of two troops as Melzo hath it or the Generalls regiment according to C. Bingham which hath alwayes the vanguard And if the enemie should change place and from your front become to be upon your reare whereby the reare as most dangerous becomes most honourable that Captain which to day hath led the battaillon to morrow in stead of the vanguard may challenge the reare The scouts alter their course also and attend the enemies proceedings on the reare If occasion be in time of march to send out one or more troops for some service they are to observe the same orders But the armie being come to their quarter and occasion being to send out b When all or a good part of the horse are employed in some exploit without Infanterie it is called a cavalcado Such was that when the States men surprised the castle of Crapoel in Limburg c. Meteren lib. 23. all or part of the Cavallrie upon some exploit that troop which first appeareth at the place of Rendez-vous shall be appointed by the Commissarie Generall who is to be there to the first place the second to the second place If two troops come together at the same instant they shall cast lots By this means every man desiring honour they will be the readier to appeare in due time The same course shall be taken when the troops are to be sent upon some embuscado convoy or the like If the march be but of one day he which commandeth shall appoint the best experienced and ablest to lead c Others hold it much better to observe the same order in the dismarch which was used in the march so that companie which went out first comes in first who is to be in the reare returning back to the quarter And these may have private order to be at the place of Rendez-vous sooner then the rest to avoid jealousies The vanguard battaillon and reare must be divided from each other 300 paces CHAP. IV. Of scouts or discoverers TO be secured from unexpected assaults of the enemie neither the armie nor the Cavallrie alone no not a companie must march without a These the Romanes called exploratores or speculatores See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noceant ducis praestat industria quem omnia prius convenit explorare Idem lib. 3. cap. 6. discoverers which must be sent out not onely by the direct way where the enemie is like to come or you are to march but to scoure all the by-wayes on either side And sometime the first discoverers are seconded by a second companie to secure the march They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men valiant vigilant and discreet such as neither feare nor misconceit can easilie distract They must see that with their own eyes which they inform the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie Those select men appointed for this service are to be b P. Considius qui rei militaris peritissimus habebatur in exercitu L. Syllae postea in M. Crassi fuerat cum exploratoribus praemittitur Caes com lib. 1. c. 5. led by an able officer it being a task so difficult that many have lost that reputation by it which they had been long in gaining of This officer shall send word of what he discovereth and what he seeth not himself he is to signifie it as so reported to him and having seen it then to certifie it as for certain CHAP. V. Of the order of marching by day THe a Omni curā omnique diligentiâ providere debet dux ne proficiscens patiatur incursum vel si non facilè at sine damno repellat illatum Veg. ibid. march must be so ordered as the companies may readily from that order be brought into a good form of battell upon occasion of a suddain charge The Cavallrie supposed to consist of 40 troops and the countrey spacious is to be divided into two bodies of 20 troops a piece Melzo would have 3 troops of Harquebusiers in front of the vanguard which Basta and VValhausen are against because they are for the most part but ill armed These two divisions are to march in even front 150 paces divided Coming to strait passages the right wing is to march before the left The officers must suffer none of the baggage nor any other to intermingle with their troops The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the vanguard or one of them in that division when the Cuirassiers have it b Praemittes etiam ad loca exploranda equites quosdam praesertim si sylvosa sint aut collibus aut montibus inclusa per quae transeundum est c. Leo cap. 9.38 must send out a Corporall with 15 horse and a good guide some league before whereof two shall be sent out directly before him two towards the right and other two towards the left c Caesar exercitum per insidiosa itinera duxit nunquam nisi praespeculatus locorum situs c. Sueton. Jul. to discover among the woods and valleys and to get intelligence at any dwelling houses or villages advising the Corporall of what they discover Who is from time to time to advise the chief which is to march at the head of the first troop After these 15 he is to send out 4 others led by a sufficient souldier to bring reports of what those 15 shall discover the rather because the enemie might come upon them upon the flanks after the first 15. were past The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the reare of the left wing must leave a Corporall with 15 horse a mile behinde him Of these 15 two are to be some 12 or 14 score behinde the rest to give notice if the enemie follow them in the reare d Illud vitandum nè aliis festinantibus aliis tardiùs incedentibus interrumpatur acies aut certè tenuetur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. The Captain which leads in front must march so as the other troops must keep foot with him and passing over a bridge or narrow passage must make Alto so soon as he is over or in the plain leaving a souldier at the bridge or strait which shall give him knowledge so soon as the reare be past over or through g Quando per angustias aliquas aut per arduos aviósque montes profecturus es praemitte ex tuis qui juga montium loca ibi editissima occupent qui aditus angustos minùs patentes anticipent c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.26 And if in these strait passages there be any advenues by which the enemie might charge you those must be prepossessed by Harquebusiers or Dragons alighting and keeping themselves upon some height or in some valley or behinde some hedge or ditch to secure their flanks Every troop is to leave 100 paces distance between each other and are to suffer no baggage nor others to trouble them as abovesaid CHAP. VI. The order of marching by night
of a chief officer or at least a well experienced Captain The Provost or one of his assistants is to go with them to punish such as are exorbitant or straggle If the forrage be for the whole armie the Lieutenant generall is to lead the convoy b Pugnatores ab impedimentis laxamento aliquo dividuntur nè constipati laedantur in praelio ambulante exercitu Ibid. cap. 6. The baggage nor horse-boyes must be mingled among the troops It is not fit to go twice together to one place to forrage lest the enemie knowing it watch an opportunitie At first it is good to forrage in the most remote places where the enemie is like to come to encamp but if the enemie be setled it is not good to forrage so neare him as that he might set upon the convoy with Infanterie and Cavallrie but rather in such places where he can hardly without great danger to himself endammage the forragers c Vt locorum varietas advenerit ità defensionis ratio varietur Ibid. If there be one or more streets by which the enemie might come between the quarter and the place of forrage some convenient number of foot and 10 or 12 horse must be left at the advenues of each of the said streets The horse are to place a Sentinell to send out tvvo to discover the wayes a good distance before them By this means the forragers having finished their forraging make their retreat safely to which purpose also one or two troops of 25 