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
but they also have extended ther length to double their proportion of ground which formerly they did occupie I forbeare to speake more of this doubling untill we come to shew it in motion and now proceed to the next doubling upon this The command is as followeth This doubling of halfe rankes is a more speedy and sure doubling then the doubling of halfe ranks by countermarch but is most commonly used when the body consists but of one sort of Armes being either all Muskettiers or all Pikes But because in my figures I have as well Muskettiers as Pikes I have made use of a Doubling intire and from that have doubled my left flanke to prevent the mixture of Armes However mixture of Armes upon some occasion may be necessary The manner to performe the motion is this The left flanke stands the halfe ranks of the right face to the left and then the inmost file of the right flanke all the files of the right flanke being by this facing become ranks is the leader of this motion marching forth right to their left hands between the intervales of the rankes of the left flank untill that the sixteenth file which now is become a ranke have placed themselves orderly in the two and thirtieth file which is the outmost file of the left flanke The fifteenth in the one and thirtieth the fourteenth in the thirtieth the thirteenth in the nine and twentieth and so likewise of all the rest The places may be perceived by the figure The doubling is of number and not of place For reducement to both these doublings first cause the halfe rankes which last doubled to face to the right and so to march into their places They that last tooke their places in the motion are the first that take their places in the reducement The doubling of halfe ranks being thus reduced next for the reducing of the halfe files which were doubled before for the accomodating of the doubling of halfe-ranks command the halfe files to face about to the left and to march forth into their places Wherewith I will conclude these sort of doublings which require open order in Ranke and File and come next to shew intire doublings which claime a closer distance for their true performance And therfore conceive them closed to their order both in Ranke and File CHAP. XXI The difference betweene intire and divisionall doublings and of doubling halfe-files intire HAving closed our Souldiers to their due distance I will next proceed to shew doublings intire But me thinkes I heare some already inquiring what is meant by intire doublings and therefore without offence to the curious give me leave to be so courteous to the Ignorant to tell them that all Doublings are either intire or divisionall Intire Doublings being these or such like as when the files or halfe-files rankes or halfe-rankes according as the command may be doe march forth joyntly together without division or dissipation to double the part commanded Particle and divisionall Doublings being such as I have formerly shewn as when the files or halfe-files rankes or halfe-rankes are disranked and divided into more parts or places than one This may serve for way of distinction I will now shew intire doublings as they are in action and first beginne with doubling halfe-files The Figure followeth This doubling of halfe-files intire hath beene held a better doubling then either the ordinary doubling of Ranks or the usuall way of doubling by halfe-files or Bringers up some of the causes are these First it makes no disturbance to the other part of the Battalia but that it may either be executed in time of motion exercise or skirmish Secondly it appeares another solid body to the great disheartening of any enemy Thirdly it is very apt for over-fronting being a doubling both of number and place The way to performe the motion is this The halfe-files face to the left and march till they are quite cleere of that part of the body which stands then they face to their Leader and so march up untill they are become even in ranke with those which stand upon the right flanke and then the Figure will be perfect For the reducement the word of command is Halfe Files face about to the right march forth into your places having faced about they march straight forth untill they be cleere of the front halfe-files then they face to the left and march straight forth untill every man hath his right place and then face right after their Leaders The doubling of halfe-files to the right intire is performed after the same manner onely differing in the hand CHAP. XXII Of doubling the Front inward intire DOubling of the Front inward intire hath beene a doubling as usefull as ancient notwithstanding most commonly used by greater bodies as when one Regiment Division or Maniple moveth forward betweene two others thereby seconding or relieving them whereby the Front of all the three divisions become ranged in an even line but I have onely taken upon me to shew the motion in a private Company The Figure whereof followeth as it is in the execution It hath beene the custome amongst ancient Souldiers and great Commanders that in the matter of Exercise they shew some things which are most apt for a private Company some for a Regiment other some most usefull for compleat arms so in like manner it must be the discretion of every Reader whether hereade for apprehension or reprehension to suit and fit each motion to his true end purpose with the wise man rather reade twise than judge once and then perhaps when the intent of the Author is perceived his opinions may be received yet what need I or any other apologize ought in the behalfe of this Figure or any other such like sith they are but the expressions of the various figures which proceed of the words of command used almost by every ordinary Exerciser of a foot Company Neverthelesse if Aesops long ear'd beast passing by should peepe into this Druggists shop and quarrell with the Compounds I shall not studie for a further answer then That the excellent and skilfull Physitian can convert that into an Antidote which the unlearned foole will make his poyson But lest I be taxt for digression the motion of this doubling is thus performed The halfe files of the Front faceth to the right and left and march till they have left a distance between them sufficient to receive the halfe files of the Reere and then stand and face to their Leader Then the halfe files march up and even their Front For the reducement of this Figure there are as there are for all the rest divers waies But because that it is necessary to shew one let the halfe files face about to the Reere and march untill they are cleere of the Front halfe files then stand and face to their Leader then the other halfe files of the Front close their division and they are reduced CHAP.
