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
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
think few or none who be avouched The Priest of Saint Margaret with his Bow and Arrows unless the president of the Priest of Saint Margarets near Dover shall be admitted for one of whom the old Fletchers retain a memorial in honour of their Bowes who is said with his Bow and Sheaf of arrows to have kept down the French men that offered to land in a narrow passage up the Clift near Dover Who came for fresh water as was supposed where they found a gate fast barred and lockt to stop the same And he standing over them on the top of the Clift played a tall Bow mans part when as in these dayes the French had not any shot but some few Cross-bows that could not deliver an Arrow half way up the Clift to him and so it was given out that he kept them down till the Country was come down to the Sea side to repell them back to their Boats or rather I suppose my self knowing the place when they saw the gate was so fast as they could not suddenly break it open they returned before their coming But yet I must confess the Bow bare the bell before the Divel I suppose sent the musquet c. out of Hell But here lest the Authour be mistaken he prefers the force of the Harquebuz and Musquet far before the Bow yet in judgement doth not disallow the Bow but rather judge the same to be a serviceable and warlike weapon as well in Town as Field and although it be not greatly pertinent to this question yet it may be convenient to consider here how and wherein good use may be made of this weapon first in the field against the Horse men The use of the bow how serviceable though it be shot at the highest random only with the weight of the fall it galleth both Horse and Man and though the wound be not mortal yet both Horse and man are hereby made unserviceable then and long after if they escape death Secondly in rainy weather when men come near together it is a good weapon Thirdly in the night time it is a ready and a secret shot c. and the use of it may be good in the forcing of the Enemies Trenches in fallying out of Town or else Fourthly at an assault when all the defences are taken away in any Town you may deliver your Arrows over the wall and shroudly gall your Enemy with the fall of them Fifthly to shoot Arrows with wild fire to burn gate or draw bridge to fire thatched or shingled houses When our English Army was before Paris those of our Commanders wished they had brought Bow men over with them and I see no reason it should be wholly laid aside for the worst Bow man that can but draw his Bow is better than a bad fire man But if we should not make use of our Bow in any of our warlik enterprises it should be every Commanders care to chuse good fire men for Ammunition is much wasted by the unskifulness of the Musquetteer and execution not to expectation Mustermasters cure and as we have an order established for our Musquet bore I could wish the Mustermaster in every County would look so to it that they may not be too big as well as too little But now touching landing let us see what may be conceived out of the former experience Examples and presidents of landing Did not the Earl of Warwick notwithstanding the Duke of Burgundies great and puissant Navy which he had provided to joyn with Edward the fourth for the impeaching the Earls landing from out of France and the fleet being before the Haven in Normandy out of the which the Earl must come the Duke having also warned the King into what part and Port of England the Earl meant to make his descent whereby in all likelyhood he was or migt have been provided sufficiently to withstand the same yet I say did it not so fall out that the Earl of Warwick escaped their Fleet landed in England and drove the King to flee for succour into the Low Countries and enlarged Henry the sixth and set him in his former estate After this did not Edward the fourth with some small aid from the Duke of Burgundie given him Edward the fourth relanded in England and deposed Henry the sixth and that under hand both of shipping men and money transport himself into England again and in Battel slew the Earl of Warwick and his adherents deposed Henry the sixth resuming again unto himself the Kingdom of England Have not the Kings of England many times entered France by Navie and Scotland during the time of Wars betwixt them Queen Mary landed 5000. in Britany and burnt Conquet Did not Queen Mary land 5000 men in Brittany one of the most popular parts of all France and there sackt and burnt Conquet and other places our men remaining on shoar two dayes and a night burning and spoyling and were not or rather could not be resisted upon the suddain Have not our English though but small forces in Queen Elizabeths dayes landed in the Indies English landed in the Indies at sundry times sackt and ransacked their Towns brought away their Munition with other great spoyles and riches yet at their landing were not withstood English in Spain and Purtugal And did not our Army land in Spain and Portugal at sundry times and in sundry places they having knowledge a long time before of their coming whereby the Country was or might have been