and gâ—â—tifie 〈◊〉 by applying each motion figure and forme to his right use and true intention I will now shew how the figure is to be made which is as followâ—th If yoâ—â— Battell be in forme of an Hearse then 〈◊〉 them to the right or left about untill they have atteined this figure But if in a square then observe these following words which will produce the figure Wheele your Flanks into the Front then face the Body to one of the Flanks and wheele your Battell into a Convex Halfe Moone The Convex Halfe Moone Having brought your Souldiers into this Convex forme you may face them all inward for speech or outward for fight Then let the Officers make Intervals for the Muskettiers and let the outermost Arc or first ranke of each division present and give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left-flanke to the left placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers still making good their leaders ground The rest of the ranks are to do the same untill they have all given fire Neverthelesse if your enemy be too potent for you by reason of his horse your Bow-pike-men need not stand idle although they stand behinde their Muskettiers for that they may plie them faster with their shafts then the others can with their shot But if the horse be so violent that the Muskettiers may not abide them then let them give fire and wheele off by division as before passing quite through their Intervals and placing themselues in the Reere of their pikes every ranke making good their leaders ground Thus also are the rest of the Muskettiers to give fire placing themselues in the concave part of the Body as aforesaid following the pikes which now make good the Muskettiers ground If need be the pikes may charge over-hand or if occasion serves at the foot drawing forth their swords over their left armes and couching downe their heads by which meanes the Muskettiers may give fire over their shoulders For the first ranke having fired may kneele downe on the ground and charge againe and so the second ranke may give fire and kneele in like manner making ready againe And so in like manner for all the rest all giving fire and kneeling on the ground that so the next ranke behinde may give fire over them Thus continning the firing untill all the Muskettiers have given fire Neverthelesse if need be the first ranke may rise with the rest and give fire over again as before And so the Battell may be continued the Pikes still keeping off the horse For the reducement of this figure to bring every man to his place let your Muskettiers either firing or passing through be brought into the places they were in before they first gave fire Then face the whole Body to one of the flankes and march them untill they have evened their rankes and straitned their files This done then if all your Pikes be on the right flanke wheele your right flanke into the midst if on the left flank wheele front and reere into the left flanke This being done let the Commander passe to his proper file-leaders and face the whole Body to him and they are reduced as at first CHAP. LXXVIII Of Extraduction the severall uses firings and Reducements THe next Firing which I shall take upon me to demonstrate shall be by way of Extraduction which is also a firing in Front It may be to singular good use in a strait or passage sage where your Wings and Reere may be secured your enemy being supposed to be too powerfull for you either in Horse or Foot or both Having gotten into some strait there fill the mouth of the passage with your Pikes and if the length of your Company be not sufficient to do it then double your ranks as in this following figure and let yâ—ur pikes either order advance port or charge according to the occasion your Muskettiers being in the Reere may march up into the Front and fire But before I shew the firing observe these following directions which produce the Figure Pikes stand Muskettiers face to the Reere and March uâ—till you are cleere of your body of Pikes Then face inward and close your division that being done face to your Leader and double your Rankes This being performed the Pikes are all in front the Muskettiers in Reere A firing by Extraduction Having ordered your baâ—tell in this manner let the first rankâ—â—f Muskettiers which are those that follow next after the Pikes face to the right and march forth file-wise to close by the right flanke of Pikes untill he that is the leader of them be come into the front of Pikes then hee is to leade them quite crosse the front of Pikes untill he have attained the further part of the front to the left which being done they are all to stand present and give fire You must note withall in this firing that hee which was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the leader of the â—â—tion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and that having fired they are to wheele off to the left close to the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall in the reere of the Muskettiers In the interim whilest that the ranke which first fired is wheeling away the second rank is marching into their places to give fire And in this manner they may maintaine their Battaile so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the whiles The Muskettiers in the time of their crossing the front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that so they may be no impediment to the Pikes in their charge There is another way of firing â—y Extraduction which is that the right hand leader of Muskettiers placeth himselfe before the right fileâ—eader of Pikes the rest all falling beyond him neverthelesse because I conceive it not to be so good a way as that already shewne I will not trouble you with it but come immediately to the â—educement of this which is as followeth Comâ—and your Pikes to stand and your Muskets to double their front by division but if you want room to doe it then first double your files 〈◊〉 the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so hauing doubled by division as aforesaid they will be reduced as at fiâ—st CHAP. LXXIX Of the Broad-fronted Battell with the wayes of firing upon it THe broad-fronted battell must needs be of speciall use for many occasions either offensive or defensive Which because it is so apparant to all I shall not need to stand to reason with any rather desiring to shew the manner of making and reducing it which is â—s followeth Cause your Pikes to stand and your Muskettiers to march untill the reere ranke of Muskettiers be advanced a little before the first ranke of Pikes then let the Muskettiers face inward or in opposition and close their divisions and then face to their leader And if
to the other and so facing of them outward they will make reasonable good defence on those parts c. Having given fire upon the crosse battell and brought your Muskets to the reere of the Pikes if you would reduce them passe into the midst of Center of the Figure and face all both Muskettiers and Pikemen to you and cause those which were the flankers to close their divisions Next wheele the fronts into the midst of the two other divisions then move to the front proper and face the whole body to you and so you shall have all your Muskettiers in the midst flanked with Pikes If you would reduce them into their right places command the Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the Pikes to face to the right and left inward and so to passe through and interchange ground thus being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. XCVIII Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. THis next Figure shall be of the hollow-fronted Crosse which is a stronger forme than that last shewne and yet thus much let me warne you of that there can be but little expectation of strength to be perceived in Battels formed with so small a number This notwithstanding the ingenious Martialists can easily discerne those things which in warre may prove most usefull for his owne and his Countries benefit although they are here expressed to the publique view in so meane array and in such thinne numbers Wherefore setting aside all Apologies and excuses I will briefly shew the words of Command and direction which will produce the following Figure The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest face to the right and left and march untill they have made the perfect Crosse Lastly cause the Muskettiers to flanke their Pikes according to this following Figure The severall directions for firing upon this Figure may be divers But to avoyd distraction I will shew onely one way and that directed to the front reere and flankes Neverthelesse for varieties sake you may cause them to give fire once over wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions still moving forwards into their leaders ground thereby to preserve the Figure in the same order At the second time of firing cause the Pikes to move softly up even with the front of Muskettiers porting as they advance forwards The Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off are to place themselves in the reere of their divisions of Pikes whom before they flanked every ranke of Muskettiers firing wheeling off and placing themselves as aforesaid Lastly the Pikes having charged and againe readvanced the body will stand in the Figure of a perfect Crosse For the reducement it is the same with the Crosse-Battell delivered in the 97 Chapter Wherefore I shall need to adde no further directions in this place for the said reducement then that the flanke divisions are to be closed and the front and reere divisions to be wheeled that the body may be againe returned into a square with the Muskettiers in the middle All this being here taught I now proceed to shew one firing with the Muskettiers in that order CHAP. XCIX Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes THe square battell flanked with Pikes must needs bee very safe for the Muskettiers as being a very able defence for the flankes against the incursions of the enemies horse The Figure followeth just â—s the Muskettiers are in motion The wayes or manners of giving fire upon this figure are ordinarily three The first firing is with the Aspect being directed to the front the Muskettiers wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you perceive by this figure The second is for the Muskettiers to give fire to the reere upon a march which they may easily do from this figure The third is to give fire to the front and reere upon a stand the halfe-files being faced about If the firing be performed to the front then every ranke is to march up into their leaders ground If the firing be to the Reere upon a march then the ranks contrariwise close backwards towards the Reere to make good the Battell on that part If it be to the front and reere upon a