will alwayes be carping at others condemning these Postures saying There are more by halfe then are either good or usefull and that there are no more Postures to be used but Make ready Present Give fire The which wee will not deny that in Service there are any other usefull notwithstanding I would have them to know that Make ready is no Posture but a word of Command including all Postures from the first Arming of the Souldier to the present or if the Muskettier be charged shouldered or both then the word Make ready commands the prosecution of the rest of your Postures which are between the Posture you then immediatly are at when the word is given and the other Posture Present for which reason when wee teach Muskettiers at first it is most necessary to instruct them punctually from Posture to Posture Which being once attained he manageth his Armes more surely more comely with more celerity and with better execution and at the first may as easily be taught the best way But if he have got an habit of doing ill there wil be as much or more pains spent in reclayming his errours as at first to teach him the best safest and readiest way CHAP. II. Of the Postures of the Pike THat which followeth next of course is the Posture of the Pike Wherefore that we may observe order in our proceeding we will likewise conceive their Pikes to lie in like manner before them on the ground And then as before the first Command will be To stand to their Armes Handle your Pikes Order To your open Order close Charge with the But-end of your Pike at the inside of your right Foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over the left Arme. Charge to the Right Left Reere Order your Pikes and put up your Swords Note that these Charges at the Foot are to receive a desperate Enemy on Horse upon a stand in some strait or other place of advantage the Muskettiers to give fire over the Pikemens heads or else-where at the discretion of the Commander Port your Pikes Comport Cheeke Treile Order Charge to the Front Order as you were Right Left Reere  Shoulder your Pikes Advance your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile your Pikes  Advance as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile Shoulder your Pikes  Shoulder as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere From Comport Cheeke or Treile the Pikeman may at the discretion of the Commander charge either to the Front Reere or both Flanks as shall be necessary or thought expedient Wherfore we shall not need to do it but once over for the Charges will be all alike whether you Comport from Order from Advance or Shoulder And so likewise for Cheek and Treile c. From Comport Charge to the Front Comport as you were Right Left Reere Cheek your Pikes   From the Cheek Charge to the Front Cheek as you were Right Left Reere Treile your
forwarde betweene the Intervalls the seventh ranke following the eighth the sixt following the seventh and so likewise the rest untill the whole body be transferred into the ground before the front and then joyntly together facing to the right about after their leaders the counter marche is ended For reducement observe this for all that any intire countermarch of file may be reduced by another intire counter-march by file of what kinde or to what hand soever These three last Chapters of counter-marches are the originall grounds of all the rest yet I shall shew one in the insuing Chapter which time hath begotten out of the latter two which takes part with either being absolute in neither CHAP. XLIII Of the Bastard counter-march The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leader THis passing through or bastard counter-march is partly Macedonian and partly Lacedemonian for first with the Macedon it takes the ground before the front the motion being from the reere forward it is partly Lacedemonian for that they passe through and place themselves before their Leaders and for that it makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy neverthelesse the Macedonian disclaimes it for that it alters not his aspect The Lacedemonian refuseth it for that it takes the ground before the front and not that behinde the reere or with the Chorean it holds affinitie And many there be that will not allow it for a countermarch for indeed the word it selfe will not beare it notwithstanding seeing that it hath beene long ranged amongst them I will not be he that shall displace it but will passe forwards to shew the manner of the motion which is to be performed as followeth The file-leaders stand according to the former direction the rest of the body advance their armes the second ranke first passing through to the right and placing themselves before the first ranke the third ranke before the second the fourth before the third and so forwards for the rest untill the last ranke or bringers up are become the foremost which perfects the motion It may be severally usefull as to skirmish against an enemy advancing by way of introduction or upon occasion to bring the reere men to march in front and such like For the reducement you may doe as much to the contrary hand onely for order sake I will reduce it by another like it selfe The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right placing your selves before your Leaders following your bringers up This motion may be done either to the right or left and is nothing differing from that last shewne but that whereas the other began with the second ranke this contrariwise begins with the last ranke or bringers up every ranke successively following the ranke which came from behinde them untill they which were the leaders are become the last in the reere If this countermarch be first done it may be reduced by any of those formerly shewn c. CHAP. XLIV Of countermarching ranks to maintaine ground The Command is Ranks to the right hand countermarch THis Chorean counter-march of rankes is an altering or changing of one flanke for the other the Battalia still keeping the same ground onely the right flanke becomes the left and the left becomes the right The way to performe this motion is as followeth the command being given then the whole body faceth to the hand named and every man in the outmost file to the right files by this facing being become rankes turnes down through the Intervalle or distance betweene ranke and ranke marching forth right unto the part which was the left flanke with their rankes file-wise following them being come unto their ground they face as before and the counter-march is performed for the reducement let rankes countermarch to the left after the same manner differing onely in the hand and they are as at first CHAP. XLV Of Countermarching Rankes to lose Ground The Command is Rankes to the right-hand Countermarch every man turning after his right-hand-man on the ground he stands THis Lacedemonian-Countermarch of Rankes is a falling on upon the left Flanke the Motion being begun by the right It leaves all the ground the Battalia stood on and takes in place therof the ground beside the left Flanke turning the Aspect to the left The manner or way to performe this Motion is as followeth The whole Bodie faceth to the right and then the right-hand-file being faced becomes a Ranke begins the Countermarch turning downe the Intervals of the Ranks which by this facing is made the distance between the Files and so marcheth forth-right beyond the left Flanke every man following him that was his right-hand-man but not stepping forwards one foot of ground untill the Countermarch be performed For the reducement of this Countermarch do as much to the left and they will he as at first Or if you please take another of the same kind The word of Command or direction is Right-hand-file face to the right the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your right-hand-men THis Lacedemonian Countermarch of ranks makes a falling on upon the right Flanke the Motion being from the left Flanke to the right leaving all the ground whereon the Battalia stood and taking in lieu thereof the ground beside the right Flanke In those dayes when Countermarches were more usefull for their Discipline then now they are for ours the Lacedemonian Countermarches were of chiefe repute aswell amongst the Macedonians as the Spartans and others the way to performe this Motion is as followeth The right-hand-file faceth to the right and passeth through the Intervals or spaces to the right placing themselves before their right-hand-men untill the left-hand-file become the foremost ranke If you doe this Countermarch by it selfe then for reducement first face them to their Front proper then let the left-hand-files face to the left and do as much to the left and then they will be as at first CHAP. XLVI Of the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke The Command is Right-hand-file face to the left the rest passe through to the right placing your selves behind your right-hand-men THis Macedonian Countermarch of ranks contrary to the Spartan dismarcheth from the enemy upon that Flanke where hee appeares and presents the contrary Flanke to receive the Charge It is performed after this manner The out-most-file to the right faceth to the left The rest of the body or Battalia faceth to the right every man passing thorough to the right and placing themselves behind their right-hand-men For the reducement of this Countermarch as all the rest there are divers and severall wayes but performe as much to the left as you have done to the right and they will be at first Or if you please this following Bastard Countermand will do the same The word of Command or direction is Right-hand-file stand the rest passe through to the right
