to wheele off and to place themselves in the Reere as the former did The next two Rankes are to beginne to advance forwards when they see the last of the two former Rankes presented and ready to give fire and they also having given fire are to wheele off as the former did and so successively the rest of the Rankes advancing are to imitate the former in all the points The body of Pikes are to march very slowly forwards all the while that the shot are drawne up to give fire before the Front and if the enemies Battallias be not neare the Pikes may march shouldred But when the enemies Battallias be approacht within six or eight score or lesse then the Musquetiers are to give fire even with the Front of the body of Pikes and then the Pikemen are to advance their Pikes and close their Rankes to the distance of three foote and the shot to advance up even with the first Ranke of Pikes and there giving fire they are to wheele off to the right and left as in the former directions Note when the first Ranke hath given fire and wheeled off the next Rankes are to move forwards at three motions into their place and there to give fire after the same manner wheeling away againe and placing themselves according to the former directions every Ranke still making good their Leaders ground by this meanes they may continue giving fire untill the two Battells are ready to joyne at push of Pike at which time the shot are to give fire eyther retiring or else not to advance further then the halfe files of Pikes for there they shall be secure from the enemies Pikes offending them besides they may do as good execution there as being placed even with the front If so be the Drumme beate a retreite then the shot ought neyther to advance nor retreite but every Ranke is to give fire upon the same ground they stand on and then wheele off that the next ranke may doe as much Never the lesse when the forlorne files march forth or that two Rankes march forth ten paces or more before the Front then they are to give fire as upon a retreit unlesse the enemy flee The Skirmish being ended the reducement is easie the Leader of each File being in his place at the head of his File is to draw up the shot even with the Front of Pikes and then they will be as at first CHAP. LXXXIX How a Commander shall exercise his wings of Musquetiers to give fire they being advanc'd a small distance before the Front of the Pikes in manner of a Horne battell and also how to reduce it THis kinde of giving fire the shot being advanc'd before the Front of the Pikes the bringers up of eyther winge of Musquetiers being rankt even with the first ranke of Pikes in the Front is of the same use that the firing by two Rankes ten paces advanst before the Front is of cannot choose but be more serviceable upon some occasions in regard the shot doe their execution more readily without intermission of time or stragling from their bodies besides it is an apt forme for over fronting and they are easily to be wheeled whereby they may charge the enemy in Flanke each of these wings of shot may bee led up by a Serjeant or some other superiour officer unto the place assigned by the Chiefe After the word of command is given for the bringing them into this forme as in the Margent is expressed the manner of giving fire is thus to be performed Pikes stand Musquetiers march untill the bringers up ranke with the Front of Pikes The first Ranke of Musquetiers presents and give fire wheeling off eyther all to the right or to the right and left according as they shall be directed and placing themselves orderly in the Reere of their owne Files The next Ranke after the same manner are to give fire and wheele off placing themselves behinde those which were their Leaders thus is every Ranke successively to doe the like untill they have all given fire If you desire to continue giving fire still in this forme then your shot must moue forwards into the grounde of them that fired before them and the forme will be still the same But if you desire after once or twice firing over to have your shot flanke their Pikes then the Musquetiers must not advance into their leaders ground but contrarily every ranke is to present give fire upon the same ground they stand on falling off into the Reere one after another by which meanes they will be brought even with the Pikes Or if you please the Pikes may advance and march up to make their Front intire with the File Leaders of the shot whereby they will be reduced Pikes stand Musquetiers advance before your Front of Pikes and close your divisions The forme of this next kinde of firing is produced according to the words of Command placed in the Margent the manner of the forme is thus the two winges of shot are advanced before the Front of the body of Pikes and closing their divisions they shelter the Pikes from the fury of the Enemies shot And there may be as great execution performed by this forme of firing as by any of the former in regard it is so sollid and stable In the former firings the Pikes either rank'd even with the wings of shot or else the division betweene the wings of shot being open the Pikes are liable to the danger of the Enemies shot the Pikes are not able of themselves to doe any thing either in the way of offence or defence untill the Enemie be within push of Pike But this kinde of Demie-hearse Battell covers the Front of their Pikes securely with the wings of their owne shot untill the Enemie be come within distance There are two principall wayes of giving fire belonging to this forme namely first the Musquetiers may give fire in the Front and so wheele off by division or if the Commander pleaseth they may wheele all off to the right placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions and Files of shot just before the Front of the Pikes The next Rankes are immediately to move forwards into their Leaders ground and are likewise to give fire and wheele off placing themselves after the maner of the former the rest of the rankes of Musquetiers performing the like untill they have all given fire Thus having fired once or twice over this way you may make use of a second way of firing which shall serve for reducement of the former Wherefore observe that in this second way of firing when the first Rankes have given fire they are to wheele equally off by division each part faling file wise downe close by the flankes of the wings of Musquetiers untill the Leaders of the rankes of shot are 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 straight line untill they have ranked even with the first ranke of Pikes not forgetting to leave there a distance betwixt the Inermost Musquet 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 down betweene the Intervalls of the Flankes placing themselves after their Leaders The same is every Ranke successively to doe untill all the shot be drawne from before the Front placed on the Flankes of their Pikes But when all the shot in the front hath discharged unto the two last rankes then the Pikes are to porte and when they have all fired and wheeled away then they are to charge their Pikes then advancing their Pikes again the Battallia stands reduced as in its first forme Musquetiers make ready to give fire by Introduction to the right Files of Musquetires open by division to your open order You shall finde in the Margent the words of Command that produceth this forme of giving fire by way of Introduction it being a kinde of advancing against the Enemie and of gayning ground although not used in these our Moderne warres but in way of exercise It is to be performed 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 wherefore observe before the firing begin you must open your Files of Musquetiers to their open order so that the shot may passe betweene the Intervalls of each File to give fire in the Front The maner and forme of this kind of firing by Introduction may be thus performed The Pikes being flanked with the Musquetiers the first ranke of each flanke is to present and give fire and having fired they stand and make ready againe in the same place The second Ranke passing forwards before the first doe there also fire and stand The third Ranke 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 presently step before them and fire in like maner 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 first given fire after which they then passe before them the Ranke which was their next followers passing forwarde Ranking with those which last fired every man following his Leader successively untill the bringers up give fire and stand in the Front of all and then this forme will be like the figure of a Horne battell All the while that this firing by Introduction is continued the Pikes may be shouldred if there be no feare of the Enemies Horse If you continue this firing twice over the Musquetiers will have their right place which being done march up your Pikes and Ranke them even in Front with the shot and they are reduced The second 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 follow their bringers up as they doe when bringers up double their Front the first Ranke having fired the bringers up step imediatly before them present and give fire the rest still successively doing the like untill every ranke have given fire once over observe with all that the File Leaders are to give fire twice over being the first and the last and then to stand the Pikes marching up even with their Front of Musquetiers And thus they are reduced as at first If the two first rankes of Pikes in every Battallia should have bowes fastned to their Pikes they might do good service against the enemie whilst the shot performes their duties in giving fire The words of Command which produceth this forme of a Diamand Battell is in the Margent Amongst the Ancients it hath bin of great account but in these late ages Musquetiers Ranke 1 3 5 7 9 c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranked by decrease after your Musquetiers not used in the warres The manner of forming it is thus first you must cause your Musquetiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for the receiving the shot of the left flanke Then you must Command the left flanke of Musquetiers to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to frame this battell you must command your Files of Musquetires to ranke 1 3 5 7 c. by increase to the left then you must command the Files of Pikes to ranke by decrease after the Musquetiers The Musquitiers may give fire from this forme of Battell two wayes principally the first is the giving fire in Ranke viz. the first man or point of the diamond is first to give fire then he is to wheele off to the right and place himselfe just behind the single Pikemen in the Reere then the next Ranke consisting of three men are to give fire and to wheele off by division and are to place themselves in Ranke behind the single Musquetiere as they were before the firing began next the Ranke of five Musquitiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde and they commanded to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwayes goes to the right And after this manner every Ranke gives fire successively and place themselves after their Leaders as before is shewed when all the shot have given fire and are wheeled off then let the Pikes charge which will be fiveteene in the first Rank the rest decreasing having advanced your forme will stand like two wedges with their points joyned If you would reduce your men from this forme without giving fire then let the Musquitiers stand and the Pikes face to the Reere and then the wedge will stand faced in opposition Next you may command them to interchange ground the Musquetiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Musquetiers 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 forme in regard all the Musquetiers are placed in the Reere the body must face about so the firing will bee contrary to the former But if you wheele them about then they may give fire the same way However after fire is given they must wheele off by division and place themselves in the Reere of the Pikes even in Rank againe as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired over wheeled away the Pikes may charge being againe advanced the body wil stand in form of a diamond The second way of firing on this Diamond forme is
