he useth in the handling of his Armes consisting of severall Motions for atchieving of each Posture The Motion being the working part the Posture the alteration or act either in circumstance or matter As to rest your Musket being one Posture to shoulder your Musket another so likewise for the rest howbeit some perchance will object as formerly hath bin to one of Athens making a long Oration in the praise of Hercules his valour who ever doubted of it So to me who ever questioned these for Postures yet I have known them not only questioned but written against peremptorily concluding that there are but three Postures to be used for the Musket whose errours I shal easily confute But more of this after the Postures of the Musket Wherefore for the more orderly proceeding conceive their Armes to lie before them on the ground and then the first command will be to stand to their Armes The Postures of the Musket TAke up your Bandeliers Put on your Bandeliers Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket and Rest Rest your Musket Now if you please you may performe your saluting Posture Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Take your Rest into your right hand and you are armed ready to March Now to begin to make ready which may be done either standing or marching Take your Match between the fingers of your right hand Put your Rest string about your left Wrist and carry your Rest in your left hand Return your Match between the fingers of your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your Pan. Cleer Prime Shut Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose Corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Treile your Rest ballance your Musket in your left hand Charge with Powder Bullet Draw forth your Scowring stick Shorten Put your scowring stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your scowring stick Shorten Return Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket and recover your Rest Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Coale Cock your Match Fit Guard your Pan. Blow the Ash from your Coale Open your Pan. Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning your Rest to the outside of your Musket Uncock and return your Match Cleer your Pan Shut Poise your Musket Shoulder Take your Match between the fingers of the right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering your string from your wrist Return your Rest into the left hand the string loose Return your Match into your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Rest your Musket Set the But-end of your Musket on the ground Lay down your Musket and Rest Match Take off your Bandeliers Lay down March from your Armes There is likewise the Sentinell Posture which is The Muskettier having his Musket charged with Bullet his Match cockt his Pan guarded stands with his Musket rested to performe such duty as shall be commanded or given him in charge Some have likewise taught to make ready on or from the Sentinell Posture But note that as none comes to stand Sentinell but comes ready charged So if any occasion happen that he must give fire in the time of his standing Sentinel it causeth a generall Alarme So that he will have no fit time to make ready upon his Rest Wherefore I conceive it superfluous but will ever conforme to better judgement We have also the Funerall Posture which from the Rest is to be performed at 3. Motions which cannot so well be exprest in writing as it will expresse it selfe in Action Wherefore seeing that it is rather an Ornament to Obsequies than truly necessary for Armies I will not spend more time about it but come to the Postures of the Pike Yet before I passe upon them give me leave to answer some which out of a Criticall humour will alwayes be carping at others condemning these Postures saying There are more by halfe then are either good or usefull and that there are no more Postures to be used but Make ready Present Give fire The which wee will not deny that in Service there are any other usefull notwithstanding I would have them to know that Make ready is no Posture but a word of Command including all Postures from the first Arming of the Souldier to the present or if the Muskettier be charged shouldered or both then the word Make ready commands the prosecution of the rest of your Postures which are between the Posture you then immediatly are at when the word is given and the other Posture Present for which reason when wee teach Muskettiers at first it is most necessary to instruct them punctually from Posture to Posture Which being once attained he manageth his Armes more surely more comely with more celerity and with better execution and at the first may as easily be taught the best way But if he have got an habit of doing ill there wil be as much or more pains spent in reclayming his errours as at first to teach him the best safest and readiest way CHAP. II. Of the Postures of the Pike THat which followeth next of course is the Posture of the Pike Wherefore that we may observe order in our proceeding we will likewise conceive their Pikes to lie in like manner before them on the ground And then as before the first Command will be To stand to their Armes Handle your Pikes Order To your open Order close Charge with the But-end of your Pike at the inside of your right Foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over the left Arme. Charge to the Right Left Reere Order your Pikes and put up your Swords Note that these Charges at the Foot are to receive a desperate Enemy on Horse upon a stand in some strait or other place of advantage the Muskettiers to give fire over the Pikemens heads or else-where at the discretion of the Commander Port your Pikes Comport Cheeke Treile Order Charge to the Front Order as you were Right Left Reere  Shoulder your Pikes Advance your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile your Pikes  Advance as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile Shoulder your Pikes  Shoulder as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere From Comport Cheeke or Treile the Pikeman may at the discretion of the Commander charge either to the Front Reere or both Flanks as shall be necessary or thought expedient Wherfore we shall not need to do it but once over for the Charges will be all alike whether you Comport from Order from Advance or Shoulder And so likewise for Cheek and Treile c. From Comport Charge to the Front Comport as you were Right Left Reere Cheek your Pikes   From the Cheek Charge to the Front Cheek as you were Right Left Reere Treile your
the words of Command and direction which are for the making of this Diamond Battell are as follow First cause your Muskettiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for receiving the Muskets of the left flanke Then command the Muskettiers of the left flanke to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to make the Figure Command Files of Muskettiers ranke 1. 3. 5. 7. c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranke by decrease after your Muskettiers The Muskettiers may fire on this figure divers waies though I onely intend to speake unto two of them The first is the most usuall way and that is the giving fire in ranke the first man or poynt of the Diamond first giving fire then wheeling off to the right and placing himselfe just behinde the single Pikeman in the reere Then the next ranke being three men give fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves in ranke behinde the single Muskettiers as they were before the firing began This done the ranke of five Muskettiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde they command to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwaies goes to the right And so in like manner the rankes give fire successively and place themselves after their leaders as before When all the Muskettiers have given fire and are wheeled off then charge Pikes which will be fifteene in the first ranke the rest decreasing Having advanced your Pikes your figure will stand like two wedges with their poynts ioyned as you may perceive by this Figure next following If you would reduce your men from this Figure without firing your men being sufficiently expert let the Muskettiers stand and Pikes face to the reere and so the wedges will stand faced in opposition Next command them to interchange ground the Muskettiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Muskettiers and then by facing the Pikes to the former front the body will stand in forme of a Diamond againe If you would give fire from this Figure all the Muskettiers being in the reere the body must face about and so the firing will be contrary to the former But if you wheele them about they may give fire the same way Howsoever they having given fire are to wheele off by division and to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes even in ranke again as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired ouer and wheeled away the Pikes may charge and being againe advanced the body will stand in forme of a Diamond and this I pray you to conceive for I intend not to remake the Figure The second way of firing on the Diamond figure is by way of Countermarch and is an oblique firing For whereas in the other firing by ranks in the Diamond Battell each ranke fired by increase of two beginning with one and ending with fifteene in a ranke this firing contrariwise begins with 15. and ends with 1. still decreasing 2. For this firing your files must be at open order because the Muskettiers must countermarch downe betweene the Intervals of their owne files to the right every Muskettier that findes himselfe without a leader being to present and give fire and then to countermarch to the right and to place himselfe in the Reere of his own file behinde the pikes When the first 15. have fired then the next 13. present fire and countermarch still placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Next there fireth 〈◊〉 thâ—â— 9. c. for still there fires â—o many as are 〈◊〉 of any leaders And in this manner of firing they that fire together stand neither in ranke not file buâ— oâ—liquely When all the Muskettiers have fired and â—â—e 〈◊〉 into the Reere of their owne files let the pikes charge and so the forme of your battell will be like a long wedge as you may perceive by the following figure where now your Ranks are become 2. and 2 of a number Your men standing in forme afore-shewed if you please yet to be more curious face them all to the Reere and command your Muskettiers to march ten or twelue paces Your pikes to stand and your Muskettiers will present you with an hollow wedge and your pikes with a sollid wedge Lastly to reduce all these severall formes into the first proper square battell first let the sollid wedge close forward into the hollow of the other then let the Muskettiers make ready present and fire as before That is to say every Muskettier that finds himselfe without a leader is to give fire and to countermarch to the reere of his owne file the rest doing the like successively When they have all fired and are countermarcht cleere let the pikes charge and then your body will have the form of a Diamond againe Next face them all to the Reere and command Ranks file 8. to the right Which being done passe through the Muskettiers which belong to the left-flanke into their places and close the Muskettiers of the right-flanke to their due distance and so they will stand all properly reduced CHAP. LXXVII Of the Convex Halfe Moone The use of the Figure and of severall wayes of firing upon it THe Convex halfe-moone or semicircular Battell is a forme both good and usefull which the time the number and place with other circumstances may make either beneficiall or prejudiciall Wise Captains and Commanders ever foreseeing with providence what formes or figures may be most profitable and available for the present service This Convex figure may be usefull either at the landing of souldiers in an enemies Countrey or for necessity the enemy being more able in horse making use either of hedge ditch wood creeke or River to secure the Reere For the figure it selfe it may be made many wayes either with the Muskettiers outermost or innermost or lined c. as pleasest he Commander It may also be made in a Regimentall way or after the way of a small and private Company But because I have onely in this my smal Treatise taken upon me to shew the postures motions and figures which are most usually done in a small Company although many of them yea the more part may be very fit for larger Bodies I shall content my self to saile in so small a bottome not desiring to put on more saile then will suffice for the bearing of so small a burthen Wherefore my request shall be that every courteous and skilful Pilot that shall come aboard this small Barke will be pleased neither to launch it into the maine lest it be swallowed in the Surges nor to expose it to the danger of shelues rocks and sands lest it suffer shipwracke for want of good guidance but so to steere it that it may safely arrive at its â—â—sirâ—d Harbour wherein they will both honour 〈…〉 expressing their vertues
and gâ—â—tifie 〈◊〉 by applying each motion figure and forme to his right use and true intention I will now shew how the figure is to be made which is as followâ—th If yoâ—â— Battell be in forme of an Hearse then 〈◊〉 them to the right or left about untill they have atteined this figure But if in a square then observe these following words which will produce the figure Wheele your Flanks into the Front then face the Body to one of the Flanks and wheele your Battell into a Convex Halfe Moone The Convex Halfe Moone Having brought your Souldiers into this Convex forme you may face them all inward for speech or outward for fight Then let the Officers make Intervals for the Muskettiers and let the outermost Arc or first ranke of each division present and give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left-flanke to the left placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers still making good their leaders ground The rest of the ranks are to do the same untill they have all given fire Neverthelesse if your enemy be too potent for you by reason of his horse your Bow-pike-men need not stand idle although they stand behinde their Muskettiers for that they may plie them faster with their shafts then the others can with their shot But if the horse be so violent that the Muskettiers may not abide them then let them give fire and wheele off by division as before passing quite through their Intervals and placing themselues in the Reere of their pikes every ranke making good their leaders ground Thus also are the rest of the Muskettiers to give fire placing themselues in the concave part of the Body as aforesaid following the pikes which now make good the Muskettiers ground If need be the pikes may charge over-hand or if occasion serves at the foot drawing forth their swords over their left armes and couching downe their heads by which meanes the Muskettiers may give fire over their shoulders For the first ranke having fired may kneele downe on the ground and charge againe and so the second ranke may give fire and kneele in like manner making ready againe And so in like manner for all the rest all giving fire and kneeling on the ground that so the next ranke behinde may give fire over them Thus continning the firing untill all the Muskettiers have given fire Neverthelesse if need be the first ranke may rise with the rest and give fire over again as before And so the Battell may be continued the Pikes still keeping off the horse For the reducement of this figure to bring every man to his place let your Muskettiers either firing or passing through be brought into the places they were in before they first gave fire Then face the whole Body to one of the flankes and march them untill they have evened their rankes and straitned their files This done then if all your Pikes be on the right flanke wheele your right flanke into the midst if on the left flank wheele front and reere into the left flanke This being done let the Commander passe to his proper file-leaders and face the whole Body to him and they are reduced as at first CHAP. LXXVIII Of Extraduction the severall uses firings and Reducements THe next Firing which I shall take upon me to demonstrate shall be by way of Extraduction which is also a firing in Front It may be to singular good use in a strait or passage sage where your Wings and Reere may be secured your enemy being supposed to be too powerfull for you either in Horse or Foot or both Having gotten into some strait there fill the mouth of the passage with your Pikes and if the length of your Company be not sufficient to do it then double your ranks as in this following figure and let yâ—ur pikes either order advance port or charge according to the occasion your Muskettiers being in the Reere may march up into the Front and fire But before I shew the firing observe these following directions which produce the Figure Pikes stand Muskettiers face to the Reere and March uâ—till you are cleere of your body of Pikes Then face inward and close your division that being done face to your Leader and double your Rankes This being performed the Pikes are all in front the Muskettiers in Reere A firing by Extraduction Having ordered your baâ—tell in this manner let the first rankâ—â—f Muskettiers which are those that follow next after the Pikes face to the right and march forth file-wise to close by the right flanke of Pikes untill he that is the leader of them be come into the front of Pikes then hee is to leade them quite crosse the front of Pikes untill he have attained the further part of the front to the left which being done they are all to stand present and give fire You must note withall in this firing that hee which was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the leader of the â—â—tion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and that having fired they are to wheele off to the left close to the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall in the reere of the Muskettiers In the interim whilest that the ranke which first fired is wheeling away the second rank is marching into their places to give fire And in this manner they may maintaine their Battaile so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the whiles The Muskettiers in the time of their crossing the front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that so they may be no impediment to the Pikes in their charge There is another way of firing â—y Extraduction which is that the right hand leader of Muskettiers placeth himselfe before the right fileâ—eader of Pikes the rest all falling beyond him neverthelesse because I conceive it not to be so good a way as that already shewne I will not trouble you with it but come immediately to the â—educement of this which is as followeth Comâ—and your Pikes to stand and your Muskets to double their front by division but if you want room to doe it then first double your files 〈◊〉 the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so hauing doubled by division as aforesaid they will be reduced as at fiâ—st CHAP. LXXIX Of the Broad-fronted Battell with the wayes of firing upon it THe broad-fronted battell must needs be of speciall use for many occasions either offensive or defensive Which because it is so apparant to all I shall not need to stand to reason with any rather desiring to shew the manner of making and reducing it which is â—s followeth Cause your Pikes to stand and your Muskettiers to march untill the reere ranke of Muskettiers be advanced a little before the first ranke of Pikes then let the Muskettiers face inward or in opposition and close their divisions and then face to their leader And if
the Muskettiers next behinde the reere of pikes Or if the body be large to wheele all off to the right through Intervals and so to march into the front of pikes Or else they may wheele off by division flanke their pikes and so fire over againe as before If you have brought your Muskettiers by firing to the Reere before the front of pikes then to reduce them you may either wheele the body about and give fire in front causing your Muskettiers to fall off by division and to flanke their pikes as you may perceive by the figure of the Demie-hearse Or else if you will reduce them without a firing cause your Muskettiers to open to the right and left and the pikes to march up in the miast after which facing all to your Leader they are as at first I might have shewne a Figure for each of these severall firings in the reere which would have delivered them with more variety but I conceive that this here already exprest may suffice especially this being the ground of what may be spoken Concerning firings in this nature many men are of many mindes about this firing in the reere Some will have it that the last ranke shall at one motion face to the reere and there present and give fire Others will have it at two motions but either of them have their inconveniences For however they pretend a more sudden execution they are decerved for would they make tryall by causing the Muskettiers of one of the flanks to give fire at one motion and the Muskettiers of the other flanke at three motions as I have here set downe they should soone finde that the firing upon three motions were the best and that the other would be cast so farre behinde their body that they would be in some danger to be cut off Besides this they are longer in clearing themselves from their owne men which all the whilst must stay untill they are marched off or else kill them in stead of the enemy whereas in this other firing upon three motions they still keepe along with their Body doing their execution more suddenly and more safely Neverthelesse there be many so much wedded to â—heir own wilfull opinion that they will more willingly persist in knowne errour then be seene to alter what they have seemed to maintaine But leaving such to steere by their owne compasse I will here conclude my firing in the reere And the next I shew shall be firings in flanks to which purpose I passe all my Muskettiers to the right flanke The words of direction for it are these Muskettiers of the right flanke open to the right or face to the right and march When they have opened to a sufficient distance then stand Muskettiers of the left flanke passe through betweene your rankes of Pikes to the intervalle on the right flanke then stand and face all to your leader CHAP. LXXXI Of firings in flanke in generall and more particularly of the gathering firing THe Muskettiers being all on the right flanke as in the last Chapter is directed it would be needlesse to make a Figure whereby to demonstrate the standing of the body seeing that none can be so ignorant but must needs know that all the Muskettiers being upon the right the Pikes must be upon the left Neverthelesse I shall endeavour to shew what is meant by firing in flankes Which for the generall are of these two kindes The first is when the enemy skirmâ—sh with us in flanke as we march the other when as by some sudden attempt or ambushment the whole body is engaged and so forced to stand and to face to the right or left or both By which facings the flanks become fronts accidentall and their firings wil be after the same manner of the firings in front Wherefore seeing I have already spoken sufficiently of them I will now shew firings in flanke marching the particulars whereof are as followeth The first is for the outmost file to give fire and stand untill the next file have fired which by some is called the gathering firing Secondly firings in flanke and leading them up between the Muskettiers and Pikes firing in flanke being led off by the bringers up firings in flanke sleeving up on the contrary flanke of Pikes firing in flanke and drawing them up betweene the innermost files of Pikes All these firings in flanke are to be performed upon a march the Pikes are to be shouldered Our first firing in flanke followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire to the right and gather up your files This kinde of firing on the flanke I have seene and knowne used by many good and able souldiers Neverthelesse in my opinion the men stand in a great deale of danger when having given fire they can doe no good but stand like so many markes for their enemies shot Notwithstanding it may be that such whom I have frequently seene to use it in their practise may be able to render good reasons for the service though as yet I cannot conceive it I will therefore surcease any further prosecution my opinions and shew the manner of execution which is to be performed as followeth The Command being to give fire to the right presently the outermost file to the right faceth outward and presents the rest of the body still marching forwards Then the presented file gives fire and stands facing againe to their first front By thattime the body will be marched cleere of the standing file then the next outermost file presents and fires in like manner the body marching as before Having fired they in like manner face to their first front and stand a Serjeant leading up the file that first fired on the out side of the file that last fired Then they both stand together untill the third file hath given fire after the same manner And then the Serjeant leads up the two files even with the third which last fired And after this manner the â—â—â—es of Muskettiers face to the flanke and give fire sâ—câ—essively and stand untill the Serjeant leads up the rest of the files which fired even with the front of the file which last fired Thus having all fired over they are to march up againe even with the front of Pikes and this reduceth them as at first CHAP. LXXXII The second manner of giving fire to the flanke IF you would fire in flanke a more secure way then that last shewne take this way of firing And this shall be full as serviceable for matter of execution and shall farre precede it in way of preservation both in securing the Muskettiers after they have fired from the danger of their enemies shot as also in continuing the body intire without separation It is especially usefull when two enemies are divided by a River or by some such like meanes secured from the incursions of the horse For then by this way of drawing the Muskettiers up betweene the innermost file of Muskettiers and the outermost file of Pikes to
