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
in the Front and Reer and then of firing by Ranks And first of Files firing in the Front 1. Files firing in the Front The right hand File and the left hand File March some distance before the head of the Troop and Rank themselves to the right and left inward and so Present and Give fire which being performed let them wheel off to the right and left outwards into the Reer of their first Station and so set themselves in their respective places even with the remainder of the Body leaving distance for every Rank to march into his proper place after they have once fired over 2. Files firing in the Reer When they have thus fired they are immediately to fall off to the right and left and March forth into their places As you observe in each firing both the Files do rank themselves and then fire Now a further exercise you may Command for each File to face in opposition and fire each to the other Firing in the Front firing in the Reer I shall now demonstrate one platforme of firing by Rank But in firing by Rank observe the first Rank may advance upon a larg Trot Gallop or Carrere as Command is given between thirty or fourty paces from the Body The first Rank having fired wheels off to the left if occasion will permit and falls into the Reer and immediatly upon the wheeling off of the first Rank the second advanceth according to Command and fireth and so the third You may fire also by divisions which is of singular use in the exercise of Horse either by firing by single divisions both in Front and Reer or in opposition both in Front and Reer also as in firing of the Files before mentioned so that I need not trouble you with any platformes of them After that these firings have been performed and the Souldier is grown expert in the handling of his Arms and well managing of his Horse there is one thing that ought not to be forgot by any Commander which is of most excellent use That is for the Souldier to be well exercised both with his Carabine and Pistol to shoote with Bullet at Marks which if it be not well exercised and taught it will be to little purpose as to the Executive part of this Art So it ought to be the care of every Chief Officer to exercise those Troops under his Command sometimes as occasion may serve in a Regimental way leaving sufficient distances betwen each Troop that each other may be relieved orderly and so to retreat in due order to avoid Confusion CHAP. X. The Conclusion BEfore I conclude these few spent hours about the Exercise of the Horse and that my demonstrating of them but three in depth I hear many brave Souldiers but old ones to make some objections against me As first in medling with that which is of too high a concern for me My answer to that is breifly That those that have writ Books of this Art although they have been gallant Souldiers if they had been in Command now and of late years to have seen what have been performed in the Executive part of the Horse service they would correct their Judgements and amend their Mode of Exercise finding in it much error and serviceable for nought but to prolong Execution as if all experienced genus's in this Art should be tyed up to the Low Country services And what I have done is but my duty if accepted else for my own private use also for my friends and relations that come after me And because there ought to be a great deal of care had in a work of this nature I leave the correction hereof to the better Learned and more Experienced in this Military Art And for the drawing of the Horse but three in File I say If the Grecian Writers were alive and some of our Modern Writers that have Commented upon them and made Collectives out of them which they have published for authentick Maximes in this Art would now much admire to see our Mode of Exercise so changed for the better 64 in a Troop When as our late Cruso in his Military instructions in his platformes of Exercise demonstrates then Eight in depth and Eight in rank And Captain Ward in his Drilling and exercise of Horse is six in File and twenty in Rank Leo Ch. 7. Sect. 81. Ch. 14. Sect. 78. 108 109. and alleadgeth it for the best and is taken out of Polibius General of the Achaeans Horse Leo writeth almost the same That if there be many horse to be exercised they are to be ordered ten in File and if but few no more but five giving this reason That if the Body be but shallow the Body will be so weak that it is subject it self to fraction Then Livie verifieth that of Leo and saith the Souldiers had then Speares of four and twenty foot in Length which was to match the Pikes of the Infantry But in some process of time as History makes it appear the Macedonians found great inconveniency in the length of those Spears and made some of them to be fifteen foot in length and being then at that length determined that five Horse in depth was too many as to be offensive to their Enemies but notwithstanding these results