hee comes at Massilla where hee left Brutus to subdue them which he did Caesar after a few incounters drives Petreius and Affranius to a composition and having tamed Spaine hee returnes for Italy where leaving all to the charge of Servillius Isauricus his fellow Consull hee prepares to goe into Macedonia against Pompey himselfe When hee came to Brundusium though hee wanted sufficiency of shipping with those hee had hee embarqued seven Legions and though it were in winter yet hee put out to Sea and landed the next day about the hills of Epirus and other dangerous places and forthwith sent his Navie backe to Brundusium for the residue which were left with Antonius which staying somewhat to long impatient of delay in such important affaires he embarqued himselfe at midnight in a Frigot and though the Seas went high yet would hee needes venter over The Master of the vessell perceiving how boysterous the Seas were grew fearefull and would have returned which Caesar perceiving presently starts up saying quid times Caesarem vebis When all his forces were come together hee hasted to Dirrachium with purpose to surprize it thither also come Pompey to defend it their Camps now being somewhat neere many skirmishes happened in one of which the valour of Scena was wondrous in whose shield was found sticking 140 darts Neverthelesse in the meane space some overtures of Peace were made by Caesar but none would bee granted by the Pompeyans For Labyenus cried out Definite ergo de compositione loqui nam nobis nisi Caesaris capite relato pax esse nulla potest Whereupon Caesar provoked his Adversaries to the battell but Pompey knowing Caesars wants and himselfe having the benefit of the Sea to relieve his Army chose rather to draw the Warre out in length and to waste his Adversary without putting his owne estate in hazard But this liked not his Associats the Souldiers blame lying idle the confederates crie out upon delay the great Lords taxe him with ambition so that contrary to his owne opinion hee is in a manner forced to give battell in the Champion field of Philippi After that both the Generalls had put their Armies in Aray Pompey gives these admonitions to his Souldiers that when the right Wing of Caesars battell drew neere they should assaile it on the Flancke so might they chase the disordered Army being oppressed in the reare before themselves came to cast a dart in the face of the enemie neither is this thing very hard to bee done saith hee cum tantum equitatu valeamus Caesar observing the order of his enemies Battels doubted that his right Wing might be oppressed with the multitude of the enemies horse wherefore from his 3. Battell he drew certaine choise companies which he opposed to the enemies horse shewing them what he had appointed them to doe affirming that the victory that day depended upon the valour of these Cohorts The signall of Battell being given in Caesars Armie Crastinus a man of tryed valour one that the yeare before had the leading of the Primipili in the tenth Legion was called forth to begin the fight He forthwith encourageth the appointed bands saying Follow me you that have beene my Maniples performe that duty to your Emperour that you have promised there onely remaines this one Battell which finished both he shall recover his dignity and we our liberty They looking upon Caesar he sayd Facâ—am hodie Imperator ut aut vivo mihi aut mortuo gracias agas after which he marched against his enemies The charge being given all Pompey's horse according to his direction passed from his left wing and and forced Caesars Cavallery to quit the field and then begun the troopes to set upon his battels in the Flancke Which Caesar perceiving he made a signe to those selected Cohorts which for that purpose he had set apart from the other squadrons to charge upon the enemies Cavallery which they performed with such force and fury striking them according to Caesars directions no where but in the face which Pompey's horsemen unable to endure turned head and fled to the Mountaines Which service finished with the like force and fury these Cohorts invaded the reare of Pompey's left Wing also at the same time Caesar commanded his three Battalia's to charge which as yet had not moved so that Pompey's men being now with fresh Companies charged both in the front and reare were not able any longer to sustaine the Battell but all of them turned their backes and fled The victory being gotten in the Field Caesar followed Pompey to the Campe which he easily tooke and then Pompey fled for his life first to Larissa from thence to the shore of the Aegean Sea where finding a Merchants ship he sayled to Mitylene in the Iâ—le of Lesbos where remained his Wife and family from thence he sayled into Egypt where he was murthered by the sword of Septimius his fugitive before the eyes of his Wife and Children This victorie being gotten and Pompey slaine the warre was not presently ended new troubles did arise in Africa thither many principall Romans which had escaped from the battell of Pharsalia resorted to wit Publius Cornelius Scipio Marcus Petreius Afranius Quintus Varus Marcus Portius Cato Labienus and Lucius Cornelius Faustus sonne to Silla the Dictator these had associated to them Juba King of Mauritania and altogether had raised a great Army whereof Scipio was made Generall Cato having refused that honour Caesar hearing of their preparations hastens into Italy and from thence waftes over into Africa lands about Adrumentum and from thence marcheth to the Citie Leptis where he is received and while he lyes thereabout Labienus comes against him with his multitude thinking to distresse Caesars small numbers Caesar perceiving his intents resolves to deale with him rather by cunning than force And first he chargeth his men not to stirre above foure foot from their standards which the horsemen of Labienus perceiving presently compassed them about so that Caesars people were compelled to fight as it were in a circle There Labienus shewes himselfe unto them having uncovered his face saying withall to one whom he saw most forward Why are you so arrogant O you fresh-water souldier I much pity your hard fortune for sure I am Caesar hath brought you into eminent danger To whom the souldier replyed I would thou shouldest know Labienus that I am no freshman but an old souldier of the tenth Legion and forthwith he threw at him his dart saying Decumanum militem qui te petit scito esse Caesar in the meane while seeing himselfe incompassed drawes out his Armie in length and divides the circle in the middle excluding the one part from the other on both sides charging with his horsemen on the inner part of the circle and with his footmen their darts being throwne he puts them to flight Caesar after this Battell perceiving the multitude of his enemies sends
to wheele off and to place themselves in the Reere as the former did The next two Rankes are to beginne to advance forwards when they see the last of the two former Rankes presented and ready to give fire and they also having given fire are to wheele off as the former did and so successively the rest of the Rankes advancing are to imitate the former in all the points The body of Pikes are to march very slowly forwards all the while that the shot are drawne up to give fire before the Front and if the enemies Battallias be not neare the Pikes may march shouldred But when the enemies Battallias be approacht within six or eight score or lesse then the Musquetiers are to give fire even with the Front of the body of Pikes and then the Pikemen are to advance their Pikes and close their Rankes to the distance of three foote and the shot to advance up even with the first Ranke of Pikes and there giving fire they are to wheele off to the right and left as in the former directions Note when the first Ranke hath given fire and wheeled off the next Rankes are to move forwards at three motions into their place and there to give fire after the same manner wheeling away againe and placing themselves according to the former directions every Ranke still making good their Leaders ground by this meanes they may continue giving fire untill the two Battells are ready to joyne at push of Pike at which time the shot are to give fire eyther retiring or else not to advance further then the halfe files of Pikes for there they shall be secure from the enemies Pikes offending them besides they may do as good execution there as being placed even with the front If so be the Drumme beate a retreite then the shot ought neyther to advance nor retreite but every Ranke is to give fire upon the same ground they stand on and then wheele off that the next ranke may doe as much Never the lesse when the forlorne files march forth or that two Rankes march forth ten paces or more before the Front then they are to give fire as upon a retreit unlesse the enemy flee The Skirmish being ended the reducement is easie the Leader of each File being in his place at the head of his File is to draw up the shot even with the Front of Pikes and then they will be as at first CHAP. LXXXIX How a Commander shall exercise his wings of Musquetiers to give fire they being advanc'd a small distance before the Front of the Pikes in manner of a Horne battell and also how to reduce it THis kinde of giving fire the shot being advanc'd before the Front of the Pikes the bringers up of eyther winge of Musquetiers being rankt even with the first ranke of Pikes in the Front is of the same use that the firing by two Rankes ten paces advanst before the Front is of cannot choose but be more serviceable upon some occasions in regard the shot doe their execution more readily without intermission of time or stragling from their bodies besides it is an apt forme for over fronting and they are easily to be wheeled whereby they may charge the enemy in Flanke each of these wings of shot may bee led up by a Serjeant or some other superiour officer unto the place assigned by the Chiefe After the word of command is given for the bringing them into this forme as in the Margent is expressed the manner of giving fire is thus to be performed Pikes stand Musquetiers march untill the bringers up ranke with the Front of Pikes The first Ranke of Musquetiers presents and give fire wheeling off eyther all to the right or to the right and left according as they shall be directed and placing themselves orderly in the Reere of their owne Files The next Ranke after the same manner are to give fire and wheele off placing themselves behinde those which were their Leaders thus is every Ranke successively to doe the like untill they have all given fire If you desire to continue giving fire still in this forme then your shot must moue forwards into the grounde of them that fired before them and the forme will be still the same But if you desire after once or twice firing over to have your shot flanke their Pikes then the Musquetiers must not advance into their leaders ground but contrarily every ranke is to present give fire upon the same ground they stand on falling off into the Reere one after another by which meanes they will be brought even with the Pikes Or if you please the Pikes may advance and march up to make their Front intire with the File Leaders of the shot whereby they will be reduced Pikes stand Musquetiers advance before your Front of Pikes and close your divisions The forme of this next kinde of firing is produced according to the words of Command placed in the Margent the manner of the forme is thus the two winges of shot are advanced before the Front of the body of Pikes and closing their divisions they shelter the Pikes from the fury of the Enemies shot And there may be as great execution performed by this forme of firing as by any of the former in regard it is so sollid and stable In the former firings the Pikes either rank'd even with the wings of shot or else the division betweene the wings of shot being open the Pikes are liable to the danger of the Enemies shot the Pikes are not able of themselves to doe any thing either in the way of offence or defence untill the Enemie be within push of Pike But this kinde of Demie-hearse Battell covers the Front of their Pikes securely with the wings of their owne shot untill the Enemie be come within distance There are two principall wayes of giving fire belonging to this forme namely first the Musquetiers may give fire in the Front and so wheele off by division or if the Commander pleaseth they may wheele all off to the right placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions and Files of shot just before the Front of the Pikes The next Rankes are immediately to move forwards into their Leaders ground and are likewise to give fire and wheele off placing themselves after the maner of the former the rest of the rankes of Musquetiers performing the like untill they have all given fire Thus having fired once or twice over this way you may make use of a second way of firing which shall serve for reducement of the former Wherefore observe that in this second way of firing when the first Rankes have given fire they are to wheele equally off by division each part faling file wise downe close by the flankes of the wings of Musquetiers untill the Leaders of the rankes of shot are come downe as low as the first ranke of Pikes which being performed they are to face outwards and to move so
seeme square viz. as deepe in Flanke as broad in Front so that thereby the enemy might be deluded and therefore sometimes they would order eight horse in Front and but 4. in Flanke which seemed as a square by reason a horse taketh up twice as much space in his length as in breadth whereupon finding the inconveniences of those kinde of squares they bethought them of a more perfect square lesse than which they durst not venture and more they could not for want of horse in regard their pollicie was to discourage the Enemy by making their Troopes shew more than indeede they were wherefore they framed their Troopes of 50. horse and ordered them tenne in Ranke and five in File which forme represents a square in regard the five horse take up as much ground in their length as the tenne doe in breadth and this proportion they held best for had there beene sixe seven or eight horse in a File they could not have done any good in regard of the shortnesse of their squares as Leo after confessed But our manner of charging the Enemy differs from theirs for wee are to give fire upon the Enemy by Rankes and so fall off into the Reare so that all the Rankes shall come up and give fire by degrees upon the Enemy whereas their Troopes gave a firme close charge and wheeled off together this was the use both of their Archers and Spearemen Now our moderne Captaines although they have abandoned the use of their Speares yet they have detained their forme of ordering their Troopes five deepe in file and because each horseman hath two Pistolls therefore they suppose that they may charge and discharge as well as the foote Troopes that are tenne deepe with one Musquet for their armes but let the ablest horseman of them all say what he please he shall finde it another businesse especially if both sides stand to their tackling untill all the Rankes have given fire for the small distance of time and the ordering of their unruly horses will make them fall short of their expectations but indeede our horse Troopes seldome stand so long in competition for the victory but that one side either retreates or doe worse for if they should it should be easily seene that that Troope whose Files were ordered sixe in deepth would soone weare through the adverse part whose extent is but five Wherefore I could wish that all our Troopes might be so ordered in regard it is a number so proper and apt either to be divided or to be doubled or to be drawne into any forme of Embattelling wherefore more than sixe are unprofitable and lesse than sixe are not so serviceable In former ages they were driven to their inconvenience in regard they were scanted of horse and so to make their fronts equall with the Enemies they in pollicie framed their Battalias but of five deepe whereas their Enemies were compounded of many more as 6. 8. or 10. many times but after they had found out their pollicy which was only to make the fronts of their Battells equall with theirs being constrained in regard of their thinnesse to line them with shot and to have stands of Pikes to rescue them to make them abler to resist their enemies streng Phalange they likewise ordered their Troopes after the same manner whereby they delated their Fronts farre witer than before and so over winged them whereby many times they gained victory Our Kingdome blessed be God shall not neede to be driven to that exegint to make such simple shifts In regard we have or may have more than sufficient to oppose the potentest Enemy that shall dare venture or indeede possibly can conveigh so many Troopes over but that we shall be not onely his equall but exceede him wherefore I have framed each Troope of 120. horse and the same to be divided into foure Corporallships viz. thirtie in each each Corporallship to march sixe in brest and sixe in depth and so I leave it to your best considerations CHAP. CXXVI How the Chavalry are to order and demeane themselves in proportionable Battells fit to be joyned with the Infantry with their due order of fighting against the Enemies foote Troopes Likewise how they are to give or receive a charge of the Enemies Cavalry in grose as also in single combats and assaults AS in ordering of the Infantry so in disposing of the Cavalry in Battalia for the well fighting of a pitch'd battell against the Enemy these Circumstances are to be considered First there are to be drawne out of sundry Troopes of Carabines a certaine number of horse which are to be joyned with a proportionable number of foote these are speedily without keeping any order or distances to runne upon the Enemies Ordnance and either to surprise them or to hold those of the Enemie that gaurd them in combustion so that their Ordnance shall be hindred from annoying your Troopes of horse who are farre more subject and liable to receive harme from the Ordnance in regard they are mounted high then the Infantry can possibly be wherefore the Cavallry many times have beene constrained to retire themselves into some place of advantage as a Vally or in the Reare of the foote Troopes to hide and secure themselves from the great shot untill such time as the Armies were drawne neare together so as they could not discharge for indamaging their owne Troopes In the next place there are certaine horse to be commanded out of divers Troopes of Carabines to assist and guard the forlorne Hopes of the Infantry and these are to towle out the Enemy to beginne light skirmishes the better to animate the maine Battell against they shall be ready to charge by seeing their valours and many times they have beene a meanes of disordering the Enemies grand Battalias The maine battell of the Cavalry is divided into there distinct divisions viz. the Vanguard the Battell and the Rearegaurd these three make one intire Front and are to be ordered at three foote distance when they are ready to charge This principle Battell is to stand in an even front with the Infantry viz either upon the right or left wing or upon both when there is no naturall strength as Rivers Quagmires Hedges or the like to secure one of the wings you are to place your Cavalry wide off the Empalement of the Flankes of the Battell of the Infantry a hundred paces at the least for feare of anoying your foote Troopes likewise there must be the space of 25 paces of ground in distance left betweene every company and 50. paces betwixt each Regiment The winges of the horse Battell next adjoyning to the Flankes of the foote are to be of Cuirassiers in regard they are rather to secure the Flanks of the Infantry by sustaining a charge then for to advance forwards to give the Enemie a charge unlesse upon some great occasion the residue of this maine Battell may be compounded Harquebuziers and
Carabines as the Generall shall thinke best There must likewise be two other grand battells ordered the first is to be plac'd a hundred paces before the Front of the maine battell but not so forwards as the forlorne hopes by little more than halfe the distance these are to consist of Harquebuzires and Carabines and are to be ordered in competent Battalias which shall be neither too great nor too small but so as they may charge in sundry bodies the better to releeve one the other betweene each Battallia there must be certaine Files of Musquetiers drawne up in an even Front with them who shall give fire upon the enemies horse to disorder their Rankes as they shall approach to charge your Troopes these shotiupon occasion may retreate and fall in betwixt the distances of the maine Battell which are to advance forward to re scue the former Troopes being over charged The third battell which is called the Battell of Sucker is to be plac'd a good distance behinde the maine Battell and these ought to be all or the greatest part of them Cuirassiers and ordered in great Battalias then the Harquebuziers they are to be marshalled and disposed into divers Compertments or Divisions so that the Battalias of the maine battell may retreate betwixt them or being routed they may shelter themselves behinde them and reunite themselves againe and joyne with them in a desperate charge for this is the last refuge unlesse you draw out certaine Pikes to relieve them and unlesse your strength in horse doe much exceede the Enemies it will be to your disadvantage to strive to charge the Enemies foote Troopes unlesse there should be an unexpected advantage offered untill such time as you have either routed the Enemies horse or put them to flight and then you are to bend your full strength to assault them upon all quarters with your Harquebuziers and Carabines first and then seconded by your Cuirassires who are to presse in amongst the Enemy and breake their rankes but in the meane time they must leave a sleeve of horse upon each flanke of the wings of the foote Troopes to defend them from the Enemies charge who will adventure to doe it when they see them left naked If your Cavalry are by some accident to fight onely against some certaine foote Troopes of the enemies you must make choise of plaine fieldings as a place most advantagious for that purpose Likewise you must use all celerity and diligence to charge them before they can order themselves in Battell and upon these advantages you may venture although they should be farre more potent than your selfe But being drawne into battell expecting your assault and your forces being equall in power then you must command out certaine Troopes of Harquebuziers or Dragoones if you have any and with these you must charge them upon the Front Flankes and Reares these are to be seconded by certaine small Battalias of Cuirassiers who shall take the opportunity to fall upon such disorders as the Harquebuziers have caused If the Enemy have possest themselves in some place of advantage then the Cavalry are not to charge them although your forces were superiour in strength to them If it should so happen that one company of Cuirassirs should be to fight against another if the enemy doth charge you in full carriere your safest way is to devide your Troope by halfe rankes opening a large distance to the right and left hand so as the Enemy may passe through then facing your Troope inwards you are to charge them upon the Flankes you are to performe the like if you have a Battalia made of two Troopes and being charged by the Enemy they are to divide themselves as before but keepe each Troope whole and entire or you may cause three or foure files of each of your wings to advance forward on the sudden and to charge the enemie upon the Flankes and to equall your Enemies Front you may cause the halfe Files of your Body to double your Front to the right and left hand by divisions Note the Harpuebuziers are to give fire by rankes the first ranke having given fire is to wheele off to the left hand unlesse the ground will not permit it but that of necessity you must performe it to the right making ready and falling into the Reare the second ranke is to give fire upon the wheeling away of the first and so the rest successively The advantages which the Cavalry may take against the Enemy when hee shall thinke himselfe secure in his quarters in regard of his Potencie and the undervalluing of his adversaries disability may be very great for many times weake forces have atchieved great victories Wherefore there must first be gained true intelligence how the Enemy hath disposed his Troopes and also certaine knowledge of the situation of the Country Place or Village they are quartered in and how and in what places hee hath plac'd his Guards and set out his Sentinells An Enemies Quarters for the most part are ever strongest and best watch kept upon those passages which leades towards a suspected Enemy In this case you are to make use of the night fetching a compasse about by some by-wayes so that you may charge them in the Reare or Flankes of their Quarters before they be aware of you where you shall be most sure to finde them most negligent in those parts Every Horsman is to take up behinde him a Musquetire whose service will be excellent either to place behinde upon some passage of advantage to rescue your Troopes if they should be put to a retreate or to assist the horse in their discharge against the Enemy in his Quarters as I shall afterwards specifie Now let us presuppose that your Troopes are arrived neere the Enemies quarters every man having the Watch-word given him and also some distinction or marke of white whereby they my be knowne from the Enemy in the darke night and having laid a sufficient guard of Musquetires to make your retreate safe the next thing to be considered of is how you may best hinder the Enemy from uniting their Troopes into a body wherefore some few Musquetires or Firelocks are to be sent some by-way where secretly they must get betwixt the Guard and the Sentinells to cut off their retreate the residue of the Musquetires are to creepe to the Allarme place and there to place themselves neere the passage where the Enemy is to enter with his Troopes and having the advantage of some Hedges Bankes or pales for to hide and secure them from the Horse these shot shall give fire upon the Enemy as they come scattering into the Alarme place In the meane time one of your Troypes of Harquebuziers or Carabines shall advance secretly and without noise towards the Sentinell and suddenly surprise him by the helpe of the shot that lies behinde him then speedily they are to fall upon the guard and surprise them before
Divers Rules and Observations to be used after a Battell is either wonne or lost HAving in the precedent Chapter discourst of such things as are requisite to be done in the time of Skirmish in this Chapter I shal demonstrate what is to be done after a Conquest either gained or lost Wherefore the first thing to bee considered is how a General shal demean himself so that the Forces which are left may not be quite destroyed and so the overthrow to redound to his utter confusion Wherfore a General must order his affaires so that his enemies should not follow his men to overtake them in their flight from the Battell and for this purpose he must use some policy to hinder them as Sertorius practised Metellus having vanquisht his Army and knowing it was to no purpose for him to flie commanded his Officers to retire unto divers places as scatteringly and disperst as possibly they could knowing that the enemy would not make pursuit after such disbanded persons but rather such as went by Troops and having first advertised them where every man should come to his Rendevous and meet again this was the means of saving most of his men but if they should be pursued then every man must cast such treasure as he hath in the way as they flie that the enemy may stay to get it up King Mithridates made use of this policy to escape from Lucullus Likewise Frotho King of the Danes being landed in England deceived the Natives that pursued him they being laded with the Danish goods and jewels and scattered about here and there to gather them up were set upon again by the Danes with some of their forces they had rallyed together and vanquisht the English at their pleasure Many that have been overthrown in Battell by reason of Woods and other secure places have saved themselves and being come together have secretly returned in the night and charged the enemy who hath thought himselfe secure and have taken them so disorderly that they have routed them If the Conquerour have taken many prisoners and the vanquished should rally his forces againe thinking to have an advantage to assault the Conquerour then there is no way but every souldier must kill his prisoner lest they should take an opportunity to resist If a Battell should be fought and neither side be utterly vanquisht but the darknesse of the night cause them to give over the best way for him that hath lost most men in the fight to cause some of his Souldiers to steale away the bodies of their owne slaine men and privately bury them so that the enemy shall conceive that he had the worst of the fight in regard he sees most of his men slaine this will make him loth to encounter againe The victour after he hath discomfited his enemies army and scattered them about ought to send a sufficient number of Horse and Foot to lye upon some passages secretly in the night-time which leads to some Town or Fort of theirs of greatest strength and neerest at hand where they shall bee sure to entrap all such as shall seek by flight to save themselves Likewise when a Generall sees there is no way but to be routed let him send speedily certain Troops of Horse and Foot to the next straight passage which may so provide for themselves that they may defend the passage so as divers of their own souldiers may safely escape for an enemy will not divide his Army to weaken it to follow the chase of the subdued enemy much lesse to seek to gain a passage which is fortified to hinder their escapes for he that with disorder followeth the enemy after he is broken will doe no other than to become of a Conquerour a Loser Many things more you may expect should have been here inserted but I have been plentifull in setting down divers observations most proper to these Discourses in the Office of a Generall and in the Discourse of Marching and Retraiting from an enemy In the next place I shall endeavour to portray to your view sundry forms of Imbattellings which have been and now are in use and some newly invented with a demonstration of the manner of framing them and the true use of them THE MANNER OF FRAMING OF BATTELS SECT XXII CHAP. XI An excellent strong forme of imbattelling an Army consisting of twenty six thousand Foot and foure thousand Horse THE following Figure hath before the Front of the Battell foure Divisions marked A. which are termed Forlorn Hopes viz. one Division before the Front of the right Wing and the other before the Front of the left Wing of the main Battell In each of these Divisions of Forlorn Hopes are foure hundred and fiftie Souldiers Pikes and Musketires There are also two other Divisions of Forlorn Hopes plac'd in the midst before the Front of the main Battell containing likewise four hundred and fifty in each of them these Forlorn Hopes are advanc'd before the main Battell an hundred paces or as much more as the Generall pleaseth These are first to make loose skirmishes with the enemy to draw them within distance of the Ordnance they are gently and orderly to retrait the two Divisions of Forlorn Hopes next each Flank are to fall back and joyn with the same The two Forlorn Hopes in the midst are to fall back into the space in the midst of the main Battell But first the Ordnance after they have performed their duties are to bee drawn back through this broad distance or space and are to be plac'd before the Front of the Battell of succour The Forlorn Hopes are to have certain Troops of Carbines to be flankered twenty two paces or more side-waies from them viz. on either Wing two hundred and fiftie marked B. these are to make light skirmishes with the enemies Horse and likewise to view what advantages may be taken by the ill ordering of the enemies Array Before the Front of the main Battell are planted divers Field-Peeces marked C. there are two others on each side of the Forlorn Hopes marked D. these are to scowre the distances betwixt the Divisions A A. Likewise wide upon each Flank are planted divers Ordnance marked E. these are to have a sufficient Guard both of Horse and Foot and are to command and scowre the Plaines within distance of their Shot These are likewise to be drawn back upon the enemies approaching and to be plac'd at the point of the Flank of each Wing of the main Battell ten or twelve paces wide The main Battell consists often Maniples or Battalia's marked F. viz. five towards the right Flank and five towards the left In the midst is a broad space or distance of ground containing forty two paces for the Artilery to bee drawn to and fro as also for the two middle Divisions of the Forlorne Hopes to retrait through for their safety behind the main Battell Likewise through this distance or space divers loose Shot may sally out and give
Army consisting of twelve thousand Foot and foure thousand Horse the Ordnance being plac'd covertly in the midst and also upon the Wings IN this first figure following you may perceive at the letter A foure hundred Shot upon either Flank before the maine Battell these are to surprise the enemies Ordnance which is to bee supposed are planted upon a Hill further you may observe sixteene Battalia's the Ordnance being planted in the maine Battell betweene the divisions thereof having foure hundred Musketiers ordered before them and by them obscured and as soone as the enemy is approacht within distance those Musketiers are to divide themselves on either hand so that the Shot may have free passage to disorder the enemies Troopes upon which advantage the other Battalia's are to advance forwards and furiously to charge the enemy in his disorders The Horse are oblique-wise plac'd upon either Flanck Note before the Horse gives their charge the Musketiers at A are to sally forth to surprise the Ordnance Likewise the Shot before every Battalia are to make their passage through the Intervalls downe the sides of the Battalia's into the Reare of all and from thence to charge upon the enemies Flanks if occasion offers otherwise aide their owne men in the skirmish all the Shot before the Battali'as are in number twelve hundred If according to the King of Swedes Discipline these Battalia's were ordered but six deepe in file then there would bee sufficient men spare to Impale this Battell whereby it would be of a farre greater strength besides there would be a quantity spare to line the Horse-Troopes which is a thing of great consequence and very prevalent as is formerly shewed and by this following figure you may see CHAP. XVII The sixt way of Imbattelling an Army consisting of twelve thousand Foot and foure thousand Horse with the Ordnance planted on the Hilles before the Battell as also on the Reare and Flankes being fit for all attempts IN this subsequent Battell which we are now to describe you may perceive fifteene Battalions of Foote ordered in Marshall array in the right Wing or Vantguard are three Battalions containing 500 in each of them Flankt with Musketiers before every one of which are also ranged ten files of Musketiers three in the right Angle three in the left and foure in the midst just before them every File containing ten men in depth these Shot are to make their way through the spaces of the Battalions in the Reare of all and so from thence to charge upon the enemies Flanks in the maine Battell are three Battalions containing three thousand men viz. in each a thousand these are Flankt with Musketiers and have also Musketiers before them in the same forme with the rest in the Reare-ward or left Wing of the Battell are likewise three Battalions containing 500. men a piece Imbattelled as the rest with Musketiers before them also behind these Battalia's are foure other Battalia's plac'd and have also in each of them 500. a piece with Musketiers advanc'd before them these are for seconds as you may perceive them Martialled just against the Intervalles or Spaces of their opposite Battallions these Spaces are 200. foote distance in breadth so that the said foure Battalions may passe through them these likewise have Shot before them in the same manner the former had These with the rest may March forth to skirmish with the enemy or stand firme to second them upon their retreat or remaining in the Reare they may sally out and charge the enemy upon the Flanks or if occasion be they may assist the Horse if they be too weake for the enemy The rest of the Battalions are but twelve foote distance one from the other and at three foot order The divisions of Musketiers are allowed six foot that they may the better fall through having given fire In the Reare of all are two Battallions of a thousand in either of them standing just behind the three Battalia's of the maine Battell About a Furlong wide of the Flanck of these are 800. Horse marked B viz. 400. in each placed oblique-wise the better to start forth and inviron the enemy in like manner are the Horse Marshalled in the outmost Flanks of therest but in greater numbers as by this following figure you may see By the Wings of these two Battalia's are two field-Peeces plac'd ready turned and bent to the Rear these are to discharge upon the enemy if he should with Horse or Foot give upon that part if not then may these Peeces with ease bâ—e brought to some other place which may be more apt to annoy the enemy The rest of the Ordnance are planted upon two hills opposite against the enemies Flanks these are to break their order and distresse them and for their better security there are seven hundred Musketires to guard them and if need be there must be a greater Force There should be a slight Trench raised before them or pallizado'd about the better to defend them from the enemies Horse and Foot These forms of imbattelling I found in the Prospective-glasse of Warre and have here inserted them for the benefit of the ingenious Souldier CHAP. XVIII A seventh forme of Imbattelling an Army consisting of fifteen thousand Foot and five thousand Horse impaled with Redouts and a Ditch of combustible stuffe to prevent the Horse from assaulting either the Flanks or Rear THis figure following represents to your view an excellent forme of imbattelling very strong and secure the principall Strength of the Armie are brought to fight at the first encounter Wherefore first observe the main-Battell to consist of five Battalia's in each of them are one thousand six hundred Pikes and Muskets the Muskets are orderly ranged before the Pikes each Battalia hath one hundred and sixty Files and ten deep which amounts unto in all the five Battalia's eight thousand men After the main-Battell is a second Battell plac'd which is termed the Battell of succour and that consists of four lesser Battalia's and hath in each of them seven hundred Pikes and Shot Betwixt the said Battalia's there is a convenient space or distance of ninety six paces for the main Battalia's to retrait into when they shall be overcharged with the enemy The manner of retraiting is thus all the first five Battalia's are evenly and easily to retrait with their face towards the enemy holding them play with their Shot upon the right and left Flank of the second Battell are the two outter most Battalia's of the first Battell to retrait on also the other three Battalia's are to enter into the spaces betwixt the four Battalia's of the second Battell and there to stand even with them in Front whereby there will be nine Battels to re-charge the enemy afresh for these two thousand eight hundred fresh men will bee a great heartning and strengthning of the rest which were wearied and discomfited in the first encounter But if it should so happen that the enemy should over-over-wing
that take their places in the reducements the doubling of Halfe Rankes being thus reduced You are next to reduce the Halfe Files by commanding them to face about to the Left and to March forth into their places Note these kind of divisionall doublings requires open order in Ranke and File And for your Intire doublings there is onely the distance of order in Ranke and File required Halfe-files double your front to the left intire All doublings aer either Intire or divisionall Intire doublings are to bee understood when as Files or halfe-files Rankes or halfe-rankes according as the Command is given doe March forth jointly together without division or dissipation to double the part Commanded Divisionall doublings are such as formerly is shewed viz. when the Files or halfe-files Rankes or halfe-rankes are disranked and divided into more parts or places then one This doubling of halfe-files to the Left intire is thus to be performed first the halfe-files to the Reere face to the Left and March forwards untill they are quite cleare of that part of the body which stands then they face to their Leader and so March up untill they are become even in Ranke with those that stand upon the Right Flanke and then the forme is perfect the word of Command which produceth it is placed in the Margent For the Reducement the halfe-files that doubled having faced about they March straight forth untill they be cleare of the Front halfe-files then they face to the Left and March straight forth untill every man hath his right place and then they are to face right after their Leaders the words of Command and direction for this Reducement is Halfe-files face about to the Right March forth into your places This kind of doubling of halfe-files hath beene held a better doubling then eyther the ordinary doubling of Rankes or the usuall way of doubling by halfe-files or bringers up the reasons are these first it makes no disturbance to the other part of the Battalia but that it may eyther be executed in time of Motion Exercise or Skirmish Secondly it appeares another solid body to the great disheartning of an Enemy Thirdly it is very apt for over Fronting it being a doubling both of number and place Halfe-files double your front inward intire This Motion of doubling the Front inward intire hath beene of great request and is most commonly used by great Bodies as when a Regiment Division or Maniple Moveth forwards betweene two others thereby seconding or releeving them Whereby the Front of all the three Divisions become ranged in an even Line the words of Command direction that produceth this Motion is placed in the Margent The Motion of this doubling is thus to be performed The halfe-files of the Front faceth to the Right and Left and eyther Division Marcheth right forth untill they have left a distance betweene them sufficient to receive the halfe-files of the Reere and then they are to stand and face to their Leader Then the halfe-files March up and even their Front For the Reducement of this figure Let the halfe-files face to the Reere and March untill they are cleare of the Front Halfe-files then stand and face about to their Leader or Commander then the other halfe-files of the Front are to close their Division and they are reduced The Words of Command used for this reducement are Halfe-files face about and march Front halfe-files close your Divisions face all to your Leader Halfe-files double your front by Division This kinde of doubling as before is shewed is of singular good use because it may be performed in time of fight without disturbance to the other part of the Battell The way to performe this motion is as followeth first the halfe-files of the Reere are to face to the right and left and then to march right-forth untill they are cleare of the Reare part of the Front-division then they are to face to their Leader and march untill they become even in ranke with the Front and so stand which perfects this doubling The way to reduce them is as followeth viz. the halfe-files are to face about to the Reere and to march forth-right untill they are cleare of the Front halfe-files and then they are to face to the right and left inwards and so to march and close their Divisions then being faced to their Leader they are reduced The Words of Command for reducement are Halfe-files face about inwards March forth into your places Front halfe-files double your Reare by Division This doubling of the Reare by the Front halfe-files will worke the same effect to the Reare as the last doubling by division did to the Front It may be usefull in the passing of a River when the Enemy chargeth or pursueth in the Reare the Front-division eyther opening and suffering the Reare halfe-files to passe through them they maintaining the skirmish untill the other have attained the further Banke of the River Or else the Front halfe-files being opened to the right and left and faced upon the Enemy march valiantly up and receive the charge whil'st the other provide for themselves for the manner and way of this motion it may be thus performed After the Command is given the Front halfe-files are to face to the right and left and march right forth until they are cleere of the other halfe-files of the Reare then they face to the Reare and march on untill they have attained to be even in rank with them whom they had command to double which perfects the doubling The way to reduce them followeth if you keep your place of the first Front then let your half-files face about and march until they are cleare of the Reare halfe-files which stand then face to the right and left inwards and close their Division and being againe faced to their Leader they are reduced to their first forme The words of Command properly used for this reducement is Front halfe-files face about to the right and left inward March forth into your places Front halfe-files double your Reare to the right intire This doubling of the Reare to the Right intire by the Front halfe-Files is thus to be performed after the Word of Command is given the halfe Files of the Front are to face to the Left and march straight out untill they are cleare of that part of the Body which stands then they are to face againe to the Left which is the Reare and march out-right untill they ranke even with the last Ranke of the Reere-division which gives conclusion to the doubling For reducement thereof your Front halfe-Files face about to the left and march right forth untill they are cleare of the Reere halfe-Files then face them to the Right and let them march into their places then if the Commander goe to his first Front and face them all to him they are reduced as at first To double the Reare to the Left intire may bee done after the same manner
