fight on the flank of the enemies advenue leaving the Sentinels with some trumpets there standing with command that when the enemie approcheth them they shall b Such a stratagem was used by Sir Fran. Vere Anno 1589. who being to passe through a wood near Loc the enemie from that castle came forth to gall them in their passage Sir 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 rear The enemie gave 3 shouts as the Spanish manner is when they go to charge but 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 and 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 Sir Fran. Vere of his own exploits c. bravely sound an alarm Whereupon the enemie if he be a souldier will charge them in full career 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 find 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 approch 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 à 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 alwayes be a good grosse of Infanterie and Cavallrie sent with them under the command of a chief officer or at least a well experienced Captain The Provost or one of his assistants is to go with them to punish such as are exorbitant or straggle If the forrage be for the whole armie the Lieutenant Generall is to leade the convoy b Pugnatores ab impedimentis laxamento aliquo dividuntur nè constipati laedantur in praelio ambulante exercitu Ibid. cap. 6. The baggage nor horse-boyes must be mingled among the troops It is not fit to go twice together to one place to forrage lest the enemie knowing it watch an opportunitie At first it is good to forrage in the most remote places and where the enemie is like to come to encamp but if the enemie be settled it is not good to forrage so near him as that he might set upon the convoy with Infanterie and Cavallrie but rather in such places where he can hardly without great danger to himself endammage the forragers c Vt locorum varitas advenerit ità defensionis ratio varietur Ibid. If there be one or more streets by which the enemie might come between the quarter and the place of forrage some convenient number of foot and ten or twelve horse must be left at the advenues of each of the said streets The horse are to place a Sentinell and to send out two to discover the wayes a good distance before them By this means the forragers having finished their forraging make their retreat safely to which purpose also one or two troops of twentie five horse apiece use to march upon the flanks of the forragers When all the forragers are marching back again towards the quarter all the convoy marcheth in the rear it being unlikely that the enemie will set upon them with any great forces between their convoy and their quarter At the place of d Ubi pabulandi tempus fuerit alii pabulum colligant alii apparati instructÃque sequantur ut nè si omnes se ad pabulum colligendum converterint subita quadam irruptio aut insidiae fuerint ipsi imparati spartique opprimantur Leo Tact. cap. 17. forrage the Chief shall cause a troop of Harquebusiers to advance somewhat before the rest there to stand and to suffer none to passe beyond he is also to send out some souldiers on every side and to visit woods and valleys c. For the better securing of the said forragers or the quarter there use to be fiftie or more of the Infanterie which may be fitly performed by Dragoneers with a competent number of horse placed in some castle or strong Church within two or three houres riding of the quarter But to secure the quarter there ought to be two places equidistant so guarded which might cut off those small troops which run near the armie on either side And if the troops be of number these may by their discoverers or spies receive notice thereof and so suddenly inform the quarter CHAP. X. Of Garrisons BY reason of the affinitie between a camp and a garrison it will not be amisse though somewhat by way of digression to say something of them The fittest places for the Cavallrie to be laid in garrison are those which are frontiers towards the enemie thereby the enemies excursions are hindred and their own friends secured Whereas otherwise though they be never so strong of Infanterie they are like to have some of the enemies horse alwayes at their gates Besides it gives more a Adversus omnia profuit milites quotidiano exercitio roborare c. courage to the Cavallrie to have their garrison thus on the frontiers against the time of their going out upon service then if they had spent all the winter b Severè in desides vindicare Veg. lib. 1. cap. 1. Exercitus â—â—bore profitit ouâ— conseâ—escit Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 26. lazily in some garrison more within the countrey It is good
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 dimicandì nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. c. 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 Gradivâ—â— as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinèm militatia officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis dein centurio mox castris prafectus 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 lose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvire 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 mind this maxime 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 Qâ—id fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sit cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse recum 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 Verenus lib. 5. cap. 19. virtuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversùs 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 gestâ—ent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res rohorat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good arms 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 fear 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 p Iphictates 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 battels where the charging of the enemie in good order usually giveth victorie and contrarywise the q Witnesse the battel of Gembloâ—rs 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 supplie 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 armie 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 r Perserutaberis qui se in billo strenuè gesserint illisque idoneos â—onores habebis ignavos autem quo par est supplicio constâ—mges Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and Å¿ Monsieur de la Nolle reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Colonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services and signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discourse Polit. Milit. honouring them in publick when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side t Omnes culpas lâ—gibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours by which means he shall be reverenced and loved of good men and feared of such as are bad It belongeth to his care that the Cavallrie be in good equipage and fitted with all necessaries requisite And that the companies being to march be provided of nags without which the souldiers can hardly preserve their