horse a piece use to march upon the flanks of the forragers When all the forragers are marching back again towards the quarter all the convoy marcheth in the reare it being unlikely that the enemie will set upon them with any great forces between their convoy and their quarter At the place of d Vbi pabulandi tempus fuerit alii pabulum colligant alii apparati instructique sequantur ut nè si omnes se ad pabulum colligendum converterint subita quaedam irruptio aut insidiae fuerint ipsi imparati sparsÃque opprimantur Leo Tact. cap. 17. forrage the Chief shall cause a troop of Harquebusiers to advance somewhat before the rest there to stand and to suffer none to passe beyond he is also to send out some souldiers on every side and to visit woods and valleys c. For the better securing of the said forragers or the quarter there use to be 50 or more of the Infanterie which may be fitly performed by Dragoniers with a competent number of horse placed in some castle or strong Church within 2 or 3 houres riding of the quarter But to secure the quarter there ought to be two places equidistant so guarded which might cut off those small troops which runne neare the armie on either side And if the troops be of number these may by their discoverers or spies receive notice thereof and so suddenly inform the quarter CHAP. X. Of garrisons BY reason of the affinitie between a camp and a garrison it will not be amisse though somewhat by way of digression to say something of them The fittest places for the Cavallrie to be laid in garrison are those which are frontiers towards the enemy thereby the enemies excursions are hindred and their own friends secured Whereas otherwise though they be never so strong of Infanterie they are like to have some of the enemies horse alwayes at their gates Besides it gives more a Adversus omnia profuit milites quotidiano exercitio reborare courage to the Cavallrie to have their garrison thus on the frontiers against the time of their going out upon service then if they had spent all the winter b severè in defides vindicare Veg. lib. 1. cap. 1 Exercitus labore profificit otio consenescit Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 26. lazily in some garrison more within the countrey It is good to appoint them their ordinarie settled garrisons that so they may there leave their baggage and go into the field with the lesse incumbrance which will also make them the better skilled in the knowledge of the countrey and wayes If there be one troop or more of horse laid in garrison in some kinde of spies cannot continue long without being discovered If it be possible such spies must be had as are entertained into domesticall service of the chief officers of the enemie the better to know their intentions and designes On the other side there must be exceeding great care taken to beware of the enemies spies which otherwise may do you as much mischief as you reap benefit by your own To remedie this inconvenience 1 First those which shall be discovered must be punished with extreme rigour which will be a means to deterre others which are or might be so imployed 2 Rogues vagabonds and idle persons must be chased out of the leaguer 3 No officer is to entertain any unknown person into his service For oftentimes at table and otherwise things happen to be spoken which were more fit to have been kept secret 4 No stranger is to be lodged within the quarters by any officer or souldier without speciall license To this purpose a sudden c Cùm explorator hostium latenter oberrat in castris omnes ad tentoria sua per diem redire jubeantur statim deprehenditur explorator Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. command useth to be published for every man to repaire to his tent or cabin whereby the Provost takes such as are remaining in the streets which are made to give account of their businesse there 5 A means may be used to deceive the enemie by his own spies giving it out that you intend one thing and do a contrarie also by seeming no way mistrustfull of the enemies drummes and trumpets which are often sent with some pretended message to heare and observe and letting fall some words which carrie with them some probabilitie in their hearing which they may take for truth 6 d Si speculatores hostium ceperis nè uno eodémque modo illos tractaveris c. Leo Tact. cap. 17. Sometimes it is wisedome having discovered a spie in stead of punishing of him to tell him that out of a good inclination to him in stead of severe punishment you desire to do him good c. by such baits they may become double spies And if you suspect any of your own souldiers it is best to dissemble it and to make much of them the better to discover them e Edict for Marshall laws Art 13. Lastly no drumme nor trumpet of the enemies is to be admitted into the leaguer but first to be stayed by the Sentinells of the Cavallrie untill notice be given to the Lord Marshall and he give leave for their admission then they are to be committed to the Provost Marshall which suffereth no man to speak with them The Lord Marshall having understood their message acquainteth the Lord Generall therewith that so a course may be taken for
with the rest of them The other troops shall second these keeping alwayes 100 paces distance betwen every companie If you meet a troop of the enmies horse your self having also but one troop both of equall number and that it so fall out that the enemie retreat you are to send your Lieutenant with 20 horse to charge him in the reare following him with 50 to the same effect closed as firm as may be the rest must follovv at a good distance under a good Corporall which shall not engage himself to fight though the enemie turn head unlesse he see his Captain and Lieutenant in great danger and then he shall couragiously charge the enemie to give time to those of his companie to reunite themselves a Milites lectissimes habeat Dux post aciem in subsidiis praeparatos ut sicubi hostis vehementiùs insistit nè rumpatur acies provalent subitò suppleant loca additâque virtute inimicurum audacium frangant Hâc dispositione nulla melior invenitur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 17. there being nothing more dangerous in combat then to engage the whole troop at once because if they never so little disorder themselves they cannot reassemble unlesse they have fresh men to sustain the enemie Besides the meere sight of a reserve gives a terrour to the enemie which upon occasion may charge him on the flank And if there be but 50 horse in a troop yet some 10 or 12 would be left for a reserve If the troop which retreateth be of 60 horse at least 15 horse must be sent with the Lieutenant to charge the enemie so as he be constrained to entertain them to give time to the rest that follow to arrive in grosse and united for by your sending of a smaller number they might save themselves without losse by leaving onely some few to make the retreat CHAP. III. Of embuscadoes IT is an ordinarie thing in warre to studie how to endamage an enemie and to distract his forces to which purpose all possible means must be used especially when the camps lie neare each other The Cavallrie must principally be employed to travell and molest the enemie sometime by hindering him from his victuall sometime by endamaging his forragers sometime by sending some troops even up to his camp to take some bootie by that means a Boni duces non aperto marte in quo est commune periculum sed ex occulto semper attentant ut integris suis quantos possunt hostes interimant certè vel terreant Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. to draw him forth and to make him fall upon some embuscadoe disposed before-hand in some fitting place To order your embuscadoes or ambushes as they ought you must first know what number of Cavallrie the enemie hath if he have fewer horse then you you may employ all yours attempting to