by way of Counter-march and is an oblique firing for whereas in the other firing by Rankes in the Diamond Battell each Ranke fired by increase of two beginning with one and ending with 15. 17. or 21 c. according to the quantitie of your Souldiers in a Ranke this second kind of firing contrary wise may beginne with 15. 17. or 21 c. and end with one still decreasing two and to performe this firing your Files must be at open order because the Musquetiers must Counter-march downe betweene the Intervals of their owne Files to the right every Musquetiere that findes him-himselfe without a Leader being to present and give fire and then to Counter-march to the right and to place himselfe in the Reere of his owne File behind the Pikes when the first Ranke if it consists but of 15. have given fire then the next Ranke of 13. is to present give fire and Counter-march still placing themselves in the Reere of their owne files next there fireth 11. then 9 c. And in this manner of firing they that fire together stand neither in Ranke nor File but obliquely when all the shot have fired and are Counter-marcht into the Reere of their owne Files then the Rankes will become two and two of a number Your men standing in the forme before described if you please you may produce another forme by facing them all to the Reere then command your Musquetiers to march ten or twelve paces your Pikes to stand and your Musquetiers will make resemblance of a hollow wedge and your Piks of a sollid wedge Lastly to reduce all these severall formes into the first proper square battell first let the sollid wedge close forwards into the hollow of the other then let the shot make ready present and give fire as before viz. every Musquetiere that findes himselfe without a Leader is to give fire and Counter-march to the Reere of his owne File and the rest doing the like successively when they have all fired and are all Counter-marcht cleare let the Pikes charge and then the body of your Battallia will have the forme of a Diamond againe Next face them all to the Reere and command the Rankes to file 8. c. to the right which being done passe the shot through which belongs to the left flanke into their places and close the Musquetiers to the right Flanke to their due distance and then they will stand in their proper reducement Wheele your Flankes into the front and face the body to one of the flanks and wheele your battell into a Convex halfe Moone The manner and use of the severall wayes of firing belonging to this forme of the Convex half Moone or semi-circuler Battell is a forme which our Schoolemaster in the rudiments Julius Casar did highly esteeme of it makes shew but of a few Souldiers in regard of the rotunditie of it yet being drawne out in Length it makes a very long Front it may be for the Landing of Souldiers in the enemies country or being secured in the Reere with Rivers Bogges Ditches or the like it hath beene accounted very prevalent to be opposed against an Armie of greater power It may be framed either with the shot outermost or innermost or lined If your battell be in forme of a Hearse then wheele them to the right and left about untill they have attained this forme of a Semicircle but if in a square then you must make use of those words of command plac'd in the Margent which will produce this Convex forme Having brought your Souldiers into this Semicircle you may face them all inwards the better to heare such speeches or orations as shall be by the Commander delivered unto them but for to receive a charge from the enemy you must face them outwards there must be certaine intervalls or distances betwixt each division for the shot to wheele off and march downe in The outmost Arch or first ranke of each division is to present and give fire those of the right Flanke wheeling off to the right and the left Flanke to the left placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions of Musquetiers still making good their Leaders ground the rest of the Rankes are to doe the same until they have all given fire Never the lesse if the enemies horse should bee too potent then let them give fire by division as is shewed before passing quite through their intervalls and placing themselves in the Reere of the Pikes every ranke is to make good his Leaders ground Thus also are the rest of the Musquitiers to give fire placing themselves in the concave part of the body as aforesaid following the Pikes which now makes good the Musquetiers ground the Pikes may eyther charge over hand or upon occasion at the foote drawing forth their Swords over their left arme and couching downe their heads by which meanes the Musquitiers may play over their shoulders for the first ranke having fired may kneele downe and charge againe and so the second ranke may give fire and kneele in like sort making ready againe and so all the rest untill the first ranke riseth up with the rest and give fire over againe So the skirmish may be continued the Pikes still opposing the Horse Pikes stand Musquetiers face to the reere and march until your are cleere of your body of Pikes Then face inwards and close your division then face to your Leader and double your Rankes For the reducement of this forme and to bring every Man to his place Let your shot either by firing or passing through be brought into the place 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 upon the right flanke wheele your right flanke into the midst if on the left flanke wheele Front and Reere into the left flanke This being preformed the Commander must passe to his proper file-Leaders and face the whole body to him and they will be in their first forme This way of firing by extraduction is also a firing in Front it is of singuler good use in a Strait or narrow passage where the wings and Reere may be secured from the fury of the Enemies Horse you must fill the mouth of the Passage with your Pikes and if the length of your Company be not sufficient to doe it then double your Rankes and your Pikes being charged Your Musquetiers being in the Reere are to march up into the Front and give fire as in the next place shal be demonstrated onely first by the way observe the words of directions placed in the Margent which produceth this forme The battel being ordred as a foresaid Let the first Ranke of Musquetiers which are those that followes next after the Pikes face to the right and march forth File-wise up close by the right flanke of Pikes untill he that is
their right Flanke by division then the Reere halfe Files of the left Flanke are to face about to the right and then both the Front halfe Files and the Reere halfe Files are to march forthright untill they are cleere of that part of the body that stands then each division faceth that way they are to double which the Front halfe Files must doe to the right and the Reere halfe Files to the left and so march forth right untill the doubling be performed then the Reere division that doubled is to face to the Reere and the Front division is to face front proper and the right flanke that stood is to face to the right hand whereby they are fast ready to give fire three severall wayes at once the manner of firing is thus performed the formost Rankes of Musquetiers on each part having fired they wheele off to the right or to the right and left according as they shall bee commanded placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions the next Ranke 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 performing the like successively for reducement face them all to their Front proper then command the halfe rankes that doubled to face to the left and so to march into their places the figure of this precedent discourse followeth in the next Page Front proper Serjeant Serjeant Front of the right Flanke Serjeant Front of the Reere There are divers other wayes of firings which I am forced to omit desiring you to turne into the excellent book of Millitary discipline composed by Lievetenant Barriff wherein you may be further instructed and see the Poligons or Figures belonging to most of these instructions which I have briefely discoursed of wishing you by all meanes not to omit any of them in your exercises if time and patience may give you leave and if you should passe by any let them be onely your divisionall Motions as for your intire motions eyther of doublings Counter-marches or wheelings c. you must be very circumspect and carefull to performe them all otherwise all your paines will be to no purpose Now for the marching out of the field your Company standing in a square forme viz. the shot upon each flanke of the Pikes the Lievetenant leads away the first division of shot with a Serjeant attending him the Drumme beating betweene the third and fourth ranke of the same division of shot the Ensigne is to march before the first division of Pikes following a pritty distance behind the first division of shot with the Drum placed as before The eldest Serjeant is to march before the second division of Pikes The second Serjeant marcheth before the last division of shot with the Captaine in the Reere of all and being marcht to the place where the Colours should be lodged let them as they march invert to the right and left viz. the rankes are to file to the right and left by division then all the Musquetiers are to face in opposition to cocke their matches guard their Pans and rest their Musquets the Pikemen in the meane time are to advance their Pikes and close their Rankes and Files to their order which being done the Drum beating a Troope at the head of the Pikes All the chiefe Officers in their due places are to passe through this guard into the appointed place for the Allodgement of the colours then the Serjeant is to cause all the Musquetiers to face about to the right and present and upon the first beate of the Drum they are all to give fire in one volley then the Drum beating a call and makes proclamation of silence the captaine is to deliver them such orders as he hath in charge to acquaint them with all eyther from the Lord Lievetenants or the Counsell which being done he is to dismisse them untill the next summons for their appearance In the next discourse I shall intreate about the exercising of Horse-Troopes and so make a generall discourse of all the parts belonging to the body of Warre THE DRILLING OR EXERCISING OF HORSE TROOPES SECT XII CHAP. XCVI Of the preheminency and dignitie of Officers for the avoiding of disputes with a short Declaration of the high Office of the Generall of the Horse HAving finished those instructions concerning the exercising of foote Companies by which meanes they may be fitted and prepared for Service And before we can come to intreate either of Marching Incamping or Imbattelling It is necessary wee should shew some briefe instructions for the Drilling and exercising of Horse troopes in regard no Army can be compleate in power and strength for the exercising of such things of Importance as the cause may require unlesse compounded of Foote and Horse otherwise it must of necessity hault and make use of the stilt of some peculiar place for advantage and safetie and not to looke the Enemy in the face in all places And in regard divers Nations are diversly opinionated some esteeming the Infantrie better than the Caualliary as our English hath done others esteeme the Cavalliarie better than the Infantry as the French yet according to the nature and situation of the country or place the Army is to be imployed in whether Inclosures or Champion accordingly it must be compounded of more or lesse of th' one or th' other But for the avoiding of disputes which may arise amongst the Officers of either part for place of preheminencie and dignitie you shall finde by this Aphorisme amplified with the authority of the Ancient Sages that in profession either Civill or Millitary those are more honourable which have greater charge or require greater knowledge as to rule a State is more noble than to governe a Cittie and this more eminent than to order a Family In which respect though the true end of Horse and foote be one and the same to defend aright and redresse a wrong and per case that of foote be generally more usefull yet this of Horse is the more honorable Service because his vertue and knowledge is exercised as well in Managing and defending of his Horse as of himselfe upon whose safegarde his life and honour depends as well as in immediate defence of his owne person thus much for the dignity of place As for the Officers of the Cauallrie I wil onely with all brevitie touch such things for instruction as are most naturall in every particular Office and then transferre them to the taking of a practicall Surveigh of what is commended to the Generall of the Army and to the rest of the Officers of the Infantrie for if it were possible there ought to be no difference in experience Wisedome and Valour amongst all Officers if they could attaine unto it The Generall of the Horse hath the eminent controule and commande of all the Cavalrie or Horse Regiments of what nature or composition whatsoever