Battalia and your Pikes on the out side or flankes If any question the depth of the number of this figure I have doubled files to make the figure more perfect The way to perform this motion is easie for all the file-leaders of the right flanke wheele about to the right the rest of each file following their leaders the file-leaders also of the left flanke wheeling about to the left in the same manner and then joyne or close their divisions This being done if you would then reduce them wheele them off againe by division after the same manner and they will be as before But if you would doe it some other way make use of this wheeling next following which will also bring them as they were The word of Command or direction followeth as in the next Chapter CHAP. LXI Of wheeling the Front inward towards the Reere The Command is Wheele your Front inward to the Reere THis divisionall wheeling of your front inwards to the reere is here placed as a reducement unto the other foregoing wheelings and so it brings the Muskettiers to the flankes againe But if you will doe it the Company being first reduced then it brings the Pikes to the flankes Some say it may be good if you be annoyd with horse in the Reere upon a march and that you have gained some side of a hill or other place of advantage then to wheele your front inward to the Reere to the enemy will make shew of disbandoning or flight But contrariwise you march toward him with a settled and orderly body your Muskettiers being all in the midst and so firing upon their enemy the Pikes being their flankers thereby defending the shot from the fury of the horse This motion will hardly be well done if your body hold too large an extension of length But at what depth soever it is easie The motion is to be performed as followeth The right hand file-leader with all the leaders of the right flanke advance forwards and so wheele about to the left every file still keeping close to their right hand file The left hand file-leader likewise with all the leaders of the left flanke advance forwards and wheele about to the right every file of the left flanke closing close to the left Thus the outmost files of each flanke will meete and become the innermost the front falling perpendicularly to the reere For the reducement of this figure you may if you please either wheele them off to the right and left by division or else wheele your front inward againe to the reere These two last wheelings have beene demonstrated with their files doubled whereby the figures might be the â—ore perfect but with men it would have beene needlesse wherefore double rankes to the contrary hand and they will be as at the first CHAP. LXII Of bringing the Flanks into the Front of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wings Front Front Battell Front Midst Front Center Reere Flanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Front is properly a doubling performed by wheeling It brings all your Muskettiers from the flankes into the front So that whereas this bodie before could do execution but with 8. Muskettiers at once by this Motion they may powre on 16. shot together If they were deeper before the Motion began then it would bring the more hands to imployment If upon some passe you should be chased in the Reere by horse by this motion of wheeling your flanks into the front you not onely secure your Muskettiers but also barricado up the passe with your pikes if it be not above fifty foot over Some call this a wheeling on the center because they wheele about the middle-men of the front But I rather conceive it an angular because upon the first Motion of dividing every division wheeleth about his owne angle untill the outmost-file-leaders of each flanke meet together in the midst You may perceive how by the figures of number where the figure 1. meets the number 16 2 with 15 3 with 14. and so for all the rest Then being faced to their leader every two files that met being now joyned make one ranke There must be the like order and decorum kept in the motion of wheeling each flanke as I shewed in the instruction of intire angular wheelings For reducement of this Motion wheele your flanks into the Reere Or else foure times the same as I have seene some do although somewhat the further way about Divers men are diversly opinionated concerning the best word of Command or direction for this Motion These I have known used which I have placed in the Margent by the figure And if any man like one better then the other be it at his owne choice either to use or refuse while I passe to shew the next wheeling CHAP. LXIII Of wheeling the Reere into the midst of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Reere The Direction is Face all about to the Right Wheele yâ—â—r Flâ—â—kâ— into the Reere Wing Reere Reere Battell Reere Midst Reere Center Front â—lanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Reere is also a doubling and performed as the other And whatsoever might be said in the behalfe of the wheeling of the front into the middest the same may be also spoken concerning the wheeling of the Reere into the middest For this wheeling brings your two outmost-files to be the first ranke the Bringers up of the right and left-hand-files meeting together the bringers up of the left flanke meeting face to face with the Bringers up of the left-flanke And so being faced to their leader they which before were complete files are now become halfe-ranks either to the right or left But you must note that before you begin to wheele you must face your body about to the Reere and then the action will be all one as if you wheeled your flanks into the front Wherefore I shall not need further to explaine it having spoken fully to it in the precedent Chapter For the reducement of this wheeling the Commander being at his Front accidentall may command them to wheele their wings into the Reere and so passe through to that part where his proper file-leaders are and then face them to him and they are reduced Or else when he hath past through to the reere and faced his Company to him then his pikes being formost let him wheele his flanks into the front who being faced to their leader they are reduced For this motion there are also divers and severall words of Command And because it may be that some will better approve of some of the other words of Command then of this that I have made use of therefore I have placed others in in the margent That so any that will may take their choice while I passe to shew the next wheeling Whose word of Command and direction you shall finde over the figure of
more ease and to use them with more delight Neither need they to be altogether ignorant seeing there are divers printed portraitures of the postures of each Armes as also books whereby they may have very ample instruction By which having attained some little skill they will not be contented untill they have better improved it by the instruction of their Officers after which they will proue better proficients in one houre then as they were before in a yeare CHAP. LXXI Of firing by forlorne files The manner and use BEfore I enter upon formes and figures of Battel be pleased to observe with me that all firings are either direct or oblique notwithstanding that the formes are full enough of varietie occasioned most times by the scituation of the place the order of the enemy and the number of men with other Politicall observations for the gaining of winde and Sunne For the manner of firings they are sometimes advancing against an enemy sometimes receiving the enemies charge upon a stand or else retreiting Otherwhiles we give fire in the Reere marching from the Enemy or in Flanke marching by an enemy and it may so fall out that the enemy may charge in severall places at once as in Front and Reere or in Front Reere and Flanke Of which particulars I will severally treat desiring to give content to all not making the least question but that benefit may accrue unto some And therefore hoping that the courteous and best qualified will accept of my good meaning and not refuse my cates although presented unto them in earthen vessels whereby I shall be induced with more willingnesse to proceed in my intended discourses so you be pleased to favour me with your better opinions neither rashly condemning me of prodigalitie for enterprising a worke of such consequence as this nor too suddenly accusing my simplicitie for preferring my rush-light before the Sunne when others suffer their Torches to burne out in darke lanternes whom I confesse to be farre more able were they but halfe so willing to have imparted of their Talents to the benefit of their Countrey But seeing that they will not vouchsafe it and that I like bold bayard have adventured thus farre I shall with your good favour proceed And first I will begin with firings in front advancing and standing and so to the rest And for the more cleare expression of each firing I will deliver them both in words and figures The first whereof shall be a firing by forlorne files which commonly is used in our exercise two manner of waies One way is for the two outermost-files of each flank of Musketiers to march forth being led on by the two junior Serjeants so farre as by the superior Commander shall be thought fit who being there to stand the formost ranks are to give fire wheeling off both to the right or to the right and left if it be so commanded and to place themselues in the Reere of their owne files the rest of