forwarde betweene the Intervalls the seventh ranke following the eighth the sixt following the seventh and so likewise the rest untill the whole body be transferred into the ground before the front and then joyntly together facing to the right about after their leaders the counter marche is ended For reducement observe this for all that any intire countermarch of file may be reduced by another intire counter-march by file of what kinde or to what hand soever These three last Chapters of counter-marches are the originall grounds of all the rest yet I shall shew one in the insuing Chapter which time hath begotten out of the latter two which takes part with either being absolute in neither CHAP. XLIII Of the Bastard counter-march The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leader THis passing through or bastard counter-march is partly Macedonian and partly Lacedemonian for first with the Macedon it takes the ground before the front the motion being from the reere forward it is partly Lacedemonian for that they passe through and place themselves before their Leaders and for that it makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy neverthelesse the Macedonian disclaimes it for that it alters not his aspect The Lacedemonian refuseth it for that it takes the ground before the front and not that behinde the reere or with the Chorean it holds affinitie And many there be that will not allow it for a countermarch for indeed the word it selfe will not beare it notwithstanding seeing that it hath beene long ranged amongst them I will not be he that shall displace it but will passe forwards to shew the manner of the motion which is to be performed as followeth The file-leaders stand according to the former direction the rest of the body advance their armes the second ranke first passing through to the right and placing themselves before the first ranke the third ranke before the second the fourth before the third and so forwards for the rest untill the last ranke or bringers up are become the foremost which perfects the motion It may be severally usefull as to skirmish against an enemy advancing by way of introduction or upon occasion to bring the reere men to march in front and such like For the reducement you may doe as much to the contrary hand onely for order sake I will reduce it by another like it selfe The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right placing your selves before your Leaders following your bringers up This motion may be done either to the right or left and is nothing differing from that last shewne but that whereas the other began with the second ranke this contrariwise begins with the last ranke or bringers up every ranke successively following the ranke which came from behinde them untill they which were the leaders are become the last in the reere If this countermarch be first done it may be reduced by any of those formerly shewn c. CHAP. XLIV Of countermarching ranks to maintaine ground The Command is Ranks to the right hand countermarch THis Chorean counter-march of rankes is an altering or changing of one flanke for the other the Battalia still keeping the same ground onely the right flanke becomes the left and the left becomes the right The way to performe this motion is as followeth the command being given then the whole body faceth to the hand named and every man in the outmost file to the right files by this facing being become rankes turnes down through the Intervalle or distance betweene ranke and ranke marching forth right unto the part which was the left flanke with their rankes file-wise following them being come unto their ground they face as before and the counter-march is performed for the reducement let rankes countermarch to the left after the same manner differing onely in the hand and they are as at first CHAP. XLV Of Countermarching Rankes to lose Ground The Command is Rankes to the right-hand Countermarch every man turning after his right-hand-man on the ground he stands THis Lacedemonian-Countermarch of Rankes is a falling on upon the left Flanke the Motion being begun by the right It leaves all the ground the Battalia stood on and takes in place therof the ground beside the left Flanke turning the Aspect to the left The manner or way to performe this Motion is as followeth The whole Bodie faceth to the right and then the right-hand-file being faced becomes a Ranke begins the Countermarch turning downe the Intervals of the Ranks which by this facing is made the distance between the Files and so marcheth forth-right beyond the left Flanke every man following him that was his right-hand-man but not stepping forwards one foot of ground untill the Countermarch be performed For the reducement of this Countermarch do as much to the left and they will he as at first Or if you please take another of the same kind The word of Command or direction is Right-hand-file face to the right the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your right-hand-men THis Lacedemonian Countermarch of ranks makes a falling on upon the right Flanke the Motion