divisionall Countermarches of Files Only observe by the way that as the Front half-Files emptieth the spaces of ground between the Leaders and the halfe-File Leaders placing themselves in the ground before the Front So in the mean time their places are to be replenisht by the Souldiers of the Rear halfe-Files who are to march up and supply their roomes File-Leaders and Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Lacedaemonian Countermarch makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy both to Front and Rear and leaves all the ground whereon they stood transferring them into the ground before the Front and behind the Rear the ground or place of their former standing being vacant The motion is thus to bee performed The Rear halfe-Files are commanded to face to the Rear and then the Front halfe-Files passe through to the right placing themselves before their Leaders the second Rank before the first the third before the second the fourth before the third c. The Rear halfe-Files at the same instant passing through to the Rear placing themselves before their bringers up To reduce this motion into their former stations if you have not closed their distance you may face them about and so let them returne into their places or else by doing the same Countermarch over againe or to the contrary hand or any such like way will reduce them Note if you reduce them by another Countermarch you must first close their divisions File-Leaders face about Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behind your File-Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Macedonian Countermarch doth little differ from the last onely that turned the aspect outwards to the Front and Rear but this Countermarch turnes the aspect inwards toward the midst placing the best souldiers in the midst with a large lane or distance betwixt them through which any great Personage may bee conducted crosse the length of your Battell whereby the bravery of the souldiers may be seene This motion is thus to bee performed The first Rank or File-Leaders face about the last Rank stands the Rear halfe-Files face about and so the Front-division passe forwards and place themselves behind the File-Leaders and the Reare halfe-Files behinde their bringers up Note that when the Rear halfe-Files face about the last Rank which are the bringers up are still to keepe their standing The way to reduce this motion is to bee done either by the same word of Command which produced it or else by any of the precedent divisionall Countermarches Front halfe-Files interchange ground with the Reare passing through to the right This Bastard Countermarch of enterchanging ground is not truely derived from any one particular ground of Countermarch but rather participating of them all and yet in it selfe it differs from them all for whereas the other Countermarches of Files in division did bring their Front and Rear into the midst yet their Front half-Files continued still on the same part and their Rear halfe-Files did not alter into the place of the other But this contrary to any other of the divisionall Countermarches transfers the Front halfe-Files into the ground or place of the Rear halfe-Files and them into the contrary part bringing the File-Leaders and bringers up together into the midst For the performing this motion you must cause the Front halfe-Files to face about passing forwards to the right being led by the bringers up of the Front half-Files between the intervalls towards the Rear The Rear half-Files at the same instant in like manner marching forwards between the intervals on their right hands into the Front untill the Front-division have attained the place of the Rear and they contrariwise the place of the Front For the reducement of this countermarch do as much back again or if you would reduce it some other way you may first make an entire Countermarch of Files and then countermarch Front and Rear into the midst Under two Countermarches it cannot be reduced Countermarch your Flanks into the midst This Chorean Countermarch of the Flanks into the midst by bringing the outermost Files to be the innermost is thus to bee performed You must first command the whole body to face to the right and left hand by division The outermost Files by this facing becomming Ranks every man in the right-hand File being a Leader in his halfe Rank File-wise and so likewise in the left-hand File the same Then you are to countermarch the right Flank to the right and the left Flank to the lelft which you must alwaies observe to doe and your Flanks will meet just in the midst of your Battalia Lastly having faced them to their first Front the Countermarch is ended To reduce them you may either make use of the same Countermarch again or any of these following divisionall Countermarches of Flanks unlesse it bee that of enterchanging of ground Note that upon the Countermarching of Flanks into the midst the right Flank must alwaies observe to turne to the right hand and the left Flank to the left hand for if they should both turn off to the right they will meet wrong or if they turne off both to the left it will be as bad Outmost Files of each Flank face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves before your outside men This Lacedaemonian Countermarch of half Ranks or Flanks makes shew of charging the enemy with both Flanks but leaves a wast distance of ground unoccupied between the two outermost Files or midst of the Battell the way to performe this motion is after this manner First you must cause your right-hand File to face to the right and the left-hand File to the left the rest of the body faceth to the right and left the right Flank passing through to the right and placing themselves before their right-hand men the second File from the right begins the motion on the right Flank the left Flank in right manner passing through to the left and placing themselves before their left-hand men the second File accounting from the left begins the motion on the left Flank but you must note that the Files become Ranks with the facing For reducement if you will first face them to their proper Front you must command the two inmost Files to stand the rest are to passe through to the right and left-hand inwards and take their place or you may make use of a Chorean or a Macedonian Countermarch of Ranks by division and with a facing and closing their divisions they will bee in their first forme The out most File of each Flanke face inwards the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves behinde your outside men This Macedonian Counter-March corespondes with the last onely it differs in turning the Aspct inwards whereas the former directed their Aspects outwards and it is thus performed The
the forlorne hopes in regard they are first to charge the enemy these troopes being thus ordered are to be taught how to advance and retreat performing all actions as ample as if the enemy were encountring with them This kind of exercise will make them ready and orderly in their performances otherwise it may prove dangerous to bring them to the encounter A Generall is to animate his souldiers in time of need to take paines as the valiant Emperour Vespasian who was the first man that carried a Basket of earth to the Fortification that his souldiers might not thinke scorne to imitate him it is the sober obedient minde and the hard painefull body that makes the noble souldier A Generall must take away all hope of refuge from his souldiers in time of Battell as William the Conquerour and Julius Caesar did send away their shipping that there souldiers should hope for nothing but either victory or a grave and in many Battells troopes of horses have been placed in the reare of the Army to put to the sword all such as turne head to looke for refuge It is not sufficient for a Generall to get a victory but also to know how to use it for many times security and negligence after a conquest hath bred utter ruine as appeared by the history of Bayan Chinsan who was Generall to the Tartarian Emperour after he had vanquisht his enemy at Cinguinguy by their carelesnesse disorders and drunkennesse were set upon in the night by the remnant remaining who put them all to the sword It is very dangerous for a Generall to present battell to an enemy in such a difficult place that he is devoyd of all refuge or possibility to escape whereby urgent necessity may make an enemy desperate If a Generall sees his horse-troopes too weak to encounter with the Enemies then he must give order for divers shot to march up in file with the horse then seeing their advantage to breake out from them and gall the enemy these shot would be often exercised with the horse to make them apt to give an assault and also upon occasion to reunite themselves into a body to make a defence If a Generall drawes out any Winges of shot to charge and skirmish with the enemy any farre distance before the body of the Army then they ought to be backed with a guard of Pikes which are to rescue them from the charge of horse as also to aide them if they should joyne pell mell with the enemies forlorne hope but this is to be performed long before the bodyes of either Armyes can meet which kind of skirmishes are for divers good ends as first to discover and winne some ground of advantage or to give the souldiers courage by seeing how those loose bands doe valiantly foyle those of the enemy in which skirmishes some politicke stratageme is to be used to skare and affright the enemy for any unexpected accident will seeme strange to an Army although it be never so small and will be ready to disorder them he that commands these troopes must be very wise and circumspect left hee falles into the enemies stratagems which may discourage the Armie Also a Generall is not to trust to a seeming victory for many times good successe at the first in a battell occasioneth the overthrow of many great actions as we have the example of Theoderick Generall of the Germans his army being very potent had gotten the best of William Earle of Flanders at the first encounter which made the Germans confident and the rather secure in regard their strength exceeded the Flemmings but the Flemmings being rather desperate than resolute and by the valour of the Earle they had so reunited their broken troopes and with a furious charge did so shake and disorder the Germans that many of them were slaine and the rest put to flight If a Generall or some other great Commander or if any part of the Army should be cut off by the enemy it is best to keep it from the knowledge of the rest of the Army lest it dishearten them If an Army bee to march in the darke to avoyd confusion command must bee given that every souldier shall carry the end of his Leaders pike or weapons from making any noise and by that means they shall keep right in their ranks A Generall in time of battell must be very wise and discreet to give order when the skirmishers of the loose-banded Maniples shall make their recreat and to what place also when the Horse shall charge and what part of the enemies divisions they shall assault and to give order what foot-men shall be drawne out to succour them if occasion be also what Battalia's shall advance forwards and when to retreat likewise when the whole body of the Army shall charge and what divisions shall pursue the victory alwayes remembring to keep the maine Battell stedfast and not to move in pursuit after the vanquisht enemy also to have Officers in the time of fight to gather together such stragling souldiers as shall bee disrank't and in disorder and so make a body of them in the reare of the Army There are sundry opinions about the place of a Generall in the time of giving battell but questionlesse the best and securest place is before the battell of succour but at the first he may stand in the front of the maine battell untill such time as the forlorne hopes are beaten in he is to ride upon a small Palfrey having a guard of able gentlemen in like sort attending him the which he may send to and fro upon all occasions to give Officers intelligence of his pleasure If a Generall shall perceive fresh aids are approaching then let him use his best endeavours to give the enemy battell before they arrive and also to draw out a convenient force to meet those aids and give them battell in some place of greatest advantage If a Generals victuals amunition or pay begins to faile then let him endeavour to give his enemy battell if he suspect Supplies but if he knowes his enemy is in want either of victuals amunition c. or that sicknesse mutinies or the like are in his Army so that any hope be that his Army may of it selfe dissolve then a Generall must stand strongly upon his guard and by all meanes avoid joyning battell as was practised by the Prince of Orange about fourteene yeares since when Grave Hendrick Vandenberg marcht over the river Ysell in a great frost by the Towne of Duesburgh into the Vello with ten thousand men where his Excellency and the States of Holland might have given him battell with a great deale of conveniency but he rather suffered him to pillage the Dorpes and burne where he pleased because hee knew hee could not stay long nor march far from the river lest the frost should have broke and he disappointed of his returne If a Generall hath had victory triumphed on his side a little
are best horst or those that are nimblest of foote so that they may the safer retire upon all occasions moreover they must not stay over long behind the Army but so as they may soone recover it for otherwise they will be cut off by the enemy If a retreat be wisely carried the enemy that shall follow may receive more dammage then they that retreat But on the contrary side if you perceive the enemy doth provide to steale from you it is wisedome to anticipate such passages as they must passe thorow sending secretly certaine troopes to fortifie at the entrance of them likewise to barricado up the way with trees and to have your Army alwayes in a readinesse to set out after them following them at the heeles but in this case the Army must keepe a very strict order in their Battallia's and march up close together commanding your horse to charge the enemy in the Reare which will bee a meanes to stay the hindermost part of the Army and then the Vantguard of your enemies Army being come to the passages that are blockt up it will so discourage the enemy that your Army marching up to them in Battell aray they will bee easily overthrowne as there hath beene divers examples to verifie this The lightest Ordnance are the best to pursue the enemy withall for which purpose Grave Maurice the Prince Van Nasaw had fifty or sixty small field peeces cast which hee used to place between his Battallions which were of great service in the time of fight for two or three men could weild one of them as they pleased both in advancing it forwards and drawing backe as occasion served and it were very fit and of excellent use to have such small peeces cast here in England for his Majesties service which may bee imployed many waies I have observed the Hollanders how they made use of these small Ordnances to place them in little vessels which they provided to safeguard their great rivers as the river Issel and the Rhine one of these had thirty or forty souldiers to man her and eight or tenne of these peeces whereby they prevented the enemy from marching over the said rivers likewise they were safeguards to the Army when they were convayed by Boates up those rivers or when they lay intrencht neere any great river they safeguarded the Reare of the qnarters from treachery also they safe conducted such Boates as brought Victuals and Ammunition to the Army If occasion should bee in our land which God forbid it should be they could not doe us lesse service than by experience they have done them besides such small vessels being made for service were of more worth to offend an enemy that should dare saile up in any of our great rivers than the greatest Ship of burden for it were impossible for our great Ships to make a fight in the river Thames but they will be more ready to hurt themselves than the enemy whereas these small vessels will lye under the shot and glide up and downe by the great vessels sides and gall them In the next place it remaines how an Army should March neere an enemies Battery to secure themselves from the shot in this you must observe the situation of their Batteries how they are flancked by which you may come to perceive in what direct liâ—e eâ—ch peece of Ordnance shall make her true shot and so accordingly either to open the files and ranckes for the passage of the shot or else to fetch a circumference in your March so as the shot shall not touch the files but only a ranke but the securest way is to March secretly by the most obscurest places so as the Ordnance may not discover you Lastly for conclusion if the enemy should assault your troopes in in some narrow passages or high wayes you are to demeane your selfe as followeth First you are to fill the passage or high way with your pikes if the breadth of your troopes be not sufficient to performe it then double your rancks whereby the Wings will extend themselves to the filling up of the passage these then charging your enemies hande or foote your Musketiers being in the Reare the Battell being thus ordered let the first ranke of Musketiers which are those next the pikes face to the right hand and march forth file-wise close up by the right flanke of the pikes untill he that is leader of the said file be even with the Front of the Pikes then he is to face to the right hand and lead them quite crosse the Front of the Pikes untill he hath attained the further part of the Front to the left hand which being performed they are to make a stand and couch under the Pikes and give fire upon their knees so as the Pikes may not be hindred to charge then are they to march downe by the left flancke and place themselves in the Reare of the shot and the next files in order are to advance into the Front after the same manner and performe the same service by this meanes continuall fire shall be given upon the enemy whilst this skirmish is in action Let there be drawne out certaine Pikes and Musketiers into the best inclosed fields either on one or both sides of the way where they may secure themselves from the enemies horse and there charge the enemy on the flancks or at least keepe them from charging your owne troopes that are in skirmish to maintaine the passage view the figure following in the next page The figure of the Battell Front Left flancke Right flanke Reare In this figure the Character p shewes how the Pikes are plac't their Fronts being doubled the other represents the Musketiers as you may perceive them marching up the right flancke and so plac't under the Pikes in the Front ready to give fire upon the enemy you may likewise perceive certaine shot drawne out into two closes upon each side of the high way whose duty is to give fire upon the enemies flancks as they are charching the Front of the Battell or if the enemy should draw out any forces to charge your Flancks then these shot having Pikes to joyne with them shall be able to encounter with them and prevent them Thus I hope I have collected sufficient instructions which may give any reasonable man satisfaction concerning the ordering of their March only if you please I will referre you to divers Modernâ— Authors which have write of this subject viz. Ierosme Cattamo pag. 133. Machiavill pag. 67. Bellay pag. 151. Barrit pag. 132. Edmonds pag. 39. Garrits Arte of Warre pag. 245. In the next place we are to discourse of the incamping of an Army and how to order the Guards and the Intrenchments Thus ends the sixteenth Section RVLES TO BE OBSERVED IN QVARTERING OR INCAMPING AN ARMY SECT XVII CHAP. IIII. How a Generall is to quarter his Army with the election of places of greatest security what Redoubts are to be raised
King of Sweden who used to range his Battalia's but six men in depth so that with ten thousand well-exercised men he could extend the Front of his Army as broad as the enemy could with fourteen thousand and make his partie good with them in regard of his sundry Retreats which brings fresh hands to fight and weary out the enemy as also hee would not misse of places of advantage environed with water or marish grounds c. so that his Army should not be assaulted upon all sides Sebastian King of Portugal when he aided Mulehamet in the Wars of Barbary against Abdimelec King of Morocco ranged the Rear of his Battell against the River Maraga which was as a wall to defend them Moreover a Generall must take this for a Rule viz. to enlarge or strengthen the Front of his Battell according to the number of his Souldiers as also according to the force of his enemies Troops if the place where you are to imbattell in be narrow then of necessity you must straighten your Ranks and if the place be wide and open you must bee very carefull not to extend the Front of your Battell too wide except your Army bee of greater potencie than the enemies then by extending out the Wings of your Battell you may gain advantage by over-winging them whereby you may charge them both in Flank and Front at once But hee that shall adventure to charge an Army upon all sides either must have four times more men than the enemy or else he must be sure to perish for want of discretion Also there is great discretion to be used in ordering of Battels that they may not bee plac'd in low grounds neer any hill or high banks or upon the side of a hill because the lower grounds are subject to the enemies Ordnance if the enemy should have this advantage the best way to prevent it is to march out of distance from such places of advantage to cause them to come down to you But some fondly have maintained the lower ground to be of greatest advantage in regard the Muskets will doe more service in shooting upwards than downwards To this I answer it is but a simple opinion for it is double advantage to have the higher ground in regard both Horse and Foot will soon find to their costs that it is a double pains besides they come upon them with a great deal more power down hill than they can up hill and a bullet shot from a side-hill may shoot through two or three Ranks when as that which is shot upwards cannot shoot past through one as for their bullets rowling out they are simple men that charge them the mean time But this by the way Tenthly your Battell must bee so ordered and disposed that the enemy may bee brought into some stratagem or made to disorder his Troops which may be done many waies as by causing your Army orderly to retrait so that the enemy may disorder his Ranks in the pursuit and then to take the occasion to fall on again orderly and rout them The ancient Generals were very politick in this for when they knew that their enemies plac'd their greatest strength in any one Point or Wing of the Army then contrarily they would frame that Point or Wing weakest which was to encounter with them their ablest forces they commanded to stand firme and not seek to repulse the enemy but to resist them and the weakest Battalia's they caused to assault the enemy and then to retrait to their Battalia's behind them by this means they brought the enemy into two great disorders the first was the enemy had his best Souldiers inclosed betwixt their adversaries Battalia's the second was when the enemy thought they had gotten the victory their Bands would disorder themselves by pillaging as the like hapned at the Battell of Dreux in France where the Lord of Guise stood fast with his Battalia all the rest being fled from him but the valiant Switzers who opposed themselves against all the fury of the enemy In the mean time the Prince of Codee's Troops being confident of the victory some of them following the slaughter and others fell to pillaging thus being scattered abroad the Lord Guise finding his opportunity with those men he had hee marched up to them with a bold countenance and overthrew them before they could order themselves in any form to receive their charge Likewise Scipio plac'd his weakest Forces against Asdrubal's best souldiers which hee had plac'd in the midst of the Battell and upon each Flank Scipio had plac'd his ablest men So soon as Asdrubal charged Scipio's Battell they retraited only the two Flanks of his strongest souldiers stood firme Asdrubal's souldiers pursuing the retrait before they were aware were gotten between the two Divisions of the Flanks of Scipio as if they had been in an half-Moon they there being charged upon both sides by them his weakest men being there were soon vanquish'd and the rather because his chiefest Forces being plac'd in the midst of his Battell could not come to fight Eleventhly You must know how and when to make use of such instruments as may hinder the enemies Horse and disorder and annoy his Foot-troops and for this purpose the King of Sweden made use of an instrument which he termed a Swines Spike formerly used by one of our Kings whereby he gained a Conquest in France it was a peece of Ash four foot long at each end a speared pike of yron his Musketires stook this at their girdles and as they advanc'd forwards to give fire upon their enemy every man stook down his instrument aslope into the ground this hindred the Horse from charging them Also many have made use of the Caltrop it being a small peece of round wood with pikes sticking up every way each souldier having one or two of these about him may cast them before the Front and Flanks of the Army these will much annoy the enemies Horse Also your Powder-pots being plac'd in the earth and fire given unto them just as the enemy shall be approaching over them these will infinitely disorder and kill them Moreover it behooves a Generall to be of a very quick apprehension and to forecast with himself what stratagems will best sute with the condition of the enemy and the situation of the place and how and when to put them in execution that they may work their best effect In the framing of your Battell you must bee mindfull to order the Battalia's so as there may be a space left of two paces for the Musketires to march down by the sides of the Pikes after they have given fire upon the enemy for if the distance should bee lesse as divers would have it the motion of the Battalia's would presently close them up Also the distances between the Battels of the forlorn hopes and the front of the main Battel ought to be sixtie paces or according as the place will admit
Likewise the distances between the main Battell and the Battell of succour ought to be fifteen or twenty paces The like distance is to bee observed between the Battell of succour and the Rear-Battell That part of the Battell that cannot be secured by Rivers Moors Woods or the like must be impaled either by Intrenchments well man'd or double or treble Pallizado'd and wel man'd with Pikes and Muskets four Ranks of Pikes and three Ranks of Muskets wil be sufficient to make the impalement one Rank of Musketires may be drawn under the Pikes to give fire upon their knees the other two Ranks standing behind the Pikes may give fire over their heads as they stoop to charge to the Horse These ought not to give fire at random but just when the Troops are come almost within push of Pike and then but every second Musketire is to give fire so that they may without intermission maintain their volley of Shot These new invented Bow-Pikes are the properest to impale the Battel withall and it cannot be amisse to have a Rank or two of them in the Front of the Battalia's where they may do good service There must be a convenient space between the Wings of the Battell and the Impalements if in case the formost Battalia's should retrait into the Battell of succour c. There are divers small field-Peeces which are to bee plac'd before the Divisions of the Front which after once or twice discharging are to be drawn within the Divisions of the main Battell and are to bee plac'd before the Battell of succour so that if the formost Battell is driven to retrait into the spaces of the Battel of succour then are they ready to give fire upon the enemy at his next approaches these field-Peeces being there plac'd may bee drawn upon the Flanks ready to give fire upon the enemy when hee shall charge the Flanks either with Horse or Foot The forlorn Hopes when they are wearied and beaten back by the enemy are to retrait through the spaces left betwixt the Battalions and there they are to order themselves in a redinesse to issue out at the Flanks and assault the enemy when they are at push of Pike upon one of their Flanks There would bee divers appointed with Granado's and fire-Pots to cast them amongst the enemy There may bee divers Morter-Peeces so plac'd that they may shoot Granado's and fire-Balls from the space between the main Battell and the Battell of succour and convey them over the heads of your formost Battell amongst the enemies that are approaching to charge you In regard nothing can hinder the enemies Ordnance from annoying your Battalia's but either they must be out of distance or a strong wall betwixt you it being an evill not to be eschewed you are to make choice of the best and safest means of prevention the first is by ordering of your Files thin the second is to send with all speed a certain convenient number of Shot accompanied with Horse to seize upon the Ordnance with all celerity they are to performe this Service by which the enemy will be hindred from shooting more than once for they being in combustion for the gaining and defending their Ordnance will hinder their execution Those field-Peeces which I have formerly spoken of that they should be placed before the Battalia's may do as good service being plac'd behind those Battalia's if you cause those Troops before them to open a distance for the Shot and speedily to fall into their order againe No Army is to be ordered so that those Battalia's behind or in the Rear of the Battel cānot succour assist those that fight before for then the greatest part of the Army wil be unprofitable and if the enemy be potent it cannot possibly but suffer an overthrow The Front of the Battel ought to be entire only those spaces before spoken of for they are only to withstand the first brunt of the enemies Charge and there ought in this to be more care taken not to be strucken by the enemy than it importeth to strike them The second Battell called the Battell of succour is to receive the Divisions of the formost Battell upon occasion and ought therefore to be ordered with convenient spaces or distances for that purpose and ought alwaies to be of lesse Number than the first Battell for there can be no danger betide them in regard the enemy cannot come to fight with them unlesse the formost Battell be joyned with them and then the enemy will find the middle Battell far stronger than the formost The Battel in the Rear ought to have the widest spaces or distances of all because if the enemy should be too powerfull for the main Battell and the Battell of succour then these distances receive them and then with one power they assail the enemy with all the whole strength of the Army and now they must stand close and strongly to their tackling to gain victory and take this for an observation that souldiers will inlarge their Ranks and Files when fear maketh them think of flight and close then when valour and resolution maketh them stand firm to resist If the enemy forceth the main Battell to retrait into the Battel of succour those that impale the Flanks ought to keep their ground if possibly they may for thereby they shall have advantage to charge the enemy upon the Flanks as they follow the retrait of your main Battel but if they be compell'd to retrait they may doe it safely falling back and doubling their own Ranks from the midst downwards to the Rear and indeed it were very fitting an Army should be exercised in order of Battel to make them perfect And again no Generall ought to use one form of imbattelling alwaies for fear his enemy should prove too subtill for him and foil him in his own play The best way to save an Army from smal-shot that will much annoy you is to come speedily to the encounter The Officers of every Band being drawn into Battalia are to appoint trusty carefull men to fill the souldiers Bandilires and to deliver Bullets and March unto them that there may be no stay nor want nor any Powder miscarry If your Army be compounded of divers Nations so that some of them are not to bee trusted those whose loyalties are not to be trusted must alwaies be plac'd formost next the enemy and the faithfullest ablest men behind them next unto them so that having the enemy before and a strong Battalia behind them they must of necessity fight or perish The Romans used to place their assistants or strangers upon the out-out-Wings of the Battell But if your Army consists of divers Nations that you were confident of their valour and fidelity the best way were to order them all in one Front so that the jealousie of one anothers forwardnesse and valour might breed such an emulation in them that they would doe their best to exceed one
the other in prowesse The King of Sweden made use of this policie many times and it stood him in gread stead the same did Monsieur de Lautrec against the Emperors Army in the Kingdome of Naples his Army consisting of divers Nations as Italians Switzers French-men Gaescoins Almaignes because none of them should be disparaged hee plac'd them all in on Front for he knew of their great emulation that one Nation desired to be thought more valiant than the other Now it remains to speak of the Cavialry how they ought to be plac'd and in this a great care and circumspection is to be had first in ordering them into convenient Battalia's or proportionable Divisions that they bee neither too big nor too small these are to be ranged upon each Wing of the Foot-troops fifty or sixty paces distant from the Flanks of the Army lest by their unrulinesse and disorderly retraiting they presse upon your own Troops and dis-rank them Many times the Horse-troops are divided into six Battalia's viz. three plac'd upon one Wing and three upon the other the formost Battalia's are to consist of as many more as the second and the third is to be least of all As suppose the number of 4000. Horse the two formost Battels upon each Wing are to consist of 1100. the two second Battels of 500. apeece and the two third and last Battels of 400. in each there ought to be a good distance betwixt each of these Battalia's If your Horse-Troops should be too weak for the enemy you must line their Files with Shot and also have in a readinesse certain extraordinary Pikes to assist the Horse and Shot if they should be overcharged The Horse are to shelter themselves in the Rear of the Foot-Battalia's untill such time as the enemies Ordnance are surprized for the Horse are subject to more danger of the enemies Ordnance than the Foot possibly can be in regard they are lower and a â—annon-shot is subject to mount The Harquebuziers and Carbines many times are imployed to assault the enemy not having so much respect in keeping of their Ranks The Curassires are to bee ordered next the Flank of the Battell for the most part and the Harquebuziers and Carbines outmost of all for the Curassiers ought to stirre as little as possibly may be from the Wings of the Foot-Battalia's for most properly they are to resist and seldome to assaile The best and safest way both for Horse and Foot is to keep their ground untill the enemy be drawn very near unto your Battell and then to receive their charge The Cavalry being ordered as before into three severall Battels viz. the main Battel which is to consist of Carbines the Battel of succour is to consist of Harquebuziers and the Rear-Battell of Curassiers and many times the Troops of the Carbines and Harquebuziers are next in the formost Battel are to do the first execution upon the enemies troops the Curassiers are to finish what they have begun to ruine disorder The Battell of succour is to be in distance behind the main Battel forty or fifty paces and is to have spaces as the Foot hath for the Divisions to retrait into the like must the Rear-Battell have and it is to be ordered in distance twice as far behind the Battell of succour as the Battell of succour is from the main Battell viz. 80. or 100. foot or more or lesse according to the situation of the ground If the enemy should charge your Horses in the Rear in the time of the conflict then the Generall must send the Light-armed Horse to resist them and there must bee alwaies in a readinesse certain Maniples both of Pikes and Shot plac'd in the Rear of the Battel to draw out to assist either the Horse or Foot upon all occasions Lastly It remains to speak of the waies and means to encourage the souldiers and to breed Spirit in them making them undervalue their enemies and to charge them with a boldnesse and this is to be done by some pithy Oration and perswasive Speech which ancient Generals have found by experience to bee of great efficacie to induce them to wonderfull performances The Speech may be according as the Generall shall please or as if he should in the head of his Troops pronounce these words Right valiant Captains and fellow-souldiers I have here ordered you in forme of Battell ready to charge our enemies and doe require of you in the Name of the Lord of Hosts two things especially namely the utmost of your Valours and the truth of your Loves in obedience For what man soever doth not use his best indeavours to subdue his enemies is not only a murtherer of himselfe but of his dear friends and by disobedience may bee the means of the Armies overthrow for which there can be no plea before Gods Tribunal but his just sentence of condemnation besides the in supportable shame and intollerable servitude wee bring our selves that shall survive with our dear friends into which though it may seem as a green wound only to smart at first yet at last the reproach and disgrace will gnaw and fret to the bone Wherefore brave Souldiers let your golden Spirits shine and your steely mettalls hew out a Conquest for the glory of our great God and the honour of our gracious King and beloved Countrey God would have the Israelites fight valiantly as well as Moses to hold up his hands and pray or else no Conquest could be expected wherefore let us performe both that the great God of Hosts may bee propitious unto us according as hee hath promised to them that seek him Wherefore let us be confident of Victory and not seek our ruines by unbeliefe Let us call to mind our Ancestors what noble atchievements their magnanimous Spirits by Gods assistance effected whereby our Nation hath been not only the Mirrour but the â—errour to the world How did they in France at the Battell of Poyteirs with an handfull of men confound the mighty Army that would have swallowed them up The like at Agen court c. And how gracious was God to us in 88. to dissipate and destroy our invincible enemie by his prospering our poor endevours Wherfore now let us not despair of his help but with one joynt consent let us furiously assault our proud enemies that wee may enjoy their riches and eternize our memories to Posterity For my own part I am confident that if wee resist but three of their charges that they shall not dare to adventure the fourth but to their utter ruine Wherefore if there be any man timerous or faint-hearted let him depart weth his brand of infamy to be rewarded by his King and Countrey according to his demerits But let all Heroick Spirits ejaculate their petitions to heaven and say with me Let God arise and his enemies shall bee scattered RULES AND OBSERVATIONS TO BE VSED IN TIME OF FIGHT SECT XX. CHAP. IX Divers Observations
which both Generall and Officers must make use of in the time of fight or skirmish HAving collected the best Observations that my poor indevours could attain unto for the fitting of all thing requisite before the time of fight now it remains to discourse of such necessary principles as are convenient to be used in the time of fight so that there may bee nothing omitted which may bee an inducement or furtherance to a victory Wherefore presupposing that the Battell Standards are pitcht and the Army ranged accordingly as before is shewed the first thing that is to be done is to draw out a certain company of Horse and Foot to surprize the enemies Ordnance in which they are not bound to keep any array or order but to run disbanded and fall pell mell upon the enemy whereby his Ordnance will be disabled from shooting above once In the mean time the Forlorn Hopes and such disbanded Shot are to skirmish with the enemy partly to see if they can disorder any of their Divisions or gain some prisoners whereby the Generall may learn how they are imbattelled and what Stratagems they intend to use with the true number both of their Horse and Foot so as he may the better fit himself for them as also by their first onset to breed courage in his own men and to make them disdain their enemy The Forlorn Hope is duly to bee supplyed with men and munition either from the Wings of the main-Battel or else some Maniples appropriated for that purpose according as they prevail against the enemy so they are to be strengthned if the enemy bee too potent for them then they are to retrait behind the main-Battell and when the two Battels joyn these are to sally out and charge the enemies Flanks Some Stratagem or other ought to bee put in practice at the first encounter for a small matter if it comes unexpectedly will discourage an enemy If there be any Ambuscado's secretly laid for to charge the enemies in the Flanks or Rear let them execute their charge when the two Battels joyn in fight whereby they may be disheartned If in case the enemy take the charge and make a retrait those Officers that lead up the Forlorn Hopes to skirmish must not pursue the retrait nor suffer the souldiers to follow the enemy no further since that this skirmishing is to no other end than to breed a certain impression and good opinion in the minds of your own souldiers The absolutest way to disorder the enemies Troops is to charge their Battalia's either with your Horse or Foot both in Flank and Front * and then having certain Troops of Horse ready formed in manner of a wedge-Battell that shall indevour to enter the point of the Battell and so disorder their Ranks The Generall is to cause it to bee given out in the time of fight that hee hath a new supply of men comming unto him and may make a shew of some matters like a truth that may signifie his Succours to be neer at hand This may take effect to discourage them so that with little difficulty they may be vanquish'd Sulpitius put all the servants and labourers belonging to the Army upon beasts unfit for fight causing them to bee ranged in such sort that they seemed afar off to be a great number of Horse-men whom he sent up upon a mountain some what neer unto his enemies Army commanding them to keep themselves close untill the Battell was begun and that then they should shew themselves in many Troops like Horse-men faining to march down to charge the Rear of the enemies Army this put the enemy to flight But if the Countrey be plain so that no Ambush can be laid then there must be Trenches digged and men laid privily in them and covered over with green boughs Also such kind of Ditches may be digged and covered over slightly with boughs and earth laid slightly over and certain firme places bee left betwixt the Trenches with good marks for to find them at which places they may retire that are sent to charge the enemy faining to be afraid in their speedy retrait to cause the enemy to follow them the faster and so to fall into the snare Note that upon the disordering of the enemy the main-Battell is not to follow the pursuit but certain Troops of each Wings both of the Horse and Foot are to pursue the victory If any accident should happen unto the Generall during the Combat which might dismay his souldiers it is a point of great wisdome for to cover it and to make the best of it presently as Hostilius who seeing that his assistants which should have entred Battell with him went their waies without striking stroke hee knowing their departure would have greatly dismaid his souldiers caused it to be given out through all the Army that they went away through his commandement this did not only appease the people but did moreover incourage them that they were victorious Sylla having part of his Troop slain fearing lest his Army should be discouraged hee said he sent them of purpose to be slain in regard they conspired against him In the Battell of Flanders when the enemy had cut off the whole Regiment of Scots that were sent to guard a passage one only man brings the newes of it his Excellency caused him to be slain lest he should have frighted the Army by the report of so sudden an accident A Generals care must ever be to avoid confusion of fight which is to begin before your time which causeth such inconveniences as are cause oftentimes of losse Therefore in the beginning of your fight take great heed you invade not nor fight confusedly wheras every part of the Army hath his ordinary time to fight neither suffer any part of your Army to fight with your enemy in any other fashion than you appointed them At your first onset in charging the enemy the Army must give a mighty terrible shout to dishearten the enemy and then afterwards keep great silence that the sounds of the Drums and Trumpets may be heard and distinguished as also such commands as Officers shall give If your Horse-men be oppressed with your enemies Horse-men send for succour a supply of Musketires who may scattering and out of order as occasion shall serve shoot at the oppressors and upon occasion retire and returne very often to these you may send a guard of Pikes for rescue the better to bring them off safe But if you invade your enemy with Musketires with your guard of Pikes send some Horse so that both may defend them from invasion of the enemies Horse-men Likewise to give the enemie his hands full follow him with a Battalion resolutely to put all or one of his Battalions to rout and having discomfited any one of his Battels send only a small or convenient company to pursue the chase and with the rest invade quickly some part of his Army fighting with any one
of your Battells this must of necessity be done for sundry Victories have been lost upon this occasion that when one Battell hath overthrown his first encountred enemies Battell it hath immediately followed the chase and not holpen his own fellowes in danger Likewise in your first joyning of Battell if your Fore-ward gain the Victory joyne other Battels immediately whilst comfort is on your side and your enemies disheartned This got Bucoy the victory at Prague If your Foot-men be vehemently oppressed with your enemies Foot-men send your Horse-men to invade the Flanks of your enemies and with them some Shot to hold them play but if you can plant a Peece of Ordnance against their Flanks it will gall them shrewdly If your enemies main Battell doe urge very valiantly your Fore-ward and his other Battels be not ready to help or rescue cause both your other Battels one on the one side and the other on the other side freshly to invade your enemies main Battel and herein you shall do wisely imitating our brave English at Poytirs When the Generall perceiveth he hath a greater Army than his enemy minding to compasse him about before he be aware let the Front of the Battell be ranged equall to the Front of the enemies and so soon as the fight is begun let him make the Front by little and little to retire and the Wings to advance a little forwards and then charge the enemy upon the Flanks By this many Armies have been vanquish'd It hath been a thing of great importance whilst the fight continueth to give out the word that the Generall or some chief Commander of the enemies is slain or that one Wing or other of their Army is vanquish'd Also the Chivalry of the enemies is to be feared with some strange fights or by some fire-works by which they may bee made unserviceable Now if the enemy have any Peeces of Ordnance in the Rear of their Army if their Battalia's suddenly divide themselves you are to doe the like for bee sure they intend to discharge upon you If the enemy should endanger the taking of your Baggage by no means suffer any of your Troops either Horse or Foot confusedly to run to relieve the same but advisedly send a sufficient Strength to perform that Service when the enemy shall bee most busie in ransacking the Waggons whereby they may be easily vanquish'd Where the enemy comes most potently and furiously upon any part of your Army be sure there to discharge your Ordnance at the thickest of them and being thereby disperst let your Horse charge them taking the advantage of their disorder If the enemies Horse charge any of your Battalia's in the midst of it bee ready to give way to them by making a passage for them and as they passe through charge them upon either Flank by which means they will have the worst of it Lastly to end with Machiavils Rules of Warre which hee hath set down for Maximes to be observed by all Commanders as followeth 1 The same that helpeth the enemy hurteth thee and the same that helpeth thee hurteth the enemy 2 He that shall be in the War most vigilant to observe the devises of the enemy and shall take most pains to exercise his Army shall incur least perils and may hope most of the victory 3 Never conduct thy men to fight the field if first thou hast not confirm'd their minds and knowst them to be without fear and to be in good order for thou oughtst never to enterprize any thing of danger with thy souldiers but when thou seest they hope to overcome 4 It is better to conquer the enemy with famine than with yron in the victory of which fortune may doe much more than valour 5 No purpose is better than that which is hid from the enemy until thou hast executed it 6 To know in the Warre how to understand occasion and to take it helpeth more than any other thing 7 Nature breedeth very few strong men but industry and exercise maketh many 8 Discipline may doe more in Warre than fury 9 When any depart from the enemies side for to come to serve thee when they be faithfull they shall be unto thee alwaies great gains for that the power of the adversaries are more diminished with the losse of them that run away than of those that are slain although that the name of a Fugitive be to new friends suspected and to old odious 10 Better it is in pitching the field to reserve behind the first Front aid enough than to make the Front bigger to disperse the Souldiers 11 Hee is difficulty overcome which can know his own power and the same of the enemy 12 The valiantnesse of the souldiers availeth more than the multitude 13 Sometimes the situation helpeth more than the valiantnesse 14 New and sudden things make Armies afraid slow and accustomed things bee little regarded of them Therefore make thy Army to practise and to know with small fights a new enemy before thou come to fight the Field with him 15 He that with disorder followeth the enemy after that his Battalia's be broken will do no other than to become of a Conquerour a Loser 16 He that prepareth not necessary victuals to live upon is overcome without yron 17 Hee that trusteth more in Hors-men than in Foot-men or more in Foot-men than in Horse-men must accommodate himself with the situation 18 When thou shalt understand there is a Spie from the enemy come into the Camp cause every man to goe to his lodging 19 Change purpose when thou perceivest that the enemy hath fore-seen it 20 Consult with many of those things which thou oughtest to doe the same that thou wilt after doe conferre with few 21 Souldiers when they abide at home are maintained with fear and punishment after when they are led to the Wars with hope and reward 22 Good Captains come never to fight the Field except necessity constrains them and occasion calls them 23 Cause that the enemy know not how thou wilt order thy Army to fight and in whatsoever manner thou ordainest it make that the first Battell may be received of the second and the second of the third 24 In the fight never make use of the Battell to any other thing than to the same for which thou hast appointed it if thou wilt make no disorder 25 The sudden accidents with difficulty are removed or remedied those that are thought upon with facility 26 Men yron money and bread be the strength of the Warre but of these four the first two bee most necessary because men and yron find money and bread but bread and money find not men and yron 27 The unarmed rich man is a booty to the poor souldier 28 Accustome thy souldiers to despise delicate living and lascivious apparrell Thus much I thought good to collect concerning this subject which I hope will give any discreet Souldier content RULES AND OBSERVATIONS TO BE VSED AFTER FIGHT SECT XXI CHAP. X.