draw out all his and to rout them Or else you may employ some small number by which you may at severall times make some good bootie the enemie not daring to issue out of his quarter But if the enemie exceed you in horse it is not convenient for you to make embuscadoes unlesse it be with some few horse for being a small number you may easilie retreat but being a grosse it might be entertained by part of the enemies Cavallrie presently issuing and those seconded by more whereby you should be hardly able to retreat without disorder and losse b Count Philip of Nassaw anno 1595. intending to set upon Mondragons forragers with 600 horse passed the river Lippe to lay an embuscadoe But being discovered by some of the enemies souldiers or betrayed as Meteren hath it lib. 17. was taken unawares and routed himself and count Solms wounded to death many others slain and divers taken prisoners The Romanes were exquisite in laying discovering of ambushes The good successe of an embuscadoe consisteth chiefly in their not being discovered for which cause they are usually appointed to march in the night or being to march a great way to cause them to passe by those places in the night where the enemie might most likely discover them So proportioning the time as that they might arrive at the place appointed for ambush before day that so they may give time to lay their embuscadoe under favour of the night The said troops arriving long before day they are to be kept firm on the plain and Sentinells are to be placed on every side In the mean time you c Qui superventus in sidias subsessas passus est culpam suam non potest excusare quia haec evitare potuit per speculatores idoneos ante cognoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. must diligently search and discover about the place appointed for your embuscadoe lest there should be any ambush of the enemies then being assured for that you are to lay your embuscadoe before the dawning of the day and to place Sentinells in places convenient where they may be unseen some on trees others couched on the ground to discover such places as they cannot discrie from the trees The embuscadoe must not be laid much before break of day because otherwise they cannot discover the approach of the enemie but at hand and so the embuscadoe should have no time to come forth and put themselves in order and being so taken on the sudden d Deprehensa subsessa si circumveniatur ab hoste plus periculi sustinet quà m parabat inferre Ibid. cap. 6. they might be defeated in their own ambush Besides in that remainder of the night many might be overcome with sleep and not use that vigilance which is required The troops must be placed at good distances one from another that so they intermix not nor hinder each other in time of fight In making the embuscadoe with a grosse of Cavallrie some number of Infanterie must be laid in ambush about the mid-way to sustain the Cavallrie in their retreat if need were or otherwise to assist them upon occasion e With antiquitie embuscadoes were very frequent and were to be used by either partie Vtrique parti in itinere ad subsessas communis occasio est Nam qui praecedit opportunis vallibùs vel sylvosu montibus quasi post se relinquit insidias in quas cùm inciderit inimicus recurrit ipse adjuvat suos Qui verò sequitur adversis semitis longè amè destinat expeditos ut praecedentem adversarium arceat transitu deceptúmque à fronte à tergo concludat Ibid. cap. 22. In marching some horse must be sent out a good way before by the right way and the by-waies to discover whether there be no ambush of the enemies And indeed to be the better assured of the good successe of an ambush it should be accompanied with some new and extraordinarie invention If the Chief of a frontier garrison will attempt to endammage the enemie by an ambush being inferiour in strength to the enemy he must gather together so many
of the troops of his neighbour garrisons untill he be superiour And by making embuscadoes two or three times in this manner it will terrifie the enemie in so much as that it may be conjectured that though afterward he make embuscadoes with fewer horse the enemie will not hazard to come forth and so he may the safelier take bootie When the armie marcheth there is usually some Cavallrie left behinde in embuscadoe in some eminent place from whence they may discover farre off by that means to be secured from the enemies Cavallrie which usually is sent to charge the reare of the marching armie to take some prisoners or to get intelligence But these must not go to their place of ambush by the right way but having passed the place they must return to it by some by-way lest the enemie following them discover them by their footing To employ all the Cavallrie supposed to be 4000 in 40 troops in Embuscadoe three troops must be sent before towards the enemie under an able Commander giving notice onely to him and the Captains where the embuscadoe shall be letting none of the souldiers know that any more horse are to follow them lest any of them in the enemies charge being taken prisoner should reveal it to the enemie Of these three troops 100 are to be sent to the enemies camp viz 50 Cuirassiers with their Captain and Lieutenant 50 Harquebusiers with their Lieutenant Of these Harquebusiers f Pauci equites praemittuntur vallida manus per alia mittitur loca primi ubi ad agmen inimicorum pervenerunt equites tentant leviter atque discedunt c. tunc illa Manus superveniens opprimit ignorantes ibid. 25 shall advance before with a good Corporall attempting to take horses prisoners c. as they shall be able In view of these Harquebusiers at the distance of a canon shot 25 Cuirassiers must make Alto under command of their Lieutenant to receive those 25 Harquebusiers when they return with bootie The Captain with the other 25 Cuirassiers 25 Harquebusiers shall keep behinde some half league off divided into two troops the Harquebusiers being placed nearest the enemie in convenient manner partly to succour the said 50 horse which likely will be charged by the horse of the enemies guards also to make their retreat wherein the Cuirassiers are of principall use These 4 troops must still retreat in fitting distance one from another one of them still turning face to the enemie unlesse the enemie so charge them as they must be forced to flie in disorder The other 200 horse being 150 Cuirassiers and 50 Harquebusiers shall enter the embuscadoe with their Chief about half an houres riding off from the other 50 horse which when they see returning and charged they shall issue out The 50 Harquebusiers first giving a charge rank after rank then the Cuirassiers leaving 20 horse in the reare to make the retreat The grosse which had taken another way lest the enemie should perceive by the footing that there was a greater number and so should stay or turn back must be in ambush about an houres march behinde the said 200 horse And seeing them return charged as surely they will the enemie thinking himself the stronger shall suffer them to passe and the enemie also that so they may charge them on the reare when they see their time For better assurance it were good to lead out with them as before was intimated some g C. Cassius in Syria adversus Parthos ducens aciem equitem ostendit à fronte cùm à tergo peditem in confragoso loco occultâsset dein cedente equitatu per nota se recipiente in praparatas insidias perduxit exercitum Parthorum cecidit Frontin Stratagem 2. lib. cap. 5. 