stand then the Muskettiers march up into their leaders ground and those which have fired and are wheeled off place themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions To write further of this firing were more then necessarie no one of these firings any wayes altering the figure but the Aspect onely Neverthelesse if the Commander please he may after the firing in front wheele both flanks into the front and so charge pikes and from thence proceed to other firings If the firing were in the reere he may wheele the flanks into the Reere and cause his pikes to charge that way If the firing were to the front and reere he may wheele both flanks into the front and reere and so charge with his pikes both wayes Which by Captaine Bingham is called Amphistomus Before I come to reducement I shall proceed to the next firing in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. C. Of the Plinthium or foure-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes THe Foure-fronted Battell is a figure both steady and serviceable being usefull as well for a march thereby securing the carriage and all other such like necessaries as for fight For if it should so happen as it often doth that you should be charged in front reere and flanks all at one and the same time then are there both Muskets and Pikes so placed that each Armes is assisting to the other For seeing that neither Muskettiers nor Pikemen alone can be singly sufficient of themselues to withstand the able and resolute horseman without great advantage of ground on the contrary the Muskettiers and Pikes being conjoyned into one body and being well ordered they are not onely able to defen'd themselues against their furie but also to put them to the worser Yet this must not be understood of raw and unskitfull Souldiers whose ignorance is cause of diffidence but of hardy experienced and well exercised men such as know well how to demeane themselues couragiously in time of fight The words of Command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Halfe-files of Pikes face to the Reere and march untill they are cleare of the last ranke of Muskettiers Secondly command Halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the right and left then march betweene the divisions of Pikes Thirdly command Left halfe-ranks of the first division of Muskets face to the Reere and march betweene the Reere divisions of Pikes Lastly Having evened their ranks straitened their files and closed their divisions to an equall distance and being rightly faced the body will stand like the following figure The
the right your Battaile may be continued according to the occasion or the Commanders discretion The Figure followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire in flanke marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskets The way to performe this motion of firing is as followeth The outermost file being commanded to face to the right and present the rest of the body marcheth away as in the other Figure and the standing file gives fire This done and that the body is marched cleere of the standing file the next file presents to the right the file that first gave fire faceth to the first front and is led by a Serieant crosse the reere of Muskettiers and up betweene the Muskets and Pikes the Muskettiers are still to open to the right as they march that so there may be room for one file to march up betweene them and the pikes And so successively each file having fired marcheth up next unto the right flanke of pikes When all your Muskettiers have given fire once over they are reduced as at the first The battell may be continued at discretion The next firing in flanke for the matter of firing it selfe will be all one with this but for the manner of the wheeling off and placing them it will differ CHAP. LXXXIII A firing in Flanke led off by the Bringers up THe next firing in flanke which I propound to your perusall will be nothing differing for manner of execution from the firings in Flanke formerly shewed The onely difference arising betweene them is that the other files of Muskettiers after that they had given fire were led off by their proper file-leaders and this to the contrary must be led off by their Bringers-up And this indeed if the body be upon a slow march is the readiest and quickest way and doth more speedily secure the Muskettiers after that they have given fire The words of Command and direction which produce the firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right wheeling off after your Bringers up and placing your selues betweene your Divisions For the manner of execution or way to performe this firing it is as followeth The body must be conceived to be marching upon all these firings in flanke and that with their pikes shouldered This being presupposed the Command being given the outmost-file presents to the right and gives fire then faceth to the right after their bringers up who leadeth them off crosse the reere of Muskettiers marching them up betweene the divisions the bringers up supplying the file-leaders place and marching even in ranke in the front with the file-leaders the file-leader of the same file becomming the bringer up in the Reere The files of Muskettiers or Pikes according as the command shall be given are as they march to open thereby giving way to the Muskettiers after they have fired to come up betweene the divisions and so soone as the first file that fired is cleare from the right flanke the second file presents and fires in like manner wheeling off as before and marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskettiers every file successively giving fire and wheeling off as aforesaid This firing may be performed once twice or oftener over according to the discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse if it be twice performed the men are reduced as at first every man hauing his right place If you fire them but once or thrice or any odde number of times over then you must countermarch your files of Muskettiers to reduce them There is another way for the bringers up to wheele off and each of them to leade off his file untill he comes to the Reere of the division which is betweene the Muskets and the Pikes and there he is to stand and ranke with the bringers up the rest that follow passing on forwards by way of Introduction and every man ranking before him that was his leader in the wheeling off untill the proper file-leader be come into his place againe And after this way they may give fire each firing being his owne reducement CHAP. LXXXIIII The difference betweene Firings in Flanke marching and of bringing the Muskettiers on the outside of the Pikes ALL or the most part of the firings in flanke which are performed marching in point of execution are the same the especiall difference betweene them being â—ither in the manner of the wheeling off after they have fired or in the materiall placing them whereby to make them more offensive or defensive And all this appeareth by this next following firing which is to be used at such time and place when as there may be doubt of the enemies horse And therefore for the more securitie of the Muskettiers having fired they are to be drawne up on the outer-side of the left flanke if haply there may be some hedge ditch river hill marish wood or such like convenient safeguard whereby to shroud them from the furie and violence of the horse that so the pikes making Alt and facing to the enemy may charge and with their armed points strongly and closely coucht receive and abate the furie of the first shocke And if need be the pikes may all charge at the foot closely serried together with their swords drawne and the Muskettiers may give fire over them The manner you may perceive in the figure of the Convex halfe-moone But lest I anticipate my selfe in shewing the use I will returne to shewth e manner of the firing intended by this following Figure Onely first take the words of command and direction which are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right placing your selues on the outside of the left Flanke of Pikes The ovtermost files having presented to the right the rest of the body continueth the march whilest they in the meane time are giving fire Which being done and the body cleere the next outermost file presents the file that last fired in the interim facing to the left after their proper file-leader who leadeth them crosse the reere both of Muskets and Pikes a pretty round pace sleeving up on the out side of the left flanke of Pikes The next file having in like manner fired doth also troupe up on the out side of the file led off before every file giving fire and doing the like When all have given fire and are cleered away then the Pikes may charge Which is very necessary if but to accustome the ⊙ Souldiers unto in times of exercise both for charging on and for retreiting as also to push with their Pikes that so by practise they may be able to doe it orderly either way still keeping their order and array Having given fire upon the right flanke and drawne all your Muskettiers in this manner to the left flanke if you will cause them to give fire on the left flanke and bring them backe againe to the right flanke they will be reduced Or if you would reduce them without a firing then either passe your Muskettiers through between your rankes of Pikes or else let your whole