endeavoured to make their Battalias seem to be square and for their better advantage in shew order ten in Rank and five in File to every Troop of Horse And these depths were only in those dayes used when the Horse fought only with Spears and Guns not at all used Now if they had the use of Guns so much as we and should fire in Ranks five six eight or ten in depth and our mode of fighting being but three in File their exercise would be so long in the performance thereof that it would not only be tedious but hazzardous to us for of late years it hath been experienced and seldome known any Troops to stand it out as may be thought that time in competition for victory for we know that the ordering of our Horse in making a large Front as occasion and ground will give leave and thereby over-winging our Enemies Battalia hath proved Victorious And whereas they alleadge when they are six and eight in File they can make their body to shew powerful against their Enemy by commanding them to double their Fronts by their Middle-men or half-file-leaders and can if occasion serve take away a party in the reer and file the Enemy in their Flank or Flanks c. But this I conceive to be dangerous and of ill consequence for when we are settled in Battalia three deep we are then fixed for service and need not be troubled in doubling of the Front thereby we are free from distraction and other disturbances which are most incident by suddain motions to the breaking of Ranks and the like which contrarywise is with us for our fighting is not by wheeling off as formerly but by charging at Pistols
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
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
of powder for the Train reaching the powder in K that putting a match to it you may blow up the Mine at the time appointed As for the Attacque it self which is ordered when the Mine is sprung and the breach made I leave that to the Officers and Souldiers to whom these things belong CHAP. XXIV Of defending Towns 1. THe first beginning is to keep the enemy from the Town as far off and as long as you can Therefore whatsoever without the works can put a stop to the Enemy the Besiegers must possess and defend as long as they can 2. They must use all their endeavour to hinder the approaches of the Enemy therefore let them sally frequently but warily least they fall into snares to the irreparable loss of the Town and rout and kill the Pioneers and Souldiers Let them throw down the Lines that are finish'd and if they cannot carry away their Guns they must spike them up by driving Nails in their Touch-holes 3. Those outward works which they can keep no longer must be retrenched see what we said before of Retrenchments but if they are utterly like to be lost they must be blow'n up together with those that possess them 4. The sapping of the out-brestwork must be intercepted by a counter and transverse Sappe 5. The filling of the Ditch and the building of the Gallery must be hindered at a distance by the continual firing of Musquets great Guns hand Granadoes and other fireworks nor is there any other way if the Ditch be full of water But if the Ditch be dry then they must fall upon the builders of the Gallery with handy-stroaks as well as with all that which I declared above And the Gallery it self must either be destroyed by fire or blown up with a Mine 6. But if notwithstanding all this the force of the Enemy prevailing the Gallery is brought over to the Bulwork and the Bulwork it self be undermined Against this plague no remedy remains but to find out the place of the Mine To do this they use several practises Some by the motion of Pease leaping on a Drum-head well braced do conjecture at the place of their digging others boaring a very long Augur into the ground suspected and applying their ear to it think to hear the stroakes of their digging others use other ways to discover it The most certain way is by countermining to search the foundation of the Bulwork The Mine being found the powder must be carried out but if the streightness of time will not permit it must be wetted and a passage opened for the fire 7. The Bulworks being blown up if the Besieged have no inward works remaining the last refuge is that since they can no longer resist the Enemy with wall and Rampar that they stop his passage with arms and hands as he is breaking in at the breach Which since they are rather the parts of Captains and Souldiers than the Engineers I leave the rest to them and put an end to this treatise FINIS A New Exact and most Expeditious METHOD Of Delineating all manner of FORTIFICATIONS Regular and Irregular As well from the INTERIOR as from the EXTERIOR POLIGONE Being comprehended within the Two Faces or Superficies of a MEDALL LONDON Printed in the Year 1672. A New Exact and most Expeditious METHOD Of Delineating all manner of FORTIFICATIONS Regular and Irregular as well from the Interior as from the Exterior Poligon being