the right your Battaile may be continued according to the occasion or the Commanders discretion The Figure followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire in flanke marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskets The way to performe this motion of firing is as followeth The outermost file being commanded to face to the right and present the rest of the body marcheth away as in the other Figure and the standing file gives fire This done and that the body is marched cleere of the standing file the next file presents to the right the file that first gave fire faceth to the first front and is led by a Serieant crosse the reere of Muskettiers and up betweene the Muskets and Pikes the Muskettiers are still to open to the right as they march that so there may be room for one file to march up betweene them and the pikes And so successively each file having fired marcheth up next unto the right flanke of pikes When all your Muskettiers have given fire once over they are reduced as at the first The battell may be continued at discretion The next firing in flanke for the matter of firing it selfe will be all one with this but for the manner of the wheeling off and placing them it will differ CHAP. LXXXIII A firing in Flanke led off by the Bringers up THe next firing in flanke which I propound to your perusall will be nothing differing for manner of execution from the firings in Flanke formerly shewed The onely difference arising betweene them is that the other files of Muskettiers after that they had given fire were led off by their proper file-leaders and this to the contrary must be led off by their Bringers-up And this indeed if the body be upon a slow march is the readiest and quickest way and doth more speedily secure the Muskettiers after that they have given fire The words of Command and direction which produce the firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right wheeling off after your Bringers up and placing your selues betweene your Divisions For the manner of execution or way to performe this firing it is as followeth The body must be conceived to be marching upon all these firings in flanke and that with their pikes shouldered This being presupposed the Command being given the outmost-file presents to the right and gives fire then faceth to the right after their bringers up who leadeth them off crosse the reere of Muskettiers marching them up betweene the divisions the bringers up supplying the file-leaders place and marching even in ranke in the front with the file-leaders the file-leader of the same file becomming the bringer up in the Reere The files of Muskettiers or Pikes according as the command shall be given are as they march to open thereby giving way to the Muskettiers after they have fired to come up betweene the divisions and so soone as the first file that fired is cleare from the right flanke the second file presents and fires in like manner wheeling off as before and marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskettiers every file successively giving fire and wheeling off as aforesaid This firing may be performed once twice or oftener over according to the discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse if it be twice performed the men are reduced as at first every man hauing his right place If you fire them but once or thrice or any odde number of times over then you must countermarch your files of Muskettiers to reduce them There is another way for the bringers up to wheele off and each of them to leade off his file untill he comes to the Reere of the division which is betweene the Muskets and the Pikes and there he is to stand and ranke with the bringers up the rest that follow passing on forwards by way of Introduction and every man ranking before him that was his leader in the wheeling off untill the proper file-leader be come into his place againe And after this way they may give fire each firing being his owne reducement CHAP. LXXXIIII The difference betweene Firings in Flanke marching and of bringing the Muskettiers on the outside of the Pikes ALL or the most part of the firings in flanke which are performed marching in point of execution are the same the especiall difference betweene them being â—ither in the manner of the wheeling off after they have fired or in the materiall placing them whereby to make them more offensive or defensive And all this appeareth by this next following firing which is to be used at such time and place when as there may be doubt of the enemies horse And therefore for the more securitie of the Muskettiers having fired they are to be drawne up on the outer-side of the left flanke if haply there may be some hedge ditch river hill marish wood or such like convenient safeguard whereby to shroud them from the furie and violence of the horse that so the pikes making Alt and facing to the enemy may charge and with their armed points strongly and closely coucht receive and abate the furie of the first shocke And if need be the pikes may all charge at the foot closely serried together with their swords drawne and the Muskettiers may give fire over them The manner you may perceive in the figure of the Convex halfe-moone But lest I anticipate my selfe in shewing the use I will returne to shewth e manner of the firing intended by this following Figure Onely first take the words of command and direction which are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right placing your selues on the outside of the left Flanke of Pikes The ovtermost files having presented to the right the rest of the body continueth the march whilest they in the meane time are giving fire Which being done and the body cleere the next outermost file presents the file that last fired in the interim facing to the left after their proper file-leader who leadeth them crosse the reere both of Muskets and Pikes a pretty round pace sleeving up on the out side of the left flanke of Pikes The next file having in like manner fired doth also troupe up on the out side of the file led off before every file giving fire and doing the like When all have given fire and are cleered away then the Pikes may charge Which is very necessary if but to accustome the ⊙ Souldiers unto in times of exercise both for charging on and for retreiting as also to push with their Pikes that so by practise they may be able to doe it orderly either way still keeping their order and array Having given fire upon the right flanke and drawne all your Muskettiers in this manner to the left flanke if you will cause them to give fire on the left flanke and bring them backe againe to the right flanke they will be reduced Or if you would reduce them without a firing then either passe your Muskettiers through between your rankes of Pikes or else let your whole
division of Muskettiers bee drawne crosse either the front or reere of Pikes into their places or by division if you please your Muskettiers also may give fire in flanke the first fire sleeving on the left flanke the rest of the files still falling betweene the Pikes and the Muskettiers which wheeled off the last before them And this is also a very good firing and may be reduced with doing the like backe againe and many other waies they may also fall off after the manner of the figure last shewn being led by their bringers up either into the front or else after the manner as is discoursed in the latter end of the last Chapter But I endeavour all I may to contract my matter left my volume should exceed my intent And therefore I will shew but one firing more in flanke upon a march wherewith I will conclude these sorts of firings CHAP. LXXXV Of Firing in Flanke and placing the Muskettiers in the midst of the Battell of Pikes with other firings from thence proceeding FIring in Flanke and bringing them off betweene the midst of pikes is to be used at such time when as you would secure your Muskettiers the place otherwise affoording no naturall convenience of succour such as I have formerly spoken of and therefore by this manner of falling off where we want naturall assistance in the scituation there art ought to supply us namely by contriving to bring up the Muskettiers betweene the pikes and so to defend them from the furie of the horse And if need be you may draw 3. or 4. files of pikes more or lesse according to your number or the danger crosse the Muskets both in front and reere which are in the midst betweene the pikes which will as well preserve the Muskettiers in front and reere as in flanks But leaving further to discourse what may be done I will now shew how this is to be done Onely first take the words of Command and direction for the firing as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right Marching up betweene the midst of Pikes The Command being given for the outermost-file to present to the right as formerly in the other firings in flanke the rest of the body still marcheth on untill that the outermost-file hath fired and is faced to the left againe following their leader He now leading them off to the left marcheth up betweene the middlemost-files of pikes who are then to open to the right and left so to give them roome to march up betweene them In the meane time the next file having given fire wheeleth off in like manner marching up on the left of the files which fired last before them And so successively for all the rest of the files of Muskettiers all which are to give fire and to wheele off as before placing themselues still on the left of the files which last fired Wherein is still to be noted that the files are still to open to the right and left and that for the receiving of the Muskettiers after that they have given fire This firing as all other the firings in flanke may as well be led off by their Bringers up as by the file-leaders and then the reducements will be answerable The Muskettiers having all fired the pikes may charge at discretion The Bow-pike-men which are in the reere of the Muskettiers in the meane time not sparing to send their showers of arrows amongst the thickest of their enemies and if need require the front of pikes charging at the foot with their swords drawne the Muskettiers may give fire over them ranke after ranke for the formost ranks having fired may kneele upon the ground and there make ready againe untill the other ranks behinde them have likewise given fire After this manner the Battell may be continued according as occasion shall require For reducement and to bring the Muskettiers into both flanks againe as they were before I began these firings in flank command your pikes to face inward and your Muskettiers to the right and left outward and so to passe through and interchange ground then facing them to their leader they will be reduced as at the first I would have the ingenious Reader to conceive that all these firings in flanke may as easily be performed to the left and with the same words Onely the words of right must be changed for left and left for right I might have further enlarged my selfe upon Firings in flanke but these already exprest may suffice for to instruct the ignorant As for the skilfull and experter sort of Souldiers I shall rather request their approbation then presume to write ought which may seeme to passe me with the least conceit tending to their instructions Wherefore for the further prosecution of my intended discouse I will next shew some divisionall firings And for methods sake I will first begin with Firings in â—ront and Reere which may be performed either upon a march or stand And to that end suppose your Muskettiers to march all in front and reere Neverthelesse because it will not be amisse to shew with what words of command or direction the Muskettiers may be brought thither therefore take notice from what part of the body they are brought And if they be in the midst as in this last figure of Firing in flank then command the halfe-files of the Muskettiers to face about which done let the pikes stand and the Muskettiers march untill they are cleare both of front and reere of pikes then let them stand and face to their leader which being done your battell will stand in forme of an hollow square In which hollow may be conveyed any carriage or such like But if you will not have your battell hollow then command your pikes to close their divisions and the Muskettiers will be all in front and reere If your Muskettiers be on the flanke and you would bring them into the front and reere then after the same manner let the halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the reere and then both halfe-files of the front reere march untill they are cleare of the Angular pikemen This done let them face in opposition and close their divisions after which having faced all to their 〈◊〉 they will be rightly placed namely the 〈…〉 of Muskettiers before the front oâ— â—ikes and the reere-halfe-files of Muskettiers behinde the reerâ— of pikes Thus will the figure of battell be in fâ—â—me of â—n Hearse and the Muskettiers be ready to give fire to the front and reere either marching or standing But before I begin my divisionall firings I would intreat you not to expect that I should reduce every particular firing so soone as it is performed as I have done by these hitherto shewed but rather let it be sutable to your likings that I reduce firings by firings sometimes giving fire upon a march sometimes upon a stand sometimes to the front and reere sometimes to both flanks I do the rather desire to go on in this way because
after the same manner wheeling off and taking their places as aforesaid and so successively the rest both files and rankes give fire observing the same order And having given fire once twice or oftner over they are still reduced to the same they were before the firing began Then draw your Muskettiers from the reere to the left flanke againe and they will have their places as at first CHAP. LXXXIX Of firing to both flankes marching TO give fire to both flankes upon a march must needs be a serviceable firing without exception the time number place and strength of the enemy being alwaies to be considered which may sometimes cause the Muskettiers having fired to march up betweene their owne divisions and the Pikes as in this Figure Or sometimes betweene the midst of the Pikes the better to secure them Divers other such like waies there likewise be at the discretion of the Commander and as the present occasion shall require them But because I insisted somewhat largely upon the firings on the right flanke I shall not need to shew them againe by division on both flankes but will conclude them all in this one The words of Command which produce the Figure are as follow Muskettiers give fire to both flankes marching up betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions The Command being given the outermost file on each flanke presents outward the â—est of the body still continuing the march The presented files in the interim giving fire then facing after their proper file-leaders who led them up betweene the Muskets of their owne divisions and the Pikes in the time of their wheeling away the next two outermost files present firing after the same manner and leading up as before The rest successively doing the like untill they have fired all over which brings them to their former places The firing may be continued at discretion each firing being its owne reducement Neverthelesse it may so fall out that either through the fury of the enemy advantage or disadvantage of ground or some such like accident the body may be forced to make Alt and to face to both flanks and so with fronts accident all to maintaine the fight standing To which end the firing in the succeeding Chapter shal be of that sort Therefore suppose the body faced to the right and left preparing to give fire CHAP. XC A firing to both Flanks standing FIring to both flanks upon a stand is a good and serviceable firing And although it shew but thinne in the figure yet it may be substantiall and usefull for the field especially if there be a larger proportion of number then I have made use of in my formes and figures of Battell The words of command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Advance your pikes and stand Face to the Right and Left Muskettiers give fire and flanke your Pikes The bodie being faced to the right and left the formost ranks of Muskettiers which were the outermost-files present and give fire and then wheele off by division ranking even with the formost ranks of pikes and leaving sufficient Intervals for the rest of the Muskettiers to march betweene them and the Pikes The next ranke presenting and firing after the same manner but not advancing forwards onely firing upon the same ground and wheeling off by division afterwards passing downe betweene the Intervals and so ranke after their leaders It is herewithall to be noted that they that were outermost when they gave fire are likewise to be so when they have taken their places If these instructions be not sufficient utrne backe to the figure of the Demie-hearse where the manner of the execution is all one with this All the ranks of Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off as before the pikes if need be may charge and the Muskettiers give fire over againe wheeling off outward and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions Having advanced your pikes and faced your body to the first front all your Muskettiers will be in front and reere And then if you face your halfe-files about and give fire after the same manner to the front and reere having faced them againe to their first front they will be reduced as at first into their ordinary square Neverthelesse I will reduce it by another firing which was first invented and shewed us by that worthy Citizen and excellent Souldier Captaine Henry Waller now deceassed It is a firing in front the Muskettiers of the reere division opening to the right and left and sleeving up on the flanks of pikes untill the leaders of the reere division who as then are the halfe-file-leaders ranke even with the front of pikes The words of direction that produce the figure follow in the next Chapter CHAP. XCI Captaine Wallers Triple firing to the Front THis Triple firing to the Front hath had the approbation of good and well experienced Souldiers who have all acknowledged it to be both sollid and serviceable Bringing many hands to fight in very good order the pikes being securely covered by their Muskettiers in front Neither need they be idle in time of battell if they have any Bow-pike-men amongst them for that they may send their whistling Archery over their Muskettiers heads without offence to their friends though not without dammage to their enemies If any carpe at the depth of the Muskettiers either in this figure or in any other in this booke I shall request them to suspend their censures and wisely to conceive by a little what a great deale meaneth My intent not being to make my booke monstrous by having little leaves and targe figures Onely I desire with this small number to shew the nature of severall formes and figures of battell the manner of their firings and wheelings off their orderly placings and severall wayes of reducement not having the least conceit to induce any to beleeve that men are able long to continue battell at foure deepe although at sometimes and for stratagems they may be reduced into a lesser number But lest by digression I too farre trespasse upon your patience I will returne to shew the manner of the firing Onely first obserue the words of command and direction which produce the following figure Muskettiers of the Reere double your front of Pikes by Division The Command being given the first ranke of Muskettiers both of front and flanks present to the front and give fire wheeling off to the right and left by division The Muskettiers of the front-division being wheeled off as aforesaid close by the flanks of their owne Muskettiers passe directly downe betweene the Intervals and place themselues even in ranke behinde the Muskettiers of the reere division which are upon the flanks This you may perceive by the pricks that come downe betweene the Intervals the Muskettiers also that fired at the same time on the flanks wheele also off the right flanke to the right the left flanke to the left marching directly downe even with the reere ranke
