ruffe Where the joynes with the r. in this manner r the single stroke with the ruffe must be joyned together The r and halfe in this manner r 2 is a ruffe and halfe ruffe joyned There is also a preparation to the March which is only to be beaten once and no more at the beginning of the March The first is the preparation the March follows The preparation rIIr Iâ—Ir II II r Ir rrr rrIrI IrIr rrrr rr2r2 IrIr I have insisted somewhat long in the office of the Drummer for that I finde a great defect in that place and would wish a more generall reformation Instructions for those that are ignorant in arming and disarming themselves EAch Souldier having brought his Arms into the field standing with them at their first order as may be observed in the following notes of the postures and motions Then the Commander giveth the Word Disarme or Lay downe your Armes First lay downe your Musket stepping forward one pace with your right foot then recover your foot to its place then receive your Match into your right hand out of the left Next lay downe your Rest stepping forward with your left foot recover your foot backe againe Take your Match into your left hand betwixt the two lowermost fingers as formerly then lay downe your Match with your left foot stepping forward on the right hand of your Rest recover your foot as before Afterward in upright forme of body put off your Hat with your left hand and holding it by your left side take off your BandilieÌ„rs with your right hand laying it downe betwixt your Musket and your Match the charges fromward you Afterwards retire three paces backward that you may the more gracefully come to the stand where you were to arme your selfe The next word of command is Arme or Take up your Armes First take up your Bandiliers putting them on as you did take them off then your Match as formerly then your Rest last your Musket Performe these directions and all other with a gracefull and comely cariage of body The Word of command Foot your Armes The Armes being laid downe the Souldier standing three paces backe Armed and standing at his first order Being armed and standing at your first order then follows the preparation to the Postures The word of Command is Prepare Joyne your Musket with your Rest open your pan blow your panne prime your pan Shut Cast off and so forward as you may perceive by the following notes until you have shouldered and sloped then begins your postures The first motion in the Postures is Slip your Musket the last motion is Give fire Note all the rest of the motions that follow after giving fire until you have sloped your Musket are dependances unto the Postures but more especially to the first Posture Now followeth the action of Souldiers being prepared their Muskets being charged as all ought to be the enemy being not far from them only waiting for the Word from the Commander as you may observe in the next place The Postures and Motions of a Musketteere the musket being charged first standing then marching 1 Hand your Armes order your Musket and Rest even with your body in the ranke you stand in which is called your first order 2 Joyne your Musket with your Rest 3 Poyse your Musket and breast it 4 Shoulder your Musket 5 Slope your Musket 6 Slip your Musket 7 Poise your Musket 8 Rest your Musket Falling backe with your right foot observe in this and most of all your Motions to keepe the mouth of your Musket high and strait over your Leaders right shoulder 9 Hand your Match 10 Blow your Match 11 Cocke your Match 12 Try your Match 13 Guard your pan 14 Blow your Coale 15 Open your pan 16 Present your Musket breast or rather middle high removing backe your left foot unto your right then your right foot slopewaies backe standing with a full and upright body your left knee bending your right elbow even with your shoulder 17 Give fire 18 Recover your ground with your feet 19 Returne your Match 20 Blow your pan 21 Prime your pan 22 Shut your pan 23 Cast off your loose powder 24 Recover your Rest 25 Blow off your loose powder 26 Beare about your Musket unto your left side falling backe with your left foot trayle your Rest between your Musket and bodie 27 Hand your Charge and open it 28 Charge your Musket 29 Draw out your skouring-sticke and shorten it against your breast 30 Ramme downe your Bullet 31 Returne your sticke 32 Recover your Musket and Rest 33 Poyse your Musket 34 Rest your Musket with your left foot forward againe 35 Your saluting posture 36 Your buriall posture 1 Your guard posture 2 Your Order posture 3 Your sentinell posture 3. These three last are in the number of the former but remembered because they are to be used upon severall occasions Shoulder your Musket and march with your Rest in your right hand Note that the three generall postures do begin the Musket being charged and shouldered The names of the 3 generall postures are these that follow 1 Make ready 2 Present 3 Give fire which are to be â—erformed in 12 Motions If marching then gracefully with an eleven paces especially to the front Note that all