upon their knees if the enemies Horse should offer to charge the Battell of Pikes at a convenient distance beyond this girdling all the residue of the Shot are ranged in small Maniples of thirty in each Before the Front of Pikes you see twenty two Maniples of Shot which are to disband themselves and give fire upon the enemy and are to be supplyed from those Maniples plac'd in the Wings These Maniples of Shot are thus ordered for two reasons For in the first place the enemy cannot possibly assault the body of Pikes but these Maniples of Shot are ready to give fire upon them and the Pikes are so sheltered and shadowed from the enemy that they cannot receive any dammage for indeed so long as the Pikes stand firme although the Shot should be routed yet it cannot be said the Field is won for the whole strength of an Army consists in the Pikes Secondly these Maniples may very easily bee drawn on a sudden into greater Divisions and as occasion shall bee offered may bee joyned with the Pikes and the Pikes suddenly drawn into any forme the Generall shall conceive best of they being ordered in apt Divisions with convenient distances betwixt each Battalia for that purpose And if so bee this Battell bee pitcht in such an advantagious ground that the enemies Horse may not have too much freedome to wrong the Shot this forme questionlesse is very prevalent Wherefore these Shot ought to have each man his swines-Swines-Pike at his girdle to stick down against the Horse upon each corner of the Impalement is plac'd a Maniple of fiftie Musketires The Horse upon the out-Wings of the Shot are ranged in three grand Battalia's one a good distance before the other in the formost is three hundred Harquebuziers in the second five hundred Carbines and in the last two hundred Curassiers these upon occasion may march up together and make one intire Front The Ordnance are guarded upon each Wing with three hundred and fiftie Shot and one hundred and fiftie Pikes These Ordnance are plac'd upon places of advantage to scowre the enemy in what manner soever he shall make his approaches It would bee too tedious to discourse of the sundry forms this or any other forme of Battell may be translated into but the ingenious souldier like that famous Generall Pyrrhus must by his ingenuity frame in his imagination all kind of forms which may sute with the place they are to be fought in and may bee most prevalent against the enemy hee hath to deale withall But this you must take for a Maxime as Sr. Francis Bacon well observed in his advancement of Learning that no massie bodie can possibly be moved without a kind of trepidation and it holds good in this for it is very dangerous to move or alter a forme of Battell not only to avoid fear but confusion Yet I confesse divers Generals have done it as Caesar cast his forme of imbattelling into a halfe-Moon but extremity drove him unto it The Figure hereof followeth upon the next Page For otherwise if a Generall orders his men in one kinde of forme to delude his enemy and to cause him to order his Battell thereafter yet he must be sure to Metamorphise it into that forme he intends before the enemy drawes to neere least confusion follow To avoide tediousnesse these formes before demonstrated shall suffice In the next Chapter following I shall further discourse of the nature of small divisions of Shot and of divers circumstances belonging to them and afterwards I shall further discourse of the nature of Battells CHAP. XXV The use of small Maniples of Shot with a generall discourse of the light-armed IN the precedent descriptions of Imbattelling 〈◊〉 may perceive two or three severall formes of Battels where the Sâ—â—â—t are ordered in small Troopes by themselves wherefore although it be not ordinary yet I shall shew the good use of them by paralelling them with the light-armed used in former ages what strange conquests have beene gained by them as Historians have observed wherefore we must first compare the body of an Army to the body of a Man that is compact of severall parts of which some parts are of more use than other some parts being able to performe their function without the help of the other parts and againe some except the other parts helpe can doe nothing to purpose of themselves The armed are the strength of the Battell and are the refuge for the rest in extremity wherefore our Generalls in this latter age joyne the Shot on each Wing of the Pikes for their safety and in this kind they may worke great effects as Elian in his Tacticks learnedly discusses and Xenophon sayes let there be never so many light-armed yet dare they not stand and abide the assault of a few armed in which respect a place fit hath beene sought for their service to secure them from the accesse of the Horse or of the enemy armed wherefore Generalls in former ages plac'd them sometimes behind their Phalange of Pikes or else in the Wings betwixt the Horse and the armed Pikes as these figures by me described shewes or if they skirmished loose before the Front and chanced to be oppressed with the enemy then they were to retreat into the Intervalls and so convayed themselves behind the Phalange in safety and as Leo reports the securing of the light-armed in some place of strength either naturall or artificiall will be most prevalent and advantagious as namely some strong inclosiers being well Hedged and Ditched Rocks or steepie Hills or the banks of Rivers or the like How did the Prince of Wales being to fight with the whole power of France at Poytiers fortifie his light-armed and safeguarded them with Hedges and Ditches and other Strengths so that the French Horse finding no accesse to disorder them were overwhelmed with their stormes of Shot which those Maniples so plac'd showred upon them At the Battel of Agencourt there were two thousand English Shot placed in a Medow fenced with a deep Ditch from whence they so galled the French which occasioned the Victory The residue of the Shot had Stakes armed with yron pikes which preserved them from the fury of the Chivalrie by which means they gained that famous Victory By this you may see that light-armed souldiers although they be divided from the body of Pikes may be very efficacious to gain a Victory Further there is no inticing or training an enemy from his place of advantage but by small Troops of Shot which are to make a bravado to toule them into some place of advantage as Alexander did practise against the Tryballs who had hid themselves in Woods He sent his light-armed from the body of his Pikes and trained out the Barbarians they being shrewdly wounded with their Shot in the Woods threw themselves out to fall upon the Archers Alexander immediatly commands Philotus with the Horse of upper Macedonia to charge the enemies right Wing
Captaine of the Watch or to bee commanded our with some Troopes for the guarding of some passage to prevent the Enemies approches Hee is to exercise his Company in all their postures he ought to bee gallantly apparelled with a faire Sword and Brigandine if hee be commanded to passe upon any Service with part of the Company he is not to carry his Colours also if the 〈◊〉 Company are to guard some dangerous Out-workes as a halfe Moone or a Redouâ— the Company is to troope thither and he is to leave his Colours in the quarters with a sufficient guard over them and hee is to take for his weapon a good Pike Also every Souldiers honour is highly ingaged to defend and preserve their Ensigne and if occasion of necessity should happen they must not spare to runne upon the Pikes to releeve him as divers valiant Souldiers formerly have done Histories have eternized to their immortall fame the honourable exploits of Captaine Morerula and his two Brothers one of them being his Ensigne at the siege of the Citie of Africa in Barbary in Charles the fifts time when Iohn de Vega Vice-Roy of Sicilia scaled the Walls of it this Ensigne being sore wounded and overthrowne his Brother being Serjeant seconded him and recovered the Colours who advancing forwards like a valiant Souldier was slaine the Captaine Brother to them both tooke up the Colours and performed the Ensignes office who in the scaling of the Wall was sore hurt and died thereof thus three valiant brethren died honourably in defending their Colours if an Ensigne should lose all his Colours from the staffe and hose it is no dishonour When an Army is drawne into Batalia the Ensigne ought to stand out before the front of it some five paces and if the Generall or some other chiefe Officer of the Field passe by he is gently to vaile his Colours holding the butte end of his staffe at his girdlested Also a maxime that no Souldier moves Hat or Helmet to the greatest Commander that is but only to bow his body to him Likewise in time of Battell the Ensigne is to withdraw himselfe for his safety into the middle-most Ranke of the Pikes Likewise in a March the Ensigne is to march before the first division of Pikes with his flying Colours If a King or great Prince passeth by the Ensigne is to vaile his Colours close to the ground with his knee bending in token of Alegiance and submission every Ensigne of private Companies ought to observe how the Ensigne of the Right hand of the Battell orders his Colours after the same manner hee is to order his every Souldier upon an Allarme is speedily to repaire to his Colours likewise not to forsake them untill they be lodged when any Company shall march either into Campâ— Guard Fortresse or Castle no Souldier ought to disarme himselfe untill they see first the Colours placed and the Ensigne disarmed Likewise no sooner shall a Souldier see the Ensigne take up his Colours but they should arme and ranke themselves immediately No Ensigne ought to disarme himselfe upon any Guard Campe or Field untill hee sees that with safety hee may doe it Likewise an Ensigne should shew himselfe forwardest with his Colours in assaulting a Fort or entring a Breach to incourage the Souldiers manfully to fall on to defend and make way for them he ought to behave himselfe so that he may gaine the love of all the Souldiers whereby his owne person shall be in the more safetie when he shall attempt any perrillous exploits for love will command a Souldier to fight when all things in the world else 〈…〉 him forwards and let him know that the vertue of the Ensigne 〈…〉 the vertue and valour of the Captaine and his whole band I could wish 〈…〉 Captaines would be pleased to be more circumspect in their election of 〈◊〉 and not to put undeserving fellowes of base birth and qualitie into place of 〈◊〉 which deserves Gentlemen of quality to officiate the Office of 〈…〉 place of repute and honour doth not sâ—te with every Yeoman Taylor or Fidler as I have knowne to one Company in Essex all these oâ— the like Mechanick fellowes have had the honour to beare the Colours before a generous Captaine of Noble birth whose name I forbeare to relate but let it be an 〈◊〉 to all generous Captaines to make choyce of Officers that are well bred and deserving otherwise they doe but disgrace themselves and abuse his Majesties service and the reputation of our Countrey CHAP. LXV The Office of a Lieuâ—tenant to a private Company and his duty both in Garrison and in Field declared A Lieuetenant is an Office of high credit and reputation and he ought in all respects to bee well indoctrinated and qualified in the Arts Millitary and ought not to bee inferiour in knowledge to any Officer of higher authority for an unskilfull Captaine may better demean himselfe with an experienst Lieuetenant then an unskilfull Lieuetenant can â—adge with a skilfull Captain because all businesse belonging to a Company is for the most part ordered by the Lieuetenant the Captaine having other imployments of greate importance hee is to see the company fitted in all respects for service hee is the right hand to his Captaine in ayding and assisting him as well in the brunt of Battell as in Peace hee is to see to the fitting and furnishing of all things necessary belonging to the Company hee is to keepe a perfect roule of all the Souldiers in the Company and to observe that every Squadron bee compleate hee is to view the sufficiency and â—â—â—enesse of the Armes and to give order for the repayring of such as shall bee found defective hee is to order and ranke the Company fit for his Captaine to March with hee is to divide his Company into foure divisions making two divisions of the Pikes and two of the Musquetieres hee is to ranke the first division of Musquets in the Front and the second division of Musquets in the Reare of the Pikes hee is to March in the Reare of the Company into the Field and in Marching out of the Field the Captaine is to March in the Reare and the Lieuetenant in the Front he is carefully to passe upon his duty to see the squadrons drawne to the Guards for to Watch hee is to bee very carefull and diligent in exercising his Company either by squadrons uppon the Guards or the whole Company in the Field assuming fit and convenient times hee is to leade on the left Wing of shot in time of service in time of exercising hee is to helpe order the Company so that his Captaine may have the more ease and freedome hee ought to bee silent and to cause silence in the Company during the time of his Captaines exercise he ought to bee in the Reare of the Company to instruct the Souldiers how to act and observe the Captaines commands he ought to call over the Company and take a particular survey