would still preserve the Figure then let every ranke before they give fire march up into their leaders ground Having either marched or skirmished upon this Figure or both and then would come to reducement First face all the whole body to the proper front and cause the Pikes that are flankers to face inwards and to close their divisions This being done cause the Muskettiers which are in the middle part of the Battaile to double their files to the right Secondly let them face inward and close their division Next let them face all to their leader and wheele front and reere into the right flanke which being done and they faced again to the front proper they will be reduced into the ordinary square the Pikes being flanked with the Muskettiers as at first CHAP. CIII Of the Hollow Square girdled with shot THe Hollow Square Girdled with shot is a Figure to be used at such times of necessity as the Commander shall see occasion who well knowing that hee shall be enforced to fight having found some commodious advantage or ground drawes forth his battell into this forme and array The use whereof is that within the hollow parts of it he may convey such of his carriage or whatsoever else may not prove usefull for the strengthening of some part of the battell Having drawne his men speedily into this forme lest that the enemy should take the advantage to breake their order by entring at any of the Angles they are speedily to cast up a Rampart of earth in each of those parts of the Angles Or if they have not time or that the ground be not fit they may supply that defect by placing some of their Wagons Carts or other of their Carriage so orderly that it may be sufficient to fortifie those parts which are the weakest This Figure may be as well made with the Pikes foremost but because that the Musketiers may more commodiously fight before their Pikes and with lesse danger to their owne body therefore I conceive it fittest at first to place them in front of their Pikes And if the enemy shall too hotly presse them with his horse then at the discretion of the Commander they may safely retreate behinde their Pikes the Pikemen making good the ground of the Muskettiers For better satisfaction observe the direction to make the following Figure First command a Serjeant to draw forth all the odde files of the right flank both Muskettiers and Pikes and wheele them to the left crosse the front That being done command the odde files of the left flanke as well Muskettiers as Pikes to face to the reere and let them in like manner be wheeled to the left crosse the reere following their Bringers up For the rest of the body that remaines undrawne forth let them close to the right and left outward untill the Reere-Angles of each division stand diagonally opposite to each other Then let them be all commanded to face to the Center or midst of the hollow square where the Commander is to give them such incouragement directiōs as shal be meet Lastly let all face about to the right and present For the manner of firing upon this Figure it is as followeth The first ranke of Muskettiers to each front having presented and given fire they are to wheele all off to the right And because that eight or tenne men are too many to wheele downe one Intervalle for that they will bee so long before they can cleere the front therefore you may cause Intervalles to be made betweene the midst of each division as you may perceive in the Figure The first ranke having fired and wheeled off the next ranks are to move forwards into their ground they which wheeled off in the meane time placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The next ranke of Muskettiers having fired in like manner are to wheele off and to place themselves as aforesaid the rest of the rankes of Muskettiers successively are to doe the like untill they have all given fire once or oftner over that way according to the occasion And in this interim may the Bow-pikemen be bountifull in bestowing their showers of arrowes amongst the thickest of their enemies If the horse prevaile so much that the Muskettiers may not endure to beare the brunt of them then let the Muskettiers after they have fired wheele off and place themselues in the reere of their following divisions of pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground charging with their pikes as they see occasion for securing the Muskettiers in the midst This notwithstanding if the enemies horse shall still presse forwards and with their shot shall continue to annoy the body the pikes on this figure being especially defensive then cause the Pikemen to charge at the foot and your Muskettiers to give fire over them according to former directions on the Convex halfe-moone After this manner the battell may be continued to the last ranke When you have given fire in this order your Muskettiers being all in the reere of your pikes and that you be minded to reduce them into the first orderly square this is one way for it Passe through your Muskettiers before your front of pikes as they were before the firing that being done let the Commander face the whole body to the left Angle of the front-division by which meanes he shall there finde the halfe of his file-leaders This being performed let them march and so even their ranks and straiten their files the reere division of Muskettiers and Pikes orderly following after the front division of the like Armes After this let the halfe-files which then are which indeed are the residue of the file-leaders double their ranks forwards to the left which being performed the men are reduced as at first If you would reduce them some other way without passing through your Muskettiers as I have formerly said then first let the whole body face to the left Angle of the front-division and march evening their ranks and files as aforesaid Which being done cause the halfe-files which then are to double their front to the left which being in like manner performed all your Muskettiers are still in the midst Your next worke is to cause your Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward and your pikes contrariwise to face inward and so to passe through and interchange ground Thus being faced to their front proper they will be reduced as at first If any will be practising of this forme of battell with a smaller number of men as with 64. or fewer whereby they will be constrained to double their halfe-files then they will be reduced the same way onely they shall not need to double their halfe-files againe in their reducement as they must needs do were the number larger CHAP. CIIII. Of the Sollid Square with Muskettiers in Center and Angles The way to make the figure with a private Companie how to fire upon it and to
for Skirmish Then if you please you may cause three or foure of the first firings to be performed by light Skirmishing before the Front and that with loose Ranks or Files or both either some of those or such like as I have formerly spoken off in the preceding Exercises After which for your next firing cause your Half-files to open to the right and left by equall division untill the Reere Divisions of Pikes stands right after the Muskettiers of the Front-division Now the Muskettiers standing in foure Divisions let them all present and give fire to the Front wheeling all off to the right and placing themselves in the Reere of their own divisions of like Armes each Ranke still making good the Leaders ground Having given fire once or twice over on this Figure For the second firing cause the Front-division to give fire to the Front and the two Reere divisions to each Flanke in a March The Front-division with fires in Ranke wheele all off to the right placing themselves in the Reere of their ownc Divisions of Muskettiers the other Divisions with fire in flanke leading up their files betweene their owne divisions of Muskettiers and the Pikes Having given fire once or oftner over according to discretion this way let the third firing be performed upon a stand For the which cause your reere-divisions to facc to the right and left outward the front-division still to continue the same aspect Then let the Muskettiers give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right and the contrary flanke to the contrary hand the Muskettiers of the front division placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskets the Muskettiers of the reere divisions placing themselues in the reere of the reere divisions of Pikes each ranke of Muskettiers still making good his leaders ground When they have fired all over let the Pikes charge to front and both flanks Having advanced your Pikes againe and faced your body to the front proper each Armes still standeth in three divisions Then let the fourth firing be to the reere and both flanks upon a march And to that end open your front-divisions of Muskettiers to the right and left untill they are cleere of the reere-divisions of Pikes that so they be not troublesome unto them in their march Then let your pikes shoulder and the Muskettiers give fire the front divisions of Muskettiers firing in flanke and leading up on the inside of their owne divisions The Muskettiers of the reere division giving fire in the reere in ranke wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the front of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having fired once over and the Pikes charged let your fifth firing be to the Reere and both flankes upon a stand In the which let the half-files both Muskettiers and Pikes face to the Reere the Front-division to the right and left and so give fire one each part those that fire to the flankes wheeling off and placing themselves in the Reere of their divisions of Pikes and the Muskets of the Reere divisions wheeling off to the right and left and placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions of Musketties each Ranke moving forward into their Leaders ground Having fired over let the Pikes charge The Pikes being againe advanced face the whole body to the proper front and then all the Muskettiers will be in the midst and the Pikemen on the flankes For the sixth firing cause your half-rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For further directions looke back to the tripartite firing which you shall find Chap. 92. Having fired over that way charged and re-advanced your pikes face the whole body to their former front For your seventh firing cause the front and reere divisions of Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the right the rest of the body both Muskets and Pikes to the left Let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele all off either to the right or left and place themselves in the reere of their following divisions of Pikes each ranke still moving up into their leaders ground When there rest but two rankes of each division to fire let the Pikes port Having all fircd and wheeled away let the Pikes charge Then face the whole body to their first front and command the first and last foure rankes to face to the left and to march untill they are cleere of the standing part of the Body Then cause the front halfe-files to face to the left the reere halfe-files to the right and so to close their divisions and after that to face towards their leader For the eight firing make the sollid Square girdled with Muskettiers For the which draw halfe the files of the right flanke of Muskettiers crosse the front and halfe the files of Muskettiers of the left flanke crosse the reere Then face the whole body both Muskets and Pikes to the front reere and flankes This done let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers All the time of this firing the Pikemen being in the middle of the Muskettiers have good opportunity if the enemy be neere to gall them with their thicke showers of feathered shot The Muskettiers in the meane time having fired once twice or oftner over on this Figure draw your files of Muskettiers backe againe into their places Then having faced the whole body to the proper front let your ninth firing be Captaine Wallers double firing to the front and reere after this manner First wheele front and reere into the right flanke then face them all the same way they were before which done cause the halfe-files to face to the reere and command the Muskettiers which are in the reere of each division of Pikes to double their front of Pikes by division Then let them face about and close their divisions and so having refaced them as they were let them give fire wheele off and charge according to directions on Captaine Wallers Figure For the tenth firing let them face to the right and left and give fire to both flankes upon a stand wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes When the Pikes have charged and are againe advanced let the Captaine passe to the front accidentall of the left flanke and face the rest of the body to him and in the next place wheele their flanks into the front and so all the Muskettiers will be in the front and by facing the whole body to the left all the Muskettiers will be on the right flanke Let the eleventh figure be the Diamond Battell Having given fire two or three severall wayes according to the directions upon that figure charged Pikes and reduced them againe into the Square face the body about to the right and passe the Muskettiers which belong to the right flanke betweene the ranks of pikes into their places Then the Muskettiers of the left flanke being closed to their Pikes the Body will stand