of pikes and there place themselues againe even in ranke with the last ranke of pikes This done the rest of the ranks successively give fire and do the like every Ranke taking his place after the ranke which fired last before them the other ranks moving one ranke forwarder The Muskettiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will be reduced to the flanks againe as they were at the first The firing may be continued or the pikes may charge at discretion of the Commander CHAP. XCII A firing tripartite doing execution to the front reere and right flanke FIgures and formes of Battell may bee infinite according to the judgements of the Commanders and the various workings of the divers motions no arte nor science yeelding more content unto the studious practitioners none more honourable and beneficiall for the good of our Countrie none more neglected and lesse countenanced then the Practisers of the Art militarie nor none more screwed up in the places of their abiding then those men this way affected The rich cubb'd gowne men holding it as a maxime that Souldiers though never so poore yet they must be taxed in the parish bookes like Gentlemen Thus much incouragement we have for spending our money and our time for our Countries good and this in good time I hope will be amended but of this no more The next firing being a firing Tripartite doth execution to the front reere and right flanke at one and the same time For the use I shall referre it to the judgement of the Iudicious for the instruction how it is to be made the words of Command and direction shew it which are as followeth Halfe rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For the direction looke backe to the 27. Chapter which treats of this doubling Onely remember to face the divisions that way which you intend they shall give fire For the manner of the firing it is ordinary the foremost Ranke of Muskettiers on each part having fired they wheele off to the right or to the right and left according as directions shall be given placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions the next ranks in the meane time moving forwards into their leaders ground there in like manner firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before the rest of the rankes successively doing the like This firing may be continued aâ— pleasure of the Commander The Pikemen as advantage may be given in the interim either porting charging or sending their fatall showers amongst the thickest of their enemies Lastly for reducement face them all to their front proper then Command halfe rankes that doubled to face to the left and so to march into their places For further directions turne backe to the 27. Chapter which shewes the reducement of the aforegoing Figure c. CHAP. XCIII Of the Sconce Battell THe Sconce Battell is a Figure most properly fit for a whole Regiment at least for a larger pro portion of number then is here exprest it neither being good nor safe to divide a smal Company into so many divisions and Maniples And yet to give satisfaction unto some I have placed it here amongst my Figures yea and shewne the way how to make it with a private Company For the manner or way how to fire upon it may be divers The Muskettiers being so placed that they may give fire to the front and reere to the right and left or to all foure together at the discretion of the Commander If your Muskettiers give fire to the front and reare every ranke making good his leaders ground then the Figure will still continue the same If they give fire without advancing into their leaders ground then the Muskettiers will ranke even againe with their Pikes and the Figure will become an hollow crosse the Muskettiers making the Angles The words of Command and direction which produce the Figure are as followeth Halfe files of Muskettiers face to the Reere That being done Command all the Muskettiers to march to the Angles of their Pikes Next cause The two first and two last rankes of Pikes to stand The rest to face to the right and left and march untill they are cleere of the other pikes then stand Lastly Command The two first and last rankes of Pikes which did not move to double their Files to the right These words of Command and direction being executed perfect the Figure as followeth Many and severall are the firings which with some little alteration may be drawne from this Figure Neverthelesse not to spin out time with discourse the firing now intended to be shewne is to be performed to the front and reere To which purpose the one halfe both of Muskettiers and Pikes are to face about to the right there presenting and giving fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left flank to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The next ranke still moving forwards into their leaders ground the other rankes successively doing the like After this manner the firing may be continued and the Figure still preserved For reducement First face them all after their proper file-leaders Secondly cause the front and reere divisions of Pikes to double their rankes to the left Thirdly command the Pikes of the flankes to face in opposition close their divisions and then to face after their leaders Next coÌ„mand the Muskettiers of the front division to face to the reere Lastly command the Muskettiers both of front and reere to close their divisions And then being faced to their leader they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. XCIIII Of firing by three files at once two of them standing oblique the other direct WHen I began the formes and figures of Battell I noted all fâ—rings to be either oblique or direct and now for satisfaction to the curious I shall insert two or three oblique formes amongst the rest The first whereof shall be a Firing to the Front by drawing forth the outermost file on each flank obliquely or the innermost as shall seeme best to the Commander untill the bringers up of the files stand even with the right and left angle-men over the front of pikes They may also beadâ— a file of Muskettiers crosse the front of pikes when having placed and faced them as they ought for execution they will stand in manner of this following figure The two files of Muskettiers which were led forth having obliquely presented inwards and the file drawn crosse the front of pikes being presented direct Rank-wise upon the first Command they are all to give fire together and then to face after their bringers up who leade their files directly into their places This done they face to their proper front againe the other files in the meane time leading forth after the same manner These having done their execution are to returne into their places being led off by their bringers up as is aforesaid The
rest of the files after the same manner firing and returning untill they have all given fire and then they will be all reduced as at first CHAP. XCV A firing oblique by foure files together in forme of a W. ALL the commendations that may be given of these oblique Figures is that they powre out a great deale of shot at once and may quickly be reduced to their places Notwithstanding they are a great weakening to the bodie if any sudden accident should happen before they are setled in their former stations Neverthelesse I shall leave them to themselues and if they be found to hold out weight I shall not grudge that I have given them roome amongst the rest But if they prove too light let them be as lightly respected yet beare somewhat with them for their antiquitie The way to make the figure is as followeth The two innermost files of Muskettiers on each flanke march forth each of them being led by an Officer untill they have taken their places Then the Officers that led forth the two middlemost files are to returne to their places againe the Serjeants that led forth the outermost files standing to see them do their execution Yet before the Muskettiers have order to give fire obserue the manner of their standing by the following Figure The Muskettiers having presented according to their directions they give fire all together and then suddenly facing after their bringers up march downe into their places the next two files of each flanke in the interim of their marching away are to move forwards to their ground where they are in like manner to give fire and then to take their places as aforesaid The rest of the files of Muskettiers if you have more must then move forwards and do the like And in this sort may the Muskettiers give fire once twice or oftner over each firing being a reducement to it selfe CHAP. XCVI Of the Fort Battell the way to make and to reduce it THe figure of the Fort-battell is an oblique firing and taketh its denomination rather from the 〈…〉 the strength of a Fort. It s chiefe use is for the entertainment of some great personage or Commander in the field who being received into the midst of the divisions of Pikes the Muskettiers may present and give fire altogether in one vollie Or if they would have the Muskettiers give fire one after another then the vollies by succession which some call the Peale will be the best If there be more Muskettiers then will serve to make up the figure single they may also give fire with the rest presenting obliquely betweene the distance of their leaders The way to make this figure is as followeth First draw forth the outmost files of Muskettiers on each flanke in forme of an hollow wedge before the front of pikes Then cause the next two outmost files to face about and to follow their bringers up in the same forme to the Reere Then let the last two files of Muskettiers on each flanke be drawne after their file-leaders in the same manner and forme to the flanks The Muskettiers being thus ordered and all presented obliquely outwards command the two first and two last ranks of Pikes to stand the rest of the Pikes to face to the right and left and so to march untill they are cleare off the other pikes which stand Then command the Pikes which moved to double their files to the right Lastly command all the Pike-men to face outward each division of Pikes after their hollow 〈◊〉 of Muskettiers Or else let them face all inward to the Center and then the Body will stand in forme of the following figure Having fired upon this figure there is no manner of wheeling off because the forme is still to be continued But when you come to reducement first face all the Pikes to their proper front that is unto the place where you finde the proper file-leaders Secondly let the Pikes which are flankers double their rankes to the left and so close their divisions Then the Pikes will be reduced For the Muskettiers first command those on the flanke to leade up their files in their due places close to the Pikes Next command the Muskettiers of the reere to sleeve up on each flanke by division Lastly command the Muskettiers before the front of Pikes to face after their bringers up and to march downe into their places Lastly facing to their leader they are all reduced as at first CHAP. XCVII Of the crosse Battell the way to make it with a private Company How to fire upon it and to reduce it THe Crosse Battell though it must needs shew thinne in regard that the number is not sufficient to expresse the worth of the Figure yet may the forme be very usefull with a larger body and the Muskettiers may give fire two three or foure waies at once upon it Yea if the number were as opulent as the Figure is excellent then they might fire twelve severall wayes together This notwithstanding I spare to speake further to what may be done and come to shew what I intend in it Concerning this Figure the waies to fire upon it are ordinarily two The first when the Muskettiers give fire and then place themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskets The second way is after that they have fired to place them in the reere of their Pikes the Pikes maintaining the Muskettiers ground The words of Command which produce the Figure are as followeth The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest of the body face to the right and left and so march untill the reere-Angles meete Then let the Commander goe into the midst or Center and face the whole Company to him giving tm such direction as is meete Lastly being all faced about to the right the body will stand like the following Figure This crosse Battell being faced to the front reere and flankes and the Muskettiers commanded to give fire one way of placing them is in the reere of their own divisions of Muskettiers for that hereby the Muskettiers will still continue their places For the second way after that the first rankes have given fire let them wheele all off to the right or to the right and left if the number be large and place themselves in the reere of their Pikes each ranke moving forwards and maintaining their leaders ground The second ranke in like manner is to fire and to take their places after the Muskettiers which fired and wheeled off last before them The rest successively are to doe the like untill all the shot have fired and are wheeled away againe Then let the Pikes charge c. If any object that it is dangerous to have so large distance betweene the fronts of each firing then if you have files enow yo u may draw two or three files of each Arme crosse the divisions from the Angle of one front
to the other and so facing of them outward they will make reasonable good defence on those parts c. Having given fire upon the crosse battell and brought your Muskets to the reere of the Pikes if you would reduce them passe into the midst of Center of the Figure and face all both Muskettiers and Pikemen to you and cause those which were the flankers to close their divisions Next wheele the fronts into the midst of the two other divisions then move to the front proper and face the whole body to you and so you shall have all your Muskettiers in the midst flanked with Pikes If you would reduce them into their right places command the Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the Pikes to face to the right and left inward and so to passe through and interchange ground thus being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. XCVIII Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. THis next Figure shall be of the hollow-fronted Crosse which is a stronger forme than that last shewne and yet thus much let me warne you of that there can be but little expectation of strength to be perceived in Battels formed with so small a number This notwithstanding the ingenious Martialists can easily discerne those things which in warre may prove most usefull for his owne and his Countries benefit although they are here expressed to the publique view in so meane array and in such thinne numbers Wherefore setting aside all Apologies and excuses I will briefly shew the words of Command and direction which will produce the following Figure The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest face to the right and left and march untill they have made the perfect Crosse Lastly cause the Muskettiers to flanke their Pikes according to this following Figure The severall directions for firing upon this Figure may be divers But to avoyd distraction I will shew onely one way and that directed to the front reere and flankes Neverthelesse for varieties sake you may cause them to give fire once over wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions still moving forwards into their leaders ground thereby to preserve the Figure in the same order At the second time of firing cause the Pikes to move softly up even with the front of Muskettiers porting as they advance forwards The Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off are to place themselves in the reere of their divisions of Pikes whom before they flanked every ranke of Muskettiers firing wheeling off and placing themselves as aforesaid Lastly the Pikes having charged and againe readvanced the body will stand in the Figure of a perfect Crosse For the reducement it is the same with the Crosse-Battell delivered in the 97 Chapter Wherefore I shall need to adde no further directions in this place for the said reducement then that the flanke divisions are to be closed and the front and reere divisions to be wheeled that the body may be againe returned into a square with the Muskettiers in the middle All this being here taught I now proceed to shew one firing with the Muskettiers in that order CHAP. XCIX Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes THe square battell flanked with Pikes must needs bee very safe for the Muskettiers as being a very able defence for the flankes against the incursions of the enemies horse The Figure followeth just â—s the Muskettiers are in motion The wayes or manners of giving fire upon this figure are ordinarily three The first firing is with the Aspect being directed to the front the Muskettiers wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you perceive by this figure The second is for the Muskettiers to give fire to the reere upon a march which they may easily do from this figure The third is to give fire to the front and reere upon a stand the halfe-files being faced about If the firing be performed to the front then every ranke is to march up into their leaders ground If the firing be to the Reere upon a march then the ranks contrariwise close backwards towards the Reere to make good the Battell on that part If it be to the front and reere upon a stand then the Muskettiers march up into their leaders ground and those which have fired and are wheeled off place themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions To write further of this firing were more then necessarie no one of these firings any wayes altering the figure but the Aspect onely Neverthelesse if the Commander please he may after the firing in front wheele both flanks into the front and so charge pikes and from thence proceed to other firings If the firing were in the reere he may wheele the flanks into the Reere and cause his pikes to charge that way If the firing were to the front and reere he may wheele both flanks into the front and reere and so charge with his pikes both wayes Which by Captaine Bingham is called Amphistomus Before I come to reducement I shall proceed to the next firing in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. C. Of the Plinthium or foure-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes THe Foure-fronted Battell is a figure both steady and serviceable being usefull as well for a march thereby securing the carriage and all other such like necessaries as for fight For if it should so happen as it often doth that you should be charged in front reere and flanks all at one and the same time then are there both Muskets and Pikes so placed that each Armes is assisting to the other For seeing that neither Muskettiers nor Pikemen alone can be singly sufficient of themselues to withstand the able and resolute horseman without great advantage of ground on the contrary the Muskettiers and Pikes being conjoyned into one body and being well ordered they are not onely able to defen'd themselues against their furie but also to put them to the worser Yet this must not be understood of raw and unskitfull Souldiers whose ignorance is cause of diffidence but of hardy experienced and well exercised men such as know well how to demeane themselues couragiously in time of fight The words of Command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Halfe-files of Pikes face to the Reere and march untill they are cleare of the last ranke of Muskettiers Secondly command Halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the right and left then march betweene the divisions of Pikes Thirdly command Left halfe-ranks of the first division of Muskets face to the Reere and march betweene the Reere divisions of Pikes Lastly Having evened their ranks straitened their files and closed their divisions to an equall distance and being rightly faced the body will stand like the following figure The
manner of the firing may easily be apprehended by the figure the Muskettiers giving fire in ranke and wheeling all off to the right do then passe downe their Intervals under the favour of their pikes and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers the pikes charging at discretion Having fired once twice or oftener over and still maintaining the same ground the figure wil continue to be the same If the reere part of the battell were by any means secured so that you need give fire but three wayes then the front-halfe-files of Muskettiers might have beene preserved intire This Plinthium or foure-fronted Battell may as well be made with the Muskettiers in the Angles the pikes making the crosse this kinde of Command alwayes making the crosse of the Armes in the midst of the Battell After that you have given fire at discretion upon this figure and charged your pikes if you would reduce them to the first square command the whole body to face to the front proper Secondly command the Muskettiers in the reere to march up on the left of the Muskettiers in front the pikes being first opened to give them place Thirdly cause the Muskettiers in flanke to face inward and to close their divisions Lastly cause the pikes to march up placing themselues right after their leaders This being done the body will be brought againe into a sollid square flanked with pikes I forbeare further to reduce them untill I shew the next figure Yet for further satisfaction to any that shall require it command your Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the pikes to face inward and so to interchange ground and then being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. CI. Of the Hollow Square for March SVndry formes there be which go under the denomination of the hollow Square and very diversly they may be framed Some are hollow impalled with pikes the pikes againe girdled with shot Other Squares are made with shot and they impalled with pikes Some againe with divisions of Muskettiers and pikes orderly mixt with an hollow in the midst A fourth sort is when each Armes are divided by themselues as when the pikes make the front and reere and the Muskettiers the wings A fifth way is when the Muskettiers leade in front and reere and the pikes make both the flanks All these wayes are very necessary and usefull as the time occasion or place shall give cause or the judgement of the Commander shall see fitting Neverthelesse the hollow battell which I now intend to demonstrate unto you is especially usefull for a march whereby to secure the carriage as likewise to preserve the sicke and wounded it may also serue for the Commander to consult with his Officers or to make any speech or Oration to the Souldiers Or the Ensigne may in signe of triumph display his Coâ—â—urs in the midst upon a march after Skirmish The way to make this figure the Muskettiers being in the midst is as followeth First command the Halfe-files of Muskettiers to face to the reere Then command all the Muskettiers to march and the Pikes to stand When they are cleare of the front and reere of the Pikes let them stand and face all to the front proper and it produceth this following figure If you would give fire upon this figure to the front and reere it may be done marching But more properly standing by facing the halfe-files both Muskettiers and Pikes to the reere Then the command being given to present and give fire they wheele off by division placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers each ranke moving forwards into their leaders ground and doing the like If you should give fire and not move forwards into your leaders ground then the Muskettiers would fill the hollow in the middest betweene the Pikes Neverthelesse suppose the figure still to continue to be the same Because I will now come to the reducement and the rather for that I have not done it since I began with the Hollow-fronted Crosse But now so please you I will reduce all by a firing And to that end first close your divisions of Pikes and then the Muskettiers will be all in the front and reere Secondly cause the halfe-files both Muskettiers and pikes to face to the Reere Then cause the Muskettiers both of front and reere to give fire wheeling off by division and flanking their pikes When they have fired all over the Pikes may charge who being againe advanced and all faced to the front proper they are all reduced as at first into the ordinary Square flanked with Muskets CHAP. CII Of the hollow Hearse and the Crosse THe Hearse-Battell by the Greekes called Orthophalanx as in Aelian is when the depth doth manifold exceede the length thrice at the least It may be made either sollid or hollow at the discretion of the Commander And notwithstanding that this Figure simply of it selfe hath ever beene accounted weake as bringing but few hands to fight neverthelesse being conjoyned with the Crosse it may prove serviceable True it is that being exprest by so small a number the strength of it cannot so evidently be discerned which were the number more each division would appeare to be the stronger both for offence and defence But I have onely taken upon me to shew the severall formes and figures of battell which may be formed and practised by a private Company as having limited my selfe not to exceed the number of 128 men Wherefore my request must be that the Courteous Reader when he shall finde that any Figure for want of number shall looke thinne or poore he will there be pleased to clothe it in a larger number for that thereby the Battell will appeare the more sollid and the beholder become the better satisfied This Figure may be usefull upon a march for a Convoy the hollow parts thereof being very commodious to secure the carriage the men also are very well disposed to helpe and assist each other in whatsoever part it should happen them to be assailed The words of Command and direction which produce the Figure are as follow Wheele front and reere into the left flanke That done face them as before and the Muskettiers will be in front midst and reere Next open the Muskettiers in the midst to the right and left and cause them to double their rankes to the left Then cause the front-halfe-files of the front division of Pikes to open to the right and left and the reere halfe-files of the reere division of Pikes to doe the like Then having evened their rankes and straightened their files and being faced to their leader the body will stand in forme like this Figure If so be you will give fire upon this Figure you may doe it any way or every way If you give fire to the front reere and flankes then let your Muskettiers wheele all off to the right and place themselves in the reere of their own divisions If you