500 musketiers and 300 pikes which must be in ambush about a league behinde the grosse of Cavallrie on the way by which the said 300 horse should return charged These foot must take heed they be not discovered untill the enemie be come up to them and then shall give them a full volly to disorder them Upon this the grosse of Cavallrie now issued out shall charge them on the reare and flanks and then the said 300 horse are to face about and sustain the charge by all which means it is not like that the enemie can escape without much losse According to this proportion a greater or smaller number may be ordered so as if you would make an embuscadoe with 100 horse onely 50 of them must be sent before towards the enemies camp or village where he is quartered Of these 50 15 are to advance before the rest to take some prisoners or horses the other 35 shall be in ambush about half a league behinde them in some place if it be possible whence they may see those 15 but if not then to place 2 horse between themselves and those 15 to give notice when the said 15 shall return charged Whereupon 25 of these 35 shall advance leaving 10 of the best mounted at the place to let the enemie see there is a greater number of horse These 10 must make good the retreat untill the other 50 arrive which lay in ambush two leagues behinde with Sentinels to discover afarre off towards the other 35 betwen which about the midway two horse were also placed to discover the motions of the first 50 and thereof to inform those 50 which were in ambush behinde them These seeing the first 50 return charged shall let them passe and then issue out against the enemie the first 50 making their retreat by 13 or 15 of their best mounted horse-men having reunited themselves and taken breath they must make h The word Alto or Alte is used in all languages in Christendome and signifieth to make a stand I cannot guesse whence it should be derived unlesse it be from the highdutch word halte which is as we say hold and with us is used in the same signification Alto and assist the other as hath been shewed This order is to be observed when you have certain intelligence by your discoverers that the enemie hath no forces thereabout But when you cannot be assured of that lest the enemie with a troop of 50 or 60 horse casually meeting with some of your said small divisions should defeat them there might be 20 or 25 horse first sent out whereof 15 to advance to take some bootie the other staying about half a league behinde in some covert place shewing themselves when those 15 return charged so to give suspicion to the enemie or to make their retreat The rest might be in ambush all together some two leagues behinde them demeaning themselves as before hath been shewed In i Est autem optimum instruendi artificium ut plus inferas adversariis copiarum quà m primo aspectu ostendas Aelian cap. 47. grosse ambushes they must make their number seem as small as may be k Sin parvum habeas exercitum
brings it advanceth towards him with one or two of his discreetest souldiers and receiveth his message in private Having heard his relation he must presently resolve either to retreat or to fight If he resolve to fight the enemie being so strong he must give such orders as shall be fitting especially commanding the troops to go serried close and if there be divers troops that they entermingle not but observe good order for it might so happen that the enemie might charge him c Qui dispersis suis inconsultè insequitur quam ipse acceperat adversario vult dare victoriam Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. so disorderly as he might make head and endamage the enemie especially if he have not one or more troops of reserve following him well united and in good order CHAP. VI. Of ordering the troops for combat by single companies BEfore we come to shew the severall forms of battell which may be used among the Cavallrie it will be fit to speak of their severall kindes of fighting which they are to be practised in apart by themselves before they be joyned with the grosse If a companie of Lances were to fight against foot they were not to give their charge in an united bodie neither upon this nor any occasion whatsoever because even the second rank of them hardly doth any certain execution but they were to charge them rank after rank wheeling off to the reare to that end keeping large distances between rank and rank The same order they were to observe if they fought against horse upon the offensive For the defensive the companie consisting of 64 as before Part. 1. Chap. 19. might order themselves in this manner Two ranks of 8 in rank should face to the front two to either flank and two to the reare leaving an open square space in the middle they all standing back towards back faced every way to receive the charge wheresoever the enemie shall give on The same manner might be used in greater bodies as should seem good to the skilfull Commander If the Lances were to fight against Cuirassiers a Par. 3. rangs de lances lui aller gaillardement donner par les flancs car par ce moyen ils l'entr ' ouuriront Monsieur de la Noüe Disc 18. they were by two ranks together to fetch their careers and so to charge them especially on the flanks and reare every second rank forbearing the shock till the first had done it and was wheeled off If one companie of Cuirassiers be to fight against another your enemie charging you in full career you are to make a b So Walhausen would have it Carracoll that is you divide your body by the half ranks and so suddenly open to the right and left so as the enemie passeth through you and you facing inward charge him on the flanks as is shewed in Fig. 6. Part. 4. Or if two companies fight against two other then they observe the same manner but keeping each companie entire as may be seen in the same figure It is also to be done by the Carracoll first and then the enemie being within you to wheel to the right and left inward and so to charge him on the reare in full career These forms in Walhausens opinion are of c So the said author conceiveth but it is very doubtfull For by this opening to the right left you must turn troop and then make a whole turn again so give advantage to your enemie It were better therefore to cause three or foure files of each of your wings to advance on the sudden and so to charge the adverse troop on either flank And to equall your enemies front you might cause the half files of your bodie to double your front to the right and left by division All which your troop must be acquainted with before-hand and are to do it in a moment of themselves with all possible dexteritie speciall advantage for the enemie having charged you in full carreere while you went on upon the trot onely on the sudden opening to the right and left either saith he must run through and effect little or nothing or staying himself in the career d The principall strength of Cuirassiers consisteth in keeping themselves close ferried together for this the Germanes are commended Il faut dire que les Allemans surpassent toutes les autres nations parce qu'il ne semble pas seulement qu' ils soient serrez ains qu' ils soient collez les uns auec les autres De la Noüe Discours 18. disorder his troop and loose the force of his charge as by Fig. 7. part 4. appeareth The Harquebusiers must be exercised to give fire by ranks The first rank having given fire is to wheel off to the left unlesse the ground will not permit it but that it must be to the right making readie and falling into the reare the second rank immediately gives fire upon the wheeling away of the first and so the rest successively Walhausen would have them also give fire by files the outward file towards the enemie whether right or left advancing before the bodie in full career and so firing the rest successively to do the same and in this manner to fight against Infanterie that might charge them on the flanks But others do utterly reject it as too much exposed to inevitable danger In their firing by ranks the first rank advanceth some 30 paces before the bodie first on the gallop then in career as some direct and so to give fire the second doth the same and so the rest The Dragoniers being a kinde of Infanterie and doing their chief services on foot as hath been shewed