he useth in the handling of his Armes consisting of severall Motions for atchieving of each Posture The Motion being the working part the Posture the alteration or act either in circumstance or matter As to rest your Musket being one Posture to shoulder your Musket another so likewise for the rest howbeit some perchance will object as formerly hath bin to one of Athens making a long Oration in the praise of Hercules his valour who ever doubted of it So to me who ever questioned these for Postures yet I have known them not only questioned but written against peremptorily concluding that there are but three Postures to be used for the Musket whose errours I shal easily confute But more of this after the Postures of the Musket Wherefore for the more orderly proceeding conceive their Armes to lie before them on the ground and then the first command will be to stand to their Armes The Postures of the Musket TAke up your Bandeliers Put on your Bandeliers Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket and Rest Rest your Musket Now if you please you may performe your saluting Posture Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Take your Rest into your right hand and you are armed ready to March Now to begin to make ready which may be done either standing or marching Take your Match between the fingers of your right hand Put your Rest string about your left Wrist and carry your Rest in your left hand Return your Match between the fingers of your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your Pan. Cleer Prime Shut Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose Corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Treile your Rest ballance your Musket in your left hand Charge with Powder Bullet Draw forth your Scowring stick Shorten Put your scowring stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your scowring stick Shorten Return Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket and recover your Rest Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Coale Cock your Match Fit Guard your Pan. Blow the Ash from your Coale Open your Pan. Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning your Rest to the outside of your Musket Uncock and return your Match Cleer your Pan Shut Poise your Musket Shoulder Take your Match between the fingers of the right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering your string from your wrist Return your Rest into the left hand the string loose Return your Match into your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Rest your Musket Set the But-end of your Musket on the ground Lay down your Musket and Rest Match Take off your Bandeliers Lay down March from your Armes There is likewise the Sentinell Posture which is The Muskettier having his Musket charged with Bullet his Match cockt his Pan guarded stands with his Musket rested to performe such duty as shall be commanded or given him in charge Some have likewise taught to make ready on or from the Sentinell Posture But note that as none comes to stand Sentinell but comes ready charged So if any occasion happen that he must give fire in the time of his standing Sentinel it causeth a generall Alarme So that he will have no fit time to make ready upon his Rest Wherefore I conceive it superfluous but will ever conforme to better judgement We have also the Funerall Posture which from the Rest is to be performed at 3. Motions which cannot so well be exprest in writing as it will expresse it selfe in Action Wherefore seeing that it is rather an Ornament to Obsequies than truly necessary for Armies I will not spend more time about it but come to the Postures of the Pike Yet before I passe upon them give me leave to answer some which out of a Criticall humour will alwayes be carping at others condemning these Postures saying There are more by halfe then are either good or usefull and that there are no more Postures to be used but Make ready Present Give fire The which wee will not deny that in Service there are any other usefull notwithstanding I would have them to know that Make ready is no Posture but a word of Command including all Postures from the first Arming of the Souldier to the present or if the Muskettier be charged shouldered or both then the word Make ready commands the prosecution of the rest of your Postures which are between the Posture you then immediatly are at when the word is given and the other Posture Present for which reason when wee teach Muskettiers at first it is most necessary to instruct them punctually from Posture to Posture Which being once attained he manageth his Armes more surely more comely with more celerity and with better execution and at the first may as easily be taught the best way But if he have got an habit of doing ill there wil be as much or more pains spent in reclayming his errours as at first to teach him the best safest and readiest way CHAP. II. Of the Postures of the Pike THat which followeth next of course is the Posture of the Pike Wherefore that we may observe order in our proceeding we will likewise conceive their Pikes to lie in like manner before them on the ground And then as before the first Command will be To stand to their Armes Handle your Pikes Order To your open Order close Charge with the But-end of your Pike at the inside of your right Foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over the left Arme. Charge to the Right Left Reere Order your Pikes and put up your Swords Note that these Charges at the Foot are to receive a desperate Enemy on Horse upon a stand in some strait or other place of advantage the Muskettiers to give fire over the Pikemens heads or else-where at the discretion of the Commander Port your Pikes Comport Cheeke Treile Order Charge to the Front Order as you were Right Left Reere  Shoulder your Pikes Advance your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile your Pikes  Advance as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile Shoulder your Pikes  Shoulder as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere From Comport Cheeke or Treile the Pikeman may at the discretion of the Commander charge either to the Front Reere or both Flanks as shall be necessary or thought expedient Wherfore we shall not need to do it but once over for the Charges will be all alike whether you Comport from Order from Advance or Shoulder And so likewise for Cheek and Treile c. From Comport Charge to the Front Comport as you were Right Left Reere Cheek your Pikes   From the Cheek Charge to the Front Cheek as you were Right Left Reere Treile your
XXIII Of hale-files doubling the Front by division THis doubling hath beene very well approved of by Count Mansfield Sir Thomas Kelly Captaine Bingham and divers other souldiers of good esteeme who preferre these sorts of doublings before any other because these doublings may be used in time of fight without disturbance to the other part of the Battell The Figure stands as it is in motion The way to performe this motion is as followeth the halfe-files are to face to the right and left and to march untill rhey are cleere of the Reere part of the Front division then they face to their Leader and march up untill they be come even in ranke with the Front and so stand which perfects this doubling The way to reduce them is as followeth The halfe-files are to face about to the Reere and to march forth-right untill they are cleere of the Front halfe-files and then they are to face to the right and left inward and so to march and close their division Then being faced to their Leader they are reduced as at first CHAP. XXIV Of doubling the Reere by Division THis next doubling shall be a doubling of the Reere by the Front halfe-files which will worke the same effect to the Reere 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 persueth in the reere The Front-division either opening as you may perceive by the Figure next following and suffering the Reere 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 gallantly Vp and receive the Charge whilest the others provide for themselves This Motion may also be usefull when you have gained some place of aduantage For then by this Doubling of the Reere your Battaile will bee both Lengthened and Strengthened And so by the suddaine bringing of these Supplies into the Reere you may not onely relieve your owne but happily overfront your Enemy The Figure followeth For the manner or way of this Motion it may be thus performed The Front halfe-files Face to the Right and Left and march untill they are cleere of the other halfe-files of the Reere Then they Face to the Reere and March on untill they have attained to bee Even in Ranke with them whom they had Command to Double which perfects the Doubling The way to Reduce them is as followeth If you keepe your place of the first Front Then let your Halfe-files Face about according to former directions and March untill they are cleere of the Reere Halfe-files which stand Then Face to the Right and Left inward and close their Divisions And being Eaced all to their Leader they are Reduced Sundry and divers ways there are for Reducement both of this and most other Figures Neuerthelesse I conceive if I give one Reducement to each Figure it may suffice to those that know little As for such which know better they know more wayes to the Wood then one And surely should I inlarge my selfe but halfe so much as I might and indeed in some things no more then were needfull I should then bring my Volume into too great