upon pain of a fine which the Provost taketh E F is the enclosure of the Captain of a troop of Harquebusiers being of the same breadth and depth as those of the Capt. of Cuirassiers viz. 70. foot broad and 40 foot deep And the ancientest Captain of Harquebusiers or Cuirassiers closeth the battalion of the Regiment on the left hand at the corner marked B. F Y is a street of twenty foot broad to the Lieutenant of the troop of Harquebusiers his enclosure Y. Y Z is 25 foot in breadth for the enclosure of the said Lieutenant where also are placed his foure horses having in depth 40 foot And the Cornets of the troops of Harquebusiers are lodged on the right hand in the two first huts of the horsmen and that to place his three horses and the fourth horse is the Trumpeters who alwayes lodgeth with the Cornet These companies of Harquebusiers have also 180 foot depth for the quartering of their three files of huts marked in the Cuirassiers N O. but these have but 15 huts in every file for 30 horse having also two streets as the Cuirassiers through them marked Q. being 12 foot broad as abovesaid leaving three foot of space between their huts for the drain whereas the Cuirassiers have but two foot their huts are also often foot broad and 8 foot deep for two Harquebusiers and 8 foot for the litter of their two horses and ten foot for their stable And five foot for a street between their huts and the mangers of their horses their Sutlers streets and Sutlers huts c. are as the Cuirassiers Tâ—e maner of Quartering the Pr. of Orange his Army both horsse and foote upon them unto which a new passage must be cut for the more privacie and security If there be Dragons then they are to guard the said approches If Infantery then it is their task to do it If the situation of the place be such as that the enemy may environ it round the usuall entrances or approches to the village are to be stopped up and new ones cut in some secret places as gardens or the like distant from the usuall wayes that so the enemy may be afraid to charge home a Centinell or Corps-du-guard thereby to enter with them as they retreat The quarters are to be well barricadoed about except the new cut passages leading to the Rendezvous CHAP. V. Of the Rendez-vous or alarm place THe alarm place is that place without the village where the souldiers are to assemble to withstand an assailing enemy being a place of great consequence In the election of this place consideration must be had of the situation of the villages and countrey whether it be large or strait also of the time whether it be by day or night again whether the Cavallrie be lodged together or in severall villages If together in one village and in the night when the enemy may come upon them the more at unaware as not being discoverable very farre then this place must not be in the front of the village as being too near the enemies approch whereby it might be seised on by him and so your men cut off one after another as they come thither to assemble themselves but it must be on the sides or flanks of the village though the baggage be hazarded which a This all ages have verified The States men by a stratagem had surprised S. Hertogen-Bosh anno 1585. but by reason of the covetousnesse of the souldiers neglecting their charges to fall to pillaging were beaten out again with losse Meteren lib. 12. inviting the enemy to pillaging often giveth him occasion of disorder But in the day time it were best to be in front shewing the more courage If the Cavallrie be quartered in diverse villages which often happeneth especially in places little suspected the quality of the countrey must be considered Some villages may be backed with rivers and so give but one entrance to the enemie then the generall place of arms or rendez-vous shall be in the center And those villages which are exposed to the first brunt shall be as Corps-du-guards to assure the rest These upon alarm given must assemble in their particular alarm places from thence they shall advance united to receive the charge though the enemy farre exceed them in number and must sustain him so long till they may be assured that the rest are all met at the generall Rendez-vous whether being forced by the enemy they shall retreat by little and little the other advancing to relieve them If the countrey be open so as the enemy may assail which he please then they must use those diligences as when the Cavallrie is lodged altogether in one village They which are first assaulted must make resistance untill the other be met at the generall Rendez-vous Touching the order of their assembling together in the alarm place the Commissary Generall or Quartermaster Generall overnight appointeth a certain place for every troop where they shall stand which way faced c. CHAP. VI. Of the Guards THe Commissary Generall is to keep account of the a Of the guards and means of securing the quarters used among the Romanes Vegetius handleth at large lib. 3. cap. 8. Guards and to give orders requisite to those that are to have the guard wherein he may employ one or more companies according to occasions The Corps-du-guard must be in the middle of the village The guards being disposed in their places must be every night visited by the Commissary Generall which often the Lieutenant Generall and sometime the Generall himself ought to do to keep the souldiers in the greater aw The Generalls company is exempt from the ordinary guards and convoyes because they must be a guard to the Generall unlesse the Generall go in person and so is the Lieutenant Generalls company The companies entring the guard must be compleatly armed and sound their trumpets their Lieutenant taking information of all things from the Lieutenant which goeth from the guard and then certifying his Captain who is to acquaint his superiour officers with all occurrences and with the reports of such as went to discover and scowre the high-wayes also of the convoyes and other duties If the Cavallrie lodge in severall villages which ever must not be farre distant from each other in every village a company must have the guard and Sentinells b Edict for Martiall law art 58. The Captains officers and souldiers which have the guard must be armed all night and have their horses at hand ready bridled observing all possible silence In the day time if there be any open champain within half a league or thereabout of the quarter the company which hath the guard shall send out a Corporall with twelve or fifteen horse which shall hide himself in some covert place near the entrance of the said champain There he shall place double Sentinells in some eminent place who seeing some Cavallry one shall go to