Part. 1. Chap. 31. it will be needlesse here to shew how they are to be exercised for skirmish partly in regard there is no want of books for the e So farre as concerneth the exercising of the foot in their postures and motions I suppose Pr. Maurice his booke Captain Binghams notes upon Alien with the appendix sufficient alone But I wish some bodie would go on and fully handle that which belongeth to the Infanterie practising of the foot though I dare say they exceed rather in number then in weight and principally because I desire to confine my self to that which properly belongeth to the Cavallrie How they are to dispose of their horses in fight hath been shewed ibid. cap. 31. Fig 6. Cap 6. Par 4. Fig 7. Par 4. Cap 6. CHAP. VII How the Cavallrie are to fight against foot A Commander having intelligence of some grosse of the enemies Infanterie and resolving to set upon them he must principally aim to encounter them in a place of advantage for the Cavallrie that is in an a Si equitatu gaudemus campos debemus optare si pedite loca deligere angusta fossis paludibus vel arboribus impedita Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. open champain He must also use all possible diligence to
All the forces of the whole armie both horse and foot are usually distinguished and divided into h So did the Romanes the Vanguard they called Cornu dextrum the Battell Acies media and the Reare Cornu sinistrum as is shewed by Sr. Cl. Edmonds upon Caesars Com. lib. 1. cap. 7. Observ 1. out of Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 4. and is handled at large by Leo the Emperour Tact. cap. 18. three parts namely the Vanguard Battell and Reare as hath been shewed Part. 2. chap. 3. Each of which parts is governed by it's particular Officer or Chief yet so as the absolute command belongeth to the Generall These distinctions are alwayes so understood in the order of marching to avoid disputes about precedencie so as they which march foremost are said to have the Vanguard they which march in the middle the Battell and they which come last the Reare And these divisions alter their names according to the place they march in wherein they observe a diuinall change as hath been shewed in the chapter above mentioned But if we shall take the meaning of these words according to their proprietie and usuall acceptation in matter of fight or battell conceiving that that part of the armie which is called the Vanguard shall give the first charge and that which is called the Battell shall give the second charge the Reareward the last it will prove a meere mistake For we are to know that the first charge must be given by the first troop or foremost order of companies which are in front placed as in one rank extended from the one front-angle of the whole armie to the other and so it were impossible for them to be commanded or directed by one Commander or Chief of one particular squadron of the armie by reason of the large extent thereof for we see that the front of the armie embattelled before Dornick Fig. 14. which was farre inferiour to that of late employed at the siedge of the Bossch took up i Six foot make a fathom 100 fathoms a furlong seven furlongs and a half a mile Five foot make a pace 1000 paces make a mile 6380 foot of ground being in their close order prepared for fight which is above a mile and a quarter of our measure Besides if the Vanguard as it is called should give the first charge the Battell which then must second them may chance to be of a nation not onely differing from the Vanguard but at variance with them or else some grudge or disgust between the Chiefs And in that respect they might either neglect or slacken the seconding or relieving of those of the Vanguard and not use that diligence which is required In consideration therefore of these and other inconveniences it is best that every squadron of the armie be so ordered as each of them may have their first second and third troops by which means every division shall both be commanded by their own Chiefs and shall also be seconded by those of their own squadron or division which will give them the more courage and assurance The manner therefore for the ordering of an armie for battell is as followeth That squadron which is called the Battell is placed in the middle the Vanguard on the right hand of it and the Reare on the left and all these usually in one front and single order one regiment or sometimes one companie especially among the horse as in Fig. 10. flanking the other as in Fig. 12. From hence the first troop of every division is drawn up and placed in an even front or straight line from one angle of the bodie to the other At a convenient k Usually 300 foot distance behinde these the second troop of every squadron is placed in an even rank as the former but so as the l The Romanes also ordered their battells in three divisions or troops viz. their Hastati Principes and Triarii The first were called Acies prima and these were the Hastati which were to give the first charge At a distance behinde them were the Principes placed which were called Acies secunda these were so ordered with spaces or intervalles that the Hastati being put to retreat might fall back into these spaces and the Principes might advance to give the second charge without disturbing each other The third troop Acies tertia were the Triarii which were placed behinde the Principes observing therein such intervalles as before mentioned Vide Livium lib. 8. Lipsium de milit Rom. lib. 4. ubi etiam Aciei Iconismus first troop which are to give the first charge being to retreat and this second troop to advance they disturb not each other for which reason convenient spaces are left in the first order or troop for the second to come up into The third troop is placed just behinde the first but at twice as large a m 600 foot distance from the second as the second is from the first that so the first troop retreating behinde the second they may have convenient room to make their retreat in good order All this will appeare in the figures following among the rest in Fig. 9. If the Infanterie and Cavallrie be joyned together the manner is to place half the horse on the right flank of the foot and the other half on the left as appeareth in Fig. 12 14 and 15. But upon occasion either of the enemie his ordering of horse within the bodie of foot whereby he might annoy your Infanterie or for other respects of moment some of the horse may be placed within the bodie of the armie as is shewed in Fig. 16. What distances be observable between Regiment and Regiment between Squadron and Squadron betwen each Troop the second from the first and the third from the second the figures will sufficiently shew and especially the Scales of measure in every figure For the more easie understanding of them observe that every bodie of pikes is single hatched thus and the musketiers crosse-hatched thus the horse are left white or void as in Fig. 12. by which the other forms may easily be understood THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS CAVALLRIE ORDERED FOR BATTAILE BEFORE GVLICK ANNO M.DC.X. Fig 9. Par 4. Cap 8. The forme of the Duke of Brunswycks horse Battaile in the plaine of Elton The 5th of September 1623. Fig 10 Par 4 Cap 8 The Embattailing of 37 Troopès of horsse before REees the 23 of September Ao. 1614. Fig 11. Par 4. Cap 8. THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS HORSE AND FOOT EMBATTAILED BEFORE REES THE XIX OF OCTOBER M.DC.XIIII Fig 12. Par 4. Cap 8. THE CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE REES IN OCTOBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 3895. foot of ground Fig 13 Par 4 Cap 8 THE FORME OF BATTAILE OF HORSE AND FOOT AS IT WAS ORDERED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE DORNICK THE XI OF SEPTEMBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 6380. foot Fig 14.