would still preserve the Figure then let every ranke before they give fire march up into their leaders ground Having either marched or skirmished upon this Figure or both and then would come to reducement First face all the whole body to the proper front and cause the Pikes that are flankers to face inwards and to close their divisions This being done cause the Muskettiers which are in the middle part of the Battaile to double their files to the right Secondly let them face inward and close their division Next let them face all to their leader and wheele front and reere into the right flanke which being done and they faced again to the front proper they will be reduced into the ordinary square the Pikes being flanked with the Muskettiers as at first CHAP. CIII Of the Hollow Square girdled with shot THe Hollow Square Girdled with shot is a Figure to be used at such times of necessity as the Commander shall see occasion who well knowing that hee shall be enforced to fight having found some commodious advantage or ground drawes forth his battell into this forme and array The use whereof is that within the hollow parts of it he may convey such of his carriage or whatsoever else may not prove usefull for the strengthening of some part of the battell Having drawne his men speedily into this forme lest that the enemy should take the advantage to breake their order by entring at any of the Angles they are speedily to cast up a Rampart of earth in each of those parts of the Angles Or if they have not time or that the ground be not fit they may supply that defect by placing some of their Wagons Carts or other of their Carriage so orderly that it may be sufficient to fortifie those parts which are the weakest This Figure may be as well made with the Pikes foremost but because that the Musketiers may more commodiously fight before their Pikes and with lesse danger to their owne body therefore I conceive it fittest at first to place them in front of their Pikes And if the enemy shall too hotly presse them with his horse then at the discretion of the Commander they may safely retreate behinde their Pikes the Pikemen making good the ground of the Muskettiers For better satisfaction observe the direction to make the following Figure First command a Serjeant to draw forth all the odde files of the right flank both Muskettiers and Pikes and wheele them to the left crosse the front That being done command the odde files of the left flanke as well Muskettiers as Pikes to face to the reere and let them in like manner be wheeled to the left crosse the reere following their Bringers up For the rest of the body that remaines undrawne forth let them close to the right and left outward untill the Reere-Angles of each division stand diagonally opposite to each other Then let them be all commanded to face to the Center or midst of the hollow square where the Commander is to give them such incouragement directiōs as shal be meet Lastly let all face about to the right and present For the manner of firing upon this Figure it is as followeth The first ranke of Muskettiers to each front having presented and given fire they are to wheele all off to the right And because that eight or tenne men are too many to wheele downe one Intervalle for that they will bee so long before they can cleere the front therefore you may cause Intervalles to be made betweene the midst of each division as you may perceive in the Figure The first ranke having fired and wheeled off the next ranks are to move forwards into their ground they which wheeled off in the meane time placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The next ranke of Muskettiers having fired in like manner are to wheele off and to place themselves as aforesaid the rest of the rankes of Muskettiers successively are to doe the like untill they have all given fire once or oftner over that way according to the occasion And in this interim may the Bow-pikemen be bountifull in bestowing their showers of arrowes amongst the thickest of their enemies If the horse prevaile so much that the Muskettiers may not endure to beare the brunt of them then let the Muskettiers after they have fired wheele off and place themselues in the reere of their following divisions of pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground charging with their pikes as they see occasion for securing the Muskettiers in the midst This notwithstanding if the enemies horse shall still presse forwards and with their shot shall continue to annoy the body the pikes on this figure being especially defensive then cause the Pikemen to charge at the foot and your Muskettiers to give fire over them according to former directions on the Convex halfe-moone After this manner the battell may be continued to the last ranke When you have given fire in this order your Muskettiers being all in the reere of your pikes and that you be minded to reduce them into the first orderly square this is one way for it Passe through your Muskettiers before your front of pikes as they were before the firing that being done let the Commander face the whole body to the left Angle of the front-division by which meanes he shall there finde the halfe of his file-leaders This being performed let them march and so even their ranks and straiten their files the reere division of Muskettiers and Pikes orderly following after the front division of the like Armes After this let the halfe-files which then are which indeed are the residue of the file-leaders double their ranks forwards to the left which being performed the men are reduced as at first If you would reduce them some other way without passing through your Muskettiers as I have formerly said then first let the whole body face to the left Angle of the front-division and march evening their ranks and files as aforesaid Which being done cause the halfe-files which then are to double their front to the left which being in like manner performed all your Muskettiers are still in the midst Your next worke is to cause your Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward and your pikes contrariwise to face inward and so to passe through and interchange ground Thus being faced to their front proper they will be reduced as at first If any will be practising of this forme of battell with a smaller number of men as with 64. or fewer whereby they will be constrained to double their halfe-files then they will be reduced the same way onely they shall not need to double their halfe-files againe in their reducement as they must needs do were the number larger CHAP. CIIII. Of the Sollid Square with Muskettiers in Center and Angles The way to make the figure with a private Companie how to fire upon it and to
reduce it INfinite are the formes and figures of Battell which may be made yet all differing either in circumstances or in matter Some of them are Sollid others Hollow some of them again being Trines Squares Hearses Cirtes Crosses Diamonds Plinthiums Plesiums Paramekes and infinite others Some of them taking their denomination from the nature of their numbers Others according to the placing of each Armes A third sort taking their names from things they most resemble all of them being necessarie to be knowne to such which would be accounted skilfull Serjeant-Majors that with all numbers upon all occasions they may readily bring their Souldiers into any forme or figure of battell according as the time the number and place will give them leave for opposition of horse foot or both together But to returne backe to our single Company the worke of this Chapter being to shew the Plesium or long square In which the Muskettiers are halfe in the midst of the Pikes and the other halfe equally divided and placed on the 4. Angles of the battell the pikes making 4. divisions as being placed upon the front reere and flanke Yet not to hold you with longer circumstance take these words of command and direction which produce the following figure Halfe-files double your front to the left entire Onely do not close them to make one Body That being done your Body will be but 4. deepe Next command the 2. outmost flanks of each Body to double inward by division For better satisfaction observe these directions First see the halfe-ranks of the outmost flanks faced to the front and reere and that they march untill they are cleare of the standing part of the battell Secondly cause the halfe-ranks of the right-flank and the halfe-ranks of the left-flanke to face in opposition and to close their divisions the two first ranks of each flanke moving crosse the front of the standing part of the body and the two last ranks of each flanke moving crosse the reere Then the whole body facing to the front they will stand as in this figure If you would give fire upon this figure it may be performed either to the front and reere to the right and left or to all foure together But which way soever the firing be let the Aspect of the Muskettiers in the midst be turned the same way and cause the pikes which stand before them to charge at the foot and the Muskettiers in the Center to gâ—ve fire over them The first ranke having fired let them kneele or crouch low upon the ground making ready againe whilest the next ranks behinde them give fire and do the like and so forwards for the rest Having all fired once over this way let them rise up and if need be give fire over againe after the same manner The Muskettiers on the Angles in the interim giving fire after the ordinary way wheeling off and falling in the reere of the Muskettiers of their own divisions the others in the meane time moving forwards and making good their leaders ground This being done and the pikes having charged the figure will stil continue to be the same without alteration And that as well in men as matter if so be the firing be performed according to the former direction For reducement command the two first ranks and two last ranks to face to the right and left all marching forth untill they are cleere of the standing part of the bodie Next command them to stand then face them to the right and left and close their divisions This being done let them face all to their leader Lastly by commanding the halfe-files to face about to the right and to march forth into their places you shall see them fully to be reduced I might have further enlarged my selfe upon this subject of firings and figures of Battell yea and shewed varieties enow of Trine Battels round battels the crosse and round in one the sollid-square impaled besides infinite other kindes But I have already advanced further then I at first intended though well I hope no further then will be freely and lovingly accepted Which if it be I shall conceive my selfe to have received a gratefull and most ample satisfaction The hope whereof doth somewhat encourage me to proceed a little further And as I have already shewed divers and severall Motions with their formes and figures of Battell yea and in all or the most part of them as I have not onely given the words of command and direction to produce them from the ordinary square but also together with the demonstration of the figure and direction for the firing I have in like manner given direction for the reducements againe into the ordinary square So now for the satisfaction of some of the quainter sort of Souldiers give me leave to multiply one figure upon another untill that by firings I reduce firings For the performance whereof that I may observe some method I will digest them into the way of Exercise c. CHAP. CV The first daies Exercise HAving brought your Company into a place convenient where you intend to exercise them if you have time enough you may cause the file leaders Corporals oâ— Serieants to instruct them in the Postures and true using of their Armes Wherein having spent some time to the benefit of the Company upon the first summons of the Drum each file-leader with his file is to march into his place The Captaine or other Commander being at the head of his Company commands them to even their rankes and to straiten their Pikes and stand in their order both in ranke and file If your Ensigne be not already in the field but in some place neere at hand then cause your two innermost files of pikes to advance commanding a Serjeant with a Drum to troop them along to the place of ReÌ„dezvouz there to fetch their Colours If the place be not nigh at hand take as many files of Muskettiers Having brought the Ensigne to the head of the Pikes each file returnes into his place the Officers likewise withdrawing their severall stations Silence being commanded the Captain or other Commander begins first to instruct the Souldiers in the severall distances betwixt ranke and file with the waies to open and close to them And if hee thinke fit to instruct them in the severall uses of each distance Next after distance they are to be instructed in the †facings then in the doublings next in the Countermarches and lastly in the wheeling In each of which they are to be instructed according to the opportunity of the time and place but especially is the capacity of the Souldier to be observed Wherein the Captaine may doe very well in each of the motions to lay downe some speciall rules and observations by which the Souldier may the better understand what he is to doe and how the best way to performe it After the motions ended let them prepare for skirmish And first
you may cause them to give fire with forlorne files marching forth twenty paces or thereabouts before the front Having all fired over that way they may give fire once over by advancing two rankes together ten paces before the front Then let them give fire even with the front and then with the halfe-files the Pikes porting or charging according to discretion The Pikes being advanced and the Muskettiers marched up even with their front you may either face about wheele about or Countermarch and so give fire in the reere Your Pikes then being shouldered and your Muskettiers having fired over in the reere you may if you please wheele your flankes into the front and so charge Pikes to the reere Which done wheele your front into the midst passe into your place and face them to you Then if you will you may passe your Muskettiers of the left flanke through betweene the rankes of Pikes and place them next to the right flanke of Pikes opening the right flanke of Muskettiers to give them way Then let the Pikes shoulder and Muskettiers give fire to the right upon a march their leaders leading them up betweene the Pikes and their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having fired once over in this way let them continue their firing to the right each leader leading up his file on the outside of the left flanke of Pikes Then let the Pikes advance even whilest the last file is giving of fire and so soon as the Pikes are cleere of the Muskettiers let them face all to the right and charge Having advanced your Pikes and faced your body againe to the left you may then wheele your Battell about to the right and then facing the whole body to the left the Muskettiers will be all in front Then let your Muskettiers give fire and either wheele all off to the right thereby making an Intervalle for the left flanke or else let them wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having given fire once or oftner over that way let them give fire againe and wheele off by division ranking even with their Pikes That being done cause the Pikes to charge the Muskettiers giving fire once over on that Figure The Pikes being advanced face the whole body to the right and cause the Muskettiers to stand and the Pikes to open to the right and left and so to make the hollow square Then you may if you please command the Ensigne to display his Colours in the midst of the hollow in signe of triumph the body either standing or marching After which command the Pikes to close their divisions Which being performed command the reere division of Muskettiers to double their front of Pikes by division and then they will stand in forme of Captaine Wallers Triple firing Let them give fire upon that Figure and fall off againe according to the directions upon that Figure Which being performed and the Pikes charged and readvanced the body will be absolutely reduced as at the first it was before you began your firings These firings may with the motions be sufficient for the first daies Exercise Wherefore for this time we will lodge our Colours untill by the summons of the Drum we are called forth to the second daies practise CHAP. CVI. The second dayes Exercise HAving brought your Souldiers the second time into the field the body being drawne up into the ordinary square and every Officer vigilant in his place the Captaine commandeth silence with some other generall termes of observation both for the leaders and right hand men Having thus commanded them as before to even their rankes and to straiten their files he proceeds to shew as formerly the distances the facings the doublings the Countermarches and the wheelings therewithall instructing them either in all or so many of them as the time will permit and he thinkes convenient Ever by the way observing that in the Proverbe A thing once well done is twice done That Commander that exerciseth his Souldiers with good language and with sollid reasons shall make them better proficients then he that shall use rigid termes and rough hands After the postures distances and severall motions that which next followes for this daies exercise are firings and figures of battell So soone therefore as the Drum begins to beat a preparative the Muskettiers are to begin to make ready And first you may cause them to give fire on the Horne Battell still marching up into their leaders ground by that meanes preserving their Figure Secondly let the Muskettiers close their diuisions before their Pikes and then give fire upon the demie-Hearse-Battell falling off presently either all to the right the one halfe passing downe an Intervalle or to the right and left by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The third time of their firing let them wheele off by division and flanke their Pikes and when they have fired over that way let the Pikes charge For the fourth firing let them give fire even with the front of Pikes wheeling off to the right and left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions Then let them fire even with the halfe-files wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of the Pikes The Pikes you are to understand ought to charge all the time of the last firing who being advanced you are to wheele your Battell about to the right or left Then your Muskettiers being in the reere of your Pikes let your sixt firing be to the reere the Muskettiers wheeling off by division and placing themselves before the front of their owne divisions of Muskettiers and next behinde the reere of Pikes Having fired once over that way let them give fire ouer againe and flanke their Pikes which being in like manner performed Command them to wheele their flankes into the front and then face to the reere and charge pikes at the inside of the right foot with their swords drawne in their right hands Let the seventh firing be discharged over their pikemen wheeling either all off to the right through Intervals or else by division and placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Otherwise for want of room the first ranke of Muskettiers having given fire let them kneel or crouch low upon the ground and make ready againe the second ranke in like manner firing and kneeling and so for the rest Having all fired once over in that manner let the Pikes advance and put up their swords the Muskettiers in like manner are to rise then to even their ranks and streighten their files For the eighth firing you may face the body to the reere or if you will continue your firing the same way then wheele your battell about and having opened your Intervals your forme will be the broad fronted Phalange or broad fronted Battell Let these give fire the first time falling