them Thus they riding one towards another change the Sentinells from place to place conducting the discharged Sentinells with them till they meet each other The Captain having gone the first round f The sending out of rounders was also used by the Romanes Idoneos tamen tribuni probatissimos eligunt qui vigilias circumeani renuntunt si qua emerserit culpa quos circuitores appellabant Veg. ibid. the rounders are to be sent out to see whether these Sentinels be vigilant And sometimes foure other rounders are sent out twice as farre beyond the Sentinells as they are from the quarter twice at least in a night to discover round about the quarter and to observe whether the dogs bark more then usually c. If they observe any thing one comes back to bring the news the other three go on In the day time a Sentinell shall be placed on the top of the steeple of the village where the quarter is and a boore with him as best knowing the passages and approches If the Sentinell which alwayes walks before the Corps-du-guard cannot heare him another Sentinell shall be placed at the foot of the steeple so that these three may understand each other and without losse of time give notice to the Corps-du-guard Besides there ought to be double g Equitâ—s extra vâ—llum nocturnas excubias facere debent Ibid. Sentinells on hors-back placed on high places without the quarter to be able to discover the further The Generall hath alwayes a Sentinell at his tent so hath the Lieutenant Generall taken out of their own guards and so the Commissarie Generall No Captain may have a Sentinell not to overburden the souldiers unlesse he command the quarter or have the Cornet lodging with him except the Captains of Harquebusiers which lodge in the advenues that so they may the sooner have notice of an alarm The Commissarie Generall must shew the Captain that hath the guard where the Sentinells for the quarter shall be placed The one Sentinell when they see men approching shall withdraw himself somewhat from the other towards the quarter that so if any violence be offered to the other he may run to the Corps-du-guard They are not onely to certifie of the approch of the enemie or any other but also are to observe the fires which they see or the barking of dogs which they heare more then usuall or shooting with canon or small shot afarre off and of all to inform the Corps-du-guard If an alarm be given whilest the Lieutenant and Corporall aforesaid are about to change the Sentinels they must presently send word to the quarter and instantly hasten towards the place where the alarm is leaving the Sentinells to stand somewhat the longer h Castra munire semper tutum est c. si enim aliquid adversum contingat menùs imperatorium erit dicere aliquando Non putaram Leo Tact. c. 20. To assure the quarter in an open and champain countrey and much suspected it is good to place Sentinells 200 or 300 paces from the quarter answering one upon another as upon all occasions they must be as in a circle round about it And these not to stand near the wayes or principall approches 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 high-wayes THe quarters being thus accommodated the Commissarie Generall shall depute a Corporall with 12 or 15 horse and a trumpet to discover or scoure the high-wayes towards the enemies abode without which diligence the enemie might charge the Sentinells so suddenly and enter with them as there would be no time for the Corps-du-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 three or foure houres march by the severall high-wayes foure or five to a way as occasion shall require They must not set foot on ground but must silently go listning if they heare any rumour which in the a Tutiùs operantur exploratores noctibus quà m dicbus nâ—m quodammodo ipse sui proditor invenitur cujus speculator fuerit ab adversariis deprehensuâ— 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 approch 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 near 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 wearie your souldiers or by that stratagem to make them secure and carelesse To remedie this the Captains use to give the alarm secretly without sound or noise by silent advices that so the enemie 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 hard 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
of the day and to place Sentinels in places convenient where they may be unseen some on trees others couched on the ground to discover such places as they cannot descry from the trees The embuscadoe must not be laid much before break of day because otherwise they cannot discover the approch of the enemy but at hand and so the embuscadoe should have no time to come forth and put themselves in order and being so taken on the sudden d Deprehensa subsessa si circumveniatur ab hoste plus periculi sustinet quà m parabat inferre Ibid. c 6. they might be defeated in their own ambush Besides in that remainder of the night many might be overcome with sleep and not use that vigilance which is required The troops must be placed at good distances one from another that so they intermix not nor hinder each other in time of fight In making the embuscadoe with a grosse of Cavallry some number of Infantery must be laid in ambush about the mid-way to sustain the Cavallry in their retreat if need were or otherwise to assist them upon occasion e With antiquity embuscadoes were very frequent and were to be used by either party Vtrique parti in itinere ad subsessas communis occasio est Nam qui pracedit opportunis vallibus vel sylvosis montibus quasi post se relinquit insidias in quas cum inciderit inimicus recurrit ipse adjuvat suos Qui verò sequitur adversis semitis longè antè destinat expeditos ut praecedentem adversarium atceat transitu decepisum quo à fronte à â—ergo concludat Ibid. cap. 22. In marching some horse must be sent out a good way before by the right way and the by-wayes to discover whether there be no ambush of the enemies And indeed to be the better assured