here cannot be so understood but onely of the space of ground between horse and horse Monsieur de Praissac is more plain who would have the distance between rank and rank both for the length of the horse as also for the space between horse and horse to be six paces one pace between file and file Yet if we take every pace for five foot as that is the usuall dimention by this rule they should be at a verie large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at ther distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed d standing right in their ranks and files b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1.9 Vt aquali legitimóque spatio miles distet à milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent ibid. cap. 26. c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right ad bastam and left ad scutum facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi due genera per juga versus Their countermarches the same which we use evolutio Chorica per decurias juga evolutio Macedonica per decurias juga evolutio Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us conversio ad hastam vel conversio ad scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kindes 1. facings 2. doublings 3. countermarches 4. wheelings The use of facings is to make the companie perfect to be suddainly prepared for a charge on either flank or the reere Doubling of ranks or doubling by half files or bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the front Doubling of files or doubling by half ranks serveth to strengthen the flanks Countermarches serve either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and so to have the best men readie to receive the charge of an enemie in the reere or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and reere or either flank into the middle of the bodie The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be readie to receive the charge of the enemie on either flank or reere These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a companie of Harquebusiers of 64 men And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter as followeth The form of the first standing To face them to the right is done by commanding Front Right flank Reere Left flank To the right hand Which is done by turning all at one and the same time to the right hand Thus the front is where the right flank was To reduce them to their first form the word of command is As you were Which they perform by turning to the left hand From thence to face them to the left you command To the left hand Which is performed by turning towards the left From hence they are to be reduced by commanding As you were Which they do by turning to the right Now to face them to the reare though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say To the left hand about Which is done by turning towards the left hand untill their faces front to that place which was before the reare To reduce them to their first form as that must be observed the word is To the right hand about as you were Ranks to the right double The use hereof hath been shewed before Every other rank that is every even number passeth into the odde upon the right hand of his leader The second rank into the first and so successively To reduce them the word is Ranks as you were Which is best done by causing those ranks which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance Ranks to the left double The difference of this motion from the former is nothing but that here they which double do it to the left hand of their leaders which before they did to their right hands as the figure maketh it plain This done they must be reduced by commanding Ranks as you were Files to the right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman accounting from the right hand the 4 into the 3 and so the rest which must be done throughout the companie at one instant all together But because the first rank of the companie is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but 5 deep there seemeth no great necessitie of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left as you were Files to the left double The difference between this and the former motion is the difference of hands And by this means those files that stood before now move and they which moved now stand as appeareth by the figure They are reduced by commanding Files as you were or Ranks to the right double Half files to the right hand double the front Thus the middle-men double the first rank on the right hand The other three ranks double the three following ranks as is manifest in the figure To reduce them the word is Half files as you were Unlesse it be better and so I conceive it to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance Half files to the left hand double the front This motion onely differeth from the former in the hand There be also doublings of ranks by the half files entire to the right or left or both by division But because the files especially of Cuirassiers are seldome above five deep the doubling of ranks half files c. is little used The reducing of them hath been shewed in the former motion Bringers up to the right hand double the front In this motion the last rank passeth into the first and so successively as the figure sheweth it It is of good use yet because it is very troublesome for the horse to perform especially in reducing them it may be used or omitted as shall be thought fit They are reduced by saying Bringers up as you were Files to the left hand Countermarch Though it were fit to begin with the right hand yet for the convenient turning of the horse to the left I think it not amisse to preferre the left The figure representeth the Choraean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevitie sake Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the companie they must be closed first the files and then the ranks And being to open them again the ranks are first to be opened and then the
and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm possuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates per discat compendia diverticula montes stamina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hilly or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approaches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgeings as forrage water c. In so much as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc a prudentioribus locorumque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them seperated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their runÌ„ing away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodiae mancipare additâ poenae ostentatione vel praemii c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they doe their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. The knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddainly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsails and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consâ—lia aliâ viâ pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium raptúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travail and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitús prosecturus fidelissimos argutissimosque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressu a tergo dextrâ leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carry with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they finde the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the reare or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approach the enemies armie assaying to take some Centinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses there about And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant b How abundant Antiquitie was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Roman and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Poliaenus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled d and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew them selves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for feare of some embuscado which gives leasure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have 2 or 3 houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out if the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Everie Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appeare at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar gli esserciti in tre squadrons cioè vanguardia Battaglia retroguardia che ogni giornato si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis diebus altera legio alterum cornu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battail and reare That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the reare and they which had the reare the battail So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting
UPon occasion of marching with all or part of the Cavallrie by night the companies are punctually appointed their places of march by written orders delivered to their officers Before the troops a Corporall with 12 or 15 Harquebusiers is to be sent by the space of half a league to discover and take intelligence at the houses whether there be any news of the enemie And passing by places which are at the enemies devotion some of them must have the language and feigne themselves friends the better to know what passeth Not long after these 4 others are to follow as in the former chapter Besides a chosen troop of Cuirassiers are to be readie led by a Captain of speciall desert with order to a Capienda rebus in malis praeceps via est Seneca charge resolutely upon any adversary and these are to march 150 paces before the rest The chief Commander is to march at the head of the first troop which followeth the said chosen troop of 60 Cuirassiers and with him one of the best souldiers of every troop to carrie the orders upon all occasions to their Captains sending before him 4 of his ablest men to give him notice if the said select troop of 60 Cuirassiers charge the enemie which if it happen he shall cast his companie out of the way and charge the enemie on the flank and so the rest of the troops observing that they intermix not their troops The troops must not leave such distances between each other as in the day march unlesse they heare news of the enemies approach b Progredientes viam faciunt silentio quietè decenter omnes proprium ordinem asservantes Josephus of the Romanes manner of marching cited by Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 5.142 They must march with all possible silence At any by way the first companie must leave a souldier at the entrance thereof which shall be relieved or changed by the next companie and so successively untill all be past Coming into open and champion places the officers shall draw up their troops and cause them to march in square bodies well closed having regard that none slep The spare horses or pages must not march at the heads of the troops If the enemie charge the reare the chief officer in the reare shall cause the last companie to face about and so the rest if need be but those companies which were in front must not come to the reare for avoiding of disorder and lest the enemie cunningly make an alarm in the reare when he meaneth to charge the front In the reare of all a Corporall with 15 horse shall march as above mentioned with a guide The day being come the said 60 Cuirassiers shall return to their severall companies If the companies refresh themselves in the night they must not be suffered to unsaddle their horses nor disarm themselves The guides diverse of them must go before the troops whether on foot or on horse-back guarded by two souldiers which know the language and no other to speak to them c Interdum autem imperita rusticitas plura promittit credit se scire quae nescit Veg. lib. 3. Cap. 6. These are diligently to observe them whether they seem doubtfull looking here and there as doubting of the way and thereof shall presently certifie the officer that he may call others to be assured CHAP. VII How the baggage is to march AS little baggage as possible may be must be conducted with the Cavallrie It is the waggon-masters charge to order it for the march First the Generalls baggage is to march then the Lieutenant Generalls then the Commissarie Generalls and so the other officers in their degrees The place of march is uncertain a Auuertendo ancora che tutti li impedimenti artiglierie sempre camino da quelle parte che non sia volta verso al nemico Cataneo cap. 8. This agreeth with Aelians directions cap. 51. Impedimenta c. but alwayes it must be most remote from danger If the danger be in the front it marcheth in the reare c. The waggon-master or with some the Provost must see that all march in their appointed place and disband not A company of Harquebusiers is to guard the baggage The horse boyes march after the waggons and must not be suffered to march among the troops THE THIRD PART OF ENCAMPING THe next part to be handled according to our former distribution is Encamping In the skilfull performance whereof the militarie prudence and good judgement of the Commander of an armie chiefly appeareth And herein three things are principallie considerable 1 In what place and by whom the quarter is to be made and how distributed 2 The manner of securing the quarter by guards sentinels discoverers spies c. 3 Of dislodging and the way how to perform it CHAP. I. Of making the quarters IN a Castra tuto semper facienda sunt loco ubi lignorum pabuli aquae suppetat copia Et si diutiùs commorandum est loci salubritas eligetur c. Veg. lib. 1. cap. 22. the choice of a fitting place for encamping or quartering regard must be had 1 To the commoditie of the souldiers 2 To the situation to be able to resist the enemie For experience teacheth what benefit or losse an armie may receive by a good or bad quartering and hereof histories yeeld a world of examples To lodge or encamp the Cavallrie a speciall care must be had of the commoditie of water and where they may be under shelter for one cold or rainie night might ruine the Cavallrie nothing hurting a horse sooner then cold or wet By this means the souldier shall finde forrage at hand and needeth not to go seek it abroad with his horse of service all not having nags When the horse be lodged in severall quarters two souldiers of every quarter attend the person of the Generall or the chief Commander to carrie any sudden orders to their severall quarters But of such companies as are quartered neare him b Vnus ex omnibus manipulis imperatori in diem excubat Polyb. one is sufficient When all the Cavallrie is lodged together the Lieutenant Generall Commissarie Generall and Quartermaster Generall are usually lodged neare the Generall for the better distributing of the Generalls orders The appointing of the quarters belongeth to the Commissarie Generall and the Marshall by whose directions the Quartermaster Generall proceedeth It is fit for them to have some demonstration on paper of the place beforehand and to know the commodities and discommodities also the advenues of the enemie wherein the guides can better direct them then the usuall maps which if not false are too generall When the Quartermaster Generall c Cùm verò appropinquaverint ubi castra ponenda praeeunt Tribunus Centurionum illi qui ad hoc munus semper electi sunt c. Polyb. goeth before to make the quarters not onely the particular Quartermasters but also
answering one upon another as upon all occasions they must be as in a circle round about it And these not to stand neare the wayes or principall approaches as the manner is but alwayes passing to and fro one towards another as if they would change places By which continuall motions none may passe undiscovered As farre beyond these they which went to discover have their courses sometimes riding up even to the adverse garrisons if they be not too farre distant which shall be shewed at large in the next chapter CHAP. VIII Of scouts to discover the highwayes THe quarters being thus accommodated the Commissarie Generall shall depute a Corporall with 12 or 15 horse and a trumpet to discover or scowre the highwayes towards the enemies aboad without which diligence the enemie might charge the Sentinels so suddenly and enter with them as there would be no time for the Corps-de-guard and others to prepare themselves for defence These do consist partly of Cuirassiers and partly of Harquebusiers to give the alarm They are to advance towards the enemie some 3 or 4 houres march by the severall highwayes 4 or 5 to a way as occasion shall require They must not set foot a ground but must silently go listning if they heare any rumour which in the a Tutiùs operantur exploratores noctibus quà m diebus nam quodammodo ipse sui proditor invenitur cujus speculator fuerit ab adversariu deprebensus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. night is easie to be heard If they heare any thing without being discovered the Corporall shall secretly send word to the quarter by a souldier of the approach of the enemie And when he judgeth the first is arrived he may send a second to assure the former advice retreating by little and little and observing the enemie and the number of his horse which he may easilier guesse by their footing then by view But if the enemie perceived him he shall cause a Carabine or two to be discharged and shall speedily dispatch away a souldier to certifie the quarter Or if the enemies number be great he shall set on fire some house thereabout they of the quarter knowing beforehand wherefore it is done And sending two souldiers with more certain news they shall give fire to their Carabines when they be so neare the quarter as that they may be heard thereby to give them the more time to get ready If the quarter be in a very suspicious place more companies of discoverers must be sent out and they are to have a countersigne given them as the name of some town c. to know each other by in the night Alarms though false cannot be prevented it being in the enemies choice to shew himself as often as he please happily for no other intent but to weary your souldiers or by that stratagem to make them secure and carelesse To remedie this the Captains use to give the alarm secretly vvithout sound or noise by silent advices that so the enemy vaunt not of putting you to trouble but wearie himself And thus the horrour of the sounds of trumpets and noise of warlike cries is avoided which hinder the hearing of the Commanders directions But if the enemie charge the said Discoverers or Sentinells so heard as that they have no opportunitie to send word but the enemie puts on to enter the quarter with them which is the best way for him to compasse his purpose then they shall flying to the quarter give the alarm with firings of the Harquebusiers and calling out aloud entering not at the usuall wayes but at the private ones to give the enemie occasion of suspence not knowing whither they might draw him on Moreover when the alarm is thus secretly given as before shewed and having some notice of the enemies forces how strong they are in number you may