the rest of the Motions which follow after giving fire are dependances unto the first Posture In the first Posture are 8 Motions in the second 3 in the third 1 Motion The first Posture Make ready 8. Motions Slip your Musket Poyse your Musket Joyne yoâ—r Musket with your Rest Hand your Match Blow your Match Cock your Match Try your Match Guard your pan The second Posture Present 3. Motions Blow your Coale Open your Pan. Present breast high The third Posture Give fire 1 Motion Give fire When you have given fire winning or maintaining ground recover your Rest with your right foot stepping forward But losing ground recover your Rest unto your foot joyning it with your Musket falling about into your file and ranke making ready againe as you go If you observe 3 paces in the presenting Posture as some Regiments doe then to the Front or right Flanke begin your first Motion with your left foot stepping forward but to the Reare or left Flanke with your right foot pacing first Note that there be many Regiments that observe but 2 paces in the presenting Posture Note when you give fire to the Reare turne right about The Postures and Motions of a Pikeman standing and marching 1 Hand your pike 2 Advance your pike 3 Lay downe your pike 4 Take up your pike 5 Order your pike 6 Shoulder you pike 7 Levill your pike 8 Slope your pike 9 Advance your pike 10 Port your pike 11 Comport your pike 12 Cheeke your pike 13 Trayle your pike 14 Recover your pike 15 Shoulder your pike Note when you beare your pike shouldred it must be sloped except you be commanded to level it Observe when you charge
that is left in the first ranke taketh his place first after the right hand man in the third Rank then the two right hand men in the second Rank advance forward ranking with him making the fourth rank the rest of the ranks do the like till they have all finished what was enjoyned If the left be named then the left hand man with the other two next him advance forward and make the first ranke and so the rest as they did to the right till all have done it In the like manner what number soever is named may be performed Note when the Company is at the appointed place to exercise or else to be joyned with other Companies place all your Musketteers in one division as I have set downe before on the right hand of the Pikes If the Company be in number one hundred or fewer halfe Pikes halfe Musketteers then you ought to march with all your Musketteers in one division before the Pikes the Files both of pikes and muskets being ten deep as most Nations have in use or in case of necessity 8 deep When you make a stand draw up your Pikes on the left hand of the Muskets till they be all even in front But if the number be greater so that you can make six files of Musketteers or more then you may divide them When you march halfe before the Pikes and halfe behinde you must at all times observe to keep the depth of the File ten or eight at the least if you possible may observe that you march not at any time two in ranke if you can any otherwise chuse for it is no way convenient nor comely in sight but three or more when you come to a stand with the first division of Musketteers the rest of the body marcheth untill the first division of Pikes be even in front with the Musketteers that stand then the second division of Pikes if there be so many fronts with the former that stand and last the reare division of Musketteers advanceth forward untill they be even in rank and file with the former divisions Observe that all marching companies or battaliaes great or small when they come to a stand or holt order their Pikes and rest their Muskets standing even in File and Ranke When the Commander gives the word March Observe that all must shoulder their armes both Pikes and Muskets and beare them sloped except it be otherwise commanded In trooping the Pikes must be advanced In charging especially to the front being ten or eight deep the halfe Files in the reare must beare their Pikes ported over the heads of the formost halfe Files as may give them no offence either in charging or retreating Likewise the Pikes are not so subject to be broken by the enemies shot as when they are advanced Observe likewise in going through any port or gate the Pikes at the entrance ought to be ported if it be a small gate or doore the Musketteer is to joyn his Musket with his Rest and enter porting his musket Being through the passage to beare their Arms as they did before Now followeth the uniting of many companies together When many Companies are brought together to be joyned into one two or three or more bodies or battaliaes The Colonell or eldest Captains Company taketh the first place on the right hand of all the rest All the Musketteers of that company are to be placed on the right hand of the body of Pikes standing at their open order the division of Musketteers a double distance from the Pikes So likewise all the rest of the Companies in that manner according to the degree of the Captaine Every Company twenty foot one from the