the ranks firing and doing of the like untill they have fired once or twice over according to their directions This done the next two outmost-files of each flanke are to march forwards unto the place assigned and to do the like those files which formerly faced in the meane time trooping backe and placing themselues next the pikes on the inside of the divisions of Muskettiers the rest of the Muskettiers in like manner marching up and firing still placing themselues next the pikes as aforesaid When they have fired all over and placed themselues according to these directions they are reduced as at first A second way of firing by forlorne files may be after this maÌ„ner The outermost files of each flank are led forth by the Serjeants according to the charge untill they have brought them unto a fit place for execution and then they command their files to ranke inward and to present and fire all together as you may plainly perceive by the figure following The first two files having ranked iâ—â—ard presented and fired are to wheele off to the right and left following their leaders in single file and placing themselves on the inside of their divisions of Muskettiers next the Pikes the next outmost files which followed the first in the reere in the meane time ranking inward firing and wheeling off as before and placing themselves next the Pikes And so forwards for all the rest of the files still marching up and doing the like so long as the Captaine or Commander shall fee fitting These kinde of firings and all such like are either for the beginning of skirmishes before the Bodies come within shot one of another or to provoke the enemy to battaile to draw them from their Trenches into some ambushment and other such politicall ends the number of men which march forth upon such designes nor the manner are not alwayes certaine but consists sometimes of more sometimes of fewer according to the number time and place CHAP. LXXII Of firings by two Ranks ten paces advanced before the front Next even with the front and lastly even with the halfe files Advancing of two rankes to fire ten paces before the front is most commonly used when one or both Battailes march against each other the Muskettiers being led forth by two rankes together ten or twenty paces before the front of the body that so they may come neere enough to doe certaine execution A Serjeant from each flanke leading up the two foremost rankes according as they shall have order the first ranke of each flanke is to present and give fire wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you may perceive by the following Figure The first ranks having presented fired and wheeled off as aforesaid are to march close downe in single file within three foot of their owne flankes untill they come to the Reere of their owne divisions where every man is to place himselfe in the reere of his owne file The second ranke being at the distance of three foot behinde the first ranke when they first tooke their ground they likewise are to rest their Muskets mounting their muzzles cleere of their Leaders and so to stand with their matches cockâ— and pans guarded that so they may levell and fire as soone as their Leaders are cleere of them and wheele off in like manner placing themselves as they were before The next two rankes are to beginne to advance forwards when they see the last of the two former ranks presented ready to fire And they also having fired wheele off as the others did before them And so successively the rest of the ranks advancing fire and wheeling off againe placing themselves according to former directions This way they may give fire once or oftner over as the enemy doth advance or the Commander shall see fitting All this while that the Muskettiers advance so farre before the front if the body be upon march the Pikes may be shouldered but when the bodies come within
twelve score or lesse then it is fit that the Muskettiers give fire even with the front of the Pikes and that the Pikemen advance their Pikes and close forwards to their distance of three foot that so they may be even in ranke with their Muskettiers as you may perceive by the following Figure Now the Pikes being advanced and the rankes closed forwards to their due distance of order the Muskettiers are to present even with the front every ranke successively moving forward untill they come to be even in ranke with the first ranke of Pikes there to give fire and to wheele off to the right and left trooping file-wise downe close to their owne divisions and taking their places in the reere as in the former figures The first ranke of Muskettiers having fired and wheeled away the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places and there to give fire after the same manner wheeling away againe and placing themselves according to former directions every ranke still making good their Leaders ground In this sort the battell may be continued untill they have fired once twice or oftner over and that the Bodies become so close together that the Pikes begin to porte and so at length come to push of Pike Which done the Muskettiers are to give fire either retreiting or else not to advance further then the halfe files of Pikes For in that place the bodies being come so neere together they will doe as much execution as if they were even with the front The manner of the standing you may perceive by the following Figure The Pikes being now come to push the Muskettiers are to advance no further than the halfe files of Pikes that so they may doe execution with their shot and be out of danger of the Pikes This having attained they are there to present and give fire every ranke still moving forwards and maintaining his leaders ground After they have performed their firing they are to wheele off by division as in the former Figures still placing themselves in the reere of their owne files alwaies taking their directions from the Drum either for charging or retreiting c. The battell or charge being ended the reducement is easie The leader of each file being in his place at the head of his file command the Muskettiers to march up even with the front of pikes and then they will be as at first Obserue withall that when the firing is to be performed even with the front then the Muskettiers are stil to make good their leaders ground The want to be in the place of most security which is the Reere as you may perceive by the pricks which I have designed for noting out the empty roomes of such who have closed forwards to make good the ground in the front the others that last fired are wheeled off and trooping downe into their places When the firing is even with the halfe-files they are to do the like unlesse the Drumme beat a retreat for then the Muskettiers neither advance nor retreat but every rank giving fire on the same ground they stand and then wheele off againe that their fellows may do as much Neverthelesse when the forlorne files march forth or that two ranks march forth ten paces or more before the front then they are to give fire as upon a retreit unlesse the enemy flye I will now shew some other wayes of firing in front before I shew the firings in the reere The first whereof shall be the horne Battell as in the Chapter following CHAP. LXXIII Of the Horne-battell how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe Horn-battell may be for the same occasion and use as the firing by two ranks ten paces advancing before the front and is by some held more serviceable because that the muskettiers do their execution more roundly without any intermission of time and keepe themselues without stragling from their bodies Besides the wings of Muskettiers being so advanced are more apt for over-fronting and more easily to be wheeled whereby to charge the enemy in flanke each of these wings or divisions are to be led up by a Serjeant or some other superiour Officer unto the place appointed by the Chiefe But because that it may be performed in time of exercise by the intelligible Souldier observe the Command which produceth this following figure Pikes stand Muskettiers march untill the Bringers up ranke with the front of Pikes The Horne-battell The figure being perfect the firstranke of Muskettiers present and give fire wheeling off either all to the right or to the right and left according as they shall have direction and placing themselues orderly in the Reere of their owne files The next ranke after the same manner firing and wheeling off and placing themselues behinde those which were their leaders Thus is every rank successively to do the like untill they have all given fire If the Commander would still preserve and continue the same figure then let the Muskettiers still move forwards into the ground or place of them that fired before them and the forme will be still the same And if by the Chiefetain it be found necessary that after once or twice firing over the shot should flanke their pikes then the Muskettiers must not advance into their leaders ground but to the contrary every ranke is to present and fire on the same ground they stand and that so soone as they are cleere of their leaders Or if need be the pikes may advance and march up to make their front iâ—tire which being done the file-leaders of Muskettiers being in front they are reduced CHAP. LXXIIII Of the Demie-hearse Battell The use of the figure how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe next firing in Front which I present unto you is the Demie Hearse which is a figure most firme most sollid and most stable yea and doth as much execution as any of the former and that with halfe the danger For the pikes in the former figure they either ranke even with the front of Muskets or else the division of Muskettiers being open they become liable to the danger of the enemies shot themselues not being able to do any thing either offensive or defensive But to the contrary in this figure they are securely covered by their owne Muskettiers untill they approach nearer to the enemy Whereby they may be able to do some service either by sending their showres of arrows amongst them for bringing their array out of order or else by closing neerer come to the shocke and so try the fortune of the day But not to hold you longer in circumstance take the words of command which produce the figure as followeth Pikes stand Muskettiers advance before your Front of Pikes and close your Divisions The Demic-hearse For the firings on this figure they may be divers yet I shall content my selfe onely to shew two of them The first is that the Muskettiers may at the discretion