of the good successe of an ambush it should be accompanied with some new and extraordinary invention If the Chief of a frontier garrison will attempt to endammage the enemy by an ambush being inferiour in strength to the enemy he must gather together so many of the troops of his neighbour garrisons untill he be superiour And by making embuscadoes two or three times in this manner it will terrifie the enemy in so much as that it may be conjectured that though afterward he make embuscadoes with fewer horse the enemy will not hazard to come forth and so he may the safelier take booty When the army marcheth there is usually some Cavallry left behind in embuscadoe in some eminent place from whence they may discover farre off by that means to be secured from the enemies Cavallry which usually is sent to charge the rear of the marching army 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 enemy following them discover them by their footing To employ all the Cavallry supposed to be 4000 in fourty troops in embuscadoe three troops must be sent before towards the enemy under an able Commander giving notice onely to him and the Captains where the embuscadoe shall be and 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 enemy Of these three troops one hundred are to be sent to the enemies camp viz. fifty Cuirassiers with their Captain and Lieutenant and fifty Harquebusiers with their Lieutenant Of these Harquebusiers f Pauei equites pramittuntur valida manus per alia mutâ—tur loca primi ubi ad agmen inimicorum pervenerum equites teniant levites 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 booty The Captain with the other 25 Cuirassiers and 25 Harquebusiers shall keep behind some half league off divided into two troops the Harquebubusiers being placed nearest the enemy in convenient manner partly to succour the said fifty horse which likely will be charged by the horse of the enemies guards and also to make their retreat wherein the Cuirassiers are of principall use These foure troops must still retreat in fitting distance one from another one of them still turning face to the enemie unlesse the enemy 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 fifty horse which when they see returning and charged they shall issue out the fifty Harquebusiers first giving a charge rank after rank then the Cuirassiers leaving twenty horse in the rear 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 behind 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 rear 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 adversuâ— Parthos ducens aciem equitem ostendit à fronte cùm à tergo peditem in confragoso loco occultasset cein cedenie equitatie per notae se recipiente in praeparatat insidias perduxit exercitum Parthorum cecedit Frontin Stratagem 2. lib. cap. 5. 500 musketiers and 300 pikes which must be in ambush about a league behind 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 vollie to disorder them Upon this the grosse of Cavallrie now issued out shall charge them on the rear 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 fiftie fifteen are to advance before the rest to take some prisoners or horses the other thirtiefive shall be in ambush about half a league behind them in some place if it be possible whence they may see those fifteen but if not then
to place two horse between themselves and those fifteen to give notice when the said fifteen shall return charged Whereupon twentiefive of these thirtiefive shall advance leaving ten of the best mounted at the place to let the enemie see there is a greater number of horse These ten must make good the retreat untill the other fiftie arrive which lay in ambush two leagues behind with Sentinells to discover afarre off towards the other thirtiefive between which about the mid-way two horse were also placed to discover the motions of the first fiftie and thereof to inform these fiftie which were in ambush behind them These seeing the first fiftie return charged shall let them passe and then issue out against the enemie the first fiftie making their retreat by twelve or fifteen 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 should 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 left the enemie with a troop of fiftie or sixtie horse casually meeting with some of your said small divisions should defeat them there might be twentie or twentiefive horse first sent out whereof fifteen to advance to take some bootie the other staying about half a league behind in some covert place shewing themselves when those fifteen return charged so to give suspicion to the enemie or to make their retreat The rest might be in ambush altogether some two leagues behind them demeaning themselves as before hath been shewed In i Eil 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 twelve or fifteen 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 within the wood To this purpose some six horse may be left some league behind 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 horseman 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 news 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 nosse magnam partem victoria 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 ten or twelve 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 near his own quarter and farre from yours you must resolve with a generous courage to go and b In rebus asperis tenui spe fortissima quaeque consilia tutissima sunt Livius lib. 25. charge him though inferiour in number it being often seen that valiant resolutions are seconded with good luck But being near 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 haud par esse sine magna necâ—ssitate ut pauca copie 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 spoil not your horses by too much haste but suffer them now and then to gather breath leaving a Lieutenant in the rear 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 benefit 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 behind all the rest which draw a great bough between 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 of by all which means you gain time whilest the enemie is constrained to spend time in discovering of your footing and taking information 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