other Then draw backe all the Musketteers fifty foot behinde the reare of the Pikes dividing them into Manaples or divisions of foure files by themselves the files at their order three foot and each manaple from other six foot then joyne all your Pikes in one body or two or three according to their number or at the discretion of the Serjeant Major or superiour command The Files of Pikes likewise at their order then flanke each body of Pikes with two wings of Musketteers having divided them as you did your Pikes for one two or three bodies When all the Officers have taken their places according to their antiquity as the Serjeant Major directeth then march either in hearse forme or in square battalia if there be three battaliaes The first march then the other two even with one another in front but divided one from the other as farre distant as the length of the first battalia is so that the left File of the second battalia which is on the right hand must be direct after the right File of the first battalia and the right File or Angle of the third and last battalia direct after the left File of the first battalia both these second and third battalions if the ground will permit sixty paces after the first battalia when the first marches all march when the first stands all stand they must all move together march wheele or stand by example of the first if not directed otherwayes by the superiour Commander Observe if there be but one division of Musketteers on each hand of the body of Pikes then the right wing after they have given fire in front wheeles off to the right hand into the reare of their owne files In the like manner the left division of Musketteers after they have given fire wheeles off to the left hand into the reare of their owne Files But if the body be greater so that there be more divisions then one of Musketteers on each hand of the body of Pikes then after they have given fire must all both those on the left hand as well as those on the right hand wheele off to the right through the distances which are left open for that purpose between the divisions into the reare Observe when the battalia advanceth towards an enemy being yet a Musket shot off the two first Rankes maketh ready advancing tenne paces before the body directed by a Serjeant as the first Ranke presents two Ranks more marches forward making ready as they goe giving fire ranke after ranke Wheeling off to the right hand through the divisions unto the reare of their own Files making ready againe as they goe and subsequently all the rest But when the Battaliaes come nearer ready to the push of pike then the rankes give fire even with the formost ranke of pikes and being forced to give back then all the Musketteers maketh ready together resting their Muskets standing with their pans guarded giving fire ranke after rank and suddenly with all speed falling off into the Reare Marching from an Enemy Observe when you are to give fire to the Reare two ranks after two makes ready giving fire even with the last rank of pikes as soon as the rank hath given fire it wheeleth to the right hand marching a good round
Port your Colours 6 Comport your Colours 7 Charge your Colours 8 Brest your Colours 9 Vaile your Colours Display your Colours 1 The first posture from hand to hand 2 The second overhead ps. with one hand 3 The third twise over-head ps. changing hands 4 The round over-head ps. 5 The backe ps. 6 The Crosse ps. 7 The retreating ps. losing ground 8 The advancing ps. winning ground 9 Furle or roule up your Colours Now followeth those small Maps which I promised in the Preface of small and greater bodies that such things which I have written may be the better conceived and fixed in the memory of all Observe these letters following for each Officer standing in their right places and for the Front Reare and Flankes C Captaine L Lievetenant E Ensigne S Serjeant D Drumme Fr. Front Re Reare Rf. Right flanke Lf. Left flanke P. Pikes M. Musketteeres The Captaine leading before the Front into the field or advancing towards the enemy Out of the field or skirmishing in the reare or marching from the enemy at the reare at all times neerest the enemy The Lievetenant his place is at the reare if the Captaine bee at the front or in the front if the Captaine be at the reare The Ensigne before the head of the Pikes and sometimes in a battalia between the halfe Files of Pikes The Serjeants on the outside of the flanks and in skirmish leading up the Rankes or Files of Musketteers to give fire The Drums in a march hearse form betwixt the third and fourth Rankes In a battalia on the corners flanks and in the middest with the Colours Observe that in the Maps are plaine squares Oes and small prickes The plaine squares are the Pikes the Oes and small pricks the musketteers the Oes leaders bringers up and middlemen Observe when many companies are united or joyned together making an intire body the Serjeant Major directeth every Officer what part of the body he shall be at to make good that place The Table at