of your right foot with the Stocke towards you your right hand holding it somewhat more than halfe way towards the mouth you stand with a full body boult upright with the Musquet in the same manner by your right side 53 Lay down your Musquet Rest. Match This Posture is performed by stepping forwards with your right foot your selfe and Peece standing as in the precedent Posture then declining with your body you lay it downe gently with the mouth in a right line from you and and the locke upwards after the same manner also your Rest and Match is to be disposed of 54 Take off 55 Lay down your Bandeliers After your hands are free from your Musquet Match and Rest you may with your left hand take off your Hat which may hinder you and with your right hand neatly convey them over your head and so as before lay them downe along by the side of your Musquet but so as the Match may not fire them 56 March from your Armes This is principally used to make the Souldiers apt and ready to finde their owne places againe and to be quicke in re-arming themselves upon a suddaine Allarme The Sentinell Posture is no otherwise then having your Musquet rested primed and charged with powder and Bullet for your better ease and readinesse to give fire upon the Enemy to make an Allarme you stand at that Posture with the But end of your Musquet at your right huckle bone with a light match cockt the mouth of the Peece somewhat mounting and your hand grasping the Stocke with your finger upon the Seare And this shall suffice for the Postures of the Musquet onely you are to draw your Files into an even body againe fit to joyne with the Body of Pikes CHAP. LXXVII How aâ— Officer is to 〈◊〉 himselfe in the 〈◊〉 of the Pikes and 〈…〉 Souldier â—s to imitate him punctually from Posture to Posture THe Officer having disposed his Piâ—â—emen as before is shewed and standing in the midst of the Ring with a Pike in his hand after he hath â—â—â—â—â—â—ded silence and being presupposed that the Souldiers stand with their Pikes advanc'd The Officer commands them to Order your Pikes This Posture is performed the Pike being advanc'd by drawing in your left heele towards the small of your right foot and at the same instant raising your left hand as farre as you can indifferently stretch it you graspe the Pike in it towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end of the Pike and withall sinking your left hand with the Pike in it as low as your skirts you againe raise up your right hand and guiding the Pike with your left you place the But end of it by the out-side of your right foot your right hand holding it even with your eye and your thumbe right up then removing your legge to his former station your left arme being set a kimbo by your side you shall stand with a full body in a comely Posture Advance your Pikes The Pike being ordered as in the former Posture is shewed without changing of your hold you must with your right hand lift the Pike a little from the ground and taking it suddainly againe with the left hand towards the 〈◊〉 end leaving so much length below as you can afterwards reach well with the right hand where it is stayed in the fist at the full length of the arme hanging right downewards your fore-finger and thumbe close at the But end resting it close to your thigh and bearing against the shoulder close to your breast causeth it to stand firme and upright without wavering Shoulder your Pike This Posture may be performed eyther when the Pike is advanc'd or ordered If advanc'd then your left hand is to be brought about to your right side and being stretcht upwards you are to take hold of the Pike towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end the left hand sinkes the Pike downewards sloping in a right line forwarns so that the right hand receiving the second hold as high as it can conveniently reach and graspes the Pike with the thumbe long-wayes upon the Pike and underneath it Then your left hand leaving its former hold immediately graspes the Pike just below your right hand and so both hands being joyned together they gently conveyes it unto the right shoulder leaving the right fist close prest to the Plate bone thereof with your right elbow close downe by your side and your left elbow set a kimbo you stand with an upright full body Note that in acting this Posture your feet are not to bee removed eyther backwards or forwards but occasionally side-wayes as the hands are imployed in the executing this Posture some never stirre any foot at all I leave it as a thing indifferent Levell your Pikes This is performed the Pike being shouldered by bringing your left hand to the Pike and grasping it close under your right hand and withall at the same instant drawing in your left heele towards the 〈◊〉 of your right foot then with an even motion of both your hands you are to raise the butte end of your Pike untill it lyes levell upon your shoulder then returning your hand and foot to their due places you shall stand in a faiâ—â— Posture This may bee performed without moving the foot but then it hath not the like grace with it Slope your Pikes This Posture is performed in the same kind the former was only the hands presseth downe the butte end of the Pike within halfe a foote of the ground which causeth it to lye right sloping Charge your Pikes to the Front This Posture may be performed either when the Pike is advanced or shouldered wherealso you must further observe whether it be to be acted standing or Marching If so be your Pike bee advanced and you are to act this Posture standing Then you must only slip backe your right hand and your right foote a good stride placing your foote side-wayes from your body Then with your left hand you are to receive the Pike about a yard from the butte end holding your elbow in an even distance from your body with your hand close to your breast so that the Pike may have the more freedome to play forwards and backwards just breast-high of a man your left knee being bent for wards and your body yeelding towards the point of the Speare so as you may not easily be thrust back by the Enemy If your Pike be shouldered then you must receive the Pike in your left hand a pretty reach downewards tâ—wards the butte end of the same at the same instant you are to raise the Pike with your right hand from your shoulder and with your left hand draw in the butt end of the same towards the outside of your right thigh then slipping backe your right foote and hand you receive the butt-end of it you charge it as before
is shewed If this Posture be to be performed Marching your Pike being shouldred then first steppe forwards with your right foote and let your left hand receive the Pike and equall distance from your right hand towards the butt-end of the same raising your Pike forwards with your right hand from your shoulder then at the same instant step forwards with your left foot and receive the butt-end of the Pike with your right hand just behind the side of your right thigh But to performe this Posture â—rooping and your Pike advanced then you are only to step forwards with your left foot and with a little shogge of the shoulder and drawing backe the butt-end of your Pike in your right hand will cause the Pike to fall forwards where your left hand is at the instant to be ready to receive it betweene the Thumbe and the forefingers at a convenient distance Charge to the Horse Note in charging to the Horse it hath beene in former ages used to place the but-end of your Pike in the ground by the inside of your right foot and so to draw your Sword over your left arme and divers Rankes of Musquetiers plac'd to shoot over their heads behind them No question it is a very good way for your bow-Bow-pikes but the former charging is most in use Charge to the Reare You may by the precedent Posture conceive how to charge your Pike either to the right or left hand But for the charging to the Reare the Pikes being either shouldered or advanced is somewhat difficult Therefore you may please to observe that if the Pike bee advanced you must with your left hand take it in his proper place up towards your head then suddenly turning your body about towards your left hand and being faced about you are to thrust backe your right hand with the butt-end of the Pike in it and withall your right leg is to be set out with it this will bring you into the right Posture But if your Pike be shouldered and you are to charge to the Reare then you must take the Pike in your left hand a good distance from your right hand towards the butt-end and at the same instant with your right hand raise the Pike from your shoulder as high above your head towards your left side as possibly you may then standing firme with your left legge you are to bring about your right side and legge towards the left hand about and being halfe turned you are to let loose your right hand and with your left hand you are somewhat to advance the point of the Pike forwards so that the butt-end may bee drawne backe by your right side for your right hand to receive it your right foot also at the very instant being stept backe makes you stand fully charged Port your Pikes This Posture is performed by holding the Pike a halfe distance betweene advancing and charging and was only invented to case the hind most Rankes from the intollerable labour of continuall charging and to secure the Pikes from the Bullets which would have more power to breake them if they hold them advanc'd Besides it is the most aptest and comliest Posture for a Company to use in marching thorow a Port or Gate and most readiest for to charge upon a sudden Checke your Pike This Posture is to be performed at three Motions First if your Pike be shouldered you are to raise it with your right hand from your shoulder and with a ticke of your left hand you are to convey the butt-end of it by your right side then thrusting backe your right with the Pike in it so farre as conveniently may be you are to take a fathom with your left hand as farre towards the Speare end of the Pike as possibly you may then conveying the Pike in your left hand baackward as before you are againe with your right hand to take another fathome within a foot of your Pikes end Lastly stepping forwards with your left foote you bring your left hand withall which receives the Pike within a quarter of a foot of the Speares end Provided alwayes that in all the motions of the hands you suffer not the butt-end to touch the ground untill you have checkt it with your left hand Pikes as you were Trayle your Pikes This Posture is performed after you have used the Circumstances in checking as in the precedent Posture is shewed by bringing up your Right foot even with your left and by removing your right hand just before your left close to the end of the Pike then you are to withdraw your left hand and place it a-kimbo by your side and your right hand will hold the end of the Speare just above your right huckle-bone with your body standing full forwards Pikes as you were Lay downe your Pikes This Posture is to bee performed your Pike being advanced by stepping forwards with your right foot then your right shoulder with a small bearing forwards and with it a little jogge causeth the Pike to meet the left hand which gently conveyes the Speares end to the ground then turning about your right arme in a kind of Circle will cause the backe of your hand to bee next the outside of your right Thigh then leaning your body forwards you convey the butt-end to the ground close at the side of your right foot so as the Pike will lye in an even line from your foot forwards Recover your Pikes and charge This Posture is performed your feet standing even together only owing your body forwards you cause the backe of your right hand to bee put downe close by the out-side of your right foot then in the raising of the butt-end of your Pike you turne your hand with the Pike in it so that the inside of your hand will bee towards your right side Then your left hand in the raising taketh the Pike at a convenient place or distance and elevates it either to the Posture of charging or ordering as the Officer shall please to command The word of Command which the Officer is to use for the reducing of these Postures to their first station is Pikes as you were There are divers other Postures which I doe here omit referring you to the booke of Militarie discipline Composed by that worthy Gentleman Master William Barrife Lieutenant to the Artillery Garden who hath merited much honour in performing so Noble a worke in a most concise and exquisite way for the which our Kingdome is much bound to him CHAP. LXXVIII How the Commanders shall draw their Files both of Musquetiers and Pikes and joyne them in one body fit to be exercised in grosse YOu have seene every Souldier performe his Postures well then you must draw out the File-leader of the Right-hand-file with his whole File Commanding every File-leader successively to draw up his File either of other And being drawne into a body command them to advance their Pikes In the meane time the Lieutenant or some other Officer