or wheeling all off to the right and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The second time of firing let them wheele all off to the right as before and place themselues in the reere of the pikes which follow next after their owne divisions In the interim of the last two ranks firing cause your Pikes to port but when the Muskettiers are cleered away the Pikes may charge When the pikes are advanced for the ninth firing face them to one of the flanks and wheele them into a Semicircle or Convex half-moone where the Muskettiers being outermost give fire upon that figure the first time falling behinde the Muskettiers of their owne divisions The second time of firing cause them to place themselues behinde their pikes For further directions looke backe upon the 77. Chapter which discourseth of the Convex halfe-moone The pikes may also charge and the Muskettiers give fire over againe according to discretion The Pikes being readvanced face the whole body to one of the flanks and march them out horsewise Then command them to double their ranks to the right which being done command that flank which are Muskettiers to double the contrary flanke by division which being performed all the Muskettiers will be in front and reere Then cause the reere-division of Muskettiers to double the front of Pikes by division Then let them give fire on that figure as they may see further directions in the Chapter The pikes having charged and advanced againe For the eleventh firing first face the whole body to the right then cause the halfe-files that then are to face to the reere and so let the Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere wheeling off by division and flanking their pikes The pikes may also charge to the front and reere which being performed face them all againe to their leader For the twelfth firing make the Plinthium or foure-fronted battell the Angles whereof being filled with Muskettiers For further satisfaction looke upon Chapter 100. which gives direction both for the motion and reducing thereof Next face the whole body to that part which was the front before the last firing began Then if you would have your Ensigne to display in an hollow Square cause your Muskettiers to stand and halfe-files of pikes to face to the Reere and so both divisions of pikes to march untill their last ranks are even with the front and Reere of Muskettiers Then face all to their leader If you please the Muskettiers may give fire upon this hollow square as they march to both flanks still leading up their files on the inside of their owne divisions and this will make the 13. firing But by this time our powder being spent our men weary and night approaching We will come to reducement Wherefore first cause the Pikes to close their divisions and the Muskettiers to march up even with their front of pikes Then let the whole body wheele their flanks into the reere which being done all the Muskettiers will be in the Reere Then if you will face to the Reere and give fire causing your Muskettiers to wheele off by division and to flanke their pikes Or else cause your Muskettiers to open to the right and left and double your front of pikes by division Which being done double files to the left and they will be all reduced as at first Wherefore we will now lodge our Colours and conclude our second dayes Exercise c. CHAP. CVII The Third dayes Exercise HAving the third time as formerly brought your Souldiers into the Field it is very necessarie in the first place that they be taught the Postures of each Armes either by the file leaders or some other of the Officers Wherein they must be carefull to instruct them in the firings both to front reere and flanks As to give fire to the front advancing to give fire to the front upon a stand to give fire to the Reere upon a march to fire to either flanke marching or standing As also to instruct them in distance facings doublings countermarches and wheelings that so they may be the more apt and capable when they shall be brought into a body Having spent some time in the exercising of files let the Drumme summon each file-leader to his place the Ensigne be fetcht to the head of the Company the Captaine command silence and the Souldiers tender obedience The ranks being evened and the files streitened the Captaine according to his accustomed manner begins to instruct them in the Distances and Motions And after the performance of so many of them as he shall thinke fit for the present exercise he commands the Drummes to beat and Muskettiers to make ready and so causeth them to give fire three or foure severall wayes after the ordinarie manner of firing in the front Then cause your Muskettiers of the left flanke to give fire to the reere and the Muskettiers of the right flanke to give fire to the right This firing is to be performed upon a march the Pikes shouldered For the second firing let them give fire to both flankes The gathering firing For the third let them fire to both flankes drawing them up betweene the divisions of Muskettiers and Pikes For the fourth firing let them give fire againe to both flankes leading them up after they have fired betweene the midst of Pikes When the last files are firing advance your Pikes and close your rankes forwards to their order Then face to the right and left and charge Pikes Your Pikes being advanced and faced againe to the front proper all your Muskettiers will be in the midst Then open them some Intervalles and let the fift firing be to the front wheeling all off to the right and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions Then cause the Pikes to charge and when your Pikes are advanced againe let your halfe-files face about to the right And so the fixth firing may be to the front and reere the Muskettiers of the front division wheeling off to the right those of the reere division wheeling off to the left either of them placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The Muskettiers having fired once or twice over wheele your flankes into the front and cause your Pikes to charge to the front and reere The Pikes being againe advanced and all faced to their former front wheele front and reere into both flankes For the seventh firing make the Plinthium or foure fronted battell the Angles being filled with Pikes and let them giue fire and charge their Pikes according to directions for that Figure As likewise the firing being ended reduce the men backe into their places as they were before this firing Then wheele off your front by division which brings your Muskettiers upon the flankes but doth not reduce your men justly into their places if your number be any thing great From thence make them a perfect crosse battell and let your Muskettiers give fire wheeling
all off to the right placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers For the ninth firing let them giue fire as before but place themselves in the reere of their Pikes the Pikes moving forwards into their ground and charging Having advanced your Pikes command your flanke divisions to face about to the right and to close their divisions Then command the front and reere divisions to wheele their flankes into the reere which being done face them to the front proper that is after the right file-leader For the tenth firing your Muskettiers being still in the midst let your Muskettiers give fire by Introduction beginning with the second ranke the Pikes moving softly forward For the eleventh firing let them give fire by Introduction beginning with the Bringers up The Pikes may charge at discretion then let the Muskettiers stand and the Pikes march forwards closing their divisions before the Muskettiers And so let the twelfth firing be by way of Extraduction Let the Pikes charge which being performed command the first and last foure rankes to stand and the rest of the body to face to the right and left and so to march untill they are cleere of the standing rankes Then let the whole body face about to the right and let the Ensigne display his Colours in the midst For the next let the Muskettiers give fire being foremost both in front and flanke which will make the thirteeenth firing Let them wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Which being done next cause those which opened to the right and left to face in opposition and to close their division Then wheele off your front by division or else wheele your front inward to the reere Then let the Commander march at the head of his Pikes all the Muskettiers being in the reere Then for the fourteenth firing let the Muskettiers give fire in the reere wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes which doth reduce every man to his place he had when the Exercise first began Aud herewith we will conclude our third dayes Exercise and lodge our Colours untill that the bellowing Drum call us the fourth time into the field to give an account of our proficiency Till when we will leave our Souldiers in their severall Hutts or Cabines there to rest their limbs refresh their spirits and replenish their Bande liers CHAP. CVIII The fourth daies Exercise HAving the fourth time brought your Souldiers into the field and as formerly caused them to be instructed in the Postures both of Musket and Pike that so they may be capable to use them both with agility and with safety As likewise taught them their divers wayes of distance with the severall and various motions not forgetting particularly to instruct them with rules and pertinent reasons to every one of them that so they may not onely learne to doe but like rationall men understand what they doe Which being deliberately performed and each Officer disposed to his severall place the rankes being evened and the files straitened the Captaine commands the Drum beats and the Muskettiers make ready for skirmish c. The first firing being by drawing forth the innermost files of each flanke of Muskettiers to the right and left obliquely before the front and so to stand and giue fire Having given fire let the Bringers up leade them back into their places And in the meane time let the next innermost files leade forth and fire after the same manner and so likewise the rest untill all the Muskettiers have fired once over that way For the second firing let them give fire obliquely and crosse the front both at once For the third let them give fire obliquely the Muskettiers standing before the Pikes in forme of an hollow wedge Vpon this firing the Muskettiers fire outwards whereas in the other they fire inward For the fourth firing let them fire upon the oblique W. For the manner of these firings with the waies both how to make them reduce them I refer you to their severall places where I have shewne them plainely For the fift firing let them fire to each flanke obliquely the Muskettiers making on each flanke the formes of hollow wedges and so they may performe as much to each flanke or both flankes as hath beene to the front For the sixt firing let them fire over the first oblique firing to front and reere For the seventh firing let them fire obliquely and crosse the front and reere For the eighth firing let them fire to the front and reere obliquely in the formes of the hollow wedges For the ninth firing let them fire to the front and reere obliquely in the forme of the W. And for the tenth firing let them give fire obliquely on the Fort figure which is to front reere and flanks In all these firings the pikes never come to charge but stand in a square battell in danger of the enemies shot themselues neither being able to offend the enemy nor to defend themselues And yet if by frequent practise they were inured to the use of the long how fastened to their pikes I make no question but that when they should become expert in the use of the Bâ—w and Pike they would not onely be a terrour to their enemies by the continuall showers of Arrows which they would send amongst them but also that they would be a great meanes to rout their enemies uâ—â—erly to breake their order On the contrary if men should be put to use the Bow and Pike and have not first well learned the use of the Pike alone they would be so cuâ—â—ersome to themselues and so troublesome to others that instead of spoyling their enemies they would â—out them selues But pardon this 〈◊〉 whilest I proceed to the rest of this dayes exercise The eleventh firing being in â—â—rme of a Romane T is to be made as followeth Let the pikes stand and the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 wheele into the front then let them give fire making an Intervall upon each flanke the 〈◊〉 of the right-flanke wheeling off to the right the Musâ—ettiers of the left flank to the left and placing themselues in the reerâ— of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the Muskettiers have fired once or twiâ—â— over 〈◊〉 the pikes pâ—sse through and wheele their froâ—â— into the midst and then faciâ—â— to the front let them charge their pikes and from thence having advanced their pikes let the Commander passe to the right flanke and face the whole body to the right Then wheele the battell about to the left untill the body be brought into a round battell from whence we will begin the twelfth firing The figure being made face the whole body to the Center and give them their directions what they have to do When they have received their instructions let them all face about to the right present and give fire The first time of their firing placing themselues in the reare of their Muskettiers The second
firing countermarch to the right and placing themselues in the reere of their pikes The pikes at the same time are to move forwards into the Muskettiers ground where they may charge over head and if need be at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over them as in the Convex-halfe-moone The firing being ended and the pikes advanced let the Commander march forth of the round Battell at that point where he shall finde all his proper file-leaders Then let the whole body be faced to that part aâ—â— the file-leaders caused to march forth even a breast the Muskettiers and pikemen following their leaders and marching untill the body have atteined their orderly square againe But note that all your Muskettiers are in the midst of the battell For the thirteenth firing make the impaled souâ—d square the way to performe it is as followeth Your 〈…〉 being now the flankers draw forth the 〈…〉 of the â—â—â—es of pikemen from the right flanke crosse the front of the body taking the outmost-files let halfe the files of pikemen of the left flanke be drawne crosse the reere following their bringers up Then face all your Muskettiers to the front reere and flanks The pikes may charge all overhand and if need be at the foot with their swords drawn the Muskettiers firing over them Having fired charged and advanced their Pikes draw off the Pikes againe from the front and reere into their places ⊙ For the fourteenth firing the Muskettiers being still in the middle make the hollow fronted-crossebattell the Pikemen making the hollow upon the flanks of the Muskettiers For the making whereof wheele the front off the 2. first ranks into the midst That being done wheele the reer of the 2 last ranks after the same manner and then face the rest of the body to the right and left and cause them to march untill there be a square hollow in the middest of the battell Then command them to face to the front reere and flanks which being in like manner performed cause the Pikes who are now in the front of the Musketticrs to open to the right and left the last ranke of Pikes ranking even with the first ranke of Muskettiers The Muskettiers may give fire upon this figure wheeling all off to the right and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers If need be the Pikes may close their divisions before their Muskettiers and charge their Pikes Which being done and the Pikes againe advanced we will come to the reducement For which purpose face the whole body about to the Center and cause the flanke-divisions to close to their order This being executed let the front-division wheele together their front into the midst as they now stand faced the reere-division doing the like That being in like manner performed face the whole body to the front proper then wheele off the battell to the right and left after which having closed their divisions they are perfectly reduced as at first And herewith we will conclude this dayes exercise and leave our Souldiers to rest untill that the morrows Sunne and the thundering Drumme shall call us forth againe into the Field CHAP. CIX The fifth dayes Exercise HAving the fift time brought your Souldiers into the Field if you have leasure it will not be amisse for to cause them to be instructed in the first place in the Postures of the Pike and Musket For those Souldiers which by often practice of their Postures are growne perfect will manage their Armes with case surety and celerity when on the contrary the unpractised Souldier will be a trouble to himselfe a danger to his fellowes and a Dormant to his Enemies After the Pastures each file being drawne into his place and the Ensigne according to former directions brought to the head of the Pâ—kes the Rankes evened and the files streitned the Captaine having commanded silence and delivered himselfe in such â—earmes as the present occasion doth require ever preferring the industrious and painfull and on the contrary blaming the carelesse and the slothfull he next proceeds to instruct them in their sevâ—â—aâ—◠〈◊〉 and these indeed are the grounds of all motion seeing that without distance the motion cannot be excected Next to the distances they are to be instructed in the motions ever observing to each motion its due 〈◊〉 Next after 〈◊〉 distance and motions let the rest of the dayes Exercise be spent in firings and figures of Battaile Each Officer having now received his severall Charge The Captaine commands the Drums beat and the Muskettiers make ready The first firing being performed by leading forth the outmost file of each Flanke twenty paces or thereabout before the Front and no◠〈…〉 the place of firingâ— let the second men 〈…〉 the right and leâ—â— inward even with their 〈…〉 so give fire together wheeling off by 〈…〉 the right Flanke to the right the left flanke 〈◊〉 the left placing themselves on the inside of their owne dâ—vissâ—ns of Muskeâ—â—iâ—â—s next the Pikes file-wise as they were when they marchedforth So soon as the first two men of their files have after this manner ranked fired and wheeled off the next second mâ—n ranke even with their Leaders as before giving fire and wheeling away to place themselves file-wise aftertheir â—â—â—ders The residue of their first files are to do the like and so still the outermost files leading forth doing in like mannerâ— and still placing themselves file-wise next to the Pikes For the second firing cause the outermost files to march forth to the former distance before the front And whereas in the last firing they ranked but two and twoâ— and so gave fire now let them ranke foure That is to say the three men next behind the right-hand-file-leader shall ranke inward to the left even with their File-leaders the three next men after the left-hand-file-leader ranking inwards to the right even â—â—rest with the leader of their file the residue of each file keeping themselves in file and closing formardâ— to the distance of order just after their File-leaders The first foure of each file having presented fired and wheeled away the last foure men being the â—eâ—râ—-half-files in the interim of their wheeling off ranke to the â—ight and left inward presentingâ— â—â—â—ing and wheeling off as aforesaid and placing themselves in the 〈◊〉 of the former part of their files which wheeledaway before them The second Files are then to lead forth and to doe the like and so successively the rest untill they have all fired over this way For the third firing let the outermost files lead forth to the same distance befoâ—e the Frontâ— whither being come as tothe place wherein 〈◊〉 doe their executionâ— let the files 〈◊〉 to the right and left inwardâ— and so fire all together 〈…〉 and placing themselves as in the 〈◊〉 fâ—â—â—ngs The residue of the other Files of Muskettiers at the sametime marching forth giving fire and still placing themselves file-wise on the innermost part of their own divisions of
Muskettiers and next to the outside of Pikes For the fourth firing cause your Muskettiers to ranke to the right and left into the front and so the whole body of Muskettiers give fire at once which being performed let them face to the right and left inward and so march into their places They may if you please open the files of Muskettiers to double distance and so cause the files to ranke to the right into the front by Conversion giving fire after that manner which if it be done will make the fift firing After this let them fall backe into their places and having made ready againe before you close their distance cause the halfe-files to face about and then let the files ranke into the front and reere and so give fire which will make the siâ—t firing Having thus fired and being fallen backe into their places let the halfe files face againe to their leader and the files of Muskettiers close againe to their order For the seventh firing let the rankes of Muskettiers open backe to their double distance and the Muskettiers wheele to the right and left by Conversion and so give fire to both flankes The men being returned to their places and having againe closed their rankes to their order after some little pause by marching or otherwise the Muskettiers being all againe ready command your files of Pikes to open to the right and left to their double distance Then command rankes both of Muskets and Pikes to open backward to their double distance Which being done command the Muskets to invert to the right and left outward and then to face outward and present and let the halfe-files of Pikes face about Then cause your files of Pikes to ranke to the front and reere by conversion and let the Muskettiers give fire and the Pikes charge This figure will take up a great quantity of ground because that all the Muskettiers are now become two rankes that is to say to each flanke one all the Pikes being likewise brought into two rankes one to the front and the other to the reere This being performed the body will stand in form of a great hollow square The Muskettiers hauing fired the Pikes being advaneed and each Souldier returned to his place and all faced to their leader let them close their rankes and files to their order Then cause the ninth firing to be performed to both flankes upon a stand facing the whole body to the right and left there firing and wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes Whilest the two last rankes are giving fire let the Pikes port and when the Muskettiers have fired and wheeled off let them charge Having advanced their Pikes face the whole body to that part where you shall finde your file-leaders of Muskettiers then will all your Muskettiers be in front and reere Next command your halfe-files that then are to double your front to the left entire which being done let them face to the right and left the Muskettiers giving fire and wheeling off to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The Pikes may also port and charge at discretion The Pikes being advanced and the whole Company faced to their former front command the halfe-rankes of the right both Muskettiers and Pikes to march and the halfe-rankes of the left flanke to follow in the reere Having given them some time of breathing then for the eleventh firing cause the halfe-files that then are Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the reere Which being done let the Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere upon a stand wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their Pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground The Pikes are then to charge when they are cleered of their Muskettiers Which being done and they againe advanced face them all to their former front For the twelfth firing command halfe-files to double the front inward intire To which purpose open the front halfe-files both Muskettiers and Pikes to the right and left for receiving the halfe-files of both Armes within them which being executed each Armes will stand in three divisions Then command the front halfe-files to face about to the reere and to present The Reere halfe-files keeping still faced to the front and there in like manner presenting and both giving fire together The first time of their firing over they may fall in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers wheeling off to the right and left The second time of giving fire upon this figure let them wheele off as before and place themselues in the Reere of their following divisions of Pikes Which being in like manner performed let the Pikes charge Being againe advanced face the body to the former front and command halfe-files that doubled to face to the Reere and march into their places The halfe-files being faced about and marched cleare off then are the front halfe-files to close their divisions Thus being all rightly faced the Muskettiers will be in the front and reere For the thirteenth firing make the horned battell to the front and reere For the which cause the halfe-files of Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the reere Then cause the Muskettiers to open to the right and left both in front and reere and so to give fire wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes The Pikes may also charge Having advanced let them all face to their leader at the proper front Lastly for the fourteenth firing make the Sconce Battell For further directions wherein turne backe to the 93. Chapter where you may finde instructions as well for the making giving of fire and reducing thereof And if you please your Ensigne may display his Colours in the hollow part of the midst of the Pikes Supposing now that by this time the night hath almost overtaken us we will prepare to lodge our Colours with our accustomed Bene-vale and herewith we will conclude this our fifth dayes Exercise suffering our Souldiers to depart to their severall habitations There leaving them to clense their arms and to refresh their bodies untill the morrows clamouring Drum doth invite us forth to our sixth dayes Exercise CHAP. CX The sixt dayes Exercise HAving the sixth time brought your Souldiers into the Field according to the accustomed manner let each File-leader exercise his File in the Postures of such Armes as they carry Which being performed and the Files againe rejoyned into one body the Ensigne being at the head of the Pikes and the rest of the Officers in their severall places The Captaine having commanded silence attention and obeaience three especiall vertues most necessarily requisite to every common Souldier hee proceeds to the severall distances instructing them in the uses of each of them Next after the distances he teaches them the Facings the Doublings the Countermarches and the Wheelings with severall Observations upon each of the Motions After which having so commanded The Drums bcat and the Muskettiers make ready
