euer shaped according to the ground whereon they are planted and according to the naturall deffences or naturall offences which arise from the same places yet because particulars often growe from generalities and that from plaine and homely grounds curious and rare things are deriued I thinke it not amisse heere in this place to deliuer you some generall and plaine moddels of battailes which taken into a Souldier-like consideration may giue you an aide though not an instruction how to accomodate battailes and to forme and proporrion them in such manner as may bee most commodious for your selfe and friends and most hurtfull and noisome for the enemy First then you must vnderstand that the body of euery maine Battaile is compounded of sixe principiall Members that is to say of the Forlorne or loose bodies of the Vantguard Battaile Reare Horse and the great Artillery and of these if any be imperfect or out of frame either in order number shape or Gouernment the whole Army is sicke and howsoeuer like Xerxes host they may make the skie darke with their Arrowes yet will an handfull of Cirus men well disciplin'd put them to route and write Captiuity on their backs as a perpetuall embleme When therefore you will drawe vp any maine battaile you must looke into the square Roote of greate Numbers as the square Roote of one hundred is ten because the body carrieth ten in square euery way for ten times ten is one hundred so likewise the square Roote of 400 is 200 because it carrieth the square of 200 euery way for twenty times twenty is foure hundred and thus of any number which will carry a square proportion be it great or little whatsoeuer then knowing the entire Number of the whole Army and diuiding it into seuerall parts alowing so many for the Forlorns so many for the Vantguard so many for the Battell so many for the Reare and so many for the guard of the Ordnance or great Artillery you by the drawing vp of these lesser squares and inlargening them as occasion shall serue forme and shape euery seuerall diuision after what proportion your selfe pleaseth for of squares you may make Rounds of Rounds Triangles of Triangles Diamonds and of Diamonds many other curious or intricate figures that shall come into your imagination for proofe behold this figure following Alteration of squares or squares in squares Thus you see by deuiding and mixing of squares you may frame other proportions it resteth then that after you haue cast out and alotted your Forlorns which is intended euer to be the least of all the foure Battailes that you distribute them in this manner the first point of the Forlorne ought to consist of certaine loose files of Shotte extrauagantly dispersed without order then to second them with certaine small squares of Shotte as an 100 or 200 in a square well ordered and gouerned which as the Battailes shall approach nearer and nearer may vpon any occasion of danger retire into the Vantguard Then shall the Vantguard be compounded of one maine and entire body or of two at the most containing almost but not fully three parts of the Battaile and being equally mixt of Shot and Pikes After the Vantguard the maine Battaile taketh place being compounded of one body or two at most and containing a full third part or sometimes more then halfe as much againe as the Vantguard In this battaile ought to be the choisest men and best experienced of the Army it is the seate and place of the Generall and as an Ocean sendeth foorth his streames of Souldiers to releiue and refresh euery weake and distressed part that is about it Next after the Battaile is the place of the Reare which likewise is contained in one body or two at the most This body ought to be of equall number and extent with the Vantguard and in all Formes Marches and Executions it is one and the same in Nature with the Vantguard for at any time when faces are turned about then is the Reare the Vantgurad the Vantguard the Reare at the two points of the Vantgurad that is to say the vtmost right point and the vtmost left point as two long extended wings troopeth the Horse Army and at the end of them is the great Ordnance on both sides behind which marcheth two Regiments of foote for a guard and defence of the Artillery and Munition for the cutting off of the greate Ordnance is the renownedst worke the enemy can aime at or accomplish Thus I haue in words deliuered you the true forme of a plaine and ordinary battaile with euery seuerall member belonging there vnto but for as much as the protraicture maketh a deeper impression in the minde and is a greater helpe and friend to the memory then the meere relation of words onely I will therefore in this next figure following shew you the true portraiture of the battaile already discribed The Wind-Mill Battaile Thus heere you see the strongest of Battailes and as curious as any what soeuer so that to make a conclusion of this worke who will diligently looke into these models already demonstrated and apply himselfe to the imitation thereof shall not neede to lodge any scruples in his brest but by the helpe of these