fire upon the enemies Battalia of Pikes Also divers Souldiers with fire-works and Granado's are to goe and come to cast them against the enemies Troops which will be a great annoyance unto them Furthermore under the Front of the Pikes are divers Fire-locks or Musketires to be placed that shall play upon the enemies Pikes when the enemy shall bee approacht within twenty of forty paces of your main Battell viz. five hundred Shot The Ordnance that before were drawn down from before the main Battel unto the Front of the Battell of succour are when the enemy is within twenty paces of your foremost Battels to be levelled right up this broad space or distance and having given fire in a right line upon the enemy those of the Forlorn Hope that retraited into that space being ordered and ranged 37. in Rank and ten deep in File and plac'd behind the Battalia upon the right side marked P. and 38. in Rank plac'd behind the middle Battalia on the left side at Q. viz. three hundred and seventy even behind the Maniple or Battalion of the right side of the said space and three hundred and eighty souldiers behind the Battalia of the left side so soon as the Shot is past the three hundred and seventy souldiers are to face to the left hand and the three hundred and eighty to the right and so advancing forwards into the midst of the space or division to their even distance they are again to face towards the Front of the main Battell and are speedily to march up and joyn with them whereby the whole body will be strong and firm to receive the enemies charge Likewise the severall distances betwixt every Maniple or Battalia of this main Battel is two paces and this is for the Shot after they have given fire to march down into the Rear Behind this main Battel is the Battell of succour consisting of six Divisions or Battalia's marked H. these are ranged in distance from the Rear of the main Battel twenty or thirty paces The space or distance of these Battalia's betwixt Flank and Flank from one to the other is one hundred twenty six paces and these are thus plac'd because if it happens the main Battell to be overcharged the Battalions thereof may retrait between these spaces and so be reinforc'd with fresh men Note each Battalia contains seven hundred men In the rear-Battell are four severall Battalia's twenty or thirty paces distant Behind the Battell of succour marked I. the space or distance of ground between these Maniples or Battalia's are three hundred thirtie six paces the reason is because if the enemy should still over-charge the former principall Battels then they are to make their last retrait betwixt these divisions or spaces viz. whereas before there retraited into the Battell of succour four Maniples or Battalia's and the first Battalia unto the Flank of the right Wing as also the other four Battalia's retraited into the spaces upon the left side of the Battell of succour and the fift Battalia upon the out-side of the Flank of the left Wing of the same so now there must retrait six Battalia's into the spaces between the Battalia's of the rear-Battell and two Battalia's upon the out-side of the Battalia of the right Wing and also the other six Battalia's retraiteth into the spaces upon the left side and two Battalia's upon the outside of the Battalia of the left Wing Likewise the middlemost Battalia is to retrait into the space in the midst so that by this means there shall bee brought two thousand four hundred fresh souldiers more to joyn with the rest to fight By this means the enemy will bee wearied and also over-winged by reason this Battell at the last retraiting is as broad again as it was at first Thus it will come to passe that the enemy shall be charged both in Front and Flank whereby hee shall surely be routed The Flanks of this Battell are to be impaled on either side with four hundred eighty five Pikes two hundred ninety one Musketires because the distance from the Front of the first Battell to the Rear of the last is fifty eight paces that is ninety seven souldiers in a Rank and five deep in File the Musketires are but three deep in File and equall to the Pikes in Rank or Brest they are to stand behind the Pikes the Pikes charging at the Horse the formost Rank is to give fire over the heads of the Pikes as they stoop and then falling back the neâ—t Rank is to give fire in their place These new fashioned Pikes with Bowes annexed to them are the best for Impalement also they may doe much good to bee plac'd in the first and second Ranks of the main-Battell in the Front thereof to gall the enemies Horse This Impalement is to bee set a pretty distance from the Flanks that the Battalia's upon their retrait may have room to fall in betwixt the Flanks and the Impalement The Impalement in the Rear is to be made of the Carts and Carriages or some Intrenchments if occasion bee The Rear of this Battell extends it selfe seven hundred paces wide from the Flank of the right Wing to the left and without Intrenchments or Carriages Carts and Waggons fastned with chaines together it would take up a quarter of the Army to impale it so strongly as the Flanks are Wherefore it were very convenient that the Pioners being they are troubled with nothing but their Spade and Mattock and that but seldome they being most usually carried by Water or by Waggon these Pioners should have Bowes and Arrowes for their Armes which would be but little burthen to them and these would help to defend the Carriages in the Rear with the help of a small quantity of Pikes and Muskets so that if there bee two Pikes and three Musketires to guard the Reare it being 700. paces broad they would amount to 5830. Souldiers so the Flankes and the Reare would take up 7382. Note that when the maine Battell retreats into the Battell of succour the impalements of the Flankes are to stand firme if they can possibly and are to charge the enemy on the Flankes but if the two first Battells retreat into the Reare Battell they must of necessity then fall backe and halfe of them strengthen the Reare because the Front of the Battell then will extend it selfe so wide that the impalements of the Flanks must give way to the Battalia's that shall retreate and so they will be disjoyned from the impalement in the Reare which places bein not fortified by these Souldiers there will be an advantage for the enemy to breake in upon the Reare of the Battell with his Horse The residue of the Horse troopes are to be imbattelled in severall Battalia's downe by the Flankes of the wings of the Army and wide in distance from them sixty paces or more the Carbines or Harquebuziers are to maintaine skirmish with
the enemies Troopes and if it chance they make any breach into any of the Foot-Battalia's by charging them in Front and Flanke then the Curassiers are to second them and to breake into their Ranks We are to have certaine divisions of Pikes upon either Flanke of two hundred and fifty a peece to aide and rescue the Horse upon all occasions these may be plac'd in a square forme before the points of the Wings of the maine Battell as well to secure them from danger of having their Rancks broken as also upon occasion to rescue the Horse marked K. There is also eight hundred Musketiers to joyne with the Harquebuziers these are to stand ready by the Flanks to take the opportunity to fall upon the enemies Ordnance and are either to gaine them or hinder them from discharging these are marked with W. The residue of the Souldiers unplac'd are to guard the Carriages from the enemies assauls which are plac'd upon the Reare of the Army and to agitate such other services as the Generall shall see fit also those loose Shot or part of them with the Pikes of the Forlorne Hope after they are retreated may fall into the Reare and joyne with the 3665. Souldiers to guard the Reare if need be The rest of the Horse are to be ranged upon the Wings of the Army in three severall Battalia's some eighty paces wide of the Flanks for feare they should commit any disorder by their unruly retreatings in the formost Battalia is to be eight hundred Harquebuziers and these must stand fifty or sixty paces before the Front of the Battell but wide as is said before Next to them is another Battell of four hundred and fiftie Carbines standing even with the Front of the main-Battell but wide Next is the third Battell to bee plac'd fiftie or sixty paces behind the former which shall containe three hundred Curassiers these are marked with the letter L as you may see them plac'd upon either side or Wing of the Battell The residue of the Horse are thus to be disposed of first to guard the Ordnance there is one hundred on either Flanke there is two hundred and fifty Horse to Flanke the Forlorne Hopes on either side Lastly there is a hundred Horse to joyne with the Shot that is plac'd on either Wing to intercept the Ordnance from the enemy the figure of this discourse followeth CHAP. XII This second figure shewes a very strong forme of Imbattelling and very apt for the drawing an enemy into a stratageme IN this second figure following you may perceive a very strange forme of Imbattelling very apt for the drawing an enemy into a stratageme whereby of necessity they must be disordered and routed First the Forlorne Hopes consisting of 1500. Pikes and Musketiers in either grand division marked A and are advanc'd 200. paces before the first Battell which is plac'd for their succour these are first to skirmish with the enemy and then orderly to retreat even with the said Battell of succour when the enemies troopes are at push of Pike with them and eagerly pursuing them untill they are come within the distance of the first stratageme then fire is to be given to the traines and upon the disorder they are to advance forwards and furiously to charge the enemy in the Front and the Horse on either Flanke But if the enemies discomfiture be not so great but that they take heart of grace and stand so firmely to their tackling that they are too prevalent for you then the Forlorne Hopes and the Battell of succour are to retreat betweene the divisions of the maine Battell the enemy then pressing forwards within the distance of the second stratageme then fire being given to the traines the whole strength of the Army will be in a readinesse to take the advantage to charge the enemy in his disorders as before is specified and also then the Field-peeces shall have freedome immediately to play upon the enemies Troopes If the maine Battell should retreat except upon a wonderfull occasion of necessity it will be most dangerous for if any of the divisions of the two Wings or of the Body of the Battell be overcharged the divisions of the Reare-Battell are to advance forwards and joyne with the maine Battell and then manfully to encounter with the enemy or otherwise those Battalia's in the Reare are to be disposed of according as the wise Generall shall see occasion either of assistance or to charge the enemy upon any place of advantage But let me request you to observe how either of the Forlorne Hopes consists of a thousand men marked A the first Battell of succour being foure Battallia's marked B have in each of them 600. men The maine Battell marked C consists of eight Battells and each of them containes 1000. men The Reare-Battell consists of seven Battalia's marked D and in every one of them there is 500. men The Flanks are impaled with foure rancks of Pikes and three rancks of Muskets on either side is 490. viz on both sides is 980. 〈◊〉 marked E. The Impalement of the Reare is with the Carriages and there is two rancks of Pikes and two rancks of Muskets to defend them will amount to 4620. men in regard the Reare is 3450. Foot broad or 690. paces with the distances betwixt the Battallia's There is also plac'd on either Wing 550 Pikes and Shot to aide the Horse and to joyne with them upon all occasions if the enemy should be to strong for them so that upon both Wings there are 1100. men There are also 600. Shot which are to joyne with three hundred Carbines these are to surprize the enemines Ordnance as you may see marked at F and G viz. 300. Shot on each Wing with 150. Horse these are to use all celerity and diligence to surprise or at least to hinder the enemy from shooting with his Ordnance against your Troopes There is also 600. men to guard your owne Ordnance least the enemy surprise them and two hundred horse to assist them viz. on either wing are 300. Foot and a hundred Horse as you see marked H. The powder pots that are to be plac'd in the earth are marked I Thus you see a Battell consisting of 22000. Foot and 3000. Horse ordered ready to incounter the enemy the figure of this discourse followeth Note the Horses are ordered as followeth first upon either Wing are a thousand devided into three Battells in the first Battell there is 500. in the second Battell there is 300. and in the last Battell there are 200. upon both the Flanks are 2000. There are 200. Horse to guard the Ordnance viz. on each Flanke 100. There is also 500. Horse to Flanker the Forlorne Hopes viz. 250 in each There is 300. Horse to surprize the enemies Ordnance viz. 150. on either Wing before the Forlorne Hopes thus the 3000. Horse are ordered CHAP. XIIII A very strong forme of Imbattelling ten thousand Foot and two thousand Horse very
your Battell at the first encounter then this second Battell of succour must advance up between the distances in the main Battell whereby the Front of it will be extended so much the wider But by the way you must not make your Front wider than the impalement of the Redouts and the Trenches of fire will permit for those that shall retrait beyond those Redouts and Trenches are but as lost men unlesse if occasion were they should joyn with the Horse-Troops to assist them Note if the main Battell bee advanc'd towards the enemy beyond the limits of the Redouts and if the Wings should stretch out wider than the impalement then if it be driven to retrait those out-parts of the Wings must first fall back and order themselves in the second Battell as they were before or otherwise some of them may be plac'd to secure the Flanks or the Rear or otherwise as the Generall shall think fit In the next place is the Battell in the Rear to be considered which consists only of three Battalia's and in each of them are foure hundred men they have also sufficient large spaces to receive the two former Battels and this is the last hopes the Army can expect Wherefore the Redouts must manfully bestir them to give continuall volleys of shot upon the enemies Flanks which will lie naked unto them The Ordnance after they have done their service must be with-drawn and plac'd before the Battalia's of succour where they may give fire once again upon the enemy after the main Battell shall be retraited into the second Battell and then they are to be with-drawn again into the Rear or else to bee plac'd upon the Flanks between the Redouts In each of the Redouts are two hundred men they are to secure the Flanks and the Rear of the Battell beyond these Redouts you may perceive two Ditches made the earth thrown up in way of a Brest-work towards the Flanks of our own Troops the breadth of them may be five or six foot these are to bee filled with Searwood Straw and other combustible stuffe the outmost next the enemy is first to bee set on fire The next Ditch is to bee made more neer to the Flanks of the Battell by eight or ten paces in all things like the first it is to be ordered this last is to bee fired a good while after the first so that they may indure burning the time of the fight But a principall respect is to be had to the Wind lest it should drive the smoke and fire upon your own Troops in a calme day it can doe no hurt to your selves but is very prevalent against the enemies Horse and will much strengthen the Redouts besides it will bee as a Pound to keep your own men from running away The Horse are ordered in five Battalia's upon either Wing along beyond the fiery Trenches being in each Battell five hundred Horse The first Battell being Harquebuziers are to charge the enemies Horse and the second are to releeve them or rescue them and so are the rest only the last Battell being Curassiers are to charge the enemies Flanks whilst their Horse are in action or if the enemies Horse flie then they are all of them to charge the Foot of the enemy and also to secure their own Foot-Troops from being charged In the Rear of these Horse-Troops are plac'd on either Wing five hundred Pikes and Muskets these are to aid the Horse and to line them with the Shot if need be or to be imployed in charging the enemies Flanks View the following Figure This kind of impaling with Redouts and firie Trenches is to be only practised when the enemy is farre stronger than your selfe so that your men cannot bee spared to impale your Battell neither is there any place of refuge to secure any part of the Battell for if there be then be sure to impale one of your Wings after this manner so that the Wind may convey the smoke sparks into the enemies teeth to their great annoyance CHAP. XIX The eighth form of imbattelling an Army the Flanks being impaled with Horse-Pallizado's and the Rear secured by a River it consists of five thousand Foot and one thousand Horse THis eighth forme of imbattelling is fittest and most proper if the enemy assails in such a place that the distance of ground is scant and the Rear of the Army fortifyed with some Moores Ponds Rivers or the like places of naturall strength The Flanks are Pallizado'd with Horse-Pallizado's or fortified with the Carriages or with some Hedges or Ditches so that a few men may bee able to secure them from the enemies Horse or Foot from taking any advantage You may perceive the Battell-Flags pitcht according as every Battalia is to bee ranged The two Forlorn Hopes are either of them consisting of 250 men and are advanc'd before the main Battell above an hundred paces they are flanked with 100 Horse Likewise the main Battell consists of 2880 Foot videlicet in each Battalia 180 men and sixteen Battalia's The Battell of succour is placed twenty paces behind the main Battell it consists of 1040 men there being eight severall Battalia's and each Battalia contains 130. The space or distance betwixt each of these Battalia's from Flank to Flank is twenty two paces being large enough for two of the Battalia's of the main Battell to retrait into View the Figure There is also allowed for the impalement of the Flanks to guard the Pallizado's 432 men it being 32 paces from the Front to the Rear and two Pikes and two Muskets in depth comes to no lesse to be placed upon both the Flanks There is also allowed 120 Shot to joyn with the Horse to aid them upon all occasions viz. on each Wing 60. To help Gunners and to defend the Ordnance which is placed upon such a place of advantage that the enemy cannot but with difficulty come at them there is 14 men at each Plat-forme or there may as many as you please be taken from the Battell of succour to guard the Ordnance and also a quantity of Horse to aid and assist them The thousand of Horse are thus disposed of first to Flanker the Forlorn Hopes there are 100. Next beyond the impalements upon either Flank are three Battels ranged the first hath 200. the second 150. and the third 100. Before the main Battell there are seven field-Peeces placed which are to scowre the distance betwixt the two Forlorn Hopes after they have wrought their effect they are to be drawn through the divisions of the main Battell and then placed before the Battell of succour and when the main Battell is retraited into the Battell of succour then they are to give fire again and immediately to be drawn in the Rear of all and there to be placed upon some hill so that the Battell stooping they may shoot over their heads to disorder the enemy or else the Battalia's must open suddenly whereby the Ordnance shall have freedome
or Wings and those Troops of the Forlorn Hope that have given fire are to retrait betwixt the Wings of the Battell and the Troops of Horse that are plac'd along by the Wings So maintaining alwaies the Flanks furnished by this means they may maintain skirmish continually with fresh men and the Battell never the lesse impaled But after the enemies Battell begins to approach neer your own forces then the Forlorn Hope must withdraw themselves and the formost Battell must bear the brunt The six field-Peeces placed amongst the Shot after they have done their service are to be drawn back into the space betwixt the two Battalia's or may be drawn into the Wings and there may be guarded with those Troops of Shot where they may performe excellent Service But if the first main Battell should miscarry in the first encounter so that their Battalia's be broken by the enemy yet there are ample spaces betwixt the Battalia's of the second Battell to retrait into and there to make head and freshly to re-charge the enemy again betwixt each Battalia in the Rear there must retrait two Battalia's of the Front and upon each Flank one The Troops of Horse are thus disposed upon each side there are an hundred Horse to guard the Ordnance which with the assistance of the Pikes and Shot they are to secure themselves Now there remains five thousand and eight hundred Horse which are to bee divided into severall Battalia's upon each Wing are to bee placed two thousand and nine hundred and they are again to be divided into three Battalia's at the least View the Figure following being the eleventh Figure CHAP. XXIII The twelfth forme of imbattelling an Armie consisting of 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse partly imitating Monsieur Bellay in his militarie Discipline Pag. 75. THis forme of imbattelling which followeth in this Discourse was chiefly invented to deceive the enemy for whereas it seemeth of narrow Front at the first view yet the formost Battell being retraited within the second Battell and the Impalements upon each Flank with the Forlorn Hopes being doubled one Rank into another makes the Front of a farre larger extent so that the enemy having framed his Battell answerable as he may suppose to encounter with this forme hee shall find it otherwise for this Battell will over-over-Wing his and the Forlorn Hope being strengthned with Shot and fortified with a competencie of Pikes will soon hemm in the enemies Battalia's on the Flanks before they bee aware of it which by the help of those Troops of Curassiers and seconded by the Carbines will endanger to rout them The order observed in Marshalling this Battell is in this manner first there is on each Wing before the Front of the main Battell two Battalia's of Horse each consisting of 252 which makes forty two Files being ranged six deep so that in the four Battels are contained 1008 Horse The next is the main Battell of Foot consisting of five Divisions which hath in each five hundred and ten Pikes and Shot in all the five Battalia's are contained 2550 men The distance betwixt each Battalia or Division is 5 paces in breadth and they have 51 in Rank or Brest and 10 deep in File the breadth of the whole Front from side to side of either impalement the distances being added betwixt each Division is 1560 paces broad Next are three Battalia's plac'd 25 paces behind the first main Battell these have contained in each of them 510 as the former had so that the three Battalia's have 1530 souldiers in them You may delude the enemy in making him beleeve your Forces are more than they are by causing your second Battalia's to open their Files to their open order and then they will seem as many men in the second Battell as is in the first The Rear-Battel is likewise ordered 25 paces behind the second Battell and that consists only of 2 Battalia's and are plac'd upon the Flank as by the Figure you may see having a broad space to receive the two former Battels if they should be constrained to retrait these two last consist of 1020 viz 510 souldiers in each these two Rear-Battels may open their Files to their double distance to make them seem farre more than they are but when they are ready to charge the enemy they must fall into their order of three foot The Impalements of each Flank of the Battell marked with the figures of 1 and 2 consist of 5 in Brest 153 in depth so that each Wing of Impalement hath 665 Pikes Likewise by the outside of the Pikes are the same quantity of Muskets ordered 5 in Brest and 153 in depth which amounts likewise to 665 Shot it is marked with the figure 2. This Division of Shot is to be plac'd 5 paces from the Pikes they must likewise open their Files very wide that they may seem to equall the Front of the Battell these must double one within another as the main Battell shall retrait Next this impalement the Forlorn Hope is plac'd along by the side of it marked with the figures 3 and 4 and these are to consist of Shot and Pikes as the figures 1 2 did and first the Shot hath 8 in Rank and 153 in depth so that each Wing takes up 1224 Shot the Pikes you are to suppose are ranked next the Shot the outside 5 paces from the Shot they are 5 in Front or Brest and 153 in depth which amounts to in each 665 these are to dilate their Files as the former Beyond the Forlorn Hope are plac'd 700 Curassiers ten paces from the former as you may see at the figure 5. These are to order themselves in convenient Troops down by the â—lanks of the former And 5 paces beyond these Curassiers are 300 Carbines which must orderly range themselves in convenient Troops as at the figure 6. In the Rear are foure strong Redouts well Pallizado'd with field-Peeces in them in each severall Redout there are one hundred and fiftie souldiers The Shot belonging to the main Battell are placed before the Pikes to shelter them and to hide the Ordnance amongst them When the enemy are within distance then those Files of Shot which stand before the Ordnance are to divide themselves upon either hand so that the Ordnance may suddenly give a volley upon the enemies Troops and when they have done their best they are to be drawn into the Rear of the Battell View the Figure following CHAP. XXIIII A forme of imbattelling containing 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse with twenty field-Peeces the Pikes girdled with two Ranks of Musketires round about the residue of the Shot are ordered in 188 Maniples IN this forme of imbattelling you may perceive the Pikes to be drawn into twentie four Divisions each Division or Battalia containing three hundred souldiers with convenient distances betwixt them They are first impaled or girdled round under the Pikes with one hundred and eighty Shot which makes two Ranks these are to give fire
upon their knees if the enemies Horse should offer to charge the Battell of Pikes at a convenient distance beyond this girdling all the residue of the Shot are ranged in small Maniples of thirty in each Before the Front of Pikes you see twenty two Maniples of Shot which are to disband themselves and give fire upon the enemy and are to be supplyed from those Maniples plac'd in the Wings These Maniples of Shot are thus ordered for two reasons For in the first place the enemy cannot possibly assault the body of Pikes but these Maniples of Shot are ready to give fire upon them and the Pikes are so sheltered and shadowed from the enemy that they cannot receive any dammage for indeed so long as the Pikes stand firme although the Shot should be routed yet it cannot be said the Field is won for the whole strength of an Army consists in the Pikes Secondly these Maniples may very easily bee drawn on a sudden into greater Divisions and as occasion shall bee offered may bee joyned with the Pikes and the Pikes suddenly drawn into any forme the Generall shall conceive best of they being ordered in apt Divisions with convenient distances betwixt each Battalia for that purpose And if so bee this Battell bee pitcht in such an advantagious ground that the enemies Horse may not have too much freedome to wrong the Shot this forme questionlesse is very prevalent Wherefore these Shot ought to have each man his Swines-Pike at his girdle to stick down against the Horse upon each corner of the Impalement is plac'd a Maniple of fiftie Musketires The Horse upon the out-Wings of the Shot are ranged in three grand Battalia's one a good distance before the other in the formost is three hundred Harquebuziers in the second five hundred Carbines and in the last two hundred Curassiers these upon occasion may march up together and make one intire Front The Ordnance are guarded upon each Wing with three hundred and fiftie Shot and one hundred and fiftie Pikes These Ordnance are plac'd upon places of advantage to scowre the enemy in what manner soever he shall make his approaches It would bee too tedious to discourse of the sundry forms this or any other forme of Battell may be translated into but the ingenious souldier like that famous Generall Pyrrhus must by his ingenuity frame in his imagination all kind of forms which may sute with the place they are to be fought in and may bee most prevalent against the enemy hee hath to deale withall But this you must take for a Maxime as Sr. Francis Bacon well observed in his advancement of Learning that no massie bodie can possibly be moved without a kind of trepidation and it holds good in this for it is very dangerous to move or alter a forme of Battell not only to avoid fear but confusion Yet I confesse divers Generals have done it as Caesar cast his forme of imbattelling into a halfe-Moon but extremity drove him unto it The Figure hereof followeth upon the next Page For otherwise if a Generall orders his men in one kinde of forme to delude his enemy and to cause him to order his Battell thereafter yet he must be sure to Metamorphise it into that forme he intends before the enemy drawes to neere least confusion follow To avoide tediousnesse these formes before demonstrated shall suffice In the next Chapter following I shall further discourse of the nature of small divisions of Shot and of divers circumstances belonging to them and afterwards I shall further discourse of the nature of Battells CHAP. XXV The use of small Maniples of Shot with a generall discourse of the light-armed IN the precedent descriptions of Imbattelling 〈◊〉 may perceive two or three severall formes of Battels where the Sâ—â—â—t are ordered in small Troopes by themselves wherefore although it be not ordinary yet I shall shew the good use of them by paralelling them with the light-armed used in former ages what strange conquests have beene gained by them as Historians have observed wherefore we must first compare the body of an Army to the body of a Man that is compact of severall parts of which some parts are of more use than other some parts being able to performe their function without the help of the other parts and againe some except the other parts helpe can doe nothing to purpose of themselves The armed are the strength of the Battell and are the refuge for the rest in extremity wherefore our Generalls in this latter age joyne the Shot on each Wing of the Pikes for their safety and in this kind they may worke great effects as Elian in his Tacticks learnedly discusses and Xenophon sayes let there be never so many light-armed yet dare they not stand and abide the assault of a few armed in which respect a place fit hath beene sought for their service to secure them from the accesse of the Horse or of the enemy armed wherefore Generalls in former ages plac'd them sometimes behind their Phalange of Pikes or else in the Wings betwixt the Horse and the armed Pikes as these figures by me described shewes or if they skirmished loose before the Front and chanced to be oppressed with the enemy then they were to retreat into the Intervalls and so convayed themselves behind the Phalange in safety and as Leo reports the securing of the light-armed in some place of strength either naturall or artificiall will be most prevalent and advantagious as namely some strong inclosiers being well Hedged and Ditched Rocks or steepie Hills or the banks of Rivers or the like How did the Prince of Wales being to fight with the whole power of France at Poytiers fortifie his light-armed and safeguarded them with Hedges and Ditches and other Strengths so that the French Horse finding no accesse to disorder them were overwhelmed with their stormes of Shot which those Maniples so plac'd showred upon them At the Battel of Agencourt there were two thousand English Shot placed in a Medow fenced with a deep Ditch from whence they so galled the French which occasioned the Victory The residue of the Shot had Stakes armed with yron pikes which preserved them from the fury of the Chivalrie by which means they gained that famous Victory By this you may see that light-armed souldiers although they be divided from the body of Pikes may be very efficacious to gain a Victory Further there is no inticing or training an enemy from his place of advantage but by small Troops of Shot which are to make a bravado to toule them into some place of advantage as Alexander did practise against the Tryballs who had hid themselves in Woods He sent his light-armed from the body of his Pikes and trained out the Barbarians they being shrewdly wounded with their Shot in the Woods threw themselves out to fall upon the Archers Alexander immediatly commands Philotus with the Horse of upper Macedonia to charge the enemies right Wing
upon which part they cast themselves out farthest and Heraclides and Sopolis with the Horse of Baeotia and Amphipolis the left hee having roughly charged them put the Tryballs to flight and vanquish'd them Moreover it is Leo his own advice if the Army hath light-armed men enough namely Shot let them saith he before the Army joyns send their Shot furiously at the enemy but after the fight of the armed is begunne then pay their Flanks with your missive weapons that at once both their Flanks may bee assaulted And indeed in all ages the Shot were the first that did begin the Battell and for the most part the chiefest meanes to gaine victory at last Further the nature of Shot is to wound afar off Wherefore a Generall if hee desires not to come neer to joyn Battell hee may annoy his enemy afar off without endangering his own forces as Livie makes mention of Cn. Manlius Volso he warring against the Gallo-Grecians that fled into the mountains attending the Romans comming and there defending themselves by the advantage of the place he prepared great plenty of Darters Archers and Slingers and leaving his Legionary souldiers behind led his light-armed against the enemy that possessed certain Straights by which his Army must of necessitie passe after a small skirmish the Gallo-Grecians being not sufficiently armed to defend the fury of their Shot the light-armed of the Romans forc'd the Passage and followed them to their Camp the Legionary souldiers being marcht unto them for their aid they wonne the Camp also Of how much more efficacie are our Muskets at this day to performe greater atchievements if they be skilfully marshalled wherefore upon many occasions our Shot may be dis-joyned from the armed Pikes and placed according to the wisedome of the Generall For as formerly I have said so long as the body of Pikes stands in array and remains stedfast in good order no victory can bee gotten against it but if the Pikes should bee dis-banded or dis-joynted from their proper place there is nought else but an overthrow to bee expected Wherefore it cannot chuse but bee very good to place Shot before the Battalia's of Pikes to shelter them as you may see the like in some of those Battels which I have described where the pricks stand for Musketires and certain field-Peeces placed amongst them to annoy the enemy But this is best to be done when the enemy is a good distance from you otherwise it may bee hurtfull for when the enemy is ready to come to handy blowes then the Battalia's of Pikes must stand and endure the showring Shot of the light-armed and the Shot must shelter themselves amongst the Pikes You may further observe the strange Conquests which have been atchieved by certain Maniples of Shot which have been imployed against the body of the Pikes as appeares by the example of the Aegyptians in Crassus his Battell who after the defait of part of his Army yet he would not yeeld to King Cyrus although in all likelyhood he had got the victory wherefore Cyrus was first constrained to charge the Rear of their Battalia's of Pikes with his Horse and being not able to break them he had no way to perfect his Conquest but by drawing his light-armed or Shot to direct their Volleys at them the Aegyptians being wounded and many souldiers lost they were constrained to yeeld themselves to the mercie of the enemy By this you see that Maniples of Shot are very prevalent But it may bee objected that light-armed as the Shot of themselves are not able to repulse the Horse but are subject to their furie unlesse they bee strengthned with Pikes or have some convenient place of retrait for their refuge and safetie as by the example of Crassus in Parthia how the light-armed were beaten in by the Parthian Horse and through their discomfiture the Battalias of Pikes were likewise disheartned And likewise Antonies retrait out of Persia his light-armed were constrained to shrowd themselves from the Persian Horse within the Phalange of the armed This Objection is true and undenyable for the Shot of themselves are too weak for to resist the Horse unlesse the wisdome of the Generall place them in such places of advantage in which they might secure themselves or as in former times they did use to line their Horse-Troops with Shot and then they wrought wonders for it is impossible the enemies Horse being so charged should resist both as an Historian reporteth of Caesar that hee having but a small number of Horse and his Foot-Troops as few was set upon by his enemy who had lined his Horse-Troops with light-armed Numidians when the souldiers of Caesar advanc'd forwards to charge them the enemies Horse gallop'd away and the Foot that lined them stood fast and gave their Volleyes at them untill their Horse with a full Career returned to their rescue this kind of fight did much perplex Caesar and would have confounded him had he not retraited to the next hils from the fury of the enemies Horse Certainly there is no absolute way to secure the body of Pikes but by impaling them with a quantitie of Shot for whereas in former ages they used Lances and then the Pikes could make their parties good with them But in these our dayes Pistols Carbines and Harquebuzes being in use the Horse-Troops may advance up to the Pikes and discharge upon them and so fall off again in safety were it not for the placing of Musketires about them It may bee further objected that the light-armed are not able to grapple with the armed Pikes but that they will soon come within their Shot and so confound them having spent their breath and powder To this I answer There is no fear of any dammage the Pikes can doe to the Shot of themselves without the aid of Horse because the light-armed are nimble and quick and seeking alwaies advantage by changing of ground whereby they cannot possibly bee forced by the armed Foot they being wearied and laden with their heavie Corslets and Pikes neither can they make any great speed to come up to handie-blowes with the Shot but they must run themselves into ruine by disorder Wherefore the Shot need fear nothing but the Horse to trouble them And by the way it is to be supposed the Horse are to bee imployed against their adversaries Troops and shall not be at all turns at freedome to attend the excursions and dis-bandings of the Shot but that the Shot will find time and fitting opportunity to work their effects either against the Foot or Horse of their enemies unlesse their own Troops serve them as Pompies did at the Battell of Pharsalia who fled before they received a charge from Caesars Troops I may well compare a pitcht Battell to a game at Irish each Gamester must have a speciall eye not only of his own but of the adverse Tables how he disposeth his men what hits may be given
and how to bring home your own men in safety and if a fore game cannot possibly be attained then the wise Gamesters seek by policie to disband their men so that they may bee hit which in the winding up many times turns the wheel of Fortune so that hee that had lost in all likelyhood hath now gained an after-game beyond releefe for as in this game there are two principall things which attend the winner viz. Cunning in handling his Dice and Judgment in placing his men so it is in a well fought Battell to atchieve the victory For I must compare Shot to the Dice which by their cunning and quick discharge and the multiplicitie of volleys that one side gives more than the other is for the most part a principall cause of victory Wherefore where most Shot are or may bee brought to fight there is the most likelyhood of successe What wonderfull effects hath Shot wrought by discovering of suspected places and by laying of Ambushcadoes there being two kinds of Ambushments as first those that are cunningly laid to endammage the enemies Battell in time of fight which are to be compounded both of Pikes and Shot and many times Horse are joyned with them These have fallen upon the Flanks or Rear of the enemies Troops and have much dismaid them Or such Ambushes as are laid in Woods Mountains Forrests Rocks Banks of Rivers Caves hollow Pits Hils deep Waies and the like these are usually either Muskets or Fire-locks and are fittest for that service because their quicknesse and expedition giveth them advantage to assail their enemies although the ground be never so unequall And lastly for the stopping guarding or securing any Passage which the enemy may take for his advantage if it bee of any far distance from the Army there are none so fit as the light-armed unlesse you have some Troops of Dragones for they may soon travell a long way riding behind the Horsemen which most usually are sent with them for their succour these may with far more speed and ease be conveyed than the Pikes in regard their Armes are more cumbersome and cannot but make great noise by their clattering whereby the designe may be discovered Wherefore let us conclude that Shot are the principall members as the armes are to the body of an Army if they bee wisely and advantagiously plac'd and made use of And to conclude this Chapter with the advice of Monsieur la Noüe those Battels saith he that dare stand the third charge of the enemy they shall never need to fear the rest for he that first flieth is surest to perish for then every cowardly Curre will run after and worrye a whole flock of Sheep which so long as they face him and keep their standings dares do nought but bark at them And as formerly I have said that at the famous Battell of Dreux a Battalia of valiant Switzers which stood to their tackling after all the rest of their Army was routed taking their opportunitie charged their enemy and gained the victory And thus much concerning this subject of the use and commodity of Maniples of Shot the next Chapter shall more largely treat of all kinds of Battels with such observations as the famous Generals in former ages observed as most advantagious CHAP. XXVI Divers and severall Observations of the ancient Grecians in framing of Battels with severall uses and circumstances belonging to them as also the order and rules by going paces to know any seat or peece of ground how to imbattell either Horse or Foot thereon according to the proportion thereof I Having formerly treated of divers things considerable both before and after Battell and having described both by Word and Figure severall Formes In this Chapter I intend to discourse more fully of the Nature of framing of Battels with severall uses and circumstances belonging unto them And by the way I shall touch such kind of Battels as the Ancients did frame for advantage to oppose one the other And although in this later age experience hath found out stranger weapons than former ages were acquainted with as the Musket and great Ordnance and wee have rejected the ancient Bowes and Bils whose forme to imbattell them was far different from ours yet wee must retain their policie in distinguishing which form of Battell is most prevalent to oppose any kind of Figure that shall be by the enemy marshalled against us Wherefore first take speciall observation that there is no kind of imbattelling but upon some speciall occasion may bee suddenly reduc'd and framed into another forme and so haply from one forme into divers Now the learned Generall is not to seek his principall skill when hee should make use of it and as before I have said if I should discourse of these severall wayes of reducing one forme into another it would deserve a Treatise by it selfe Wherefore let us be content to be as briefe as the subject shall permit in discoursing of the advantages one kind of forme of Imbattelling may have of another Now both reason and experience tels us that if a Battell be so framed that it may over-Front the enemies there is great advantage in it as Aelian in his Tacticks doth plainly shew and this may bee performed two wayes especially as first if the breadth of the formost or main Battell extends its Wings wider than the enemies then it is easie either for the body of the main Battell to retrait orderly and the two Wings to stand firme whereby the enemy may bee intrapt unawares or otherwise the Wings advancing forward and this likewise may be two wayes performed either by having the outmost Maniples of the Wings double the depth in File to the Body which being advanc'd forwards towards the Flanks of the enemy there will bee ten Ranks before the Body which may charge the enemy upon the Flanks or else being of an even depth with the Body the File-leader of the outmost File of each Wing is to advance a distance before the File-leader of the second File and so the second before third and the like of the rest of the Files inwards towards the Body of the Battell which causeth them to stand in apt form to charge the enemies Flanks So that reason shewes the charging an enemy in Front and Flank is ods two to one A second ods the Grecians found out by framing their Battel called Hyperkerasis and this only differs from the former in that they advance forwards only but one Wing which chargeth the enemy upon the Flank and this is thus performed in a double respect either because there is a want of men to extend the Front of the Battell in such breadth as that they may over-Front them on both the Wings or haply the situation will not permit them But this questionlesse is a great advantage and ought not to be neglected if it possibly may be put in execution These two are the only forms for advantage