just behind 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 behind the second they may have convenient room to make their retreat in good order All this will appear in the figures following among the rest in Figure 9. If the Infantery and Cavallry 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 Figure 12. 14 and 15. But upon occasion either of the enemy his ordering of horse within the body of foot whereby he might annoy your Infantery or for other respects of moment some of the horse may be placed within the body of the army as is shewed in Figure 16. Figu 8 Cap 8 Par 4 CHAP. IX Of certain ceremonies before fight HAving shewed by these former rules and examples how the horse are to be ordered for fight not onely by themselves but also when they shall be joyned with foot that which a Quid superest nisi pugnaâ— quae jam manuum est non verborum Lips de milit Rom lib. 4. now remaineth seemeth rather to require action then words Indeed with antiquity when the army was embattelled and ready for combat it was usuall for the Generall to deliver some set speech either from some higher place of turf or stone or at the head of the troops and riding amongst the Maniples to encourage his souldiers And they either with an acclamation lifting up of their hands or clashing of their arms used to manifest their assenting resolution Unto which kind of b Cesars army being so dismaid through fear as they were almost brought to desperation tantus subitò rimor omnem exercitum occupavit c. was by a elegant oration of his suddenly revived Hac oratione habitâ mirum in modum conversa sunt omnium mentes summáque alacritas cupiditas belli gerendi innata est Caesar de bello Gal. lib. 1. cap. 9. allocutions the ancient Sages use to ascribe a marvellous efficacy not onely amongst the Grecians or Romanes but also those whom they then accounted barbarous as the Britons Gauls Germanes c. as the histories of those times sufficiently testifie Next to this they sounded the Classicum that is a generall charge and this was seconded by a generall shout of the souldiers or a concussion of their arms Moreover a c Tunâ—â—a â—ussa punicea vel coccinea Some resemblance hereof there is in the bloody flagge at sea scarlet red or a carnation coloured coat or cassock was hung out upon the top of the Generalls tent and a countersigne or a word of distinction was given to the souldiers as d Veg. lib. 3. c. 5. Victoria palma virtus or the like to know each other by The Grecians used also to sing the Poean before the fight to Mars and after battell to Apollo c. Of all which ceremonies which they duly observed as found to be of very good use and which were much graced by the solemne and stately manner of performing them our times have retained very few For as the actions of the modern warres consist chiefly in sieges assaults sallies skirmishes c. and so afford but few set battels so the practise of delivering publike speeches is almost grown out of use and esteem amongst our chief Commanders Yet the late e Meteren lib. 12 J. Petit. lib. 15. Prince of Orange at the battell of Newport before the conflict delivered a pithy short speech to his souldiers adding to his publick Oratory publike Orisons and riding up and down gave courage to his souldiers The Classicum is still retained that is to sound a generall charge namely amongst those troops which are to give on And sometimes the Clamor militaris or shout of the souldiers which was not onely an acclamation or assent unto the Generalls speech but also a f This by the Grecians was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines Barriâ—us the original of which words is shewed by Lip ubi suprá yet afterwards when the Empire was become Christian they used when they were ready for conflict to cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the victorie of the Crosse as appeareth by Leo the Emperour who reigned in the Fast from the year of our Lord 886. to 903. Tact. cap. 12. 69. Cum ad conflictationem movet exercitus consueta Christianis vox usurpanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And after this in the very charge they were to make their shout as it followeth there 106. Conflictâ—tionis tempore post vocem Victoriae crucis mignos atque altos clamores â—dere oportet loud and dreadfull kind of noise which they used to make when they gave the charge thereby to encourage one another and to strike a terrour into the enemies as the Turks cry Bre Bre Bre the Irish Pharro Pharro the French Sa Sa Sa the Dutch Vall aen Vall aen c. But as for the countersigne or word of distinction that is seldome used now adayes unlesse upon occasion of some Camisado or other exploits in the night when the souldiers may easily misse those means to know each other by which in the day time the light the sight of the ensigne or cornet their skarfs required among the Cavallry or long acquaintance may afford them But these being but ceremonies as I called them in the title of this chapter I willingly withdraw my self from them Neither should I have been desirous to have meddled with them at all but that the example of others g Lips de milit Rom. Reusner de arte stratagem who have writ in this kind led me unto it and the respect unto my Reader in common civility required it at my hands whom I could not well leave after the sight of so many dumbe figures without a word or two at the parting There remaineth onely now that every one according to his office rank and abilitie strive for honour and victory propounding to himself the goodnesse of the cause and authority of the Prince the command of the Leaders the vertue of the souldiers the honour of the conquest and the disgrace and damage of the defeat Above all lifting up his eyes and heart unto Almighty God from whose hands victory and the means to obtain it is especially to be expected h Psal 18.32.34 It is God that girdeth me with strength of warre and maketh my way perfect He teacheth my hands to fight c. i Psal 144.1 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth mine hands to warre and my fingers to fight k Psal 44.5 6 7. Through thee will we overthrow our enemies and in thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us For I will not trust in my bow it is not my sword that shall help me But it is thou that savest us from our enemies
