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
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.
mistaken which think their e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit quanquam claris ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit Leo. Tract cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour without any qualification or merit there being other things more reall and essentiall f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro Scientiam virtutem providentiam autoritatem fortunam Lips polit lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer namely Knowledge experience valour dexteritie c. To be under command for a time depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth especially in young men which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander Moreover it accustometh a man to danger and g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. cap. 15. maketh him couragious so as being suddainly assailed he can recollect himself without astonishment a most necessary thing in a commander Adde to this that by using himself to travell and labour watching hunger thirst rain and frost and by h Mars is therefore called Gradivus as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinem militaria officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis deia centurio mox castris praefectus Tacit. lib. 2. c. an orderly ascent by degrees from a Corporall to a Quartermaster from thence to a Cornet and so to a Lieutenant he prepareth himself for a Captains charge He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies and accordingly entrusteth them with employments Honour must be his chief end to attain which he must be very vigilant not to loose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvare quà m virtus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy studying how to prevent him or endammage him alwayes bearing in minde this maxim That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k Quid fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sis cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse tecum Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour without acquainting his officers with his counsels And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers as to take particular notice of such as deserve well and to reward them accordingly and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards He must alwayes aspire in way of l For this Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Varenus lib. 5. cap. 19. vertuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversus pecuniam animo Plutarch in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie Gaming he must detest n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit deinde delicias luxum eorum optimè invertit Omnes inflammavit ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus gestirent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res roborat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good armes and horses wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth He must be continent and sober not given to luxurie nor o The States edict of Marshall law provideth that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence shall not therefore be any way excused but the more severely punished Art 67. drunkennesse but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of Above all let him set before his eyes as the originall and foundation of all perfection the feare of God carrying himself so farre as may be internally and externally inculpable For the horrour of a guiltie conscience and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together take away all courage and valour And thus having reformed himself he shall the more easily reform his souldiers and make them fit for every honourable enterprise CHAP. II. Of officers in particular Of the Generall of horse TOuching the particular officers the a Iphicrates resembled an army to a mans body calling the heavy armed the body the light armed the hands the horse the feet and the Generall the head Plutarch Generall of the horse as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour having in charge the nerve of the principall forces and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie especially in battells where the charging of the enemy in good order usually giveth victorie and contrariwise the b Witnesse the battell of Gembloers described by Meteren lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse So did the Burgundians Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers Phil. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 3. disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie The Generall of the horse was wont to supply the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie True it is that the Lord Marshall forasmuch as he giveth the orders used to have some superioritie of command according to the opinions of some whence it cometh that the Lord Generall absenting himself from the army used to take along with him either the Generall of horse or the Lord Marshall to avoid the occasions of competition It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service c Perscrutaberis qui se in bello stremè gesserint illisque idoneos honores habebis ignavos antem quo par est supplicio constringes Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and d Monsieur de la Noiie reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Collonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discours Polit. Milit. honouring them in publique when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side e Omnes culpas legibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours
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
plures buccinae sonent ut magnam multitudinem hostium venire arbitrentur Leo. Tact. cap. 17.28 but in small ones they are to make shew of a greater number then they have for which reason all the horse must not go out of the embuscadoe at once but some 12 or 15 when their number is small must remain at the further part of the wood to favour the retreat of the rest as hath been said and to cause the enemie to think that there is a greater number of them vvithin the wood To this purpose some six horse may be left some league behinde the rest a little out of the way but so as they may discover if the rest return charged and then shew themselves at the end of the wood as before is shewed to make the enemie think there is a grosse embuscadoe leaving one horse-man further within the wood then the rest and he to give fire when the enemie may perceive or heare him which the enemie may think was done by a mistake CHAP. IV. How to do meeting the enemie marching A Commander marching with one or more troops and chancing to meet the enemie or otherwise having newes of him must presently resolve either to offer combat or to retreat or to attend the charge of the enemie and herein he must govern himself according to the intelligence he hath and the convenience of the a Bonum Ducem convenit nôsse magnam partem victoriae ipsum locum in quo dimicandum est possidere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 13. place To get the more certain intelligence besides his scouts he shall send out a good distance before him a Corporall with 10 or 12 souldiers who pretending to be of the enemie if the countrey be at the enemies devotion shall discover and take information c. If you meet the enemie neare his own quarter and farre from yours you must resolve with a generous courage to go and b In rebus asperis tenui spe fortissima quaque confilia tutissima sunt Livius lib. 35. charge him though inferiour in number it being often seen that valiant resolutions are seconded with good luck But being neare to your own holds and knowing the enemie to be much stronger then your self it will be prudently done to c Observandum autem est baud par esse sine magna necessitate ut pauca copiae cum magno instructo exercitu dimicent Leo Tact. cap. 12. 36. save your men by the nearest retreat making your retreat in good order and taking heed you spoile not your horses by too much haste but suffer them now and then to gather breath leaving a Lieutenant in the reare with some of the best mounted souldiers The retreat shall be by the same way you went so long as day continues but night being come you must take some other way though the longer to return to your garrison or quarter Thus you shall gain time by turning away from the enemie by the benefite of the night causing the footing of your horses to be defaced at the place where you left the way for it is to be supposed the enemie will follow you by the direct way To deface or put out the footing of the horse if the way be dustie two souldiers are appointed to stay behinde all the rest which draw a great bough betwen them along the ground and so put out the marks of the horses footing Or if there be a great number of horse and the way be broad then foure souldiers with two boughs do it But if the way be soft the Chief commandeth five or six souldiers to alight and with their hands and feet to deface the footings and in such wayes the horse are commanded to march with doubled files and closed for a little space when they turn out of the usuall way that so they may trample the lesse Besides you may avoid the danger of being traced by the horse footings especially in the night by turning out of the way at some house or through some garden breaking the hedge on the further side and going into the way by wayes unthought off by all which means you gain time whilest the enemie is constrained to spend time in discovering of your footing and taking informatiom of the way that you took CHAP. V. How to receive the charge IT hath been shewed how necessarie it is that the Corporall which is sent out with the scouts or discoverers be a very able souldier to know what to do upon occasion of unexpected accidents One or more troops of horse being on their march with their discoverers before them if they shall meet the enemie and perceive him to be the stronger the said Corporall shall presently send a souldier to certifie the grosse that they may retreat himself with his scouts also retreating but by differing wayes For suppose the enemie hath received tidings of his contrarie partie it is likely that having discovered the said scouts he will follow them perswading himself that they flie to their grosse by which means the grosse shall have time to save themselves while the enemie is pursuing the said Corporall and his fellows When the enemie is much stronger and the other partie have