against a Battel meerly of one Front A third ods the Grecians found out wherefore they invented a Battell accordingly and termed it the Cyrte it being a convex Battell the intent of it was to delude the enemy for it made a semblance of small Forces by reason of the convexitie of the Figure it being a Maxime in Philosophie that all round things seem far lesse than they are in compasse but being extended in length they prove as much more as they seemed to be because the rotunditie of the fore-part obscureth the exteriour from the eye And indeed it is the perfection of skill in a Generall to have so much art in imbattelling that he shall make shew but of few Forces but bring as many more hands to fight A fourth ods the Grecians found out which was a form of imbattelling they termed Epicampios and this was to oppose the former deluding forme it being a figure most apt to oppose the same for as the former was a convex Battell this was a concave and no lesse deception to the eye in regard the circumduction of the Front is like an embowing for this Figure opening it selfe will easily receive the orball form of the other into its concavitie or otherwise dilating it selfe on either Wing the Front of it will equallize the former Battell in all respects And this latter they made use of to entrap the Battell called the Horsemans Rhombe for soon they would wrap them into their voyd space of their Front as they charged them and so galling them upon all sides soon vanquish them A fifth advantage they found out to oppose their enemy that charged them in the Front and Rear at once Wherefore they framed their Battel sixteen deep in File so that the halfe Files to the Rear did but face about and they were ready to entertain the enemy both waies at their first approach and this they termed the Phalange Amphistomus having respect to the two Fronts this kind of forme was principally to entertain the charge of Horse A sixth forme of imbattelling they invented which they termed Antistomus and this did not much differ from the former only this receives the charge upon either Flank and the former upon the Front and Rear A seventh form of imbattelling they invented very advantagious to be opposed against the Horse-Battell called the Wedge and this they termed Diphalange Antistomus The manner of the Battell called the Horsemans Wedge was to charge the Foot in the Front with such furie that they would pierce and enter the most strong resistance for the prevention thereof they plac'd the ablest men in their middlemost Files so that when the Horse charged them each Flank divided it selfe by the middlemost File faceing each towards other and so made a lane for those Horses to passe betwixt them without any dammage to themselves yet they galled the Horse on both sides in their violent passage the Foot standing on either side like two walls faceing inwards gave them a fruitlesse passage for otherwise a square Battell of Pikes were not able to resist the furie of this wedge-Battell The eighth forme of imbattelling which they invented was of great advantage to be opposed against the square Battell and this they termed Diaphalange peristomus the manner of it was thus The two Wings opened themselves like a paire of Compasses or otherwise dividing themselves into such a sufficient distance as they might intrap and inclose the square Battell betwixt them The square forme of Battell fearing to be inclosed betwixt them transforme themselves into two marching Phalanges and being thus divided they direct one against the right the other against the left Wing of the enemy Likewise if they did expect a charge upon both their Flanks then they wisely provided for it for they divided their Troops into two Phalanges one sequenting the other the first had all the Leaders in a right-hand deduction and the following Phalange in a left-hand deduction one having their Commanders in the right Flank and the other in the left Flank this forme of imbattelling they termed Heterostomos that is when the Phalange proceedeth in a Wing not by File but by Rank These kind of Phalanges may march in a double treble or quadruple side according to the place and part suspected where the enemy should fall on These deductions or Paragogies if they begin the fight in Flank doe make their Front or length double to their depth this last they invented to teach their souldiers to receive heedfully the charge on all parts and it was used most upon a March for accordingly they demeaned themselves as they understood the enemies manner of approaching for if the enemy marched his Army in a right deduction viz. when the March extendeth it selfe out into a Wing having the depth much exceeding the length Then they invented another forme of Battell which was advantagious to bee opposed against the former and they termed it Coelembolos or hollow wedge-Battell and their framing of it was after this manner viz. when the Antistomos Diphalange or double Phalange dis-joyneth and divideth the Wings in the Front the Rear being still closed in manner of the letter V the advantage is this when the enemy approacheth with his right induction and chargeth at the midst of the aforesaid Battell it suddenly opens its Front in the midst as before is demonstrated and frustrates the charge of the enemies Front clasping them in and circumventing the flanks of the enemies right induction Then to prevent this great advantage they devised another form of Imbattelling which should over-march this and they termed it a Triphalange or treble Phalange The manner of framing it was thus they divided their forces into three Phalanges two of them marching up in an even Front But having both in their Front and Rear as large a division betwixt them as the Front of the Battell Coelembolos or hollow wedge-Battell these two Phalanges charge the two Wings of the Coelembolos and the third Phalange standeth with its Front even at the Rear of the two former Phalanges ready to advance up in the space betwixt them this last waiteth onely for a time of advantage to give an onset and they termed it the forbearing Phalange this questionlesse hath much advantage of the former Lastly they invented a forme of imbattelling called Phalagiophalange which they made use of to oppose the Horse-Battell termed Hetromekes or the Herse of Horse this Herse-Battell had the depth double to the length or breadth and was profitable in many respects for seeming to carry so few in so small a breadth it deceiveth the enemy and it did easily break the force of the Foot with the thicknesse and strength of the imbattelling and it might be led through straight passages without perceiving The Foot-Battell before named which was to encounter with this Horse-Battell did extend its Front very wide and was very slender in
for more ayde of men and victuals into Sicily which were sent him but divers of his Ships miscarried and fell into the enemies hands in one of which was a Centurion with some old soldiers and some newly taken up all of them were brought before the Generall Scipio and to them thus he addressed his speech I know and am assured Soldiers that it is not of your owne accord that thus wickedly you pursue and prosecute good men your fellow-Citizens but rather that you are forced thereunto by the command of that wicked Emperour of yours since therefore fortune hath brought you within our power if you will as your duty bindes you with other good men labour to defend the Common-weale you know that we will not onely spare your lives but also take you into our protection and pay wherefore answer us what you are minded to doe To this the Centurion of the 14. Legion having liberty to speake answers For thy great good will noble Scipio I give thee hearty thanks and happily I should make use of thy proffered curtesie if too great a wickednesse were not coupled therewith wherefore know you that I will never beare armes against Caesar my Emperour from whom I have received my order and for whose dignity and honour I have fought more than 36. yeares moreover I would counsell you noble Scipio to desist from thy enterprise for if hitherto thou hast had no experience of him against whom thou dost contend yet now at last take him into consideration chuse among all thy souldiers one whole Cohort which thou thinkest to be most strong and valiantest and I will take but ten of these my fellow-souldiers which now are within thy power and by our valour you shall understand what trust and confidence thou canst have in thine owne Troopes Scipio was so inraged with this answer that he slew the Centurion and all the old souldiers immediately After this Caesar at Thapsus fought with Scipio and King Juba and overthrew them both in one day at which Battell one strange thing happened the Trumpets sounded a charge through the souldiers forwardnesse without the command of the Generall The overthrow began at Juba whose Elephants not throughly manned to fight being but lately drawne out of the woods at the suddain shrilnesse disranked their friends Army and presently all fled After this overthrow Scipio and Cato slew themselves and Juba and Petreius after they had feasted themselves at a banquet slew one the other this was the direfull end of those brave Romans and of this African warre But out of the embers of this warre sprang another in Spaine more dangerous than the former wherein Cneius and Sextus the two sonnes of great Pompey were the Generals They having gathered great forces amongst their friends in Spaine reduced the greatest part of that Country under their obeysance against them Caesar goes with his choisest Legions Sed nusquam atrocïus nec tam ancipiti marte concursum est Their last and chiefest Battell was at Munda wherein Cneius Pompeius fought with such resolution as that Caesars squadrons began to give ground and were ready to forsake the field what danger Caesar was then in any man may know by his demand Lucius Florus saith he was seene before the Army sadder than he used to be yea it is reported that in that perturbation he consulted what he should doe with himselfe if the worst befell and that his countenance was as one that meant to make his owne hands his owne executioner He was heard say some to have uttered these words to his old souldiers If ye be not ashamed leave me and deliver me into the hands of these boyes In good time did Pompey's Lieutenant send Caesar five Cohorts of horse crosse the Battell to guard that which was in some danger Caesar takes hold of this advantage and makes his souldiers beleeve they fled and chargeth upon them as open flyers and did thereby both put fresh courage into his owne souldiers and also daunt his enemies for Caesars men followed on boldly thinking themselves to have the upper hand and the Pompeyans supposing their fellowes to run away fell themselves to running what slaughter then was made amongst them may be conjectured by this Caesar made a Rampire about Munda by pyling up bodies dragged together from all about and fastened together with speares and javelins Caesar himselfe esteemed so much of this Battell as that he used to say many times In other Battels he fought for victory and honour but at Munda he fought for his life Cncius Pompeius after his defeat fled but was overtaken and slaine but Sextus the younger brother was reserved for another warre Caesar now being victor returned to Rome where he makes himselfe perpetuus Dictator and had titles of honour given him by the State as Imperator and Pater patriae now his accepting of these titles and some other signes of ambition drew upon him both the envie of the people and of some great Lords Hereupon his death was conspired by 70. of the principle men of Rome his friends misdoubting somewhat advised that he should ever have a guard about him but he rejected their counsell saying Mori satius est semel quam timore semper torqueri Neglecting this counsell he was slaine by the Conspirators in the Senate-house and fell at the foot of the Base where Pompey's Image stood Sic ille qui terorem orbem civili sanguine implenerat tandem ipse sanguine suo curiam implevit Caesar being slaine new troubles arise about his death the people which desired it before it was effected yet after hated the doers Anthony and Lepidus instigated them against the melefactors so that for their safeguard they were glad to flye out of the Citie their houses being first burnt with brands which the people raked out of Caesars funerall fire Caesars old souldiers also had a minde to be revenged of these Conspirators had they but had one to lead them on to take it Wherefore after that Octavianus Caesar Anthony and Lepidus were agreed upon the Triumvirate they called these old blades of Caesars together and with them Anthony and Octavianus marched into the East against Brutus and Cassius the chiefe of the Conspirators and fought with them twice in the field of Philippos a Citie in Macedonia In the first Battell the right wing which was led by Anthony overthrew the left wing of the other Armie led by Cassius but the right wing of the other Armie led by Brutus did as much for the left wing of his Armie led by Octavianus Augustus being overthrowne secured himselfe in Anthonies Campe but Cassius contrariwise not knowing how it fared with his companion caused one Pindarus a slave that he had maintained and manumitted to cut off his head Brutus the next day gathered up the scattered troopes but was loth to hazard battell any more for two reasons first because he knew his enemies were pinched with want
of victuals and some other necessaries secondly because he saw the left wing of his Armie which had beene overthrowne under Cassius his conduct to be somewhat fearefull For these reasons he desired to shun the second Battell but his people were too violent and forced him in a manner to fight and were overthrowne for their labour After which overthrow Brutus slew himselfe Now that the murtherers of Caesar were overthrowne and their faction extinguished one should have thought there should now have succeeded a generall peace being there were but three men Augustus Anthony and Lepidus to divide in a manner the third part of the world betweene them But Nulla fides regni sociis omnisque potestas impatibus consortis erat Lucan lib. 1. Augustus and Lepidus fell first at variance about the Isle of Sicily after they had there overthrowne Sextus Pompeius In which debate Lepidus was not onely stripped of Sicily but also of Africa and his Triumvirate yet because he submitted himselfe Caesar spared his life and gave him the dignity of highest Priest Now were there but two to divide the worlds Empire betweene them Anthony in the East and Augustus in the West and these two sought each others ruines that himselfe might rule over all so hatefull is a companion in authority Both of them had their pretences for their quarrell Augustus objected against Anthony that for the love of Cleopatra Queene of Egypt a light woman he had left his owne wife Octavia a vertuous Lady and Augustus sister Anthony objected against Augustus that he had deprived Sextus Pompeius of Sicily and Lepidus of Africa and held them both unjustly without imparting to him any share at all of them and that he had also divided the lands of Italy amongst his owne souldiers and never had any consideration of those that were his Besides Lucius Florus saith that Cleopatra desired of Anthony the Empire of Rome and he as rashly promised it to her as if the Romans had beene more easie to be conquered than the Parthians Both of them in this quarrell resolved to try their fortunes in a Sea-battell leaving their land-forces which they had prepared the one with Taurus the other with Canidius and this was effected by the power Cleopatra had with Anthony contrary to the advice of Canidius his Lieutenant Generall and other of his Councell of Warre Both of them taking the Seas they came to grapple one with the other within the sight of their Land-Armies at Actium a Promontory in Epyre. Anthony's ships by reason of their greatnesse were very slow and unweldie but Caesars were yaire and nimble for all kindes of service whether to charge recharge or levere about so that three or foure of Caesars could at once set upon one of Anthony's and ply them with Darts Prowes and castings of fire on all sides with which they scattered them at pleasure The first that fied was the Queene and herein she was to be pardoned doing â—ut her kinde But oh the mischiefe with her she carried Anthony's heart and courage away who all his life-time had beene a valiant Captaine but now is mollified by a woman She being fled he forgets his Armies both by Sea and Land and makes a maine after her and Caesar as fast after them both but with a conquering minde in Alexandria he besieged them During the siege he corrupted Anthonies Sea-forces so that they came over to his part which Anthony understanding supposed himselfe betrayed by the Queene this suspicion of his puts her into a feare of his furie this feare of hers separateth her from his company and being separate she causeth to bee given out that she had slaine her selfe which Anthony no sooner heard but beleeved oh wicked beliefe in which he slew himselfe and being dead Cleopatra would not live without him but clapping Serpents to her breasts she dyed in a slumber This Warre being thus finished Augustus had none to oppose him wherefore he commanded the Temple of Janus to be shut up which had happened so to be but twice onely since the building of Rome till that very time But this peace lasted not long it was first disturbed by the Celtiberian Warre and next by the Germane where the Romans through the security and neglect of Quintillius Varrus lost three Legions and two Standards with the Imperiall Eagles But oh the cruelty that these Barbarians shewed after their victory especially against men of Law plucking out the eyes of some and lopping off the hands of others one had his mouth stitched up after his tongue was cut out which the Savage grasping in his hand said to it Tandem vipera sibilare desiste These and many more warres since these hath this fourth Monarch of the Romans endured with which it is now so wasted as that the Empire is at this day confined within the limits of Germany as we see which once spread it selfe over the face of the earth But I will say no more I hope by this that is past any one may see that none of the foure great Monarchies of the world how strong and setled soever could perpetuate peace to themselves and therefore much lesse can it be hoped that this little Island of ours or any other Kingdome can preserve it selfe for ever from the danger of Warre Wherefore I will now proceed to the second part of the Proposition It is good in time of Peace to provide for Warre HOW TO PROVIDE IN PEACE FOR WARRE SECT II. CHAP. VI. It is good in time of Peace to provide for Warre HE that will goe to Sea must before-hand provide himselfe of Bisket and that Kingdome that cannot avoyd Warre must before hand be provided of meanes to withstand it for nothing can be more unseasonable than to be about provision at such time as we should be in action A wise State like Haniball will in prosperitie provide for adversitie as well as in adversitie hope for prosperitie if they doe otherwise peradventure they may have their heads broken before they betake themselves to their bucklers As may appeare by the example of Katherine Queene of Navarre and John of Albert her Husband whose want of timely preparatio gave occasion to Ferdinand the Catholike King not only to invade their Kingdome but also after invasion easily to subdue it Had this Queene and her husband beene in time provided Ferdinand would eyther have desisted from enterprising any thing against them or else he would have capitulated with them concerning a peace in which they might have had the better conditions being provided for warre for the best treating for peace is with the sword in hand Or if he would have beene so hardy as to have given them battell they being provided sure might have expected farre better successe than they found but they were found unfurnished and that was the losse of their Kingdome And the same may be the losse of any other For how hard and
and our Island the Center in one of these 32. points must our Navie await the approaches of the Enemy and he to eschew their opposition and gaine our shore may sayle by 20. other Yea though he sayle upon the same point whereon our Ships doe lye yet may he without discovery escape them by the helpe of a Mist or night Or suppose our shippes discover and fight with them yet we know victory in every fight is doubtfull because no understanding Enemy will put out to Sea but with such a Fleet as he thinkes is proportionable to his adversaries whom he assayleth Therefore you see we must not relye upon our shipping Neyther may we relye too much upon our Block-houses and Forts for the sure keeping out of an Enemy for they are not very many I am sure we have them not upon every Harbour where the Enemy may land and those we have are not very strong not answerable to those Forts beyond the Seas But though they were yet experience teacheth us that upon swift currents they are of little use for in such streames if a Navie have but a merry Winde and Tide a hundred sayle may passe by one of them without having much damage as was seene in the three yeares siege of Ostend where the Arch-duke had planted two Batteries one on the West and the other on the East side of the Haven yet the shippes every day passed too and fro from the Towne and scarse one vessell touched when 70. shot had beene made at a Fleet and in the whole three yeares siege scant 50. Vessels were sunke when thousands passed too and againe every yeare Likewise in Queene Elizabeths time the King of Denmarke threatned to stop our Eastland Fleet at the Sound yet they passed by his Castles having one of the Queenes ships called the Minion to lead them and received no hurt this so provoked the King that he made the best provision he possible could to sinke them at their returne but the Queenes ship led the way backe againe and did not onely passe in safety but beate downe part of the Fort of Elsenore So in the siedge of Antwerp the Duke of Alva so planted his Ordnance that it was thought to be impossible for a Boate to passe them yet the Zealanders having faire Winde and Tide passed by daily without damage Wherefore you see notwithstanding all these colourable objections Land-forces must be provided if we will be in safety Now Land-forces being as is afore-sayd provided Mr. Edmunds in his observations upon Caesars Commentaries would have them thus ordered Those that are appointed for the guard of the Coasts he would haâ—e divided into three divisions viz a Body and two Wings the Body to double the strength of the Wings and to be quartered in this manner the Body to attend the principle place supposed for the Enemies landing the two Wings to lye upon some other Haven where also is danger of landing being about ten miles distant on either hand of the Body If the Enemy shall assaile eyther of the Wings the Body being quartered betweene them both easily moves to eyther of their aydes Or if he assault the Body they from eyther side being alike distant as easily moves to its succour and so doing they may hold an Enemy play till the forces of the Country comes downe But in regard the Land is spacious and wide it were well that souldiers should learne to ride on Horse-backe with their compleat Armes for so might they move further if a suddaine Alarum should â—e given in one day than on foot they can march in two These are of great use in Germany where they want Vessels for the speedy conveying of their men which they call Dragons which both on horse-backe and on foot do very good service and here might they be brought in use as well as there wee being as well furnished with swift high-way Nagges as any Nation in Europe And for further indangering of an Enemy if there were good notice taken throughout all the Coasts of the Land of those Markes which serves for the direction of Shippes to recover their wished Harbour these in time of danger being removed unknowne to the Enemy might bring him in very great hazard of our dangerous Rockes and Sands and in regard our Sea-coasts are so large and our Harbours so many as that in every one of them we cannot have an Army to defend it it were well that in places of advantage such as winding waters be which are commonly slow and where at every turne they cannot have the helpe of the Winde some more Forts were built in such places they would indanger an Enemy if he should dare to approach them how ever they would secure the Coasts from rifling and robbing by Pyrates as often they be in times of Hostility THE MANNER OF FORTIFICATION SECT III. CHAP. XII The Abridgement of Geometrie so farre as belongs to the Art of Fortification BEfore we can enter into this discourse of Fortification we must first take a Survey of the Abridgement of Geometrie so farre as is necessarie to bee used in this Art Wherefore to begin with the first Proposition Proposition 1. To divide a Line equally in the middest as A B you must make two Arches C D placing your compasses at the extreames A and B closing them more than halfe of the Line your Arches being made draw your line of Intersection from C to D and this line shall equally divide in two parts the line A B. Proposition 2. To draw a perpendiculer upon a line viz. a line that falles in such sort upon another that it makes two equall Angles neither inclining to one side nor the other so that it falles plumb as the line A B upon the which you must raise a perpendiculer you must demeane your Compasses as in the first Proposition and the line C D shall be the perpendiculer so that it falles right upon the line A B making two equall Angles Proposition 3. A point given upon a line let fall a perpendiculer as the point given is C upon the line A B you must place your Compasse in the point C and draw the Arch D E then place your Compasse againe in F and make the Arch H and likewise in G making the Arch I lastly draw from the point C which shall answer to the point K. Proposition 4. To draw a perpendiculer at the end of a line viz. at the point A place your Compasses making the Arch C and D then place your Compasses in C making the Arch E and at the point E draw the Arch F G Lastly from the point G make the Arch H then draw the line I A and that shall be the perpendiculer upon the end of the line B A at the point A. Proposition 5. To make a line paralell by another viz. of equidistance so that if they be drawne never so long they shall never touch nor crosse one the other let there be a
together that they may put their Musquets betweene them and shoot continually for all the blowes of the Canons whose shottes are made very uncertaine above all things we must have an eye that the Musquetier discharges not by Vollyes but by degrees so that some may be alwayes giving fire whilest their fellow-Souldiers charge And likewise to take good ayme from betweene the Baskets which ought to be plac'd upon every Worke neere the Enemy after the manner deciphered in this Figure following A B are the Baskets filled with good Earth or Dung to cover the Musquetiers upon the Breach made in the Parapet C they are to put their Muskets betweene each Basket taking their levell to shoot wherefore there ought to be great store of these Baskets and Wheele-barrowes in the Fort to be used upon all occasions If these should be wanting they must have Sackes filled with good earth placeing them accordingly to shoot through The Enemy seeing such prepared resistance within the Fort will begin his Trenches the profoundlier to the end his Souldiers may be preserved for it is the duty of a good Captaine to have a speciall regard to the safety of his Souldiers For that is a practicall policy used alwayes by the Prince of Nassaw whereby they conceived he would not cause his men to run head-long to destruction which made them the more forward in Service and the valianter to execute what they were commanded by him this ought to be a thing remarkable for otherwise a world of Souldiers are lost and the Captaines are discomfited for not gaining an impossible victory The Enemy is to conduct his Trenches to the Counter-skarpe and make them so deepe that the Defendants within the Fort cannot possibly hurt them they being brought alwayes towards the point of the Bulworke as you may perceive by the Trench C C because they should not be so much molested by the Ordnance and the Musquets from the Workes of the Fort and when the Enemy hath gained the Counter-skarpe they shall make their Crosse-workes as you may see by the distance X X where they shall lodge a good number of Canons raising their Batteries or Cavalliaries more spacious although they serve for little or no purpose onely to batter against the Flankes and make them unprofitable during which time you ought to follow the speedy making of your Trenches and bring them to their halfe Moones and then by the assistance of your Pioners they raising a sufficient able high Traverse to shelter them from the force of the Cavalliaries and Bulworkes within the Fort which otherwise would command them and is most easie to be effected especially if the More or Ditch be not spacious and at the same instant your Souldiers are to make their assault be it by Scaling-ladder or otherwise The Generall must cause divers Peeces to be brought which shall be to discharge upon all parts of the Wall to hinder their annoying of the Assaylants who must enter the Breach with a brave resolution The roring of the Canons having so astonish those within the Halfe-Moone and battered their Parapets that they have no time to see if the Battery be finisht or not and they being not provided for the Assault it will wonderfully puzzle them the assault being followed with good order and resolution this being the time and place where men ought to purchase honour and these Assaults will discover which are the valiantest spirits The Officers at the Siedge of Rhineberg shewing their resolutions to their Souldiers threw their Colours into a Halfe-Moone from which they had beene repulsed three or foure times by the Musketiers and Pikes within the said Worke whereupon they ranne furiously to redeeme their honours upon the Pikes and Muskets rather chusing to dye with honour than to lose their Colours with disgrace this On-set did so revive the Souldiers they seeing the Noble resolution of their Leaders at one instant assaulted the Worke and discomfited the Enemy so as they gave way to their magnanimous resolutions Having gained this Halfe-moone Y Y the Defendants for their safety retreate into the Ditch behinde the Parapet of the Worke called the Cunette with short Cudgels and Flayles prepared for that purpose to defend the entring of the Enemy into the Ditch which will be a hard worke for them to enter and obtaine it before they can be in any hopes to winne the Fort by reason they cannot come to batter this worke it being so low in the Ditch with force of Canon Now for to hinder the defence of the Worke within the Ditch called the Cunette the best way is to stop their passages from comming upon it which may be effected if there be two peeces of Ordnance planted within the Ditch by the Halfe-moone M where they must batter downe the Earth right against the Sally-port or place they are to enter unto the Worke to defend it whereby their wayes may be discovered Their sallying out upon this worke being hindered there must be a Gallery ready prepared made upon Barrels or Hogsheads these must flote upon the water and from hence the Flanke that defends that side must be battered with all fury without giving space to the Defendants to get upon their Trenches which they will doe if there be any intermission wherefore immediately they must faâ—l to intrenching and cast the Earth towards the side of the Flankes making the Traverse M during which time the Battery must shoot furiously on all sides then those which are upon the Counter-skarpe must be provided with good store of Granadoes which they must cast over into the workes called the Cunette to the end they may cause them to quit the Worke then the Traverse being made M M they shall have the better freedome to transport a great number of Souldiers over the Mote to make their Assaults and being arrived at the foot of the Bulworke they may presently undermine it if it happens that the Breach bee not sufficient for them to get over Now the Defendants within the Port have for their refuge the Bulworke to re-intrench in as you may perceive at V causing a sufficient Parapet to be made for the coverture of those that defend the re-intrenchment Having alwayes a sufficient company of Souldiers with all kinde of warlike instruments ready and in good order for to releeve them the Enemy being so neere them wrought that they are like to be surprized and beaten backe the best defence they can then have will bee the Granadoes and Artificiall Fire-workes which they must cast over into the Ditch or False-Bray for to annoy them that are undermining the Bulworkes But the Enemy standing upon his honour seeks all wayes to prevent the breakeing of the Granadoes and burning of the Fire-workes by choking them with water or raw Hides so as they fall to the ground so that they worke small effect Likewise the Defendants place great peeces of Timber upon the Walles to role downe upon the
Figures of 4. Forts more proportionable in strength to the first these had a Trench raised which ranne from one to another very strong and solid as before is shewed these Workes differed in forme but were of one and the same demention these were plac'd upon an eminent passage upon a little heath by which the Prince of Orange might possibly have conveyed provision to the waters side by which meanes the Towne might have beene releeved There were two Batteries raised at the entrance of each quarter with halfe Moones before the entrance upon the out side and divers Forts besides according to the different scituation and danger of the place the Figures of these Batteries I have likewise drawne for your better information There were three great Batteries raised in three severall places neare the Towne which battered against the Flankes of the Bulworkes of the Towne and those sides both of the Batteries Forts and Redouts which beheld the Towne were made Canon proofe 25. foot thicke The greatest of these Batteries was 160. foot long and 125. foot broad in the Reare and Flanke of it it had a Wall fifteene foot thicke it was made rising with a Walke and a Parrapet on the inside in the Front it was lined with two exteriour Angles the face of it rising with nine open Windowes for so many Peeces of Artillery to shoot out at each Window being a foot and a halfe wide opening more and more out wards by little and little On the inside a Groundfell was raised like a bed of Turfe and Fagots eight foot high and 35. foot broad covered over with Plankes for the speedy removing and recoyling of the Artillery Behinde this Groundfell was a place of Armes 130. foot long and 50. foot broad the out-side of the Wall under the Canon-windowes were pallizadoed and before the Battery was two halfe Moones guarded with Musquetiers and compassed with a Ditch and Counterskarpe and a Pallizado of Spiles upon the Counterskarp for the safety of the Battery the Ditch was 7. foot deepe and 48. foot broad at the bottome but 38. The two other Batteries were raised indifferent large the manner of framing them was much after the former saving that the least of the two became the largest by the Addition of a Fort the Figures will better informe you in the difference both of length breadth and Angles Spinola raised upon all Passages very strong Forts and upon the Causies where there was no passage on neither side of it he caused very strong Pallizadoes of yong Stadles droven into the earth and framed together 15. foot high Likewise crosse the waters that drowned the Medowes he made a double Pallizado to prevent the Boates from going to the Towne Also he blockt up the Rivers with a strong Bridge and a guard of Musquetiers upon it with sharpe peeces of timber lying pointing out of split their Boates. Also he had Boates lay at Anchor in the River to hinder the passage besides divers Boates bored through at the bottome which were to be sunke upon the sudden and divers other Boates of Combustible stuffe to burne the Enemies Fleet. Also within the River at foure severall places a good distance one from another there were strong Spiles of timber droven downe and coupled together with Crosse-beames in manner of Pallizadoes which made the River unpassable The Townes-men raised five great Horne-workes to secure their owne Counterscarpe and Mote before every Port of the Towne one and the rest in other convenient places the Levell-side of these Horne-workes were 210. foot long and 150. foot broad I have presented to your view the Figure of the largest Horne-worke which was raised before the Castle it is 240. paces long and 200. paces broad it was pallizadoed thicke round about to hinder the Enemies assault beyond this Horne-worke is a Halfe-moone fortified with a Counterscarpe a cubit high and invironed with another Ditch as the Figure thereof will better informe you these Out-workes were flanquered from the Towne walles there was a Trench drawne from one Worke to another to beate off the Enemy from the Counterscarpe The ordinary Carrison of this Towne which consisted but of 15. Bulworkes were 1600. Foot and five troopes of Horse but the brute of this Siege caused them to be re-inforced with 28. Companies more besides there were 1800. able Townes-men which were to manage the Walles The Governour sent away 3. troopes of his Horse because they could affoord them no service in the Siege The Provision layd in against winter for these Souldiers was 8200. measures of Wheate of Oates 2800. 3600. weight of Cheese and as much dryed Haberdine and every Townes-man was besides to furnish himselfe for a yeare And in regard Spinola could not have his Provision for his Army come by Water he was constrained to convey it by Land it being 12. houres march for the same purpose he had all his Provision brought to one of his owne Townes that lay neerest to the Campe named Lyre But the Prince of Orange his Campe lying at Rosâ—ndall they were constrained to march about and to fortifie divers Dorpes in the way for the resting and securing of the Convoyes and Provisions Count Henry Van den Bergh had the greatest part of the Horse and as I take it 4000. foot with him besides there was 1000. Horse more newly raised with these forces he was to conduct the Provision His manner of proceeding was this In the morning before day hee gave Commandement to put in order the disordered multitude of Carriages and Waggons then hee sent some Troopes of Horse before to discover Hee commanded them to March he placed Artillery both in the Van and in the Reare to give warning by their discharging of the Enemies approaches so that his men might gather together as he had given them order for to repaire to the place which stood most in need Hee guarded both sides of the Way neere where the Prince of Oranges Army lay with loose Wings of Horse and hee lined these Horse with Guards of Musquetiers and with the rest of the Horse he brought up the Reare Vpon occasion of feare hee made use of his Wagons instead of a Trench drawing his Foot-forces within them Hee had daily and hourely Spies to know the Hollanders intentions and proceedings He cut downe all Bridges that might afford the Hollander a Passage to come at him in his March By this meanes they sustained their Campe in despight of the Hollander And as Vanden Bergh was to make his Retreat hee fearing the Prince of Orange would have set upon his Troopes hee ordered his Forces accordingly by dividing them into three grand Squadrons and so Marched ready to receive any charge The Prince of Orange then having Incampt his Army at Mede a Dorpe 2 houres distant from Breda thinking to have relieved the Towne So soone as Spinola understood it he left all the Workes about the Towne well Manned unto the charge of Medina and Marched himselfe
had given him Battell for the French could have lost no more but their Army in that battell but if the victory had inclined to the French the Neopollitans had lost their Army and Kingdome with it for it is a maxime amongst the rules of Mars to delay an Enemy that is of greater Potency and farre from his Country to gaine reliefe whereby his Victualls and Amunition may bee wasted so that distractions and mutinies might breed in the Army the Souldiers being over-wearied in expecting the fatall day of losse or gayne so that the Natives may take at pleasure their best and safest occasion to give Battell so that victory may bee atchived The second reason why an Army may refuse to try their valours in a pitcht Battell and shall not bee imputed as cowardize unto them is when a Generall understands that his Enemies Army will bee broken and scattered without fight whereof the Emperour Charles the Fifth may bee example For when hee made Warre against the Protestants in Germany hee would never joyne in Battell with them for hee was credibly informed that their Army consisting of divers Nations could not long agree but be disperst without Battell Thirdly an Army may shun Battell and yet bee voyd of Cowardize if hee certainely knowes his power to bee inferiour by much to the Enemies so that hee can in no wise hope for victory In this case a Generall had better doe as once a famous Warriour was wont to say Hee would rather make his Enemy a Golden Bridge to March away then give Battell upon unequall tearmes for it is never good to assault an Enemy if hee bee perceived to make meanes to March quietly away without blowes for many times an Enemy having beene brought into a desperate case hath beene the onely thing which hath gayned them the victory as was well seene not onely by the blacke Prince in France but also by the Duke de Alva hee having beleaguered Aultmore in Holland having blockt up his Enemy in the Town would neither cappitulate of quarter nor suffer them to steale out of the Towne by flight this made the Townesmen and Souldiers resolute in regard they expected no favour and with their manly courages resisted the Duke and put him to the foyle who otherwise would have fled and left the Towne to the Conquerour For indeed it is a great indiscretion to detaine an Enemy that is flying to stoppe his passage for without question such valours are deprived of the sinteresis and light of naturall principles becomming equall to beasts managing their proceedings without feare or wit that will wilfully spill the precious bloud of man and may accomplish their ends without the hazard or losse of it This was the honourable observation of a famous Warriour who left it in Ryme for future Ages to consider of the words were these Spill not the bloud of man to winne that hold At which an Asse may enter at with gold A Souldiers honour shines as bright In politique Conquest as in bloudy fight Now it still remaines we should take some observations in the true discerning of Valour in an Army that Souldiers may not flatter themselves with a false glosse of Magnanimity and in the performance of this there are divers circumstances to bee considered First whether any suddaine newes or Alarums amazeth or feareth them Secondly in time of danger whether the currant of all mens opinions are level'd a like in their resolutions to encounter and withstand those stormes of perills to their utmost abilities Thirdly when danger hath invellop'd and surrounded them that nothing but Herculian blowes can free them whether then they manfully heaw out their safeties or basely yeild upon conditions farre baser Fourthly whether their great brags and high ostentations in time of safety and peace continues in the same straine of action in time of danger for Cowards are forwardest in words and backwardest in actions Fifthly when an Enemy shall have the better of some one Wing or division of the Army whereby they seeme to bee distressed and for their particular safety seeke to save themselves by flight or to desire quarter by which others may seeke to doe the like preferring their lives before their honours thus disheartning the rest that would sell their lives at the dearest rate such must bee branded for Cowards and are fit for no use but to make a Barricadoe for the Enemy to shoot against Sixthly when Victory is obtained if there be not clemency and mercy used as discretion shall see it meet without an insulting way over poore Captives for it is naturall and consonant to the disposition of a Coward to use all rigour and severity as hee is a conquerour that the World should take notice of him to be that which he is not Seventhly an Army being onely in a supposed danger and to eschew it run themselves into an eminent destruction for a Coward thinks the presentest danger greatest and will strive to preventit though a thousand times greater doth imediately by this occasion ensue Eightly if there bee disputes and detractions upon the point of service who shall give the onset for it is farre from a cowards temper to give an Assault but valour will strive to have the honour of the onset Now it remaines to shew how Warlike valour may bee begotten bred and cherisht in the brests of Souldiers The first is to bee conversant in reading such Histories as treate of Warlike actions this will beget a speculative knowledge of all actions honourably performed by valour and withall it will acquaint them with the events that have happened wherby dangers will bee made more familiar to them so that by this the least sparke of valour will be kindled in a kinde of emulation to bee possest of the same honours in performing the like victories or undergoing the like perills as we read of famous Tamberlin who made it his practise to read often the heroicke deeds of his Progenitors which did so inflame his virtues that hee proved the mirrour of the World For noble acts of Predecessors are as flaming Beacons that fame and time hath set on hills to call us to the like occasions Secondly the Theorie of Warre being truely understood the stomackes of the valiant will boyle with the conceit of the due honours and renownes that are therby to be attained and will force a man of courage to enter into the Lists of Mars to performe in action what before hee onely conceived incontemplation in which large field hee shall see all proceedings and events whereby his body and minâ—â— will 〈◊〉 habituated unto it so that the very jawes of death cannot affright such a Souldier who will sooner choose to be bereaved of life then staine his honour Lastly for conclusion such valiant Souldiers as take delight in the rudiments of Warre will alwaies have the faculties of their minde busied in plotting and projecting all kindes of