divisionall Countermarches of Files Only observe by the way that as the Front half-Files emptieth the spaces of ground between the Leaders and the halfe-File Leaders placing themselves in the ground before the Front So in the mean time their places are to be replenisht by the Souldiers of the Rear halfe-Files who are to march up and supply their roomes File-Leaders and Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Lacedaemonian Countermarch makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy both to Front and Rear and leaves all the ground whereon they stood transferring them into the ground before the Front and behind the Rear the ground or place of their former standing being vacant The motion is thus to bee performed The Rear halfe-Files are commanded to face to the Rear and then the Front halfe-Files passe through to the right placing themselves before their Leaders the second Rank before the first the third before the second the fourth before the third c. The Rear halfe-Files at the same instant passing through to the Rear placing themselves before their bringers up To reduce this motion into their former stations if you have not closed their distance you may face them about and so let them returne into their places or else by doing the same Countermarch over againe or to the contrary hand or any such like way will reduce them Note if you reduce them by another Countermarch you must first close their divisions File-Leaders face about Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behind your File-Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Macedonian Countermarch doth little differ from the last onely that turned the aspect outwards to the Front and Rear but this Countermarch turnes the aspect inwards toward the midst placing the best souldiers in the midst with a large lane or distance betwixt them through which any great Personage may bee conducted crosse the length of your Battell whereby the bravery of the souldiers may be seene This motion is thus to bee performed The first Rank or File-Leaders face about the last Rank stands the Rear halfe-Files face about and so the Front-division passe forwards and place themselves behind the File-Leaders and the Reare halfe-Files behinde their bringers up Note that when the Rear halfe-Files face about the last Rank which are the bringers up are still to keepe their standing The way to reduce this motion is to bee done either by the same word of Command which produced it or else by any of the precedent divisionall Countermarches Front halfe-Files interchange ground with the Reare passing through to the right This Bastard Countermarch of enterchanging ground is not truely derived from any one particular ground of Countermarch but rather participating of them all and yet in it selfe it differs from them all for whereas the other Countermarches of Files in division did bring their Front and Rear into the midst yet their Front half-Files continued still on the same part and their Rear halfe-Files did not alter into the place of the other But this contrary to any other of the divisionall Countermarches transfers the Front halfe-Files into the ground or place of the Rear halfe-Files and them into the contrary part bringing the File-Leaders and bringers up together into the midst For the performing this motion you must cause the Front halfe-Files to face about passing forwards to the right being led by the bringers up of the Front half-Files between the intervalls towards the Rear The Rear half-Files at the same instant in like manner marching forwards between the intervals on their right hands into the Front untill the Front-division have attained the place of the Rear and they contrariwise the place of the Front For the reducement of this countermarch do as much back again or if you would reduce it some other way you may first make an entire Countermarch of Files and then countermarch Front and Rear into the midst Under two Countermarches it cannot be reduced Countermarch your Flanks into the midst This Chorean Countermarch of the Flanks into the midst by bringing the outermost Files to be the innermost is thus to bee performed You must first command the whole body to face to the right and left hand by division The outermost Files by this facing becomming Ranks every man in the right-hand File being a Leader in his halfe Rank File-wise and so likewise in the left-hand File the same Then you are to countermarch the right Flank to the right and the left Flank to the lelft which you must alwaies observe to doe and your Flanks will meet just in the midst of your Battalia Lastly having faced them to their first Front the Countermarch is ended To reduce them you may either make use of the same Countermarch again or any of these following divisionall Countermarches of Flanks unlesse it bee that of enterchanging of ground Note that upon the Countermarching of Flanks into the midst the right Flank must alwaies observe to turne to the right hand and the left Flank to the left hand for if they should both turn off to the right they will meet wrong or if they turne off both to the left it will be as bad Outmost Files of each Flank face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves before your outside men This Lacedaemonian Countermarch of half Ranks or Flanks makes shew of charging the enemy with both Flanks but leaves a wast distance of ground unoccupied between the two outermost Files or midst of the Battell the way to performe this motion is after this manner First you must cause your right-hand File to face to the right and the left-hand File to the left the rest of the body faceth to the right and left the right Flank passing through to the right and placing themselves before their right-hand men the second File from the right begins the motion on the right Flank the left Flank in right manner passing through to the left and placing themselves before their left-hand men the second File accounting from the left begins the motion on the left Flank but you must note that the Files become Ranks with the facing For reducement if you will first face them to their proper Front you must command the two inmost Files to stand the rest are to passe through to the right and left-hand inwards and take their place or you may make use of a Chorean or a Macedonian Countermarch of Ranks by division and with a facing and closing their divisions they will bee in their first forme The out most File of each Flanke face inwards the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves behinde your outside men This Macedonian Counter-March corespondes with the last onely it differs in turning the Aspct inwards whereas the former directed their Aspects outwards and it is thus performed The
the conductor of them become into the Front of the Pikes then he 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 observe withall that he in this firing that was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the Leader of the motion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and when they have fired they are to wheele off to the left close by the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall into the Reere of the Musquetiers In the Interim whilst that the Ranke that first fired is wheeling away the second ranke is marching into their places to give fire And in this maner they may maintaine their skirmish so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the while The Musquetiers in their time of their crossing the Front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that they may be no impediment to them in their charge There is another way of firing by extraduction which is that the Right hand Leader of Musquetiers placeth himselfe before the right File Leader of Pikes the rest all faling beyond him but this is a more imperfect way then the former and not worth the further describing For Reducement you must command your Pikes to stand and your Musquets to double their Front by division But if you want roome to doe it then first double your Files to the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so having doubled by division as a foresaid they will be reduced as at first Wheele your flankes into the front face to your Leader The firings belonging to a broad fronted battell are of singular use either offensive or defensive The words of direction that produceth this forme is in the Margent and the maner of performing it is thus first cause your Pikes to stand and your Musquetiers to march untill the reere ranke of Musquetiers be advanced a little space before the Front of the Pikes then let the Musquetiers face inwards or in opposition and close their division and then face to their Leaders And if you would bring more hands to fight double rankes to any hand But the speediest way to produce thus forme is to wheele both flankes into the Front For the manner of firing there are Intervalls made for each division to the right that so they may either fall into the reere of the shot and there continue the firing or else fall into the reere of the Pikes and be thereby secured from the enemies horse Wherefore be pleased to observe the words of Command whereby this forme is produced which is placed in the Margent For the performance of this firing the first ranke is to present and give fire then wheele off to the right all passing downe the Intervalls to the right and placing themselves in the reere of their owne shot the Musquetiers making good their Leaders ground Likewise after the next rankes have fired they are after the former Manner to wheele off and to place themselves This way they may give fire once or twise over and then make use of a second way And that is to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes either standing or advancing Or if neede be the Pikes may close their divisions and charge at the foote the Musquetiers giving fire over them For Reducement If you make this forme of battell by wheeling your flankes into the front and there having given fire as foresaid Then you must cause them to give fire over againe and so fall into their former places for you must observe that the second firing will cause the body to face to the Reere which then becomes a Front accidentall and then by wheeling your Flankes into the Front againe and facing them about to the right will bring them into their first station or if you would reduce them without giving of fire over againe then you must Command your shot to double their Front by division that being done you are to wheele both Flankes into the Reare then facing to their Leaders you must againe Command the Musquetiers to double their Front by division and they will be in their first forme and station CHAP. XC How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire to the Reere with the severall wayes there to belonging and how they ought to be performed HAving in the former discourse shewed the diverse and sundry wayes of giving fire in the Front It seemes now requisit I should doe the same Office in demonstrating the severall wayes of giving fire in the Reere Wherefore after the Commander hath taught his Souldiers these wayes or at least the chiefest of them in giving fire in the Front he must performe the like paines in exercising them in their firings in the Reere And first having Commanded them to face about into the Reere or wheele them about or performe it by Counter marching The Company we presuppose stands in Battallia with the wings of shot upon each flanke of the body of Pikes the Pikes being shouldred you may cause them to march easily forwards the Enemie being supposed to appeare in the Reere Command your last ranke of Musquetiers to face about present and give fire wheeling off by division File-wise marching uptoward the Front and there placing themselves before the foremost ranke of shot the outmost man of each ranke being the Leader up of those which have fired where first taking their place 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 shot also doing the like and in this manner to continue the firing as occasion shall require This kinde of firing may easily be performed if Souldiers will but observe these following directions viz when the last ranke of Musquetiers have presented to the reere and are giving of fire then the ranke which marcheth next before them must blow open and present at three motions still keeping along even with the body of Pikes 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 three motions to doe the same and so successively for all the rest every ranke observing upon each rankes 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 Captaine Swan at the giving over of Deventer in Gilderland by Stanly and Yorke did defend himselfe from the enemies Horse by giving fire in the reere untill he had gained a place of strength which honorable performance will never be buried in oblivion But suppose the Enemies horse shall still pursue your troopes in the reere you having gained some straight or place of aduantage
so successively each file having fired marcheth up next unto the right flanke of Pikes when all your shot hath given fire once over they are reduced as at first Musquetiers give fire to the right wheeling off after your bringers up and placing your selves betweene your divisions The third way of giving fire in flanke differeth nothing from the former But onely their manner of wheeling off and placing them doth differ for you remember in the former that the File of Musquetiers after that they had given fire were led off by their proper File-Leadere but this must be led off to the contrary by their bringers up and this indeede if the body bee upon a slow march is the readiest and quickest way and doth more speedily secure the shot after they have given fire The Pikes and Shot being placed in Battallia as before is described you may take the words of command and direction which produceth this firing as it is placed in the Margent and the way of performing this firing is as followeth Frst you must presuppose your body to be marching as before is shewed upon all these firings in Flanke with their Pikes shouldred 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 Musquetiers 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 and the file Leader of the same File becomming the bringer up in the Reere The Files of Musquetiers or Pikes according as the Command shall be given are as they march to open thereby giving way to the Musquetiers 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 is then to present and give fire and in like manner to wheele off as before and so to march up betweene the Pikes and Musquetiers every File successively giving fire and wheeling off as aforesaid This firing may be performed as often as the Commander pleaseth Never the lesse if it be twise performed the men are reduced as at first every man possessing his right place 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 his division which is betweene the Musquets and the Pikes and there hee 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 Musquetiers give fire to the right placing your selves on the outside of the left Flank of Pikes The fourth way of giving fâ—re in the Flanke differeth nothing from the former but in the manner of placing the Files that they may be the better defended from the fury of the enemies Horse after they have given fire upon them in the Flanke for the same purpose therefore after the shot have fired they are to be drawne up on the outer-side