Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	face_n	fall_v	pike_n	3,797	5	12.2111	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07628	Monro his expedition vvith the vvorthy Scots Regiment (called Mac-Keyes Regiment) levied in August 1626. by Sr. Donald Mac-Key Lord Rhees, colonell for his Majesties service of Denmark, and reduced after the Battaile of Nerling, to one company in September 1634. at Wormes in the Paltz Discharged in severall duties and observations of service; first under the magnanimous King of Denmark, during his warres against the Emperour; afterward, under the invincible King of Sweden, during his Majesties life time; and since, under the Directour Generall, the Rex-chancellor Oxensterne and his generalls. Collected and gathered together at spare-houres, by Colonell Robert Monro ... for the use of all worthie cavaliers favouring the laudable profession of armes. To which is annexed the abridgement of exercise, and divers practicall observations, for the younger officer his consideration; ending with the souldiers meditations going on service.; Monro, his expedition with the ... Scots Regiment	Monro, Robert.	1637 (1637)	STC 18022; ESTC S114933	372,373	362

admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni mod● though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Centrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an

Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his pann● and prime againe having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musket●ers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving-giving-fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and

with my Folks to beset it being sent for in the night to breake up and to march thither in all haste I had command to speake with Kniphowsen in my going for rec●iving further Orders The Companies marched by I following my Orders desired to know what the Generall Major had to command me who gave me Orders in writing I should march thither and in case the enemy should pursue me I should fight to the last man and not to give over the Castle though I should be forced to quit the Towne Receiving Orders for some Ammunition I tooke leave of Kniphowsen and continued my march to Shevelbean then layd almost waste with Pestilence the Inhabitants being fled away I had slight quarters for my Soldiers which being quartered having visited the Towne and Castle I appointed the manner of our Watch and did beset the Po●stes from our Guards which were kept both in the Towne and on the Castle and then I sent Orders to the Boores of the Graveshaft to come in the next day with Spades Shovels and Axes for to repaire the workes that were almost ruined being a scurvie hole for any honest Cavalier to maintaine his credit by Before my comming two Troopes of Bawtees Horsemen viz. Major Roustene and Long-fretts were quattered there who getting intelligence the Army was to march upon me being Horsemen quit the Garrison to our selves and took them to the Fields to joyne with their Colonels Regiment being neere hand so that our Quarters thus enlarged we were glad to be rid of their trouble as they were to eschew the Enemies comming serving better in the Fields then they could doe within Walles The Horsemen gone I was evill sped for being put on such a place with such orders appointed to fight to the last man where no Cavalier with credit could hold out twenty foure houres being pursued by an Army except the Lord extraordinarily would shew mercy Neverthelesse getting three dayes longer continuation before the enemies comming we did worke all of us night and day till we had Stacketed the Wall about the height of a man above the Parapet having made a breast-worke of earth within the Walles round about with Traverses within for cleering out the Enemy if he had entered at a breach our Work ended and our Ports Ranforced with Earth to resist the force of Pittards we see in the afternoone the Enemies squadrons of Foot and Horse about eight thousand strong marching unto us having Artillery conforme we finding them marching within reach I caused to salute them with two small shot wherewith a Rut-master and a Lievtenant of horse were killed which made the rest march out of di●●ance The Army drawne up in Battell without reach of our Canon they sent a Trumpeter summoning us to a treatie he was answered we had no such Orders but we had Powder and Ball at their service Whereupon they commanded a Captaine with a hundred and fiftie musketiers towards the Porte directing proportionally to the rest of the Portes our souldiers in the beginning before the Portes killed of them above thirtie souldiers and two Livetenants I not being able to maintaine the Towne retired with my folke on the Castle I being retired the Burgers made up set open the Portes to the enemie giving him entrance who did bring in his whole Artillerie and Amunition to the market place and then sent to mee a Drummer to see if I would render up the Castle upon good conditions then they were in my power but if not I should have no quarters afterwards They got their first Answer againe and