comprehended within the Two Faces or Superficies of a MEDALL The use of the First Face or Superficies of the MEDALL as represented in Fig. A. THe first Face or Superficies of the Medall serves to delineate all manner of Fortifications from the Base or Exterior Poligon And that 1. From a Pentagon to a Right Line as being the more perfect 2. From a Square to a Pentagon as being the less perfect Figures 1. From a Pentagon to a Right Line Having divided the given Base or Exterior Poligon A A as in Fig. C into two equal parts in the point D from that point D erect a Perpendicular D E of a sufficient length Then take any measure whatsoever be it a Chain Pole Staff or Stake out of a Hedge and mark out 3 or 6 or 9 or 12 or 15 or 18 or 21 or 24 or 27 or 30 Lengths upon the Line A D in the point B from which raise a Perpendicular B C equal to â…“ of A B so is C a visual point through which is to be drawn the Line A F cutting the Perpendicular D E in the point E And E a visual point through which is to be drawn the Line A N. Which done divide the Perpendicular D E into eight equal parts and make either of the Lines E N and E F equal to nine of those parts And then from the points N and F of the Lines A N and A F let fall the Perpendicular N O till it cut the Line A F in the point O. And so likewise the Perpendicular E P till it cut the Line A N in the point P. Lastly joyn the points A O N F P A and so you have A O and A P for the two Faces N O and F P for the two Flancks and N F for the Curtain of that Fortification And observing the same Method from all the Bases the Fortification becomes entire as in Fig. C. 2. From a Square to a Pentagon The Method of delineating from a Square to a Pentagon is the very same with that from a Pentagon to a Right Line Onely instead of marking out three Lengths upon the Half-Base you are to mark out 15 for the Line G H. And instead of 1 you are to allow 4 for the Perpendicular H I. And lastly instead of dividing the Perpendicular K L into eight parts you are to divide it into five and of those parts you are to set off seven both upon the Line L M and upon the Line L R. And this is all the difference as may be clearly seen in Fig. D. The use of the Second Face or Superficies of the MEDALL as represented in Fig. B. THe second Face or Superficies of this Medall directs how to delineate any Fortification by the Interior Poligon And that from a Square to a Right Line For Example The Interior Poligon D F O being given as in Fig. E first draw the Capital Lines A G K T and M Q of a sufficient length Then by the foregoing Directions describe a Fortification inward upon this Interior Poligon as though it were an Exterior Which done continue the Courtains and so you have given you the two Lines A C and K M which you are to divide equally in the points B and L. And from those 2 Points to draw the four Lines B D B F L F and L O As likewise from the two points E and N you are to draw the four Lines E G E H N T and N Q so as E G may be parallel to B D E H to B F
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
first calculate the Lines and afterwards alter the work according to the directions heretofore mentioned By the first Figure are shewed three several manners of Counter-guards being all three very good and commodious and may be very fitly applyed to places that are already Fortified as also the Royal Work and the great Wall may be redressed in such places with little charge after this way The second and third manner of Counter-guards I count better when the place and occasion permitteth it to make them so large for they are extraordinary Advantagious but for brevity sake I shall not rehearse here all their Advantages and Conveniencies Some will say perhaps That the Ground which these Out-works take in being so large the same would cost very much to buy it from the owners in such places where it is required To these I answer That in this case there is not me health till I bring to light the other parts viz. of Attacques and Defence of Undermining Counter-mining Fire-works and Artillery when it may be done most conveniently then the advantages of this manner of Fortifying will be better conceived and understood for the quality of every part of a Fortification shall there be declared one by one separately and distinctly Of Irregular Fortresses I Shall say onely this That it would be too long to shew here particularly the manner of working which I esteem as needless seeing that Irregular Fortresses are made up out of parts of Regular ones The calculation thereof may be done after the Modern practice and the parts afterwards reformed according to my way as hath been shewed in the Regular There are many Engineers who think it an Art to Fortifie any places altogether Irregular although they might well enough alter them I do not glory in this but am very well content when I meet with such an unfit Figure to reform it after the Regular as near as the place will