the words of Command and direction which are for the making of this Diamond Battell are as follow First cause your Muskettiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for receiving the Muskets of the left flanke Then command the Muskettiers of the left flanke to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to make the Figure Command Files of Muskettiers ranke 1. 3. 5. 7. c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranke by decrease after your Muskettiers The Muskettiers may fire on this figure divers waies though I onely intend to speake unto two of them The first is the most usuall way and that is the giving fire in ranke the first man or poynt of the Diamond first giving fire then wheeling off to the right and placing himselfe just behinde the single Pikeman in the reere Then the next ranke being three men give fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves in ranke behinde the single Muskettiers as they were before the firing began This done the ranke of five Muskettiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde they command to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwaies goes to the right And so in like manner the rankes give fire successively and place themselves after their leaders as before When all the Muskettiers have given fire and are wheeled off then charge Pikes which will be fifteene in the first ranke the rest decreasing Having advanced your Pikes your figure will stand like two wedges with their poynts ioyned as you may perceive by this Figure next following If you would reduce your men from this Figure without firing your men being sufficiently expert let the Muskettiers stand and Pikes face to the reere and so the wedges will stand faced in opposition Next command them to interchange ground the Muskettiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Muskettiers and then by facing the Pikes to the former front the body will stand in forme of a Diamond againe If you would give fire from this Figure all the Muskettiers being in the reere the body must face about and so the firing will be contrary to the former But if you wheele them about they may give fire the same way Howsoever they having given fire are to wheele off by division and to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes even in ranke again as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired ouer and wheeled away the Pikes may charge and being againe advanced the body will stand in forme of a Diamond and this I pray you to conceive for I intend not to remake the Figure The second way of firing on the Diamond figure is by way of Countermarch and is an oblique firing For whereas in the other firing by ranks in the Diamond Battell each ranke fired by increase of two beginning with one and ending with fifteene in a ranke this firing contrariwise begins with 15. and ends with 1. still decreasing 2. For this firing your files must be at open order because the Muskettiers must countermarch downe betweene the Intervals of their owne files to the right every Muskettier that findes himselfe without a leader being to present and give fire and then to countermarch to the right and to place himselfe in the Reere of his own file behinde the pikes When the first 15. have fired then the next 13. present fire and countermarch still placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Next there fireth 〈◊〉 thâ—â— 9. c. for still there fires â—o many as are 〈◊〉 of any leaders And in this manner of firing they that fire together stand neither in ranke not file buâ— oâ—liquely When all the Muskettiers have fired and â—â—e 〈◊〉 into the Reere of their owne files let the pikes charge and so the forme of your battell will be like a long wedge as you may perceive by the following figure where now your Ranks are become 2. and 2 of a number Your men standing in forme afore-shewed if you please yet to be more curious face them all to the Reere and command your Muskettiers to march ten or twelue paces Your pikes to stand and your Muskettiers will present you with an hollow wedge and your pikes with a sollid wedge Lastly to reduce all these severall formes into the first proper square battell first let the sollid wedge close forward into the hollow of the other then let the Muskettiers make ready present and fire as before That is to say every Muskettier that finds himselfe without a leader is to give fire and to countermarch to the reere of his owne file the rest doing the like successively When they have all fired and are countermarcht cleere let the pikes charge and then your body will have the form of a Diamond againe Next face them all to the Reere and command Ranks file 8. to the right Which being done passe through the Muskettiers which belong to the left-flanke into their places and close the Muskettiers of the right-flanke to their due distance and so they will stand all properly reduced CHAP. LXXVII Of the Convex Halfe Moone The use of the Figure and of severall wayes of firing upon it THe Convex halfe-moone or semicircular Battell is a forme both good and usefull which the time the number and place with other circumstances may make either beneficiall or prejudiciall Wise Captains and Commanders ever foreseeing with providence what formes or figures may be most profitable and available for the present service This Convex figure may be usefull either at the landing of souldiers in an enemies Countrey or for necessity the enemy being more able in horse making use either of hedge ditch wood creeke or River to secure the Reere For the figure it selfe it may be made many wayes either with the Muskettiers outermost or innermost or lined c. as pleasest he Commander It may also be made in a Regimentall way or after the way of a small and private Company But because I have onely in this my smal Treatise taken upon me to shew the postures motions and figures which are most usually done in a small Company although many of them yea the more part may be very fit for larger Bodies I shall content my self to saile in so small a bottome not desiring to put on more saile then will suffice for the bearing of so small a burthen Wherefore my request shall be that every courteous and skilful Pilot that shall come aboard this small Barke will be pleased neither to launch it into the maine lest it be swallowed in the Surges nor to expose it to the danger of shelues rocks and sands lest it suffer shipwracke for want of good guidance but so to steere it that it may safely arrive at its â—â—sirâ—d Harbour wherein they will both honour 〈…〉 expressing their vertues
and gâ—â—tifie 〈◊〉 by applying each motion figure and forme to his right use and true intention I will now shew how the figure is to be made which is as followâ—th If yoâ—â— Battell be in forme of an Hearse then 〈◊〉 them to the right or left about untill they have atteined this figure But if in a square then observe these following words which will produce the figure Wheele your Flanks into the Front then face the Body to one of the Flanks and wheele your Battell into a Convex Halfe Moone The Convex Halfe Moone Having brought your Souldiers into this Convex forme you may face them all inward for speech or outward for fight Then let the Officers make Intervals for the Muskettiers and let the outermost Arc or first ranke of each division present and give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left-flanke to the left placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers still making good their leaders ground The rest of the ranks are to do the same untill they have all given fire Neverthelesse if your enemy be too potent for you by reason of his horse your Bow-pike-men need not stand idle although they stand behinde their Muskettiers for that they may plie them faster with their shafts then the others can with their shot But if the horse be so violent that the Muskettiers may not abide them then let them give fire and wheele off by division as before passing quite through their Intervals and placing themselues in the Reere of their pikes every ranke making good their leaders ground Thus also are the rest of the Muskettiers to give fire placing themselues in the concave part of the Body as aforesaid following the pikes which now make good the Muskettiers ground If need be the pikes may charge over-hand or if occasion serves at the foot drawing forth their swords over their left armes and couching downe their heads by which meanes the Muskettiers may give fire over their shoulders For the first ranke having fired may kneele downe on