neither time nor convenience to put themselves into good order the Chief shall call with a loud voice and command every man to a Quintus Sertorius pulsus acie a Quinto Metello pio nè fugam quidem sibi tutam arbitratus milites dispersos abire jussit admonitos in quem locum vellet convenire Frontin Surat lib. 2. cap. 13. save himself whereupon the souldiers disband into many parts so as the enemie cannot charge them all and so especially in the night many may escape But this course is dangerous and must be commanded with great judgement howsoever in all retreats some of the best mounted must be left behinde under a good Commander to make the retreat If passing by or through some village or wood the first discoverers discrie the enemie not being able to discern of what number he is one of them shall presently come and certifie the Corporall which followeth with the other scouts whereof the Corporall instantly certifieth the Chief of the troops who thereupon puts his men in order causing them to put their casks on their heads which otherwise in march they carrie at their saddle or hanging on their left arm and in some convenient place he maketh Alto and resolveth according to the more certain newes which the Corporall shall send him Which since it may be such as may b Prince Maurice at the battell of Newport sent the messenger which brought him the newes of Count Ernests overthrow away to sea and kept it from the knowledge of his souldiers commanding away all the ships to take away all hope of escape by flight and caused his forces to march through the haven to meet the enemie Meteren lib. 33. discourage the souldiers the Chief perceiving him coming that
more active and nimble and one that loveth and knoweth what belongeth to a horse And because it is the propertie of horse-men not to attend the enemies coming but to go affront him he must be a man of spirit and resolution He must be carefull and curious to keep his horse and b Cataphractas cassides frequenter tergere curent quis enim credat militem bellicosum cujus arma rubigine foedantur Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 14. Concerning the election of souldiers Vegetius sheweth at large lib. 1. For their countrie cap. 1. Their profession cap. 3. 7. Their age cap. 4. Their stature cap. 5. Their countenance and proportion of bodie cap. 6. c. Also Leo Tact. cap. 4.1 arms in the best manner Every horseman must weare a skarf of the Princes colour whom he serveth and not put it off whether he go out of the quarter or not whether he be alone or in companie upon great penalties by which meanes besides the ornament they will forbear many unfitting actions as being subject thereby to be distinguished and upon occasions of battell they shall be sure by that meanes not to offend each other CHAP. XXI Of the arming of the Cavallrie and their kindes AS the ends and employments of the Cavallrie are divers and severall so there is a diversitie necessarily required in their persons arms and horses a The Grecians and Romanes distinguished their horse by heavy and light armed Cataphracti qui non solum sua corpora sed etiam equos lorica undique muniunt Partis autem non cataphractae alii hastati vel contati alii ferentarii Aelian cap. 2. The Cavallrie are according to their arming of two sorts heavie and light The heavy armed the ancient manner of men at arms being long since abolished are for the most part said to be Lances and Cuirassiers howsoever authors differ in their opinions about them for Basta rekoneth the Lancier and Melzo both Lance and Cuirassier among the light The light armed are of three kindes Harquebusiers Carabines and Dragones being three distinct and severall kindes of arming howsoever the said authors and others take them promiscuously for one and the same The arming of the Cuirassier is chiefly Defensive The arming of the Harquebusier Carabine and Dragon is chiefly Offensive The arming of the Lancier where he is used is chiefly Offensive and Defensive CHAP. XXII Of the Lancier his arming THey which preferred the Lance before any other kinde of a This kinde of Cavallrie was borrowed from the Grecians Romanes which were called Hastati being armed with a cuirasse a head-piece a lance and a sword some of them also bore a small target Polyb. lib. 6. 471. Cavallrie gave this double reason 1 Because the Lancier requireth more exercise and pains both for himself and his horse 2. Because he must haue a horse of a higher price then the rest The Caske open The Gorgett The right Pouldron and vambrace The left Pouldron and Vambrace The fore parte of the armed Lancier The Placcate The Brest The Backe The guard de reine The Pistoll w th the appurtenances The Pistoll The Spanner Figu 1. Par 1. Cap 22. His arms were a close casque or head-piece gorget breast pistoll proof as all the cuirasse in every piece of it and calliver proof by addition of the placcate the back pouldrous vanbraces 2 gauntlets tassets cuissets culets or guard-de-rein all fitting to his bodie A good sword which was to be very stiffe cutting and sharp pointed with girdle and hangers fo fastened upon his cuirasse as he might readily draw it a buffe coat with long skirts to weare between his armour and his cloathes his lance either after the wonted manner or as VValhausen hath it after the manner of a pike onely some what