examples may be able to range any battaile with Iudgement and sufficiency And thus much for the forming of maine Battailes of any extent or Number how great soeuer FINIS Launcepesado Corporall Sergeant of the Band. The Drum The Clarke of the Band The Chirurgion The Ensigne The Lieutenant Quarter Master Prouest Marshall 〈◊〉 Maior of Regiments Lieutenant Colonells of regiments Colonells of regiments Sergeant maior generall Colonell Generall Liuetenant Generall of the Horse Treasurer of the Army Master of the Ordnance Lord Marshall Lieuteant generall of the Armie The Generall A second Range The Master Gunner The Trench Master The Waggon Master The Forrage Master The Victuall Master The Iudge Marshall The Scout-Master The Lieutenant of the Ordnance The Muster Master generall Differences in oppinions touching a priuate company The Romās rule for companies The true composition of a Companie The First Imbattaling of 200. Disputation growne about Imbatailings Betweene whom the difference is The opinion of the new Souldiers The numbers commanded The opinion of the old Souldiers The old Soldiers reasons for their opinions Other Reasons The Authors censure of both opinions The former difference reconciled What is the great substance of the arte Military Of what Armies consist How to obserue dignity of place Who are to forme Battailes Obseruation of grounds Obseruation in shaping of battailes The composition of Battailes and the members How to finde a square Roote Deuiding of a Battaile Of Forlornes Of the vantguard Of the battel Of the Reare The Horse battaile and the great Ordnance with the guard thereof
the best and safest way yet then they are apt to be thronged vp together by the Pikes and the distance of place being taken from them the vse of their Weapons must fall and so consequently all things fall to ruine But suppose order be kept and these defects not found in the Battaile yet say the olde Souldiers that there is great impediment in this kinde of Imbattelling for in what manner soeuer the Short serue yet they will euer leaue a weakenesse in the and such open gaps and streets that the Horse may breake in at pleasure or any other new foote diuision may sally foorth and ouer throw the whole regiment as by the example of the figure following may easily be perceiued in a few companies as in this ensuing figure more plainely is showne The danger of this forme of Imbatelling Thus you see if the Battaile of Pikes stand and the Shot giue Fire into what damage they bring the whole Regiment whether they serue in countermarch or otherwise leauing so many open enterances that if one yet all can hardly be preuented Thus I haue shewed you the seuerall wayes of Imbattailing of a Regiment with the different opinions of Souldiers together with their arguments and strength of reason thereupon It resteth now that I deliuer my particular opinion touching the best election wherein although I know many oposites will rise vp against me yet freely and ingeniously thus I am perswaded That the first manner of Imbattelling by seuerall Companies and euery Captaine leading of his own men is excellent for shew at generall Musters or at any peaceful Triumph where the exercise of Armes is required because it is comly and beautifull to behold giueth great contentment to the spectators and continueth the Volley long though not in the best order But if it be to expresse true Marshall Discipline to bring hands to fight in good sadnes or to giue affright to a certaine enemy at all times both in strength and weaknesse then with out all doubt the latter forme of imbattailing where the Pikes are drawne into one body and winged on each hand with the Shotte is without all contradiction the onely best way for the Imbattailing of a regiment of one thousand men or more And thus much for the argument of Imbattailing a regiment wherein if any man rest vnsatisfied let him repaire to other Authors which are allowed for authority and comparing their Reasons together no doubt but he shall soone finde satisfaction Chap. 4 Of the Ioining of sundry Regiments together OF rankes and files are compounded small Squadrons of small Squadrons are compounded priuate Companies of priuate Companies are compounded Regiments and of Regiments are compounded maine Battailes of any extent whatsoeuer Now for the composition of a regiment together with the defects and perfections of the same I haue shewed sufficiently in the last Chapter It now therefore resteth that I speake some thing of the ioining or knitting togeather of many and sundry Regiments in one grosse body which is the greate substance of the Arte-Military for of these greate bodies doe Armies consist and according to the forme and proportion thereof being agreable with the ground and strength of Scituation whereon it is placed is the Army made euer stronger or weaker Now Armies doe neuer consist of one onely entire and maine body alone without seperation or distinction but of diuers great bodies as of Forlornes Vantguard Battaile and Reare of diuers greate bodies of Horse as of Gentlemen at Armes Curashiers