may discharge his Musquet to put the Guards in a readinesse to make their resistance The Corporall is to be a Musquetier and is to have the chiefest place in his Squadron according to his eldership CHAP. LXIII The Office of a Serjeant to a private Companie and his duty both in Garrison and in the Field declared A Serjant of a private Company ought to be a man of good experience and sufficiently instructed in all Marshall exercises and if it were possible he should not be inferour in knowledge and skill to his superiour Officers hee ought to have a quicke spirit and active body able both suddainly to conceive and painfully to execute his superiour Officers orders and commands it importeth much that hee bee a skilfull valiant Souldier in regard hee is put upon weighty and dangerous services hee ought to be very ready and skillfull in ordering and rancking the Company and in knowledge of exercising the same hee ought to take all occasions in time of peace to call forth such squadrons as have the guard and duly to exercise them there also to shew every particular Souldier their severall postures and so fit them in readinesse for the chiefe Officers to exercise in grosse hee ought to be learned both in writing and in Arethmaticke he is to have alwayes a Squadran-rowle about him wherein hee should distinguish every man by the armes he beares his duty is when the drumme beates for the watch setting to repare with his Holberd to his Colours where he ought to call over particularly every Souldier of that Squadron and view the fixenesse of their armes and what match Bullets and powder every man hath he is to rancke the Squadron and if no superiour Officer bee there he is to troope away with them to the guard with his Holbert advan'd Hee is to attend the comming of the Major of a Garrison or the Serjant Major of his regiment if they bee intrencht in the field for the watchword and to receive such orders from him as hee hath received from the Serjant Major generall of the Army or from the Governour of a Garrison he is to give the word to his Captaine first if he bee in place and then to each superiour Officer and lastly to the Corporall The eldest Serjant in a March leadeth up the division of Musquetiâ—es in the reare 〈…〉 of training they are to looke that every man keepes his Rankes and files duly helpe order the company all the time of exercise in time of Warre he is imployed upon parties which are sent out to discover or to fetch in Bootie and Farrage likewise many times to the guarding of passages also in laying out of Perdues and visiting them Also in ordering of Troopes that are drawne out to charge some part of the Enemy where he is to bring up the Musquetiers to his superiour Officer in good order to skirmish and to give fire upon the Enemy and so orderly to leade them off againe seeing them ranke themselves fairely and causing them to make ready their peeces to come up to give fire againe also in retreite he ought to assist the Souldiers discreetly in keeping their orders lest confusion betides them Also in time of fight to see the Souldiers Bandaliers filled ready that no stay bee made and to see the Powder transported after them securely he is also when his Captaine is Captaine of the Watch to call out the Gentlemen of the Round to doe their duties and to give them the Word he ought to assigne every Souldier his due and proper place to March in that no contention may arise hee is to place the chiefe Gentlemen in the Front on the right hand file the next in degree is to leade the left-hand file so placing every man according to his degree hee ought to see that every Corporall bee a Musquetiere hee is to fetch the powder shot and match from the Magezine and distribute it to each Corporall and so to each Souldier of their Squadron Hee is at his Captaines command to carry all delinquents to Prison and see Irons put upon them If scarsity of Victuals should be in the Campe he is to procure it from the Ammunutioner of the Army lest the Company fall in want which being procured hee is to distribute it to the Corporalls and they to their Squadrons Hee is also to instruct the Drummes the true tone of beating viz. a Call a March a Troope a Charge an Allarme a Retreite c. Hee ought to be resolute and forward in times of skirmishing shewing worthy examples to the Souldiers that they might imitate him Hee ought by his serviceablenesse and care to gaine the love of the whole Company it must be farre from him to be addicted to the hellish vice of drinking drabbing or dicing using his best indeavours to shame such as should in that kind transgresse Also he is not to permit any Souldier that is in drinke to performe any duty of charge for that time for feare of sleeping or quarrelling whereby much inconveniences may ensue but rather seeke to punish him severely that all may take example by him to beware of the like oversight Hee is every night at Drum-beating to draw Billets for his Guard and accordingly to leade his Squadron to it and thus behaving himselfe wisely and valiantly hee shall gaine honour and reputation which will bee steps to advance him to higher fortunes And to define the office of Serjant truly hee is to be the eye eare mouth hand and feet of his superiour Officers I could wish our Serjants of Bands here in England were thus qualified for their Captaines sakes but I feare the blind will leade the blind and so fall both into the ditch it were happy if they would indeavour to learne to understand their office against his Majesty should have occasion to use them CHAP. LXIIII. The office of an Ensigne to a private Company and his duty both in Garrison and in Field declared AN Ensigne being the foundation of the Company ought to bee indued with Valour and Wisedome and to equall his superiour Officers in skill if it were possible The honour and reputation both of Captaine and Souldiers depends upon the welfare of the Colours and contrarily there can be no greater dishonour then to lose them I have read in History of Ensignes that rather then they would undergoe the dishonour of losing their Colours being so dangerously charged by the Enemy that either they must yeeld them up or be slaine have chosen rather to wrappe them about their bodyes and have leapt into the mercilesse waters where they have perisht with their Colours most honourably to their immortall â—ames after any Company is 〈◊〉 if the Ensigne hath behaved himselfe honourably the Captaine ought to bestow the Colours on him as a favour in the absence of his superiour Officers hee is punctually to supply their places and to passe upon those duties which they should whether it be to be
of every defect hee ought to rule over the Company and take a particular survey of every Souldier in his Captaines absence for then hee is in absolute authority and the Souldiers are bound to obey him as their cheife in all respects hee ought not to refuse to bee put upon any service by his Captaine or Colonell or any cheife Officer of the Field also he is not to bee sent upon any convoy or to guard any passage without a sufficient Troope of Souldiers fifty or sixty at least if lesse then the Ensigne is of sufficiency to command them hee is to view his Captaine thrice a day Morne Noone and Night but especially in the time of Warre to see what hee hath to command him hee is to take notice of what discords quarrels and debates arise amongst the Souldiers of his Band hee is to pacifie them if it may bee otherwise to commit them hee is to judge and determine such disputes with gravity and good speeches and where the fault is to make him acknowledge it and crave pardon of the party hee hath abused hee is duely to see the Watch set and to follow them to the Guard and see the Sentinells set out and give them their charge what they are to doe If hee be in the Field hee is to visit the Sentry Perdues very often hee is to command the Souldiers in a kinde of perswasory way to obey their Corporalls and Serjants wherefore hee ought to give good language in a discreet and wise manner to move and perswade them with 〈◊〉 reasons to the observation and obedience of Millitary discipline 〈◊〉 his Captaine of many â—oyles hee is to bee carefull that every Souldier have a sufficient lodging in Garrison and in the Field a Hut hee is also to take due care of the sicke and maymed that they perish not for want of means or looking unto he is also to take care that the Sutlers do not oppresse and rack the poore Souldiers in their victuals and drinke he is to see the Company provided with all kinde of Amunition with Axes Mattockes Spades and the like to build their Hutts withall these instruments are to have the marke of the Gallowse set on them in token of death to them that steale them Hee is in his Captaines absence to sit in the Christrade or Marshalls Court to define of the punishments which are to bee inflicted upon Delinquents and Malefactorus their punishment going by most voyces hee is to set a Guard at his Captaines Tent and likewise at the Cullours where hee ought to give order for a fitting place to hang up loose Armes His Hutt ought to bee in the head of the quarter upon the right hand and the Ensignes on the left and the Serjants at the Reare of the quarter hee is to bee alwaies in a readinesse to answer an Allarum and with all speed draw his men if they bee in Garrison to that Port or Guard his squadron hath the Watch at if in the Campe then to the Brest-worke before their quarters where hee is to place betwixt each Musquet a Pike for their better defence In Garrison hee is to bee Captaine of the Watch in his Captaines stead onely for the ease of his Captaine where he must bee very circumspect upon his Guard hee is to have his Ensigne and his Serjants to attend him hee is to goe the first round with a Serjant and two Gentlemen at the least to attend him where hee is to take the Word of every Corporall and to see that the Sentinells bee duely pla'ct out and to give them charge to bee very circumspect in their Watches that upon the sight of the Enemy or the seeing of their Matches sparkle or hearing their Armour clatter they presently informe the Corporalls so that an Allarum may bee given to the Towne but hee that shall give a false Alarum is to bee imprisoned The Lieuetenant is to go the Patroule with a sufficient Guard about all the Streets within the night to prevent treason in the Town or to discover fire or ill orders as quarrelling c. Hee is to March in the morning with the Major of the Garrison at the Drumme beating to the opening of the Ports hee is to bee guarded with all the Gentlemen of the round In Sommer time at Watch set he is to draw his men in Parrado in the Market place with all the rest of the Companies in the Towne their Companies being compleate If in the Field and to goe upon service hee ought to see prayers read in the head of the Troopes every night and every Sabbath all those Souldiers that have not the Guard hee is to compell them to goe to their Colonells Tent to heare Prayers and preaching hee is to bee religious valiant and wise his Armes is onely a Gorget and a Pattisen CHAP. LXVI The Office of a Captaine of a private Company and his duty both in Garrison and in the Field briefely declared THe Office of a Captaine being so honourable and a place of such great consequence that it ought not slightly to bee considered of wherefore they ought to bee men of excellent quallity and of undaunted valiant resolution hee should not bee inferiour in knowledge and skill in all the circumstances and actions belonging to Warre in as profound a manner as the chiefest Officer of the Field for hee hath a charge of great importance committed unto him hee being many times called to execute the Office of Serjant Major or Lieuetenant Collonell besides hee is exposed to all manner of danger in the Warres for no Captaine but must leade on his men in the face of the Enemy and charge them in the teeth which if hee bee not skilfull as well to leade them off as draw them on hee may bee the occasion of spilling of much bloud hee ought not to bee a man chosen altogether for Birth Meanes Personage favour or affection but for his wisedome civility valour and experience the unexpertnesse of a Captaine hath beene the ruine of Armies and destruction of Common-wealths In the time of peace every brave fellow desires to bee honoured with the name and charge of a Captaine but when Warre approacheth and the Enemy is at hand they quake their swords out of their scabberds and had rather make use in fight of their Wings then their tallents A Captaine ought to be well seene and read in all the Liberall Sciences to be acquainted with History and to have what speculative knowledge that may bee to joyne with their practice all kinde of Stratagems should be similiar with him and nothing should be wanting that might make him an accomplisht Souldier A Captaine ought to have regard to the due exercising of his Souldiers fitting them in all points for service hee ought to see his Souldiers furnished with all things needfull as Armes Munition and their Weekely pay duely at the appoynted times hee is to bee very conscionable in delivering them their off-reckonings and apparrell hee
is to passe very strictly if it be in time of Warre upon his Watch being Captaine of the Watch hee is to command the Gentlemen of the Rounds to bee set out and to have the Word given them If he be in the Field he should leade out the Perdues and see them visited in due season then afterwards his Lieuetenant and other inferiour Officers are to doe the like If he be in Garrison in time of danger hee is precisely to goe the first Round himselfe being ayded with his Serjants and divers Gentlemen where hee must view the strength and sufficiency of every Guard and how every Officer doth dispose of his Souldiers hee is to take the Word of every Officer in his Round at every Corps-du-guard If he be Inâ—ampt in the Field then hee is to goe the Patroule through his owne Regiment and cause all Sutlers to exstinguish their Candles and to suffer no drinking after the warning Peece is discharged If his Company bee 200 strong hee is to have foure Corporalls and to divide his Company into foure even parts viz. Fifty Souldiers in a Corporal-ship In the time of Peace and being in Garrison one Squadron onely watcheth begining with the eldest Corporal-ship the first night and so successively one Corporal-ship relieving the other In time of Warre halfe or whole Companies specially being in the Field no Guard shall bee relieved but once in 24 houres hee is to make choyce of the chiefe and ablest Souldiers being men of quality to be Gentlemen of his Company and they are to Guard with the Captaine of the Watch by turns and to walke the Round about all the Walls and Bulworkes they are to give the Word to the Corporalls at every Guard they are to discover the Enemy and to see the Sentinells doe their duty which if they cannot or mistake it the Guard is to charge them with their weapons and apprehend them as Enemies The Captaine is to lay out these Gentlemen Perdue upon convenient passages â—nd apt places to discover if the Enemy should Sally out according as the place is in distance from the Enemies Trenches so must the number of Perdues be layd one a pretty distance behinde the other so that if occasion bee they may retreate backe one to the other and so give notice to the Campe that they may prepare for an Assault those are to bee relieved every houre or halfe houre also the Captaine is to instruct his Souldiers how to make an Assault against the Enemy and also how to defend an Assault Hee must be a good Enginiere to know how to rayse all kinde of Workes and Trenches and how to place his men upon the Flankes to scowre the Bulworkes by the lyne of Levell upon a Brestworke in the Campe hee is to place betwixt every two Musquets a Pike the Musquetiers are to give fire and fall off and another imediately to present in his place the Pikes are to stand firme the Captaine is to have his Armour of proofe and a faire Pike for his defensive and offensive Armes He is to have two great Bougets made of dry Neats-leather which will hold a hundred weight of Powder a peece to furnish his Musquetiers withall Hee is to see the Bandyliers filled with Powder with sufficient Match and Bullets hee must bee ever in a readinesse to answer an Allarum and the first that shall charge the Enemy If the Enemy makes his approaches against the Campe after the Captaine hath drawne his men up to the Parrapet to make resistance and being all ready to give fire hee is to command that no man gives fire untill hee gives order and so suffer the Enemy to come up as close as may bee and then give him a brave volly of Shot altogether in his teeth one Musquetire relieving the other the Pikes charging manfully and stedfastly at all convenient times hee is to drill his souldiers very accurately shewing them all the postures of the Pike and Musquet then how to march counter-march to double their Files and Rankes the middle men to double to the Front to advance forwards and to retreat backwards at the sound of the Drumme to wheele about his Musquetiers to make ready present and give fire to give fire in the Front in the Reare and upon either Flanke to fall off by Files and give fire as we shall hereafter more largely discourse of A Captaine ought to march into the Field in the Front of his Company and his Lieutenant in the Reare but marching out of the Field the Captaines place is to bring up the Reare and the Lieutenant to leade the Company the Ensigne is to march before the first Division of Pikes the eldest Serjeant is to bring up the next Division of Pikes and another Serjeant the last Division of Musquetiers The Captaine ought not to doe any reall act in the Warres without Commission from higher Authority he is to lead up the right Wing of his Musquetiers to charge the Enemy and his Lieutenant the left when a Captaine makes choice of a Lieutenant or Ensigne he is to draw his Company into Armes and one of the Gentlemâ—n is to carry the Pattisen or Colours and being marcht into the Field the Captaine is to deliver the Pattisen or Colours in the head of the Troope to the Officer he hath made choise of commanding the Souldiers to take notice of him and to obey him as their Officer he is to make choise of diligent Serjeants and vigilant Corporals a trusty Clerke and good Drummes he ought to have one Wagon at the least to carry his Baggage and to conduct sicke souldiers he is to be as little pestered with luggage of his owne or his souldiers as possibly may be lest it should hinder their march and also upon any service be rather forward to fight for goods than have their mindes homewards fearing to lose their owne he ought not to be covetous nor niggardly but forward to gratifie all good services with some guifts and courtesie whereby he shall indeere his Souldiers to be prodigall of their lives to doe him service he must be familiar and eloquent in perswading and diswading his Souldiers and to stirre up their valours to undergoe paine and perill if a Souldior transgresse he ought not to beate him but to send him to the Provost-Marshall to have Irons laid on him by beating of a Souldier a world of hatred will be stirred up and happily private revenge he ought to be very carefull to keepe his Souldiers in action whereby idle expence of time as drinking and playing may be prevented which usually ends in quarrelling and bloud-shed He is to have Lanthornes and Torches such as will burne in any Storme and Tempest for they may stand him many times in great stead he is to have his Tent in the head of all his Troope and to bee conversant with them shewing them ensamples of hardship he ought alwayes to have his Colours and his Drumme in the Field
when he exerciseth his Company as well to give the more reputation unto the action as also that the use of them may be well knowne Lastly a Captaine ought to carry himselfe in such a way that his souldiers may both feare and love him too much familiarity breeds contempt and too sterne a carriage begets hatred and so let him not over-value his life but expose it to the fortune of the Warre using his best skill and indeavours to annoy his Enemies and to be diligent and forward in executing such commands as Authority injoynes him and so to persist in a resolution to feare nothing but infamie And I will conclude with an Exhortation to all Noble Captaines desiring them for their credits sake and for the honour of our gracious King and welfare of our Kingdome to be more diligent in the discipling of their souldiers and not to chop and change so many new men into their Companies that betweene muster and muster the third part of the company are new untutored fellowes that knowes not their right hand from their left so that it is a labor in vain to instruct them and they are the meanes of putting all those that have some knowledge out of square by their aukward doings besides all base beggerly fellowes are admitted into the muster Rowle when as the best and chiefest yeomen ought to doe their King and country service in their owne persons Then lastly that every Captaine would command his Officers to instruct the pikes and musquets whilst the rest are a calling over and then eyther himselfe or his Lieutenant to exercise them in grosse all their postures and cause them to give fire in way of skirmish and not to goe into the Towne untill all the exercise bee finisht CHAP. LXVII The Office of a Serjeant-Major of a Regiment and his dutie both in Garrison and in the Field briefely declared A Serjeant-Major is the third principall Officer in a Regiment and in regard he is an Officer of the Field hee ought to participate of all the perfections that Officers of higher Authority should have His Place and Office doth somewhat correspond with the Major-Generals onely his duty is tending to Officiate betweene the Colonell and the Officers of the Regiment he is to be learned in all the Liberall Sciences he ought to have both Speculative and Practicke knowledge in all things belonging to his profession he must be very civill wise and discreet in his carriage and actions in regard he is to manage a world of affaires of high consequence which may serve to the conserving or ruining of the Army he is duly to attend his Colonels pleasure and Morning â—oone and Night he is to waite upon the Major Generall and to receive such orders as are by the Generall of the Army delivered unto him he is speedily to certifie his Colonell what the orders are and what the Generals pleasure is and also with all celerity to execute such things as his Colonell shall give him in charge He is not onely to be a good Scholler and witty but he must be quick in apprehension and furnisht with an able memory he must have a Paper-book with Pen and Incke to set downe all Orders and Commands that he may not erre nor vary one title from what was delivered him in charge at Drumsbeat he is to repaire to the Generals Tent and take the Word of the Major Generall and Orders for that Nights proceedings then he is to repaire to his Colonels Tent where he is to deliver him the Word and to his Lieutenant Colonel with such orders as he hath received The Serjeants of every Company of his Regiment are to repaire to him to take the Word from him with such Orders as he shall give them and they are speedily to acquaint their Captaine and other Officers with it all the inferiour Serjeants are to stand round about him and he is to deliver the Word very privately in the eare of that Serjeant which stands at his right hand and he is secretly to whisper it in the eare of the next and so from one to another round and the last man is to give it to the Serjant-Major againe if the last man gives it to him wrong then he must give it over againe He is to have them draw Billets for their Guards in regard much disputes may arise because many Guards are more subject to the danger of the Enemy than some others are and also to prevent treason so that no Officer knowes his Guard before-hand he is also to provide Powder Match and Bullets and distribute it amongst the Officers of his Regiment he ought to have able Officers to his owne Company because he cannot tend unto them his imployments are so great he ought to have a swift Nagge to carry him about the Quarters and to visit his Guards for his businesse lyes very confusedly in the Army he is likewise to view all outward Gvards both in the day time and in the night where his Regiment hath command every Captaine is to give him the Word and from one Guard to another he is to be guarded with certaine Musquetiers He is to instruct and shew such of his Officers as are to passe upon Watch where to place their Sentinels and Perdues he is likewise to shew every Officer whether to draw his Company to joyne with the rest in Battalia if the Enemy should give an Alarme He is to exercise all the Companies of his Regiment at convenient times CHAP. LXVIII The Office of a Lieutenant-Colonell of a Regiment and his duty both in Garrison and in Field briefly declared A Lieutenant Colonell to a Regiment is a place of high consequence and great dignitie being the second person in the Regiment hee is not to be deficient in all kindes of Literature but to bee as able both in valour and experience as the Colonell in regard in the Colonels absence hee hath the sole ordering of the Regiment and upon all occasions as his Colonell shall command hee is to bee ready and dutifull to performe there is much toyle and paines belonging to his office in regard hee frees his Colonels executionâ—◠〈◊〉 his duties hee ought in time and causes of present perill to give his best advise to his Colonell and to give him notice of every particular passage in the Regiment hee is not of his owne authority to act any thing without his Colonels command All the Captaines and Officers of the Regiment ought to respect and obey his commands Hee is to see the Regiment well ordered the Watches set and the guards duly releeved in time of Battell hee is many times commanded to draw up divisions to charge the Enemy In besieges hee relieves his Colonell taking his command by turnes it is his charge to see to the Regiment that all things are orderly performed and that all necessaries be provided both for food and Amunition hee is to see every Captaine demeane themselves faire to their
of your right foot with the Stocke towards you your right hand holding it somewhat more than halfe way towards the mouth you stand with a full body boult upright with the Musquet in the same manner by your right side 53 Lay down your Musquet Rest. Match This Posture is performed by stepping forwards with your right foot your selfe and Peece standing as in the precedent Posture then declining with your body you lay it downe gently with the mouth in a right line from you and and the locke upwards after the same manner also your Rest and Match is to be disposed of 54 Take off 55 Lay down your Bandeliers After your hands are free from your Musquet Match and Rest you may with your left hand take off your Hat which may hinder you and with your right hand neatly convey them over your head and so as before lay them downe along by the side of your Musquet but so as the Match may not fire them 56 March from your Armes This is principally used to make the Souldiers apt and ready to finde their owne places againe and to be quicke in re-arming themselves upon a suddaine Allarme The Sentinell Posture is no otherwise then having your Musquet rested primed and charged with powder and Bullet for your better ease and readinesse to give fire upon the Enemy to make an Allarme you stand at that Posture with the But end of your Musquet at your right huckle bone with a light match cockt the mouth of the Peece somewhat mounting and your hand grasping the Stocke with your finger upon the Seare And this shall suffice for the Postures of the Musquet onely you are to draw your Files into an even body againe fit to joyne with the Body of Pikes CHAP. LXXVII How aâ— Officer is to 〈◊〉 himselfe in the 〈◊〉 of the Pikes and 〈…〉 Souldier â—s to imitate him punctually from Posture to Posture THe Officer having disposed his Piâ—â—emen as before is shewed and standing in the midst of the Ring with a Pike in his hand after he hath â—â—â—â—â—â—ded silence and being presupposed that the Souldiers stand with their Pikes advanc'd The Officer commands them to Order your Pikes This Posture is performed the Pike being advanc'd by drawing in your left heele towards the small of your right foot and at the same instant raising your left hand as farre as you can indifferently stretch it you graspe the Pike in it towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end of the Pike and withall sinking your left hand with the Pike in it as low as your skirts you againe raise up your right hand and guiding the Pike with your left you place the But end of it by the out-side of your right foot your right hand holding it even with your eye and your thumbe right up then removing your legge to his former station your left arme being set a kimbo by your side you shall stand with a full body in a comely Posture Advance your Pikes The Pike being ordered as in the former Posture is shewed without changing of your hold you must with your right hand lift the Pike a little from the ground and taking it suddainly againe with the left hand towards the 〈◊〉 end leaving so much length below as you can afterwards reach well with the right hand where it is stayed in the fist at the full length of the arme hanging right downewards your fore-finger and thumbe close at the But end resting it close to your thigh and bearing against the shoulder close to your breast causeth it to stand firme and upright without wavering Shoulder your Pike This Posture may be performed eyther when the Pike is advanc'd or ordered If advanc'd then your left hand is to be brought about to your right side and being stretcht upwards you are to take hold of the Pike towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end the left hand sinkes the Pike downewards sloping in a right line forwarns so that the right hand receiving the second hold as high as it can conveniently reach and graspes the Pike with the thumbe long-wayes upon the Pike and underneath it Then your left hand leaving its former hold immediately graspes the Pike just below your right hand and so both hands being joyned together they gently conveyes it unto the right shoulder leaving the right fist close prest to the Plate bone thereof with your right elbow close downe by your side and your left elbow set a kimbo you stand with an upright full body Note that in acting this Posture your feet are not to bee removed eyther backwards or forwards but occasionally side-wayes as the hands are imployed in the executing this Posture some never stirre any foot at all I leave it as a thing indifferent Levell your Pikes This is performed the Pike being shouldered by bringing your left hand to the Pike and grasping it close under your right hand and withall at the same instant drawing in your left heele towards the 〈◊〉 of your right foot then with an even motion of both your hands you are to raise the butte end of your Pike untill it lyes levell upon your shoulder then returning your hand and foot to their due places you shall stand in a faiâ—â— Posture This may bee performed without moving the foot but then it hath not the like grace with it Slope your Pikes This Posture is performed in the same kind the former was only the hands presseth downe the butte end of the Pike within halfe a foote of the ground which causeth it to lye right sloping Charge your Pikes to the Front This Posture may be performed either when the Pike is advanced or shouldered wherealso you must further observe whether it be to be acted standing or Marching If so be your Pike bee advanced and you are to act this Posture standing Then you must only slip backe your right hand and your right foote a good stride placing your foote side-wayes from your body Then with your left hand you are to receive the Pike about a yard from the butte end holding your elbow in an even distance from your body with your hand close to your breast so that the Pike may have the more freedome to play forwards and backwards just breast-high of a man your left knee being bent for wards and your body yeelding towards the point of the Speare so as you may not easily be thrust back by the Enemy If your Pike be shouldered then you must receive the Pike in your left hand a pretty reach downewards tâ—wards the butte end of the same at the same instant you are to raise the Pike with your right hand from your shoulder and with your left hand draw in the butt end of the same towards the outside of your right thigh then slipping backe your right foote and hand you receive the butt-end of it you charge it as before
to one of the flankes which being done you must Command them againe to wheele Front and Reere into both flankes then facing them to their first Front and closing their division they are reduced or you may wheele both flankes into the Front and Reere and then face them to their Leader and close their division Thus having shewed the wayes and properties of wheelings in their severall kindes wishing every Commander at least to make use of the Intire wheelings and to make their Souldiers perfect in them so that they may wheele to the Right to the Left and to the Reere and as for the rest you may use your pleasure if time will not permit you to exercise your Souldiers in them The next thing that a Commander is to teach his Souldiers is the severall wayes of giving fire and the fitting and preparing them for Skirmish which in the next Chapter shall be discours'd of CHAP. LXXXVII How a Commauder shall prepare his Souldiers for Skirmish with the maner and use of firing by forlorne Files in the Front WHen a Commander hath exercised his Company in their Postures Doublings Counter-marches and Wheelings the next thing requisite to be taught the Souldiers is how they should skirmish with the maner and use of firing wherefore your Company being first drawne in Battallia every man observing his order both in ranke and file The Officers in their due places viz the Captaine and Ensigne in the Front of Pikes the Lieutenant in the Reere the Serjants on the flankes the Drummes on the Front and reere Angle of the Pikes Every man thus standing in his right equipage the Captaine shall command the Drums to beate a march the colours flying at the head of the pikes the pikes and Musquets shouldred marching at their distance of order in file and at their open order in ranke the Commander is to give a signe to the Drume to beare a preparative at which time the Ensigne is to furle-up his colours and to retire into the midst of the Pikes every man is to advance his Pike and to close all their Rankes forwards to their order the Musquetiers art to make ready every one preparing himselfe for skirmish But before we proceede any further it will be very convenient to shew the maner and use of firings that the Souldiers may be the better able to performe them when they come to the proofe and tryall wherefore observe that all firings are either direct or oblique The maner of firings are sometimes advancing against an Enemie sometimes receiving the Enemies charge upon a stand or else retiring for we may be constrained to give fire in the Reere marching from the Enemie or in flanke marching by an Enemie or it may fall out that the Enemy may charge in severall places at once as in Front and Flanke or in Front Reere and Flanke these particulars shall be more fully discust in the following discourses And first to begin with the firings in Front both advancing and standing I will follow Master Barrifes directions who hath excellently well described them both by discourse and figure Wherefore first take notice of giving fire by forlorne files which most commonly is used two maner of wayes in the exercising of companies The first is for the two outermost files of each flanke of shot to march forth being led on by the two yongest Serjants a convenient distance beyond the Front of the battell who being there arived ought to make there stand the foremost Rankes are to give fire wheeling off both to the right or to the right and left if it be commanded and to place themselves in the Reere of their owne Files the rest of the Rankes firing and doing of the like untill they have fired once or twice over according as they shall be directed this being performed the next two out most files of each flanke are to march forwards unto the place assigned and are there to doe the like Those files which formerly faced are in the meane time to troope backe and place themselves next the flankes of the Pikes upon the inside of the division of Musquetiers The rest of the shot after the former manner are to march up and give fire placing themselves as before is shewed when they have fired all over and placed themselves according to these directions they are reduced into their first stations The second way of firing by forlorne Files is thus to be performed The outmost files of each Flanke are led forth by the Serjeants unto the place assigned and then they command their Files to ranke inwards and to present and give fire all at one instant as by the subsequent figure you may perceive Serjeant Serjeant Captaine Ensigne Serjeant Serjeant Lievetenant The first two files having ranked inwards and joyned together making one brest as you may perceive at the figure 4. and having presented and given fire they are to wheele off to the right and left each man following his Leader in single file and performing their postures of priming and charging c. as they troope downe to place themselves on the inside of their division of shot alongst by the Flankes of the Pikes The next outmost File which followed the first in the Reere in the meane time are to ranke themselves inwards and are to give fire and wheele off as the former did placing themselves alongst by the Flankes of the Pikes after the same manner all the rest of the Files are to performe their indeavours Note the odde Files may eyther march up and give fire single or else the next outermost File may sequent them CHAP. LXXXVIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers to give fire by two Rankes advancing them ten or twenty paces before the Front of the Battalia then even with the Front and lastly even with the halfe-Files THis manner of advancing two Rankes a certaine distance before the Front of the Battell is commonly used when two Battells make their approaches one against the other whereby they are brought within distance to doe certaine execution a Serjeant from each Flanke is to leade these two formost rankes up to the place assigned The first Ranke of each wing of shot is to present and to give fire wheeling off eyther to the right or to the right and left the second Ranke stands ready with their Musquets rested their Match-cocked and pans guarded mounting the muzells of their Peeces cleere of their Leaders and standing the distance of three foote behind the first Ranke are ready to Levell and give fire so soone as their Leaders are wheeled off from before them The first Rankes having presented and given fire as aforesayd in their wheeling off they are to march downe in single File close by the outside of the wings of shot 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 having discharged are after the same manner
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 hand of the File that fired last before and so successively for all the rest of the Files of Musquetiers all which are to give fire and wheele off as before placing them still on the left hand of the Files which last fired wherein still is to be noted that the Pikes are still to open to the right and left for the receiving the shot betweene them after they have discharged This firing as well as all the former firings in Flank may be led off by their bringers up as well as by their File-Leaders and then the reducement will be answerable The shot having all given fire the Pikes may seeke to defend themselves by charging at push of Pike or at foote if there bee any Bow Pikes they may gall the enemy in the meane time or the shot may play over the shoulders of the Pikes as they charge at the foote one ranke giving fire after another for the formost Ranke having fired may kneele downe and there make ready againe untill the next Ranke behind hath also fired c. For reducement and to bring the Musquetiers into both flankes againe as they were before wee discoursed of these severall firings in Flankes you must first command your Pikes to face inwards and your Musquetiers to the right and left outward and so to passe them through and interchange ground then facing them to their Leader they will be reduced as at first You must observe that all these firings in flanke may as well be performed to the left hand and with the same words onely the words of right must be changed for left and left for right The next discourse shall be of divisionall firings CHAP. XCII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in divisionall firings viz. front and reere upon a March. Musquetiers give fire to the Front and Reere and flanke your Pikes YOu may please to remember how that in the last foregoing firings in the flanke the Shot were placed in the middest of the Pikes and now before we can give directions for these divisionall firings in Front and Reere we must observe the way of reducing the Musquetiers into the Front and Reere of the Pikes from the forme wherein they last stood To performe this you must command the halfe Files of Musquetiers to face about which done let the Pikes stand and the Musquetires march untill they are cleare both of Front and Reere of Pikes then let them stand and face to their Leader then command your Pikes to close their divisions and the shot will bee one halfe of them in Front and the other halfe in the Reere in a readinesse to performe this firing which wee are now about to discourse of The Pikes being shouldred and the words of command and direction given as in the Margent is specified the first Ranke in the Front presents and the last Ranke faceth about to the Reere and doth the like and so by giving fire together wheele off by division viz. the one halfe of the Ranke following after the right hand man of the same Ranke the other halfe after the left hand man who leads them close downe by the sides or flankes of the Musquetiers untill they come to the Pikes The first Ranke of Musquetiers in the Front are to ranke even with the first Ranke of Pikes and the last Ranke of Musquetiers in the Reere are to ranke even with the last Ranke of Pikes leaving a sufficient distance betwixt them and their Pikes for the other Musquetiers to march betweene And by the way take notice that he that was outermost when they gave fire must likewise be outermost when they have taken their places on the Flanks the first and last Ranke having fired and wheeled off the next rankes the body marching on three or foure steppes are in like manner to present and give fire wheeling off by division and passing betweene the divisions there placing themselves they of the Front division are to place them selves behind those which fired last before them and they of the Reere division before them which fired last in the Reere behind them and thus they may continue to give fire after the same manner untill they have all given fire over once then may the body make a stand and the Pikes charge to the Front and Reere if occasion be or if the Commander would continue his firing to the front and Reere still upon this same forme then let the shot of the Front place themselves after they have given fire behind the Musquetiers of their owne division and those of the Reere division are to place themseleves betwixt the Reere of Pikes and the shot of their owne division and so the body moving but slowly forwards they may continue the firing Musquetiers give fire to the Front and Reere placing your selves betweene your divisions In the precedent discourse after fire was given to Front and Reere the shot flanked the Pikes now from this forme I will indeavour to shew you a second way of firing to Front and Reere which may easily be effected if the Souldiers be well instructed To performe this firing take these words of command and directions placed in the Margent which will produce this forme of firing following The command being thus given the first Ranke presents to the front likewise the last Ranke of Musquetiers in the Reere faceth about and presents towards the Reere then both at one instant gives fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves betweene the Musquetiers of their division These namely which were of the Front halfe files falling into the Reere of their owne divisions and those of the Reere halfe files contrary wise falling before their halfe File-Leaders and ranking even with the halfe File-Leaders of the Pikes the next Ranke successively firing and wheeling off after the same manner Having fired once over they are reduced every man to his place The Officer must take some paines in teaching his Souldiers these two last firings otherwise they will seeme very difficult at first for them to performe CHAP. XCIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire to the Reere and right Flanke marching and likewise to both Flankes at once marching and also to both Flankes standing Musquetiers give fire to the right flanke and reere placing your selves betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions THis kinde of firing in Reere and Flanke upon a march is very serviceable at such times as the enemy shall skirmish with the body to annoy them in their passage in Flanke and Reere at one time And this kinde of firing you may performe two severall wayes as first your Musquetiers being placed in their ordinary place upon the Flankes of their Pikes The second and more securer way for the Pikes will be to draw the Musquetieres from that flanke which is