the ground and charge againe and so the second ranke may give fire and kneele in like manner making ready againe And so in like manner for all the rest all giving fire and kneeling on the ground that so the next ranke behinde may give fire over them Thus continning the firing untill all the Muskettiers have given fire Neverthelesse if need be the first ranke may rise with the rest and give fire over again as before And so the Battell may be continued the Pikes still keeping off the horse For the reducement of this figure to bring every man to his place let your Muskettiers either firing or passing through be brought into the places they were in before they first gave fire Then face the whole Body to one of the flankes and march them untill they have evened their rankes and straitned their files This done then if all your Pikes be on the right flanke wheele your right flanke into the midst if on the left flank wheele front and reere into the left flanke This being done let the Commander passe to his proper file-leaders and face the whole Body to him and they are reduced as at first CHAP. LXXVIII Of Extraduction the severall uses firings and Reducements THe next Firing which I shall take upon me to demonstrate shall be by way of Extraduction which is also a firing in Front It may be to singular good use in a strait or passage sage where your Wings and Reere may be secured your enemy being supposed to be too powerfull for you either in Horse or Foot or both Having gotten into some strait there fill the mouth of the passage with your Pikes and if the length of your Company be not sufficient to do it then double your ranks as in this following figure and let yâ—ur pikes either order advance port or charge according to the occasion your Muskettiers being in the Reere may march up into the Front and fire But before I shew the firing observe these following directions which produce the Figure Pikes stand Muskettiers face to the Reere and March uâ—till you are cleere of your body of Pikes Then face inward and close your division that being done face to your Leader and double your Rankes This being performed the Pikes are all in front the Muskettiers in Reere A firing by Extraduction Having ordered your baâ—tell in this manner let the first rankâ—â—f Muskettiers which are those that follow next after the Pikes face to the right and march forth file-wise to close by the right flanke of Pikes untill he that is the leader of them be come into the front of Pikes then hee is to leade them quite crosse the front of Pikes untill he have attained the further part of the front to the left which being done they are all to stand present and give fire You must note withall in this firing that hee which was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the leader of the â—â—tion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and that having fired they are to wheele off to the left close to the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall in the reere of the Muskettiers In the interim whilest that the ranke which first fired is wheeling away the second rank is marching into their places to give fire And in this manner they may maintaine their Battaile so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the whiles The Muskettiers in the time of their crossing the front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that so they may be no impediment to the Pikes in their charge There is another way of firing â—y Extraduction which is that the right hand leader of Muskettiers placeth himselfe before the right fileâ—eader of Pikes the rest all falling beyond him neverthelesse because I conceive it not to be so good a way as that already shewne I will not trouble you with it but come immediately to the â—educement of this which is as followeth Comâ—and your Pikes to stand and your Muskets to double their front by division but if you want room to doe it then first double your files 〈◊〉 the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so hauing doubled by division as aforesaid they will be reduced as at fiâ—st CHAP. LXXIX Of the Broad-fronted Battell with the wayes of firing upon it THe broad-fronted battell must needs be of speciall use for many occasions either offensive or defensive Which because it is so apparant to all I shall not need to stand to reason with any rather desiring to shew the manner of making and reducing it which is â—s followeth Cause your Pikes to stand and your Muskettiers to march untill the reere ranke of Muskettiers be advanced a little before the first ranke of Pikes then let the Muskettiers face inward or in opposition and close their divisions and then face to their leader And if
the Muskettiers next behinde the reere of pikes Or if the body be large to wheele all off to the right through Intervals and so to march into the front of pikes Or else they may wheele off by division flanke their pikes and so fire over againe as before If you have brought your Muskettiers by firing to the Reere before the front of pikes then to reduce them you may either wheele the body about and give fire in front causing your Muskettiers to fall off by division and to flanke their pikes as you may perceive by the figure of the Demie-hearse Or else if you will reduce them without a firing cause your Muskettiers to open to the right and left and the pikes to march up in the miast after which facing all to your Leader they are as at first I might have shewne a Figure for each of these severall firings in the reere which would have delivered them with more variety but I conceive that this here already exprest may suffice especially this being the ground of what may be spoken Concerning firings in this nature many men are of many mindes about this firing in the reere Some will have it that the last ranke shall at one motion face to the reere and there present and give fire Others will have it at two motions but either of them have their inconveniences For however they pretend a more sudden execution they are decerved for would they make tryall by causing the Muskettiers of one of the flanks to give fire at one motion and the Muskettiers of the other flanke at three motions as I have here set downe they should soone finde that the firing upon three motions were the best and that the other would be cast so farre behinde their body that they would be in some danger to be cut off Besides this they are longer in clearing themselves from their owne men which all the whilst must stay untill they are marched off or else kill them in stead of the enemy whereas in this other firing upon three motions they still keepe along with their Body doing their execution more suddenly and more safely Neverthelesse there be many so much wedded to â—heir own wilfull opinion that they will more willingly persist in knowne errour then be seene to alter what they have seemed to maintaine But leaving such to steere by their owne compasse I will here conclude my firing in the reere And the next I shew shall be firings in flanks to which purpose I passe all my Muskettiers to the right flanke The words of direction for it are these Muskettiers of the right flanke open to the right or face to the right and march When they have opened to a sufficient distance then stand Muskettiers of the left flanke passe through betweene your rankes of Pikes to the intervalle on the right flanke then stand and face all to your leader CHAP. LXXXI Of firings in flanke in generall and more particularly of the gathering firing THe Muskettiers being all on the right flanke as in the last Chapter is directed it would be needlesse to make a Figure whereby to demonstrate the standing of the body seeing that none can be so ignorant but must needs know that all the Muskettiers being upon the right the Pikes must be upon the left Neverthelesse I shall endeavour to shew what is meant by firing in flankes Which for the generall are of these two kindes The first is when the enemy skirmâ—sh with us in flanke as we march the other when as by some sudden attempt or ambushment the whole body is engaged and so forced to stand and to face to the right or left or both By which facings the flanks become fronts accidentall and their firings wil be after the same manner of the firings in front Wherefore seeing I have already spoken sufficiently of them I will now shew firings in flanke marching the particulars whereof are as followeth The first is for the outmost file to give fire and stand untill the next file have fired which by some is called the gathering firing Secondly firings in flanke and leading them up between the Muskettiers and Pikes firing in flanke being led off by the bringers up firings in flanke sleeving up on the contrary flanke of Pikes firing in flanke and drawing them up betweene the innermost files of Pikes All these firings in flanke are to be performed upon a march the Pikes are to be shouldered Our first firing in flanke followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire to the right and gather up your files This kinde of firing on the flanke I have seene and knowne used by many good and able souldiers Neverthelesse in my opinion the men stand in a great deale of danger when having given fire they can doe no good but stand like so many markes for their enemies shot Notwithstanding it may be that such whom I have frequently seene to use it in their practise may be able to render good reasons for the service though as yet I cannot conceive it I will therefore surcease any further prosecution my opinions and shew the manner of execution which is