the end of this Book directeth unto all the speciall things contained in this Booke These squares that you see on the other leafe are 1000. divided into foure Battalions in every Battalia you may perceive their number of figures placed at such distance as they may best second on the other if need require with 100. horse on both the flankes with 100. fire-locks in two parties scouting out before for the approch of the enemy The P. stands for Pikes the M. for Musketteers On the other side of the leafe as you may observe a greater Army divided into many Battalions with their number in each square with their horse on the flanks and their forlorne hopes before and the distance as you may perceive from one Battalia unto the other standing removed one from the other in the best and surest manner for the relieving of one the other or for any other exploit when the superiour Commander shall see fit occasion with Ordnance and Wagons The Table THE Officers of a foot company page 1 The use of the Drum 2 The names of all the beats of the Drum ibid. For what use each severall found is 3. 4 5. Instructions how to beat the March ibid The March 6 Instruction for the unskilfull in arming and disarming in laying downe and taking up of their Armes 7. 8. 9. 10 The preparation unto the postures 11 The postures and motions of a Musketteer first standing then marching with the beginning and ending of the postures and their names 12. 14 The marching postures divided with some observations concerning giving of fire in front flanke and reare ibid. 15 The postures and motions of a Pikeman standing and marching ibid. 16. 17 The postures of a Pike divided The performing of all by the Drum and signes 18 The severall sorts of distances 19. 20 The words of command ought to bee right delivered ibid. What Files and Rankes are 21 The body distinguished ibid. 22 Of facing and doubling of Rankes Files halfe Files and bringers up 23. 24 Countermarches halfe Files intire doubling ibid. The body wheeling 25 Of conversion ibid. The reason why some things are repeated againe 26 Each Officers place ibid. Of facing and Rankes and Files doubling 27 Why halfe Files and why middlemen are named 28 Middlemen and bringers up doubling the front ibid. Halfe Files and leaders doubling the reare ibid. 29 Halfe rankes doubling the flanke ibid. Countermarches maintaining losing and winning ground ibid. Rankes and Files intire doubling 30 Files advancing and doubling ibid. Middlemen intire doubling the front 31 Halfe Files intire doubling the Reare ibid. Halfe Ranks doubling the Flank ibid. Flank advancing intire doubling 32 The body wheeling ibid. The use of wheeling the Front into the Center 33 Files and Ranks closing and opening 34 Rankes and Files by inversion and conversion 38 Files in sequence and Files and Rankes ranking 39 Such words of command as are not explained in one place are in another unfolded 40 In facing what foot to remove 41 In facing marching standing or trooping how to beare their Armes ibid. Observations in all sorts of doublings 42 All sorts of countermarches performed by signes 43 How to performe Rankes filing by inversion and conversion 45 Files ranking by conversion 48 Files filing in sequence 50 Files ranking few or many ibid. Ranks ranking few or many 51 In what forme to march few or many 52 How to beare their Armes at speciall times 53 The uniting of many Companies into one body 54 How the Battalions should march 55 Musketteers giving fire in Front Reare or Flanks how to fall off 56 The Authours reason why he doth not inlarge himselfe in this Subject and the cause why he writes nothing of the exercising of the troopes of Horse 60 The office and duty of the Ensigne-bearer and the displaying of the Colours 61 The reason why the Maps are placed at the end of the Book 64 A Table of the Maps of severall forms of Bodies small and great Marching Exercising Skirmishing and in Battell Letters for the Officers in their places 65 A company of 100 marching 67 A company of 200 marching 68 A company exercising with all their Officers in their places 69 A body standing in battâ—ll forme 70 A Battalia of 200. approching toward the enemy giving fire in Front 71 A Body marching from the enemy giving fire in the Reare 72 A Body marching giving fire in both the Flankes 73 A second forme of a Body marching giving fire in both the flanks 74 A third forme of a Body marching giving fire in both flanks 75 A Battalia giving fire in front with three files at once 76 A Battalia giving fire in front with foure files at once 77 A hollow Body for severall uses 78 A Sconce battalia ready for all assaults of the enemy 79 A Battalia giving fire in front and reare both at once 80 Another forme of giving fire in front and reare or on both the flankes at once 81 A Battalia marching being prepared to receive an enemy in front reare right and left at one time 82 A Battalia fronting every way prepared for battell 83 A Battalia fronting every way giving fire under the Pikes the Pikes charging over their heads 84 A