may be He is likewise to be skilfull and well experienced in the use of Mappes that thereby he may truely know how all the Roades and wayes lye with the Situation and distances betweene Towne and Towne He is to keepe a List of the Guards and is to visit them both day and night shewing the Allarme place to all the inferiour Quartermasters when they come to take the word of him When the Lord High Marshall takes a view of the ground whereon to Incampe the Armie he is to Summon all the inferiour Quartermasters belonging to every Regiment and those Quartermasters are to call together every Furrier and Harbenger and so are to attend the Lord Marshall to the intended Campe then the Chiefe Quartermaster is to stake out the forme of the Incampement or intrenchment and also the distances for each Regiment and then every particular Quartermaster is to allot out the distances for the alodgement of every private Company He is to give his due attendance to the Generall and to the Lord High Marshall to be imployed about such things as they shall give him in charge If any order for hast bee given him by word of mouth himselfe must goe and deliver it and not trust it to others the Inferiour Quartermasters are to assist him in all his affaires CHAP. C. The Office of the Captaine of the Cavallry THis Officer ought to be qualified with all those Noble parts which are to be expected in a foot Captaine and rather in a fuller measure in regard he is to governe man and beast He must bee a perfect and absolute Horseman teaching his Horse by the Motion of his hand legge and body to understand all things belonging to the Riders pleasure he must be carefull in making his whole Troope good Horsemen teaching them how to sit a horse in a comely posture carrying his body upright the right hand bearing his Pistoll or Carbine coucht upon his thigh the left hand with the bridle raines under the guard of the Pummell of the Saddle and his legges close and streight by the horses sides with his toes turned a little inwards his horse so well managed that he will stand constantly without rage or distemper then he is to be made sensible by yeelding the body or thrusting forwards the riders legges when to put himselfe forwards into a short or large trot then how by the even stroke of both is spuâ—res to passe into a swift Carrire then how to gallop the field either in large ringes midles or lesse rings either to turne with speede upon the one or the other hand then to put him into a gentle gallop right forth in an even line and suddenly to stop and upon the halfe stop to turne swiftly and roundly Then lastly how to retire backe or to make him flye sidewayes on the one or the other side according as the advantage of fight shall give him occasion he is likewise to see his Souldiers well horst with compleate armour their furniture sufficient their bridles well rayned and lyned with a wire chaine their Pistolls and Carbines strong and fixe and he must strive to make all his Souldiers as good Shot or markes men as himselfe or else all his labour will be to little purpose He must be wary of over slipping any opportunity which may be taken either in offending the Enemie or securing himselfe for not to adventure when he should is cowardize and not prudence and to dare when he should not is rashnesse and not valour wherefore he must frame his Counsells and actions upon the Mould of necessary circumstances He must further know that the weapons of Victory are formed on the forge of Discipline for it both Captaine and Souldiers have not this temper they will loose the edge of their valours in the tryall and turne the points into their owne Bowels Further there is nothing snatcheth victory out of the hand of the Conquerour so much as untimely falling to the spoyle upon such disorder fortune alwayes turnes her wheele and maketh victors of them that before were vanquished He must diligently observe the orders which shall be given him from his Superiours and not faile to be with his Troope at the time and place required Vpon all occasions he is to be first mounted on horse backe and is to have his Company full and compleate and what ill fortune so ever should seeme to befall him he must not discover any feare for upon his courage and countenance the souldiers depend wherefore he must have a good resolution attend him In a pitcht battell he must seldome or never seeke to charge the enemie in the Front especially if the two armies are neere joyning fearing least his horses wrong his foote troopes by a disorderly retreate than possibly he can offend the enemie wherefore the best and safest place to charge the enemie upon is the flankes and reare When the enemie shall charge you with one of his Troopes doe not you rush forth to meete them but if your ground be of advantage keepe it if not advance softly forwards untill the enemy be within 100. paces of you and then fall into your Careire by this meanes your horse will be in breath and good order when as the Enemie will be to seeke The Captaine of the Cuirassiers hath the Priority the next is the Captaine of the Harquinburies the Captaine of the Carbines hath the third place the Dragones are of the meanest account although many times they doe the best service And for conclusion let all noble Captaines that desire the honour of their King and welfare of the Countrie not suffer themselves to be gold and deluded by their Souldiers which bring them borrowed horses and furniture not of their owne and chopping and changing of their men and not appearances so that our Troopes are so deficient that if an enemie should aproach we shall be to seeke of halfe our Troopes and them not halfe exercised CHAP. CI. The Office of the Liefetenant of the Cavallry THis Officer is to beare the true Image of his Captaine for he is imployed upon many services by his Captaine more than any other inferiour Officers are as guarding some particular passages riding out upon parties to scowre the Country and to gaine intelligence from the Country people of the enemies proceedings He is many times sent out to command a certaine number of horse for the safeguard of the Forragers and for the intercepting and guarding of some Fords and passages He is to exercise and Drill his men wisely and orderly using his command over them that he may be more beloved than feared He commands in his Captaines absence soly he is to March in the reare of his Troope causing the Souldiers to follow their Captaine and Corner in good order not suffering any to straggle from the Troope When he is to passe upon any duty he is first to gaine the best instructions for the
their horses so that to everytroope of 120. there is 132. men allowed CHAP. CX How a single Troope of horse ought to be drawne into Ranke and File NOw it remaynes wee should make entrance into the discourse of Exercising a single Troope Therefore supposing our Troope to consist of one hundred and twenty horse wee must first order them into Rankes and Files Rankes are a number uncertaine and hapens according to the quantitie of souldiers be they more or lesse A File is a number certaine consisting of sixe persons viz a Leader two Middle men a Bringer up a Follower betweene the Leader and the Middleman to the Reare and a Follower betweene the Middleman to the Front and the Bringer up which is the last man in the File called the Reare A File differs from a Ranke because they stand face to backe and never above sixe deepe A Ranke differs from a File in regard they stand even a breast shoulder to shoulder and have no certaine extent The order of a File you shall see in this discription following 0 Leader 1 Follower 0 Middleman to the Reare 0 Middleman to the Front 1 Follower 0 Bringer up The description of a Ranke you shall understand by this demonstation following where you shall suppose twenty in Ranke and sixe deepe in File Sixe in File Reare CHAP. CXI What Orders and distances a horse Troope should observe in exercise NOw let us take notice what Orders or Distances these Files and Rankes are to observe in exercising where note that in horse Troopes there are but two sorts of distances or orders either in Ranke or File viz. close order and open order Close Order in Files is knee to knee Open Order in Files is sixe foote which is accounted a horses length Likewise close Order in Rankes is to the Horses crooper so that little or no distance remaines betweene the head of the Follower and the crooper of the Leader Likewise open order in Rankes is sixe foote above which they must never open CAAP. CXII The motions which the Cavalrie are to observe in their exercise THe Motions of the Cavallrie are of foure kindes as namely first Facings secondly Doublings thirdly Counter-Marches fourthly Wheelings The use of Facing is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either of the Flankes or the Reare Doubling of Rankes or doubling by halfe Files or Bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the Front Doubling of Files or Doubling by halfe Rankes serveth to strengthen the Flankes Counter-Marches serve either to reduce the File-leaders into the place of the Bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an Enemy in the Reare or to bring one Flanke into the place of the other or Front and Reere or either Flanke into the middle of the body The use of Wheeling is to bring the Front which is all wayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the Enemy on either Flanke or Reere CHAP. CXIII The Manner how a Commander over 120. Horse besides Officers should Troope with them into the Field to be exercised NOw wee are to suppose this Troope of 120. horsemen are to be ordered in Ranke and File fit to draw into the Field for exercise where note they are five in Ranke and sixe deepe in File and every Officer marching in his due place as appeares by this subsequent demonstration Captaine Trumpet Cornet Eld. Corporall Second Corporall Yongest Corporall Livetenant Trumpet CHAP. CXIV How a Commander should draw this Troope of Horse into a body in manner of Battalia standing at their open Order or Distance of sixe foote YOur Troope of horse being drawne into the Field before you can exercise them you must draw up the dimissions into an even body in manner of Battallia viz. the first devision led by the Captaine being come to a convenient place of Exercise is to stand firme Then the Cornet is to leade up the second Division upon the left side of the former fronting even and keeping even destances both in Ranke and File Thirdly the Eldest Corporall is to leade up his Devision upon the left side of the Cornets fronting them even with the former Lastly the second Corporall brings up his last Division upon the left hand of the eldest corporall observing their due orders and proportions both in Rankes and Files And being thus drawne in Battallia there shall be consequently be in the Front the Captaine whose place is to stand upon the right hand before the Front of the first Division The eldest Trumpet and Cornet before the Front of the second Devisions The eldest Corporall before the Front of the third Division The second Corporall before the Front of the fourth Division And in the Reare the Lievetenant the youngest Corporall and youngest Trumpet Trumpet Second Corporall Eldest Corporall Cornet Captaine Front Reare Livetenant Trumpet Corporall CHAP. CXV How Souldiers are to be made to understand their Commanders intention in time of skirmish BEfore wee can proceede to the Exercising of this Troope of Horse wee must take notice how and by what meanes the souldiers should understand their Commanders 〈◊〉 that accordingly they may immediatly act and put in execution such things as are commanded And this is to be performed by the Commander three severall wayes First by the immediate command of the Captaine either so that every souldier heares the word of Command distinctly himselfe or by Tradition from inferiour Officers whose office is to eccho such commands throughout the Troope and this is termed vocall Secondly when the Captaine commands the Trumpet to sound such points of warre as are generally knowne to every particular souldier this is termed Semivocall The first point of warre the Trumpet sounds is Butte Sella this is the warning to clappe on the Saddles The second is Mountè Cavallo that is the warning for the souldiers to mount upon horse backe The third is Tucquet that is the warning for a March. The fourth is Carga Carga that is a command for to charge the Enemy The fift is Alâ— Standâ—rdo that is a command for to retreate to the Colours The sixt and last is Auquet that is a command for the souldiers to repaire to their Watch or Guards or for the discharging of the Watch or Guards In the third place when the Commander shall make such perfect signes pregnant to the sight as by charging with his Trunâ—ion or Pistoll or by holding up the colours whereby the souldiers take notice by the first to charge on and by the second to make a stand and this is termed Mute wherefore you may perceive it is a thing of great consequence to accustome your souldiers to these things without which a world of inconveniences and confusion must of necessitie betide you in times of skirmishing Further in regard the exercising a Troope of Horse is tedious and painefull for a
the second ranke hath tenne this ranke makes two sides parrallell to the two former sides of the Rhombe as the Figure shewes the third must be 17. and so forwards to one the whole Battell hath in it 121. horse with the Officers the Figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXII The Manner and forme of imbattelling the third kinde of Rhombe consisting of Files but not of Rankes THe third kinde of Rhombe which Files but Rankes not you are to order your Troope after this manner following First you must make a File of any Number the Captaine of the Troope being File-leader and the Reare Commander the last of the File To both the Flankes of this File you are to lay two other Files either of them one lesse in number than the first these you must begin to place even with the middest of the distances of the first file on both sides as suppose 11. in the first File the next file on either side must have 10. a peece and the next after them 9. a peece and still one the lesse in all the rest after plac't Files and so it shall prove to file but not ranke This forme is advantagious and profitable for turning of faces when neede shall require from one point of the Rhombe to another turning to the right hand is called turning to the staffe turning to the leâ—â— is called turning to the Raynes but in these our moderne warres we use to command them to face to the right or to the left hand as occasion shall offer the figure of this discourse followeth the Troope of horse consisting of 121. with the Officers The Front Reare CHAP. CXXIII The manner of imbattelling the fourth kinde of Rhombe which Rankes and Files not THis last kinde of Rhombe whose property is to Ranke and not to File is made by a conâ—rary way to the former The presedent Rhombe which shewed to File but not to Ranke began at the Front point and Reare point and proceeded to the Flankes This beginneth at the Flanke points and proceedth to the Front and Reare First therefore a Ranke is to be layed of what number you please to the distances of this Ranke you must lay two Rankes more one on either side whose number must be one lesse a peece than the former Ranke thus continue laying of Rankes towards the Front and Reare and in every paire of Rankes diminish one a peece untill you come to the points either of which have but one namely the Captaine and Lievetenant by this meanes the Rhombe will ranke but not file the figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXIIII The manner of Framing the Battell called the Wedge or halfe Rhombe used by the Macedonians THe forme of this Battell called the Wedge plainely appeares in the Rhombe which both Rankes and Files for the halfe of that Rhombe is a Wedge Wherefore first you must beginne with a Ranke of an uneven number as suppose 15. horse before that Ranke you must place another Ranke of 13. having two lesse than the former and so you are to proceede untill you end with one which is the place of the Captaine this was the Invention of King Philip of Macedon who placed his best men before that by them the weaker might be held in and inabled to charge Elian giveth reasons why the Wedge was in those times accounted better than a Square forme which we now have in use in regard it is apt and proper artificially to breake the Enemies Square battels for he Compares a Square Battle to an Axe for although it be sharper than a Wedge yet having the edge drawne out in length it cannot possibly by strength be driven farre into the Wood but by redoubling of strokes The Wedge being once entred insinuateth it selfe the point being Narrow and it holdeth what it getteth untill at last it divides the Square forme in Sunder although never so tough Polybius reports lib 4. 278. that the Thessalians being Imhatteled in this kinde of forme they could not be resisted by the Gracians and Persian Squares Moreover the Wedge is of greater strength than the Rhombes because it bringeth more hands to fight for the hinder part of the Rhombe is of no use but to avoyde surprises for it avayleth nothing in charging whereas all parts of the Wedge are effectuall viz. the point to enter and the sides even to the flanke corners where the reare endeth doth dispart and dissever and utterly disorder the Enemie whereby victory is gained And questionlesse this forme of a Wedge were of excellent use in our warres especially when an enemie is charged in Flanke and Reare or Front and Flanke then this Battell in forme of a Wedge to come full upon the point of the enemies Battalia where they shall finde an easie place for entrance in regard the foote Troopes are constrained to make a double resistance both to Front and Flanke so that there will be a space open for entrance and then the sides of this Wedge battell will give such a Valley upon the point that of necessity they cannot be able to withstand it The Cornet in this Wedge forme of imbattelling is to take his place right before the Lievetenant in the second Ranke from the Reare the figure followeth this Troope consists of 121. Horse Front The Leivetenant CHAP. CXXV The reason why we retaine the custome of Ranking five deepe in File WEE have learned from Generalls in former ages the framing of Square Battels in regard they were oppinionated that forme was the easiest to be framed and best for Motion besides the ablest men were plac't in Front and had all the principall Commanders to lead them on to give the Enemie a charge the weapons which the Horsemen used were Speares of such a wonderfull length to to Match their Enemies Pikes which as Leo reports Chap. 25. that they were 16. Cubtis in length that is 24. foote and Livy verifies the same that their Pikes were very unwildy in regard of their bignesse and length and then they for the most part did order their horse Troopes eight deepe in File as Polybius speaketh plainely who was Generall of the Horse of the Achaeans besides Leo in his seventh Chapter writeth after this manner If there be many horse saith he viz. above twelve thousand then let them be ordred tenne deepe in File if but few then let it be no more than five further he saith too much shallownesse maketh a Battalia weake and ready to be broken by this we may conjecture that the filing of Troopes five deepe was not a thing inforc't of necessitie untill such times as they found the inconvenience of their over-long Speares so that the Macedonians caused their Speares to be but 15. or 16. foote in length and then five horse in depth was rather at the most then otherwise to make use of those short weapons to offend the Enemy in their charge They further aimed to order their Battells so that the Battalias might
they shall have time to mount themselves from thence this Troope is to march forwards into the chiefe streetes of the Village with a certaine number of Musquetiers following them close at the heeles and there they are to make their stand the shot shall then Ranke themselves before the Horse the first ranke upon their knees the second are somewhat to stoope the third ranke is to stand upright and so to give a whole Volley upon the Enemy at once and then they are to fall off and march downe by the Flankes of the Horse into the Reare of them and there they are to order themselves as before in a readinesse to give fire upon the enemy that shall seeke to charge them in the Reare in the meane time the horse are to advance forwards and charge the enemy The rest of your Troopes if there be foure or five of them are to be imployed in foure or five severall places viz. one Troope is to follow the first Troope to assist them where if they they finde no resistance they shall possesse the Allarme place and assist the Musqueteirs that are layed in ambush likewise there must bee certaine Horse appointed to scoure the streetes continually whereby the Enemie shall be hindred from gathering together Your third Troope is to come Marching fairely unto the Allarme place The fourth Troope is to follow softly after and where they heare any broyles or stirrings they are to repaire to that place to assault them or enter into their houses and cut them off thus suddaine and unexpected aproached will so pussell the Enemie that they will seeke to save themselves by flight through by-pathes and back sides wherefore you must cause your first Troope to be drawne about the Quarters to intercept those that shall seeke to save themselves by flight If at any time any of your Horse Troopes should meete the Enemie in their March if they bee equall in strength you must resolve to fight if not you must endeavour to save your men by a faire retreate wherefore to gaine true intelligence of their Forces besides your Scoutes you must send out a Corporall with 8. or 10. Souldiers who must pretend to be of the Enemies Forces if that place doe favour the Enemie and from them they shall all have true information and if you be farre from your owne Quarters and neere to the Enemies when you meete with them then you must be forc'd to fight though your Forces should bee inferiour to theirs but if you be neere to your owne then you must fairely retreate leaving a Lievetenant in the Reare with some of the best mounted Souldiers your retreate must be by the same way you went in the day time but in the night you must take some other way though further about to your Garrison or Quarter If you intend to lay any Ambuscadoes to defeate the Enemies Forces first you must be certaine of what number the Enemies Forces are of if he hath fewer Horse than you then you may imploy all yours attempting to Toule out all his and route them or else you may imploy some small number by which you may at severall times make some good Booty the Enemie not daring to issue out of his Quarters but if the Enemie exceede you in horse it will be dangerous for you to make ambuscadoes unlesse it be with some few Horse for with your small number you may easily retreate but being a Grosse it might be entertained by part of the Enemies Cavalry presently issuing and those seconded by more whereby you should be hardly able to retreate without disorder and losse The Ambuscadoes must not by layed much before breake of Day because otherwise you cannot discover the aproach of the Enemie but at hand and so the ambuscado shall have no time to come forth and put themselves in order whereby they may be taken in their owne ambush the Troopes must be plac'd a good distance one from another that they may not hinder one another in time of fight the Sentinells are to be plac't out on every side and some upon trees but very closely that they may not be discovered your ambush must be plast in some covert place upon the side of a Plaine or Champion ground In making your Ambuscado with many Troopes of horse some number of Infantry must be layd in ambush about the midde way to releeve and sustaine the Cavalry in their retreate if need should be or otherwise to assist them upon occasion Now you are to dispose of your Cavalry in this manner following suppose you have 1200. horse consisting of 12. Troopes three Troopes must bee sent before towards the enemie giving notice to the Commanders of them where the ambush shall bee of these three Troopes three must be 50. Cuirassiers and 50. Harquebuziers the Cuirassiers are to be commanded by their Captaine and Leivetenant but the Harquebuziers are to have their Leivetenant onely Of these Harquebuziers 25. shall advance before with their Corporall attempting to take some Booty or Prisoners In view of these Harquebuziers at the distance of a Cannon shot there must be 25. Cuirassiers plac'd under the Command of their Leivetenant to receive those 25. Harquebuziers when they returne The Captaine with the other 25. Cuirassiers and 25. Harquebuziers is to stay behinde halfe a league off the Harqueburies are to be plac'd nearest the Enemie to succour the 50. horseâ— which are charged by the Enemies Guards and then they are all to retreate to the Cuirassiers these foure small Troops must still retreate keeping a convenient distance one from another and holding the Enemie in fight unlesse the Enemie so chargeth them that they are forc'd to flye in disorder The other 200. horse which are to consist of 150. Cuirassiers and 50. Harquebuzeirs shall enter the ambuscado about halfe an houre riding off from the other 50. horse which when they shall see returne and charged they shall issue out the 50. Harquebuziers first giving Charge ranke after ranke then the Cuirassiers leaving 20. horse in the Reare to make their retreate The 900 horse are to bee in Ambush about an houres March behinde the sayd 200. horse and seeing them to returne charged shall suffer them to passe and the Enemie also that so they may charge them upon the Reare Likewise a certaine number of shot as suppose 150. Musquetiers and 100. Pikes must be layd in ambush about a League behinde the 900. horse on the way by which the 300. horse shall returne Charged and when the Enemie is come up to them they are to fall out and give them a Valley to disorder them upon this the 900. shall Sallie out and Charge the Enemie upon the Reare and Flankes and then the sayd 300. horse are to face about and sustaine the Charge which cannot but be to the Enemies Confusion In great ambushes you must make your number seeme as small as may be but in small ones you are to make shew of
a greater number than you have wherefore your number being small all your horse must not Sally out of the Ambushcado at once but some 12. or 15. must remaine in the wood at the furthest part of it to favour the retreate of the rest and by their noyse to cause the Enemie to thinke there are a greater number behinde in the Wood. If the Enemy should retreate for his better safetie meeting your Troopes upon your march in the day time you must first send a Troope of Harquebuziers to charge him on the Reare viz. the Lievetenant shall first assault them with 25. horse charging the Enemy upon a full trot or gallop him shall the Captaine follow with the rest of the Troope these are to be seconded by a Company of Cuirassiers being most proper to sustaine the Enemy if he resist but if the waâ— be narrow the said Cuirassiers shall follow immediatly after the first 25. Harquebuziers your other Troopes shall second these observing alwayes one hundred paces distance betwixt every Company If a single Troope should meete a Troope of the Enemy of equall number if the Enemie retreate send your Leivetenant with 20. horses to charge him in the Reare following him with fifty to the same effect closed as firme as may bee the residue of your Troope must follow at a good distance under a good Corporall who shall not engage himselfe to fight though the Enemie turne head unlesse he see his Officers in great danger but then he must charge them valiantly so that his Captaine may reunite his men againe Other circumstances belonging to the Cavalry you shall finde them discourst of either in the discourse of the Marching of the Infantry or else in the discourse of incamping an Army I will here conclude with a demonstrative figure to shew how the Shot should line the horse Troopes and how you should order your Battalias to succour one the other where note this represents one wing of the Horse that is to Flanker the Infantry and you must further observe so soone as the Enemie hath put the shot to retreate those Horse Battalias behinde are to advance up into their places the shot are but 36. in a Troope the Harquebuziers 120. and the Cuirassiers 200. by this proportion you may make as great Battalias as you please view the figure onely of the maine battell without the Battell of Succour The Horse Troopes being drawne in Battalia there must be 25. paces distance left betweene every Company and 50. at the least betweene every Regiment The end of the 12. Section A DISCOVRSE OF POLITIQVE STRATAGEMS SECT XIII CHAP. CXXVII A perfect demonstration of such Politicke Stratagems as have beene plotted and practised both by Ancient and Moderne Commanders SEeing that Politicke Stratagems have been the immediate means next under the providence of God to gaine victories enervating and weakning an enemy I have thought it most fit to collect out of the best Authors the most subtillest and most eminent as also my owne observations which I have gathered in the time I followed the wars which may prove of much worth to bee taken notice of in two respects first in seeking to evade them or prevent them when an enemy shall make use of them or finding a conveniency and fit occasion to make use of them our selves by putting them in practice against our Enemies And although it bee not in the power of Man to reade the thoughts and designes of a polictike Enemy yet when a Commander knowes the nature of all Stratagems hee may happily ghesse by an Enemies carriage demeanour and actions what hee intends And first because no Generall can â—â—rry his designes so in the ayre but by some privy intelligence an Enemy is informed of it and so being fore-warned is fore-armed it is wisedome for a Generall privately to give out some speech of a designe in hand which he intends not to execute and in the interim to put in action some other project which may be prevalent in regard it is novelties to the enemy by this many Countries Cities and Garrison Townes have beene taken before the enemy could provide for to defend it as in the next chapter you shall see CHAP. CXXVIII How the Prince of Orange tooke in Grolle in Gelderland by pretending his Army should march before the Towne of Gelders THat wise and Politique Generall Prince Maurice knowing the strength of Grolle in regard of the Scituation of it especially if it were well manned and victualled he having laine with his Army once in former times before iâ— and was constrained to raise his Siege wherefore the second time he practised by policie to gaine that which formerly was denied to his strength wherefore hee countenanced his Designe and fitted his Army giving it out for another Towne called Gelders not farr in distance from the other The Enemy for the better securing of the Towne sent what Forces and Amunition they could spare out of other Townes to strengthen it but most especially from this Towne of Grolle which they thought secure whereby it was left destitute of any meanes for a long Siege this opportunity being suddenly taken by the Prince he drew his Army before it and beleaguered it round so that in a short time it yeelded which without this advantage would have beene impregnable CHAP. CXXIX A policie to deferre time when a Towne is beleaguered that reliefe may be gained or by it to get from an Enemy IN a Towne besieged it is policie for the Governour to parly upon some agreements in what kind hee shall surrender up the same and so make a Truce for certaine dayes in this kind of practice may be two advantages gained as namely first reliefe if it bee expected which without this plot happily cannot hold out untill it comes This was practised in Ost-end the Governour understanding by a Prisoner which was taken that the Enemy did intend to assault his workes generally upon all sides and in all places the next morne he thought it wisedome considering the weaknesse of the Towne to spend some time in a parley untill his Succours were arrived or at least to set those men in order and provide such necessaries for defence as could bee got whereupon Hostages being sent upon either side and Articles being discust upon but none agreed upon the releefe did arrive in the Towne and they were fitted for the assault Moreover these kind of Parleys makes an Enemy confident that meere distresse drives them unto it this causeth an enemy to be negligent in all his performances whereby great advantage may bee taken either in building or repairing workes which otherwise could not be done by this devise Silla that famous Commander being in a straight tooke advantage of the Enemies negligence in time of the Truce and suddenly beate thorow the Enemy and delivered himselfe the like did Asdruball being beleaguered in his running Campe by Claudius Nâ—ro escaped him which otherwise must have yeelded upon
and Foot caused those few troopes of Horse which he had to bee lined with certaine Foote who being charged by the Turke those Foote with a mighty shout brake out upon the Enemies troopes of Horse with such fury that they not onely rescued their owne but also brake and chased the Enemies Cavallry and contrary to all expectation won the Field CHAP. CXXXVI A Policie which the Duke De Alva used to fortifie his Army against the Prince of Orange his Horse THe Duke of Alva in the late Flemish Warres against the Prince of Orange most pollitiquely fortified himselfe with his Carts and Carriages chayned together casting up a small Trench of Earth beyond them did safeguard his Army being all Foot against the Prince of Orange who suddainly invaded him with a great power of Horse whereby he was never able to give him Battell and in the conclusion for want of Forrage and Victuals hee was driven to retire CHAP. CXXXVII A Policie to prevent rebellion of such in high authority as are discontented or of a proud and haughty Spirit MAny times Treacheries and deceits are practised against Generalls and happily by their owne disdainefull proud carriages to their inferiours For prevention thereof it is best to immitate Lewis the eleventh King of France who propounded to himselfe divers wayes to winde out of such troubles and to gaine the love and applause of his people wherefore he studyed to carry himselfe very loving and affable ready to heare complaints and to redresse them without delayes If he feared the fidelity of any one he would insinuate into him with milde and faire speeches free to them in gifts according to their degrees alwayes holding them in hopes of preferment and honour and freely tendring it as occasion offered He was loving to men of meane estate especially where any worth was cressant if by any mistake he had offered any injury he would in a fair way shew himselfe greeved and seeke to recover the parties love by large benefits CHAP. CXXXVIII How a Generall ought to demeane himselfe politiquely both in giving of Battell and in refusing it IF a Generall understand that his Enemy have new ayde and supply of men a comming unto him then ought he to seeke by all meanes to give him Battell before both his powers joyne or if his Victuals or Pay begin to faile then a Generall should never refuse Battell if any opportunity be offered Likewise on the contrary if a Generall expects a supply or if he understands his Enemies Victuals or moneys faile or that sicknesse increaseth amongst them then it behoveth him in policie to stand strongly upon his guard and by no meanes joyne Battell so long as he can conveniently avoyd it As the French did lately at the Isle of Ree onely dogging our English at the heeles and delaying to fight untill they saw a confusion in the Army by imbarking their men The like also in the Flemish Warres 1578 betweene the Estates and Doâ— John de Austria who understanding of the comming of Duke Cassimere with 5000 Horse and 6000 Foot offered the Army of the States Battell at Rymenant where they lay incamped and expected Duke Cassimers comming but Count Bossute then Generall of the States Armie being of sufficient strength to have fought with him would not but gave command that none of his Troopes should salley forth their Trenches but onely some Squadrons to guard Passages so that Don John finding himselfe and his expectations deceived and that he could not traine them forth to Battell was driven to march away and this temperance in the Count Bossute was no lesse Souldier-like than the couragious attempt of Don John to seeke Battell both being done with reason CHAP. CXXXIX A Politique observation of a Generall how he should intreat about a Peace WHen an Army of one side is driven to a streight so that conditions of Peace are to be intreated of a Generall must be curious and circumspect in making choise of discreet wise able men which understand themselves and the weightie service they are imployed in lest they should conclude some dishonourable Treaty or put the Generall in feare of their truth and fidelitie CHAP. CXL A Policie to prevent the Assistance of a Forraigne frieud LEwis King of France being distasted against the Duke of Normandy and Brittaine drawes his Army into the Dukes Territories the Duke understanding his proceedings obtaines assistance from the Duke of Burgundie the King presently conceived this policie in his head to indite a Letter as if it had come from the Duke of Normandy and sends it by a Herald to the Duke of Burgundy the Contents thereof were that whereas the King of France had offered him an Annuall summe of money to the value of 60000 Franks which he had accepted and considering divers circumstances and desiring not to hazard the event he had according to the Kings propositions surrendred to him the Dukedome of Normandie and the assessation of Armes was concluded upon The Duke of Burgundy being sensible of this and of the danger that might accrue to himselfe by their falling off yet hee was jealous that those Letters were counterfeited untill certaine other Letters were likewise invented as sent from other Friends to certifie him the truth which did confirme the former by this devise the King caused the Dukes Army to be disolved and according to his wished desires obtained a firme League CHAP. CXLI How to gaine fortunate successe to an Army THe best meanes a Generall can use to bring fortunate successe to an Army is to get true and frequent Intelligence from the Enemy which must be obtained from them by a trusty and secret Friend there resident or by some plaine wise Country man that vents victualls to an Army or by the Drummes that are sent for Prisoners or by some Prisoners taken Likewise some have used to send Ambassadours and with them in Servants apparell most expert men in Warre who having taken occasion to view the strength of the Enemies workes and of his Forces have by this meanes taken a sufficient opportunity to overcome them CHAP. CXLII A Policie used by Marâ—iâ—â— to try the fidelity of the French which inhabited Lombardy MArriâ—s in the Warres managed against the Cimbrie made use of a policie to try the fidelity of the French which inhabited Lombardy hee sent them certaine Letters open and sealed and in the open hee wrote that they should not open the Letters sealed untill a certaine time prefixed But before that time hee demanded of them to see those Letters againe wherehee found them opened by this hee knew their faith was not to bee trusted CHAP. CXLIII A Policie to compell an Enemy out of a Land without hazarding an Army in Battell with them A Kingdome being invaded by an Enemy if the Townes thereof be of any sufficient strength and ability to withstand the brunt of Warre the best way is not for an Army to goe meet them and give them Battell but for to enter
runne than to hazard the fight by which he overthrew them in their disorderly flight CHAP. CLIII How by a Stratagem the Guard of the Skonse at Zutphen was cut off and the Skonse taken and immediately after the Towne AT Zutphen in Gelderland the Enemy had raised a strong Skonse by the River Issell which they potently managed in regard it did command the Towne whereby the States of Holland were not able to besiege the Towne without that Skonce was first taken wherefore they procured a dozen English and Flemish yong Feminine faced Gentlemen who were apparelled in Country Maides clothing some having Butter others Poultry and the rest Egges which they brought by the Skonce feigning to sell it the souldiers begun to cheapen their commodities at length grew to toy with them and finding them somewhat tractable they pulled them into the Fort every Souldier being busie in drinking and some courting of these supposed Maides they tooke opportunity with a short skeane which hung by the inside of their Coates every maid to stab the Souldier that was next her whereby they cut off the whole guard then by a private signe certaine troopes of the Estates which lay close by in ambush to attend the designe came and maintained the worke by which meanes in few dayes they got the Towne of Zupthen also CHAP. CLIV. A Policie used by the Romanes to relieve such Townes as had rivers running by or thorow them THe Romanes used to relieve their besieged Townes when any River came thorow it or neere unto it by putting Corne and Munition in small Barrels which were so evenly ballanc'd that they might onely swim and bee kept from sinking these were conveyed downe the streame in a darke night so as the Enemy could not discover them also dryed Nuts they threw downe the streame which the Souldiers knowing the time of their comming downe fisht out of the water and relieved their necessities when the Enemy hath admired how the Garrison should possibly have beene relieved CHAP. CLV How the Governour of Bergen-up-zone had like to have rowted Spinola's Army at his first besieging it WHen Marquesse Spinola drew his Army before Bergen-up-zone the Governour invented a Politique Stratagem to have discomfited his Army as they stood in Battalia before they had intrencht themselves first he caused all his best Troopes to be in a readinesse to salley out likewise all his Horse-troopes were to assist them He also provided all the Bedees and Iades and all kinde of Horses of no Service that he could possibly get and having furnisht them with old Furniture and Pistols and Carbines fashioned of Wood these were to come softly on the Reare of the Enemy and the Foot and the other Horse were to charge them in the Front to the intent the Enemy seeing such a great and unexpected strength of Horse might be dismayed which thing indeed had taken effect had those supposed Harquebusiers come up as they were commanded but they fetcht so great a compasse about that they came too late for the Enemy had beaten backe the other Troopes to the Ports before they came in view and had spent all their Ammnnition for no sooner did the Enemy perceive those false Troopes but they disorderly retreated into those Trenches they had then made and had the States souldiers then had powder and shot to have pursued a Charge in their disorder they had questionlesse rowted them CHAP. CLVI A Policie used by Mennon of Rhodes to draw his Enemy out of his Trenches to give him Battell MEnnon of Rhodes finding no possible meanes to draw his Enemy out of his Trenches wherein he lay strongly incamp'd to give him Battell on the Plaines sent unto his Enemies Campe one of his Houshold servants under the Colour of a Fugitive who gave them to understand that the Souldiers of the said Mennon were in a mutinie and together by the eares and for that cause the greatest part of the Army went away at that instant and to the intent the greater credit might be given to his words there were sent away certaine Bands whom they saw to depart from the Campe and so understood there was a great tumult and being further opportun'd by the said Fugitive to take this advantage they might easily in the time of this disorder ruine Mennons Campe to this the Enemy condiscended and straightwayes fallyed out of their strong Trenches to assaile those who by this Project overthrew them for their too much credulity CHAP. CLVII How Marcellus by a Politique Stratagem cut off Hanibals Forces which came to assault the Towne of Nola. ONe Bantius a Commander in the Siege of Cane being fore wounded by Haniball and by him also taken Prisoner he used him very nobly with guifts and faire promises suffering him to passe quietly to the besieged Towne of Nola thinking to have made use of him in betraying the Towne to Haniball but Marcellus being Generall of the Forces in the Towne perceived by the strange carriage of Bantius that Haniball had infected him whereupon Marcellus closed with him by faire speeches with great guifts and mightie protestations of preferments and honours whereby he wonne his love and discovered unto him that Haniball intended to scale the Walles at such a time which accordingly he did but Marcellus having made ready for resistance had prepared certaine Troopes in a readinesse to salley out of the Towne to take the advantage of the Enemies disorders who falling upon them in severall places unexpectedly vanquish'd them Thus by making use of a Traytour a Victory was obtained CHAP. CLVIII A Policie which Scipio used to weaken and dishearten the Army of Asdruball before he would give him Battell whereby he gained the Victorie SCipio being Encamped in a Plaine against Asdruball dayly they drew themselves into Battell yet not attempting to charge eyther the other wherupon they firmly cōcluded that at what time soever they should fight their Battels should be drawn in the same figure as they before had practised but Scipio being politique victualled both his Horse and Men in the Night and drawing out certaine of his men by peepe of day to give an Alarme to Asdrubals Campe to cause him to draw his Army out of the Trenches and to expect a present fight Scipio now presently altered his forme of imbattelling and being drawne out of his Trenches earlier than formerly he was wont yet he protracted the execution of Battell onely using light skirmishes to keepe them from feeding either man or beast untill at length he thought they would be ready to faint for lacke of rest and food about noone he advanced his Wings forward a good pace leaving his maine Battell a good space behinde marching leisurely after also he drew out a Division which wheeled about and charged Asdrubals Wings in the Flanke and his owne Wings being in the Front whereby the Enemy was overcharged yet Asdrubals Battell durst not stirre to assist fearing Scipio's Battell and had they march'd forwards to have charged