of the left Flanke of Pikes for their safeguard if there bee any Rivers Ponds Ditches Hedges Marish grounds or the like whereby the Horse may be disabled from performing any execution against them and then the Pikes are to make their best defence if neede be charging at the foote closely seried together with their Swords drawne so that the shot may give fire over them Now by the way you are to presuppose that the shot and Pikes are ranged in forme as before is described in the former wayes of firing in the Flanke and taking with you the words of command and direction placed in the Margent you shall perceive the manner of firing and placing of the men as followeth First the outermost file having presented to the right the rest of the body continueth the march whilst they in the meane time are giving fire which being done and the body cleare the next outmost 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 Musquets and Pikes a good round pace sleeving them upon the outside of the left Flanke of Pikes the next File having in like manner fired doth also troope up on the outside of the File led off before Every File having given fire and placed â—â—â—mselves as before is described then the Pikes may charge Having â—â—â—en fire to the right Flanke and drawne all your shot upon the left â—â—nke you may cause them in like sort to give fire on the left Flanke 〈◊〉 bring them back againe to the right Flanke by which meanes they will be reduced into their first forme Or if you would reduce them without firing then either passe your Musquetiers through betweene your Rankes of Pikes or else let your whole division of shot be drawne crosse eyther the Front or Reere of Pikes into their places Or if you please your shot may give fire in Flanke by division the first fire sleeving on the left Flanke the rest of the Files still falling betweene the Pikes and the Musquetiers that wheeled off before the last before them and this is a very good way of firing and may be reduced with doing the same way backe againe Musquetiers give fire to the right marching up betweene the midst of the Pikes The fift way of firing in a Flanke and bringing them off betweene the midst of the Pikes is to be used at such times when as you would secure your shot from the enemies Horse there being no other naturall strength to defend them and upon occasion you may draw three or foure Files of Pikes more or lesse according to your number or the danger crosse the Musquetiers both in Front and Reere which 〈◊〉 in the midst betwixt the Pikes which may serve for an impalement 〈◊〉 defend the shot both in Front and Reere as in Flanke The forme â—f this battell is after this manner the shot are placed upon the right â—â—ing of the Pikes as is described in the former firings and the Pikes are divided in the middlemost File leaving such a proportionable distance as may conveniently receive all the Files of shot after they have fired The word of command and direction you shall finde placed in the Margent The command being given for the outermost File to present to the right as formerly is shewed in the other firings in the 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 marched up in the distance which is made betweene the middlemost Files of Pikes who are then to open to the right and
least in danger crosse the Reere of Pikemen The words of command and direction you shall finde in the Margent which produceth this latter forme of firing the words of command being given to fire to the Reere and right Flanke The outermost File of Musquetiers presents to the right and the last Ranke of Musquetiers 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 on the right Flanke and the last Ranke of the Musquetiers in the Reere of the Pikes having fired the File facech to the left after their File Leader and so marcheth up betweene the Musquetiers of the same division and the Pikes the Rankes also wheeling off to the right and placing it selfe next after the Reere of Pikes and if you please you may make an Intervall or space betweene the Musquetiers in the Reere that so one part may wheele off to the right on the outside the other part wheele off to the right and march up betweene the Intervalls into their places The first File file upon the Flanke and the first Ranke in the Reere that presented having given fire and wheeled cleare of the body the next File and ranke is to present and give fire after the same manner wheeling off and taking their places as aforesaid and so successively the rest both Files and Rankes gives 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 shot from the Reere to the left Flanke againe and they will be in their first forme and station Musquetiers give fire to both Flankes marching up betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions This kinde of firing to both Flankes marching may be upon some occasions serviceable and the shot after they have given fire may be eyther placed betweene their owne divisions and the Pikes or betweene the midst of the Pikes for their better securitie the shot being placed upon both the Flankes of the Pikes as we left them in the former discourse you must make use of the words of command and direction which is placed in the Margent which will produce this forme of firing The command being given the outmost file of each Flanke presents outward the rest of the body still continuing of the march the presented Files in the interim giving fire then facing after their proper File-Leaders who are to leade them up betweene the Musquetiers of their owne divisions and the Pikes in the time of their wheeling away the next two outermost Files are to 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 Advance your Pikes and stand face to the right and left Musquetiers give fire and Flanke your Pikes This kinde of firing to both Flankes upon a stand is produced by the words of command and directions placed in the Margent onely observe the Musquetiers are placed upon both Flankes of the body of Pikes as you left them in the precedent discourse The words of command being given the whole body both of Pikes and Shot are to face to the right and left hand and then the formost Rankes of Musquetiers which before the facing were the outermost Files are to present and give fire and then wheele off by division Ranking even with the formost Rankes of Pikes and leaving sufficient Intervalls for the rest of the Musquetiers 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 Intervalls and so ranking after their Leaders but you must observe by the way that they that were outermost when they gave fire are likewise to be so when they have taken their places All the Rankes of Musquetiers having fired and wheeled off as before the Pikes if neede be may charge and the Musquetiers giving fire over againe wheeling off outwards and placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisious Having advanced your Pikes and faced your body to their first Front all your Musquetiers will be in Front and Reere and then if your halfe Files about and give fire after the same manner formerly discoursed of to the Front and Reere having faced them againe to their first Front they will be reduced as at first into their ordinary square CHAP. XCIIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in a Triple way of giving fire to the Front BY this triple firing to the Front the precedent forme of firing to both Flankes standing may be reduced for the Musquetiers of the Reere division opening to the right and left and sleeving upon the Flankes of the Pikes untill the Leaders of the Reere division who then were the halfe File-Leaders ranke even with the Front of Pikes and those in the front division are placed before the Pikes in the Front securely covering them from the enemy The word of command and directions that produceth this forme of firing is placed in the Margent Musquetiers of the Reere double your Front of Pikes by division The one halfe of the shot being placed before the front of the Pikes and the other halfe placed upon eyther flanke even with the first Ranke of Pikes and the word of command being given then the first Ranke of Musquetiers both of front and flankes presents to the front and gives fire wheeling off to the right and left by division The Musquetiers of the front division being wheeled off as aforesaid close by the flankes of their owne Musquetiers passe directly downe betweene the Intervals and place themselves even in Ranke behind the Musquetiers of the Reere division which are upon the flanks like wise the Musqueters that fired at the same time on the flankes wheele also off the right flanke to the right the left flanke to the left marching directly downe even with the reere Rankes of the Pikes and there place themselves againe even in ranke with the last ranke of Pikes this done the rest of the rankes successively give fire and doe the like every ranke taking his place after the ranke that fired last before them the other Rankes mooving one ranke forwarder the Musquetiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will all be reduced to the Flanke againe as at first View the figure in the next page The Figure of the Triple firing to the Front Front Serjeant Serjeant Serjeant Serjeant CHAP. XCV How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire three wayes at once viz. to the Front Reere and right Flanke IN performing this firing three wayes at once first you may suppose the Musquetiers to be placed upon eyther Flanke of the Pikes then by commanding the halfe Rankes of the left to double
Carabines as the Generall shall thinke best There must likewise be two other grand battells ordered the first is to be plac'd a hundred paces before the Front of the maine battell but not so forwards as the forlorne hopes by little more than halfe the distance these are to consist of Harquebuzires and Carabines and are to be ordered in competent Battalias which shall be neither too great nor too small but so as they may charge in sundry bodies the better to releeve one the other betweene each Battallia there must be certaine Files of Musquetiers drawne up in an even Front with them who shall give fire upon the enemies horse to disorder their Rankes as they shall approach to charge your Troopes these shotiupon occasion may retreate and fall in betwixt the distances of the maine Battell which are to advance forward to re scue the former Troopes being over charged The third battell which is called the Battell of Sucker is to be plac'd a good distance behinde the maine Battell and these ought to be all or the greatest part of them Cuirassiers and ordered in great Battalias then the Harquebuziers they are to be marshalled and disposed into divers Compertments or Divisions so that the Battalias of the maine battell may retreate betwixt them or being routed they may shelter themselves behinde them and reunite themselves againe and joyne with them in a desperate charge for this is the last refuge unlesse you draw out certaine Pikes to relieve them and unlesse your strength in horse doe much exceede the Enemies it will be to your disadvantage to strive to charge the Enemies foote Troopes unlesse there should be an unexpected advantage offered untill such time as you have either routed the Enemies horse or put them to flight and then you are to bend your full strength to assault them upon all quarters with your Harquebuziers and Carabines first and then seconded by your Cuirassires who are to presse in amongst the Enemy and breake their rankes but in the meane time they must leave a sleeve of horse upon each flanke of the wings of the foote Troopes to defend them from the Enemies charge who will adventure to doe it when they see them left naked If your Cavalry are by some accident to fight onely against some certaine foote Troopes of the enemies you must make choise of plaine fieldings as a place most advantagious for that purpose Likewise you must use all celerity and diligence to charge them before they can order themselves in Battell and upon these advantages you may venture although they should be farre more potent than your selfe But being drawne into battell expecting your assault and your forces being equall in power then you must command out certaine Troopes of Harquebuziers or Dragoones if you have any and with these you must charge them upon the Front Flankes and Reares these are to be seconded by certaine small Battalias of Cuirassiers who shall take the opportunity to fall upon such disorders as the Harquebuziers have caused If the Enemy have possest themselves in some place of advantage then the Cavalry are not to charge them although your forces were superiour in strength to them If it should so happen that one company of Cuirassirs should be to fight against another if the enemy doth charge you in full carriere your safest way is to devide your Troope by halfe rankes opening a large distance to the right and left hand so as the Enemy may passe through then facing your Troope inwards you are to charge them upon the Flankes you are to performe the like if you have a Battalia made of two Troopes and being charged by the Enemy they are to divide themselves as before but keepe each Troope whole and entire or you may cause three or foure files of each of your wings to advance forward on the sudden and to charge the enemie upon the Flankes and to equall your Enemies Front you may cause the halfe Files of your Body to double your Front to the right and left hand by divisions