to work about rivers 6  An Assistant to him 3 6 Every Matrosse 1  A Chaplain 4  An Ensigne 5  A Drumme 1 6 A Trumpet 3  A Chirurgeon 4  2 under barber Chirurgeons each 1 6 Master Carpenter 4  2 Mates each 2  24 Carpenters each 1 6 A Master Blacksmith 4  2 Mates each 2 shill pen. 6 Servants under him each 1 6 A Master Wheelwright 3  2 Mates each 2  8 Servants under him each 1 6 A Master Farrier 3  6 Servants being workmen each 1 6 600 Pioners each 1  3 Tent-keepers each 1 6 9 Servants under them each 1  An Armourer 3  4 Servants under him each 2  A Basketmaker for gabions hurdles baskets 2 6 4 Servants each 1 6 A Collar-maker 2 6 4 Servants each 1 6 A Ladle-maker 2 6 2 Servants each 1 6 A Gunsmith 3 6 2 Servants each 2  A Cooper 2 6 4 Servants each 1 6 A Ropemaker 2 6 2 Servants each 1 6 Chap. 19. line 34. for 81. reade 18. Chap. 28. line 30. for uneven reade even Chap. 29. The horseman having spanned his pistol is not to return his spanner to the side of his Case where some would have it for there it is neither sure nor readily returned but is to wear it in a string hanging on his left shoulder by his right side And for lading his Pistols and so for the Carbine I would by no means have him to use his flask but the farre readier way of Cartouches which his Holsters must alwayes be furnished with besides those which he is to have in store Chap. 32. The custome now is to make the horse but three in file for fight so consequently divers of the motions shewed in this Chapter will be uselesse PART III. Chap. 2 Concerning Encamping the Reader may receive more satisfaction in my book of Castrametation published Anno 1642. Chap. 6. and 7. And for the Watches also in my Order of Military Watches then published PART IIII. Chap. 6. and 8. The manner of fighting used by the horse in divers Armies now a dayes is not by wheeling off as formerly but by charging through Every man having his drawn sword in his bridle-hand fires his Carbine or Pistol the Carbine at 12. or 15. foot distance and the Pistol so near as hath been shewed before in Part 1. Chap. 29. the Carbine levelled at the knees of the enemies horse because the powder naturally and also the least motion of the horse use to raise the muzzle of the piece Having fired he presently is to betake him to his sword unlesse the enemy by wheeling off gives him leasure and opportunity to use his second Pistoll and so to charge him on the flank or rear and to fight at his best advantage To this end the Officers must be very carefull to exercise their Troops frequently especially in a regimentall way as the sole means under God to make them victorious observing to keep their Troops close serried to leave fit distances between each Troop Regiment and Brigade to relieve each other orderly to retreat upon occasion in due order into their appointed intervalls and to avoid confusion ¶ To his much honoured Friend Captain John Cruso I Know the Authours works and name Great Mars his scholar is his fame Whose valour honour industrie Hath taught the use of Cavallry Accommodating these our times Surmounting th' limits of all lines Examples set for imitation Then love to fight by Regulation But have not such been ill requited Whom profit never yet invited But blame not such as steer at th' Helm Whose care is to preserve this Realm Settle Religion Law and Right Supprest by rebells force and might If ignorance or malice have The Authours worth laid in a grave Wisdomes grace in men of parts Will raise it up with tongues and hearts Let none be troubled if not us'd When Conscience tells they ne'r abus'd God grant's no use of Marshall men Till we know how to use not when Good service done th' age being cold Prepar'd are new casheer'd are old Your devoted Friend EDMUND HARVY Colonel MILITARIE INSTRVCTIONS for the CAVALLRIE The first Part. THE ARGUMENT CAVALLRIE so called of a Derived from the Latine word Caballus and this from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cavallo which in the Italian and Spanish signifieth a horse is worthily esteemed a most noble and necessary part of the militarie profession which being the subject of my discourse it may be reduced to these foure heads b Primùm idoneos eligamus c. dein in itinere in castris in praeliis ipsis instructum exercitum habeamus Aelianus de instruendis aciebus cap. 3. 1 The levying of men 2 Their marching 3 Their encamping 4 Their embattelling In the levying of men there be two things considerable 1. The election of officers 2. The election of souldiers Concerning the officers they may be considered 1. In generall 2. In particular CHAP. I. Of officers in generall AS in politique government so in this militarie profession every man by a naturall impression is ready to conceive himself to be fit to command and govern others though he never knew how to obey whereas in every mechanicall trade or manufacture an apprenticehood is first passed in the learning of it before it be professed and exercised In this profession of arms c Le plus relevé le plus hasardeux le plus difficille subject du monde Le mestier des Nobles la prattique des couragâ—uâ— l'exercice des Princes des Roys Monsieur Praissac an art obtained with greatest difficulty and practised with most danger men would be Captains before they be souldiers And hereof the chief cause is ignorance the fruitfull mother of all errours For surely if their end and aim were honour and they knew how frail and mutable the estate of a souldier is and that in a moment a man may lose all the reputation obtained by many years industrie d In aliis rebus si quid erratum â—st potest postmodum corrigiâ— Praeliorum delicta emendationem non recipiunt cùm poena statim sequatur errorem Cato apud Vegetium lib. 1. cap. 13. the errours in warre admitting no amendment as in other professions but carrying their present punishment with them and had they seen many shamefully chased from the army and proclaimed infamous and others passe through the hands of the hangman they would doubtlesse strive with much industry and diligence to enable themselves before they came to undertake the exercise of so dangerous an employment And they are not a little mistaken which think their e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit quanquam clariâ— ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit Leo. Tact. cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour without any qualification or merit there being other things more reall and