then the service beginnes anew on both sides and they begunne before night to plant their Batteries within fourtie pace of our walles which I thought too neere but the night drawing on wee resolved with fire workes to cause them remove their quarters and their Artillerie Having thrown some fiery Granades on the houses and seeing they wrought no effect I hired a stout souldier with a Pike to reach a firye Ball I had made upon the top of the next house that lay to the Castle which in the end was fired so that the whole street did burne right alongst betwixt us and the enemy who was then forced to retire both his Cannon and souldiers and not without great losse done unto him by our souldiers by meanes of the fire-light where other two Officers and eighteene of their souldiers were killed The day cleering up I fell out after with fourescore Musketiers and tooke thirteene Crabbats prisoners The Army leaving us for that time they marched forwards for the releefe of Colberg and I retired to the towne to comfort the Burgers for their losse sustained by the fire caused through necessitie having no other meanes to escape our enemies fury I being retired to the Castle and the enemy marching to Colberg having made up eighteene Dragoniers to march after the enemy for bringing me intelligence if his Majesties forces from Statin were come betwixt the enemie and Colberg my party retiring shewes that the field Marshall Gustave Horne and Colonell Mackey that cōmanded the cōmanded musketiers were joyned with Kniphousen Bawtish and Sir Iohn Hepburne and were lying over-night before a passage betwixt the enemy and Colberg The next morning being darke till nine aclock with a thick mist the horsemen charging one another they came in confusion on both sides being affrighted alike retired from each others with the losse of fourescore men on both sides The particulars whereof I will not set downe having not seene the service though I was within hearing of their Cannon and Muskets both Two horsemen of Bawtish Regiment that had charged through the enemy came and reported to me openly in presence of many souldiers that the Swedens were all beaten I being offended at the manner of their report I caused to imprison both the horsemen till I knew greater certainty and calling my souldiers together I was prepared for the enemies returne But he passing by a mile from us I sent Dragoniers to cut off his passage giving them charge to cut off the Bridges but his Dragoniers being there before mine to be quit of their ill my Dragoniers returned againe in safetie allowing passage to their enemies within few dayes after having escaped this inconvenience I was recalled from thence by his Majesties order to joyne with the Felt-marshall Horne then at Griffinberg with a party of the Armie where before my departing I took an Attestation from the Amptman of the Castle of the good order and Discipline that was kept by vs there And being glad I was rid with credit of such a place I marched to Griffenberg to finde the Felt-Marshall The second Observation THe fore-sight of a wise Commander availes much in preventing the intentions of our Enemies First in besetting the passages through which he might come upon us which doth hinder his march in giving us the longer time to bee prepared for his comming Next the farther our wings are spred without us

Protectour of their faith and Religion and consequently of their freedome and their countries freedome and for their rewards to my knowledge they were inriched three yeares together by the hant of the Army with the substance of the foure upper Circles of Germany which in th' end they rewarded with unthankefulnesse and doubtlesse will be punished for it sometime Here also we have the power of example for the Towne of Francford having taken his Majesty of Sweden for their Protector following their examples the two Landgraves Hessen and Darmstat with the Earles of the Veteraw desire also to be in the confederacy and were most gladly accepted of Vlme Nurenberg and Strasburg ended also their confederacy with his Majesty after the example of Francford promising supply of men money and victualls for the Army Amunition and horses for the Artillery with abundance of Armes for horse and foote with powder ball match waggons spades shovells Pikes mattockes axes and all other things fitting for the advancement of the warres Here was a greate conquest without stroake of sword shewing unto us the number of friends we get when fortune smiles on us but how soone this Heroicke Person is but once gone and that fortune beginneth to frowne then these variable friends quit their confederacy againe following the strongest for which one day the sword of their enemies will come amongst them with hunger and pestilence At this time the Queenes Majesty of Sweden was come to Stati● and from thence on her journey towards Francford Here also the Kings Majesty of Bohemia was come to visit his Majesty of Sweden and was Royally received by his Majesty as likewise by the Lords of Francford and was wonderfully well liked of by the whole Communalty of the Cities and Countries