being from the left Flanke to the right leaving all the ground whereon the Battalia stood and taking in lieu thereof the ground beside the right Flanke In those dayes when Countermarches were more usefull for their Discipline then now they are for ours the Lacedemonian Countermarches were of chiefe repute aswell amongst the Macedonians as the Spartans and others the way to performe this Motion is as followeth The right-hand-file faceth to the right and passeth through the Intervals or spaces to the right placing themselves before their right-hand-men untill the left-hand-file become the foremost ranke If you doe this Countermarch by it selfe then for reducement first face them to their Front proper then let the left-hand-files face to the left and do as much to the left and then they will be as at first CHAP. XLVI Of the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke The Command is Right-hand-file face to the left the rest passe through to the right placing your selves behind your right-hand-men THis Macedonian Countermarch of ranks contrary to the Spartan dismarcheth from the enemy upon that Flanke where hee appeares and presents the contrary Flanke to receive the Charge It is performed after this manner The out-most-file to the right faceth to the left The rest of the body or Battalia faceth to the right every man passing thorough to the right and placing themselves behind their right-hand-men For the reducement of this Countermarch as all the rest there are divers and severall wayes but performe as much to the left as you have done to the right and they will be at first Or if you please this following Bastard Countermand will do the same The word of Command or direction is Right-hand-file stand the rest passe through to the right
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
of pikes and there place themselues againe even in ranke with the last ranke of pikes This done the rest of the ranks successively give fire and do the like every Ranke taking his place after the ranke which fired last before them the other ranks moving one ranke forwarder The Muskettiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will be reduced to the flanks againe as they were at the first The firing may be continued or the pikes may charge at discretion of the Commander CHAP. XCII A firing tripartite doing execution to the front reere and right flanke FIgures and formes of Battell may bee infinite according to the judgements of the Commanders and the various workings of the divers motions no arte nor science yeelding more content unto the studious practitioners none more honourable and beneficiall for the good of our Countrie none more neglected and lesse countenanced then the Practisers of the Art militarie nor none more screwed up in the places of their abiding then those men this way affected The rich cubb'd gowne men holding it as a maxime that Souldiers though never so poore yet they must be taxed in the parish bookes like Gentlemen Thus much incouragement we have for spending our money and our time for our Countries good and this in good time I hope will be amended but of this no more The next firing being a firing Tripartite doth execution to the front reere and right flanke at one and the same time For the use I shall referre it to the judgement of the Iudicious for the instruction how it is to be made the words of Command and direction shew it which are as followeth Halfe rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For the direction looke backe to the 27. Chapter which treats of this doubling Onely remember to face the divisions that way which you intend they shall give fire For the manner of the firing it is ordinary the foremost Ranke of Muskettiers on each part having fired they wheele off to the right or to the right and left according as directions shall be given placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions the next ranks in the meane time moving forwards into their leaders ground there in like manner firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before the rest of the rankes successively doing the like This firing may be continued aâ— pleasure of the Commander The Pikemen as advantage may be given in the interim either porting charging or sending their fatall showers amongst the thickest of their enemies Lastly for reducement face them all to their front proper then Command halfe rankes that doubled to face to the left and so to march into their places For further directions turne backe to the 27. Chapter which shewes the reducement of the aforegoing Figure c. CHAP. XCIII Of the Sconce Battell THe Sconce Battell is a Figure most properly fit for a whole Regiment at least for a larger pro portion of number then is here exprest it neither being good nor safe to divide a smal Company into so many divisions and Maniples And yet to give satisfaction unto some I have placed it here amongst my Figures yea and shewne the way how to make it with a private Company For the manner or way how to fire upon it may be divers The Muskettiers being so placed that they may