in that readiness themselves would have desired and yet by a temporizing course used against them they were driven to retire both feeble and broken whereas if they had been fought withall at their landing and had won the field there had been a great hope they might have prevailed in that enterprise The Spanish Forces landed in Portugal Did not the Spanish forces also land in Portugal his other Army by land under the conduct of the Duke of Alva who by wining the Battel won the Kingdom withal and drove the King quite out of his Countrey The French in Terceras And did not the French forces likewise land in the Terceras in despite of the Country And did not the Spanish forces after reland slay and drive all out again The Spanish relanded there Infinite are the presidents of landing and a rare matter to find any example of an Army coming to invaid to be prevented of landing by the Countries fury and running down to the Sea side and what Souldier or man of War would not undertake to land even a few men in comparison of a royal Army in any Princes Realmes and Dominions spoile and burn at his pleasure until such time they had assembled greater forces than the inhabitants of the Coasts Whatsoever a man cannot resist he must give way unto Reason and experience do plainly prove that it cannot be withstood but that a forceable Enemy will land
c. Fourth way Take Salt-Peter six pounds Sulphur eight pounds and a half powder of the Second Bark of Elder Tree half a pound common decripitated Salt two pounds make Corn Powder of these according to the precedent order or accustomed method To these known things I shall add here a thing whereof you may make experience if you please it being only taken from the Books of Authors without any tryal made by me which you may also find written in the natural Magick of John Baptista Porta which is in our English Tongue where he saith that if you add burnt Paper in the Composition of Gun-Powder or the double quantity of Hay seed well beaten these will take away a great part of the strength and will hinder it from making so great flame and noise Some do say that the Gall of a Pike doth the same effect if it be mixed and mingled with the same but we shall leave the belief of these things to the faith of such Authors as have experimented the same There are some wise and knowing men in this Art attribute the cause of this noise or as some do express it this horrible noise produced by a Cannon after the firing not to the Powder but to the beating and contusion of the Air which is inraged or in a passion by being so furiously endeavoured to be stifled or choaked by a strange and extraordinary movement of which we have spoken more at large in the former Chapter where we treated of Salt-Peter Yet in favour of the Sons of Art we shall nevertheless give you the opinion of Scaliger taken out of his his fifteenth Book in his Exer. Exoter against Cardan of Subtil Exer. 25. Longe pejus illud cum sonitus causam a bellicis machinis editi attribuis Sal Petrae nam tenuissimum in pulverem comminutum cavernulas amisit CHAP. XX. The Proof or Tryal of Gun-powder IT is accustomary for men skilled in these Arts to try Powder three several wayes that is by sight by touch and by fire And first for the tryal by sight it is thus If the Powder be too black it is a manifest sign of too much humidity or too much coal now if it contain too much as you suppose rub it upon white Paper if it black the Paper more than other good Powder use to do it is a sign there is more coal in it than ought for such Gun-Powder as is of a fair azure colour or a little obscure somthing bordering upon red is the best sign and the most assured testimony of good Powder Secondly Gun-Powder its goodness is known by the touch in this manner crush some Corns under your fingers ends and if they easily break and return to Meal without resisting the touch or without feeling hard you may assure your self from thence that your Powder hath in it too much Coal If by pressing it a little hard under your fingers upon a smooth hard board or upon a stone you feel amongst it small grains harder or more sollid than the rest which do in a manner prick the ends of the fingers and do not yield to the finger but very difficultly or hardly you may infer from hence that the Sulphur is not well incorporated with the Salt-Peter and by consequence the Powder is not well and duely prepared You may draw infallible proofs or conjectures of the goodness of Powder by its burning if after you have made little heaps of Powder upon a clean and even Table distant one from another about a hands breadth you then put fire to one of them only and if it take fire alone and burn all away without lighting the others and make a small thundring noise or make a white clear smoak and that it rise with a quickness suddainly almost imperceptible and if it rise in the Air like a circle of smoak or like a small Crown this is an infallible sign the Powder is good and perfectly well prepared If after the burning of the Powder there remain some black marks upon the Table this then signifies that the Powder contains too much Coal which has not been enough burnt If the board looks greasie then the Sulphur