Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
fire_n front_n left_a rear_n 2,921 5 12.4598 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

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

There are 6 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni mod● though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Centrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an
Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his pann● and prime againe having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musket●ers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving-giving-fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and
of the ruine of the City Iustice and Lawes being abolished avarice rife and pride did reigne and dominier a pleasant story to reade and make use of in the day robbing unpunished spoyling the Church in all confusion Aristotle sayes well that such changes come by them that have eaten up their owne and have no more There was also sedition moved at Lisbone in the yeare 166 by the fantasies of the multitude that was a flood that tooke away almost all the Iewes that were turned Christians whereof there were killed above a thousand and the Massacre continuing three dayes was never appeased till at night the third day Arius Silvius and Alvare of Caster gentlemen and chiefe of the Iustices came with men of warre in Armes to Lisbone and appeased the tumult The Kings Majesty hearing the newes of this horrible sedition being much grieved did presently send unto Lisbone two of the chiefest of the Court to wit Iackes Allmod and Iackes Lopes with full power to punish the Malefactors of such cruelty where publiquely there was executed a great number of the seditious popular and the Priests that moved them to the sedition were first put off their charge then hanged then burnt the Iudges and Magistrates that were ●loathfull to suppresse that popular rage and fury were some deprived of their estates and condemned to great pennance and the Towne it selfe was deprived of their priviledges and honours I pray God to keepe my country from the like Who pleaseth to reade the story it is much worth and of great observance for any good Christian. Another notable story of the like we have in the beginning of the Reigne of Charles the fift successor to Ferdinand King of Spaine and Sicil in whom did faile the race of the Kings of Aragon the people being moved by a Monke continued long in seditions one after another till God did remove it at last and since they lived peaceable To conclude then this point it is a vaine thing to be a follower of the popular sort for none is the better for their praise nor the worse for their blame And therefore Plutarch said well that one man could not be master and servant of the people otherwise perforce it behooveth him to fall into inconveniencie as we reade in the fable written of the serpent the taile whereof came one day to quarrell the head saying he would goe his day about foremost and not goe alwayes behinde which being granted unto him by the head he found it worst himselfe not knowing how or where to goe and became the cause that the head was all spoyl'd and rent being compelled against nature to follow a part without sight or hearing to leade it The same we have seene happen unto those who in the Government of the publique would do all things to please the multitude and being once tied to that yoake of slavery in all things to will and agree with the common and lower sort that oftimes are rashly moved and without reason howsoever they cannot thereafter come off and retire hinder or stay the fury and rashnesse of the people And therefore the great servant of God Moses did properly comprehend in the blessings promised unto the Israelites their obedience to Gods lawes that the Lord might establish them in the first ranke a head in briefe that they should be as Masters and should not be subject Reade Deut. 28. The twelfth Dutie discharged of our expedition by water to Aickilfourd in Holsten and of the intaking of it THe eleaventh of Aprill 1628 we got orders to ship againe and being shipped we sayl'd along the coast of Holsten till we arrived before Aickilfourd where lay a Garrison of the Emperialists being five hundred strong halfe Dragoniers and halfe foote souldiers having anchored while we were providing for our landing the Towne being no strength the Dragoniers marched away leaving the Captaine of foote to defend the place who had a Skonce without the Towne with a running line from the Skonce to the Port of the Towne and thinking us to be but a weake flying party that durst not remaine long on the land seeing the enemy lay strong of horse and foote neere by he resolved as his best to defend the Skonce without whereunto he drew his strength his Majesty commanded us to land our forces and to storme the Skonce he staying a shipboard looking on us we land in all haste being allmost two thousand foote of severall Nations English Scots Dutch and French all about equall str●ngth we threw dice for the Avanga●d who should fall on first concluding those threw most should have the leading and so successively to second one another having throwne sixes the honour of the Avangarde or leading fell on me and mine the English falling next unto us having put our selves in order and dealt out Amunition recommending the successe to the Lord by our preacher Mr. William Forbesse companion of our dangers and having directed Ensigne Allane to recognosse or spie the best advantage being retired I commanded Captaine Lievetenant Carre with fifty musketiers