a Bulke and by the price hinder some of the profit But I am willingly silent in some things whereby others may be the better encouraged by my weaknesses to take notice of their owne worths which may induce them to put Pen to paper and thereby produce some worthy worke which may tend to their Credits and their Countreys good CHAP. XXV Of Doubling the Reere intire by the Front-halfe-files THis next doubling shall be a doubling of the Reere to the Right intire by the Eront halfe-files which I intend not fully to expresse But to deliver the Figure as the Body stands in Motion For I conceive it better to shew some Figures in the manner of the Motion then to shew them as they would appeare The Motion being perfected for the way of the working gives a great deale more light to the Learner then to shew the thing absolutely wrought Neither would I have any thinke although I shew these varieties of Doublings and acknowledge them to be of singular good use for the extension of the Length or Depth of any Battaile but that the wise conduct and skill of the Commander must so order them that the extending of the Length doe not too much weaken the Depth nor that the strengthening of the Depth be not too great a weakening to the Front or Length of your Battaile I might give examples how divers great Cōmanders either by good foresight or ill oversight have gained to themselues and their Countreys Honor and Victory or losse and slavery But others have beene very plentifull in examples of this nature which makes me the more sparing For my intent is not to write a History of the actions of others but rather to shew to such as are not so skilfull The Bostures Motions and some few Formes or Figures of Battaile with their severall Reducements The Figure of this present Doubling followeth The manner of this motion or doubling is thus to be performed The Front-halfe-files Face to the Left and March untill they are cleere of the Reere-halfe-files Then Face againe to the Left which is the Reere and March outright untill they Ranke even with the last ranke of the Reere-division which gives conclusion to the Doubling For the reducement Let your Front-halfe-files Face about to the Left and March right foorth untill they 〈…〉 cleere 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 Reere to the Left intire may be done after the same manner onely differing in the hand CHAP. XXVI Of doublings by Halfe-rankes intire HAving shewed the Particle doublings and the Doublings of Front and Reere intire and by division I will next shew the doublings of Flankes after the same manner and will first begin with a doubling of the left Flanke by advancing the right Flanke and placing it before the Leaders of the left Flanke which is a doubling both of Number and Place and may serve to singular good use for the strengthening of any flank where it may be needfull For it makes the Battaile defensible on every part The Figure as it is in Motion followeth If you would have 〈…〉 Muskettiers to double even with the Muskettiers of the contrary Flanke Then it is no more but thus cause the halfe Ranks of the right Flanke to march forth-right as you may perceive by the Figure untill the Reere Ranke of the right Flanke be advanced about three foot before the Front of the left Flanke and then cause that Flanke so advanced to Countermarch their Rankes to the right And then also your
inward to the Reere   Front and Reere into the Right flanke Left your flankes into the Front  Reere  both flankes into the front and reere   your front and reere into both flanks   Observe that the first foure wheelings are angular the next foure are wheelings on the center or more properly on the midst of the front But all the first eight be intire the latter eight are all divisionall You may also observe that every following wheeling is a reducement unto that which is placed next before it and the wheeling next before may reduce that next following as to wheele your flankes into the front if you wheele your flanks into the reere it is reduced or to wheele front and reere into both flankes if you wheele both flankes into the front and reere they are likewise reduced as before For the last eight wheelings which are divisionall I will pricke for each of them his figure As for the first eight which are intire I conceive them so easie to be understood that I may spare the labour yet I will endeavour to expresse them as well as I can in words and first I will beginne with the wheelings anguler and then with the rest according to their places and therefore note that when you are Commanded to wheele to the right or left c. and no other command added it is to be understood an anguler wheeling and so to be performed CHAP. LVIII Of wheelings Anguler The Command is Wheele your battell to the right THis is an angular wheeling which transferres the aspect or countenance of the front proper into that part which was the right flanke It also removes the Battalia from the ground wheron formerly it stood and placeth it on that part before the front the hindge or Axell tree of the motion is the right corner man or right hand file-leader who with a small motion moveth to the right every man the more his place is remote from the right Angle the more swift must be his motion because his arch-quadrant or semi-circle is larger in proportion wherefore it must be the discretion of the Officers so to instruct their Souldiers that when they wheele to any hand they may so moderate their motion that they on the contrary flanke be not forced to runne but so orderly to containe themselves that they may still preserve an orderly and even front For the reducement wheele your Battaile to the left in the like manner as it was wheeled to the right neverthelesse you must then note that it will not bring you backe into the same ground you formerly stood on for it hath advanced you the length of your Battalia before the place of your first front But if you would be reduced into the same place or plot you first stood on then face your Battaile to the right and being so faced wheele your Battaile to the left which being performed face to the left and then they are compleatly reduced both for aspect and place The next Command is Wheele your Battaile to the right about This is also an anguler wheeling and transferres the aspect of the front proper towards the reere It is to be performed in the same manner as the wheeling to the right was onely the motion is twice so much Wherefore there ought to be the more care had that so the motion may be orderly performed by so much as every man is nearer or further off from the right corner man by so much the more swifier or slower must he continue his motion that so he may be sure to keepe still even in ranke with his right hand man This motion being thus performed your Battaile will be removed from its former station taking in lieu thereof the ground Diagonally opposite in the right Angle To reduce these to their former aspect wheele your Battell to the left about notwithstanding the ground you formerly did possesse will be twice the length of your Battaile to the left of your left flanke if you would reduce them as well to their first ground as their first aspect face them to the right and then wheele them to the left about which being done face them to the left and they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. LIX Of wheeling on the Center The Command is Wheele your Battell to the right on the same ground THis wheeling is by some called a wheeling on the Center by others a wheeling on the same ground I cannot absolutely maintain it to be either for that it onely wheeles about the midst of the first ranke Neither may it rightly bee termed a wheeling on the same ground because it loseth ¾ of the ground it formerly stood upon This wheeling is quicker performed then the anguler wheelings and may be done in farre lesse ground For the left flanke advanceth forward still wheeling to the right the right flanke contrariwise facing to the left and so falling backward If you have an odde file then the middle file-leader must be the center or axelltree of the motion if you have an even number of files then the middlemost file-leader from the left But if your wheeling be to the left then the contrary This by some is called the Prince of Oranges wheeling For the reducement wheele your Battell to the left on the same ground and they are reduced as at first Our next Command is to Wheele your Battaile to the right about on the same ground This wheeling is also a wheeling on the center or midst of the front and transfers the aspect of the front proper towards the reere removing the Battaile from the ground whereon it formerly stood and placing it on the ground before the front It is performed after the same manner as the last onely the motion is double so much as the other In this motion on the left flanke every man is to observe his right hand man and the right flanke must keepe even and straight after their left hand man which become their leaders file-wise untill they have attained their ground after which they face as before making an even front For the reducement wheele your Battaile to the left about upon the same ground and they will be reduced as at first I will next shew the divisionall wheelings and intend to giue to each of them his figure whereby they may appeare the more easie to such as doe not yet rightly understand them The first shall be a wheeling off by division as in the next Chapter CHAP. LX. Of wheeling off by division The Command is Wheele off your front by division THis wheeling off by division in greater bodies may be usefull to meete severall enemies at one and the same time with the front of your Battalia and so consequently with your best Souldiers But if you will wheele off your Battaile by division and ioyne them againe when they be in the reere then it brings all your Muskettiers from the flankes to the midst of your