and Salt-Peter is not enough cleansed and by consequence it retains much of their terrestrial matter and oyly natures which were naturally conjoyned to their matters If you find small grains white and Citrine it is a testimony that the Salt-Peter is not enough cleansed and by consequence it retains much of its terrestrial matter and of common Salt and besides the Sulphur hath not been well powdered nor sufficiently incorporated with the two other matters of its Composition If two or three Corns of Gun-Powder be laid upon a Paper distant about a fingers bredth one from the other and you put fire to them if the fire be good and strong they will fire at once and there will remain no grossness of Brimstone or of Salt-Peter nor any thing but a white smoaky colour in the place where they were burnt nor will the Paper be touched If small black knots which will burn downward in the place where proof is made remain after firing they do shew that the Gun-powder hath not enough of Peter and that it is of little force or strength Good Gun-Powder will not burn your hand if it be set on fire there Gun-Powder that is very sharp or eager in tast is not well purified and will turn moist Amongst many sorts of Powder to know the best make a little heap of every sort at a distance one from another observing well when you fire each heap which of them doth soonest take fire for that which soonest takes fire smoaks least and clearest and riseth quickly up close and round and leaves little or no sign behind it is the best Powder There are Instruments likewise invented for the tryal or proof of Powder which the most part of Fire-Masters and Gunners are accustomed to use which are described at large by other Authors therefore we shall not here repeat the same considering likewise that we have found by experience a great fallacy in the same for that one and the same Powder in the same measure and quantities hath raised the cover to different degrees of height CHAP. XXI To fortifie weak Powder and amend that which is spoiled and bring it to its full strength again and to preserve good Powder from decaying WE call such Gun-Powder weak which hath much degenerated from its first strength and the force which it did acquire in its first preparation as such as hath taken wind wet or air for these do diminish the quantity of Salt-Peter and actually separate the Sulphur and Coal There are two different wayes that these accidents do happen that is by being many years made or lying in a moist place long for in time the Salt-Peter alters and separates it self being naturally subject to alter and return into its first matter for Salt-Peter in its beginning or original being engendered of water
Pitch 2 l. Colophonia 6 l. Sulphur 8 l. Salt-Peter 36 l. melt all these Drugs upon burning Coals in any vessel whatsoever adding after 10 l. of Coal of Sawdust made of the Pine or Firr-Tree 6 l. Crude Antimony 2 l. incorporate and mix them very well together then put into this melted matter Tow Hemp and Linnen Cloaths a great quantity and boyl them well in this Composition and when they have drank up all the matter then form them into Balls of such a bigness as you please so that it may be cast with the hand or with the Engine mentioned in the last Chapter according as you shall find most convenient And this is our true way to make Night at Noon-day to obscure the Sun it self and to blind the Eyes of the Enemies for some time And this is the most lawful way that one may follow because it shews its original from natural things and we may believe that it is alwayes sufficient justice so that the Wars where such things are practised be not unjustly enterprized CHAP. XIII Stink Balls STinking Globes are made to annoy the Enemy by their stinking vapours and fumes disagreeable to Nature nay so unsufferable to the Nose and to the Brain it self by its most violent stink that by no means it can be endured The preparation is as followeth Take of Powder 10 l. of Ship Pitch 6 l. of Tar 20 l. Salt-Peter 8 l. Sulphur Colophonia 4 l. make all these Ingredients melt at the fire by a small heat in an Earthen or Copper vessel and all being well melted throw into the melted matters 2 l. of Coal dust of the cuttings or filings of Horses Hoofs 6 l. Assafoetida 3 l. Sagapenum 1 l. Spatula foetida half a pound Mingle and incorporate them well together then put into this matter Linnen or Woolen Cloath or Hemp or Tow so much as will drink up all the matter and of these you may make Globes or Balls of what bigness pleaseth your self best according to the method and order as we have heretofore prescribed The Globes or Balls may be made Venomous or Poysonous if to their Composition be added these things following viz. Mercury sublimate Arsenick Orpiment Cinaber to which may also be added many other Poysonous matters which I shall forbear to mention considering every one by Nature is apt enough to learn to do that which is mischievous CHAP. XIV Of the Shooting of Shot made red hot in the Fire IT is a practice that hath been practised in former times to shoot red hot Fire-balls and was counted of great defence as you may find amongst many other things in the Works of Diodorus Siculus where he