may at one and the same time charge either in the Front or Reer in Front and Reer also in Front Reer and Flank and of these I shall demonstrate some that I at first learnt and some amongst others that are most convenient to be learnt Now that the Souldier might be expert in his firings against the Enemy let him be often exercised with firings only in the pan falling off and on as shall be Commanded All which being well performed by the Musquetteers is a full accomplishment of what hath been before taught him by which the Commander shall be credited and the Souldier preferred to his merit Of firing by forlorne files 1. That which is to be used in our modern exercise is two manner of wayes the two outmost files of each flank of Musquetteers to march with two Serjeants so far as shall be commanded and there to stand and the foremost ranks are to give fire and to fall into the Reer of themselves either by wheeling off to the right or to the right and left Then let the remaining do the like and fall into their places Those that have fired are to fall off on the inside of the Musquetteers between them and the Pikes and as they are thus trooping back after firing to their places the rest are in like manner to move away and fire and fall in next the Pikes 2. Accordingly as you draw out two files so you may draw out more files to the number of Musquetteers and so to fire and fall into the Reer of themselves and places c. 3. You may move them all clear of the Pikes and let them open from the midst leaving sufficient Intervals for their wheelings in the Reer of themselves and then to place themselves even with their Pikes the second having fired as before place themselves in the Reer of the first division c. 4. Advance the two outmost files by the Serjeants who are to lead them to the place for execution as by order received Commanding 1. Files to rank inward to present and give fire all together 2. You may rank inward two Files or more and fire as before And having fired are to wheel off to the right and left by their respective file leaders placing themselves next the Pikes I proceed to a second way of firing and that is by Ranks First By advancing before the Front Secondly firing even with the Front Thirdly firing even with the half files Advancing before the Front may be performed by advancing of single ranks and so firing in the Front or by advancing of both flanks into the Front before the Pikes and so to fire by single ranks Which is performed by Commanding Demyhearse 5. Pikes stand Musquetteers move forward and place your selves before in the Front of your Pikes and close your Divisions I mention nothing to tye up the hand of the ingenious to any stinted form whose ablities may command his figures at pleasure Observe that when the forlorn files or Ranks march out they are to give fire as upon a retreit that is to stand and fire and wheel off that their followers may do the like unless the Enemy give ground And when the two last ranks were presented the next two ranks must be ready to march forward being fixed to present and give fire also Thus having fired in the Front by one single Rank or more they are by wheeling off to place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions before the Pikes the rest doing the like until they have all fired round A second way of firing by this figure shall be a reducement to it First The Frontiers having performed their firing are to wheel off by division until they come down so low as to be even to the first ranks of Pikes and so to rank even a breast All the Musquetteers are so to do successively and flank themselves even with the Pikes 6. Ranks advancing from the Front of a standing Battalia A Serjeant from each Flank leading up the two formost Ranks according to order the first Rank is to give fire wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions the second in order is to execute the same with speed being not above three foot distance from the first being ready with his Musquett palm'd his Cock bent and Muzzel mounted so to Present and give fire and so to wheel off and place themselves as their Leaders had done before them 7. Ranks firing even with the Front The first Rank having fired and wheeled off placing themselves in the Reer of their Divisions the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places making good their leaders ground and there to present and give fire wheeling off and placing themselves as by the former directions By the way you must observe if the body be upon a march the Pikes must be shouldered and when they come to charge they are to close forward at their close order It is presupposed ere one firing or two be performed or past over the bodies are almost close Then the Pikes are to be at their Port and at length to be at their absolute Charge and push home and being so near they may do great execution with their Musquets firing upon the half files of Pikes as if they were even with the Front Which brings me to 8. Ranks firing even with the half files When the Pikes are charging then the musquetteers may perform this who are to advance no further than the half files of Pikes and there you may either fire one Rank or more at the discretion of the Commander and as soon as every Rank hath fired successively they are to wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own leaders When the firing is ended and each Souldier in his proper place the Musquetteers marching up even in breast with the Front of Pikes they are reduced But in this firing the Musquetteers are to make good their leaders ground except it be upon a retreit then they are to fire upon the same ground and to wheel off that their followers may doe the like unless the Enemy give ground Horn. Bat. 9. Command Pikes stand Musquetteers march until the bringers up rank even with the Front You may in this as with some of the former fire two Ranks ten paces advanced before the Front and so whel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own files OR Secondly let the first Rank of Musquetteers present and give fire and wheel off to the right and left placing themselves in the Reer of their own files then the second Rank firing are to advance into their leaders place firing and wheeling off in the same manner and so they are all successively to do the like Then Thirdly when they have all given fire let them begin again and the file leaders having fired they are to wheel off to the right and left flank themselves even with the Pikes the second Rank