Battalia and your Pikes on the out side or flankes If any question the depth of the number of this figure I have doubled files to make the figure more perfect The way to perform this motion is easie for all the file-leaders of the right flanke wheele about to the right the rest of each file following their leaders the file-leaders also of the left flanke wheeling about to the left in the same manner and then joyne or close their divisions This being done if you would then reduce them wheele them off againe by division after the same manner and they will be as before But if you would doe it some other way make use of this wheeling next following which will also bring them as they were The word of Command or direction followeth as in the next Chapter CHAP. LXI Of wheeling the Front inward towards the Reere The Command is Wheele your Front inward to the Reere THis divisionall wheeling of your front inwards to the reere is here placed as a reducement unto the other foregoing wheelings and so it brings the Muskettiers to the flankes againe But if you will doe it the Company being first reduced then it brings the Pikes to the flankes Some say it may be good if you be annoyd with horse in the Reere upon a march and that you have gained some side of a hill or other place of advantage then to wheele your front inward to the Reere to the enemy will make shew of disbandoning or flight But contrariwise you march toward him with a settled and orderly body your Muskettiers being all in the midst and so firing upon their enemy the Pikes being their flankers thereby defending the shot from the fury of the horse This motion will hardly be well done if your body hold too large an extension of length But at what depth soever it is easie The motion is to be performed as followeth The right hand file-leader with all the leaders of the right flanke advance forwards and so wheele about to the left every file still keeping close to their right hand file The left hand file-leader likewise with all the leaders of the left flanke advance forwards and wheele about to the right every file of the left flanke closing close to the left Thus the outmost files of each flanke will meete and become the innermost the front falling perpendicularly to the reere For the reducement of this figure you may if you please either wheele them off to the right and left by division or else wheele your front inward againe to the reere These two last wheelings have beene demonstrated with their files doubled whereby the figures might be the â—ore perfect but with men it would have beene needlesse wherefore double rankes to the contrary hand and they will be as at the first CHAP. LXII Of bringing the Flanks into the Front of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wings Front Front Battell Front Midst Front Center Reere Flanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Front is properly a doubling performed by wheeling It brings all your Muskettiers from the flankes into the front So that whereas this bodie before could do execution but with 8. Muskettiers at once by this Motion they may powre on 16. shot together If they were deeper before the Motion began then it would bring the more hands to imployment If upon some passe you should be chased in the Reere by horse by this motion of wheeling your flanks into the front you not onely secure your Muskettiers but also barricado up the passe with your pikes if it be not above fifty foot over Some call this a wheeling on the center because they wheele about the middle-men of the front But I rather conceive it an angular because upon the first Motion of dividing every division wheeleth about his owne angle untill the outmost-file-leaders of each flanke meet together in the midst You may perceive how by the figures of number where the figure 1. meets the number 16 2 with 15 3 with 14. and so for all the rest Then being faced to their leader every two files that met being now joyned make one ranke There must be the like order and decorum kept in the motion of wheeling each flanke as I shewed in the instruction of intire angular wheelings For reducement of this Motion wheele your flanks into the Reere Or else foure times the same as I have seene some do although somewhat the further way about Divers men are diversly opinionated concerning the best word of Command or direction for this Motion These I have known used which I have placed in the Margent by the figure And if any man like one better then the other be it at his owne choice either to use or refuse while I passe to shew the next wheeling CHAP. LXIII Of wheeling the Reere into the midst of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Reere The Direction is Face all about to the Right Wheele yâ—â—r Flâ—â—kâ— into the Reere Wing Reere Reere Battell Reere Midst Reere Center Front â—lanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Reere is also a doubling and performed as the other And whatsoever might be said in the behalfe of the wheeling of the front into the middest the same may be also spoken concerning the wheeling of the Reere into the middest For this wheeling brings your two outmost-files to be the first ranke the Bringers up of the right and left-hand-files meeting together the bringers up of the left flanke meeting face to face with the Bringers up of the left-flanke And so being faced to their leader they which before were complete files are now become halfe-ranks either to the right or left But you must note that before you begin to wheele you must face your body about to the Reere and then the action will be all one as if you wheeled your flanks into the front Wherefore I shall not need further to explaine it having spoken fully to it in the precedent Chapter For the reducement of this wheeling the Commander being at his Front accidentall may command them to wheele their wings into the Reere and so passe through to that part where his proper file-leaders are and then face them to him and they are reduced Or else when he hath past through to the reere and faced his Company to him then his pikes being formost let him wheele his flanks into the front who being faced to their leader they are reduced For this motion there are also divers and severall words of Command And because it may be that some will better approve of some of the other words of Command then of this that I have made use of therefore I have placed others in in the margent That so any that will may take their choice while I passe to shew the next wheeling Whose word of Command and direction you shall finde over the figure of
twelve score or lesse then it is fit that the Muskettiers give fire even with the front of the Pikes and that the Pikemen advance their Pikes and close forwards to their distance of three foot that so they may be even in ranke with their Muskettiers as you may perceive by the following Figure Now the Pikes being advanced and the rankes closed forwards to their due distance of order the Muskettiers are to present even with the front every ranke successively moving forward untill they come to be even in ranke with the first ranke of Pikes there to give fire and to wheele off to the right and left trooping file-wise downe close to their owne divisions and taking their places in the reere as in the former figures The first ranke of Muskettiers having fired and wheeled away the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places and there to give fire after the same manner wheeling away againe and placing themselves according to former directions every ranke still making good their Leaders ground In this sort the battell may be continued untill they have fired once twice or oftner over and that the Bodies become so close together that the Pikes begin to porte and so at length come to push of Pike Which done the Muskettiers are to give fire either retreiting or else not to advance further then the halfe files of Pikes For in that place the bodies being come so neere together they will doe as much execution as if they were even with the front The manner of the standing you may perceive by the following Figure The Pikes being now come to push the Muskettiers are to advance no further than the halfe files of Pikes that so they may doe execution with their shot and be out of danger of the Pikes This having attained they are there to present and give fire every ranke still moving forwards and maintaining his leaders ground After they have performed their firing they are to wheele off by division as in the former Figures still placing themselves in the reere of their owne files alwaies taking their directions from the Drum either for charging or retreiting c. The battell or charge being ended the reducement is easie The leader of each file being in his place at the head of his file command the Muskettiers to march up even with the front of pikes and then they will be as at first Obserue withall that when the firing is to be performed even with the front then the Muskettiers are stil to make good their leaders ground The want to be in the place of most security which is the Reere as you may perceive by the pricks which I have designed for noting out the empty roomes of such who have closed forwards to make good the ground in the front the others that last fired are wheeled off and trooping downe into their places When the firing is even with the halfe-files they are to do the like unlesse the Drumme beat a retreat for then the Muskettiers neither advance nor retreat but every rank giving fire on the same ground they stand and then wheele off againe that their fellows may do as much Neverthelesse when the forlorne files march forth or that two ranks march forth ten paces or more before the front then they are to give fire as upon a retreit unlesse the enemy flye I will now shew some other wayes of firing in front before I shew the firings in the reere The first whereof shall be the horne Battell as in the Chapter following CHAP. LXXIII Of the Horne-battell how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe Horn-battell may be for the same occasion and use as the firing by two ranks ten paces advancing before the front and is by some held more serviceable because that the muskettiers do their execution more roundly without any intermission of time and keepe themselues without stragling from their bodies Besides the wings of Muskettiers being so advanced are more apt for over-fronting and more easily to be wheeled whereby to charge the enemy in flanke each of these wings or divisions are to be led up by a Serjeant or some other superiour Officer unto the place appointed by the Chiefe But because that it may be performed in time of exercise by the intelligible Souldier observe the Command which produceth this following figure Pikes stand Muskettiers march untill the Bringers up ranke with the front of Pikes The Horne-battell The figure being perfect the firstranke of Muskettiers present and give fire wheeling off either all to the right or to the right and left according as they shall have direction and placing themselues orderly in the Reere of their owne files The next ranke after the same manner firing and wheeling off and placing themselues behinde those which were their leaders Thus is every rank successively to do the like untill they have all given fire If the Commander would still preserve and continue the same figure then let the Muskettiers still move forwards into the ground or place of them that fired before them and the forme will be still the same And if by the Chiefetain it be found necessary that after once or twice firing over the shot should flanke their pikes then the