give fire to the front and reere to the right and left or to all foure together at the discretion of the Commander If your Muskettiers give fire to the front and reare every ranke making good his leaders ground then the Figure will still continue the same If they give fire without advancing into their leaders ground then the Muskettiers will ranke even againe with their Pikes and the Figure will become an hollow crosse the Muskettiers making the Angles The words of Command and direction which produce the Figure are as followeth Halfe files of Muskettiers face to the Reere That being done Command all the Muskettiers to march to the Angles of their Pikes Next cause The two first and two last rankes of Pikes to stand The rest to face to the right and left and march untill they are cleere of the other pikes then stand Lastly Command The two first and last rankes of Pikes which did not move to double their Files to the right These words of Command and direction being executed perfect the Figure as followeth Many and severall are the firings which with some little alteration may be drawne from this Figure Neverthelesse not to spin out time with discourse the firing now intended to be shewne is to be performed to the front and reere To which purpose the one halfe both of Muskettiers and Pikes are to face about to the right there presenting and giving fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left flank to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The next ranke still moving forwards into their leaders ground the other rankes successively doing the like After this manner the firing may be continued and the Figure still preserved For reducement First face them all after their proper file-leaders Secondly cause the front and reere divisions of Pikes to double their rankes to the left Thirdly command the Pikes of the flankes to face in opposition close their divisions and then to face after their leaders Next coÌ„mand the Muskettiers of the front division to face to the reere Lastly command the Muskettiers both of front and reere to close their divisions And then being faced to their leader they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. XCIIII Of firing by three files at once two of them standing oblique the other direct WHen I began the formes and figures of Battell I noted all fâ—rings to be either oblique or direct and now for satisfaction to the curious I shall insert two or three oblique formes amongst the rest The first whereof shall be a Firing to the Front by drawing forth the outermost file on each flank obliquely or the innermost as shall seeme best to the Commander untill the bringers up of the files stand even with the right and left angle-men over the front of pikes They may also beadâ— a file of Muskettiers crosse the front of pikes when having placed and faced them as they ought for execution they will stand in manner of this following figure The two files of Muskettiers which were led forth having obliquely presented inwards and the file drawn crosse the front of pikes being presented direct Rank-wise upon the first Command they are all to give fire together and then to face after their bringers up who leade their files directly into their places This done they face to their proper front againe the other files in the meane time leading forth after the same manner These having done their execution are to returne into their places being led off by their bringers up as is aforesaid The
to the other and so facing of them outward they will make reasonable good defence on those parts c. Having given fire upon the crosse battell and brought your Muskets to the reere of the Pikes if you would reduce them passe into the midst of Center of the Figure and face all both Muskettiers and Pikemen to you and cause those which were the flankers to close their divisions Next wheele the fronts into the midst of the two other divisions then move to the front proper and face the whole body to you and so you shall have all your Muskettiers in the midst flanked with Pikes If you would reduce them into their right places command the Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the Pikes to face to the right and left inward and so to passe through and interchange ground thus being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. XCVIII Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. THis next Figure shall be of the hollow-fronted Crosse which is a stronger forme than that last shewne and yet thus much let me warne you of that there can be but little expectation of strength to be perceived in Battels formed with so small a number This notwithstanding the ingenious Martialists can easily discerne those things which in warre may prove most usefull for his owne and his Countries benefit although they are here expressed to the publique view in so meane array and in such thinne numbers Wherefore setting aside all Apologies and excuses I will briefly shew the words of Command and direction which will produce the following Figure The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest face to the right and left and march untill they have made the perfect Crosse Lastly cause the Muskettiers to flanke their Pikes according to this following Figure The severall directions for firing upon this Figure may be divers But to avoyd distraction I will shew onely one way and that directed to the front reere and flankes Neverthelesse for varieties sake you may cause them to give fire once over wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions still moving forwards into their leaders ground thereby to preserve the Figure in the same order At the second time of firing cause the Pikes to move softly up even with the front of Muskettiers porting as they advance forwards The Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off are to place themselves in the reere of their divisions of Pikes whom before they flanked every ranke of Muskettiers firing wheeling off and placing themselves as aforesaid Lastly the Pikes having charged and againe readvanced the body will stand in the Figure of a perfect Crosse For the reducement it is the same with the Crosse-Battell delivered in the 97 Chapter Wherefore I shall need to adde no further directions in this place for the said reducement then that the flanke divisions are to be closed and the front and reere divisions to be wheeled that the body may be againe returned into a square with the Muskettiers in the middle All this being here taught I now proceed to shew one firing with the Muskettiers in that order CHAP. XCIX Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes THe square battell flanked with Pikes must needs bee very safe for the Muskettiers as being a very able defence for the flankes against the incursions of the enemies horse The Figure followeth just â—s the Muskettiers are in motion The wayes or manners of giving fire upon this figure are ordinarily three The first firing is with the Aspect being directed to the front the Muskettiers wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you perceive by this figure The second is for the Muskettiers to give fire to the reere upon a march which they may easily do from this figure The third is to give fire to the front and reere upon a stand the halfe-files being faced about If the firing be performed to the front then every ranke is to march up into their leaders ground If the firing be to the Reere upon a march then the ranks contrariwise close backwards towards the Reere to make good the Battell on that part If it be to the front and reere upon a stand then the Muskettiers march up into their leaders ground and those which have fired and are wheeled off place themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions To write further of this firing were more then necessarie no one of these firings any wayes altering the figure but the Aspect onely Neverthelesse if the Commander please he may after the firing in front wheele both flanks into the front and so charge pikes and from thence proceed to other firings If the firing were in the reere he may wheele the flanks into the Reere and cause his pikes to charge that way If the firing were to the front and reere he may wheele both flanks into the front and reere and so charge with his pikes both wayes Which by Captaine Bingham is called Amphistomus Before I come to reducement I shall proceed to the next firing in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. C. Of the Plinthium or foure-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes THe Foure-fronted Battell is a figure both steady and serviceable being usefull as well for a march thereby securing the carriage and all other such like necessaries as for fight For if it should so happen as it often doth that you should be charged in front reere and flanks all at one and the same time then are there both Muskets and Pikes so placed that each Armes is assisting to the other For seeing that neither Muskettiers nor Pikemen alone can be singly sufficient of themselues to withstand the able and resolute horseman without great advantage of ground on the contrary the Muskettiers and Pikes being conjoyned into one body and being well ordered they are not onely able to defen'd themselues against their furie but also to put them to the worser Yet this must not be understood of raw and unskitfull Souldiers whose ignorance is cause of diffidence but of hardy experienced and well exercised men such as know well how to demeane themselues couragiously in time of fight The words of Command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Halfe-files of Pikes face to the Reere and march untill they are cleare of the last ranke of Muskettiers Secondly command Halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the right and left then march betweene the divisions of Pikes Thirdly command Left halfe-ranks of the first division of Muskets face to the Reere and march betweene the Reere divisions of Pikes Lastly Having evened their ranks straitened their files and closed their divisions to an equall distance and being rightly faced the body will stand like the following figure The