give my judgement with those who do not allow the firings by way of Introduction to be useful in our modern Wars nor are they secure to the Souldier unless when the Commander shall find his Souldiers to be well exercised then amongst other various curiosities these may be performed By the word Introduction is meant a passing through or between and by its motion doth advance and gain ground upon an Enemy 16. Command Make ready to give fire by Introduction Then Command the files of Musquetteers to open by division to their open order and to pass through to the right c. The first rank of each flank presents and gives fire so done they stand and make ready again The second rank so soon as the first have fired passeth through and placeth it self before the first and do their fire and stand also and make ready again The third is to pass forward and stand in rank even with the first and when the second rank hath fired they must step before the second and having fired are to stand and make ready again and thus every rank is to follow his Leader successively until the Bringers up of each Division are to give fire and stand in the Front of all Observe in this firing you may keep your Pikes shouldered still moving slowly forwards if there be no danger of Horse and so keep even with the Front of Musquetteers This done twice over will reduce them A Second way of Introductive firing The first Rank is to fire and stand as in the forementioned Figure then the Bringers-up or last Rank whilst the File-leaders are firing shall march up and place themselves even with the second Rank and when they have fired the Bringers-up are to step before them and immediatly to present and give fire and when the rest have followed their Bringers-up and fired once over be sure that the File-leaders fire twice Both produce the horn battle who ought to be the first and the last and so stand the Pikes are to march up even with the Front of Musquetteers as in the former direction and they are reduced Extraductive 17. Firing There have been in use two Extraductive firings I shall speak but of one which is allowed somewhat useful especially in narrow passages and in case your Enemy be too powerful either in Horse or Foot that then the passage might be filled up with the Pikes but if your Pikes be not sufficient to do it as you will perceive by my Figure then double your Ranks let your Pikes be in such posture and motion accordingly as occasion shall offer it self Command Musquetteers face about to the right and march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then face inward and close your Divisions for the Pikes command them to double their Ranks to the right Or half Files double their Front to the right To perform this Command The first rank of Musquetteers next after the Pikes face to the right then to march forth file-wise close up by the right flank of Pikes and when the Leader is advanced into the Front of Pikes he is to lead them athwart the whole Front of Pikes after which they are all to stand present and give fire and having fired they are to wheel off to the left and fall into the Reer of Musquetteers and whilst the first Rank is firing the second is to be marching so as to be ready to fall into their Places To reduce them Command the Pikes to advance six foot if they be doubled their Ranks to the right let them now double their Files to the left then Command I could have mentioned a great many more firings to the Front but through my confinement to such a small number of men and not an equality in arms Art compleated cannot be expected from me Must of these firings are solid and serviceable yet it cannot be conceived that three Ranks can make any abidement of Battle for continuance against any Enemy although sometimes they may be forced to be reduced into less Numbers yet by shewing the nature hereof you will be the better able to manage a greater c. CHAP. XIX Of firing in the Front and Reer And Reer alone BEfore I demonstrate the firings in the Reer I thought it fit to give one Figure of firing to the Front and Reer which may serve also for a firing to each Flank when the Commander pleaseth 1. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until your Bringers-up be even in breast with the Front of Pikes Reer half Files of Pikes face about to the right Reer half Files of Musquetteers face about to the right and march until the half File-leaders are even in breast with the Bringers up of Pikes For the first firing by this Figure so soon as the Ranks upon each Division have fired they are to wheel off to the right and left and fall into the Reer of their own Divisions And having so fired all over they are to wheel off and place themselves even in breast with the Pikes as now they stand faced then being faced to their Leader they are reduc'd This is not our drift of firing in the Reer but if in a March an Enemy eagerly pursues and assaults then by facing about and firing in the Reer or by Countermarching or Wheeling about and so firing these repulses orderly performed may cause a disorder in the pursuants And it is good sometimes as occasion may offer to keep an Enemy in play whilst he may advantage himself in his Ground either for his Embattlement or Ambushes or for the conveyances of Gunns or other Carriages c. 2. Firing Upon a March the last Rank is to face about and so to give fire wheeling off in File by Division and marching up towards the Front and placing themselves before their File-leaders 1. Observing that they rank even with the second rank of Pikes 2. In the performance of this you will lose one rank in the Front 3. Observe that whilst the rank of Musquetteers are firing in the Reer the next rank although he be marching he ought to be preparing with his cock bent and garded that with his three motions he may next fire so soon as his precedent rank is wheeled off 4. Although you are upon a march yet you are to fall one rank nearer to the Reer that the Body may be preserved intire 5. Observe further in the performance of all this your preparations and firings ought to be at three motions Cock your match Blow your coal Present c. Let the first be with the right leg advancing the second with the left leg advancing bending your cock then a little advancing forward with the right foot to present and give fire Now I give these Reasons for the Observations of some motions in these firings to the Reer because so soon as the Souldier hath fired if the last rank should immediatly face about and present c. there would be a
now is to fire upon the same ground he stands and must not at all advance into his leaders ground as before and having once fired all over they are reduced OR You may reduce themby Commanding the Musquetteers to face about to the right and march down into their respective places OR Command the Pikes to march up and even the Front with the file leaders of Musquetteers A triple firing 10. Front half files of Musquetteers double your Front of Pikes by division 2. Reer half files of Musquetteers open to the right and left and Rank even with the Pikes To perform this direct the Front half files to advance clear of the body of Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and so close their divisions before the Pikes You are to observe in this firing that the Musquetteers of the Front and both flanks are to present and give fire together the Musquetteers of the Front division after firing are to wheel off to the right and left between their intervals and place themselves even in Rank in the Reer of the Reer divisions of Musquetteers Then the Musquetteers that fired in the flanks march directly down and place themselves even in breast with the Reer of Pikes Thus they are reduced Or else you may continue firing at your pleasure and arging of your Pikes 11. Wheel your flanks by division into the Front When they have fired let them march or pass down through the intervals and place them in the Reer of their own divisions And then upon an other firing they may place themselves in the Reer of the Pikes The Pikes here may charge either at hand or foot the Musquetteers may also fire over them To reduce them if it be upon the first Command firing and falling off in the Reer of their own divisions let the Body close their Divisions and wheel their flanks into the Reer and face to their Leader But if you fire a second time and wheel off your Musquetteers into the Reer of the Pikes Command the masquetteers by division to double their Front intire and then wheel both flanks into the Reer and face them to their Leader as before 12. Command Musquetteers Poyze your Musquetts and march until til they be clear of the Body of Pikes Then Front half files face to the right and left inward close your divisions and face to your leader Reer half files open to the right and left Front half files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march even to flank the Having fired let them wheel off to the right and left the Front Divisions falling in the Reer of themselves and the flanks either in the Reer of themselves or else in the Reer of their Pikes the Pikes moving forward and maintaining the Musquetteers ground To reduce this Command Front half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards and march even in flank with the Reer half files of Pikes Then wheel your flanks into the Reer Front half files of Pikes face in opposiition and march into your places Musquetteers face about to the right and march closing of your divisions face all to your leader 13. Command Musquetteers march all until your half files be even with the Front of Pikes Front half files march three paces forward and stand Reer half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left outward and march clear of the Front half files Reer half files of Pikes open to the right and left outward and march clear of the Front Division of Pikes The first Ranks of all divisions having fired they may in the first place fall in the Reer of their own divisions And for a second firing so soon as the first ranks have fired in the Front they are to wheel off to the right and left and flank the Pikes as they were then the Reer division of Musquetteers after firing fall off to the right and left and place themselves even abreast with the Reer division of Pikes Then Reer half files of Pikes face to the right and left inwards and march into your places By this they are Reduced 14. Command Musquetteers march until your two last Ranks are equal with the two