Muskettiers must not advance into their leaders ground but to the contrary every ranke is to present and fire on the same ground they stand and that so soone as they are cleere of their leaders Or if need be the pikes may advance and march up to make their front iâ—tire which being done the file-leaders of Muskettiers being in front they are reduced CHAP. LXXIIII Of the Demie-hearse Battell The use of the figure how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe next firing in Front which I present unto you is the Demie Hearse which is a figure most firme most sollid and most stable yea and doth as much execution as any of the former and that with halfe the danger For the pikes in the former figure they either ranke even with the front of Muskets or else the division of Muskettiers being open they become liable to the danger of the enemies shot themselues not being able to do any thing either offensive or defensive But to the contrary in this figure they are securely covered by their owne Muskettiers untill they approach nearer to the enemy Whereby they may be able to do some service either by sending their showres of arrows amongst them for bringing their array out of order or else by closing neerer come to the shocke and so try the fortune of the day But not to hold you longer in circumstance take the words of command which produce the figure as followeth Pikes stand Muskettiers advance before your Front of Pikes and close your Divisions The Demic-hearse For the firings on this figure they may be divers yet I shall content my selfe onely to shew two of them The first is that the Muskettiers may at the discretion
the words of Command and direction which are for the making of this Diamond Battell are as follow First cause your Muskettiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for receiving the Muskets of the left flanke Then command the Muskettiers of the left flanke to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to make the Figure Command Files of Muskettiers ranke 1. 3. 5. 7. c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranke by decrease after your Muskettiers The Muskettiers may fire on this figure divers waies though I onely intend to speake unto two of them The first is the most usuall way and that is the giving fire in ranke the first man or poynt of the Diamond first giving fire then wheeling off to the right and placing himselfe just behinde the single Pikeman in the reere Then the next ranke being three men give fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves in ranke behinde the single Muskettiers as they were before the firing began This done the ranke of five Muskettiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde they command to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwaies goes to the right And so in like manner the rankes give fire successively and place themselves after their leaders as before When all the Muskettiers have given fire and are wheeled off then charge Pikes which will be fifteene in the first ranke the rest decreasing Having advanced your Pikes your figure will stand like two wedges with their poynts ioyned as you may perceive by this Figure next following If you would reduce your men from this Figure without firing your men being sufficiently expert let the Muskettiers stand and Pikes face to the reere and so the wedges will stand faced in opposition Next command them to interchange ground the Muskettiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Muskettiers and then by facing the Pikes to the former front the body will stand in forme of a Diamond againe If you would give fire from this Figure all the Muskettiers being in the reere the body must face about and so the firing will be contrary to the former But if you wheele them about they may give fire the same way Howsoever they having given fire are to wheele off by division and to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes even in ranke again as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired ouer and wheeled away the Pikes may charge and being againe advanced the body will stand in forme of a Diamond and this I pray you to conceive for I intend not to remake the Figure The second way of firing on the Diamond figure is by way of Countermarch and is an oblique firing For whereas in the other firing by ranks in the Diamond Battell each ranke fired by increase of two beginning with one and ending with fifteene in a ranke this firing contrariwise begins with 15. and ends with 1. still decreasing 2. For this firing your files must be at open order because the Muskettiers must countermarch downe betweene the Intervals of their owne files to the right every Muskettier that findes himselfe without a leader being to present and give fire and then to countermarch to the right and to place himselfe in the Reere of his own file behinde the pikes When the first 15. have fired then the next 13. present fire and countermarch still placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Next there fireth 〈◊〉 thâ—â— 9. c. for still there fires â—o many as are 〈◊〉 of any leaders And in this manner of firing they that fire together stand neither in ranke not file buâ— oâ—liquely When all the Muskettiers have fired and â—â—e 〈◊〉 into the Reere of their owne files let the pikes charge and so the forme of your battell will be like a long wedge as you may perceive by the following figure where now your Ranks are become 2. and 2 of a number Your men standing in forme afore-shewed if you please yet to be more curious face them all to the Reere and command your Muskettiers to march ten or twelue paces Your pikes to stand and your Muskettiers will present you with an hollow wedge and your pikes with a sollid wedge Lastly to reduce all these severall formes into the first proper square battell first let the sollid wedge close forward into the hollow of the other then let the Muskettiers make ready present and fire as before That is to say every Muskettier that finds himselfe without a leader is to give fire and to countermarch to the reere of his owne file the rest doing the like successively When they have all fired and are countermarcht cleere let the pikes charge and then your body will have the form of a Diamond againe Next face them all to the Reere and command Ranks file 8. to the right Which being done passe through the Muskettiers which belong to the left-flanke into their places and close the Muskettiers of the right-flanke to their due distance and so they will stand all properly reduced CHAP. LXXVII Of the Convex Halfe Moone The use of the Figure and of severall wayes of firing upon it THe Convex halfe-moone or semicircular Battell is a forme both good and usefull which the time the number and place with other circumstances may make either beneficiall or prejudiciall Wise Captains and Commanders ever foreseeing with providence what formes or figures may be most profitable and available for the present service This Convex figure may be usefull either at the landing of souldiers in an enemies Countrey or for necessity the enemy being more able in horse making use either of hedge ditch wood creeke or River to secure the Reere For the figure it selfe it may be made many wayes either with the Muskettiers outermost or innermost or lined c. as pleasest he Commander It may also be made in a Regimentall way or after the way of a small and private Company But because I have onely in this my smal Treatise taken upon me to shew the postures motions and figures which are most usually done in a small Company although many of them yea the more part may be very fit for larger Bodies I shall content my self to saile in so small a bottome not desiring to put on more saile then will suffice for the bearing of so small a burthen Wherefore my request shall be that every courteous and skilful Pilot that shall come aboard this small Barke will be pleased neither to launch it into the maine lest it be swallowed in the Surges nor to expose it to the danger of shelues rocks and sands lest it suffer shipwracke for want of good guidance but so to steere it that it may safely arrive at its â—â—sirâ—d Harbour wherein they will both honour 〈…〉 expressing their vertues
you would bring more hands to fight double rankes to any hand and the body for forme and number will stand like the figure here next following But the speediest way and I thinke the best I am sure with expert Souldiers is to wheele both â—lanks into the front which is the way intended by this Figure For the manner of the firing it selfe you may partly perceive that there are intervalles made for each division to wheele off to the right that so they may either fall in the reer of the Muskettiers there continue the firing or else fall in the reer of the pikes be therby secured from the horse It may be done one or both wayes according to the occasion or discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse before I shew the firing observe these words of Command which produce the Figure Wheele your flanks into the front Face to your leader The broad â—â—onted Battell The first ranke having presented and given fire let them wheele off to the right all passing down the Interualâ—es to the right and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The Muskettiers making good their leaders ground and the next ranâ—es firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before Having fired once or twice over this way a second way may be to place themselves in the reere of their Pikes either standing or advancing the Pikemen in the meane time clouding the cleere skie with their ayrie Armorie The Muskettiers having all given fire and placed themselves in the reere if need bee the Pikes may close their divisions and charge over hand and if the enemy shall still presse forwards the Pikes may charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over them c. For reducement there are divers waies by firings but because I would make every thing so plaine and easie that those that reade for instruction may receive benefit it hath caused me to reduce each figure by it selfe and not to multiply one upon another whereby to make them too ambiguous And therefore if you make this Figure by wheeling your flankes into the front and then fire as aforesaid the reducement may be either to fire them over againe and so to fall into their former places and then to wheele your flankes into the front againe and lastly face about to the right and they will be as before Or else if you would reduce them without giving fire over againe then command your Muskettiers to double your front by division that done wheele both flankes into the reere then face to your leader and command your Muskettiers to double your front by division againe and they are