Scipio's Battell they had beene inclosed and so charged on every side By this Stratagem Scipio got the victorie CHAP. CLIX. A Politique Stratagem which Titus Didus made use of to prevent his Enemie from Encountring with his fresh Supplies that were comming to assist him TItus Didus having divers Forces marching towards his Campe to strengthen his Army whereof his Enemy being informed prepared to encounter them upon the way and to cut them off whereupon Titus Didus having certaine Prisoners of the Enemy he gave out in their presence that every man should be in a readinesse to give Battell the next morning to the Enemy and withall tooke an occasion to let the Prisoners goe to their quarters who declared that Didus had given order for a Battell the next morne whereupon the Enemy was afraid to diminish their forces and durst not goe to encounter the Souldiers of Titus by this policie they arrived at his Campe in safetie which otherwise could not possibly have beene without the losse of most of them CHAP. CLX A policie of Haniball to bring the Romans into jealousie of their Generall Fabius Maximus that thereby he might worke his owne ends HAniball having Pillaged and burned all the Fields about Rome he only caused to bee reserved safe the fields and goods of Fabius Maximus to cause a jealousie to arise that there was some frienship betwixt the Enemy and him by this meanes Fabius was not be trusted Also Metellus to having an Army against Iugurth all the Ambassadours that Iugurth sent him were required by Metellus give unto him their Generall prisoner and after to the very same men hee wrote Letters to the same effect which wrought them such discredit that in short time Iugurth had all his Councellours in suspition and put them to death The like was practised by the Romans upon Haniball when he fled to Antiochus their Orators wrote to him so frequently and familiarly that Antiochus suspected him and would not put confidence in his Councells CHAP. CLXI A Politique Stratagem whereby an Army hath beene disheartened in time of Battell which hath caused their overthrow AT Muscleborough-field there was a policie used to cause a rumour to bee spread in the Enemyes Battell that their Generall was slaine and some part of the Troopes defeated and put to flight at this the Enemy was so amazed in the middest of their fight that they gave way and brake their Rankes Titus Quintus did practice the like but this must be acted in that part of the Army where the Generall is not to bee seene CHAP. CLXII A Politique Stratagem used by Labienus in France whereby hee vanquished his Enemies Army marching over a River LAbienus in France seeing his Enemy desirous to passe a River to present him Battell he counterfeited that he feared their poteâ—â—cy and feigned to March away yet leaving secret Ambushes which gave Labienus intelligence that a good part of the Enemies Army was past over the River hee suddenly returned and defeated them before the residue could get over to their rescue CHAP. CLXIII A Policie whereby an Army may passe over a River in safety when the Enemy attends the advantage to ruine them QVintus Lutatius in his Warres against Cimbry was close pursued even to the side of a River where either hee must passe or receive Battell wherefore hee setled his Army downe by the Rivers side and intrencht himselfe setting up some Tents and sending abroad for fortage as though hee meant indeed to stay by it The Enemy beleeving the same did in like manner incampe his Army and sent out his Souldiers likewise for Provision Lutatius making use of the Cimbryes negligence the night insuing suddenly passed the River with his Army before the Enemy could disâ—odge and drew his men in order to give them Battell CHAP. CLXIIII An excellent Policie for a Generall to put off a people that hee is in league withall and desires his assistance THe Athenians and Lacedemonians desired assistance of Gelon the Son of Dinomenes he being Generall over the Siracusians against Xerxes who had past the Hellespont with his mighty Army unto which Gelon consented and under a colour of his willingnesse levied thirty thousand Souldiers and two hundred Shippes to doe them service conditionally that they should make him Generall of one of their Armies either by Sea or Land which they refused to doe But afterwards upon better consideration they yeelded to his proposition and to that purpose sent their Ambassadours to whom he returned this answer That May was past and the Spring withered CHAP. CLXV The policie of Vigetius to convey Foot-troopes over a River that is passable so that the streame shall not offend them VIgetius hath a rule in passing a River that is wadeable if the streame bee violent and swift to cause certaine Horse-men to crosse the River in two places leaving a Lane betweene them for the Souldiers to passe the one ranke of Horse are to breake the strength of the water and the other Ranke below are to sustaine the Souldiers CHAP. CLXVI How by a Politique device the Hollanders obtained a convenient peece of ground from their Enemy upon which they built the Skonce called Skinkes which could not bee gained by force of Armes THâ— Hollanders having sound a certaine peece of ground very convenient to raise a Fort in it which might be made impregnable it being a point of ground lying betweene two mighty Rivers the Wale and the Leck they knowing not how to obtaine it in regard divers of the Enemies strong holds bordered upon it which would have beaten them off had they presumed to have entred it and besides they were loth the Enemy should take notice that the place was so convenient for that purpose as they knew it to bee for it cut off all releefe by water that all the adjacent Townes were accommodated with wherefore they plotted with a Countrey fellow named Skincke to hire that peece of land to feed Colts in it and for to keepe them from straying out hee was to raise a Wall with a great Ditch from one River to another which was about 400 Rodde this being finisht the Hollanders came sayling up the River by night with certaine Troopes which they landed there and by the strength of that Ditch and Rampart they beate off the Enemy for they had no other passage but thereby untill they had built the Skonce which is now called by the name Skinkes Skonce so samous for the late Siege CHAP. CLXVII Hanibals politique Observations in placing his Battels upon advantages HAniball against the Romans in the battell of Cannas had gotten the advantage from the Enemy both of Sunne and wind and had imbattelled his Army upon the higher ground these three things are to be principally considered as coadjutors in a victorious Skirmish the like did Mâ—â—rius against the Cimbrians by which he obtained an honourable Conquest CHAP. CLXVIII A Policie used by Pyrrhus whereby he deluded the Lacedemonians that his designe
and sâ—aying the Romans both Foot and Horses as they passed so that scarsly ten men escaped for those the trees spared were so amazed at the sudden accident that the French vanquish'd them imediately and slew their Generall Post-humus CHAP. CCXXIV. The Policie of Cyrus how to gaine valiant and loyall Commanders in his service IT is reported of Cyrus by Xenophon how infinitely hee would publikely confesse he loved and honoured meritorious Souldiers and when hee saw men willingly offer themselves to danger he prefer'd them to places of command and dignity and honoured them besides with other guifts whereby it appeared that valiant men were happiest and cowards accounted as their slaves By this devise many thrust themselves into eminent dangers especially if they thought or imagined that Cyrus should have notice thereof by this meanes he purchast both loyall and valiant commanders daring to present their bodies against most eminent perils and most difficult attempts CHAP. CCXXV. A Policie to stirre up emulation amongst Souldiers to make them enter the greatest difficulties and gaine impregnable things VBius a Captaine of the Company of the Pelignes being commanded upon a difficult peece of Service by Flavius Flaccus the Roman Consull his men being beaten from the Carthaginian trenches by Hanno he straight tooke his Banner in his hand and with force threw it over the ditch into the Campe of the Carthaginians speaking with a loud voyce Evill might I fare and my Company if my Enemies shall enjoy my Banner then by great force he lightly went over the ditch and scaled the walls of the Campe of his Enemy whom his Company boldly followed they being in fight with the Carthagenians another part cryed Valerius Flaccus what sluggish cowards are wee now growne shall the Pelignes win the honour of taking the Campe of our Enemies before us Romanes Whereuppon Titus Pedamius tooke his Colours from his Ensigne saying This will I beare into the Field of my Enemies follow mee brave Souldiers as many as would be loth of the losse thereof they presently being stirred with a valiant emulation obtained the Campe slaying sixe thousand and taking as many Prisoners this Policy to stirre up emulation was the onely meanes to obtaine this impregnable Campe from whence they had beene formerly repuls'd divers times CHAP. CCXXVI A policie to be used at the entring of an Enemies Towne to free the Souldiers from being anoyed with stones or Peeces from the Battlements of houses as also to prevent an Enemies fury in pursuing or retreate in a Fort or Towne XEnophon in his first book of the ascent of Cyrus relates how the Droylans having betaken themselves to their chiefe Fort to defend themselves against his Potent Army at last through much difficulty having scaled the Walls his men were forely wounded from the battlements of the houses and likewise there being a Citadell strongly made within the Fort they made a fierce salley out upon him that was irresistable by accident a house falling on fire upon one side of the way caused those that threw downe stones and weapons from the battlements to vanish away Xenophon perceiving this caused the house upon the other side to bee fired which wrought his Souldiers much safety Those from the Citadell charged his men so furiously that there was no retreating without a manifest losse and confusion wherefore he commanded every Souldier as hee was to come up to present his weapons and shotte against the Enemy to bring with him a quantity of Seare-wood and to place it betweene the Enemy and themselves and then to set fire on it by this policie he stayed the Enemies pursuite in their Retreite and busied them in quenching their fires CHAP. CCXXVII A politique Stratagem whereby Fabius the Consull tooke the Towne of Arpos by the helpe of a violent storme of Thunder wind and raine CLassius Aitinius repairing to young Fabius about the betraying of Arpos Fabius being arrived within a mile of the Towne about three a clocke in the morne hee appointed six hundred active Souldiers to beare Scaling-Ladders and so first to assay the scaling of the Walls Which done then on the inner part to breake open the Gates and being Masters of part of the Towne by the sound of a Horne to give him knowledge whereby he with the rest of the Troopes might approch to their succours as this was discussing there happened a wonderfull storme of wind raine and thunder whose vehemencie drove the Sentinells and Watchmen from the Walls into their Guards where abiding a good season not dreaming the Enemie would make his approches in such a stormy season they fell asleepe in the meane time the Romans making use of these stormes had quietly scalled the Walls and were quietly passing the streetes to the Ports where they broke them open whose noyse was not heard by the Watch so violent was the storme then blowing their Hornes the Consull made his approches about breake of day and entred the Towne CHAP. CCXXVI A politique Stratagem of Scipio in counterfeiting an intrenchment which amazed the Carthaginians and puzzled them to scale them SCipio in the Warres of Spaine being set upon with three Armies as hee lay upon a great Hill devised how to make some intrenchment to defend his Campe which could not be performed in regard the ground was so stony neither could hee get Bushes nor wood to make a defence about it wherefore hee made a show of a defence laying his packs and packsaddles and other grosse carriages one upon another round the Campe whereby he raised the Walles of his Campe of a good height the Carthaginians being come they were astonished at this and found it very difficult to enter onely their infinite number gained the conquest from Scipio This should put all Commanders in minde of impaling their Army although it be but with a Hedge or Hurdles for it is a great safetie as may be instanced by Captaine Swaâ—â—e who after Stâ—â—ley and Yorke had treacherously given up Deventer to the Enemy his Company having got forth the Towne was to march over Amers-forth Heath to a Garrison there and being set upon by a Troope of Horse of the Enemies with certaine Foot with them he betooke his Company to a sheep-fold made of Hurdles whereby hee protected his Company and beate the Horse with their Foot-men causing them to retreit CHAP. CCXXIX A strange Politique Stratagem whereby Haniball gained a Towne of great consequence by the helpe of Nico and Philomenes under the pretence of bringing in a wilde Bore NIco and Philomenes being great Hunters and used to goe out the Citie of Tarrent by night a hunting they went towards the Army of Haniball to declare to him their intents and being brought before him by the Watch Haniball being sensible of the plot wisht them to drive back divers Cattell as if they had gotten them as a prey from the Enemies this course they often used so that it was thought marvaile that they so often enterprised such
device he having laine secret in Spinola's Campe many dayes together hee perswaded his Wife to goe to the Prince of Orange and complaine of a sicknesse her husband had caught in carrying his Brothers Letters to Breda through the waters in the Winter season and she earnestly besought him to pay the remainder of the reward promised her husband the Prince taking hold of this occasion being over-joyed in finding out this trusty Messenger did undertake to pay him what was owing him with much more if he would now once againe adventure to carry one of his Letters to the Towne as he had convayed many of his Brothers heretofore the woman knowing her lesson objected the danger of the passage and the disease of her husband but in conclusion she suffered her selfe to be wonne to it and with a feigned unwillingnesse undertooke to perswade her husband whereupon she departed to fetch her husband to the Prince who returned with her counterfeiting a lamenesse as if his feet had beene frozen by the frost in the Winter the Prince agreed a price with him and rewarded him delivering his Letters of secret importance to him to be conveyed to the Governour of Breda the fellow came directly to Spinola with it whereby hee understood all their designes for this Spinola gave him a yeerely pension for ever CHAP. CCXXXIV A Stratagem whereby the Prince of Orange had like to have gained Antwerpe Castle THe Prince of Orange lying neere Breda which Spinola had besieged had a designe to take in Antwerpe Castle upon an onslaught to which purpose he kept the passages of his Campe very close and also the Garrisons out of which he was to draw his Souldiers out that no intelligence might be given to the Enemy to frustrate his designe the charge of his Expedition was given to Brochem Drossard of Bergen-up-zome who had 1000 foot and 200 horse the Souldiers themselves knew nothing whether they were to march but to contrary places Command was given that they should take off their Orange-tawny Scarffes and put on red which was the King of Spaines colours and they were to give out that they were the King of Spaines men and that they marched to Antwerpe for provision of Victuals for indeed it was reported Spinola's men were at that time to goe to Antwerpe for the same purpose their Waggoâ—s were also covered with Canvasse and marked with the Burgundian Crosse as Spinolaes were these things furthered their project and confirmed the Peasants in their beleefe that they were their owne men so that they arrived under the Walles of Antwerpe Castle being protected by the extremity of a darke night they had made themselves a passage to the Bridge and were ready to beate open the Ports but by the vigilancie of one Andreas Cea an old Souldier that stood Sentinell they were discovered and put to retreit A DESCRIPTION OF ENGINES AND WARLIKE INSTRVMENTS SECT XIIII CHAP. CCXLIII The description of such Engines and Warlike Instruments as are prevalent in the Warres with the manner of using them and how to make them IN regard the managing of Warlike affaires cannot bee well performed without the knowledge and true use of all kind of Instruments that are or may be invented it is therefore very necessary to describe the fashion and operation of such as have beene formerly and now are at this present day invented and also invent some that have not formerly beene knowne by these a Commander in chiefe may defend his Army and offend his Enemy for by the use of such Stratagemicall Instruments many times a Victory or Conquest hath beene easily obtained and upon more certainer tearmes then to trust only to the Valour and Potencie of an Army For the Nature of Policie and Politique Instruments are to accomplish such things that strength cannot performe their operation being in a double respect as the Commander that makes use of them shall order and dispose so accordingly is their operation viz. making all difficulties Easie and againe contrarily making all things easie difficult And by this twofold Vertue the wisedome and Ingenuity of an Enemie is often foyled I have formerly spoken of the use of all kind of Artillery as being the principall Engine Here I will onely speake of the Nature and Condition of the Petard by the force of which all substantiall massie bodyes are dissolved and fittered in peeces this Engine is of the fashion of a Leatherne Bucket usually made of Brasse the Verges even that it may lye patte upon the Port you intend to blow-open If the Port be accessible then it is to be hung up by a Ring upon a peece of Iron skrewed into the Port with a Forke to stay it close and to keepe it from reversing the manner of charging it and the use of it is more largely discoursed of in the Treatise of Artillerie Page 113. 114. But if the Port bee inaccessible then it must be placed upon an Engine which will conduct it to the Port as by the next Figure following you may see at C the fashion of the Petard at the Letter A. the Forke at the Letter B. CHAP. CCXLIIII The use of the Granadoes how they are made and charged with powder and how they are to be discharged out of a Morter or throwne by the hand AGrando is one of the necessariest Engines belonging to the Warres in regard it anoyes and spoyles the Enemie when no other Weapon nor Engine can there are two sorts of them one to shoote in a Morter-peece the other sort is to bee cast by the hand amongst the Enemies over their Walls and workes Those that are to bee shotte out of Morter-Peeces are to be cast in Brasse for the principall Service or made of Glasse or Earth and these are to batter downe Walls and Roofes of houses and to breake amongst the Enemies Horse or Foot-Troopes there is another sort made of Canvas and that is used properly to set fire upon Houses and Townes of these I will discourse in particular and demonstrate them by Figure Those of Brasse ought to bee of a foote-Diameter made somewhat long-wayes in thicknesse an inch one end thereof is to have a Snowt like a Bottle and at the other end a Hole at the which it is to be charged and the said hole is to bee skrewed then there is a strong Skrew-Tappe to be made to fill the skrew-hole and that is hollow wherein is put slow-burning-Powder made of Cannon-Powder beaten fine and moystned with the oyle of Peeter mingled with some Charcole then it is corded over with Cord halfe an inch in distance one from th' other every way acrosse to keepe it from splitting or breaking in the discharging it the manner how to charge them is shewed in the Discourse of the use of Artillery This Figure following in the meane time will give you some light for your better understanding In this Precedent Figure you see the parts of the Granado and how it is to bee
for it is commonly seene that quarrels mutines and horrible abuses arise by drunkennesse besides the neglect of their duties whereby an enemy takes his advantage to destroy a whole Campe. A Generall is to have speciall care that there be no quarrels or heart-burnings betweene his Officers but speedily to reconcile them before they goe upon any service lest a greater mischiefe insue as did upon the like difference betwixt Hanno and Bomilcar two famous Captaines of Carthage who being in fight against Agathocles and furiously charged by his troopes Bomilcar withdrew his divisions suffering Haenno and his souldiers to be hewen to peices If a Captaine or souldier transgresseth twice by his cowardlinesse or through negligence a Generall ought not to forgive as Hannibal a Commander in the first Punick warres lost his head for being through his cowardise vanquisht twice Non est bis in Bello peccare A Generall must avoid mutinies disorders and abuses in his Army by commanding every Regiment to be drawn in parrado and before the head of the troops some Officer to reade such lawes and edicts as are provided for the Army to be governed by wherby may not plead ignorance and if any dares offend wilfully against any of the Articles immediately to have the punishment inflicted without respect of persons He is to command divers false allarmes to be made whereby he shall see in what a readinesse his Army will be in if necessity required and if any base cowardlinesse should be found in any souldier that should not dare to answer the allarm with speed he should be brought before the head of the troops and his armes broken and banisht the Army If a Generall perceives that the enemy stops his releefe of Victualls and Ammunition that without hazard they cannot arrive then he must take notice what Townes or Forts intercept the passage of reliefe and give order for the taking of them in or strong Convoyes prepared to conduct the carriages for it is very dangerous to have an enemy in the Reare of an Army to hold any strong Townes or Forts for thereby they have advantage to stay and surprise all releefe that should sustaine the Campe. He must be truly informed by Intelligencers and Guides whose informations he must compare with the Map of that Countrey to see that no false wood be used how farre the enemies Townes lye from his Army he must not be ignorant of the Hills Vallyes Wayes Straights Passages Lakes Rivers and Bridges their number quality distance with every particular circumstance whereby he may know how the enemy may annoy him and the better he may know how to place his Fortifications and Guards for to prevent him The Prince of Orange was well seene in these affaires he knowing the situation of the seventeene Provinces in the Netherlands so exactly that he was able at one time to give directions how sundry parts and passages should be guarded what Straights fortifyed what Levells drowned either by sea or fresh water whereby hee avoyded present and eminent dangers Before a Generall intends to march with his Army the wayes are to be skowred by certaine horsemen for feare the enemy should lay any Ambuskadoes and also to give notice of the conveniency of the wayes for the Souldiers and Artillery to passe and also he is to have provided able sufficient Guides to conduct them the best and safest way A Generall is to see every Regiment as they march take their places according to their antiquities in the Field but when Companies are in Garrison that Company which first enters the Towne hath the priority during the time they stay also in a March the eldest Regiment is not continually to have the Vaward but the Regiment that marcht the first day in the Van the next day must march in the Reare and so proportionably every Regiment must take his turne if the march continues and in the morning before they dislodge a peece of Ordnance is to be discharged first whereby the Army takes notice they are to march at the second report of the Ordnance every Company is in armes ready to march and at the third report of the Cannon the first Regiment marcheth If divers Nations should be in an Army every particular Nation is to be quartered in a division by themselves and not to mixe Companies to avoyd quarrells moreover if the number be great of the Mercenary Nations it is best to divide them both in marching and imbattelling lest they should be treacherous or cowardly for there is no confidence nor trust can be reposed in them unlesse they be conveniently placed in the Battell so as they may be yoaked in and tyed to performe their best indeavours If an enemy should keepe a Straight to hinder the marching of the Army a Generall must draw out both Horse and Foote to charge them in either Flancke and then the residue to fight out their way in the Front of them Also a Generall must be very expert in distinguishing the severall seates of the Drum which is his voyce in the time of warre the souldiers are also to be taught the understanding of the same that they may accordingly demeane themselves as the beate of the Drumme commands A Generall is to give to the Serjeant-Major-Generall of the Army the watchword which is privately to be kept and returned to all inferiour Officers by which word they may passe the whole Army through this watchword is to be altered every night A Generall is to cause lots or billets to be made with the names of every particular guarde written in them those are to be rowled up and put into a hat by the Major and so every inferiour officer drawes his guard by this meanes disputes are prevented and the enemy cannot corrupt an officer to give over a guard because it is uncertaine who shall have that watch also to give order to the inferiour Officers for the due and orderly releeving of the watch morning and evening A Generall is to draw his whole Army into Battallia and to see them exercised in grosse changing them into divers formes of Battell the footemen are to be ordered in divers small Battallions whereof are framed the right Wing the Battell and the left Wing the Battell is to consist of as many more men as either of the Winges doth the Horsemen are to bee devided into divers Battallia's so as they may one releeve the other the one halfe of the horse are to be plac'd on the right Wing of the Army the other on the left unlesse one of the Wings and the reare of the battell may be secured by Rivers Bogges or Rockie ground so that the enemy may not take advantage with his horse then they are to be ranged only upon one Wing they are to be plac'd a sufficient distance from the foote lest by their disorderly retreate they annoy their owne foot-troopes divers foote and horse are to be ranged a good distance before the Army which are termed
to march before the Foot and before them certain Spies to discover for fear of the enemies Ambushes If marching from an enemy the Horse-Troops are to follow in the Rear of the Army to charge the enemy if he offers to pursue An Army marching through straight lanes must order their men into so many Files as may well march a Brest An Army being to march over Heaths or Plains then they must march by divisions as namely three or four Companies a Brest that they may the readier and more suddenly be drawn into Battalia An Army is commonly divided into three divisions viz. the Vant-guard Battell and Rear-guard every Colonell ought to march according to his antiquitie one before another after like manner every Captain of every Colonels Regiment is to doe the same That Regiment which marcheth in the Vant-guard the first day ought to come to their quarters very timely then the Battell must march forwards and be quartered beyond them then the Rear-ward is to march up beyond the Battell and there to bee quartered so that the next morne it may bee ready at the discharging of the warning peece to march Note that Regiment which marcheth the first day in the Van the day following is to march in the Rear and they are daily thus to take their turns if the March continues long We are further to observe whether we are to march in the day time or in the night and accordingly we are to demean our selves If by day The manner now in use is to send out before the Army by a sufficient trusty Guide which knows wel the passages of the Countrey certain Fire-locks Dragones and Musketires to discover the enemy and the Horse are to represse the enemies incursions these are likewise to surprize straight waies Bridges and Foords Next after these are the Pioners to march with a good guard to mend the waies and to cut through passages so as the Ordnance may be drawn safe and the Army march the best and neerest way The Foot of the Vant-guard or right Wing is in the next place to follow every Battalia thereof in their due order the one halfe of the Horse of the Army before them and all their baggage or carriage behind them in the Rear The Battalions of the Battell are in the next place to follow in the same equipage the former did viz. with all their baggage and carriage in the Rear Lastly the Battalions of the Rearward or left Wing are to follow in March with all their baggage and carriage behind them also and every one of these Battalions are to have their shot before and behind and the residue of the Horse are to bring up the Reare The Ordnance are to be distributed as the Carriage is viz. both behind the Vantguard the Battell and the Rear-ward the better to secure against all attempts But this kind of ordering the Horse the Ordnance and the Baggage is most commonly used when the enemy is not at hand As for the marching of an Army by night all the baggage and carriages are to bee sent before the Armie with a sufficient guard next after them your Pike-men then the Musketires and all the Horse in the Rear so that by break of day they may come all together to their Rendevou This way an Army in the night is best and easilyest kept together and is soonest espied if it faulters but this is also to bee used when the enemy is not neer Wee are to observe that in a March both Colonels Captains and other inferiour Officers are called from the leading of their own Regiments and Companies to command in another Regiment or Company which many times happens in regard the Generall will have the eldest Colonels by him to discourse and advise of things Materiall about the Warres So that a Lieutenant Colonell commands a Regiment and the eldest Captain the Colonels Company also a Lieutenant to command a private Company and these are thus ordered and disposed as it shall please the Serjeant-Major to give commandement An Army being thus orderly marcht to the place of their inquartering the Generall his field-Martiall and Serjeant-Major generall are to be very wise and circumspect in placing the Horse-guards outermost of all upon speciall passages where they must set out their Horse-sentinels a good distance from the guard that they may the better discover and give warning of the enemies approaches by making an Alarme by the discharge of their Pistols so that the whole Army may presently bee in armes The Foot-sentinels are to stand upon some passages neerer to the Quarters than the Horse are Upon Alarme given all the Companies of the Army are speedily to march into some convenient place appointed by the Generall over night where every Company is to be drawn into Battalia fit to charge the enemy And as before I have said how the Foot should march in divisions over a Heath or Plain after the same proportion the Horse-troops also are to march in divisions viz. two four or six Cornets in a division neither divisions of Horse nor Foot are to march in far distance one from the other but so as the whole Army suddainly may joyn in Battell if the enemy should approach At every stand the Army makes upon a Heath or Plain every single division is to march up and front with the next division before it upon the left hand of the same and if the stay bee long and the place dangerous then successively all the divisions are to bee drawne into a compleat Battell After this very manner the Army must be demeaned in marching off from a Heath or Plaine if the enemy chaseth them in the Reare thinking to take an advantage when the Army shall be drawne out by Companies to march through some narrow passages lanes or high-wayes the Horse are to be drawne in Battalia in the Reare of these Troopes to receive the charge of the enemy untill such time as all the Foot Troopes are marcht through those straights where having convenient ground they are to re-imbattell themselves to entertaine the enemies charge if he dares adventure to follow But the safest way is if an Army cannot eschue but must breake his aray to march from an enemy through a straight he being ready to take his advantage to charge them then to give them Battell if your Army be equivalent in strength is the safest way if not then to intrench the Army securely waiting an opportunity and making use of some pollicy to get safely from them If an Army be weaker in Horse than the enemies Army is it is very dangerous to march over the Plaines but rather take some hilly rockie way whereby the enemies horse shall be unprofitable The enemy being neere at hand the best way is to have the Artillery and Baggage to march on the contrary side from the enemy in all straights and in Champions to be plac'd in the midst of the Army In extremity of hot weather the
Sutlers belonging to every Company may march with their Waggons between the Companies whereby they may the sooner be relieved with meat and drink which otherwise they cannot come unto but once a day but this must be when there is no fear of the enemy It is requisite to have good Guides for direction of the best and safest way Likewise those Horse-men that are commanded to bee Vant-currers for the discovering of the enemy their dutie is also to view the passages and to take notice of the breadth of every straight way the Quarter-Masters are to doe the same and to give intelligence that the Army may march accordingly As for example suppose the way bee eighteene foote broad the Armie must bee commanded to march six men in Rank or Brest because every Foot-man will have three foot in breadth between File and File and six foot at the least between Rank and Rank so that twentie foure foot in breadth and foure Miles in length will but containe an Army marching of three or foure and twenty thousand When an Army is constrained to march thus in length the straight passages hindring from marching in divisions may prove very dangerous if extraordinary intelligence bee not hourely had of the enemies proceedings for should an enemy watch his opportunity to fall on the Front Flank or Rear of the Armie there could bee very little help expected for the Front were not able to succour the Rear no more than the Reare could the Front and being charged upon the Flank there could bee but a poor resistance made But the best and safest way in such an unexpected danger is either to draw as many Companies as may possibly bee gotten into such closes of ground as shall bee strongly fenced and there order them in Battalia where they shall bee able to make a good resistance untill the residue of the Army provides for its safety Or otherwise if the enemy chargeth upon any of the sides then it is best to file all the Musketires upon that Flank the enemy strives to charge so that every Souldier shall give fire over the hedge as hee marches and so passe along But if an enemy should chance to break into the high-way with their Horses bee it in the Front or Reare of the Army there is no way but to barricado up the way with Waggons or fell trees crosse the way or by fyring a great quantitie of feare-wood to hinder the enemies execution untill the Army be drawn out of the way into the fields where they may so order themselves that the enemy cannot possibly rout them if a few Troops should bee assaulted by the enemies Horse in their March the dimond Battell or the crosse Battell is of greatest strength otherwise if an Army opposeth another Army upon the plaines then a Battell so framed that most hands may be brought to fight and succours to releeve them is best alwayes having the advantage of Winde and Sunne with Woods Rocks Rivers Ponds or great Ditches either on Flanck or Reare or both It is a thing unsufferable for souldiers to ramble from their Colours to laze or pillage but to march orderly in their rancks for the Provost-Marshall by his Commission and authority ought to hang up such fellowes the next bough they come at for the whole Army to see and be warned by as they shall passe by them in their March for the inconveniences are many and dangerous to an Army The enemy by taking them gaineth intelligence of the state of the Army besides the mischiefe which such fellowes doe commit in robbing and pilfering whereby a friend-people will bee incenst and ready to be treache rous to an Army seeing themselves abused and bereft of their goods It is policy if an Army marches in an enemies countrey to ruine destroy and burne whatsoever may be advantagious to the enemies livelyhood providing alwayes sufficiently for your owne Army If there should be any suspition that the enemy strives to gaine some places of advantage to hinder the march it is convenientest to send speedily certaine Horse-Troopes likewise Shot and Pikes upon Bedees in manner of Dragons or tenne or twelve men in a waggon hurry them speedily to prevent the enemy from fortifying themselves in such places of advantage The Lord Montpezat in his march from Fossar was put to a dangerous plunge he being constrained to take his way through the Valley Pratgella the entrance into which was most difficult in regard the Hilles and Mountaines were held and possest with the enemy whereby hee lost divers of his men wherefore hee sent certaine Forces under the conduct of Monsieur Dambres to get the higher ground and force his enemy to a retreat which they did excellently performe by which policy hee marcht safe without the losse of a man The wedge-Battell is the absolutest forme to enter a straight for the Shot comes so fluent and peircing that the enemy cannot possibly resist unlesse the passage be Barricadoed up If any Enemy be farre stronger both in Foote and Horse then thy Army is provide that he assaults thee not on every side but be sure of some place of safeguard as Woods Bogges or Rivers for if the enemy be not three times as strong as thy Army is he shall shew himselfe of very poore judgement to divide his Army and weaken it for to assault thee in divers places which may purchase his owne overthrow Machiavill in his Art of Warre adviseth Generalls to accustome their souldiers to march and in marching to joyne in Battalia ready for fight and so draw out into a march againe then to face about into the Reare and draw up into Battalia againe the like also to performe on either Flanck so that upon all occasions suddenly they might understand to order themselves and range themselves into any forme of Battell but where there is no place of safeguard or advantage the quadrate forme of imbatttelling is safest for he durst not devide his forces to charge that kinde of forme upon all sides It were very commendable and very advantagious to the strengthning of our kingdome if every Lord Lieutenant might draw all the forces of the shire together unto some convenient place in the midst of it taking a convenient time of the yeere that neither Hay-time nor Harvest may hinder wheresuch troops may be drawn into all formes of Battell and learne to understand all advantages in march If an Army marches through the enemies land or farre from the water so that provision may not be conveyed by shipping the best way is to drive after the Army herdes of Beeves and Sheepe which being alive cannot much cumber the Army all other provision is to be conveyed by Waggon A Generall must be very vigilant and circumspect in his march to discover all Ambushes by which he may two wayes incurre danger viz. either by marching into them or through the enemies policy trained into them unawares For the avoyding of the first perill as before
belonging unto our service he shall answer to the complaint before the Court. 28. In like manner if any inferiour Officer either of horse or foote does challenge any common souldier to be guilty of any dishonest action the souldier finding himselfe guiltlesse may lawfully call the said Officer to make proofe of his words before the Court as his equall 29. If any souldier either of horse or foote shall offer to strike his officer that shall command him any duty for our service he shall first lose his hand and be then turned out of the Quarter And if it be done in any Fort or place beleagured after the watch is set he shall lose his life for it 30. And if he doth hurt to any of them whether it be in the field or not he shall be shot to death 31. If any such thing falls out within the compasse of the Leaguer or the place of Garrison in any of the souldiers lodgings where many of them meete together the matter shall be inquired into by the Officers of the Regiment that the beginner of the fray may be punished according to desert 32. He who in the presence of our Generall shall draw his sword with purpose to doe mischiefe with it shall lose his hand for it 33. He who shall in anger draw his sword while his Colours are flying either in Battell or upon the March shall be shot to death if it be done in any strength or fortifyed place he shall lose his hand and be turned out of the Quarter 34. He who shall presume to draw his sword upon the place where any Court of Iustice is holden while it is holden shall lose his life for it 35. He that drawes his sword in any strength or Fort to doe mischiefe therewith after the watch is set shall lose his life for it 36. No man shall hinder the Provost Marshall Generall his Lieftenant or servants when they are to execute any thing that is for our service who does the contrary shall lose his life 37. Leave is given unto the Provost Marshall Generall to apprehend all whatsoever that offends against these our Articles of Warre All other offenders he may likewise apprehend by his owne authority 38. If the Provost Marshall Generall shall apprehend any man by his owne authority he may keepe him either in prison or in irons but by no meanes doe execution upon him after the Court of Warre is ended without first giving the Generall notice thereof 39. The Provost Marshals of every Regiment have also the same priviledge under their owne Regiment and Company that the Provost Marshall Generall hath in the Leaguer 40. Every Serjeant Major commanding in the whole Leaguer what appertaines to his Office shall be obeyed by every man with his best endeavour 41. Whatsoever is to be published or generally made knowne shall be proclaimed by sound of Drumme and Trumpet that no man may pretend ignorance in it they who after that shall be found disobedient shall be punished according to the quality of the fact 42. No souldier shall thinke himselfe to good to worke upon any peece of Fortification or other place where they shall be commanded for our service upon paine of punishment 43. Whosoever shall do his Majesties businesse slightly or lazily shall first ride the wooden horse and lie in prison after that with bread and water according as the fact shall bee adjudged more or lesse hainous 44. All Officers shall diligently see that the souldiers plye their worke when they are commanded so to doe he that neglects his duty therein shall be punished according to the discretion of the Court. 45. All souldiers ought diligently to honour and obey their Officers and especially being by them commanded upon service but if at any time they can on the contrary discover that they are commanded upon a service which is to our prejudice any manner of way then shall that souldier not obey him what charge soever he receives from him but is presently to give notice of it 46. No Colonell nor Captaine shall command his souldiers to doe any unlawfull thing which who so does shall be punished according to the discretion of the Judges Also if any Colonell or Captaine or other Officer whatsoever shall by rigour take any thing away from any common souldier he shall answer for it before the Court. 47. No man shall goe any other way in any Leaguer wheresoever but the same common way laid out for every man upon paine of punishment 48. No man shall presume to make any Alarme in the quarter or to shoot of his Musket in the night time upon paine of death 49. He that when warning is given for the setting of the watch by sound of Drumme Fife or Trumpet shall wilfully absent himselfe without some lawfull excuse shall be punisht with the wooden horse and be put to bread and water or other pennance as the matter is of importance 50. He that is taken a sleepe upon the watch either in any strength trench or the like shall be shot to death 51. He that comes of his watch where he is commanded to keepe his Guard or drinkes himselfe drunke upon his watch or place of Sentinell shall be shot to death 52. He that at the sound of Drumme or Trumpet repaires not to his Colours shall be clapt in irons 53. When any march is to be made every man that is sworne shall follow his Colours who ever presumes without leave to stay behind shall be punished 54. And if it be upon mutiny that they doe it be they many or be they few they shall die for it 55. Who ever runnes from his Colours be he Native or Forreiner and does not defend them to the uttermost of his power so long as they be in danger shall suffer death for it 56. He that runnes from his Colours in the field shall dye for it and if any of his Comrades kill him in the meane time he shall be free 57. Every man is to keep his own ranck and file upon the march and not to put others from their orders nor shall any man cast himselfe behind or set himselfe upon any waggon or horse-back the offenders to be punished according to the time and place 58. Whatever Regiment shall first charge the enemy and retire afterwards from them before they come to dint of sword with them shall answer it before our highest Marshals Court 59. And if the thing be occasioned by any Officer he shall be publikely disgraced for it and then turned out of the Leaguer 60. But if both Officers and Souldiers bee found faulty alike then shall the Officers be punished as aforesaid If it bee in the Souldiers alone then shall every tenth man be hanged the rest shall bee condemned to carry all the filth out of the Leaguer untill such time as they performe some exploit that is worthy to procure their pardon after which time they shall bee cleer of their former disgrace But if at