first Ranks of Pikes The two second Ranks of Pikes face to the right and march into the Reer of the right flank of Musquetteers The two last Ranks of Pikes face to the left and march into the Reer of the left flank of Musquetteers Having fired let them whel off to the right and left falling in the Reer of themselves and so having fired once or twice over they may fall in the Reer of their own Pikes every Musqueteer as he fireth to advance unto his leaders place and the Pikes to advance also who are to be ported and when the two last Ranks are firing they are to charge at the discretion of the Commander which Figure I have here set down because from it the fourteenth shall be reduced The Reducement The two ranks of Pikes upon the right flank face to the left and march c. then march the four ranks direct The two Ranks on the left flank face to the right and place your selves as you were facing them to their Leader the Musquetteers to advance and flank the Pikes they are reduced 15 Command Front half files of Musquetteers and the two first Ranks of Pikes march three foot The four Ranks of Pikes wheel your flanks into the front by division and face to the right and left and march even in the Reer of the Front Division of Musquetteers Then the Reer half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left and march them clear of the division of Pikes facing them to their Leader and march up even with the flanks of Pikes Having fired and wheeled off in the Reer of their own divisions of Musquetteers then for a second firing let the Front divisions of Musquetteers fire and wheel into the Reer of Pikes the pikes porting and charge as in the figure and retreit and upon the retreit the Pikes to fall all even in breast And the front division of Musquetteers to sleeve up even in breast with the Reer division of Musquetteers Then the Pikes to charge on again and the reer division of Musquetteers to fire wheeling off to the right and left and fall into the Reer of the front division of Musquetteers who will then stand after this form To reduce them Command The Pikes to advance and march all to a convenient distance then march the middle division of Pikes six foot then the two divisions of pikes upon the flanks to face in opposition and close their divisions Then Wheel their flanks into the Reer and face them to their leader which being done the Pikes are reduced The Musquetteers are to march up and flank the Pikes Many firings the ingenious might invent to the Front more than what I have demonstrated I shall only mention the Introductive and Extraductive firings I must
present incumbrance This experience hath discovered and that firing upon motion to be the most speediest and safest way for firing in the Reer Now for a Publick Exercise when you have fired over once you may then face them to their Leader and fire in the Front But if you be upon a march and should be pursued by an Enemies Horse then Wheel your Flanks into the Front and face to the Reer your Pikes will defend your Body so your Musquetteers may fire over them as in the 17. Figure by extraduction and reduced accordingly Secondly In firing to the Reer the Musquetteers may be in the Reer of the Pikes And first having fired they are to wheel off and place themselves between the Front of Musquetteers and Reer of Pikes And secondly having fired in the Reer they may wheel off by Division and march into the Front of Pikes the Body still marching Or if both flanks be in the Reer they may fire wheel off by Division and double both flanks This last hath reduced it self and for the second you may for exercise fire them in the Front and in their wheeling off to flank their Pikes or for expedition for the Musquetteers to open to the right and left and march the Pikes up in the interval and they are reduced as at first You may perceive the use of firings in the Reer and that the Souldier ought to be very well exercised in them For a true experience herein doth not only add to the perfection of the Souldier but his safety also Before I conclude this Chapter I shall add two Figures of firing in Front and Reer marching 3. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until you be clear of the Front of Pikes Face in opposition and close your Divisions So for the reer half files face about to the right and march until you be clear of the Reer of Pikes face them in opposition and close their Divisions Having fired their first and last Ranks they wheel off to the right and left by Division the Front Division are to place themselves even in Rank with the Front of Pikes and the Reer Division of Musquetteers are to place themselves even in Rank with the Bringers-up and so each Rank successively after each other will reduce this Figure 4. Command Half Files of Musquetteers fire to your Front and Reer placing your selves between your Divisions This firing is plain without direction and the firing being ended they are reduced CHAP. XX. Of Firings in the Flanks THere are reasons to be given and Experience hath found it necessary for firing in the Flanks When you are upon a March an Enemy may endeavour an assault to molest you in your passages that your disadvantages may be the greater either by ambushments laid against you or to frustrate your designs Now in the performance hereof there are several circumstances that are to be taken notice of as the strength of your Enemy the time number and place all for your own security or advantages against him I shall begin with some Exercises upon the right flank and what is performed there by Figure may also be performed upon the left hand In order hereunto pass all your Musquetteers into your right flank by Commanding Musquetteers of the right Flank open to the right and being opened to a convenient distance stand then Musquetteers of the left Flank pass through your Ranks of Pikes to the interval of the right Flank then stand and face to your Leader Your facings to the right or left is that by which the flanks become accidental fronts and then for the firings thereupon you may to your discretion use such as are most convenient being already shewn Chapter 18. I shall not here take up any room with the demonstrations thereof and shall shew but some few firings in the right flank as the Body shall be marching in all which you are to observe the Pikes are to be shouldered 1. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and wheel after your Bringers-up between your Divisions And this at the discretion of the Commander is done two wayes either by commanding to be lead into their places by their File-leader or by their Bringers-up and to place themselves before them c. Here by this Figure they in the first place as the Body is marching face to the right the outmost File presents and gives fire after their firing they face to the right and after their Bringer-up who leads them off in the Reer of the Musquetteers and up into the Interval between the Pikes and Musquets until the Bringer-up of the File hath placed himself even in breast with the Frontiers and so the marching Party as Command shall be given are to open that the Files of Musquetteers after they have fired may march up between the Divisions and so every File is successively to fire and wheel off and place it self This firing being performed twice over they are Reduced If but once you must countermarch your files of Musquetteers to reduce them 2. You may secondly after they have fired Command them to face to the right and to wheel off every man placing himself before his Bringer up or present Leader hereby the Bringer up will be in his due place and the file-leader in his proper place also 3. A Third way of firing upon this Figure is to fire in the right flank and to be lead off into their places by their respective File-leaders The Body marching the outmost File faceth to the right and fires and when the body is marched clear of the standing file then the next file presents to the right and fires and whilest he is firing the first file that is fired faceth to the left and marcheth up between the Musquetteers and Pikes Observing the former directions in their march that there may be space enough in the Interval for the several Files successively to march into these places 4. There is a fourth way of firing that is to give fire to the right and gather up your Files The Body marching the outmost file faceth to the right fires then stands and faceth to their Leader Then when the Body is clear of the standing file the second file faceth to the right and fires and stands also facing to their Leader then the first file is to advance up to the second and so when the first and second have fired they are to be lead up to the third Thus having fired they are to be lead up even in breast to the file that last fired and having all fired they are to be marcht up even with the Front Pikes To reduce this Command Left half Ranks of Musquetteers face to the left Pikes face to the right pass through interchanging of Ground Face to your Leader How beneficial this may be to the security of the Souldier they that will make use of it that are ingenious will better judge but I am of opinion it is more fit for a private Exercise
than for publick Service 5. Command Give fire to the right and place your selves even in Front with the Pikes marching up between the midst of the Pikes Observe in the performance hereof the Pikes as they march are to open to the right and left and the fired Musquetteers are to be lead up according to Command To reduce this Command 1. Pikes to face inwards 2. Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards 3. Pass all through and interchange Ground 4. Face to your Leader 6. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right placing your selves on the outside of the left Flank of Pikes If you will reduce this without any firing you may Command the right half Ranks to pass through your Ranks of Pikes The Ingenious may find many ways for the Reducement Or when all the Musquetteers are on the left flank you may fire them over again and they are reduced 7. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and to the Reer placing your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions Having placed your left flank of Musquetteers in the Reer A useful firing then Command The outmost file upon the right flank are to face to the right and the last rank of Musquetteers in the Reer are to face about and both are to present and give fire together and having fired the outermost file upon the right hand faceth to the left and marcheth after their Leader in the interval between the Musquets and the Pikes They are to march a reasonable pace and the rank fired in the Reer is to wheel to the right placing it self in the Reer of Pikes c. This is easily reduced by commanding the Musquetteers to draw off into the left flank again Observe that flank that is farthest from the Enemy ought to be drawn into the Reer 8. Command Musquetteers give fire to both Flanks marching and place your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions To perform this the outermost file of each flank presents outward 9. Command The Body standing Advance your Pikes Musquetteers and Pikes face to the right and left Musquetteers present and give fire to both flanks and flank your Pikes The outermost file upon the