Battalia fronting every way each division of Pikes being on both hands flanke with Muketteers with a diamant of Pikes in the midst 85 A very strong from of a Battalia for night or day against horse or foot having Muskeeteers in the front flankes and reare 86 A Battalia of five companies in one body all the Officers in their right places giving fire in front 87 A Battalia of 500. marching from the enemy giving fire in the reare 88 Instructions for the better understanding of the two following armies 89 A small army divided into foure Battalions with their distances each from other as you may perceive in the figures betweene each Battalia the number of paces with horse on the flankes and fire-lockes before Of this read more page 89 90 A great army divided into many Battalions with their horse on the flankes with fire-lockes forlorne hopes Ordnance and Wagons as you may read more of this page 89 90. 91. ERRATA IN the preparation to the march in the first ranke of the March if there be an r make it an i. In the second line or ra k where there is no r make the fourth i an r. Page the 10. the Ingravers error placing the cock on the wrong side of the Musket and the Trâ—cker too high Pag. 68. the Ingravers error the Drummers place should bee a ranke forwarder In the first division likewise a rank too many The eldest S. between the division of Pikes FINIS Note Note Doubling the flank Note Counter-March Note Note Intire doubling Note Note Note Note Note Note Note Wheeling Note Note The use of wheeling Note Fâ—les closing Note Files opening Note Note Rankâ—s closing Ranks opening Note Closing â—f Files â—nd ranks Opening Files and Rankes Note Inversion Note Conversion Note Note Files by conversion Note Sequence Note Files rankâ— Note Ranke ranke Most things performed by signes Note The maner of facing Bearing of their Armes Note Note Note Note Movâ—ng al together Countermarch by signes Note Note Note Note
then double either Ranks or halfe files the Pikes advanced the Muskets shouldered or breasted the severall forms of wheeling is set down before fol. 32. 33. The difference in the acting of Inversion and Conversion Where you read Inversion or Conversion that you may the better understand the meaning of them and how they differ in former times there hath beene made no difference in the forme but only in the name which was an errour they differ as followeth The Commander giving the word Rankes to the right file or by Inversion Observe that the right file standeth firm and moveth not all the rest of each ranke turning their faces towards the right hand move all till they become into that file that standeth still placing themselves each man behinde his right hand man so become all one file Note that all the whole ranke that moveth must place thēselves betwixt their owne right hand man that stood still and the next that stands after him the first Ranke between the leader of the File that standeth and the second in that file the second Ranke betweene the second and third in that File and so the rest an even distance one from the other If the word be Rankes to the left by inversion then the left file standeth fast and moveth not the rest of every Ranke moveth till they be come into the left File making one file in the like manner as they did on the right hand The Word Ranks to the right and left by inversion Then halfe the Ranks fals behinde their Sidemen to the right and halfe to the left hand making two files marching with them in that forme over Bridges or through Woods or narrow passages or to deliver vollies against horse or foot facing inward or outward as the Commander directeth The Word Ranks to the right by conversion Then the whole Ranke wheeleth towards the right hand moving on the outmost right hand man in that Ranke they stand in till all the Rankes be come even with the right File whose faces being turned to the right hand they all become one ranke either to give a volley against horse or foot by a River Morase or Wood side and many other uses may these inverting or converting afford us when occasion is offered Rankes to the left by conversion Then all the Rankes wheeleth to the left hand in the same manner as they did to the right on the outmost left hand man in their owne rank who facing likewise to the left become altogether one ranke and when they have performed that which is commanded As you were bringeth every man in his owne first place Rankes to the right and left by Conversion Then halfe the Rankes wheele to the right and halfe to the left hand then facing right and left are become two Ranks and so as you were when you have performed what you intended As the Rankes are converted into one File or two so may likewise the Files be converted into one Ranke or two as the occasion offereth Observing when the Rankes are to file by conversion or inversion you must open your ranks to such a distance agreable to the number which are in the ranke that they may have roome to come into the file commanded When you would convert your Files into one ranke or