to a broken house that flancked on the Skonce giving him orders to give fire from thence on their backs as we marched to them in front and in case of their retreate to the Towne to cut off their passage or at least to march in with them Thus done I gave charge to my musketiers that no man should give fire till I commanded but to follow their Leaders still in good order The ground we were to advance on to the Skonce was plaine as pavement the Skonce not being high our resolution was to storme without giving fire and as we advanced those of the Skonce did give three severall salvees of musket thundring amo●gst us whereof some felt the smart and Captaine Mac-kenyee was favourably shot in the legge and I more favourably in the hilt of my sword which afterwards I gave to Mac-kenyee The most hurt was done to the English marching after us led then by Captaine Chamberlaine a worthy and a valorous gentleman In this time we were advanceing our musketiers commanded by Carre giving fire on their flancks many were hurt and the Captaine shot in the Arme seeing us give no fire but marching hard to storme he quit the Skonce and retired to the Towne and enters the Port before us shutting us out and leaving a few hurt men behind him we brake downe the Stacket and the Towne not walled we entred the broade side and follow the enemy to the market-place thinking he would fight us there But he retired into the Church and shutting the doores defends the Church shooting out he did us great hurt our Souldiers not having forgo●ten their cruelty used at Bredenberg resolved to give no quarters and with a huge great ladder and the force of men we ran-forced the doore and entred I thinking to get the Officers prisoners entred withall but could not finde them incontinent perceiving a great quantity of powder spread a thwart the Church
people he was but dust and ashes like unto other men And therfore he wished the people they should not trust or repose any thing in him but to put their trust and confidence in God saying he was but a servant and though the Lord would be pleased to take him away from amongst them yet he doubted not but the Lord would raise up others more powerfull than he to defend the good Cause he had begunne till at last it were brought to a good end These speeches and much more to this purpose his Majestie out of humilitie uttered on this march and as his Majestie was humble so his courtesie to all men that loved him was the gemme of his Crowne especially honouring and respecting ever His Queene as the glory of her sex his Royall Majestie being truely indued with such true splendour of noble worth that he ever seemed like unto the Sunne that shineth alike on the Paisant in the field as it doth on the Emperour in his Throne And when his Majestie departed from us at Rhine on the Leacke then our Sunne on earth went away unto another Horizon leaving us eclipsed through the want of our Leader so that in the rest of our warfare we had none to depend on but on God alone the onely sure Anchor for a troubled soule to rest on To conclude then this Observation having followed the Lyon of the North thus farre unto the Battaile of Leitzen though I was not at the Battaile yet for my love to my Master and to discharge the dutie I owe unto my Countrie I will relate the true manner of this Battaile in short being the end of the second part of my expedition under his Majestie of Sweden of never dying memory leaving the third part of the expedition to a fitter opportunitie except so farre as we marched before we were sworne to the Evangelist Stends under the Conduct of Palsgrave Christian Brickerfeild in Baviere and afterward under the Feltmarshall Gustavus Horne in Schwabland The fortieth Dutie discharged of the Battaile of Leitzen THE Kings Majestie of Sweden knowing that the Duke of Freedland had quit the Towne and Castle of Visenfelts and had the fourth of November marched with his Armie towards Leitzen two miles from Leipsigh his Majestie on the fift of November with the whole Armie two houres before day brake up from Nawmburg setting after the enemy coming the same day after noone-tide in sight of them He presented himselfe with his Armie in order of Battaile so that incontinently the skirmish went on apace by the Troopes which were commanded out from both Armies whereupon the Swedens made still good use with their small Cannon till the night did put them asunder In which skirmish the Swedens had gotten one of the Crabats Standards whereon was drawne the Fortune and the Eagle which on our side was holden for a good beginning The Swedens Armie this whole night standing in Battaile his Majestie was of intention to have fallen on the Emperiall Armie two houres before day but by reason of a thicke mist which had fallen it behooved his Majestie to attend the rising and clearing up of the day But the enemy perceiving the Swedens coming so neere unto him it could not goe off without fighting he did in the meane time see well to his owne advantage giving out orders they should incontinent make the Graffe or Ditch they had before their Front deeper than it was first made and to lodge Musketiers within it which they might have before them equall to any breast-worke or Parapet for their better safeties His Majestie then having ended the morning prayers and that the mist was vanishing away by the rising of the Sunne giving out by all appearance the tokens of a cleare day His Majestie then with comfortable exhortation exhorted every man foote and horse to fight bravely especially directing his speech unto the Swedens and Finnes You