Dragoones or else Carbines and euery one of these great bodies are compounded of sundry Regiments in the drawing of which togeather is principally to be regarded the dignity and preheminence of the place according to the vallue of the commanders or the lot when it is either cast or appointed wherein the principall obseruation is the hand so that whensoeuer Regiments are to be ioined togeather whether it be by the Lord Marshall or the Seriant-Maior of the fielde yet they must not neglect to giue to the best man the best place by drawing vp his Regiment first and placing it in the principall place and then the rest successiuely one after another bringing them vp on the left hand and not on the right till the body be formed according to commandment and answerable to this figure following Regiments Ioyned together in plaine Battaile Heere you see 5000 men diuided into fiue regiments how they are drawne vp into one body and may make either Vantguard Battaile or Reare as it shall please the supreame Officer to dispose of them And as thus they are drawne into plaine Battaile so may they also be drawne into any other forme of battaile which the Lord Marshall or Sergeant-Maior shall deuise for their wisdomes and Iudgements which they euer accomodate to the aduantage of the ground to the preuenting of the enemies designes is euer referred the forme and shape of all forts of battailes whence it comes that a man shall hardly in an age see two Battailes in two seuerall places of one and the selfe same forme and fashion because as grounds vary in their Situations so proportions change in their composures and that battaile which is strong and comely for the Plaine will proue but weake and illfauored for the Hill and that which is guarded with water will not agree with the guard of wood nor that which is fenced with a stone wall suite with the fence of a dry ditch for euery thing must be accomodated to the property of its owne proper Nature and therefore I will shewe you another forme of Imbattailing or ioining of Regiments together wherein although some Regiments are broken and diuided into parts yet they agree in one vniformity of body and may be reduced to their first naturall proportion at pleasure as by this figure following you may easily perceiue Regiments diuided yet brought vnto Vniforme Here you may behold two Regiments diuided into sixe triangles the Pikes in the midst and the Shotte on eache flanke but being drawne vp together in one body then the Pikes of themseues make a perfect Diamond and the foure Triangles of Shotte guarding euery corner Front Wing and Reare bring the whole mixt body into a quadrangle or perfeit square this is a stronge manner of imbattailing and hardly to be broke or entered and whosoeuer is ready in drawing vp and ioining of these bodies togeather in such forme as hath beene already specified may without dificulty or staggering draw vp any other body of what shape or forme soeuer it shall be commanded And thus much for the ioining of sundry Regiments together into one body Chap 5. The forming of maine Battailes of any extent or Number how great soeuer AFter the ioining of Regiments togeather must necessarily follow the composition of maine Battailes beyond which Spheare Souldiers doe neuer looke because it is the end and determination of warre These battailes as I haue formerly shewed are
THE SECOND PART OF THE SOLDIERS GRAMMAR OR A SCHOOLE FOR Young Soldiers Especially for all such as are called to any place or office how high or low soeuer either in the Citie or Countrey for the Training and exercising of the Trayned Band whether they be Foote or Horse Together with perfect Figures and Demonstrations for attaining the knowledge of all manner of Imbattailings and other Exercises By. G. M. LONDON Printed for Hugh Perry and are to bee sold in Brittaines Bursse at the signe of the Harrow 1627. A Table of all the principall things handled in this Booke CHAP. I OF the Ranges of Officers from the lowest to the highest Page 1 Of the Launspesado Ibidem Of the Corporall Pag. 2 Of the Serieant of the Band Ibid. Of the Drumme 3 Of the Clarke of the Band Ibid. Of the Chyrurgion 4 Of the Ensigne Ibid. Of the Lieutenant 5 Of the Quarter-master Ibid. Of the Prouost-Marshall 6 Of the Captaine Ibid. Of the Sergeant Maiors of Regiments Ibid. Of Lieutenant Colonell of Regiments 7 Of Colonells of Regiments Ibid. Of the Sergeant Maior generall Ibid. Of the Colonell generall 8 Of Lieutenant generall of the Horse Ibid. Of the Treasurer of the Army Ibid. Of the Master of the Ordnance Ibid. Of the Lord Marshall 9 Of Lieutenant Generall of the Army Ibid. Of the Generall Ibid. A Second Raunge 10 Of the Master Gunner Ibid. Of the Trench-Master Ibid. Of the Waggon Master 11 Of the Forrage-Master Ibid. Of the Victuall-Master Ibid. Of the Iudge-Marshall 12 Of the Scout-Master Ibid. Of the Lieutenant of the Ordnance Ibid. Of the Muster-Master Generall Ibid. Chap. 2. OF the seuerall Imbattellings of a priuate Company of two hundred or otherwise 17 Differences in opinions touching a priuate Company Ib. The Roman