sufficient stature and strength nimble of joynts and sure of foot c. he must of necessitie be made fit for service so as you may have him ready at command to pace trot gallop or run in full career also to advance stop retire and turn readily to either hand and all with alacritie and obedience Now to bring him to this readie turning he is to be ridden the ring and figure 8 first in a great compasse and so in a lesse by degrees first upon his pace then on the trot and so to the gallop and career These things he may be taught by using the hand leg and voice For the hand observing not to move the arm but onely the wrist if you would have him to face to the left a little motion of the little finger on that rein and a touch of the left leg without using the spurre doth it if to face or turn to the left about a harder c. If you would have him to trot you are to move both your legs a little forward for the gallop to move them more forward and for the career to yerk them most forward and to move the bodie a little forward with it After every motion performed it were good to keep him a while in that motion as when you bid him stand to stand a while c. Also it were not amisse after every thing well done to give him some bread or grasse as a rewards For the voice you may use the words Advance hold turn or the like but because the voice cannot alwayes be heard it were good to use him chiefly to the motions of the hand and leg It will also be very usefull to teach him to go sidewayes this he may be brought unto by laying his provender somewhat farre from him in the manger and keeping him from turning his head towards it He must also be used to the smell of gunpowder the sight of fire and armour and the bearing of shot drummes and trumpets c. but by degrees and with discretion When he is at his oats at a good distance from him a little powder may be fired and so nearer to him by degrees So may a pistoll be fired some distance off and so nearer in like manner a drum or trumpet may be used The groom may sometime dresse him in armour and he may be used now and then to eat his oats from the drum head It will 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 overthrow 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 approch any object He may also be used to mountanous and uneven wayes and be exercised to leap swim 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 own writers Pierre de la Nolie in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne also Instruction du Roy de France en l'exercice de monter a Cheval par Antoyne de Pluvinel lately published and divers others them which have written of horsemanship ex professo whose books are every where obvious CHAP. XXVIII Of managing arms extending to postures and motions Of exercising the lance HOwsoever the use of the lance be now left off in the Low-countreys either for the reasons alledged chap. 23 or by reason of the discommoditie of the countrey for the lance is of no use but in a spacious hard and uneven ground yet will it not be altogether impertinent to shew the manner of exercising the same seeing that a I. Lips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Itâ—m de Milit. Rom. N. Machiavoll G. du Bellay C. Bâ—ngham upon Aelian Sir Cl. Edmonds on Cas Com. Sir Hen. Savile c. many have taken pains to revive unto us the knowledge of those arms which sometime were in use among the Grecians 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 prefered 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 The first is if against Cavallrie to take the sight of the enemie with the point of the lance or if against foot the head or neck of either pike or musketier 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 Fig 2 Par j. Cap 28 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 repair to his Cornet before his pistols harquebuse or carabine be spanned primed and laden his cases furnished with cartouches and all other equipage belonging to himself his horse and arms made fix and in a readinesse yet in case a Cuirassier upon service should though unlikely spend both his pistols and the six cartouches wherewith his cases were filled so that he must resort to his flask and my present task being to teach the untutored Cuirassier his postures it will not be impertinent here to set them down in the largest manner Now because these things are to be performed on horseback it will not be unnecessary though mounting on horseback be accounted no posture but a preparative to exercise or service first to shew how he is to mount which with the rest of the postures is
off their casques and a light a while with leave but must not omit to place Sentinells on some high places The fourth Part. Of Embattelling THE ARGUMENT OF all other military actions the a Acies si sapienter disponitur plurimum juvat si imperitè quanivìs optinis bellâ—tores sint malâ ordinatione franguntur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. chiefest is that of embattelling or ordering an army for combat which now in the last place I am to treat of The occasions of combat for the Cavallry are many and frequent sometime by a sole company sometime by more troops otherwhile by all the horse together of divers kinds upon differing accidents and those for the most part sudden and unexpected Since therefore no b Nulla ars minus habet stabilia praecepta quà m militaris ars adeò subita in bellis ingruunt pericula fortunae varietas dominatur Scipio Amiratus Dissert Politic. lib. 21. discours 2. rules nor directions can be so full and ample as to meet with all sorts of accidents my purpose is to aim at the chiefest and to shew 1. How to assail a quarter to give the charge in fight and to order embuscadoes by way of offence 2. How to do meeting with the enemy in marching and how to receive the charge by way of defence 3. How to order the troops in battell first by single companies apart secondly by all the Cavallry united in a grosse body CHAP. I. How to assail a quarter A Captain which is desirous to gain honour by some enterprise upon the enemy though much his superiour in strength hath a In mansione dormentibus opportunum praelium semper infertur cùm hoilis â—ùs interimatur quam praparare se possit Veg. Ibid. cap. 19. no better way then to assail him in his quarter To effect this he must have good knowledge of the village and the countrey thereabout and if he can by taking a little compasse charge him on the rear or on the flanks if there be any negligence in the quarter it is like to be on those parts If he cannot by other means get knowledge how their guards are kept and other duties either observed or neglected he may conjecture by the b Ad rem pertinet qualis ipse adversarius vel ejus comites sint nôsse utrùm temerarii an cauti audaces an timidi scuntes artem bellicam an ex usu 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 hasty or that he be advised and deliberate for ignorance joyned with a naturall fury causeth a man to despise his enemy and to think it a disparagement to him as an argument of fear 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 approches as near the village as possible may be 2. c In campis sparsis atque securis opportunum pralium infertur exceptis superventibus vel incursionibus repentinis ex occasione quam nunquam dux exercitatus amittit Veg. l. 3. c. 19. To hinder him from uniting his