cause your souldiers to mount with all possible secrecie and order them for fight on the flank of the enemies advenue leaving the Sentinels with some trumpets there standing with command that when the enemie approacheth them they shall b Such a stratagem was used by Sr Fran. Vere Anno 1589. who being to passe through a wood neare Lo◠the enemie from that castle came forth to gaule them in their passage Sr. Fran. with 50 horse and 6 Trumpets made a stand about the middle of the wood hasting the troops and carriages out of the wood into the plain placing 100 foot with 6 drums in the reare The enemie gave 3 showts as the Spanish manner is when they go to charge bur could neither see nor be seen by reason of the winding of the way in the wood Upon this he commanded the Drums and Trumpets to stand sound a charge whereat the enemie made a stand expecting to be charged which gave time for all the troops to get into the plain by hastening their march Manuscript penned by Sr. Fran. Vere of his own exploits c. bravely sound an alarm Whereupon the enemie if he be a souldier will charge them in full careare with one squadron to enter with them and then second those with the rest of his troops whereupon it will be hard especially in the night to keep the souldiers from pillaging The first entring without resistance will be scattered about the houses the rest will hasten to get their shares and whatsoever the Captains do they shall not be able to keep them in such order as they ought Then shall your troops resolutely charge them not doubting of a good issue they being now surprised which thought to finde you asleep Or if it be not thought fit to fight yet may you by this means make a safe retreat so as you be not troubled with too much baggage If there be no bridges or strait passages between the quarter and the enemie by which he must necessarily passe the further the discoverers ride towards the enemie the better if he lay in garrison so as the distance be not too great they may ride to the very gates But if there be such strait passages or bridges by which the enemie must of necessitie passe if he will assail the quarter there must be guards of Harquebusiers placed which by their giving fire or otherwise shall give notice if the enemie shall approach Sometime a whole companie is to be sent out upon this service being a guard for the whole armie CHAP. IX Of forraging FOrraging is an action of great importance and danger 1 Of importance because thereon dependeth the sustenance of the horses 2 Of danger by reason of a Hostes qui longè a suis aut pabuli aut praedae gratiâ commorantur subitò occupandi cum delectis Veg. lib. 3 cap. 10. the enemies endeavours to set upon the guards and convoyes of forragers which must be sent out at least twice a week Therefore that these forragers may the better be secured there must alwaies be a good grosse of Infanterie and Cavallrie sent with them under the command
how their guards are kept and other duties either observed or neglected he may conjecture by the b Ad rem pertinet qualis ipse adversarias vel ejus comitos sint nósse utrùm temerarii an cauti audaces an timidi scientes artem bellicam an ex usa temerè pugnantes c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. qualities of their Chief whether he be a good souldier or not whether he be proud and hastie or that he be advised and deliberate for ignorance joyned with a naturall furie causeth a man to despise his enemie and to think it a disparagement to him as an argument of feare to use such cautelous courses in assuring his quarter especially knowing himself the stronger In the assailing of his quarter there are two things to be observed 1 To make your approaches as neare the village as possible may be 2 c In campis sparsis atque securis opportunum praelium infertur exceptis superventibus vel incursionibus repentium ex occasione quam nunquam dux exercitatus amittit Veg. lib. 3. cap. 19 To hinder him from uniting his troops into a bodie Touching the first the first troop shall advance without any forerunners as secretly as may be and assoon as they perceive themselves to be discovered without loosing a moment of time shall charge the Sentinels and enter the quarter with them and surprise the Corps-de-guard before they be able to mount on horseback For the second there must be an exquisite observance of the orders given and not a man to disband Suppose the enemie hath 1000 horse and you but 500 you may fitly divide your forces into five troops The first having surprised the Corps-de-guard as before mentioned shall from thence passe to the market-place with resolution to sustain any resistance which they shall meet with The second troop perceiving the quarter invested shall follow upon the gallop closely united and finding no resistance shall possesse the alarm place and send some horse to run through the streets to keep the souldiers in and to hinder them from mounting on horseback The third shall come fairely on to the said place and so the fourth which leaving the third there firm shall hasten to the place where they heare the most noise then shall they alight and enter the houses putting to the sword what enemies they finde The running of these horse through the streets hindering the souldiers to mount will surely make them think rather d Nec insequentium ullum periculum est cùm victi quibus defendi poterant arma converterint in fugam Ibid. cap. 21. of escaping by flight through the gardens or otherwise then of resisting neither can there in such a tumult be good orders given or observed Therefore the fift troop hearing the noise cease may conjecture there is no need of there help to take the village and so shall divide themselves into two parts and inviron the quarter on the outside to hinder the enemies flight on foot The horse-boyes may fire a house or two especially where the enemie shall endeavour to fortifie then as the souldiers to enter the houses to pillage and take prisoners c. Another way of assailing the quarter is this The enemies camp removing the Chief or Captain must labour to inform himself of the place where he purposeth to lodge that night and where the quarter for the Cavallrie shall be which may easily be learned because overnight it is usually published or having good knowledge of the countrey he may conjecture it He must consider the number of his enemies horse and of his owne and though he be inferiour by half as beforesaid yet may his enterprise take good effect if it be well carried He must fit the time e Nam vel celeriùs vel tardiùs aliquò pervenire quà m constitutum est propositum persaepe nostrum intervertit Leo Tact. cap. 15. 42. so justly as that he may come to the enemies quarter in the evening before the guards be disposed or the orders given And if the distance were such as that he must march when the enemie marcheth he shall depart from his quarter with all secrecie and f A good commander like a good wrastler ought to make shew of one thing and to put another in practise to the end to deceive the enemie and gain the victorie Ibid. cap. 20. Tutissimum namque in expeditionibus creditur facienda ab hostibus nesciri Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. pretend to march to some other place taking a way contrarie to that which leadeth to the place intended And when he thinketh fit he shall face about and march on the flank of the enemie as covertly as may be But to do this two things must be observed 1 That your march be through your friends countrey 2 That you have more then one spie in the enemies Cavallrie so as they be not able to stirre without your knowledge It must be also considered that if you go to assail your enemies quarter he may have means to discover your purpose by his scouts or otherwise and so be prepared for you therefore must you have a care to be provided for it by taking good order beforehand and securing your g Nam disciplinae bellicae exemplorum periti nusquam majus periculum iminere testantur quam in recessu ab hostibus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 21. retreat by placing a good number of Infanterie or Dragoniers in the mid way at some convenient place Going about this exploit in the night as the fittest and safest way every souldier must have some token or signe of a h This kinde of service is called a Camisado because the souldiers use to put shirts over their arms to be distinguished by So did the Duke of Alva his souldiers Anno 1572 in the night assail the Prince of Orange his quarter dounant une Camisà de Petit. lib. 10. white colour on their casks to distinguish each other by It often falleth out that the enemie having got intelligence of some intention to set upon his quarter keepeth extraordinarie guards and is verie vigilant in the night but in the day time they all go to rest and are carelesse as fearing no danger at which time many have been so found and defeated CHAP. II. Of giving the charge TO know rightly how to charge the enemie is a matter of great consequence If you meet the enemie marching in the day time and he retreat whereupon you resolve to charge him you are first to send a troop of Harquebusiers to charge him on the reare as followeth The Lieutenant shall first give on with 25 horse charging the enemie upon a full trot or gallop him shall the Captain follow with the rest of that troop These are to be seconded by a companie of Cuirassiers as fittest to sustain the enemie if he resist But if the way be narrow the said Cuirassiers shall follow immediately after the first 25 Harquebusiers and then the Captain