true and valiant brethren see that you doe valiantly carry your selves this day fighting bravely for Gods Word and your King which if you doe so will you have mercy of God and honour before the world and I will truely reward you but if you doe not I sweare unto you that your bones shall never come in Sweden againe The Dutch also his Majesty exhorted after this manner You true and worthy Dutch brethren Officers and common Souldiers I exhort you all carry your selves manly and fight truely with me runne not away and I shall hazard my body and bloud with you for your best if you stand with me so I hope in God to obtaine victory the profit whereof will redownd to you and your successours and if otherwise you doe so are you and your liberties lost His Majestie having ended this speech saith now let us to it and let us cry unto God with one voice Iesu Iesu Iesu helpe me this day to fight for the glory of thy Name He advanced then in full Battaile fasting having neither tasted meate nor drinke right forwards towards the Towne of Leitzen where on both sides the Duke of Freedland his Horsemen did present themselves untill such time as their Generall had brought their Infantrie in Battaile beside the Winde-mill and then to a side by the Ditch that was before their Front they retired backe a little and set themselves in Battaile on the right hand of the Towne of Leitzen and then putting the Towne on fire to the end the Swedens on that quarter could doe them no harme Notwithstanding whereof with full resolution the Swedens Armie in full Battaile marched by the side of the Towne on the ditch where their Musketiers were lodged and presented themselves in good order against the mighty and strong Emperiall Armie whereupon the Emperialists great Ca●non that were planted by the winde-mill began to give fire in the middest of the Swedens Armie and were incontinent repayed and answered with the like noyse so that the Cannon played two long houres on both sides the fight going bravely on betwixt nine and tenne of the clocke that his Majestie himselfe advanced towards the enemie with the Van-guarde of his Armie even to their Graffe where their Musketiers were set much to his Majestie disadvantage so that sundries of his Majestie forces fell therein Neverthelesse they chased the enemie a little out of the ditch and tooke seven of the Emperialists Cannon that were planted alongst the Graffe After this the other Swedens Briggad or yellow Regiment of the Guard is come after and not esteeming of the Graffe in their way or of the three squadrons or Battailes of the enemies foote being foure times stronger than they which they manfully did beate making them to give ground till they were ruin'd and then on the second time scattering them also even untill the third advancing and being growne weake and wearie with so many brave Charges being resisted by the enemies third Battaile which were seconded well with two squadrons of horsemen at last with the blew Regiments comming up
Ramseys Musketiers fell on their Dragoniers and skirmished with them till they were forced to retire and being darke our Army having set out their horse and foote watches before them they stoode the whole night in battaile till it was day and the enemy being gone in the night the way thwart and deepe some of his Cannon being left behinde were buried burning their Carriages with their waggons as they did breake making them unprofitable for us We continued our march in the morning minding to attrap them so that by midday they having turned their Cannon on the Passe towards us they forced our Army to stand without reach of their Cannon trying on both hands of the Passe to win through but in vaine seeing there was no passage neere hand but at that one place where we did cannonade one against another for two dayes till the enemy retired their Cannon within Kempten and the rest of their Army unto Bavier having crost both the Leake and the Eler againe The enemy being gone we retired for want of victualls and forrage the country being spoyled we were forced to over-see the beleaguering of Memming for that time passing by it towards Mendelheim where we rested two dayes and then marched on Kauffbier where in two dayes we forced the Garrison to a composition being content to march away without Armes getting a Convoy to Landsberg on the Leake The weather being extremely cold under the snowy Alpes we refreshed our Army three dayes at Kauffbier and the fourth day marched towards the Eler where the water being small we made a bridge of our small Cannon with their Carrage being placed two and two alongst the River at an equall distance of eight foote asunder where we layd over Deales betwixt the Cannon passing over our whole Infantry alongst the bridge which being past and the Deales taken off the horses spanned before the Cannon led them away after the Army And quartering that night in the fields the next morning we beleaguered Kempten Having battered hard for three dayes together with Cannon at last the breach being made and the Towne almost brought to an Accord having lost divers Souldiers and Officers before it hearing the Duke of Bavier his Army was crost the Leake againe at Landsberg having gotten a strong supply and being made certaine they were to march unto the Duke of Vertenbergs Land the Felt-marshall after great paines taken was forced to quit Kempten and to march with the Army to be before them in Vertenberg The Dukes Army on their march by the way tooke in a Castle besides Koffbier where Captaine Bruntfield and Quarter-master Sandelens were taken Prisoners and were