the first any man can by the testimony of ten men prove himselfe not guilty of the cowardize he shall goe free 61. When any occasion of service is hee that first runs away if any man kill him hee shall bee free and if at that time he escape and be apprehended afterwards he shall be proclaimed Traitor and then put out of the Quarter after which whosoever killeth him shall never be called to account for it 62. If any occasion be to enter any Castle Towne or Sconce by assault or breach he who retires from the place before hee hath been at handy blowes with the enemy and hath used his sword so farre as it is possible for him to doe service with it and before he bee by main strength beaten from it by the enemy shall be so punished as the Court shall censure him 63. Whatsoever Ensigne-bearer shall flye out of any place of Battery Sconce or Redout before hee hath endured three assaults and receive no reliefe shall be punished as before 64. Whatsoever Regiment Troop or Company refuseth to advance forwards to charge the enemy but out of fear and cowardize stayes behind their fellowes shall be punished as before 65. Whatsoever Regiment Troop or Company is the beginner of any mutiny shall be punished as is before mentioned the first authour to die for it and the next consenter to bee punished according to the discretion of the Court. 66. If any Regiment Troop or Company shall flye out of the Field or Battell then shall they three severall times six weeks being betwixt every time answer for it before the Court and if there it can be proved that they have done ill and have broken their Oath they shall be proclaimed Traitors and all their goods shall bee confiscated whether they bee present to answer it before the Court or not if they bee absent they shall bee allotted so many daies as wee shall appoint them for liberty to come in to answer it before the Court where if they cleer themselves well and good if not they shall have so many daies to retire themselves after which if they be apprehended then shall they be punisht according as the Court shall doom them 67. Whatsoever Regiment Troop or Company shall treat with the enemy or enter into any conditions with them whatsoever without our leave or our Generals or chief Commander in his absence whatsoever Officer shall doe the same shall be put to death for it and all his goods shall bee confiscated of the souldiers every tenth man shall be hanged and the rest punished as aforesaid 68. Whosoever presuming to do the same and shall be taken therewith shall bee proceeded withall like those that fly out of the field their goods also shall be confiscate 69. If any that then were in company with such can free themselves from being partakers in the crime and can prove that they did their best to resist it then shall they be rewarded by us according as the matter is of importance 70. Whoever upon any strength holds discourse with the enemy more or lesse without our leave our Generals or the Governour of the place shall die for it 71. If it bee proved that they have given the enemy any private intelligence by letter or otherwise without our leave as aforesaid shall die for it 72. They that give over any strength unto the enemy unlesse it be for extremity of hunger or want of Ammunition the Governour with all the Officers shall die for it all the souldiers shall be lodged without the quarters without any Colours they shall be made to carry out all the filth of the Leaguer thus to continue untill some noble exploit of them be performed which shall promerit pardon for their former cowardize 73. Whatsoever souldiers shall compell any Governour to give up any Strength shall lose their life for it those either Officers or Souldiers that consent unto it to be thus punished the Officers to die all and the Souldiers every tenth man to be hanged but herein their estate shal be considered if they already have suffered famine and want of necessaries for their life and bee withall out of hope to bee relieved and are so pressed by the enemy that of necessity they must within a short time give up the Peece endangering their lives thereby without all hope of reliefe herein shall our Generall with his Councell of Warre either cleer them or condemne them according to their merit 74. If any number of Souldiers shall without leave of their Captain assemble together for the making of any convention or taking of any councell amongst themselves so many inferiour Officers as bee in company with them shall suffer death for it and the souldiers be so punished as they that give up any Strength Also at no time shall they have liberty to hold any meeting amongst themselves neither shall any Captain permit it unto them he that presumeth to suffer them shall answer it before our highest Court. 75. If any being brought in question amongst others shall call for help of his own Nation or of others with intention rather to bee revenged than to defend himself he shall suffer death for it and they that come in to help him shall bee punished like Mutiners 76. Whosoever giveth advice unto the enemy any manner of way shall die for it 77. And so shall they that give any token signe or Item unto the enemy 78. Every man shall be contented with that Quarter that shall be given him either in the Town or Leaguer the contrary doer to be accounted a Mutiner 79. Whoever flings away his Armes either in field or otherwhere shall be scourged through the Quarter and then be lodged without it be inforc'd to make the streets clean untill they redeem themselves by some worthy exploit doing 80. He that felleth or pawneth his Armes or any kind of Amunition whatsoever or any Hatchets Spades Shovels Pickaxes or other the like necessary instruments used in the field shall be for the first and second time beaten through the Quarters and for the third time punish'd as for other theft hee also that buieth or taketh them upon pawn be he souldier or be he victualler he shall first lose his money and then bee punished like him that sold them 81. Hee that wilfully breaketh any of his Armes or Implements aforesaid shall again pay for the mending of them and after that be punish'd with bread and water or otherwise according to the discretion of the Court. 82. Hee that after warning to the contrary shall either buy or sell shall first lose all the things so sold or bought and then be punished for his disobedience as is aforesaid 83. No man that once hath been proclaimed Traitor either at home or in the field or that hath been under the hangmans hands shall ever bee endured again in any Company 84. No Duell or Combat shall bee permitted to bee fought either in the Leaguer or place of Strength if any
proper to be used in the Champion where there is no refuge either naturall or artificiall the enemy exceeding in strength both in Horse and Foot THE figure of the Battell following is invented for the safe retire of the Shot being over-powred and repulsed by the Horsemen of the enemy or otherwise who may at eight severall places retire into these Squadrons which stand in the proportion of a Fortresse There are thirty seven Maniples of Shot orderly plac'd the distance betwixt each are three paces in every Maniple are contained 130. Shot which amounts to in grosse 4810. the residue being 190. are equally plac'd to attend the Ordnance being 23. at each Platforme so there is only six remaines to be imployed upon messages or to guard the Powder These Maniples or Battalia's of Shot are Impaled with the Pikes which are thus ordered each Flanke hath 850. also the Front and Reare takes up 800. each corner takes up 425. these amount to 5000. Pikes being ordered ten deep in file In either corner of this Battell are two spaces for the Shot to sally out upon the enemy and to retreate in againe for their safety The Ordnance being discharged upon the enemies Troopes are to be drawne in at these spaces and plac'd within the Reare of the Pikes so that when the enemy chargeth the Pikes may close themselves into one maine Square by causing the Flanks to March up to the corners of the Squares which as occasion shall offer may disclose againe and let out the Shot to skirmish with the enemy The Squares of Pikes at each corner doth much strengthen the Battell especially if the enemy chargeth it on Front and Flanke at once it is all in all to strengthen the corners of any Battell whatsoever for in the corners lyes all the weaknesse Moreover if the enemy chargeth upon two sides at once yet those passages furthest from them may have Shot sally out and give fire upon them and safely retrait in againe There is no wise Generall will adventure to charge such a Battell as this is upon all foure sides at once except his Army were foure times stronger in men and horse If need be Shot may be drawne continually round under the Pikes which may give fire upon the enemy and so fall in againe and be continually releeved CHAP. XV. A fourth figure of Imbattelling an Army consisting of twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse IN Marshalling this Battell this course is to bee observed the Pikes consisting of 4000. must be ranged into eight Battalia's each Battalia hath 460. Pikes viz. 46 in ranke and 10. deep in file which amounts to in the whole summe 3680. so there remains 320. Pikes of the 4000. which are thus disposed of upon the right Sleeve in the Front is 120 Pikes which are either to guard the Ordnance or to assist the Horse as occasion shall serve likewise there is as many on the left Sleeve to be imployed as the former in the Reare are 80. more plac'd for the guarding of the Ordnance as you may see at each Platforme 40. In the next place the foure thousand Shot are thus to bee Marshalled each Flanke of the Pikes hath six hundred twenty foure Shot ranged eight in depth and seventy eight in Ranke or Brest that is one thousand two hundred forty eight upon both Sleeves for from the Front of the Pikes to the Reare is fifty two paces and the spaces or distances betwixt each Battalia is five paces and the three Battalia's occupieth forty two paces of ground viz. in each Battalia fourteene paces so that every souldier occupieth seven foot of ground betwixt Ranke and Ranke which makes fifty two paces In the next place there is thirty six Squadrons of Shot each Squadron containing seventy men in the Front there are twenty one Squadrons and in the Reare fifteene the whole number amounts unto two thousand five hundred and twenty Shot so their remaines still three hundred and twenty Shot of which are plac'd on each Sleeve or Wing above in the Front by the Pikes one hundred and twenty these are to joyne with those Squadrons of Pikes that attend the Ordnance and upon all occasions they may be drawne out to assist the Horse if the enemy should over-powre them also in the Reare each Platforme of Ordnance hath forty Shot to aide the Pikes for the securing of the same The two hundred Horse are plac'd upon each Flanke in three severall Battalia's the first Battell consists of three hundred the second being Curassiers hath foure hundred the third being Carbines hath as the first had three hundred so that in all there is two thousand the Horse are to charge the enemies Horse and being put to retreat by them those loose Shot and Pikes are to be in a readinesse to give fire upon them which being disordered by them the Horse are immediatly to recharge them if the enemy be still to strong then let the foure hundred Curassiers being fortified on each Flanke with the Harquebuziers and Carbines charge them all on brest these Horses being sufficiently lined with shot and in the meane time the Squadrons of Shot must disband themselves and give fire upon the enemy and if need be those Squadrons in the Reare may easily releeve them in the Front through those passages of the Pikes If all resistance be to no purpose but the Shot must retreat into those spaces and so to order themselves in the void space in the midst of the Battalions of the Pikes then after their retreat the Battalia's must close themselves making a firme Front every way and the Impalement or Wings of Shot must be drawne round under the Pikes which being so drawne will make just foure rankes they must discharge upon their knees and so safeguard themselves The Horse must secure themselves on the Flanks or in the Reare So soone as the enemy is driven to retreat then the Pikes are to open their divisions and let out the Shot to assaile them in the same manner as before This forme of Imbattelling hath beene used in former times and questionlesse it may be very prevalent in two necessities as in the night when a Generall knowes not in what kinde or manner the enemy will assaile him or if his Army should be weake in Horse and his Army should be suddenly set upon by them upon some spatious ground which should be advantagious for the enemies Horse to surprise them then this forme of Imbattelling may be very defensive From this forme of Imbattelling as also from all other if the Generall sees reason he may alter it into what order he pleaseth this very subject deserves a discourse by it selfe the which if I should here treat of it would be too tedious but any ingenious Souldier at the first view will conceive how to transmute any Battell decyphered into any other forme the condition of the Battell will best admit and thus much for this CHAP. XVI A fifth way of Imbattelling an
to shoot The Rear of this Army is defended by a large River as by the foregoing Figure appeareth CHAP. XX. A description of the ninth Figure how to frame a Battell for Stratagem invironed with a Ditch being very prevalent in the Plains when the enemy predominates in Horse IN this following Figure you may first observe the Ditch marked A to bee six foot broad and three foot deep it hath on all four sides an entrance or way to sally in or out of twenty paces broad marked B and are so placed to allure the enemy to enter them You may likewise observe at every Passage five Battalia's of three hundred men in each Battalia there is a Peece of Ordnance placed behind every middle Battell when the enemy is ready to enter any of these passages then the middle Battell must open in the midst dividing either halfe on each side of the passage so as the Ordnance may play full in the face of the enemy then the 400 Horse are to issue out upon the enemy and to charge them in their disorders for the same purpose they are placed in the midst remote from the Foot being divided into four Squadrons in form of a Crosse standing ready faced towards the entrance of the passages being 400 in each Battalia The Foot are in all the Army only six thousand each Battalia hath particularly 300 men apeece If you have no Horse in the midst then divide them only into eight Troops placing them for Wings in an even Front or on the Angles in so doing the forme of the Battel will be hollow and the Battalia's that guard each passage will be but three apeece The Figure of this discourse followeth in the next Page The ninth Figure of the Battell for Stranagems This may bee a forme of imbatteling very prevalent to secure a weak Army that is compelled to fight and hath no place of advantage to help them but the open field and their own valours to trust unto CHAP. XXI A tenth forme of imbattelling an Army used by Henry the fourth of France against Duke Albertus of Austria at his approach to raise the siege of Amiens This Army consists of 12000 Foot and 4000 Horse THis following Figure demonstrates unto your view nine Battalions after this form marshalled first three of these Battalions were for the right Wing three other for the main Battell the other three for the left Wing The first three Battalions of the right Wing are each of them flanked with Musketires containing a thousand Foot in each before every of the said Battalions is placed nine Files of Musketires three in the right Angle three in the left and three in the midst before them every File contains ten men in depth The three Battalions for the main Battell are also flanked with Musketires having nine Files plac'd before them as the former had only these Battalions contain as many more men as the former did viz. two thousand in each The three Battalions for the left Wing are likewise imbattelled as the former Battels of the right Wing are with Musketires before them each Battalia contains a thousand men There are also twelve field-Peeces upon each Wing there are planted six viz. three fore-right and three Flank-wise to annoy the enemy both in Front and Flank The Horse are ranged without these upon either Wing somewhat oblique-wise to incompasse the enemy being in number four thousand and they are divided into three Battalia's the first contains five hundred the second three hundred and the last two hundred In the Rear of the Army was the Kings Trenches strongly fortified and guarded with three thousand Foot to defend him from the sallies of the Town in which respect he needed no Seconds View the Figure CHAP. XXII The eleventh forme of imbattelling an Armie consisting of 30000 Foot and 6000 Horse being a most excellent strong forme THis subsequent Figure represents unto your view a Battell formed with two Fronts or Faces the formost Battell is divided into eight principall Battalions each Battalia containing nine hundred men Pikes and Muskets which make ninety Files and ten deep in each In these eight formost Battalions are contained seven thousand and two hundred souldiers the spaces or distances betwixt each Battalia in the Front is four paces The second Front is divided into four great Battalia's containing one thousand and eight hundred Pikes and Muskets in each viz. one hundred and eighty Files and ten deep so that these foure last Battalia's containe seven thousand and two hundred souldiers as the formost Battell did the distance or spaces betwixt these four last Battalia's is twenty five paces Likewise the space or distance from the Front of the first Battell unto the Front of the Battell in the Rear is sixty paces In the time of fight the Generall is to take his place before the Front of the middle Battell in the Rear it being the place of greatest safety and most commodious for him to view the defects and to send his Commands about These Battalions are impaled upon both the Flanks with one thousand five hundred and forty Pikes viz. on each Flank seven hundred and seventy they standing one hundred and ten in Brest or Rank and seven deep The Rear of the Battalia's hath four thousand seven hundred and sixteen Pikes for its impalement they being plac'd but six deep in File Upon the outside of the Impalement you may observe plac'd upon either Flank or Wing twenty four Troops of Shot in little squares each Troop contains a hundred men so that in both the Wings being forty eight Troops of Shot and a hundred in each Troop amounts unto 4800. In the Front of all is plac'd eighteen Troops of Shot more in way of a Forlorn Hope each Troop also consists of an hundred Shot which amounts unto one thousand and eight hundred men these are to disband themselves and maintain skirmish with the enemy There are four hundred Shot and five hundred Pikes to guard the Ordnance There are also one thousand Pikes plac'd in each Wing five hundred in a Troop these are to aid the Horse or safe-guard the Shot either in the Wings or in the Forlorn Hope as occasion shall be offered Likewise there is allowed two hundred Shot and three hundred Pikes to guard the Carriages plac'd in the Rear Lastly there remains two hundred forty foure Pikes to bee imployed as occasion shall offer and necessity require Now wee are to observe that when the great Ordnance upon either side have discharged and that the enemy is approacht neer your Troops of Shot of the Forlorn Hope then those Maniples of Shot which stand before the Ordnance plac'd before the Battalia's in the Front are to divide themselves into the void spaces upon either hand so that the Ordnance may have free passage to play upon the enemies Troop and then the Shot may joyn together again The Forlorn Hope is continually to bee supplied with fresh Troops of Shot from the Flanks
depth So that when the Horse did charge them they could doe no great dammage if they brake through the midst of them for there could nothing bee lost but a little of the depth the furie of the Horse could not be resisted by the multitude of Foot but running through the midst of them they spoyled some few men and immediately were carried through them into the open field and for this cause was the length much exceeding the depth And now of latter dayes our modern Commanders have thought square forms of Battalia's to bee fittest and most proper and easie to bee reduced into any other forme These examples of the Grecian Generals shall suffice to give a tast and light to the ingenious souldier how hee may best contrive any forme of imbattelling into what other forme hee pleaseth that may seeme advantagious to entrap an enemie and indeed this ought to bee the studie of all Generals and Commanders to have at their fingers ends a forme of imbattelling that shall not only oppose but bee peculiar for advantage against any forme of Battell the enemy shall be able to marshall In the next Chapter I shall speak of such Orders and Rules which are to be used in pacing of ground whereby may be known how to imbattell an Army thereupon bee they either Horse or Foot CHAP. XXVII The Order and Rules which are to bee observed by going paces to know any state or peece of ground how to imbattell either Horse or Foot thereon according to the proportion thereof NOW for conclusion of this tedious Worke which I have taken in hand to finish There now only remains to speak of the Orders and Rules which are to bee used by a Commander in pacing of ground whereby may bee known how to imbattell his men thereupon whether they bee Horse or Foot according to the proportion of the same which by Arithmeticall Rules are to be written Wherefore it is necessary that the skilfull Commander do acquaint himselfe with pacing the measure called the Geometricall pace it contains five foot of length and every foot is divided into twelve ynches this being often practised by ordinary going paces whereby may bee known how many steps make this pace after five foot to it This being observed it will prove very easie to know how many men may be imbattelled upon such a quantitie of ground or what quantitie of Horse or both it being presupposed they are not ignorant what due proportions and order is to be allowed to the said Men and Horse Wherefore it being usuall to allow to every Pike-man standing in forme of Battell three foot of ground in breadth and seven foot of ground in depth that is to say three foot before him three foot for behind him and one foot of ground for his owne station Likewise for every Horse there is to bee allowed five foot for breadth ten foot for depth Wherefore for examples sake let us further suppose that wee are constrained to make choice of a peece of ground to imbattell our Army upon containing in breadth four hundred and eight going paces which after the rate of two going paces to one Geometricall pace containing five foot doe make two hundred and four paces Geometricall Likewise this peece of ground contains in depth one hundred seventy eight going paces which makes eighty nine Geometricall paces as by this subsequent Figure plainly appeares Now to know how many Battalia's may bee plac'd a brest or breadth in the formost main Battell and how many in the Battell of succour and how many in the Rear-Battell Next we are to consider the distances or spaces which are to bee left betwixt each Battalia as they stand in Brest and also the distances or spaces of ground betwixt the Rear of the main Battell and the Front of the Battell of succour and also betwixt the Rear of the Battell of succour and the Front of the Rear-Battell Then next is to be considered what quantity of men is sufficient to impale this peece of ground for the defence of the Foot from the enemies Horse Lastly there is to be considered what quantity of Horse may conveniently be ranged upon the Flanks or Wings of this Battell Wherefore observe the distance betwixt the Battalia's is ten foot the ground each souldier occupies in Brest is three foot and in depth seven foot The distance betwixt the Rear of the main Battell and the Front of the second Battell is at least twenty paces The distance betwixt the Flanks of the Foot-Battell and the Horse is twentie paces at the least The ground each Horse occupies in Rank or Brest is five foot and in depth ten foot Now having past the ground as aforesaid and as this precedent Figure demonstrates you are in the next place to bring those paces into feet which you may do by multiplying the said paces by 5 and the product is 1020 then this 1020 feet being divided by 3 which is the just distance each souldier takes for his station in Rank or Brest the product is 340 men in Rank for the Front of the main Battell The ground being likewise eighty nine paces deep there may be ranged three Battels one behind another viz. the main Battell and twenty paces behind that the Battell of succour is to bee plac'd and twenty paces behind the Battell of succour the Rear-Battell is to be plac'd and lastly there is seven paces allowed for the Carriages to be plac'd in The Battels are ranged but ten men in depth Wherefore observe that you are to multiply 10 by 7 for so many feet is allowed to each souldier to occupie his Arms in the product is 70 feet this 70 being again divided by 5 for so many feet goe to a Geometricall pace the quotient will be 14 paces and so many paces ten men occupie in depth or File Next you must observe the Battell of succour is ranged twenty paces behind the former and is likewise ten deep in File which takes up as much ground as the former did the Rear-Battell likewise is twenty paces behind the second Battell and takes up as much ground as the former did in depth And lastly the seven paces of ground for the placing of the Carriages being added to the former distances make just eighty nine paces which is the depth of the field Now for the Impaling of this Battell both in Flanks and Rear we are first to consider the quantitie of paces the Flanks are in depth which we find to be eighty nine this being multiplied by 5 the product will bee 445 feet this being divided by 3 the quotient will bee 148 and a little odd this will impale one Rank down the side of the Flank of this Battell And if you would have the impalement to consist of seven Ranks then multiply the 148 by 7 and the product will be 1036 so many men must be imployed to impale one of the Flanks seven deep then again multiply 1036 by 2 and there will arise
wresty Horse goe forwards How to make a shie horse gentle How to make a horse hardy and bold in the warres By trotting the Ring you may embolden your Horse The Dragoones are the fittest to give the on set because they doe their execution at a further distance The Firelocke is â—â—rest to give fire and not so apt to be out of 〈◊〉 besides they will indure Spâ—nd 24. houres together without â—urting them Description of a Ranke Description of a File Twentie in length That the Troope may move orderly and keepe their distances truely let the whole Troope move all at an instant viz. when the Front moves then the Reare to be ready so shall they bee seldome found to erre In Marching or Trooping through a Towne forget not to have your Peeces spand and holding them in your hand with their mouthes upwards and the butt end resting upon your thigh The Figure of the foure Divisions drawne into Battallia The distinctions of the sounds of Trumpet described The proportion of powder usually required for a true charge of any peece is almost halfe the weight in powder of the bullet Some will not have a Cuirassiere to give fire untill he hath plac't his Pistoll under his enemies armour You may place the Pumâ—ell of your Sword upon your right thigh and directing it with your right hand to the place you intend to hit viz. the belly or arme pits or his throat They must be taught to be excellent marks-men for the manner of handling them the directions of the Pistoll may serve for instruction Edmunds observation upon Câ—sars Com. In those Kingdomes that are fortified with strong Garrison Townes there shall neede no such armâ— for those townes are ready to performe the same Office that this Armie should doe * The forme of their standing in Battalia ready for exercise To cause them to face to the right hand is performed by commanding * To the right hand This motion is performed by turning all at once and the same time to the right hand Thus the Front is where the right Flanke was To reduce them to their first forme the word of command is This is performed by turning to the left hand from thence to face them to the left you command This is performed by turning towards the left from hence they are to be reduced by commanding Which they doe by turning to the right Now to face them to the Reare though it be most proper to doe it by the right hand yet for the more ready way you must command This is performed by turning towards the left hand untill their faces Front to that place which was before the Reare To reduce them to their first forme the word of Command is Every other ranke passeth into the rank before them upon the right hand of his leader To reduce them the word of Command is Which is best done by causing those rankes which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance This motion differs nothing from the former onely where as before they doubled to the right now they double to the left hand of their Leaders To reduce them the word of Command is To performe this the second File passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman this must be done throughout the Company at one instant the o are the places where the Files that removed did stand They are reduced by commanding The difference betweene this and the former motion is the difference of hands so that those Files that before moved are now to stand view the Figure They are reduc't by commanding To performe this the middlemen double the first ranke on the right hand the other two Rankes double the two folowing Rankes as is manifest in the Figure To reduce them the word is But in regard of the combersomnesse of the horse in turning to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance This motion onely differs from the former in the hand The reducing of them is shewed in the former motion In this motion the last Ranke passeth into the first and so successively as the Figure demonstrates it They are reduced by saying For the convenient turning of the horse it is best to beginne with the left hand This Figure is after the Corean manner There are divers other formes of countermarching which are to be performed as well by Rankes as by Files as the Lacedemonian and Macedonian but in regard of brevity they are here omitted All the Files are to close from the right and left towards the middle of the body Note when you intend to wheele your Files must first be closed and then the Rankes and when you command them to open againe the Rankes are first and then the Files To performe this all the Rankes move forwards saving the first which standeth the second ranke being advanc't up to its distance stands so all the rest When the horses are to wheele the Commander must take a reasonable Compasse for they cannot possibly doe it in such exact manner as the foote for they must be allowed a farre greater space in regard of the combersomenes of the horse To performe this motion all the body moveth to the left upon the left file leader as the Center The wheeling to the left hand is the readiest way unlesse some impediments hinders wherefore that is first nominated although it bee more proper to begin with the right the wheeling to the right is for brevity omitted To reduce them wheele to the right hand as you were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front they are here omited for brevitie To reduce them into their first order first the Rankes are to be opened then the files In opening the rankes the best way is to doe it by opening forwards It was attributed to Iason Foure kindes of Rhombes â— described Euelide defineth a Rhombe to be a square Figure that hath the sides equall but the Angles not right viz. the foure-sides of the square are of one and the same length but the points which make the Angles are two of them stretched out in length and become more sharpe the other two are more blunt than a Tetragonall square A Rhombe neither filing nor ranking The Thess alonians used this forme of imbattelling their Troopes The termes used by Commanders in former ages as Pâ—li l. 4. 217. A Rhombe ranking but not filing Leo Chap. 5. Sect. 3. and Cap. 6. Sect. 39. Leo Cap 7. Sect. 81 Cap. 14. Sect. 70. Leo Cap 14. Sect. 108 109. Plutarch in Liâ—urgo Leo Cap. 12. Sect. 4â— Their horse Troopes charged the Enemy in Phalang and not by rankes as we doe Leo ibidem reade Bingham upon Aliâ—ns Tacticks pag. 106. Caesar against Pompey did the like and Eâ—aâ—mondas against the Lacedemonians Soâ—e Generalls have 〈…〉 range 〈…〉 second 〈…〉 by a large 〈…〉 â—ront 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 Flank◠〈…〉 battell to 〈…〉 Inâ—anâ—ry Not to charge the enemies foote Troopes
with your horse untill you have put their horse to a retreate or routed them unlesse a great advantage be offred The convenient time of advantage for the Cavalry to charge foot Troopes How to charge the Enemies foote being provided for your assault Not to charge the enemy upon disadvantages How to take an advantage of the Enemy in fight severall wayes The manner of the Horse Troopes giving fire and falling off The great advantage a few Troopes of horse may have against an Enemie in his quarters upon an onslaught 〈◊〉 use of Musqueâ—â—â—â— amongst Horse 〈…〉 upon an onslâ—ught Some have put their shirts over their armes or handkerchiefâ—s in their head-peeces or gluâ—d white paper upon their breasts and backes You must cause the feeting of â—our Horse to be defaced at the place where you left the waâ— if it be dusty by drawing of Bowes The order of laâ—ing of ambuscadoes to surprise the Enemie You must search all suspected places neere your ambush least the Enemie should have layed one before you The Souldiers must not know that any of your Troopes are to follow them least any of them should be taken prisoner should reveale the designe The foote must take heede they be not discovered untill the Enemie be come up to them How to charge an Enemie retreating It is dangerous to engage a whole Troope at once because if they be once disordered there is no helpe but confusion Note the Battalias which are plac'd beâ—ind the shot consist but of 36. horse in each and the shot that line the horse consist of 60. after this proportion a greater number may be ordered Lib. 1. Pag. â—0 Lib. 5. pag. 83. 85. Lib. 4. Histor. Caesarum Invita August sub finem Lib. 2. verâ—r narrat ubi nihil veri contin In Simâ— oâ—io In Conviv Câ—s. The Petard to blow open Ports and Portcullisses Note the end of the Carriage of the Petard is to have a Ballance that it may lye even upoÌ„ the wheeles and being put home to the Port the hindmost end is to bee strongly barricadoed that it may not reverse The knob or Snoute is in stead of a handle to put the Granado in the Morter the screw-hole is to goe next the Powder for the better firing it Note some Granadoes are made of Canvasse with divers Pistoll-barrels charged with powder and bullets and covered over There are of these kindes made of Earth and Glasse Note that Flaxe or Towe Hurds is best to dip into the Composition and to winde about the Hoope or Rope ends This Frame may bee made onely with the Barrels of Musquets without stockes to them the manner how to order them any ingenuous wit will conceive of The hole must be of a Mortice wimbles Boâ—e Some Pallizadoes have two Pikes right forwards and two slenting forward on each side Many times some of these Gabions are sixe foot Diameter These small Baskets are used to carry up earth to the toppe of a worke upon Souldiers shoulders Bona Ducis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quinque sâ—â—entia virtus providentia authoritas fortuna Lip sol l. 5. Tiberius hortabatur Senatum ut eligeret Proconsulem in Bello contra Tacfarinatem gnarum militiae corpore validum Bello suffecturum Tac. hist. l. 3. Non erunt honores unquam â—ortuiti muneris Aus fol. 92. Iudges 6. 36. 2 Kings 20. 8. Socrates Scholast Samuel 10. vers 9. Not that famous Hannibal that poysoned himselfe Scâ—â—â—erberg practised this against the Turke and overcame him Machiavill taxeth this for a great Solecisme in Sâ—ate Princeps optimus saciendo docet cumque sit imperio maximus exempâ—o major est Valet l. 2. Iâ—lus in Duce repones quà m in Exercitu Prob. dâ—â—â—per Vnus homâ— pluris quà m â—niversa Civitas Tac. de Mor. Geâ— Fortuna vitrca est cum splendet fâ—angitur Vincere scis Hannibal uti victoriâ nescis Prob. de Han. In Milite uniuâ— sors est in Imperatore universorum periculum Egesip Dubus praeliorum exempâ—us summam rerum imperu scipsum reservat Tacâ— lib. 11. Sâ—etit sub Ajacis clipco septemplice tâ—ctus Hom. Odys 9. Exomni vita simulatio dissimulatioque tollenda Cic. l. 2. Sanctitas sictas sides privata bona sunt Sen. Thyest. Nescit imperare qui nescit dissimulare Sigism Imper. Malum sub lingua non in lingua habens Greg. Simplicitas ac liberalitas ni adsit modâ—s in exitum verâ—untur â—acit Hist. 3. Medicus in desperatione â—ubernâ—â—â—â— in tempestate cognoscitur Horum omnium famam praecedentia pericula extollunt Sid. App. 8. Faire bonne mine en mavaiâ— jeu Pro. Gal. Qâ—ò timoris minùs est eò minùs fermè periculiest Liv. l. 2â— â—onus animus in re mala dimidium est maâ—â— Plaut Pseud. Flexuâ—sum occultum hominis ingenium cujus vis propriè in arte solertiaque est posita aptior tamen ad cavendos quà m metuendos â—ostes Eront praef Nemo celerius opprimitur quà m qui nihil timet Vel. l. 2. Is qui nil dubitat nil capit inde boni Gram. vulg Si nihil velis timere metuâ—s omnia Senec. Sent. Quod nimis miseri volunt hoc faci'è credunt Seneca Omnia audens contemnitâ—r nil temerè agens metuitur Liv. lib. 24. Dimidium facti qui bene coepit habet Hor. lib. 1. ep 2. Bonum principium dimidium totius Pro. lat Fama in novis coeptis validissima est Tac. An. 13. Primis eventibus metus aut fiducia gigâ—itur Idem An. 12. Nun quam bonos fortesque misâ—tes habebis nisi haec duo veâ—â—t instrumenta adâ—ibeas delectum disciplinam Lip Pol. l. 5. Multitudâ—â—â— viâ—es habet sed pondus Senâ— c. De vita regno velut ad casum alcae periclâ—tari stuâ—titiâ— est vanitas Stobaeus Fortunam inter dubia virtutem inter certa numerare Tac. de Ger. Verum si incipias neque terficias gnaviter nihilo plus agas quà m si des operam ut cum ratione insaniaâ— quod ille de amoreidem de bello Terent. Eun. Mars communis victum saepe erigit affligit victorem Liv. Lib. 28. Et fractis rebus violentior ultima virtus Sil. Lib. 1. Instandum famae nam prout prima cesserint succedunt universa Tacit. lib. 12. Non mimâ—s famâ quà m vi stant res principum Tac. An. 3. La bonne reputation d'un Chiefe est caused un grand bien pur son Armec Plut. Phoc. Inter scopulos quibus illidi ac frangi Reipub. Navis solet prima 〈◊〉 fiduciaâ— occurriâ— Lip Pol. lib. 3. Credulitas pariter ac diffidentia perdiderunt homines Hesiod Lib 1. Tutissimum est inserre cum timeas gradum Quand on void venir le danger â—â—faut gaignerle devant ne 〈…〉 mal sei fâ—it poâ—ry donner ordre Aâ— Pâ—ud Provocando tuis auges confidentiam adversariis minâ—â—â— quia fortiores videntur qui provocâ—re non dubitant Liv. Ars viâ—cendi bellandi est prudentia
Providendum ne cui qui insigni aliqua injuria affectus est demandetur provincia administrandi rem aliquam magni momenti Mac. dia. lib. 2. Tam est periculosum malitiosa pâ—tentiam quam furioso gladium dare Aeschin Securitati consulas ante quam vindictae Tacit. an lib. 11. Principibus seditionis securi percussis Mac. lib. 3. ca. 26. Arces extruuntur duplici de causa ad hostes arcendos ad subditos compescendos in officio continendos ad priorem usum non necessariae ad posteriorem inutiles noxiae Mac. lib. 2. dis 24. In omni praeâ—io non tam muttitudo virtus indocta quam ars exercitium soleut praestare victoriam Veg. lib. 1. Amplius potest locus saepe quam virtus Veg. Lib. 3. Vi Militum inferior locorum fraude prior Tac. an 12. Erectum fidentem animi te ipsum ostende Tac. an lib. 4. Al faut plâ—yer plus tost que rompre se reserver à meilleur temps Am. plu Cic. Majestas non fracta malis Lucan 4. Decet virum verè generosum ferre tum bona tum mala si lapsus fuerit Menand A partie of Musketires or Fire locks are best to discover wades rocks hils and the like in regard the heavie armed cannot possibly effect it Note these divisions of the Army are not to be quartered too far asunder for fear of danger The Serjeant-Major is to acquaint every Officer where the place of imbattelling is and the waies made plain and ready for every Company to troop to it This caution would have aâ—ed a great deal of bloud at the 〈◊〉 or Rec. Observations about retreating from the enemy in a March A farre greater honour to retreat in the dark then to be beaten in the light This is to be done when the enemy knowes not of their departure An enemy may receive more damage then they that retreat What is to be done if you feare the enemy will steale from you The use of small vessels Note the Rancke of the cyphers o demoÌ„strats the place where the Ranck of shot stood that is advanc'd forward Note after the shot have given fire they are to match downe the left flancke and place themselves in the Rear of the shot and the next rancke is to supply their places by which meanes they may continually give fire How the Redouts may bee pallizado'd How the maine Quarters are to be situated and intrencht The Christians being encamped about the River Nile Annâ— 1221. were drowned out of their Trenches A Generall may tax the Towns about his Camp to bring in a certain quantity of corn victuals and he is to set the rates according to his pleasure The Lieutenants Cabin is to bee 12. foot long and 8. foot broad The Serjeants are there plac'd to keep the Company in good order A second way of fortifying a Camp described By these Lawes the King of Sweden governed his Army * Running the Gate-lope or Purgatory is when he that hath done the fault is to run between the Regiment standing halfe on one side and halfe on the other with whips or bastinadoes in their hands to lash and cudgel the offender which punishment many a shamelesse souldier will be hired to undergoe for drinke or money A small Army of old souldiers are able to encounter with a great Army of novices For the securing of the Reare or Flanck of the Army and to hide ambitions to disâ—omfit the enemy This was observed by Mâ—râ—us against the â—imbres and King Plâ—â—â—o Augustâ—â— against the Fâ—emings Epaminondas gained a victory by causâ—â—ng his Horse to stir the the dust into his enemies face The first figure of imbattelling hath three severall Battels viz. the main Battell the Battel of succour and the Rear-Battell This Battell was fought the 4. of August 1578 Two great disorders the enemy may bee brought into in thâ— time of Fight La Nowe pag. 381 The use of these instruments you may read in the discourse of Engines In the discourse of Stratagems you shall find variety for all conditions and places 〈◊〉 the Attâ—leâ—â— should be plac'd in the sâ—acesâ—etaeen the Divisions the spaces must bee left very wide and then very dangerous if left the usuall distance then in stirring these spaces will close so soon that the Ordnance can have no place to play This must be done when the enemy is 100. yards from your Battell The 〈◊〉 punish with death those that are afraid of the Ordnance or â—hew any 〈…〉 There â—r-Battell is to consist or far lesse men than the Battell of succour Hannibal used this policy he plac'd his aids next the enemy and behind them his Carthaginians so as they could not fly but either vanquish or weary the Romans The Horse are equally to be divided and placed on each Wing of the Battell unlesse one Wing may be secured by 〈…〉 ground or hedgâ—s This is to be done when the ground is plain that the Ordnance may not 〈…〉 By this means they will be both in better order and breath Bellary would not have them put forwards untill the enemy were within 30. paces Vide Liv lib. 8. Lips de milit Rom l l4 Flank and Rear Note 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 of Cyrus shews 〈…〉 Grecians 〈…〉 a kind of 〈…〉 which 〈…〉 the Pean It is policy for a Generall not to divide his Army to follow the pursuit but rather let such small Troops depart quietly Neither is it good to let the souldiers know the place of meeting before-hand but only the chief Officers These Ordnance are on each Flank to be guarded with 300. Foot and 100 Horse Short Swords and Targets are excellent to line the Front of Pikes to cut off the enemies Pikes heads Note each Battalia of this main Battell contains 1000 souldiers * If the partition should be lesse than 2. paces they would close up in the motion of the Army * Note into each space 2. Battalions are to retreat and on each Flank 1. Battalia and the middle-most Battalia is to fall into the space in the midst By this means 6000. men more are brought to fight and the middle Battel made so much stronger than the first and again retraiting into the â—ear Battell makes them strongest of all The rear-Battel consists of 2000. souldiers viz. 500. in each Battalia Five Ranks of Pikes is the most that can doe any service against the enemy at once if there bee morâ— Ranks they are out of distance to annoy the enemy with their Pikes The Impalement is marked with the letter G. Pioners having â—owâ— for their weapons may do excellent service in wet wether when Peeces will not fire The whole Impâ—lement Flanks and Reaâ— amounts to 7382. Souldiers These may be lined with Muskets Viz. 400 upon each Flank these are to joyn with 150. Horse Note there are foure od Files plac'd in the two middle Battels in the Front theâ—e being five od men in each Battel which makes these foure od Files Aelian pag 65 cap. 17. Xenoph. Cyroâ— lib. 7. cap. 188. Leo c. 14. sect 105. Henry the fifth at the Battell of Agencourt Leo cap. 14. sect 104. How the Shot ought to bee used in the time of giving Battel Liv. decad 4. lib. 8. 1â—â— Xenoph. Cyro â—â— 7. 178. Plutarch in Crasso Hirâ—ius de Beâ—â— Afrâ—â— Lucans Pharsalia La Noâ—e Pag. 380. Pag. 149. cap. 50. The over-Fronting Battell is termed by the Grecians Hyperphalanges The over-Winging Battell is termed of the Grecians Hyperkerasis The Battell called 〈…〉 The Battell termed Epicampios The Battell called Amphistomus The Battell called Antistomus The Battell termed Diphalange Antistomus The Battell termed Diaphalange Peristomus The Battell called Heterostomos used upon a March. The Battell called Coelembolos or hollow Wedge The Battell termed Triphalange The Battell called of the Greeks Phalagiophalange The use of this Table is described in the latter end of it