rule for Companies 14 The true composition of a Company Ibid. The first Imbattelling of 200 men 15 The second forme of Imbattelling being against Horse 17 The manner of Sally or giuing of vollies against the Horse 19 The manner of Volleyes when the Foot battaile is charged euery way 22 The Imbattailing of many squares in one square 23 The politique or deceiuing Battaile 25 The Battaile to withstand the Wedge of Horse 27 The square Battaile whereof to frame a Diamond 29 The Diamond Battaile it selfe 30 The Diamond Battaile brought into a Triangle or two Triangles 31 The forme of Imbattelling for Speech or Parley 41 Another forme of Imbattailing for Speech or Parley 42 Of the Ring the halfe Moone the Spurre and the like Imbattellings 43 Chap 3. The seuerall Imbattailings of a Regiment of 1000 men or more 44 Disputation growne about Imbattailing Ibid. The Authors discussion of the difference betweene whom the diffierence is Ibid. The opinion of the newe Souldier Ibid. The newe forme of imbattailing a Regiment 45 The Numbers commanded 46 The opinion of the old Souldiers Ibid. The old and auncient forme of Imbattailing a Regimnt Ibid. The young Souldiers reasons for their opinions Ibid. The old Souldiers reason for their oppinions 47 Other reasons 49 The danger of the first forme of Imbattailing 51 The Authors censure of both the opiniones 52 The former difference reconciled Ibid Chap. 4. OF the Ioining of sundry Regiments together 53 What is the great substance of the Arte Military Ibid. Of what Armies consist bid How to obserue dignity of place 54 Regiments Ioined together in plaine battaile 55 Who are to forme battailes 56 Obseruation of grounds Ibid. Regiments diuided yet brought into vniformitie 57 Chap 5. THe forming of maine batailes of any extent or Number how great soeuer 56 Obseruations in the Shaping of battailes Ibid. The composition of battailes and the members 60 How to finde a square roote and the vse thereof Ibid. The diuiding of a battaile Ibid. Alteration of Squares or squares in squares 61 Of Forlornes Ibid. Of the Vantguard 62 Of the battaile Ibid. Of the Reare Ibid. Of the Horse battaile and the greate Ordnance with the guard thereof 63 The portrature of a plaine ordinary battaile 64 The Wind-Mille battaile of 50000 men Foote and Horse 65 The end of the Table THE SECOND PART OF the Souldiers Grammar CHAP. 1. Of the Raunge of Officers from the lowest to the Highest ALl the lowe inferior Raunges I haue a little touched before both in the Accidence and in the first part of this Grammar but not so Methodically and orderly as now I entend to proceed and of the great and superiour Officers I haue not made any mention at all and therefore in this place I may not omitt them The lowest Raunge and meanest officer in an Army is called the Launcepesado or Launspresado who is the leader or gouernour of halfe a File and therefore is commonly called a Midle man or Captaine ouer foure He is the Corporals deputy and in his absence dischargeth his duties the nature of whose place his Office and dignitie I haue at large set downe in the Souldiers Accidence This is the most inferiour Officer or effectuall Commander and therefore hath the lowest and last Range in Battailes yet he holdeth his dignity by the antiquity of his Place and the greatnesse of him vnder whom he is commanded As the Launspesado vnder the Generall is before the Launspesado vnder the Lieutenant-Generall that of the Sergeant Maior Generall before the Colonell Generall that of the Colonell of a Regiment before his Lieutenant Colonell the Lieuetenant Colonell before the Sergeant Maior of a Regiment the Seriant Maior before the Captaine and the Captaines successiuely according to their antiquities Next aboue the Launspesado is raunged the Corporall of whose particular Office I haue written sufficiently in the Souldiers Accidence He is the Leader or Captaine of a Fyle and the Commander of a Squadron which commonly is twenty fiue Men these take their ranges or places of dignitie as the former that is according to their antiquity and the greatnesse of the Person vnder whome they are commanded The next in range aboue the Corporall is the Sergeant of the Band whose particular Office I haue also at large set downe in the Souldiers Accidence and howsoeuer his Name and Place be neglected and forgotten in the Roman Discypline yet is he an Officer with vs of great vse and eminence he hath no certaine place or range within the Battalia but is extrauegant and wandering vp downe euery where to see the Ranks and Files be kept and that the Bodie run not into any disorder they also take their places of dignity and are ranged as the former that is according to their antiquity and the greatnesse of the Person vnder whom they command Next to the Sergeant of the Band is ranged the Drum whose place is Gentile and of great respect for he ought to be a Souldier of much experience and iudgement and if possible a good Linguist that being sent to the Enemy vpon any occasion he may be able to deliuer his Message without any Interpreter or assistant and