where ever his Majesty did come Here also the Marquesse of Hamilton did come unto his Majesty againe being followed like a Prince and well respected by both the Kings The Ambassadors of Britaine and of France were there also and the Rex-chancellor of Sweden being come with the Queenes Majesty and Sir Patricke Ruthvene come from Spruce were all made welcome to this Court then at Francford which was not inferiour to the Emperours owne Court in respect of great confluence of people that came from all parts to congratulate the Lyon of the north his victories and to admire his fortunes being so increased in two yeares time that all things succeeded happily unto his Majesty according to his owne hearts desire The twenty third Duty discharged of the intaking of the Skonce at Oppenham and his Maiesties crossing the Rhine HIS Majesty having viewed and well recognosced the Skonce on the Rhine over against Oppenham the River being interjected betwixt it and the Towne his Majesty did leade Colonell Hepburnes Briggad and Colonell Winckles being the blew with some cannon great and small before it where his Majesty did stay till the Batteries were made and the approaches begun then leaving the command on Colonell Hepburne with tempestuous cold weather with hard frosts and snow we lay downe on the fields having no shelter but some bushes by the side of the Rhine The Skonce was really fortified with Fossees that were broad deepe and full of water with a draw-bridge over the Moate and the Skonce was well beset with a thousand men and well provided of victualls fire and Amunition having free passage at their pleasure without danger from the Towne unto the Skonce and backe againe The Castle and the hill on the other side of the Rhine being mounted high their cannon from their batteries did cleanse and scowre the fields about the Skonce being a razed Champange and plaine without any shelter of their batteries on the other side they plagued us still with cannon especially in the night time while it behooved us to have fire which was their marke so that sundry were lost and one night sitting at supper a Bullet of thirty two pound weight shot right out betwixt Colonell Hepburnes shoulder and mine going through the Colonells Coach the next shot kill'd a Sergeant of mine by the fire drinking a pipe of Tobacco This night the enemy made an out-fall to try his valour thinking to beate us from our cannon but he was bravely repulsed by push of Pike slightly esteeming of their muskets and scorning to use ours with sharpe points of pikes conveied them home to their Craffe The next day in the morning knowing his Majesty had crossed the Rhine they did capitulate with Colonell Hepburne who did give them being Italians more honourable quarters then in truth their carriage did deserve having got licence to march out Bag and Baggage with full Armes with a convoy to the next Garrison they being marched his Majesty having crossed the Rhine in the night where the Spaniard made some resistance but in vaine his Majesty having got over the next morning he marched towards Openham in the Paltz on the one side of the Towne and we setting over also we pursued the Towne and the Castle on the other side but Sr. Iames Ramsey his musketiers being led by their Major finding a privy passage about the Castle they stormed over the walles coming betwixt the outward Skonce and the castle and finding the draw-bridge downe on a sudden they entered the Castle and put all to the sword the rest of the enemy finding the Castle to be in they runne all to storme the Skonce on which were nine Companies of Italians with their colours their Officers finding the castle surprized behinde them and the storme going on before them they threw downe their Armes calling for quarters which was granted but their colours taken from them they willing to take service were all disposed by his Majesty to Sr. Iohn Hepburne who was not only a Colonell unto them but a kinde Patron putting them in good Quarters till they were armed and clad againe But their unthankfulnesse was such that they stayed not but disbandoned all in Bireland for having once got the warme ayre of the Summer they were all gone before Winter The twenty-third Observation HERE then we see that it is the dutie of all wise Generals of intention to beleaguer Citie Fort or Strength first to recognosce and having once recognosced then to proceed as they finde most advantagious for the Beleaguerer and disadvantagious for the assailed the pursuer must know what number of men are requisite for the pursute as well offensive as defensive In this point of recognoscing his Majesties judgement was wonderfull as in all other practicall duties fitting a great Commander and as his Majesties judgement was great and good so he was of that minde nothing in this kinde could be well done which he did not himselfe neither could his Majestie abide at such times as he went to recognosce any other to accompany him in the danger other reasons doubtlesse His Majestie had which were onely privie unto himselfe This point how necessarie it is for a great Commander to be judicious