sayes Tyrios immisse in Alexandri Magni machinamenta massas magnas ferreas candentes Out of many Authors may be proved the customary use in former times of Shooting red hot Pieces of Iron which we shall not dwell upon but come to the Practice First you must Charge the Piece of Ordnance according to the customary manner his due proportion of Powder upon this Powder you must put a Wooden Cylender or Fidd of a just and equal wideness with the bore of the Piece which must be driven very stiff home to the Powder and for your better security you must put upon this another wad made of Straw Hay or of Oakam or Tow this being done let the Piece be laid a little under Metal and then cleanse the vacant place or hollow of the Piece with a Spunge so that all the Grains of Powder that are there may be taken away This being done lay your Piece to bear with the place you intend to shoot at according to the method we have given in the second Part of Gunnery and let your Piece thus remain until you have put in your red hot Bullet your Bullet must be sure to be exactly round and not so high but that it may run freely down in the Piece to the wad the Shot being red hot take it out of the fire with a pair of Tongs made for that purpose and put it into the Piece and give an attentive Ear for as soon as the Shot is supposed to be up to the Wad give immediately Fire to your Piece of Ordnance There are others which put into their Pieces Boxes made of Plate of Iron or Copper Others do put into their Pieces Potters Clay and upon them the fiery Bullet which with a quick hand they thrust home with a Rammer which ought to be defended from fire by lining the Rammer head with Copper But these are more perillous and therefore we account that method above to be the best and most free from danger CHAP. XV. To Arm Pikes to defend a Ship or any other place TO arm Pikes to defend a ship or breach or to enter the same or to stick in the sides of a ship or other place take strong Canvas and cut it in length about a foot or 14 inches and six inches high in the Center and let the ends be both cut taper-wise then fasten the Canvas at both ends with strong twine and fill it with this receipt Powder bruised 8 parts Peter in Roch 1 part Peter in meal 1 part Sulphur in meal two parts Rozen Roch three parts Turpentine 1 part Verdigrease ½ part Bole-armonick ⅓ part Bay salt ⅓ part Colophonia ⅙ part Arsnick ⅛ part mix them very well together and try them in the top of a Brass Candlestick when the fire doth burn furiously with a blew and greenish colour then fill the Canvas and roul it over being first armed with strong twine all over with this liquid mixture molten in a pan Pitch four parts Linseed Oyl 1 part Turpentine ⅓ part Sulphur 1 part Tarr ⅓ part Tallow one part and as soon as this is cold bore two holes in each of the same next the Iron an inch deep with a sharp Iron Bodkin filling the same with fine bruised powder and putting in every hole a little stick of two inches long which are to be taken out when you would fire the same this composition will burn furiously And remember you cut off the staff some three inches from the work and put thereon a brass socket of five or six inches long and then cut the end of your staff to fill the socket for when you fire your work you may stick it in the side of a ship and pull the staff out again so will not the work be so easily avoided as when the staff was on and hangs at length because the very weight of the staff and length thereof will be a means to weigh down the work or that the enemie may come and thereby pull it out or beat it off quickly let the Composition and work contain in weight about 7 pounds then will it do execution and work a better effect than if it were of less weight by much by reason the composition else would be wasted before it comes to effect its Execution To burn the sayls
of Ships a pretty distance or to fire Thatch'd houses Corn-stacks or any other combustible matter apt to burn when you cannot come to the same it is good to have certain strong Cross-bows to bend with Racks or Gaffels and so shoot Arrows armed at the heads with Wild-fire made of the composition as above and about three inches in length and one inch and a half in the Diameter tapred as afore in all points or you may have long bows but then let your Arrows be also longer which for divers services may do great good CHAP. XVI To charge Trunks with Balls of Wild-fire TO charge Trunks to shoot little Balls of wild-fire either to offend or defend you must first charge him with two inches of good Powder and then with a Ball of wild-fire a little lower than the concave of the Trunk let the Ball be bored through cross-ways and primed full of fine powder Lastly with slow receipt then with powder then with a Ball again as aforesaid until you have filled the same within ¼ of an inch of the mouth which would be filled up with fine powder and receipt mixed together Some do use to have at the mouth two Iron stirts to stick them in the side of any thing or to defend ones self from the Enemy from taking it off with a thrust while they do Execution To make the Ball. The Ball of Wild-fire must be thus made Take untwisted Match Tow and Hemp the