to be performed as followeth The Command being to give fire to the right presently the outermost file to the right faceth outward and presents the rest of the body still marching forwards Then the presented file gives fire and stands facing againe to their first front By thattime the body will be marched cleere of the standing file then the next outermost file presents and fires in like manner the body marching as before Having fired they in like manner face to their first front and stand a Serjeant leading up the file that first fired on the out side of the file that last fired Then they both stand together untill the third file hath given fire after the same manner And then the Serjeant leads up the two files even with the third which last fired And after this manner the â—â—â—es of Muskettiers face to the flanke and give fire sâ—câ—essively and stand untill the Serjeant leads up the rest of the files which fired even with the front of the file which last fired Thus having all fired over they are to march up againe even with the front of Pikes and this reduceth them as at first CHAP. LXXXII The second manner of giving fire to the flanke IF you would fire in flanke a more secure way then that last shewne take this way of firing And this shall be full as serviceable for matter of execution and shall farre precede it in way of preservation both in securing the Muskettiers after they have fired from the danger of their enemies shot as also in continuing the body intire without separation It is especially usefull when two enemies are divided by a River or by some such like meanes secured from the incursions of the horse For then by this way of drawing the Muskettiers up betweene the innermost file of Muskettiers and the outermost file of Pikes to
the right your Battaile may be continued according to the occasion or the Commanders discretion The Figure followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire in flanke marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskets The way to performe this motion of firing is as followeth The outermost file being commanded to face to the right and present the rest of the body marcheth away as in the other Figure and the standing file gives fire This done and that the body is marched cleere of the standing file the next file presents to the right the file that first gave fire faceth to the first front and is led by a Serieant crosse the reere of Muskettiers and up betweene the Muskets and Pikes the Muskettiers are still to open to the right as they march that so there may be room for one file to march up betweene them and the pikes And so successively each file having fired marcheth up next unto the right flanke of pikes When all your Muskettiers have given fire once over they are reduced as at the first The battell may be continued at discretion The next firing in flanke for the matter of firing it selfe will be all one with this but for the manner of the wheeling off and placing them it will differ CHAP. LXXXIII A firing in Flanke led off by the Bringers up THe next firing in flanke which I propound to your perusall will be nothing differing for manner of execution from the firings in Flanke formerly shewed The onely difference arising betweene them is that the other files of Muskettiers after that they had given fire were led off by their proper file-leaders and this to the contrary must be led off by their Bringers-up And this indeed if the body be upon a slow march is the readiest and quickest way and doth more speedily secure the Muskettiers after that they have given fire The words of Command and direction which produce the firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right wheeling off after your Bringers up and placing your selues betweene your Divisions For the manner of execution or way to performe this firing it is as followeth The body must be conceived to be marching upon all these firings in flanke and that with their pikes shouldered This being presupposed the Command being given the outmost-file presents to the right and gives fire then faceth to the right after their bringers up who leadeth them off crosse the reere of Muskettiers marching them up betweene the divisions the bringers up supplying the file-leaders place and marching even in ranke in the front with the file-leaders the file-leader of the same file becomming the bringer up in the Reere The files of Muskettiers or Pikes according as the command shall be given are as they march to open thereby giving way to the Muskettiers after they have fired to come up betweene the divisions and so soone as the first file that fired is cleare from the right flanke the second file presents and fires in like manner wheeling off as before and marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskettiers every file successively giving fire and wheeling off as aforesaid This firing may be performed once twice or oftener over according to the discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse if it be twice performed the men are reduced as at first every man hauing his right place If you fire them but once or thrice or any odde number of times over then you must countermarch your files of Muskettiers to reduce them There is another way for the bringers up to wheele off and each of them to leade off his file untill he comes to the Reere of the division which is betweene the Muskets and the Pikes and there he is to stand and ranke with the bringers up the rest that follow passing on forwards by way of Introduction and every man ranking before him that was his leader in the wheeling off untill the proper file-leader be come into his place againe And after this way they may give fire each firing being his owne reducement CHAP. LXXXIIII The difference betweene Firings in Flanke marching and of bringing the Muskettiers on the outside of the Pikes ALL or the most part of the firings in flanke which are performed marching in point of execution are the same the especiall difference betweene them being â—ither in the manner of the wheeling off after they have fired or in the materiall placing them whereby to make them more offensive or defensive And all this appeareth by this next following firing which is to be used at such time and place when as there may be doubt of the enemies horse And therefore for the more securitie of the Muskettiers having fired they are to be drawne up on the outer-side of the left flanke if haply there may be some hedge ditch river hill marish wood or such like convenient safeguard whereby to shroud them from the furie and violence of the horse that so the pikes making Alt and facing to the enemy may charge and with their armed points strongly and closely coucht receive and abate the furie of the first shocke And if need be the pikes may all charge at the foot closely serried together with their swords drawne and the Muskettiers may give fire over them The manner you may perceive in the figure of the Convex halfe-moone But lest I anticipate my selfe in shewing the use I will returne to shewth e manner of the firing intended by this following Figure Onely first take the words of command and direction which are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right placing your selues on the outside of the left Flanke of Pikes The ovtermost files having presented to the right the rest of the body continueth the march whilest they in the meane time are giving fire Which being done and the body cleere the next outermost file presents the file that last fired in the interim facing to the left after their proper file-leader who leadeth them crosse the reere both of Muskets and Pikes a pretty round pace sleeving up on the out side of the left flanke of Pikes The next file having in like manner fired doth also troupe up on the out side of the file led off before every file giving fire and doing the like When all have given fire and are cleered away then the Pikes may charge Which is very necessary if but to accustome the ⊙ Souldiers unto in times of exercise both for charging on and for retreiting as also to push with their Pikes that so by practise they may be able to doe it orderly either way still keeping their order and array Having given fire upon the right flanke and drawne all your Muskettiers in this manner to the left flanke if you will cause them to give fire on the left flanke and bring them backe againe to the right flanke they will be reduced Or if you would reduce them without a firing then either passe your Muskettiers through between your rankes of Pikes or else let your whole