or primer place and all the rest successiuely according to antiquitie This Officer was of great account amongst the Romans and had diuers attributes giuen to their vertues being sometimes called Drungarius sometimes Tribunus or Militum Chiliarchus and the like and when their commands came to be aduanced as to be made Campe Master or Colonell Generall then they were caled Turmarca Merarca or TurmaruÌ„ Praefectus so great was the estimation of this high coÌ„mand Next these is ranged the Sergeant Maior Generall whom the Romans called Tessararius he ought to be a man of noble quallity and high vallour in asmuch as all his actions for the most part are executed in the face of the Enemy and he is euermore of the Councell of Warre Next him is ranged the Colonell Generall a man of equall vertue and guifts with the former especially he ought to be exceeding temperate and iust for vpon him resteth the according of all differences of great nature which shall happen in the Army and he is also euermore one of the Councell of Warre Next him is ranged the Liuetenant Generall of the Horse who hath the same command and dischargeth the same dutie amongst the Horsemen that the Colonell Generall doth amongst the Foote and he is euermore also one of the Councell of Warre This Officer was called among the Romans Magister Equitum or Praefectus Equitum he hath a generall command ouer all Horsemen whatsoeuer whether they be Men at Armes which were called Cataphractos or Light Horsemen which were called Expeditos Incursores he is also euer of the Councell of Warre Next this Officer is ranged the High Treasurer of the Army who amongst the antient Romans was called Quaestor this man is vnder no command but the Generall onely yet is to draw his eye and respect through the whole Army especially he is to haue regard to the Auditor Muster Master and Comissarie of the Armie and is of the Councell Next to this Officer is ranged the Master of the Ordnance who is a principall Officer of the Field hauing command of all manner of Artillerie Munition and Engines whatsoeuer and is also one of the Councell of Warre The next great Officer is the Lord Marshall of the Field whose command stretcheth euery way both to the Horsse and Foote how excellent he ought to be is not to be disputed because he ought to be one of the best of Souldiers hauing a prerogatiue to disanull forraigne lawes and to make good whatsoeuer shall be thought fit in his owne Armie Next this great Officer is ranged the Liuetenant Generall of the Armie who indeed is but the younger brother to the Generall and in his absence hath his soueraigne authority and the absolute Rule of the Armie being as it were a Superintendant ouer all the rest of the great ones Lastly as hauing no paralell but carrying a supreame and soueraigne authoritie ouer all the whole Armie is ranged the Generall whom the auntient Souldiers would alow to be no lesse then a King valuing this high Place at so great a rate that they thought the best Subiect too meane to vndergoe it But we finde it otherwise and reason leades vs to better argument for although Kings are the best Generalls yet God forbid but they should haue that power and priueledge to elect out of their Noblest and best deserning Subiects such able and sufficient Generalls as may take vpon them the gouernment of an armie and not be tyed at all times and vpon all occasions to imbarque themselues into the danger of the Warres Thus you see that Subiects may be Generalls yet indeed none worthily but the best of Subiects who for their excellent vertues draw the nearest in quality vnto Kings Thus haue I runne through the whole Range of great and small Offices which support and gouerne an Army and must of necessity be for their Marshiall imployment in the range and martch thereof yet notwithstanding I must confesse I haue skipt or leapt ouer a range of Officers which out of certaine priueledges which they haue are more remote and abandoned from the Army or else haue such places of particularitie and certainetie that they doe not entirely mixe and ioyne with the grosse Bodie besides they haue another dependance and indeed are called the particuler Officers belonging vnto the Caualarie or Horse Armie and howsoeuer they haue Foote commands yet they depend and waite vpon the Horse and from the Lord Marshall take all their directions The first and the lowest of these is the Master Gunner who is indeed but an inferiour Officer vnder the Master of the Ordnance he hath athoritie ouer all the rest of the Gunners and ought to see that euery man performe his dutie This Officer though he had no place amongst the Romans because the inuention of Powder was not then found out yet they had amongst them a kinde of Artillerie which they called Arietes Scorpions Balistas Arcubalistas Testudines Turres and a world of other Engines the Gouernor whereof was the same in nature that our Master Gunner is Next aboue this Officer is ranged the Trench Master who hath command ouer all the Pâ—â—â—ers in all their works and by his directions seeth all manner of Trenches cast vp whether it be