for Skirmish Then if you please you may cause three or foure of the first firings to be performed by light Skirmishing before the Front and that with loose Ranks or Files or both either some of those or such like as I have formerly spoken off in the preceding Exercises After which for your next firing cause your Half-files to open to the right and left by equall division untill the Reere Divisions of Pikes stands right after the Muskettiers of the Front-division Now the Muskettiers standing in foure Divisions let them all present and give fire to the Front wheeling all off to the right and placing themselves in the Reere of their own divisions of like Armes each Ranke still making good the Leaders ground Having given fire once or twice over on this Figure For the second firing cause the Front-division to give fire to the Front and the two Reere divisions to each Flanke in a March The Front-division with fires in Ranke wheele all off to the right placing themselves in the Reere of their ownc Divisions of Muskettiers the other Divisions with fire in flanke leading up their files betweene their owne divisions of Muskettiers and the Pikes Having given fire once or oftner over according to discretion this way let the third firing be performed upon a stand For the which cause your reere-divisions to facc to the right and left outward the front-division still to continue the same aspect Then let the Muskettiers give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right and the contrary flanke to the contrary hand the Muskettiers of the front division placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskets the Muskettiers of the reere divisions placing themselues in the reere of the reere divisions of Pikes each ranke of Muskettiers still making good his leaders ground When they have fired all over let the Pikes charge to front and both flanks Having advanced your Pikes againe and faced your body to the front proper each Armes still standeth in three divisions Then let the fourth firing be to the reere and both flanks upon a march And to that end open your front-divisions of Muskettiers to the right and left untill they are cleere of the reere-divisions of Pikes that so they be not troublesome unto them in their march Then let your pikes shoulder and the Muskettiers give fire the front divisions of Muskettiers firing in flanke and leading up on the inside of their owne divisions The Muskettiers of the reere division giving fire in the reere in ranke wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the front of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having fired once over and the Pikes charged let your fifth firing be to the Reere and both flankes upon a stand In the which let the half-files both Muskettiers and Pikes face to the Reere the Front-division to the right and left and so give fire one each part those that fire to the flankes wheeling off and placing themselves in the Reere of their divisions of Pikes and the Muskets of the Reere divisions wheeling off to the right and left and placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions of Musketties each Ranke moving forward into their Leaders ground Having fired over let the Pikes charge The Pikes being againe advanced face the whole body to the proper front and then all the Muskettiers will be in the midst and the Pikemen on the flankes For the sixth firing cause your half-rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For further directions looke back to the tripartite firing which you shall find Chap. 92. Having fired over that way charged and re-advanced your pikes face the whole body to their former front For your seventh firing cause the front and reere divisions of Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the right the rest of the body both Muskets and Pikes to the left Let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele all off either to the right or left and place themselves in the reere of their following divisions of Pikes each ranke still moving up into their leaders ground When there rest but two rankes of each division to fire let the Pikes port Having all fircd and wheeled away let the Pikes charge Then face the whole body to their first front and command the first and last foure rankes to face to the left and to march untill they are cleere of the standing part of the Body Then cause the front halfe-files to face to the left the reere halfe-files to the right and so to close their divisions and after that to face towards their leader For the eight firing make the sollid Square girdled with Muskettiers For the which draw halfe the files of the right flanke of Muskettiers crosse the front and halfe the files of Muskettiers of the left flanke crosse the reere Then face the whole body both Muskets and Pikes to the front reere and flankes This done let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers All the time of this firing the Pikemen being in the middle of the Muskettiers have good opportunity if the enemy be neere to gall them with their thicke showers of feathered shot The Muskettiers in the meane time having fired once twice or oftner over on this Figure draw your files of Muskettiers backe againe into their places Then having faced the whole body to the proper front let your ninth firing be Captaine Wallers double firing to the front and reere after this manner First wheele front and reere into the right flanke then face them all the same way they were before which done cause the halfe-files to face to the reere and command the Muskettiers which are in the reere of each division of Pikes to double their front of Pikes by division Then let them face about and close their divisions and so having refaced them as they were let them give fire wheele off and charge according to directions on Captaine Wallers Figure For the tenth firing let them face to the right and left and give fire to both flankes upon a stand wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes When the Pikes have charged and are againe advanced let the Captaine passe to the front accidentall of the left flanke and face the rest of the body to him and in the next place wheele their flanks into the front and so all the Muskettiers will be in the front and by facing the whole body to the left all the Muskettiers will be on the right flanke Let the eleventh figure be the Diamond Battell Having given fire two or three severall wayes according to the directions upon that figure charged Pikes and reduced them againe into the Square face the body about to the right and passe the Muskettiers which belong to the right flanke betweene the ranks of pikes into their places Then the Muskettiers of the left flanke being closed to their Pikes the Body will stand
it will be best for the ease of the Musettiers to be shouldered And upon all doubling of Ranks whatsoever lot them be sure to observe their right hand men A part Countermarch is when one Moity or part of the Body countermarcheth thereby not altering the number of the length or depth of the Figure but onely transferring one part into another Note that if the Reere be doubled to the Right the Countermarch must be to the Left if the doubling be to the Left the Countermarch must be to the Right It is at the discretion of the Commander to face the Company which way he pleaseth either for Motion or Reducement of any Motion formerly performed Order in Ranke and File The distance required for intire Doubling What intire Doublingsare What is meant by Particle and dividuall Doublings Note that the left-hand men are the Leaders of the motion in the reducement Inversion Chorean Lacedemon Macedon Bastard Countermarch Bast Count. Lacedemon Lacedemon Cretan or Chorean Lacedemonian B. A Countermarch Lacedemonia Cretan or Chorean Bast Countermarch Lacedemonia Macedonian Bast Count. Chorean or Cretan LacedemoniaÌ„ Macedonian Bast Counter The distance for Counter march is sixe foot or open order in ranke and file Note that when there is a Countermarch commanded without any other addition then it is alwayes intended a Chorean countermarch LacedemoniaÌ„ * An Intervall is the space of ground betweene fils file or ranke and ranke but in this place is intended the space of ground betweene the files LacedemoniaÌ„ Lacedemonian Macedonian Macedonian Bastard Counter-march Bastard Countermarch Chorean Lacedemonian Lacedemonian Macedon Bast Count. Of divisionall Countermarches Note that for Countermarching Front and Reere into the midst the Front-halfe-files ever turne off to the Right the Reere halfe files to the Left which being truely observed they will alwayes meet even in the middle of the Battaile where to the contrary if they turne both off to the Right they can never doe the Counter-march but wrong Bast Counter * Note that as the front half-files empiieth the space of ground betweene the leaders and halfe-file-leaders placing themselues in the ground before the front so in the meane time their places are replenished by the souldiers of the Reere-halfe-files which march up and supply their roomes If you reduce them by another Countermarch first close their divisions Macedonian Note that when the Reere half files face about the last ranke which are the bringers up 〈…〉 â—ill to keep their 〈…〉 Note that upon the Countermarching of flanks into the midst the right flanke must alwayes obserâ—e to turn to the right the left flanke to the left For if they should both turne off to the right they wil never meet right iâ— they turne off both to the left it will be as bad Macedonian Note that if yâ—u please yâ—u mâ—y paste the Pikes alone through and let the Muskettier stand But then there wil lbe a la ge distance betweene the Musketti â—s in the midst Note that the distance for wheelings ought to be three foot betweene Ranke and File Note that upoÌ„ the exercise of the motions whether it be distance facings doublings Countermarches or wheelings the Muskettiers ought to be all upon one and the same posture either poâ—â—ed or shouldered the pikes in like manner either shouldered or advanced Note the direction for angular wheelings Note that wheeling to the rightabout will not be reduced by wheeling back againe to the left about just into the same ground if the wheeling be Anguler but will be â—wise the length of the battell removed to the right of your former standing Vpon al wheelingâ— you must obserue to follow your leaderâ— which must be understood aswell of those which bâ—come leaders accideÌ„â—ally by reason of facings as of those which be the â—â—â—st and proâ—â—â— leaders As in th s wheeling â—or example where the upâ—te â—te become the leaders of the Mâ—â—â—on Note that the two upâ—re â—re the Hingeâ— of this whâ—â—ling Notâ— that if the length of your Batâ—eâ—â— be double the numâ— r of your depth as in this figure then this wheeling of front and reere into the right or left-flanke doth quâ—dâ—uple their formeâ— depth If the number were equall in lengto and depth then by this wheeling they would be but doubled If the number of your length exceed more then double your depth by so much the more will the extension of the depâ—h be beyond quadruple c. * The three motions are Blow your Coalâ— Open your Pan Present Breast high You are to blow your Coalâ— stepping forwards with your left foot Open your Pannel stepping forwards with your right foot Present stepping forwards with your left foot The 〈◊〉 aâ—e to bepetforâ—â—d hand and foot together by every one that advanceth 〈◊〉 to â—ivâ— fire without expecting anydirectiâ—â—â— in time of Skirm sâ— * Note that the second firing will cause the body to fâ—ee to the reer which then becomes a front accidentall and is the cause that the same command reduceth the figure which first made it Note upon all firings in the Reere Blow your colt stepping forwards with your right foot Open your pâ—n stepping forwards with your left foot present to the R ere stepping forwards with your right foot Note that all the Muskettierâ— must be in the midst and the pikes on flankeâ— when you begin to make this figure If your Muskettiers be on the flanke when you make it then the crosse will be Piâ—â—s and the Angles Muskettiers c. The Plinthium is a hollow Square Battell fronted foure waies the number equall in length depth Another kind of Plinthium is to have the depth exceed the length the light Armes to be placed in the miost of the hollow patt See the Taâ—â—icâ— of Aelian the second Books the notes of the forty two Chapter * Note that the odde files on the right flank are the outermost files to the right the third file the fift file the seventh so forward for the rest if the 〈◊〉 be larger beginning your account from the outermost file to the right Note that the odde files on the leâ—t-flanke are the fileâ— the third the fiâ—th the seventh c. so still accounting the odde files beginning with the outermost file to the 〈◊〉 * I is very necessary still so often as time will permit to instruct the Souldiers in the postures and the well handling of their Armes * Each file-leader to lead up his file upon the first Summons of the Drum * Ever to observe to be even in Ranke and strait in file and stand at the true distance * Fetching the Ensigne to the head of the Company * Souldiers ought to be very silent First the souldiers ought to have their due distance given them with directions how most properly to performe * Facings Doublings Countermarches Wheelings wherein the Souldier ought treatably to be instructedâ— the Commander alwayes observing what his Souldiers are hee hath to deale withall and to give h s directions accordingly Never striving to put more into the battle then it can conveniently hold * Observe to march between each firing upon each figure that may be convenient * Face about or wh ele about for to Countermarch if any en my be nâ—â—r iâ— very dangerous * Wheele your Flanks into the Front if your Souldiers have time enough otherwiâ—e face to the Reere and charge Pikes * When the Pikes shoulder the Musketiers must observe to ranke even with them * Vpon this firing advance Pikes when there is but one file and close forwards to the distance of order * These kind of Intervals ought to contain six foot in distance upon some other occasions 12 foot is necessary The hollow Square Captain Wallers firing Silence Vpon all motions be â—ure that the Souldiers stand even in ranke and file Good words more available then blowes or ill language The Muskettie s make ready to give fiâ—e â—etween each firing cause your body to march either in forme of Baâ—talia extended in length or upon any other figure where it may conveniently be done without disorder Whosoever it be that teacheth the postures of the Musket ought to be very diligent in his instruction concerning the well managing of their aâ—mes that they may not only fire to the Front reere and flank But that they observe order in their motion which will better their execution The file-leader if he have time may instruct his file in the distances and the severall motions * By drawing foâ—th â—ff loose files or otherwise You may eiâ— tâ—â—r draw forth the innermost or outermost at discretion
onely differing in the Aspect for the Lacedemonian turned the Aspect outward The Macedonian turned the Aspect inward And this keeps the Aspect still directed the same way He that knows every way may when time serveth make use of those wayes which are most necessarie and sutable to his present occasion The Proverbe saith Knowledge is no burthen The way to performe this Countermarch is as followeth according to the Command the outmost-file of each flanke stands the rest of the Body faceth to the right and left outward the right flanke passing through to the right the left flanke to the left those of the right-flanke placing themselues on the outside of their right-hand-men in like manner those on the left flanke placing themselues on the outside of their left-hand-men If may be reduced either by any of the foregoing divisionall Countermarches of Ranks or else being faced to any of the flanks then the rankes become files And by divisionall Countermarches of files you may reduce divisionall Countermarches of Ranks or by ranks files onely you must observe some facings Yet for this figure if you please Command the two innermost-files stand the rest face to the right and left inward and so march into their places The next shall be a Countermarch of interchanging of Flanks CHAP. LVI Of Interchanging Ground by the Flanks and bringing the innermost-files of Pikes to become the outmost-ranks The Command is Interchange Flanks THis exchanging of Flanks or Bastard Countermarch is differing from all the other divisionall Countermarches of Ranks for this transferres the right-flanke into the place of the left and the left-flanke into the place of the right It is very apt for to receive a sudden charge from the horse for as soone as they shall be commanded to interchange their flanks they face to the right and left inward and then the innermost-files of the pikes begin the Motion the rest of each flanke following orderly file-wise the pikes porting so soone as they begin to move and charge as they see occasion If need be the pikes may charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over their shoulders If any object that the Pikes have too large a distance they may close at their owne pleasures as soone as they have past through For the reducement you may if you please interchange ground againe neverthelesse if you would reduce it by some other way Countermarch your Flanks into the midst and then an intire Countermarch either of ranke or file will reduce them I might have further enlarged my selfe upon this subject both in Command and Figure but it may be that some will finde fault with these which I have already penned concluding them for nicities and for no service because they cannot presently apprehend for what use or service they may be fit Notwithstanding I would intreat such if any such happen to be my overlookers that they would suspend their censures untill they have fully enformed their judgements Yet thus much I will conclude with them that Countermarches might the best be spared of all the Motions as being least beneficiall to this our Moderne discipline And yet to very good use many of them might serve if our Souldiers were well practised in them Neverthelesse such is the wilfull stupidity of the times that many good and usefull things are disreputed and accounted of no use because the Souldier wanting skill cannot performe them as they ought which would the Officers take more paines by often instructing their Souldiers the hardest Motions would become facile and easie And to say truth the greatest fault is want of skill in those which should give instruction to others and yet they will not sticke to carpe at such as shall shew more than they concluding such things for superfluous and improper which they themselues do not rightly understand But lest I be taxed for digression I will conclude this branch of Discipline with these few lines following SOme burthened are with more command than skill Which had they power suting to their minde You then should see Reason inthral'd to will Nor any 'bove their knowledge should you finde For rather than they 'le study to learne better They wish all wanting none to know a letter So be there many Officers in Bands That neither know themselves nor care for those That skilfull are in Postures and Commands Nor are they carefull which end formost goes They thinke to dice to drabbe to sweare and swill Is skill enough for them Learne more that will And if that any man more forward be For to instruct the Souldier as is fit With such a fellow they cannot agree He is vaine-glorious strives to shew his wit They will be sure to quarrell and deprave him And in their cups perhaps they 'll Such honest hearts as spend both meanes and time To practise others for their Countries good Why should this good be counted for a crime To those that for their Prince would spend their bloud That Countrey sure will best be kept from harmes Whose Subjects pleasure take to practise Armes But on this Subject I 'le no longer bide Of Countermarches Here I 'le take my leave To shew the Wheelings next I shall provide Which follows next of course as I conceive And though with verse my Countermarches close Beginning Wheelings I returne to Prose CHAP. LVII Of wheelings their kindes and uses with their severall words of Command THe next Branch springing from this root of Discipline are wheelings which are of two kindes viz. wheelings Angular and wheelings on the Center as also they are to be conceived in manner of action either intire or divisionall the use of intire wheelings is to turne the aspect of the front proper to the right to the left or reere either for the gaining of the Winde Sunne or some such like advantage or to confront the enemy with their best souldiers Most of the divisionall wheelings being indeed more properly doublings either extending the length or depth of the Battell notwithstanding because I wold not be taxed with innovation or alteration I have according unto the usuall received way placed them amongst the wheelings and now I will shew their words of command or direction But before I enter upon them give me leave to lay downe an observation or two for the better instruction of the Souldiers in their wheelings The first is That before you enter upon your wheelings you close both Rankes and Files to their order which is three foot both in ranke and file The other that upon all wheelings you must be sure to observe your leader and follow him keeping your due distance your Muskettiers being all either poyzed or shouldered your Pikes ought to be advanced The words of Commands are as followeth Wheele your Battell to the Right   Left   Right about  Left  Right  on the same ground Left  Right about Left Wheele off your Front by division   your Front