as at first If I should proceed to shew the many and sundry wayes of firings which may be done in front my Booke had need to have as many leaves as lines and yet all too little But that I may keepe my selfe to my promise and my Booke to its compasse I will next come to shew some firings in the reere and amongst my divisionall firings I shall insert some other sorts of front firings which here I have omitted CHAP. LXXX Of dismarching or firing in the Reere the severall wayes and how they ought to be performed HAving so long maintained Battaile in the front I will now face them about and see how they will behave themselves upon their firings in the reere Which kinde of firings may be very beneficiall and serviceable many wayes For by keeping an orderly march and firing in the reere the eager enemy by a too hasty pursuit may be disordered Or if it so happen as many timesit doth that you have a disadvantagious place to imbattell on by this firing you may march away still preserving your order and array untill you have brought your adversary into some ambushment or such like inconvenience For the manner of comming of the firing it must either be by facing about wheeling about or countermarching the Pikes are to be shouldered The figure followeth A firing in the Reere The Bodie being upon a march if the enemy appeare in the Reere let the last ranke of Muskettiers face about and give fire wheeling off by division file-wise marching up toward the Front and there placing themselues before the foremost ranke of Muskettiers the outmost man of each ranke being the leader up of those which have fired where first taking their places on the outside the rest wheeling about them and ranking even with them on the inside ever observing that they ranke even with the second ranke of pikes The rest of the Muskettiers also doing the like and in this manner to continue the firing as occasion shall require Neverthelesse of all the figures and firings that ever I have seene this hath beene the worst performed in all places which might easily be amended if the Souldiers would observe this following order in their execution namely when the last ranke of Muskettiers have presented to the Reere and are giving of fire the ranke which marched next before them do then blow open and present at three motions still keeping along even with the Body untill that lastly they present to the Reere by which time the ranke that last fired will be wheeled away The next ranke so soone as the other hath presented is likewise at 3. motions to do the same and so successively for all the rest every ranke observing upon each ranks firing to loose one and to march one ranke neerer to the reere of the Battell that so that part may still be kept absolute This giving of fire towards the reere for service is to be continued according to the qualitie of the place the occasion for fight and the discretion of the Commander In exercise we commonly do it but once over and then if you please you may make Alte and face your Bodie about giving fire over againe and charging your pikes upon it if need so requireth Notwithstanding if the horse shall still continue to pursue you in the reere you having gained some strait or place of advantage may wheele your flanks into the Front then face to the reere and with your charged pikes defend your Muskettiers which the body being so wheeled will be in the reere The body standing in this forme the Muskettiers may sleeve up by way of Extraduction The manner you may perceive in the Chapter which treats of that figure If the horse still presse forwards cause the pikes to charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire â—ver them as in the Convex halfe Moone Lastly to reduce them having thus fired command them to wheele their flanks into the fron and to face about after their proper file-leaders and they are reduced Sometimes we give fire in the reere having all our Muskettiers marching in the reere of the pikes For the manner of the motion it is as before but for placing of the men after they have fired it may be different As to wheele off by division placing themselues in the front of
the Muskettiers next behinde the reere of pikes Or if the body be large to wheele all off to the right through Intervals and so to march into the front of pikes Or else they may wheele off by division flanke their pikes and so fire over againe as before If you have brought your Muskettiers by firing to the Reere before the front of pikes then to reduce them you may either wheele the body about and give fire in front causing your Muskettiers to fall off by division and to flanke their pikes as you may perceive by the figure of the Demie-hearse Or else if you will reduce them without a firing cause your Muskettiers to open to the right and left and the pikes to march up in the miast after which facing all to your Leader they are as at first I might have shewne a Figure for each of these severall firings in the reere which would have delivered them with more variety but I conceive that this here already exprest may suffice especially this being the ground of what may be spoken Concerning firings in this nature many men are of many mindes about this firing in the reere Some will have it that the last ranke shall at one motion face to the reere and there present and give fire Others will have it at two motions but either of them have their inconveniences For however they pretend a more sudden execution they are decerved for would they make tryall by causing the Muskettiers of one of the flanks to give fire at one motion and the Muskettiers of the other flanke at three motions as I have here set downe they should soone finde that the firing upon three motions were the best and that the other would be cast so farre behinde their body that they would be in some danger to be cut off Besides this they are longer in clearing themselves from their owne men which all the whilst must stay untill they are marched off or else kill them in stead of the enemy whereas in this other firing upon three motions they still keepe along with their Body doing their execution more suddenly and more safely Neverthelesse there be many so much wedded to â—heir own wilfull opinion that they will more willingly persist in knowne errour then be seene to alter what they have seemed to maintaine But leaving such to steere by their owne compasse I will here conclude my firing in the reere And the next I shew shall be firings in flanks to which purpose I passe all my Muskettiers to the right flanke The words of direction for it are these Muskettiers of the right flanke open to the right or face to the right and march When they have opened to a sufficient distance then stand Muskettiers of the left flanke passe through betweene your rankes of Pikes to the intervalle on the right flanke then stand and face all to your leader CHAP. LXXXI Of firings in flanke in generall and more particularly of the gathering firing THe Muskettiers being all on the right flanke as in the last Chapter is directed it would be needlesse to make a Figure whereby to demonstrate the standing of the body seeing that none can be so ignorant but must needs know that all the Muskettiers being upon the right the Pikes must be upon the left Neverthelesse I shall endeavour to shew what is meant by firing in flankes Which for the generall are of these two kindes The first is when the enemy skirmâ—sh with us in flanke as we march the other when as by some sudden attempt or ambushment the whole body is engaged and so forced to stand and to face to the right or left or both By which facings the flanks become fronts accidentall and their firings wil be after the same manner of the firings in front Wherefore seeing I have already spoken sufficiently of them I will now shew firings in flanke marching the particulars whereof are as followeth The first is for the outmost file to give fire and stand untill the next file have fired which by some is called the gathering firing Secondly firings in flanke and leading them up between the Muskettiers and Pikes firing in flanke being led off by the bringers up firings in flanke sleeving up on the contrary flanke of Pikes firing in flanke and drawing them up betweene the innermost files of Pikes All these firings in flanke are to be performed upon a march the Pikes are to be shouldered Our first firing in flanke followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire to the right and gather up your files This kinde of firing on the flanke I have seene and knowne used by many good and able souldiers Neverthelesse in my opinion the men stand in a great deale of danger when having given fire they can doe no good but stand like so many markes for their enemies shot Notwithstanding it may be that such whom I have frequently seene to use it in their practise may be able to render good reasons for the service though as yet I cannot conceive it I will therefore surcease any further prosecution my opinions and shew the manner of execution which is to be performed as followeth The Command being to give fire to the right presently the outermost file to the right faceth outward and presents the rest of the body still marching forwards Then the presented file gives fire and stands facing againe to their first front By thattime the body will be marched cleere of the standing file then the next outermost file presents and fires in like manner the body marching as before Having fired they in like manner face to their first front and stand a Serjeant leading up the file that first fired on the out side of the file that last fired Then they both stand together untill the third file hath given fire after the same manner And then the Serjeant leads up the two files even with the third which last fired And after this manner the â—â—â—es of Muskettiers face to the flanke and give fire sâ—câ—essively and stand untill the Serjeant leads up the rest of the files which fired even with the front of the file which last fired Thus having all fired over they are to march up againe even with the front of Pikes and this reduceth them as at first CHAP. LXXXII The second manner of giving fire to the flanke IF you would fire in flanke a more secure way then that last shewne take this way of firing And this shall be full as serviceable for matter of execution and shall farre precede it in way of preservation both in securing the Muskettiers after they have fired from the danger of their enemies shot as also in continuing the body intire without separation It is especially usefull when two enemies are divided by a River or by some such like meanes secured from the incursions of the horse For then by this way of drawing the Muskettiers up betweene the innermost file of Muskettiers and the outermost file of Pikes to