thicker at the but end the head of it to be either three-edged or otherwise like a pike-head made strong and sharp the length to be about b Because it hath been usually objected to such as stand for the continuance of the lance that it is of no effect against foot because of the length of their pikes Walhausen here would take a way that argument by having the lance made of a length exceeding the pike but how any man so laden with arms should be able with one hand to weild a lance of 18 foot long I leave to the consideration of the judicious 18 foot it being otherwise of little effect either against Infanterie or Cavallrie within two foot of the but end to be bored through and through it a thong of strong leather to be put to fasten it to the right arm for the surer holding and better managing thereof On the outside of his right stirrop to have a socket of leather fastned therunto to place the but end of his lance therein His saddle to be handsome made with advantage fit for the rider to keep him firm against the violence of a shock thereat he should have one if not two pistols of sufficient bore and length with keyes and cartouches also he must have flask and touch-box and all appurtenances fitting All which is apparently demonstrated in figure 1. Par. 1. CHAP. XXIII Of the arming of the Cuirassier THe Cuirassier is to be armed at all points and accounted with a buffe coat under his arms like the Launce a By the Edict for musters published by the States neither cuirassier nor harquebufier is allowed to have his horse under 15 hand high His horse not inferiour in stature and strength though not so swift He must have two cases with good firelock-pistols hanging at his saddle having the barrell of 18 inches long and the bore of 20 bullets in the pound or 24 rowling in a good sword stiffe and sharp pointed like the Lancier This sort of Cavallrie is of late b Namely by the Germanes il leur faut donner l'honneur d'auoir mis les premiers en vsage les pistoles De la Noüe Discours 18. invention for when the Lanciers proved hard to be gotten first c Another if not the chief reason why the Lances were left is because they are of no effect or use but in a straight line and where they may have leisure and room for their careere whereas the Cuirassier is not subject to either of those inconveniences by reason of their horses which must be very good and exceeding well exercised secondly by reason their pay was abated through scarcitie of money thirdly and principally because of the scarcitie of such as were practised and exercised to use the lance it being a thing of much labour and industry to learn the Cuirassier was invented onely by discharging the lancier of his lance He is to have a boy and a nagge as is other where said to carry his spare arms and oat sack and to get him forrage His saddle and bit must be strong and made after the best manner He is also to weare a skarf as hath
so nearer to him by degrees So may a pistoll be fired some distance off and so nearer in like manner a drumme or trumpet may be used The groom may sometime dresse him in armour and he may be used novv and then to eat his oats from the drumme head It vvill be very usefull sometime to cause a musketier to stand at a convenient distance and both of you to give fire upon each other and thereupon to ride up close to him also to ride him against a compleat armour so set upon a stake that he may overthrovv it and trample it under his feet that so and by such other means your horse finding that he receiveth no hurt may become bold to approach any object He may also be used to mountanous and uneven vvayes and be exercised to leap svvimme and the like But for further directions for the art of riding and managing the horse I referre the reader to a Besides many of our owne writers Pierre de la Noüe in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne also Instruction du Roy de France en l'exercice de monter a Cheval par Antoyne de Plubinel lately published and divers others them vvhich have vvritten of horse-manship ex professo vvhose books are every vvhere obvious CHAP. XXVIII Of managing arms extending to postures and motions Of exercising the lance HOvvsoever the use of the lance be novv left off in the Lovv-countreys either for the reasons alledged chap. 23 or by reason of the discommodity of the countrey for the lance is of no use but in a spacious hard and even ground yet will it not be altogether impertinent to shew the manner of exercising the same seeing that a I. Lips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Item de Milit. Rom. N. Machiavell G. du Bellay C. Bingham upon Alian Sr. Cl. Edmonds on Caes Com. Sr. Hen. Savilc c. many have taken pains to revive unto us the knowledge of those arms which sometime were in use among the Graecians Romanes and other nations which have been for many ages totally abolished The manner of carrying the lance is either advanced or couched that is when it is carried so abased as the enemie can hardly discover it untill he feel the shock The charging of the lance is twofold either by the right or left The right is when it is presented or charged along by the right side of the horse The left is when it is born acrosse the neck of the horse by the left eare The first is the manner used by the Turks and Hungarians and by some preferred