twelve score or lesse then it is fit that the Muskettiers give fire even with the front of the Pikes and that the Pikemen advance their Pikes and close forwards to their distance of three foot that so they may be even in ranke with their Muskettiers as you may perceive by the following Figure Now the Pikes being advanced and the rankes closed forwards to their due distance of order the Muskettiers are to present even with the front every ranke successively moving forward untill they come to be even in ranke with the first ranke of Pikes there to give fire and to wheele off to the right and left trooping file-wise downe close to their owne divisions and taking their places in the reere as in the former figures The first ranke of Muskettiers having fired and wheeled away the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places and there to give fire after the same manner wheeling away againe and placing themselves according to former directions every ranke still making good their Leaders ground In this sort the battell may be continued untill they have fired once twice or oftner over and that the Bodies become so close together that the Pikes begin to porte and so at length come to push of Pike Which done the Muskettiers are to give fire either retreiting or else not to advance further then the halfe files of Pikes For in that place the bodies being come so neere together they will doe as much execution as if they were even with the front The manner of the standing you may perceive by the following Figure The Pikes being now come to push the Muskettiers are to advance no further than the halfe files of Pikes that so they may doe execution with their shot and be out of danger of the Pikes This having attained they are there to present and give fire every ranke still moving forwards and maintaining his leaders ground After they have performed their firing they are to wheele off by division as in the former Figures still placing themselves in the reere of their owne files alwaies taking their directions from the Drum either for charging or retreiting c. The battell or charge being ended the reducement is easie The leader of each file being in his place at the head of his file command the Muskettiers to march up even with the front of pikes and then they will be as at first Obserue withall that when the firing is to be performed even with the front then the Muskettiers are stil to make good their leaders ground The want to be in the place of most security which is the Reere as you may perceive by the pricks which I have designed for noting out the empty roomes of such who have closed forwards to make good the ground in the front the others that last fired are wheeled off and trooping downe into their places When the firing is even with the halfe-files they are to do the like unlesse the Drumme beat a retreat for then the Muskettiers neither advance nor retreat but every rank giving fire on the same ground they stand and then wheele off againe that their fellows may do as much Neverthelesse when the forlorne files march forth or that two ranks march forth ten paces or more before the front then they are to give fire as upon a retreit unlesse the enemy flye I will now shew some other wayes of firing in front before I shew the firings in the reere The first whereof shall be the horne Battell as in the Chapter following CHAP. LXXIII Of the Horne-battell how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe Horn-battell may be for the same occasion and use as the firing by two ranks ten paces advancing before the front and is by some held more serviceable because that the muskettiers do their execution more roundly without any intermission of time and keepe themselues without stragling from their bodies Besides the wings of Muskettiers being so advanced are more apt for over-fronting and more easily to be wheeled whereby to charge the enemy in flanke each of these wings or divisions are to be led up by a Serjeant or some other superiour Officer unto the place appointed by the Chiefe But because that it may be performed in time of exercise by the intelligible Souldier observe the Command which produceth this following figure Pikes stand Muskettiers march untill the Bringers up ranke with the front of Pikes The Horne-battell The figure being perfect the firstranke of Muskettiers present and give fire wheeling off either all to the right or to the right and left according as they shall have direction and placing themselues orderly in the Reere of their owne files The next ranke after the same manner firing and wheeling off and placing themselues behinde those which were their leaders Thus is every rank successively to do the like untill they have all given fire If the Commander would still preserve and continue the same figure then let the Muskettiers still move forwards into the ground or place of them that fired before them and the forme will be still the same And if by the Chiefetain it be found necessary that after once or twice firing over the shot should flanke their pikes then the Muskettiers must not advance into their leaders ground but to the contrary every ranke is to present and fire on the same ground they stand and that so soone as they are cleere of their leaders Or if need be the pikes may advance and march up to make their front iâ—tire which being done the file-leaders of Muskettiers being in front they are reduced CHAP. LXXIIII Of the Demie-hearse Battell The use of the figure how to make it and to reduce it by firing THe next firing in Front which I present unto you is the Demie Hearse which is a figure most firme most sollid and most stable yea and doth as much execution as any of the former and that with halfe the danger For the pikes in the former figure they either ranke even with the front of Muskets or else the division of Muskettiers being open they become liable to the danger of the enemies shot themselues not being able to do any thing either offensive or defensive But to the contrary in this figure they are securely covered by their owne Muskettiers untill they approach nearer to the enemy Whereby they may be able to do some service either by sending their showres of arrows amongst them for bringing their array out of order or else by closing neerer come to the shocke and so try the fortune of the day But not to hold you longer in circumstance take the words of command which produce the figure as followeth Pikes stand Muskettiers advance before your Front of Pikes and close your Divisions The Demic-hearse For the firings on this figure they may be divers yet I shall content my selfe onely to shew two of them The first is that the Muskettiers may at the discretion
of the Commander give fire in front and so wheele off by division or all to the right as shall best please him that commands in Chiefe placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions and files of shot which is just before the front of pikes The next ranks then moving forwards into their leaders ground are to present fire wheele off and place themselues after the same manner the rest of the ranks of Muskettiers doing the like untill they have all given fire which firing doth nothing alter the forme or figure of battell Having fired once or twice over this way the second firing shall serue for reducement which is indeed the firing intended to be exprest by this figure And that I may by words the more clearly explaine the worke take these directions following The first ranke having given fire are to wheele equally off by division each part falling file-wise downe close by their flanks of Muskettiers untill the leaders of the ranks of Muskets come downe as low as the first ranke of pikes which being performed they are to face outwards and to move so farre forth in a strait line untill they have ranked even with the first ranke of pikes But herewithall are they to observe that they must leave an Intervall betweene the innermost-musket of each flanke and the outermost-file-leader of the pikes So soone as the first ranke hath given fire and wheeled away the second ranke is to give fire wheeling off as before and passing downe betweene the Intervals on the flanks placing themselues after their leaders The same is every ranke successively to do untill all the Muskettiers are drawne from before the front and placed on the flanke of their pikes But when there are not above two ranks of Muskettiers to give fire then the pikes may port and when the Muskettiers have fired and are wheeled away they may charge And lastly the pikes being re-advanced the body stands reduced as at first CHAP. LXXV Of giving Fire advancing by way of Introduction with the beneficiall use of the Bow and Pike I Shall next offer to your perusall a figure of Introduction which is a passing through or betweene Being a firing by way of advancing against the enemy and of gaining ground I will not dispute how usefull it is but sure I am it is over-ballanced with danger As for such whom I haue seene to practise it they have rather used it for varietie in a well experienced Company then for any knowne excellency it hath in it selfe But if these lines happen to be over-lookt by any that preserues a better opinion of this firing by introduction then I do I shall be willing to leave them to their owne liking while I in the meane time proceed to shew the manner of the execution which is usually one of these two wayes The first when the Motion is begun by the second ranke from the front The other when it is begun by the Bringers up Neverthelesse you must note that your files of Muskettiers must be opened to their open order before the firing begin that so the Muskettiers may passe betweene the Intervals of each file to give fire in the front And therefore take the words of Command and Direction which will produce this Figure following Muskettiers make ready to give fire by introduction to the right Files of Muskettiers open by Division to your open order This firing by introduction may be thus performed The Pikes being flankt with their Muskettiers the first ranke of each flanke present and give fire having fired they stand and make ready againe in the same place The second ranke passing forwards before the first doe there fire and stand the third rank then passing forwards after the second and standing even in ranke with them that first fired that so soone as the second ranke hath fired they may quickly step before them and fire in like manner In this firing still the ranke which is next to fire stands even in ranke with them which last fired untill those which stand presented have likewise given fire after which they then passe before them the Ranke which was their next followers passing forwards and ranking with those which last fired every man following his Leader successively untill the Bringers up give fire stand and then the Figure will become a Horne battell All the while that this firing by Introduction is continued the Pikes may be shouldered if there be no feare of horse or otherwise at discretion If you continue this firing twice over the Muskettiers will have their right places which being done march up your Pikes to ranke even with your Muskettiers in front and they are reduced For the other way of firing by introduction the first ranke or file-leaders are to give fire as before and to stand the last ranke or bringers up in the interim of their firing marching up and ranking even with the second ranke the rest following their Bringers up as they do when Bringers up double their front The first ranke having fired the Bringers up step immediately before them present and give fire the rest stil successively doing the like untill every rank have given fire once over Observe withal that the file-leaders are to give fire twice over being the first the last then to stand the Pikes marching up even with their front of Muskettiers And thus they are reduccd as at first The Pikemen all the time of this firing doe no service Notwithstanding if one halfe of them had bowes fastened unto their Pikes being able and well practised men they might whilest the Muskettiers are in firing be dealing of their doles about and although their arrowes did not happen to wound mortally yet the whisteling noyse the terrour of the sight and the severall hurts which could not chuse but be many would be a great abatement to the stoutest courages And great pitty it is to see the lusty Pike-man poorely to droppe downe by the Musket-shot himselfe not being able to hurt his enemy at that distance nor defend himselfe CHAP. LXXVI The way to make the Diamond Battell severall waies to fire upon it with divers other figures and firings which are thereby produced THe Diamond Battell is also a firing in front though more for shew then moderne service yet because that some hold it in venerable respect I thought fit to place it amongst the rest leaving every man to his liking either to use it or refuse it It may be that some will looke that I should make the Sheere Battell the Wedge the Saw and many such like which might be made either hollow or sollid But I shall intreate such to spare me for I would not willingly spend time to so small purpose chusing rather to insist on Figures more profitable for them and commendable for mee Yet if any man have a minde to practise any of them by observation of this Diamond Battell he may easily make them But not to hold you longer with circumstance
you would bring more hands to fight double rankes to any hand and the body for forme and number will stand like the figure here next following But the speediest way and I thinke the best I am sure with expert Souldiers is to wheele both â—lanks into the front which is the way intended by this Figure For the manner of the firing it selfe you may partly perceive that there are intervalles made for each division to wheele off to the right that so they may either fall in the reer of the Muskettiers there continue the firing or else fall in the reer of the pikes be therby secured from the horse It may be done one or both wayes according to the occasion or discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse before I shew the firing observe these words of Command which produce the Figure Wheele your flanks into the front Face to your leader The broad â—â—onted Battell The first ranke having presented and given fire let them wheele off to the right all passing down the Interualâ—es to the right and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The Muskettiers making good their leaders ground and the next ranâ—es firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before Having fired once or twice over this way a second way may be to place themselves in the reere of their Pikes either standing or advancing the Pikemen in the meane time clouding the cleere skie with their ayrie Armorie The Muskettiers having all given fire and placed themselves in the reere if need bee the Pikes may close their divisions and charge over hand and if the enemy shall still presse forwards the Pikes may charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over them c. For reducement there are divers waies by firings but because I would make every thing so plaine and easie that those that reade for instruction may receive benefit it hath caused me to reduce each figure by it selfe and not to multiply one upon another whereby to make them too ambiguous And therefore if you make this Figure by wheeling your flankes into the front and then fire as aforesaid the reducement may be either to fire them over againe and so to fall into their former places and then to wheele your flankes into the front againe and lastly face about to the right and they will be as before Or else if you would reduce them without giving fire over againe then command your Muskettiers to double your front by division that done wheele both flankes into the reere then face to your leader and command your Muskettiers to double your front by division againe and they are as at first If I should proceed to shew the many and sundry wayes of firings which may be done in front my Booke had need to have as many leaves as lines and yet all too little But that I may keepe my selfe to my promise and my Booke to its compasse I will next come to shew some firings in the reere and amongst my divisionall firings I shall insert some other sorts of front firings which here I have omitted CHAP. LXXX Of dismarching or firing in the Reere the severall wayes and how they ought to be performed HAving so long maintained Battaile in the front I will now face them about and see how they will behave themselves upon their firings in the reere Which kinde of firings may be very beneficiall and serviceable many wayes For by keeping an orderly march and firing in the reere the eager enemy by a too hasty pursuit may be disordered Or if it so happen as many timesit doth that you have a disadvantagious place to imbattell on by this firing you may march away still preserving your order and array untill you have brought your adversary into some ambushment or such like inconvenience For the manner of comming of the firing it must either be by facing about wheeling about or countermarching the Pikes are to be shouldered The figure followeth A firing in the Reere The Bodie being upon a march if the enemy appeare in the Reere let the last ranke of Muskettiers face about and give fire wheeling off by division file-wise marching up toward the Front and there placing themselues before the foremost ranke of Muskettiers the outmost man of each ranke being the leader up of those which have fired where first taking their places on the outside the rest wheeling about them and ranking even with them on the inside ever observing that they ranke even with the second ranke of pikes The rest of the Muskettiers also doing the like and in this manner to continue the firing as occasion shall require Neverthelesse of all the figures and firings that ever I have seene this hath beene the worst performed in all places which might easily be amended if the Souldiers would observe this following order in their execution namely when the last ranke of Muskettiers have presented to the Reere and are giving of fire the ranke which marched next before them do then blow open and present at three motions still keeping along even with the Body untill that lastly they present to the Reere by which time the ranke that last fired will be wheeled away The next ranke so soone as the other hath presented is likewise at 3. motions to do the same and so successively for all the rest every ranke observing upon each ranks firing to loose one and to march one ranke neerer to the reere of the Battell that so that part may still be kept absolute This giving of fire towards the reere for service is to be continued according to the qualitie of the place the occasion for fight and the discretion of the Commander In exercise we commonly do it but once over and then if you please you may make Alte and face your Bodie about giving fire over againe and charging your pikes upon it if need so requireth Notwithstanding if the horse shall still continue to pursue you in the reere you having gained some strait or place of advantage may wheele your flanks into the Front then face to the reere and with your charged pikes defend your Muskettiers which the body being so wheeled will be in the reere The body standing in this forme the Muskettiers may sleeve up by way of Extraduction The manner you may perceive in the Chapter which treats of that figure If the horse still presse forwards cause the pikes to charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire â—ver them as in the Convex halfe Moone Lastly to reduce them having thus fired command them to wheele their flanks into the fron and to face about after their proper file-leaders and they are reduced Sometimes we give fire in the reere having all our Muskettiers marching in the reere of the pikes For the manner of the motion it is as before but for placing of the men after they have fired it may be different As to wheele off by division placing themselues in the front of