right and left flank presents and fires wheeling off by Division ranking or flanking the Pikes as they stand faced leaving such a distance as the rest may securely follow them every rank is to fire upon the same Ground and wheel off by Division after the same manner From this Figure as they will stand after firing there may be produced a great many brave Figures but now I must leave them to the skilful Artist To reduce this Command The Musquetteers to march all until they are clear of the Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and close their Divisions and face them to their Leader 10. Command Because it may easily be produced from the precedent Figure it shall be from the first Figure of firing in the Front and Reer Chap. 19. the Body being faced to the right and left will be a firing to both Flanks 11. Command Shall be a firing to right Flank and to the Front and Reer Left half Ranks double your right Flank by Division You may face the Divisions any way which you intend for their firing After firing they are to wheel off into their own Divisions every Rank moving into his Leaders Ground To reduce them face them to their proper Front then Command half Ranks that doubled face to the left and so march into your places See the doubling of Flanks Figure 17. CHAP. XXI Of several Divisional Firings I Might here make mention of a great many Figures for firings some serviceable and others not but all left to the judicious for censure and to make use of the best yet none useless for delight or Garden Exercises The Figures cannot be perfect because I am tied to the exercise but of twelve Files four of them Pikes and eight Musquetteers it being a Number that our Western Commanders can make use of and no more yet any who may be capable to perform them will be able to invent others and command the production of such like in geater Numbers and with better delight 1. Command The two outmost Files upon each Flank stand the two inmost half Ranks of the Reer face about to the right the two inmost half Ranks both of Front and Reer march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then half Files rank to the right and left inwards by wheeling into the Front For the Pikes open them to the right and left from the midst then Command the right and left hand File of Pikes to stand the Reer half Files of the remainder face about to the right then both half Files rank to the right and left inward into the Front and Reer This Figure in great Bodies must be performed otherways and may be very serviceable against the Horse the Pikes may advance into the Front of Musquetteers to secure them against the Horses fury if occasion shall serve After their first firing and wheeling off to the right and left in the Reer of their own Divisions then when the Pikes are defending them from the Horse let them fire over the Pikes This being done pass through the Musquetteers before the several Fronts of Pikes as they were before any firing To reduce them Command Face the Front and Reer to the right and left inwards The Front and Reer Ranks of Pikes file to the right and left inwards the right and left hand files of Pikes close to the right and left inwards and close all to the midst Then Command the Front and Reer Ranks of Musquetteers file to the right and left inward face in opposition and march into your places closing the whole Body to their close Order and open them again to their Order Evening of their Ranks and streightning of their Files they are reduced 2. Command and Direction Musquetteers open six foot to the right and left Front half Files of the right Flank of Musquetteers Advance intire into the Front of Pikes The Reer Division of the left Flank of Musquetteers face about to the right and double intire the Reer of the Pikes The Front Division of Musquetteers of the left face about to the right and march even in breast with the Reer half Files of Pikes The Front half Files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march until you are clear c. Face them to their Leader To reduce them The Front Division of Musquetteers face to the right and march into your places Reer Division of Musquetteers face to the left and march forth into your places Front half Files of Pikes face in opposition and close your Divisions The left flank of Musquetteers advance even with the Front of Pikes Musquetteers close to the right and left inward and face them to their Leader And they are reduced 3. Command Front half Files face to the right and left
Art of Pyrotechny We must therefore know that Gun-powder was not without reason composed of these three materials to wit Salt-Peter Sulphur and Coal but to the end that one might remedy or supply the defaults of the others And this is it which is easie to be comprehended in the effect of Sulphur for this is naturally the very aliment of the fire seeing it joyns with it so willingly and freely and having once taken fire is most difficult to put out being no otherwise rightly than a flaming fire or to express it better a pure flame and therefore hath an aptitude to enflame the Salt-Peter by its activity more than any other kind of fire But as the Salt-Peter lighted doth go promptly into certain windy exhalations it hath thereby such a strength in it that it would by its ventosity put out the flame which the Sulphur hath conceived and by consequence deny it self of that which the Sulphur communicateth to it hereby you may see if one had made a simple composition of these two things only that is of Sulphur and Salt-Peter compounded well together if fire were then applyed they would in truth be suddenly enflamed but they would soon after go out that is