division of Muskettiers bee drawne crosse either the front or reere of Pikes into their places or by division if you please your Muskettiers also may give fire in flanke the first fire sleeving on the left flanke the rest of the files still falling betweene the Pikes and the Muskettiers which wheeled off the last before them And this is also a very good firing and may be reduced with doing the like backe againe and many other waies they may also fall off after the manner of the figure last shewn being led by their bringers up either into the front or else after the manner as is discoursed in the latter end of the last Chapter But I endeavour all I may to contract my matter left my volume should exceed my intent And therefore I will shew but one firing more in flanke upon a march wherewith I will conclude these sorts of firings CHAP. LXXXV Of Firing in Flanke and placing the Muskettiers in the midst of the Battell of Pikes with other firings from thence proceeding FIring in Flanke and bringing them off betweene the midst of pikes is to be used at such time when as you would secure your Muskettiers the place otherwise affoording no naturall convenience of succour such as I have formerly spoken of and therefore by this manner of falling off where we want naturall assistance in the scituation there art ought to supply us namely by contriving to bring up the Muskettiers betweene the pikes and so to defend them from the furie of the horse And if need be you may draw 3. or 4. files of pikes more or lesse according to your number or the danger crosse the Muskets both in front and reere which are in the midst betweene the pikes which will as well preserve the Muskettiers in front and reere as in flanks But leaving further to discourse what may be done I will now shew how this is to be done Onely first take the words of Command and direction for the firing as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right Marching up betweene the midst of Pikes The Command being given for the outermost-file to present to the right as formerly in the other firings in flanke the rest of the body still marcheth on untill that the outermost-file hath fired and is faced to the left againe following their leader He now leading them off to the left marcheth up betweene the middlemost-files of pikes who are then to open to the right and left so to give them roome to march up betweene them In the meane time the next file having given fire wheeleth off in like manner marching up on the left of the files which fired last before them And so successively for all the rest of the files of Muskettiers all which are to give fire and to wheele off as before placing themselues still on the left of the files which last fired Wherein is still to be noted that the files are still to open to the right and left and that for the receiving of the Muskettiers after that they have given fire This firing as all other the firings in flanke may as well be led off by their Bringers up as by the file-leaders and then the reducements will be answerable The Muskettiers having all fired the pikes may charge at discretion The Bow-pike-men which are in the reere of the Muskettiers in the meane time not sparing to send their showers of arrows amongst the thickest of their enemies and if need require the front of pikes charging at the foot with their swords drawne the Muskettiers may give fire over them ranke after ranke for the formost ranks having fired may kneele upon the ground and there make ready againe untill the other ranks behinde them have likewise given fire After this manner the Battell may be continued according as occasion shall require For reducement and to bring the Muskettiers into both flanks againe as they were before I began these firings in flank command your pikes to face inward and your Muskettiers to the right and left outward and so to passe through and interchange ground then facing them to their leader they will be reduced as at the first I would have the ingenious Reader to conceive that all these firings in flanke may as easily be performed to the left and with the same words Onely the words of right must be changed for left and left for right I might have further enlarged my selfe upon Firings in flanke but these already exprest may suffice for to instruct the ignorant As for the skilfull and experter sort of Souldiers I shall rather request their approbation then presume to write ought which may seeme to passe me with the least conceit tending to their instructions Wherefore for the further prosecution of my intended discouse I will next shew some divisionall firings And for methods sake I will first begin with Firings in â—ront and Reere which may be performed either upon a march or stand And to that end suppose your Muskettiers to march all in front and reere Neverthelesse because it will not be amisse to shew with what words of command or direction the Muskettiers may be brought thither therefore take notice from what part of the body they are brought And if they be in the midst as in this last figure of Firing in flank then command the halfe-files of the Muskettiers to face about which done let the pikes stand and the Muskettiers march untill they are cleare both of front and reere of pikes then let them stand and face to their leader which being done your battell will stand in forme of an hollow square In which hollow may be conveyed any carriage or such like But if you will not have your battell hollow then command your pikes to close their divisions and the Muskettiers will be all in front and reere If your Muskettiers be on the flanke and you would bring them into the front and reere then after the same manner let the halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the reere and then both halfe-files of the front reere march untill they are cleare of the Angular pikemen This done let them face in opposition and close their divisions after which having faced all to their 〈◊〉 they will be rightly placed namely the 〈…〉 of Muskettiers before the front oâ— â—ikes and the reere-halfe-files of Muskettiers behinde the reerâ— of pikes Thus will the figure of battell be in fâ—â—me of â—n Hearse and the Muskettiers be ready to give fire to the front and reere either marching or standing But before I begin my divisionall firings I would intreat you not to expect that I should reduce every particular firing so soone as it is performed as I have done by these hitherto shewed but rather let it be sutable to your likings that I reduce firings by firings sometimes giving fire upon a march sometimes upon a stand sometimes to the front and reere sometimes to both flanks I do the rather desire to go on in this way because
of pikes and there place themselues againe even in ranke with the last ranke of pikes This done the rest of the ranks successively give fire and do the like every Ranke taking his place after the ranke which fired last before them the other ranks moving one ranke forwarder The Muskettiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will be reduced to the flanks againe as they were at the first The firing may be continued or the pikes may charge at discretion of the Commander CHAP. XCII A firing tripartite doing execution to the front reere and right flanke FIgures and formes of Battell may bee infinite according to the judgements of the Commanders and the various workings of the divers motions no arte nor science yeelding more content unto the studious practitioners none more honourable and beneficiall for the good of our Countrie none more neglected and lesse countenanced then the Practisers of the Art militarie nor none more screwed up in the places of their abiding then those men this way affected The rich cubb'd gowne men holding it as a maxime that Souldiers though never so poore yet they must be taxed in the parish bookes like Gentlemen Thus much incouragement we have for spending our money and our time for our Countries good and this in good time I hope will be amended but of this no more The next firing being a firing Tripartite doth execution to the front reere and right flanke at one and the same time For the use I shall referre it to the judgement of the Iudicious for the instruction how it is to be made the words of Command and direction shew it which are as followeth Halfe rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For the direction looke backe to the 27. Chapter which treats of this doubling Onely remember to face the divisions that way which you intend they shall give fire For the manner of the firing it is ordinary the foremost Ranke of Muskettiers on each part having fired they wheele off to the right or to the right and left according as directions shall be given placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions the next ranks in the meane time moving forwards into their leaders ground there in like manner firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before the rest of the rankes successively doing the like This firing may be continued aâ— pleasure of the Commander The Pikemen as advantage may be given in the interim either porting charging or sending their fatall showers amongst the thickest of their enemies Lastly for reducement face them all to their front proper then Command halfe rankes that doubled to face to the left and so to march into their places For further directions turne backe to the 27. Chapter which shewes the reducement of the aforegoing Figure c. CHAP. XCIII Of the Sconce Battell THe Sconce Battell is a Figure most properly fit for a whole Regiment at least for a larger pro portion of number then is here exprest it neither being good nor safe to divide a smal Company into so many divisions and Maniples And yet to give satisfaction unto some I have placed it here amongst my Figures yea and shewne the way how to make it with a private Company For the manner or way how to fire upon it may be divers The Muskettiers being so placed that they may give fire to the front and reere to the right and left or to all foure together at the discretion of the Commander If your Muskettiers give fire to the front and reare every ranke making good his leaders ground then the Figure will still continue the same If they give fire without advancing into their leaders ground then the Muskettiers will ranke even againe with their Pikes and the Figure will become an hollow crosse the Muskettiers making the Angles The words of Command and direction which produce the Figure are as followeth Halfe files of Muskettiers face to the Reere That being done Command