two you must close your Ranks and open your Files to that distance as the File is in depth they may have sufficient roome to come into the rank and to use their Armes as they are directed To give you some light how to performe it because it is not commonly knowne neither hath been practised much in former times It is thus performed as followeth The word of Command Files to the right handranke or by Conversion The first man or leader of the File standeth fast the second man in the file cometh upon the right hand of his Leader the third man in the file on the right hand of the second and so subsequently all the rest each man on the right hand of him that did stand in the same file next before himselfe till they be all in one ranke performing that which they were commanded as you were bringeth every man to his first place Files to the left hand ranke or by conversion Which is performed in the like manner as the other the whole file coming up and placing themselves on the left hand of their Leaders making one Ranke Files to the right and left by Conversion The formost ranke as they did before standeth fast the rest of the body divideth it selfe going up placing themselves the right halfe ranks on the right hand of their leaders the left half ranks on the left hand of their leaders leaving an open space in the midsts of the ranks for Horse Wagons Ordnance and such like to passe through Likewise by converting one ranke at once into file you may march by a narrow passage giving fire against the enemy rank after ranke when the ranke alone is converted into a file either by wheeling or falling after one another and hath given fire marching forward and being by the passage ranke againe as they were This may be performed to the right or left or to both by dividing the ranke File in sequence The word of Command Files to the right file on or in sequence That is to draw all your files into one file if the right be named then the right file of the whole body or of that whole division advanceth first forward the second file followeth the first be third the second and all the rest in that manner one after another One use amongst many is to passe over a bridge or to free themselves from great Ordnance playing at them and the like When they are through that passage they draw up their Files into one even Front making one intire body againe Here followes another forme either for a passage or to free themselves from danger of shot or the like The Word Files ranke 2. 4. 6. or more according to the breadth of the passage if it be to the right hand then the right file advanceth first forward and fall in ranke the same number commanded the first file being ended the next file doth the like advancing forward falling in ranke after the former the rest of the Files perform the same order till they are all rankt If the word be to the left hand then the left hand file first advanceth forward ranking as it is appointed The rest of the Files observe the like forme till it be finished as is commanded There is another forme out of the ranks to rank 3. 5. 7. or more as need requireth The Word Ranks to the right ranke 3. 5. 8. and the like If there be ten in ranke and they are commanded to ranke three those three that stand in the first ranke on the right hand advanceth forward making the first ranke the next 3 in the same ranke make the second ranke the next 3 the third rank the tenth man
pace through the divisions into the Front placing themselves before their own Files and so in like manner the rest This is to be performed when the Battalia marcheth from an Enemy the Enemy pursuing them Now followeth the giving fire in Flanke There are three severarall wayes to give fire in Flanke the body marching the first is The body or Batalia marching by a River side or Moras or Wood or in plaine Champaine ground either assaulted sometimes with horsemen or with foot if it be on both the Flanks at once Then the outmost File on each hand that is on both the Flanks make readie the Commander giveth the word To the right and left present then the outmost File on each hand turnes at 3. motions to the hand commanded and presents giving fire stands fast onely turning their faces as they were towards the Front untill such time as the second File who marched along with the Body hath given fire in the same forme as the first did Then the first File marcheth up even with the second both standing fast till the third File hath given fire and so subsequently all the rest one after another A Serjeant must stand at the head of those files that have given fire or if the division be great a superior Officer takes that place gathering up again that whole wing joyning them in equal front with the pikes The second forme to give fire in Flanke If it be on both Flanks the outmost File on each Flanke being ready at the word of Command presents Having given fire faces againe towards the Front standing fast till the leader of that File which gave fire last be free from the marching Body one pace behinde the bringers up