permit A Regular place besides that it hath its Defence more equal is also the fitter and taketh in with the same Lines more space which I prove thus Let there be a Right-angled Square each of whose sides is 12 Rod and the four together 48 Rod whose content is 144 square Rod Let there be another Irregular Square or Rhomboides having also four streight Lines each of 12 Rod that is the four of 48 Rod let this Rhomboides be made of two Equilateral Triangles then the shortest Diameter is 12 Rod and the longest 20 Rod and 8 foot whose content is therefore 124 square Rods and 8 square Feet From whence it appeareth That the Rhomboides containeth 19 Rod and 2 square Feet less than the Quadrat and the more the Rhomboide recedeth from Regularity the less is the content of it c. But this is true of Irregular Fortifications That the Rules and Maxims of the Regular being known the good or bad Form as also the strength or weakness dependeth wholly on the knowledge and experience of the Engineers c. SOME QUESTIONS That might be moved concerning this manner of Fortifying together with the Answers to the same by which the use of this Work may be the better understood I. Question FOr what are the Flanques not drawn Perpendicular or Right-angled upon the Courtine or inward Polygone in this Way of Fortifying but Right-angled upon the Line of Defence Secant For it is esteemed more graceful after this manner and the Ground-lines may be found more easily by Calculation it being also believed that being thus made they defend the Outworks the better Answer I Give this Obliquity to the Flanques for the Reasons following See Numb II. the Figure being Calculated and stated after the foregoing manner and proportion or being measured in the Fields the longest Defence-line would exceed a Musquet-shot whereas now the said Line by this Obliquity is brought to its due length whereby I reap this advantage that with fewer Bulworks than the Modern do use I can include a far greater space Examples have been before alledged And with an Octogone of my great Fortification I do include as much place wanting onely about half a Polygone as the Modern do with an Hendecagone or Fortress of Modern Bulworks whereby so much charge is saved and the Lines of Defence remain within Musquet-shot Item By this Delineation the Gorges gain on each side in length 8 Rods in an Hendecagone whereby the Bulworks get the desired opening at their entrance which maketh place for the Retired Flanques and affordeth conveniency for the making Retrenchments speedily and easily By this Obliquity the Flanques do likewise become also longer and therefore fitter to lodge a competent number of Canon and Musqueteers upon them This Obliquity causeth also the Gun-holes not to stand Obliquely and that the Moats are Right-angled and defended from the Flanques And whereas they say that the Perpendicular Flanques defend the Outworks the better this doth not stand to reason but it is known that the Oblique ones do it better seeing they come more flat against them and the Outworks are better seen from the Oblique Flanques when they are made after this manner c. II. Question FOr what are there three Flanques and the great Wall set at the top of one another and yet below a Fausse-bray's Flanque whereas nevertheless the Canon being placed thus above one another the uppermost cannot be discharged conveniently without prejudice to those that are in the lower Batteries Besides that the flame coming out of the upper Canon and falling upon the lower might give Fire to them also sooner than would be desired Answer THese three or four Flanques I make at the top of one another not to plant them all full of Canon but to fit the uppermost with Musqueteers and Falconets as occasion requireth But if need should require that I must have a strong Counter-Battery upon the Flanques or that much Canon must be there to hinder the coming over of the Galleries then put the case that all four Flanques are fill'd with Canon what should hinder me from using them at pleasure without endamaging the lower or giving fire to the lower Canon before the due time if I go to work after the manner following At one side of these Retired Flanques I place a skilful person either an Officer of the Artillery or some other This Officer when they are upon Discharging commandeth the men in the lower Flanques to retire themselves at the side of the Battery into the Way by which the Canon is let into the Flanques till such time as the uppermost have Discharged which Shooting beginneth from the last Retired Flanque where the longest and heaviest Canon may most conveniently be used When these have Discharged they Charge presently again and then those of the second Retired Flanque give Fire which being done they also Charge again with all possible expedition For those that have Discharged beginning from the hindermost cannot be prejudiced by the following Canonadoes and this continueth till the Flanque of