all the Muskettiers to march to the Angles of their Pikes Next cause The two first and two last rankes of Pikes to stand The rest to face to the right and left and march untill they are cleere of the other pikes then stand Lastly Command The two first and last rankes of Pikes which did not move to double their Files to the right These words of Command and direction being executed perfect the Figure as followeth Many and severall are the firings which with some little alteration may be drawne from this Figure Neverthelesse not to spin out time with discourse the firing now intended to be shewne is to be performed to the front and reere To which purpose the one halfe both of Muskettiers and Pikes are to face about to the right there presenting and giving fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left flank to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The next ranke still moving forwards into their leaders ground the other rankes successively doing the like After this manner the firing may be continued and the Figure still preserved For reducement First face them all after their proper file-leaders Secondly cause the front and reere divisions of Pikes to double their rankes to the left Thirdly command the Pikes of the flankes to face in opposition close their divisions and then to face after their leaders Next coÌ„mand the Muskettiers of the front division to face to the reere Lastly command the Muskettiers both of front and reere to close their divisions And then being faced to their leader they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. XCIIII Of firing by three files at once two of them standing oblique the other direct WHen I began the formes and figures of Battell I noted all fâ—rings to be either oblique or direct and now for satisfaction to the curious I shall insert two or three oblique formes amongst the rest The first whereof shall be a Firing to the Front by drawing forth the outermost file on each flank obliquely or the innermost as shall seeme best to the Commander untill the bringers up of the files stand even with the right and left angle-men over the front of pikes They may also beadâ— a file of Muskettiers crosse the front of pikes when having placed and faced them as they ought for execution they will stand in manner of this following figure The two files of Muskettiers which were led forth having obliquely presented inwards and the file drawn crosse the front of pikes being presented direct Rank-wise upon the first Command they are all to give fire together and then to face after their bringers up who leade their files directly into their places This done they face to their proper front againe the other files in the meane time leading forth after the same manner These having done their execution are to returne into their places being led off by their bringers up as is aforesaid The
to the other and so facing of them outward they will make reasonable good defence on those parts c. Having given fire upon the crosse battell and brought your Muskets to the reere of the Pikes if you would reduce them passe into the midst of Center of the Figure and face all both Muskettiers and Pikemen to you and cause those which were the flankers to close their divisions Next wheele the fronts into the midst of the two other divisions then move to the front proper and face the whole body to you and so you shall have all your Muskettiers in the midst flanked with Pikes If you would reduce them into their right places command the Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the Pikes to face to the right and left inward and so to passe through and interchange ground thus being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. XCVIII Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. THis next Figure shall be of the hollow-fronted Crosse which is a stronger forme than that last shewne and yet thus much let me warne you of that there can be but little expectation of strength to be perceived in Battels formed with so small a number This notwithstanding the ingenious Martialists can easily discerne those things which in warre may prove most usefull for his owne and his Countries benefit although they are here expressed to the publique view in so meane array and in such thinne numbers Wherefore setting aside all Apologies and excuses I will briefly shew the words of Command and direction which will produce the following Figure The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest face to the right and left and march untill they have made the perfect Crosse Lastly cause the Muskettiers to flanke their Pikes according to this following Figure The severall directions for firing upon this Figure may be divers But to avoyd distraction I will shew onely one way and that directed to the front reere and flankes Neverthelesse for varieties sake you may cause them to give fire once over wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions still moving forwards into their leaders ground thereby to preserve the Figure in the same order At the second time of firing cause the Pikes to move softly up even with the front of Muskettiers porting as they advance forwards The Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off are to place themselves in the reere of their divisions of Pikes whom before they flanked every ranke of Muskettiers firing wheeling off and placing themselves as aforesaid Lastly the Pikes having charged and againe readvanced the body will stand in the Figure of a perfect Crosse For the reducement it is the same with the Crosse-Battell delivered in the 97 Chapter Wherefore I shall need to adde no further directions in this place for the said reducement then that the flanke divisions are to be closed and the front and reere divisions to be wheeled that the body may be againe returned into a square with the Muskettiers in the middle All this being here taught I now proceed to shew one firing with the Muskettiers in that order CHAP. XCIX Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes THe square battell flanked with Pikes must needs bee very safe for the Muskettiers as being a very able defence for the flankes against the incursions of the enemies horse The Figure followeth just â—s the Muskettiers are in motion The wayes or manners of giving fire upon this figure are ordinarily three The first firing is with the Aspect being directed to the front the Muskettiers wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you perceive by this figure The second is for the Muskettiers to give fire to the reere upon a march which they may easily do from this figure The third is to give fire to the front and reere upon a stand the halfe-files being faced about If the firing be performed to the front then every ranke is to march up into their leaders ground If the firing be to the Reere upon a march then the ranks contrariwise close backwards towards the Reere to make good the Battell on that part If it be to the front and reere upon a stand then the Muskettiers march up into their leaders ground and those which have fired and are wheeled off place themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions To write further of this firing were more then necessarie no one of these firings any wayes altering the figure but the Aspect onely Neverthelesse if the Commander please he may after the firing in front wheele both flanks into the front and so charge pikes and from thence proceed to other firings If the firing were in the reere he may wheele the flanks into the Reere and cause his pikes to charge that way If the firing were to the front and reere he may wheele both flanks into the front and reere and so charge with his pikes both wayes Which by Captaine Bingham is called Amphistomus Before I come to reducement I shall proceed to the next firing in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. C. Of the Plinthium or foure-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes THe Foure-fronted Battell is a figure both steady and serviceable being usefull as well for a march thereby securing the carriage and all other such like necessaries as for fight For if it should so happen as it often doth that you should be charged in front reere and flanks all at one and the same time then are there both Muskets and Pikes so placed that each Armes is assisting to the other For seeing that neither Muskettiers nor Pikemen alone can be singly sufficient of themselues to withstand the able and resolute horseman without great advantage of ground on the contrary the Muskettiers and Pikes being conjoyned into one body and being well ordered they are not onely able to defen'd themselues against their furie but also to put them to the worser Yet this must not be understood of raw and unskitfull Souldiers whose ignorance is cause of diffidence but of hardy experienced and well exercised men such as know well how to demeane themselues couragiously in time of fight The words of Command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Halfe-files of Pikes face to the Reere and march untill they are cleare of the last ranke of Muskettiers Secondly command Halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the right and left then march betweene the divisions of Pikes Thirdly command Left halfe-ranks of the first division of Muskets face to the Reere and march betweene the Reere divisions of Pikes Lastly Having evened their ranks straitened their files and closed their divisions to an equall distance and being rightly faced the body will stand like the following figure The