for guard and inclosing of the Campe or for other particuler annoyance to the Enemy or for the building of Sconces or other defence or offence as directions shall be giuen Next this Officer is ranged the Waggon Master or Carriadge Master Generall who amongst the Romans was called ImpedimentoruÌ„ MagistruÌ„ the Master of Impediments or hindraÌ„ces in the Warres for it is true that froÌ„ nicenesse curiositie first grew the foundation of this Office he hath supreame authoritie ouer al Waggons Carriages Sledds and the like and foreseeth that they martch orderlie without cloying vp the hie waies or doing foule annoyances one to the other in their martches with a world of other obseruations which are too long to recite in this place Next this Officer is ranged the Forrage Master Generall who is a principall dependant vpon the Lord Marshall To this Officers charge is deliuered the disposing of all manner of Horse prouisions as Hay Corne Strawe Grasse Forrage the like and he foreseeth that all inferiour Officers which haue charge herein doe their duties truely and that equall distribution be made and no Souldier hindred of his true alowance and where fault is to see due punishment executed on the offenders Next this Officer is ranged the Victuall Master Generall to whose charge is deliuered all kinde of Foode and sustenance belonging to the Souldier as Bread Bisket Butter Cheese Beefe Poore-Iohn Haberdine Peafe Wheate Ryce and the like and by his inferiour Officers which are called Prouant-Masters he is to see that due distribution be made thereof amongst the Souldiers according to allowance from the superiour Officers Next this is ranged the
then shall all the Pykes charge aboue hand and not at the right foote and shall also aduance forward in their charge and offer to encounter with the Horse for their strength is such that it cannot be broken by vnarmed Horses nor can they be ruin'd but by the vtter losse of the Horse Troope Now for the manner of the Salley of this inclosed Shotte and how they shall giue their volley to the most anoiance of the enemy you shall perceiue it in the forme of this next figure following The manuer of gining Volleis against the Horse Heere you see that in this Salley or giuing of the volly against the horse one halfe of the Musquets vpon the first appearance or approch of the Troope and before they come within distance to deliuer their pistols Issueth fourth by the flanke which by wheele or otherwise by turning of faces you shall euer make the front and being aduanced some small distance they presently spread foorth themselues into one single file and so deliuer their volly alltogeather whilst the other haulfe of the Shotte ascend into their places and make ready then that parte of the Shot which did Issue foorth and haue giuen their volly shall with all conuenient speede retire themselues againe betwene the rankes and Passe behind the Shot which filleth their roomes and there lade thire Musquets againe whilest the Pikes charge either to the right foote or alloft according to the nature of the Horse Troope which chargeth them then the Horse wheeling about to recouer the second Pistoll the other halfe of the Shotte shall Issue out and deliuer their volly as the former Now if the Horse Troope shall happen to deuide it selfe and so charge the foote Battell on both sides or if they shall range themselues and charge euery way both before behind and on both sides then shall the Shotte Issue out both wayes and girdle the Battaille round about according to the forme and fashion of this figure following Volleis when the foote Battaile is charged euery way Thus you see the Shotte issueth fourth equally on on both sides and girdleth the foote Battalia round about so that the volly is giuen entirely and without impeachment or trouble one of another whereas to shoote ouer one anothers Shoulder or by making the First man kneele the Second stoope the Third bend his body the Fourth leane forward and the Fifte to stand vpright and so to deliuer their volly were both rude and disorderly bringing great danger to the Souldier and placing them in such a lame and vncomely Posture that all Agillity and aptnesse to doe seruice would be taken away and the enemy taking aduantage thereof would be much more ready and apte to breake in vpon them and driue them to rout and confusion There is an other forme of Imbattaling this company of 200 men and it is excellent either against foote or Horse hath so many seuerall waies to fight and that with such strength and safety that on which hand soeuer the Battaile shall be assailed yet it will stand impregnable the Shot so seconding the Pikes and the Pikes so garding the Shot that euery way it will giue a certaine and Infallibe repulse vnto the enemy This Battaile is a square Battaile as the rest before shewed yet it is compounded of diuers squares or Maniples which amongst the best experienced Souldiers is held the best and safest way of fighting the forme of which Battaile is contained in this figure following The Imbattelling of many Squares in one Square Heere