sent to be kept at Lindaw As also in their by-going they tooke in Koffbier and continued their march alongst the Eler till they crossed with their Army at Brandenburg we lying that night with our Army within a mile of them The next day we strived who might passe the Danube first for going to Vertenberg where it was our Fortune to get betwixt them and the passe having line at Monderkine while as they had crossed a mile below us on the River Which when we understood by our intelligence of their being so neere incontinent the Felt-marshall caused our Artillery and foote to march over in the night so that before day our Army advanced towards the Passe leaving Dragoniers behinde us to burne and to cast off the Bridge But the Bridge was no sooner set on fire but the enemies fore troopes did drive our Dragoniers after us they coming up full Squadrons of horse and foote driving up our Reare consisting of three Regiments of horse Colonell Daggenfield Colonell Cratzstein and Colonell Monro of Fowles being three valorous Barons who resolved amongst themselves Daggenfield should charge the enemy first which he manfully did and then retired who immediatly was rescued by Colonell Monro having charged the enemy retired being shot through the right foote with a Musket Bullet and Colonell Cratzstein rescuing him againe charged the enemy the last time keeping them up till the rest were safely retired and then retiring himselfe at the Spurres being last was pittifully cut over the head with a Poles-shable the enemy following them still till they were repulsed by our Dragoniers Neverthelesse they did get the most part of our baggage and a great number of the horsmens led horses servants and Coaches The Passe being narrow and we having the advantage of them being able to receive them with our whole army horse and foote while as they could not advance unto us but by divisions at most thirty in Front against a steepe hill where our Army was standing ready in battaile to receive them horse foote and Artillery Which they considering the great disadvantage they had to pursue us drawing their Army also in battaile they planted their ordinance against us where once begun we continued the whole day Cannonading one against another where neither foote nor horse could joyne to skirmish But the night comming on the Felt-marshall directed his great Cannon away before and leaving a strong Reare-guard of Horse and Dragoniers at the Passe getting orders to remaine there till midnight wee retired the rest of our Army unto Vertenberg land having five miles to march before day our retreate being in the night though safe was confusedly made The Enemy finding at mid-night that we were gone followed up our Rere-guard skirmishing a little in the end retired And the whole Armie crossed the Danube againe of intention to ruine all our Muster-places in Schwabland and in their way they tooke a French Marquesse prisoner on his Muster-place and Colonell Iohn Forbesse being both carelesse they were surprized in their Quarters and were kept prisoners for three yeares The Army quartered themselves in Schwabland and Tyroll alongst the Boden Sea setting Garrisons in Townes as in Costance Pybrach Vberling and divers more During this time our Armie was well entertained and refreshed in good quarters in Vertenbergland having secured them for that time from their Enemies we attended the Rhinegrave his comming with a supply from Elsas as also we did get a strong supply of Country Souldiers from the Duke of Vertenberg with a great deale of Amunition and a supply of Horse and Cannon The Rhinegrave being come finding our selves strong againe we resolved to search the Enemy for to make him retire unto Baviere againe which we effectuated within ten dayes After our up-breaking having crossed the Danube againe the Enemy being retired our Armie did settle themselves in a close Leaguer at Donavert for three moneths together attending the conclusion of the meeting at Hailbron resolving to enterprise no exployt or hostility against the Enemy till such time as they should know who should content them for their by-past service as also whom they should serve in times coming During which time I went to Hailbron to solicite my Regiments affaires with the Rex-chancellor and being there my Cosen Colonell Monro of Fowles dyed of his wounds at
Summer and in the Winter being quartered we drew neere the side of some wood both for fire and for build or shelter The Army drew up in battaile by Briggads as they ma●ched where behinde the place the Briggads drew up unto at a reasonable distance their quarters were marked out severally according as they stood in battaile and before the Briggads removed from their Armes their guards were first commanded out every Briggads guard being placed at a distance of foure-score paces from their Colours where they were appointed to watch and the watch being set Centries were put to the Colours and then the Pike-men were ordained to fix their Pikes fast in the ground as they stood in battaile the Musketiers also were ordained in dry wether to set up their Muskets in order in even front with their Colours but when it rained they were commanded to keepe them carefully dry by themselves which all orderly done they were suffered part and part to goe and provide themselves of straw and fire providing also many times well for their Officers Kitchins beside The Artillery and Amunition waggons being also drawne up a part and well guarded their horses were sent to grasse for good quarters then the Baggage and wagons as they came up did draw up orderly behinde