the fire will not continue to the Conflagration and Consumption of the whole matter the reason whereof we have given a little before It was therefore by good reason adjudged that Coal well dryed and powdered being adjoyned to these two materials in a certain proportion was an excellent remedy for the supplying of this defect seeing that Coal is of such a property and of such a nature that if it be held to the fire it will soon light and be reduced to a fire without any flame And from hence it comes to pass that the more it is agitated by the Air or by wind the more the fire augments and will not go out but conserve it self until the matter that nourisheth it is totally consumed a little ashes only excepted From hence it was concluded that a Composition made of these three Ingredients such as is our Gunpowder will conceive fire and will be conserved enflamed and consumed unto the last Atome For it is most certain that if we approach fire with it the Sulphur which the fire extreamly loves is soon taken with it and holdeth the same and introduceth it not only into the Salt-Peter but the coal also at the same moment without producing any flame Now this fire as we have said before cannot be suffocated by wind but on the contrary is enflamed the more and takes new strength by the agitation of the Air. And as this Sulphur is a great neighbour of the fire either with or without flame so it cannot hinder it from taking fire and 't is the flame of the Brimstone imbraces the Salt-Peter and the Coal continues it And by consequence these three materials joyned together and well incorporated and then lighted produceth a fire until all its aliment and substance be universally consumed and annihilated Yet there must care be taken that none of these substances have any accidental defaults either in humidity or disproportion either more or less We will conclude then all that we have said that the true office of Sulphur in the Powder is to conceive the flame or receive the fire and having received it to communicate it to the other matters and that the Coal hath a particular care to retain and consume it and to hinder the fire after it is once introduced by the Sulphur from suffocating or going out by any windy Exhalation and great violence caused by the Salt-Peter and lastly that the most notable and particular office of the Salt-Peter is to produce and cause a most vehement and powerful ventosity or windy Exhalation And in this which I have said lieth all the truth of the strength power and expulsive motion and activity of the Gun-powder and by consequence Salt-Peter alone is the first and principal cause of all the admirable and astonishing Effects produced by Gunpowder and consequently the two other materials are alliated with the Salt-Peter for no other end than to make it break forth into fire and wind For proof of this if any one will make a Composition of Sulphur and Coal only and with it charge a Piece of Ordnance he will find that this will not move or thrust out a Shot of Iron or any other metal the reason of this weakness is easie to be understood by our foregoing discourse because the violent expulsion depends absolutely in the Salt-Peter and in this only expulsive faculty and not in any of the other matters Yea I believe that one may prepare Gun-powder without Brimstone or Coal rather than without Salt-Peter or that a man may without much difficulty prepare other matters that the one may do the office of Sulphur in kindling the matter and the other that of Coal in Conserving it and keeping it without flame But any other thing that hath such hidden natural properties to cause such a ventous Exhalation so violent and capable to produce such prodigious Effects as Salt-Peter may not be produced CHAP. XXIII How to prepare Eommon Match and Extraordinary Match that is such as will render no Smoak nor bad scent FIrst there must be made Cords of coarse hemp or rather of Tow about the bigness of half your thumb or a good finger in Diameter then take the ashes of Oak Ash Elm or Maple three parts of quick Lyme one part and make thereof a Lye after the usual manner which being done add to it of the Liquor drawn from Horse-dung neatly strained and leasurely exprimed through a strainer or linnen Cloath two parts of Salt-Peter one part and being all well mix'd put into a Copper your Match Cords and pour upon them your Lixivium and make a small fire under the same augmenting it gradually until it be great which you must keep boyling two or three dayes continually not boyling it dry as some of our Writers prescribe but supplying it continually with fresh Lixivium for fear both Match and Kettle burn for want of Liquor in the end having taken out the fire take the Cords out of the Liquor and wring them hard in your hands rubbing off the moisture from them with a peece of Cloath that comes forth in the wringing then hang them in the Air or Sun upon long Poles to dry and when they are well dryed make them up in bundles and carry them into a commodious place to keep for use But to make Match that will never have bad scent nor smoak you must get a certain quantity of red Sand or Gravel well washed and purged from all its filth put it into an Earthen pot that is not varnished then put into the pot upon the Sand your common Match or any other made of Cotton or the like matter and coyle it in such manner that there be half a fingers breadth of interval between every coyl of the Match to the end