troops into a body 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 losing a moment of time shall charge the Sentinells and enter the quarter with them and surprise the Corps-du-guard before they be able to mount on horse-back For the second there must be an exquisite observance of the orders given and not a man to disband Suppose the enemy hath 1000. horse and you but 500 you may fitly divide your forces into five troops The first having surprised the Corps-du-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 fairly 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 find 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 cum 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 fifth troop hearing the noise cease may conjecture there is no need of their 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 enemy 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 Cavallry 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 own 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 so e Nam vel celeriùs vel tardius aliquo pervenire quam constitutum est propositum persape nostrum intervertit Leo Tact. c. 15. 42. 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 enemy marcheth he shall depart from his quarter with all secresie 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 enemy and gain the victory Ibid. cap. 20. Tutissimum nâ—mque in expeditionibus creditur facienda ab hostibus nesciri Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. pretend to march to some other place taking a way contrary to that which leadeth to the place intended And when he thinketh fit he shall face about and march on the flank of the enemy 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
will not permit it but that it must be to the right making readie and falling into the rear 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 thirtie 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 kind 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 book and Captain Binghams notes upon Aelian 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 charge them before they can be ordered for battel though they exceed him much for number But if the said Infanterie be put in good order at his approch if the ground be champain and the number equall yet may they be charged by the horse First by some troops of Harquebusiers or rather Dragons because they do execution at a larger distance which shall give on on their front flanks and rear These were to be seconded by the Lances in small divisions when they were in use but now by the Cuirassiers who shall make their benefit of such overtures or disorders as shall be caused by the said Dragons and Harquebusiers If the Infanterie exceed in number and so be serried in a grosse bodie it will be hard for the Cavallrie to rout them as hath been found by experience by the Swisses which still had the better of the horse by the reason of their grosse bodies of pikes If the Infanterie be ordered into severall battaillons the horse are to charge them where they perceive them most open and naked But if the foot have possessed themselves of some place of advantage as some wood trench or covert way then the horse are not to charge them though equall or somewhat superiour to them in number in respect of such advantage CHAP. VIII Of ordering the Cavallrie in battel THe forms of battel used among the horse presupposing such as are made by election in a free and spacious champain and not such as are forced through discommoditie of place or other respects a Ordinaturus aciem solem ventum antè prospictat Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. Una aciei bellicae forma non est sed multa diversa pro varutate armorum militum hostium locorum temporum Leo Tact. c. 20. 182. are many and do varie according to the ground and strength both of your own side and the enemies accidents and occasions In all forms a principall care must be had that the troops be drawn up from an even front that so they may be free from disturbing each other in the retreat Basta reduceth these forms to foure sorts and Melzo to three making the second and third to be as one and the same which are these The first is when the troops are ordered as in one file every troop following each other in a single order which form is utterly disallowed because it bringeth but few hands to fight and the disordering of the first troop must needs endanger all the rest The second is when all the troops are placed as in b Si nimiùm fuerit acies attenuata cuò ab adversariis factâ impressione perrumpitur nullum postea potest esse remedium Veg. lib. 3. cap. 16. one rank or one front the one troop being placed on the flank of the other in a single order or straight line Which form is also disapproved because in it all the Cavallrie is engaged at once the one not being able to succour the other and having no troops of c The Grecians had their troops of reserve and herein the Carthaginians imitated them and these the Romanes also followed Veg. ibid. cap. 17. reserve The third is when the troops are ordered checquer-wise in squadrous enterchangeaby placed one behind another so as three or foure squadrons being in front such distances are left between each as others behind them may come up to the front without hindering the former d Exercitus contractus quadratus aut non ità multùm oblongus ad omnem occasionem atque eventum firmus utilis atque tutus est Leo Tact. cap. 9. 34. The Grecians had three kinds of horse-battels The Square the Wedge and the Rhombe which is as the diamond battel The Square was held the best for the defensive the other two for the offensive Of these the Wedge is preferred because it bringeth most hands to fight the rear division of the Rhombe being of little use Aelian cap 18. This form may well be allowed of and is retained by the best Commanders in the present warres of Christendome yet the forenamed authours have this exception to it because the Harquebusiers having taken up the said distances would hinder the Lances then in use And if they should be drawn from those intervalles and placed on the wings they must be exposed to the first assaults of the enemie The fourth kind of forms they make the Lunarie resembling a half moon but in this they differ from each other in the manner That which they call single must needs be weak their double form is better But both these last forms the Checquer and the Lunarie form shall be more fully represented in figure Walhausen maketh six sorts of battels namely 1. The Lunarie 2. The checquer 3. The Broad-fronted 4. The Embowed 5. The Sharp-pointed