their owne is as much to be feared as the execution that followes though it be great and Artillery in all Armies and things belonging thereto are of infinit mom●nt on all occasions So that they may be called Sine quo nihil but supreame Officers of the Field are no more troubled with them but so farre as they direct others to doe the service their owne Officers being appointed to attend them as the Generall to the Artillerie his Colonells Lievetenant-Colonells Majors Captaines Lievetenants Constables and all other inferiour Officers needfull to attend who know and keepe their owne Turnes and Reliefes as other Officers doe theirs their furniture is great and their charges also in buying Horses to draw their Cannon and Amunition Waggons with Powder Ball Match Materials Fire-Engins Petards storming Ladders Artificiall Bridges carried on Waggons to passe over Rivers or Graffes In all quartering they are quartered next after the Hoffestaffe before any Briggad and the furniture and charges needfull to maintaine this third part of the Armie is extraordinary great there being alwayes something to be repaired while as the Armie doth rest and oft-times they must be provided of a great deale of new furniture and they lose yearely an extraordinary number of Horses of great price But his Majestie during his time was very fortunate in this as in other things for I never knew his Majestie lose any Ordnance but I have seene him get supply of Amunition and Cannon from his enemies as first at Garts and Grefenhangne Damaine Francford Lansburg Gl●go Leipsigh Vertsburg Mentz and Munchen besides the supply his Majestie did get for his Artillerie from Nurenberg Francfurt Ausburg Strasburg and Vlme and to discourse largely of this subject alone would take a volume of paper But when every Cavalier is commanded apart with a partie where he must make use of Cannon he would be before his departure with his partie very carefull to receive his Cannon with the furniture belonging unto it timely together with sufficient Officers for discharging that part of the dutie on his march he must command his partie as if it were a little Armie being ever well provided of Guides and of carefull wittie and painefull Intelligencers that he may leade and quarter his partie with assurance directing alwayes his Intelligencer before him being ever carefull to beset the passes and avenues well As also sufficiently to guard his Cannon Baggage and Amunition since many times great hurt doth come thorow the neglect of guarding the Cannon and Amunition which over-sights once committed are irrecoverable in regard whereof I must entreate the gentle Reader to pardon me a little here out of Historie for the younger Souldier his better instruction to discourse a little of the hurt and inconvenience hath happened many times by Cannon and powder as also of the manner they were first invented being found out by Gods permission for the ruine of man punished for sinne experience doth teach daily that the strength of it is not to be resisted Esti●ne Forcatell in his fourth booke of the Empire and of the Philosophy of the Gaulles doth attribute the invention of powder and Cannon to the Germanes saying that a peece by the helpe of some kindled powder did spue a ball the noise whereof was like to thunder and killed The maker of it an Abbot the childe of the Devill assisted by his Father found out this cruell invention which serves alike for the pursuer of Townes as for the defender till it ruine both It is said of Archidamus Sonne to the King Agesilans wondering at a new invention of Cannon brought from Sicilie complained the valour of men was beaten downe and trod under foote seeing there was no more fighting without monstrous hardnesse and Armour And it is thought that a blacke fellow called Berthold Schuvart an Abbot invented it Reade Polydore Virgil in his second booke and sixt Chapter de invent and Sabellicus in his Ennead lib. 9. a fellow having some beaten Brimstone for Physicke closed in a pot covered with a stone he striking with a file on a stone to give fire a sparke lighted in the pot and incontinent the flame came forth heaving the stone in the ayre and chewing his Cud thereon he made a Cannon of Iron closing powder within it till that peece and peece he found out the invention And we reade that in the Kingdome of China in the East Indies both Printing and Artillerie were knowne and practised there long before they were found out in Europe and that there there be many Cannons which I will rather beleeve than goe to see Virgil also in the sixt booke of his Aeneids doth speake of the like in his description of Salmoneus and Iosephus in his third booke and ninth Chapter of the Iewes warres makes mention of an Instrument they used against the Towne of Iotapat in Galilee and saith the stones shot by Engines did breake the walles and Towers and there was no Troope of men so well ordered but was scattered by it and beaten to the ground The same Author speaking of the Batteries made against the walles of Ierusalem affirmes that the stones shot by the Engines were as heavie as a man And neverthelesse they were carried above six hundred paces by the Engine killing many men Plinius writes in his thirty-one booke and tenth Chapter in his voyage unto Babylon that powder was in use of old and reporteth he did see powder-milles on the River Euphrates though of another sort than our powder Of this invention also you may reade Cornel de Campe in his storie of Frise in his second booke and twentieth Chapter Also Simoscus King of Frise Beresne Lord of Holland and Olympia