before the other One reason which they give for it is because that in charging by the left the Lancier must incline his bodie to the left and so sitteth the lesse sure in his saddle Basta would have the second way to be best Howsoever all agree that a Lancier must ever strive to gain the left side of his enemie and charge him on the left Now there be three wayes of charging 1 By carrying the lance sloaped upwards 2 By charging it levell in a straight line 3 By charging it sloaping or inclining downwards Fig 2 Par 1 Cap 28 The second is by charging a horse-man about the middle to bear him out of the saddle or on the breast of the foot The third serveth to pierce the breast of the enemies horse or a kneeling musketier or pike charging at the foot against horse These three severall wayes must be diligently practised and require much dexteritie to which end a stake is to be set up having an arm as it were stretched out from it and thereunto a white either of paper or linen fastned at severall heights which the Lancier must exercise himself to hit in full careere also to take up a glove or the like from the ground with the point of his lance c. All which is shown figure 2. part 1. chap. 28. In his charging of the enemie he begins upon his pace or trot b Monsieur de la Noüe blameth the French for their errour in this point De 200 pas ils commencent à galloper et de 100 à courir à toute bride qui est faire erreur n' estant besoin de prendre tant d'espace Discours 18. then falls into a gallop but must not begin his careere untill he be within some 60. paces of his enemie presenting his lance from the advance at the half of that distance and charging it for the shock as occasion serveth Against an armed Lancier the best way of charging is judged to be not after the two first wayes but by the third that is at the breast of the horse and that towards the left side of him where his heart and vitals are and for this the charging by the right is held best Having given his charge with the lance so as it becometh unusefull to him he must betake himself to his pistoll in the use whereof he is to be very skilfull His last refuge is his sword which he must also be well practised in Of both which weapons shall be spoken in the next chapter CHAP. XXIX Of exercising the Cuirassier ALthough it be supposed and expected that no horse-man will presume to mount his horse to repaire to his cornet before his pistols harquebuse or carabine be spanned primed and laden his cases furnished with cartouches and all other equipage 1 To Horse 2 Vncapp your Pistolls 3 Draw your Pistoll 4 Order your Pistoll 5 Spann your Pistoll 6. Prime your Pistoll 7. Shutt your Pann 8. Cast about your Pistoll 9 Gage your Flasske 10 Lade your Pistoll 11 Draw your Rammer 12 Lade with Bullet and Ramhome 13. Returne your Rammer 14. Pull down your Cock 15. Recover your Pistoll 16. Present and giue Fire 17 Returne your Pistoll 18 Bend your Cock 19 Guard your Cock 20 Order your Hammer 21. Free your Cock 22. 23. 24. 3. Draw your pistoll He is to draw the pistoll out of the case with the right hand and alwayes the left pistoll first and to mount the muzzell of it as in posture 15. 4. Order your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and to reremove his right hand towards the muzzell and then to rest the but end upon his thigh 5. Span your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and taking the key or spanner into his right hand to put it upon the axletree and and to winde about the wheel till it stick and then to return the spanner to its place being usually fastned to the side of the case 6. Prime Holding the pistoll in the bridle-hand as before he is to take his priming box into his right hand and pressing the spring with his fore-finger to open the box to put powder into the pan 7. Shut your pan He is to presse in the pan-pin with his right thumbe and so to shut the panne 8. Cast about your pistoll With the bridle-hand he is to cast about the pistoll
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
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
edomari Veg. lib. 2. cap. 14. horses are not fitted for service and being yong and not used to the bridle by any little toile they become unprofitable besides when a man is put on the suddain to buy such as he findeth they prove not onely the worser but the dearer Moreover those souldiers which want horses are of no service and these are they usually which straggle disbanded and do most mischief about the quarters And because oftentimes there is not money assigned apart to remount the souldiers it were good that among the companies there were a brother-hood or fellowship erected which the Spanish call Platta which consisteth in making a cash wherein the money which is gathered to that end is kept as followeth First the souldiers of every companie choose foure of their most judicious fellows with consent of the Captain These with the farrier of the companie must view all the horses of their companie prising every one according to his value and concealing it from the souldiers to avoid disputes and of this prising they must keep a record that so if any horse happen to die it may be known what is to be allowed provided alwayes that they go no higher then 50 crowns To raise this cash the Captain must give order that a crown be