you see eight seuerall squares brought into one square and the ninth reserued voyd for the entertainement of the Ensigne such short weapons as shall attend it which howsoeuer they be out of vse in the Low-Countries where groose Bodies seldome or neuer Ioyne yet with vs where hand Battaile must continually be expected they are not vnnecessary nor to be neglected This forme of Battaile carrieth the front euery way and vpon the allteration of the face is ready to receiue the charge foure seuerall wayes at once with equall strength and oppositions for euery square is a seuerall Manuple and one so answering to another that nothing but multitudes can subdue it There is againe another forme of Imbattailling these 200 men which howsoeuer it carry an imaginary face of weaknesse yet it is strong and substantiall and was indeede inuented through the false shew to draw and bring the enemy on who being once ingadged in the open and weake places the Maniples or small squares at an instant retire and Ioyne them selues togeather so strongly that it is impossible for the enemy to come off without great losse or vtter subuersion This Battaile as the former is compounded of nine squares fullfilled and supplied and of sixe empty and vnsupplied which may draw on and intice the enemy to charge but afterward by closing and Ioining together frustrateth that hope and leaues the euent to the hazard of fortune The forme of this politike and deceiuing Battaile is expressd in this figure following The Politique or deceiuing Battaile Heere you see that though these empty places in the Battaile are reserued whereby to entice the enemy yet they are so slanked on either hand and before both with Pikes and Shotte that no approach can be made without danger no if the Horse should attempt to charge and breake in thinking to cut the Shot from the Pikes as in outward shew it seemeth likely yet haue the Shotte such safe and seuerall places to retire into and the Pikes standing so apt and ready to couer and entertaine them that the assault is to no purpose and the Battaile standeth still stronger and stronger The difference betwixt this Battaile and the former is only the breach and seperation of Manuples which being aduanced one from another yet within the distance of guard haue more liberty to fight and may alter their proportions or distances as they please There is another forme of imbattailing these 200 men and it is principally vsed against the Horse especially when they charge in the forme of a wedge or Triangular of which wedge I haue spoken more largely in the former part of this Grammer and this Battaile also is drawne from a maine square onely the weapons are altered and the opposition of the Pikes are made strongest in the bottome of the Battaile This Battaile was of greate vse amongst the Grecians before fire or powder was knowne and many famous votaries and Triumphs gotten by the vse thereof and therefore hauing now fire and Shotte to assist the naturall strength thereof it must needes be more acceptable and worthier of imitation This Battaile is drawne by diuision betweene the Middle men to the front and the Middlemen to the reare and betweene the Middle men to the right flanke and the Middle men to the left leauing the Shotte within the Pikes in such manner that vpon all assaults they may haue free vse of their Armes and yet notwithstanding abide in
1000 men or more there is now at this instant time great argument and disputation among Souldiers Some being of great experience and knowledge Some of greater reputation then knowledge Some seeming to know more then they doe know and Some out of affection to other mens singularity or to hold an opposite contention whereby to get a note or name of much iudgement The New and latter forme of Imbattailing a Regiment You must first vnderstand that this difference groweth betweene the old Souldier and the new Souldier that is betweene those of old and sollide experience and those of late and more quainte practise The first hauing nothing but what the warre it selfe informeth the other the helpe of Garden Yarde Citty Home and Countrey trialls To come then to the difference it selfe the newe and latter Souldiers would haue a regiment when it is drawne into the field to be compounded of the seuerall companies distinctly one by another without any alteration euery Captaine and officer gouerning his owne company and not to make any mixture of them at all onely to ioine and fixe them together into one body according to the forme of this figure following Heere the Figure Heere you see how the Colonell Lieutenant Colonell Sergeant-Maior and the rest of the Inferior Captaines Ioyne their companies togeather without mixture according to the dignity of their places making one entire and sollide body of Shotte and Pikes Shotte and pikes quite through the regiment which regiment containe 1000 men is deuided thus The Colonell according to greatnes of his command commandeth â—00 men the Lieutenant Colonell 150 and the Sergeant Maior 150 and the fiue other inferiour Captaines command either of them 