Note the Harpuebuziers are to give fire by rankes the first ranke having given fire is to wheele off to the left hand unlesse the ground will not permit it but that of necessity you must performe it to the right making ready and falling into the Reare the second ranke is to give fire upon the wheeling away of the first and so the rest successively The advantages which the Cavalry may take against the Enemy when hee shall thinke himselfe secure in his quarters in regard of his Potencie and the undervalluing of his adversaries disability may be very great for many times weake forces have atchieved great victories Wherefore there must first be gained true intelligence how the Enemy hath disposed his Troopes and also certaine knowledge of the situation of the Country Place or Village they are quartered in and how and in what places hee hath plac'd his Guards and set out his Sentinells An Enemies Quarters for the most part are ever strongest and best watch kept upon those passages which leades towards a suspected Enemy In this case you are to make use of the night fetching a compasse about by some by-wayes so that you may charge them in the Reare or Flankes of their Quarters before they be aware of you where you shall be most sure to finde them most negligent in those parts Every Horsman is to take up behinde him a Musquetire whose service will be excellent either to place behinde upon some passage of advantage to rescue your Troopes if they should be put to a retreate or to assist the horse in their discharge against the Enemy in his Quarters as I shall afterwards specifie Now let us presuppose that your Troopes are arrived neere the Enemies quarters every man having the Watch-word given him and also some distinction or marke of white whereby they my be knowne from the Enemy in the darke night and having laid a sufficient guard of Musquetires to make your retreate safe the next thing to be considered of is how you may best hinder the Enemy from uniting their Troopes into a body wherefore some few Musquetires or Firelocks are to be sent some by-way where secretly they must get betwixt the Guard and the Sentinells to cut off their retreate the residue of the Musquetires are to creepe to the Allarme place and there to place themselves neere the passage where the Enemy is to enter with his Troopes and having the advantage of some Hedges Bankes or pales for to hide and secure them from the Horse these shot shall give fire upon the Enemy as they come scattering into the Alarme place In the meane time one of your Troypes of Harquebuziers or Carabines shall advance secretly and without noise towards the Sentinell and suddenly surprise him by the helpe of the shot that lies behinde him then speedily they are to fall upon the guard and surprise them before
King of Sweden who used to range his Battalia's but six men in depth so that with ten thousand well-exercised men he could extend the Front of his Army as broad as the enemy could with fourteen thousand and make his partie good with them in regard of his sundry Retreats which brings fresh hands to fight and weary out the enemy as also hee would not misse of places of advantage environed with water or marish grounds c. so that his Army should not be assaulted upon all sides Sebastian King of Portugal when he aided Mulehamet in the Wars of Barbary against Abdimelec King of Morocco ranged the Rear of his Battell against the River Maraga which was as a wall to defend them Moreover a Generall must take this for a Rule viz. to enlarge or strengthen the Front of his Battell according to the number of his Souldiers as also according to the force of his enemies Troops if the place where you are to imbattell in be narrow then of necessity you must straighten your Ranks and if the place be wide and open you must bee very carefull not to extend the Front of your Battell too wide except your Army bee of greater potencie than the enemies then by extending out the Wings of your Battell you may gain advantage by over-winging them whereby you may charge them both in Flank and Front at once But hee that shall adventure to charge an Army upon all sides either must have four times more men than the enemy or else he must be sure to perish for want of discretion Also there is great discretion to be used in ordering of Battels that they may not bee plac'd in low grounds neer any hill or high banks or upon the side of a hill because the lower grounds are subject to the enemies Ordnance if the enemy should have this advantage the best way to prevent it is to march out of distance from such places of advantage to cause them to come down to you But some fondly have maintained the lower ground to be of greatest advantage in regard the Muskets will doe more service in shooting upwards than downwards To this I answer it is but a simple opinion for it is double advantage to have the higher ground in regard both Horse and Foot will soon find to their costs that it is a double pains besides they come upon them with a great deal more power down hill than they can up hill and a bullet shot from a side-hill may shoot through two or three Ranks when as that which is shot upwards cannot shoot past through one as for their bullets rowling out they are simple men that charge them the mean time But this by the way Tenthly your Battell must bee so ordered and disposed that the enemy may bee brought into some stratagem or made to disorder his Troops which may be done many waies as by causing your Army orderly to retrait so that the enemy may disorder his Ranks in the pursuit and then to take the occasion to fall on again orderly and rout them The ancient Generals were very politick in this for when they knew that their enemies plac'd their greatest strength in any one Point or Wing of the Army then contrarily they would frame that Point or Wing weakest which was to encounter with them their ablest forces they commanded to stand firme and not seek to repulse the enemy but to resist them and the weakest Battalia's they caused to assault the enemy and then to retrait to their Battalia's behind them by this means they brought the enemy into two great disorders the first was the enemy had his best Souldiers inclosed betwixt their adversaries Battalia's the second was when the enemy thought they had gotten the victory their Bands would disorder themselves by pillaging as the like hapned at the Battell of Dreux in France where the Lord of Guise stood fast with his Battalia all the rest being fled from him but the valiant Switzers who opposed themselves against all the fury of the enemy In the mean time the Prince of Codee's Troops being confident of the victory some of them following the slaughter and others fell to pillaging thus being scattered abroad the Lord Guise finding his opportunity with those men he had hee marched up to them with a bold countenance and overthrew them before they could order themselves in any form to receive their charge Likewise Scipio plac'd his weakest Forces against Asdrubal's best souldiers which hee had plac'd in the midst of the Battell and upon each Flank Scipio had plac'd his ablest men So soon as Asdrubal charged Scipio's Battell they retraited only the two Flanks of his strongest souldiers stood firme Asdrubal's souldiers pursuing the retrait before they were aware were gotten between the two Divisions of the Flanks of Scipio as if they had been in an half-Moon they there being charged upon both sides by them his weakest men being there were soon vanquish'd and the rather because his chiefest Forces being plac'd in the midst of his Battell could not come to fight Eleventhly You must know how and when to make use of such instruments as may hinder the enemies Horse and disorder and annoy his Foot-troops and for this purpose the King of Sweden made use of an instrument which he termed a Swines Spike formerly used by one of our Kings whereby he gained a Conquest in France it was a peece of Ash four foot long at each end a speared pike of yron his Musketires stook this at their girdles and as they advanc'd forwards to give fire upon their enemy every man stook down his instrument aslope into the ground this hindred the Horse from charging them Also many have made use of the Caltrop it being a small peece of round wood with pikes sticking up every way each souldier having one or two of these about him may cast them before the Front and Flanks of the Army these will much annoy the enemies Horse Also your Powder-pots being plac'd in the earth and fire given unto them just as the enemy shall be approaching over them these will infinitely disorder and kill them Moreover it behooves a Generall to be of a very quick apprehension and to forecast with himself what stratagems will best sute with the condition of the enemy and the situation of the place and how and when to put them in execution that they may work their best effect In the framing of your Battell you must bee mindfull to order the Battalia's so as there may be a space left of two paces for the Musketires to march down by the sides of the Pikes after they have given fire upon the enemy for if the distance should bee lesse as divers would have it the motion of the Battalia's would presently close them up Also the distances between the Battels of the forlorn hopes and the front of the main Battel ought to be sixtie paces or according as the place will admit
the other in prowesse The King of Sweden made use of this policie many times and it stood him in gread stead the same did Monsieur de Lautrec against the Emperors Army in the Kingdome of Naples his Army consisting of divers Nations as Italians Switzers French-men Gaescoins Almaignes because none of them should be disparaged hee plac'd them all in on Front for he knew of their great emulation that one Nation desired to be thought more valiant than the other Now it remains to speak of the Cavialry how they ought to be plac'd and in this a great care and circumspection is to be had first in ordering them into convenient Battalia's or proportionable Divisions that they bee neither too big nor too small these are to be ranged upon each Wing of the Foot-troops fifty or sixty paces distant from the Flanks of the Army lest by their unrulinesse and disorderly retraiting they presse upon your own Troops and dis-rank them Many times the Horse-troops are divided into six Battalia's viz. three plac'd upon one Wing and three upon the other the formost Battalia's are to consist of as many more as the second and the third is to be least of all As suppose the number of 4000. Horse the two formost Battels upon each Wing are to consist of 1100. the two second Battels of 500. apeece and the two third and last Battels of 400. in each there ought to be a good distance betwixt each of these Battalia's If your Horse-Troops should be too weak for the enemy you must line their Files with Shot and also have in a readinesse certain extraordinary Pikes to assist the Horse and Shot if they should be overcharged The Horse are to shelter themselves in the Rear of the Foot-Battalia's untill such time as the enemies Ordnance are surprized for the Horse are subject to more danger of the enemies Ordnance than the Foot possibly can be in regard they are lower and a â—annon-shot is subject to mount The Harquebuziers and Carbines many times are imployed to assault the enemy not having so much respect in keeping of their Ranks The Curassires are to bee ordered next the Flank of the Battell for the most part and the Harquebuziers and Carbines outmost of all for the Curassiers ought to stirre as little as possibly may be from the Wings of the Foot-Battalia's for most properly they are to resist and seldome to assaile The best and safest way both for Horse and Foot is to keep their ground untill the enemy be drawn very near unto your Battell and then to receive their charge The Cavalry being ordered as before into three severall Battels viz. the main Battel which is to consist of Carbines the Battel of succour is to consist of Harquebuziers and the Rear-Battell of Curassiers and many times the Troops of the Carbines and Harquebuziers are next in the formost Battel are to do the first execution upon the enemies troops the Curassiers are to finish what they have begun to ruine disorder The Battell of succour is to be in distance behind the main Battel forty or fifty paces and is to have spaces as the Foot hath for the Divisions to retrait into the like must the Rear-Battell have and it is to be ordered in distance twice as far behind the Battell of succour as the Battell of succour is from the main Battell viz. 80. or 100. foot or more or lesse according to the situation of the ground If the enemy should charge your Horses in the Rear in the time of the conflict then the Generall must send the Light-armed Horse to resist them and there must bee alwaies in a readinesse certain Maniples both of Pikes and Shot plac'd in the Rear of the Battel to draw out to assist either the Horse or Foot upon all occasions Lastly It remains to speak of the waies and means to encourage the souldiers and to breed Spirit in them making them undervalue their enemies and to charge them with a boldnesse and this is to be done by some pithy Oration and perswasive Speech which ancient Generals have found by experience to bee of great efficacie to induce them to wonderfull performances The Speech may be according as the Generall shall please or as if he should in the head of his Troops pronounce these words Right