defalked out of every souldiers first pay foure realls out of a third of pay and eight out of the contributions of a moneth or else this proportion to be for the first beginning and afterwards the moytie or more or lesse as need shall require Every horse dying in service or by mischance without the souldiers fault shall be made good to the souldier that lost him If a souldiers horse be killed or otherwise die whilest he is abroad with the Captains or Officers leave about his private busines he shall not be allowed for the same If a souldier by negligence or malice hurt his horse or use him so ill that he die he shall not onely beare the losse of him but be chastised by his superiours and chased from the companie The Captains must take care that the said deputed souldiers and the farrier visit all the horses of the companie once every week and finding any not fit for service to sell them and buy others The said deputies must admonish the souldiers to give their horses good use as is fitting giving them oats ordinarily and against such as they finde to do otherwise to proceed as abovesaid These courses will be found very available to preserve the horse but when the companies are in the field by occasion of combats sometime twentie or twentie five or more horses being lost in a day out of one entire companie in such cases the said cash is not of sufficiencie to supplie them but the Prince is to furnish them CHAP. XIX Of the proportion of Cavallrie with the Infanterie IN every well ordered armie it is fit that there be such a number of Cavallrie as may be proportionable to the place where the warre is to be and to the number of Infanterie which shall be resolved to be levied Touching the diversitie of places and countreys it shall not be necessarie here to say any thing considering that we are to direct our course according to the practice of the Low-countreys which will be found not unfitting to be appropriated to this kingdome As for the proportion to be observed between the Infanterie and Cavallrie the Romanes in Romulus his time had their legion consisting of 3000 foot and 300 horse one horse to ten foot In the free state the number was farre encreased a Vegetius lib. 2 cap. 6. Legio plena habet pedites sex millia centum equites septingentos viginti sex that is A full legion hath of foot 6100 and of horse 726. But when their Auxiliaries were added to a legion which exceeded them in horse the proportion was altered b Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 1. Vna legio mixtis auxiliis hoc est decem millia peditum duo millia equitum They were together 10000 foot and 2000 horse c Alexander the great invaded Persia the mightiest and largest empire then in the world with 30000 foot and 5000 horse which is one horse to six foot agreeing with Aelians proportion Tact. cap. 8. which was one horse to five foot Melzo for the warres in the Low-countreys would have for 15000 foot 4000 horse which proportion was nearely observed in the States army at the famous battel of Newport which consisted of 12000 foot and 3000 horse Touching the severall kindes of Cavallrie what number of each were most fitting the said Melzo would have his said 4000 horse to be of d The Graecians had 64 in a troop Omnes turmae numero sexaginta quatuor statuentur Aelian cap. 20. The Romans but 32. Habet una turma equites 32. qui sub uno vexillo reguntur Veg. lib. 2. cap. 14. 100 men in every companie so to make 40 cōpanies of these he would have 10 to be lances as then the manner was 18 Cuirassiers and 12 Harquebusiers Basta would have the Cavallrie to be divided into foure parts two whereof should be Cuirassiers one Lances and one Harquebusiers For the number of each companie e Wallhausen fol. 56. some would have the Lances to be but 64 in a companie the Cuirassiers 100 Harquebusiers 64 Dragons 200. f D. De solemne Others proportion the Cuirassiers to be 80 in a companie the Harquebusiers 100 c. CHAP. XX. Of Souldiers in particular their Enrolling Arming Exercising Of the enrolling of souldiers and their qualities IN a souldier to be a The Romanes allowed none of the 6 classis being the inferiour rank of citizens to be enrolled into their legions but of such as were è tribubus benestissimis Their reason was this Diligenter pro victoria laborant qui praeter libertatem bona defendunt illi autem quibus nullae opes sunt facilè poterunt existere pro ditores Neither did they presently enroll their Tyrones or new souldiers verùm antè exercitio praetentandi utrùm verè tanto operi apti sint Veg. lib. 1. cap. 8. Non leve hoc officium c. Juventus enim cui defensio provinciarum cui bellorum committenda fortuna est genere moribus debet excellere Honestas enim idoneum militem reddit Verecundia dum prohibet fugere facit esse victorem Ibid cap. 7. enrolled into the Cavallrie all things must be presupposed which are common to him with the Infanterie as soundnesse of bodie vigor of members fitting age as from 20 to 40 yeares a resolution to addict himself to that profession and a desire to learn it a vertuous emulation of advancement by merit due obedience to his superiours a strict observation of militarie discipline Above all the feare of God which will direct him to vertuous actions and to abhorre vices Besides in particular though he need not be so strong as the foot yet he must be