then leadeth his File a round pace up on the other side of that division of Musketteers next unto the pikes till he be equall in Front with the rest of the Leaders his whole File even in ranke with the rest in like manner all the rest of the Files must do in all points as the first did Remembring that as soone as the File hath given fire presently prepareth againe whether he be to stand or move The third forme of giving fire in Flanke The outtermost File next the Enemie being commanded to make readie keeping still along with the Body till such time as they be ready and then at command they turne to the hand directed according to the sight of their enemy either on the right or left Flanke or both together and give fire all together When they have discharged they stand nor still as they did the two former wayes but speedily joyning their rests unto their Muskets turning their faces towards the reare the rear-man or bringer-up being then a leader turning short about the reare of that division of Musketteers going a speedy pace yet orderly next unto the pikes up unto the Front placing himselfe with the rest of the leaders so he that was the Leader before is now the bringer up of the File Observe alwayes in every forme of giving fire in Flank that as the first presents the next file maketh ready keeping still along with the Body presenting not till they be free of the File that gave fire last Two times giving fire in this lâ—st forme the first leader with every man in that File commeth in his first place againe In this manner of giving fire two hundred Musketteers may deliver as many shot in as short a time as three hundred any other way I could very much inlarge my selfe in this Subject but I hope these will content my friends for this time who have honest hearts and judge charitably and because I know that there have beene many very excellent Books of military Discipline set forth within these few years in this Kingdome namely the Instructions for Musters and Armes by order from the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell and thirteen other written by skilfull and painfull Gentlemen Souldiers as I have set downe in my Preface If I had appointed me any command with the horse-troops as I have with the foot-companies I should likewise set downe some observations concerning the exercising and imbattailing of them But for this and some other reasons at this time I omit Only remembring the Officers of the troops of Horse which are yet unskilfull or not so skilfull as they would desire to be to observe the forme and manner of the exercising of the Foot-Companies which will in some measure teach them their duties For in the exercising of Horse and Foot there is not much difference Before I passe any further let me remember the Ensigne bearer in few words concerning his place and duty and the displâ—ying of the Colours The Ensigne or Colours is the honour and reputation of the Captaine and Souldiers therefore the Ensigne-bearer ought not onely to be a good soldier bould and valiant but likewise discreet and wise in counsel and in the absence of the Captaine and Livetenant have the same authority the Captaine hath Where the company is appointed to gather together he ought to be one of the first and to be carefull of his Colours and at all times see that they be well guarded and be ready to do any thing to further the service Within these few yeares a Supreame Commander in setting downe the duty of each Officer in his place speaketh of the Ensigne these words following The Ensigne shall never turne his face out of his order start from any danger nor forsake his Ensigne upon paine of death In a march he may beare his Colours flying rested upon his shoulder before the head of the Pikes And being in a batalia his Colours somtimes advanced and breasted flying in the midst of the Pikes between the halfe Files In a troope the Colours furld or rold up In presence of the Generall or supreme Commander hee must beare his Colours flying and passing by him vaile them the point even with his knee once and no more for that time without any other ceremonies But if he passe by the King or Prince he shall likewise withall bow somewhat one of his knees The Souldiers ought not to forsake or leave their Colours before they be lodged and then with leave of the Captaine may depart The postures of the Colours Note that in those parts where the wars are especially within the Leager or any Army in the field the Ensigne ought not to display his Colours but onely to beare them flying marching skirmishing or at a stand or to vaile them as I have shewed before But with the trayned bands in those parts and likewise within this kingdome the Ensigne doth use at their meetings or Musters some more postures in displaying his Colours The Ensigne may performe most parr of the postures and motions with the Pikes except laying downe cheeking and trayling for which two last he may use comporting 1 Hand your Colours 2 Order your Colours 3 Shoulder your Colours 4 Advance your Colours 5