Foot long 2 10 4 20 6 30 8 40 10 30 12 61 14 73 16 84 18 56 21 8 10 Foot and half 2 21 4 41 6 69 8 88 11 81 13 28 15 48 17 68 19 89 22 10 11 Foot long 2 31 4 62 6 93 9 24 11 56 13 88 16 22 18 51 20 82 23 14 11 Foot and half 2 42 4 48 7 26 9 68 12 10 14 53 16 95 19 37 21 80 24 21 12 Foot long 2 53 5 6 7 59 10 12 12 65 15 18 17 72 20 25 22 78 25 33 12 Foot and half 2 63 5 20 7 89 10 52 13 15 15 78 18 41 21 4 23 67 26 33 13 Foot long 2 74 5 48 8 82 10 96 13 70 16 44 19 48 21 92 24 68 27 40 13 Foot and half 2 84 5 68 8 52 11 36 14 20 27 4 19 88 22 72 25 56 28 42 14 Foot long 2 95 5 90 8 85 11 80 14 75 17 70 20 65 23 60 26 56 29 53 The use of this Table in graduating the Rule is very plain for if your Piece of Ordnance be 8 foot long and you would mount your Piece two degrees seek for 8 foot under the title length of the Piece and in the common Angle against the length of the Piece under two degrees you will find 3 36 to make a degree that is 3 inches and 36 parts of an inch divided into 100 parts and to this you may set your Bead. The use of the graduated Rule is thus having loaded your Piece and brought your Piece of Ordnance in a right line with your mark the dispart being placed upon the Muzzle Ring in like manner place your Rule upon the Base Ring and let one standing by hold it for the foot of it let it be fitted round to the Gun so you may be sure to place it right and you may estimate on its perpendicular well enough now having before the distance to the mark you intend to shoot at and admit you have found it to be 461 paces and the first Shot you made for practice out of that Piece conveyed her Shot at two degrees of Mounture 274 paces then by our former Rules and the Tables of Randoms there I find 461 against 6 degrees which is the degrees I must mount my Piece to reach 461 paces Then to find by this Table how many inches and hundred parts of an inch 6 degrees will require look in the Table above and find on the left hand in the first Column the length of the Piece and just under the degrees as is aforesaid you shall find the inches and parts of Mounture to which set your Bead on your string that is in the sight to so many inches and parts as the Table gives then mount the Piece higher or lower until you bring the Bead to the top of the dispart and mark all in one line stop then the Piece in such a position with a Coyn then prime and give fire If you will shoot by the Metal of the Piece without a dispart then substract the height of the dispart out of the inches found by the Table and to the remainder mount your Piece If you have no Quadrant nor a Ruler and would make a good Shot look in the Table and find the length of the Piece and the inches that you ought to raise your Piece unto then cut a peece of stick just of that length and set it upon the Base Ring and bring the top of that stick the top of the dispart and the mark all in a right line with your eye and you will make as good a Shot as if you had a Rule and Bead or Quadrant If you will have no dispart take your dispart and measure it upon the aforesaid stick at the Base Ring and from it cut off the length of the dispart and the remainder use upon the Base Ring But if the Mounture should be so small that the inches of the dispart should be more than the inches answerable to the degrees of Mounture then cut off from the dispart so much as 't is longer than the other and place it upon the Muzzle Ring and bring the upper part of the Base Ring the dispart and mark in a right line with your Eye and you will this way make a level with a stick without Instrument as well as if you had Ruler or Quadrant CHAP. XXIII How to make a Shot at the Enemies Light in a dark night and to make at a Company of Horsemen or Footmen passing by and also to make a good Shot at a Ship Sailing and how a Shot lodged in a Piece so that it will not be driven home to the Powder may be shot out without hurt to the Piece TO shoot by night at the Enemies Lights dispart your Piece with a lighted and flaming Wax Candle or with a lighted Piece of Match that with your Eye you may bring the Base Ring the fired Match on the Muzzle Ring and the Enemies Light in a right line or mark then give fire and you will make a good Shot If you make a Shot at a Company of Horse passing by take a Piece that will reach the way the Horse or Foot are coming in a right line then let your Gun be so loaded with Powder as it may presently take fire and let your Shot be fit for your use then take notice of some Hillock or some turning cross way for the mark and when the Enemy comes near to that way in a right line with your Gun give fire but for shooting at a Ship upon the River you must put your Piece to some eminent mark on the other side of the River and when the Head of the Ship shall begin to be between the Piece and the mark then give fire But if by some mischievous accident a Shot is lodged in the concavity of a Piece and there sticks and will not go home to the Powder or come out then the Gunner to save his Piece from breaking must imbase the mouth of the Piece or put it under the line of level then put in at the Touch-hole fair warm water at several times so that it may run out at Muzzle or Mouth of the Piece and when all the Salt-Peter is washed from the Powder which is known by the taste of the Water then let the Gunner clear the Touch-hole and put in as much Powder as possible he can and prime and give fire and it will serve to draw out the Shot But when a Shot hath lain long in a Piece until he is grown rusty and so sticks fast put strong Vinegar warm into the mouth of the Piece and with the Rammer strike the Shot until it doth move then put in Vinegar until it run clear through the Powder and Shot prime as before and give fire with good Powder and if it do not run through after it hath stood three dayes clear the Touch-hole prime and give fire A man may also shoot