100 men and thus the 1000 men are Marshalled and gouerned Now the older experienced Souldiers differ from this manner of discipline and though they vary not in the number or command yet they stand farre aloofe from the whole matter of composition for they will not allow to draw vp regiments by entire and whole companies without alteration but first draw vp all the Pikes into one body then the Shotte into another and after diuiding the Shot into two equall parts wing or flanke the pikes on either hand and so make one whole and entire battell of Shotte and Pikes and not a mixte body of Shotte and Pikes in small manuples but rather keepe the regiment in one great and vniforme body according to the preportion of this figure following Heere the Figure Heere you see the battaile of Pikes is drawne all into one body and the Shotte on either hand yet euery officer hath preheminence of place according to his dignity and many inferiour officers aduanced and Imploied which are extrauegant in the former battaile The olde ancient forme of Imbattailing a Regiment They are the soonest reduced to their first forme when they are put into route and the Shotte and Piks being thus intermixt one with another the one offending the other defending the battaile is of great force and more terrible to the enemy Lastely in a battaile thus compounded euery man hath the order or gouernement of his owne Souldiers who are trained to his discipline and vnderstand his commands by which they are made more willing to goe on and doe obay with greater Courage and allacrity then when they are lead by a stranger as in the other battell perforce they must be these and many other like reasons the younger Souldiers yeeld to make good this new opinion and I must confesse they carry a greete shew of substantiall truth did not some impediment crosse in the way which take from them a great parte of beleefe and credit for to these Reasons thus the old Souldiers reply That true it is this forme of imbattailing is good and may passe for courant as long as companies are in their full strength and hold their perfect and true number but to that the warre is a knowne enemy and who knowes not that sicknesse mortality slaughter ill diet and lodging hunger cold and surfeites doe so attend vpon Armies that by them commpanies are exceedingly weakned and made lesse so that he which mustereth one hundred men if he bring three score and ten able men into the field to fight is oft held for a stronge company and so in like case of other numbers so that to imbattaile these by themselues being of so small contents neither can the volly be greate nor the harme dangerous which shall insue to the enemy whereas the seuerall weapons of these small bodies being drawne out and knitte into seuerall great bodies the numbees will swell and increase and as of vnits are made infinits so forty of my Shotte ioined to forty of an other mans and to vs sixe-score of two or three other Captaines will make 200 Shotte this will bring foorth a great volly and this will proue of great danger to the enemy Againe for the easinesse of gouernement or speedy reducing them to their first forme being routed they haue no aduantage of this other great body for howsoeuer the Shotte is in two bodies as the other former mixt battaile is in sixteene the Piks in one body as the other is in eight yet are these great bodies diuided into so small diuisions and ledde by such sufficient officers that no disorder can happen but it is as soone brought againe into forme as if they had their owne Commanders and one of the great vollies will doe more hurt and spoile then foure of the smaller Lastly for the Imagination of more ready obedience better vnderstanding of command and a greater willingnesse to discharge duty the old Soldiers suppose they are no necessary obstacles to be thrust in into this place because the discipline of warre being as it ought to be all of one forme and manner without intrusion of new words of command or addition of curious nouelties so that euery officer speaking a knowne and a certaine language it matters not who giues the word for being vnderstoode it must be performed and that they will fight more willingly with their owne Captaines then with other men the naturall aleageance they beare to their king and Country whose quarrell they fight puts all such doubts out of question because euery honest and valiant mans conscience is ruled by the iustnesse of his cause and his Kings commandment and all other heats are supernaturall and but the proofes of false vallonre Thus the old Souldier answereth to what the young Souldier doth obiect and for a conclusion addeth this more to withstand this new manner of imbattailing They say that this mixing of Shotte and Pikes together in seuerall distinct Companies weakneth and disableth the grosse body for here if you cast off your shott then you leaue such emptie and wide streetes that the enemies Horse are apt to breake in and disorder them or if you doe not cast off the Shott but keepe them close and make them discharge in Countermarch which is