thereby I may expresse farre more matter in fewer lines and shorter time CHAP. LXXXVI Of firing to the front and reere upon a march THe Muskettiers being all placed in the front and reere according to the directions in the last Chapter I will now shew the manner of firing to the front and reere upon a march Which however that it may bee rare and seldome usefull in service yet it must needs be excellent for practise For by the often using it the Souldier may be made capable of any firing The Pikes you are to understand are to be shouldered The Command for the firing is Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere and flanke your Pikes The Command being given as above said to give fire to the front and reere the first ranke presents the last ranke faceth about to the reere and doth the like and so both giving fire together wheele off by division The one halfe of the ranke following after the right hand man of the same ranke the other halfe after the left hand man who leads them close downe by the side or flanke of the Muskettiers untill they come to the Pikes The first ranke of Muskettiers now ranking even with the first rank of Pikes the last ranke of Muskets with the last ranke of Pikes leaving a sufficient intervalle betwixt them and their Pikes for the other Muskettiers to march betweene And here you must note that he that was outermost when they gave fire must likewise be outermost when they have taken their places on the flanke The first and last rankes having fired and wheeled off the next rankes the body marching on three or foure steps are in like manner to present and give fire wheeling off by division and passing betweene the divisions there placing themselves they of the front division behinde those which fired last before them and they of the reere division before them which fired last behinde them And so they may continue to give fire after the same manner untill they have all given fire once over Then may the body make a stand and the Pikes charge to the front and reere if need be Or if the Commander would continue his firing to the front and reere still upon the same figure Then let the Muskettiers of the front place themselves after they have given fire behinde the Muskettiers of their owne division those of the reere division placing themselves betwixt the reere of Pikes and the Muskets of their owne division and so the body moving but flowly forwards they may continue the firing Having given fire to the front and reere and flanked their Pikes if the occasion offer or the Commander please they may give fire to the front and reere upon that Figure which indeed I hold the better as you may perceive in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. LXXXVII A second way of firing to the front and reere THis second way of firing to the front and reere upon a march may easily be performed if the Souldiers bee well and often instructed Without which all matters in the Art militarie will seeme difficult and by which all things will be made facile and easie I could instance in divers motions and figures by some reputed superfiuous niceties which were the true uses knowne to the Commander and the way to execute to the Souldier would be found to be of singular good service Neverthelesse because to the ignorant nothing beyond their capacities may seeme excellent many good and serviceable motions are slighted and not accounted fit for service But I could well wish that some good course might be taken that the Souldiers of our trayned Bands might have a little oftener practise that so they might be able at least in some reasonable way to understand and exercise what shall bee commanded them But I have strayed from the matter And therefore take these words of Command and direction which being orderly executed produce this following firing Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere placing your selves betweene your Divisions The way to performe this firing is as followeth the Command being given the first ranke presents to the front the last ranke of Muskettiers facing about and doing the like towards the reere This done they both give fire wheeling off by division and place themselves betweene the Muskettiers of their divisions Those namely which were of the front halfe files falling into the reere of their owne division those of the reere halfe files contrariwise falling before their halfe file leaders and ranking even with the halfe file leaders of Pikes the next rankes successively firing and wheeling off after the same manner Having fired once over they are reduced every man to his place These two last firings to be performed upon a march would seeme very difficult to unexperienced Souldiers but by often exercising they may be made capable of these or of any other CHAP. LXXXVIII A firing to the Reere and right flanke marching HAving shewed firings in front reere and flanke some marching some standing I will shew one firing to the reere and right flanke upon a march which without question must needs be very serviceable at such times as the enemy shall skirmish with the body to annoy them in their passage in flanke and reere at one time I shall not need with arguments to inforce the usefulnesse of the firing for none that knowes any thing in the Art military but will ingeniously confesse that for some services it must needs be necessary You may if you please give fire to the flanke and reere your Muskettiers being in their ordinary places on the flankes of their Pikes Neverthelesse a securer way for the Pikes will be to draw the Muskettiers from that flanke which is in least danger crosse the reere of Pike-men And this shall be the way I will observe in this firing The words of Command and direction for this firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the right and reere placing your selves betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions The Command being given to fire to the reere and right flanke the outermost file of Muskettiers presents to the right and the last rank of Muskettiers presents to the reere and so both give fire The rest of the Body in the meane time marching a reasonable pace The right hand file and last ranke having fired the file faceth to the left after their file-leader and so marcheth up between the Muskettiers of the same division and the Pikes the ranke wheeling off to the right and placing it selfe next after the reere of Pikes and before the first rank of Muskettiers of the same division If you please you may make an Intervalle betweene the Muskettiers that so part may wheele off to the right on the out side and the other part wheele off to the right and march up betweene the Intervalle into their places The first file and ranke that presented having given fire and wheeled cleere off the body the next file and ranke present and give fire
more ease and to use them with more delight Neither need they to be altogether ignorant seeing there are divers printed portraitures of the postures of each Armes as also books whereby they may have very ample instruction By which having attained some little skill they will not be contented untill they have better improved it by the instruction of their Officers after which they will proue better proficients in one houre then as they were before in a yeare CHAP. LXXI Of firing by forlorne files The manner and use BEfore I enter upon formes and figures of Battel be pleased to observe with me that all firings are either direct or oblique notwithstanding that the formes are full enough of varietie occasioned most times by the scituation of the place the order of the enemy and the number of men with other Politicall observations for the gaining of winde and Sunne For the manner of firings they are sometimes advancing against an enemy sometimes receiving the enemies charge upon a stand or else retreiting Otherwhiles we give fire in the Reere marching from the Enemy or in Flanke marching by an enemy and it may so fall out that the enemy may charge in severall places at once as in Front and Reere or in Front Reere and Flanke Of which particulars I will severally treat desiring to give content to all not making the least question but that benefit may accrue unto some And therefore hoping that the courteous and best qualified will accept of my good meaning and not refuse my cates although presented unto them in earthen vessels whereby I shall be induced with more willingnesse to proceed in my intended discourses so you be pleased to favour me with your better opinions neither rashly condemning me of prodigalitie for enterprising a worke of such consequence as this nor too suddenly accusing my simplicitie for preferring my rush-light before the Sunne when others suffer their Torches to burne out in darke lanternes whom I confesse to be farre more able were they but halfe so willing to have imparted of their Talents to the benefit of their Countrey But seeing that they will not vouchsafe it and that I like bold bayard have adventured thus farre I shall with your good favour proceed And first I will begin with firings in front advancing and standing and so to the rest And for the more cleare expression of each firing I will deliver them both in words and figures The first whereof shall be a firing by forlorne files which commonly is used in our exercise two manner of waies One way is for the two outermost-files of each flank of Musketiers to march forth being led on by the two junior Serjeants so farre as by the superior Commander shall be thought fit who being there to stand the formost ranks are to give fire wheeling off both to the right or to the right and left if it be so commanded and to place themselues in the Reere of their owne files the rest of the ranks firing and doing of the like untill they have fired once or twice over according to their directions This done the next two outmost-files of each flanke are to march forwards unto the place assigned and to do the like those files which formerly faced in the meane time trooping backe and placing themselues next the pikes on the inside of the divisions of Muskettiers the rest of the Muskettiers in like manner marching up and firing still placing themselues next the pikes as aforesaid When they have fired all over and placed themselues according to these directions they are reduced as at first A second way of firing by forlorne files may be after this maÌ„ner The outermost files of each flank are led forth by the Serjeants according to the charge untill they have brought them unto a fit place for execution and then they command their files to ranke inward and to present and fire all together as you may plainly perceive by the figure following The first two files having ranked iâ—â—ard presented and fired are to wheele off to the right and left following their leaders in single file and placing themselves on the inside of their divisions of Muskettiers next the Pikes the next outmost files which followed the first in the reere in the meane time ranking inward firing and wheeling off as before and placing themselves next the Pikes And so forwards for all the rest of the files still marching up and doing the like so long as the Captaine or Commander shall fee fitting These kinde of firings and all such like are either for the beginning of skirmishes before the Bodies come within shot one of another or to provoke the enemy to battaile to draw them from their Trenches into some ambushment and other such politicall ends the number of men which march forth upon such designes nor the manner are not alwayes certaine but consists sometimes of more sometimes of fewer according to the number time and place CHAP. LXXII Of firings by two Ranks ten paces advanced before the front Next even with the front and lastly even with the halfe files Advancing of two rankes to fire ten paces before the front is most commonly used when one or both Battailes march against each other the Muskettiers being led forth by two rankes together ten or twenty paces before the front of the body that so they may come neere enough to doe certaine execution A Serjeant from each flanke leading up the two foremost rankes according as they shall have order the first ranke of each flanke is to present and give fire wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you may perceive by the following Figure The first ranks having presented fired and wheeled off as aforesaid are to march close downe in single file within three foot of their owne flankes untill they come to the Reere of their owne divisions where every man is to place himselfe in the reere of his owne file The second ranke being at the distance of three foot behinde the first ranke when they first tooke their ground they likewise are to rest their Muskets mounting their muzzles cleere of their Leaders and so to stand with their matches cockâ— and pans guarded that so they may levell and fire as soone as their Leaders are cleere of them and wheele off in like manner placing themselves as they were before The next two rankes are to beginne to advance forwards when they see the last of the two former ranks presented ready to fire And they also having fired wheele off as the others did before them And so successively the rest of the ranks advancing fire and wheeling off againe placing themselves according to former directions This way they may give fire once or oftner over as the enemy doth advance or the Commander shall see fitting All this while that the Muskettiers advance so farre before the front if the body be upon march the Pikes may be shouldered but when the bodies come within
at their first order For the twelfth firing make the hollow Square girdled with shot let them give fire upon that figure both without and within according to the directions for that firing Let the Pikes charge and reduce them in the same manner as I have discoursed upon that figure For the thirteenth firing Make the Plesium as you shall finde directions in the 104. Chapter Having made it given fire upon it and reduced it as at first Let the fourteenth and last firing for this exercise be the Hollow Hearse and Crosse Turne backe to the 103. Chapter where you may finde ample instructions for the making firing and reducing of it And lastly that you may conclude with triumph cause your Ensigne to be displayed in the middle of the Hollow Crosse and then having fired charged pikes and reduced your men according to the directions on that figure your men will be as at first And therefore seeing that by this time night is come and our powder gone we will here give conclusion to our sixth dayes Exercise Wherefore that you may observe some forme in the lodging of our Colours cause your Muskettiers to march in the front of your pikes Then as as they march let them invert to the right and left which is when the Ranks file to the right and left by division Then cause all your Muskettiers to face in opposition to cocke their Matches guard their Pans and rest their Muskets In the meane time let the pikes advance and close their ranks and files to their order Which being done the Captaine Lieutenant Ensigne and Drummes beating a Troope at the head of the pikes passe through this Guard into the appointed place for the alledgement of the Ensigne Then the Serjeants cause the Muskettiers to face all about to the right and present and upon the first beat of the Drumme they all give fire in one Volley And now having performed our sixth dayes Exercise the Drumme beats a Call and makes proclamation that every man may depart unto his severall home untill his next Summons into the Field FINIS The Contents of every Chapter contained in this Booke Chap. 1. COncerning Postures and handling of Armes page 1. The Postures of the Musket page 3 2 Of the Postures of the Pike page 7 3 Of the Drum page 11 4 Of Rankes and Files their places and dignities p. 13 5 Reasons for precedency of dignity in Rankes and Files page 15 6 Of severall Distances page 20 7 Of marching a Company in divisions at length the order and places of the Officers and againe drawing them into forme of battell p. 24 8 Of drawing the Divisions up into a square p. 26 9 What is facing and the use of the word whether to be used or refused p. 28 10 Of facing square and how to performe it the usefulnesse of Facings and the severall parts thereof page 30 11 Of Doublings the use and parts p. 34 12 Of Inversion and Conversion and of doubling Rankes p. 40 Chap. 13 Of doublings of Ftles page p. 42 14 Of doublings by Bringers up p. 43 15 Of doublings of Files outward and inward page 46 16 Of doubling by halfe Files p. 48 17 Of doublings the Reere by Front halfe Files page 50 18 Of doubling the Reere by Countermarch p. 53 19 Of doubling Flankes by wayes of Countermarch page 54 20 Of doubling halfe Files to the right intire to accommodate the doubling of halfe Rankes p. 57 21 The difference betweene intire and divisionall doublings and of doubling halfe Files intire p. 61 22 Of doubling the Front inward intire p. 63 23 Of halfe Files doubling the Front by division page 66 24 Of doubling the Reere by division p. 67 25 Of doubling the Reere intire by the front halfe Files p. 70 26 Of doubling by halfe ranke intire p. 72 27 Of doubling of Flankes by division p. 75 28 Of doubling Rankes intire p. 77 29 Of doubling Files intire advancing p. 79 30 Of Files doubling their depth p. 82 31 Of Conversion and Inversion with their words of Command and reducements p. 85 32 Of Files siling in sequence p. 88 33 Of inverting Ranks or Ranks filing p. 90 34 Of Ranks filing by division and how usefull page 92 Chap. 35 Of the severall parts of Conversion and how they are to be understood page p. 94 36 Of Rankes wheeling by conversion p. 97 37 Of Files ranking in equall part p. 101 38 The conclusion of Doublings p. 105 39 Of Countermarches The antiquity and words of direction p. 108 40 Of the Chorean Countermarch and the way to performe it p. 112 41 Of Countermarching to loose ground p. 114 42 Of Countermarches to gaine ground or the Macedonian Countermarch p. 117 43 Of the Bastard Countermarch p. 119 44 Of Countermarching Rankes to maintaine ground p. 121 45 Of Countermarching Rankes to loose ground p. 122 46 Of the Macedonian Countermarch by Rank p. 124 47 Of Countermaching Front and Reere to the middest p. 125 48 Of bringing Front and Reere together into the middest by the Bastard Countermarch p. 128 49 Of Countermarching to make a large intervall between the first and last Ranke p. 130 50 Of making a large Intervall between the first last Rankes by the Macedonian Countermarch p. 132 51 Of interchanging ground p. 134 52 Of countermarching the flanks or wings into the midst of the Battell p. 136 Chap. 53 Of countermarching to take the ground before the flankes page p. 138 54 Of Countermarching to take the ground on the out side of the Flankes and to direct their Aspects inwards p. 140 55 Of taking the ground on the outside of the flanks not altering the Aspects p. 142 56 Of Interchanging Ground by the Flanks and bringing the innermost files of Pikes to become the outmost rankes p. 144 57 Of wheeling their kindes and uses with their severall words of Command p. 148 58 Of wheelings Anguler p. 150 59 Of wheeling on the Center p. 152 60 Of wheeling off by division p. 154 61 Of wheeling the Front inward towards the Reere p. 156 62 Of bringing the Flanks into the Front of the Battell p. 158 63 Of wheeling the Reere into the midst of the Battell p. 161 64 Of wheeling the right flanke into the midst of the Battell p. 164 65 Of wheeling the left Flanke into the midst of the Battell p. 167 66 Of wheeling Front and Reere into the midst of the Battell p. 169 67 Of wheeling the flanks into the midst of the Battell p. 172 68 Of making men file-leaders successively the files being eight deepe p. 176 Chap. 69 Of making men file-leaders succesâ—ively the files being but sixe deepe page p. 179 70 Of drawing the Files againe into a Body and preparing them for a skirmist p. 183 71 Of firing by forlorne files The manner and use page 186 72 Of firings by two Ranks ten paces advanced before the front Next even with the front and lastly even with the halfe files p. 190 73 Of
the Horne-battell how to make it and to reduce it by firing p. 195 74 Of the Demie-hearse Battell The use of the figure how to make it and to reduce it by firing p. 198 75 Of giving fire advancing by way of Introduction with the beneficiall use of the Bow and Pike page 201 76 The way to make the Diamond Battell severall wayes to fire upon it with divers other figures and firings which are thereby produced p. 204 77 Of the Convex Halfe Moone The use of the Figure and of severall wayes of firing upon it p. 211 78 Of Extraduction the severall uses firings and Reducements p. 215 79 Of the Broad fronted Battell with the wayes of firing upon it p. 218 80 Of dismarching or firing in the Reere the severall wayes and how they ought to be performed p. 221 81 Of firings in flanke in generall and more particularly of the gathering firing p. 226 82 The second manner of giving fire to the flanke p. 229 Chap. 83 A firing in flanke led off by the Bringers up page p. 131 84 The difference betweene Firings in Flanke marching and of bringing the Muskettiers on the outside of the Pikes p. 234 85 Of Firing in Flanke aud placing the Muskettiers in the midst of the Battell of Pikes with other firings from thence proceeding p. 237 86 Of firing to the front and reere upon a march p. 242 87 A second way of firing to the front and reere p. 245 88 A firing to the reere and right flanke marching p. 247 89 Of firing to both flanks marching p. 249 90 A firing to both Flanks standing p. 251 91 Captaine Wallers Triple firing to the Front p. 254 92 A firing tripartite doing execution to the front reere and right flanke p. 257 93 Of the Sconce Battell p. 259 94 Of firing by three files at once two of them standing oblique the other direct p. 262 95 A firing oblique by foure files together in forme of a W. p. 264 96 Of the Fort Battell the way to make and to reduce it p. 266 97 Of the crosse Battell the way to make it with a private Company How to fire upon it and to reduce it p. 268 98 Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. p. 272 99 Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes p. 274 100 Of the Plinthium or fouá¹™e-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes p. 276 101 Of the Hollow Square for march p. 280 102 Of the hollow Hearse and the Crosse p. 283 103 Of the Hollow Square 〈◊〉 dled with shot p. 286 104 Of the Sollid Square with Muskettiers in Center and Angles The way to make the figure with a private Companiâ— how to fire upon it and to reduce it p. 291 105 The first dayes Exercise p. 297 106 The second dayes Exercise p. 299 107 The third Dayes Exercise p. 304 108 The fourth dayes Exercise p. 308 109 The fifth dayes Exercise p. 313 110 The sixth dayes Exercise p. 320 FINIS Faults escaped in the Printing PAge 17. line 5. for and reade ad p. 25. l. 32. r. before p. 34. first line of the 11. Chap. 〈◊〉 p. 36. in the margent r. particle p. 64 l. 13. r. armies p 74. l. 9. 4. all 〈◊〉 â—8 l. 8. r. least p. 86 l. 6. r. or p. 86. l. 19 r. to p. 87. l. 8. r. without p. 87. l 2◠〈◊〉 drawne a figure p 89. l 6. r. left p. 89. l. 17. r. file-wise p. 97. l. the last r. 〈◊〉 p. 106. l. 3. r. one p. 108. l. 9. r. in p. 112. l. 5. r. before p. 117. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 leaders p. 119. l. 19. 20. r. and with the Chorean it holds no affinity p. â—24 the last line r. be as at first p. 127. the 2 m m which stand for the ouâ—â—ost file-leaders to the right stand quite contrary p. 137. l. 5. r. to p. 140. â—he figure seâ— wrong p 152 l. 8. r. â—oo p. 1â—6 l. 11. r. flanks p. 173. l. 13. r. oâ—â—rmost p. 176. l. 32. r. figured p. â—07 l. 14. r. commanded p. 217. l 4. r. uâ— p. 250. l. 8. r. firing p. 269. l 18. r. them p. 271. l. 11. r. armes p 292. l. 13. r. flanks p. 293. the title of the figure r. Plesium p. 296. l. 6. r. to her severall c. p. 297. the marginall note opposite to the aâ— line r. instead of one file and close One file of Muskettiers to give fire and close p. 302 l. the 9. for hâ—â—swise r herswise p. 306. l. 27. for Leader r. Leaders p 311. l. 17 for overhead r. overhand Charge to the Reere is to be understood alwayes to the left about because it is 3. times a nearer way then charging to the right about What is a Ranke What is a File * In the Tacticks of Aeâ—an lib. 1. the Notes of the 10. Chapter In motion of Files you are to observe your Leader In motion of Rankes you are to observe your right hand man In the exercise of the motion of facings you are to be at open order in Ranke and File When you face to any hand in the Reducement you are to returne by the contrary When your Souldiers begin any motion let them advance their Armes When they come to a stand and have performed their motion let them order their Armes Intire Divisionall Angular The distance for particular and divisionall doublings is open order in Ranke and File Note that the ordinary doublings of Rankes and Files is or ought to be performed by three steps first stepping forth with that foot which is next unto the place named and in the reducement to returne by the contrary hand Note that in these doublings of ranks and files if you double rankes to either hand doubling of files to the contrary reduceth them Or in doubling of files to any hand doubling of ranks to the contrary will reduce them Note that upon all motions of doublings that they that are to double before they move from their places are to advance their Armes When they have performed their doubling they are to conforme to the Posture of those whom they double whether it be Order Advance or Shoulder Note that all entire doublings are to be performed at Order both in Ranke and File Note that in the doubling of Ranks the even Ranks are to double into the odde beginning alwaies to reckon from the first Rank In doubling of Files note if the doubling be to the left as in this Figure then every man of the even Files steps behinde his left hand man at three steps every even File doubling into the odde files beginning your account with the outmost File to the hand named as I have formerly said * In this doubling of Ranks by Bringers up as likewise in all other of like nature they that are to move are to adxance their Armes But if the Commander please