which would be moistned in Aqua-vitae or boyled in Salt-Peter water then take of bruised Powder six parts of Salt-Peter one part of Brimstone finely beaten one part of coal made of light wood moistned with a little Linseed-oyl and Turpentine wrought together one part then lay the Tow or Oakam abroad in thickness of the back of a knife and as broad as a great Oyster-shel put into the same as much as you can grasp together in your fist and tying the same hard with a pack-thread coat it over with molten Brimstone and when you would use the same bore it through with a Bodkin and fill the holes full of fine powder bruised To make Bullets of Wild-fire to shoot out of a Trunk which will be as hard as a Stone Take Sulphur in meal six parts of Rozen in meal six parts melting the same in some Pot over a slow fire then take stone pitch one part of hard wax one part of Tarr ¼ part of Aquavitae ½ part of Linseed Oyl ½ part of Verdigrease ¼ part of Camphire ⅛ part melting all these together Likewise stir into the same of Peter in meal two parts and taking it from the fire put therein four parts of bruised powder working the same well together in your hands and roul it round of the bigness you mean to make your balls of boring two holes through the same cross-ways which must be primed with bruised powder These balls being cold will grow very hard and fired will burn furiously To make Hedg-hogs To make Hedg-hogs or balls you must fill them with the same receipts you do your Arrows and Pikes and let them be five inches in the Diameter and well armed with twine before you coat them and after boared two holes and primed with fine powder then put in two sticks and using them pull them out again and at the said holes fire them The spikes end of Iron must be like Deaths Arrow heads five or six stirts a piece to hang in the sayls or stick in or upon any place assigned and remember in the arming to leave a noose to throw him being fired out of your hand To make Powder-pots They are made of black Potters clay or thick glass round Bottles with ears to tye matches lighted at both ends the pots or glasses are to be filled with dry fine powder and thrown upon the decks or other where which will much prejudice the Enemy and many times fire their own Powder-chests ARTIFICIAL FIRE-WORKS FOR RECREATION AMongst all Artificial fires that have been put in practice many years the Fuzees which the Latins call Rochetae and the Greeks Pyroboli have always had the first Rank nevertheless this Greek word doth not well agree with the Etymologie of the word Rochetae seeing that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies properly Tela ignita that is burning darts or Arrows the Italians call them Rochetae and Raggi the Germans Steigen de Kasten Ragetten and Drachetten the Poles Race the French Fuzees the English Rockets or Serpents If we consider the invention of them it hath been of so ancient standing that the construction is now very common and familiar amongst all the Pyrobolists and Fire-masters the which although it appears very easie in it self yet there is in it labour and requires that he that applyes himself to this work should not be careless but on the contrary take all the care and diligence that possibly he can have for the preparing of such perilous things considering likewise the expences and losses are irreparable after the experiment made and seeing that nothing can be put in practice in publick Recreations without these Fuzees therefore I think I am something obliged here to shew the true way of preparing them with their particular use CHAP. I. How to make Rockets I Intend not here to write the Construction of Moulds fit for this purpose but rather leave the more curious Students herein to the works of Casimier Siemienowicz Lieutenant General of the Artillery in the Kingdome of Polonia in his great Art of Artillery written in the French Tongue and Printed at Amsterdam and also in our Countrey-men Mr. Bate and Mr. Babington c. That which I intend to do is to teach you how they may be made by hand or by help only of a Rouler to Roul the Paper upon let it be turned to the thickness you intend only let the Rouler be 8 times the Diameter in length If it be three quarters of an inch in thickness the length will be three inches Roul your Paper hard on the Rouler until the thickness be one inch and a quarter Rouler and all then glue the uppermost paper and the Case is made On the choaking or contracting the paper together at one end within one Diameter of the end except only a little hole about one quarter the Diameter of the bore thereof to contract these Cases on this manner do thus wet the end about one inch in water then put the Rouler in again and tye a great packthread about the wet within three quarters of an inch of the end put another thing almost of the same Diameter with the Rouler in at the wet end about half an inch hold it there get some other body to draw the packthread together you holding the Rouler and Rammer one put down to the end within one inch and the Rammer which must be little less than the Diameter to meet with that end within half an inch in which the contract or choaking must be the packthread having drawn it