valiant Captains and fellow-souldiers I have here ordered you in forme of Battell ready to charge our enemies and doe require of you in the Name of the Lord of Hosts two things especially namely the utmost of your Valours and the truth of your Loves in obedience For what man soever doth not use his best indeavours to subdue his enemies is not only a murtherer of himselfe but of his dear friends and by disobedience may bee the means of the Armies overthrow for which there can be no plea before Gods Tribunal but his just sentence of condemnation besides the in supportable shame and intollerable servitude wee bring our selves that shall survive with our dear friends into which though it may seem as a green wound only to smart at first yet at last the reproach and disgrace will gnaw and fret to the bone Wherefore brave Souldiers let your golden Spirits shine and your steely mettalls hew out a Conquest for the glory of our great God and the honour of our gracious King and beloved Countrey God would have the Israelites fight valiantly as well as Moses to hold up his hands and pray or else no Conquest could be expected wherefore let us performe both that the great God of Hosts may bee propitious unto us according as hee hath promised to them that seek him Wherefore let us be confident of Victory and not seek our ruines by unbeliefe Let us call to mind our Ancestors what noble atchievements their magnanimous Spirits by Gods assistance effected whereby our Nation hath been not only the Mirrour but the â—errour to the world How did they in France at the Battell of Poyteirs with an handfull of men confound the mighty Army that would have swallowed them up The like at Agen court c. And how gracious was God to us in 88. to dissipate and destroy our invincible enemie by his prospering our poor endevours Wherfore now let us not despair of his help but with one joynt consent let us furiously assault our proud enemies that wee may enjoy their riches and eternize our memories to Posterity For my own part I am confident that if wee resist but three of their charges that they shall not dare to adventure the fourth but to their utter ruine Wherefore if there be any man timerous or faint-hearted let him depart weth his brand of infamy to be rewarded by his King and Countrey according to his demerits But let all Heroick Spirits ejaculate their petitions to heaven and say with me Let God arise and his enemies shall bee scattered RULES AND OBSERVATIONS TO BE VSED IN TIME OF FIGHT SECT XX. CHAP. IX Divers Observations
upon which part they cast themselves out farthest and Heraclides and Sopolis with the Horse of Baeotia and Amphipolis the left hee having roughly charged them put the Tryballs to flight and vanquish'd them Moreover it is Leo his own advice if the Army hath light-armed men enough namely Shot let them saith he before the Army joyns send their Shot furiously at the enemy but after the fight of the armed is begunne then pay their Flanks with your missive weapons that at once both their Flanks may bee assaulted And indeed in all ages the Shot were the first that did begin the Battell and for the most part the chiefest meanes to gaine victory at last Further the nature of Shot is to wound afar off Wherefore a Generall if hee desires not to come neer to joyn Battell hee may annoy his enemy afar off without endangering his own forces as Livie makes mention of Cn. Manlius Volso he warring against the Gallo-Grecians that fled into the mountains attending the Romans comming and there defending themselves by the advantage of the place he prepared great plenty of Darters Archers and Slingers and leaving his Legionary souldiers behind led his light-armed against the enemy that possessed certain Straights by which his Army must of necessitie passe after a small skirmish the Gallo-Grecians being not sufficiently armed to defend the fury of their Shot the light-armed of the Romans forc'd the Passage and followed them to their Camp the Legionary souldiers being marcht unto them for their aid they wonne the Camp also Of how much more efficacie are our Muskets at this day to performe greater atchievements if they be skilfully marshalled wherefore upon many occasions our Shot may be dis-joyned from the armed Pikes and placed according to the wisedome of the Generall For as formerly I have said so long as the body of Pikes stands in array and remains stedfast in good order no victory can bee gotten against it but if the Pikes should bee dis-banded or dis-joynted from their proper place there is nought else but an overthrow to bee expected Wherefore it cannot chuse but bee very good to place Shot before the Battalia's of Pikes to shelter them as you may see the like in some of those Battels which I have described where the pricks stand for Musketires and certain field-Peeces placed amongst them to annoy the enemy But this is best to be done when the enemy is a good distance from you otherwise it may bee hurtfull for when the enemy is ready to come to handy blowes then the Battalia's of Pikes must stand and endure the showring Shot of the light-armed and the Shot must shelter themselves amongst the Pikes You may further observe the strange Conquests which have been atchieved by certain Maniples of Shot which have been imployed against the body of the Pikes as appeares by the example of the Aegyptians in Crassus his Battell who after the defait of part of his Army yet he would not yeeld to King Cyrus although in all likelyhood he had got the victory wherefore Cyrus was first constrained to charge the Rear of their Battalia's of Pikes with his Horse and being not able to break them he had no way to perfect his Conquest but by drawing his light-armed or Shot to direct their Volleys at them the Aegyptians being wounded and many souldiers lost they were constrained to yeeld themselves to the mercie of the enemy By this you see that Maniples of Shot are very prevalent But it may bee objected that light-armed as the Shot of themselves are not able to repulse the Horse but are subject to their furie unlesse they bee strengthned with Pikes or have some convenient place of retrait for their refuge and safetie as by the example of Crassus in Parthia how the light-armed were beaten in by the Parthian Horse and through their discomfiture the Battalias of Pikes were likewise disheartned And likewise Antonies retrait out of Persia his light-armed were constrained to shrowd themselves from the Persian Horse within the Phalange of the armed This Objection is true and undenyable for the Shot of themselves are too weak for to resist the Horse unlesse the wisdome of the Generall place them in such places of advantage in which they might secure themselves or as in former times they did use to line their Horse-Troops with Shot and then they wrought wonders for it is impossible the enemies Horse being so charged should resist both as an Historian reporteth of Caesar that hee having but a small number of Horse and his Foot-Troops as few was set upon by his enemy who had lined his Horse-Troops with light-armed Numidians when the souldiers of Caesar advanc'd forwards to charge them the enemies Horse gallop'd away and the Foot that lined them stood fast and gave their Volleyes at them untill their Horse with a full Career returned to their rescue this kind of fight did much perplex Caesar and would have confounded him had he not retraited to the next hils from the fury of the enemies Horse Certainly there is no absolute way to secure the body of Pikes but by impaling them with a quantitie of Shot for whereas in former ages they used Lances and then the Pikes could make their parties good with them But in these our dayes Pistols Carbines and Harquebuzes being in use the Horse-Troops may advance up to the Pikes and discharge upon them and so fall off again in safety were it not for the placing of Musketires about them It may bee further objected that the light-armed are not able to grapple with the armed Pikes but that they will soon come within their Shot and so confound them having spent their breath and powder To this I answer There is no fear of any dammage the Pikes can doe to the Shot of themselves without the aid of Horse because the light-armed are nimble and quick and seeking alwaies advantage by changing of ground whereby they cannot possibly bee forced by the armed Foot they being wearied and laden with their heavie Corslets and Pikes neither can they make any great speed to come up to handie-blowes with the Shot but they must run themselves into ruine by disorder Wherefore the Shot need fear nothing but the Horse to trouble them And by the way it is to be supposed the Horse are to bee imployed against their adversaries Troops and shall not be at all turns at freedome to attend the excursions and dis-bandings of the Shot but that the Shot will find time and fitting opportunity to work their effects either against the Foot or Horse of their enemies unlesse their own Troops serve them as Pompies did at the Battell of Pharsalia who fled before they received a charge from Caesars Troops I may well compare a pitcht Battell to a game at Irish each Gamester must have a speciall eye not only of his own but of the adverse Tables how he disposeth his men what hits may be given
2072 men the just number to impale both the Flanks with seven Ranks of Pikes and Shot The Rear of this Battell is 143 paces in breadth from the inmost Flanks of each impalement of the Wings this 143 must be brought into feet by multiplying it by 5 which amounts to 715 feet this 715 being likewise divided by the quantity of ground each souldier takes in Brest or Rank being 3 foot the quotient is 238 and one odd this being multiplyed again by 7 for so many Ranks they must bee in depth the quotient will bee adding the 7 odd men 1673 For so many men the Rear will take up to impale it with seven Ranks Now in regard it is at the Generals pleasure to order his forme of imbattelling after what manner he sees best therefore to shew you a more plain example of this former discourse let us suppose our strength of Foot to bee 8000 Pikes and Shot and 300 Horse and that the space of ground before specified is the field wherein I must order this Battell And seeing it is the Generals pleasure to divide the main Battell in regard of the straightnesse of the ground into three grand Battalia's distinguish'd by the name of the right Wing the Battell and the left Wing or Van Battell and Rear-ward These grand Battalia's are to bee divided into lesser Battalia's or Squadrons as namely the right Wing into two Squadrons the Battell into four and the left Wing into two for the straightnesse of ground will not admit of more The distances betwixt these Battalia's or Squadrons must be understood as namely betwixt the two Squadrons of either Wing is two paces distance for the Shot to fall off into the Rear The distance likewise betwixt the two Wings and the Battell must bee wider than the former to distinguish betwixt them which you may suppose to be three paces The distance likewise betwixt the four Squadrons that the Battell is composed of hath the same distance of two paces betwixt each for the Shot to fall off into the Rear as the Wings had Betwixt the outmost File of each Wing and the Impalement is likewise two paces in both four Also the ground which the Impalement occupies being seven Ranks is nine paces and odd feet so that the ground which both the Impalements on each side takes up comes to nineteen paces adding thereto the odd feet Betwixt the Impalement and the Horse upon the right Wing is ten paces also the distance betwixt the left Wing and the Horse is likewise ten paces The Space of ground the Horse takes up for their station they being ranged but ten in Rank or Brest is ten paces allowing five foot for every Horse upon both Flanks they take up twenty paces and the space for their falling off when they have discharged must be one pace at least on both the Wings two paces Now these distances being accounted and summed up together we may presently see how many souldiers may bee plac'd in Rank or Brest in the formost main Battell the ground being but 204 paces broad You having taken a survey of the distances betwixt each Squadron or Battalia with the ground the Impalement of Shot and Pikes takes up and the space between the Impalement and the Horse with the ground the Horse takes up for their stations you shall find it to be 81 paces being the neerest distances that possibly can be allowed in regard of the narrownesse of the ground Now if you deduct 81 paces from 204 which is the bredth of the ground there will remain 123 paces for to place their formost main Battell in These 123 paces being brought into feet by multiplying them by 5 the product will be 615. This again being divided by 3 being the space each souldier takes to use his Armes in the quotient shewes that 205 men may stand in Rank or Brest in the formost main Battell This 205 being also multiplyed by 10 for so many men each File must have in depth the product shews that the main Battell must consist of 2050 souldiers These 2050 souldiers being divided by 8 being the number of Battalia's in the main Battell the quotient doth shew there is 256 in each Battalia only two odd men are to be joyned with 30 Souldiers more and to bee distributed amongst the 8 Battalia's viz. four men in each Battalia to make the Files even so that then there will be in each Battalia 260 souldiers as the Figure demonstrates Now it is to be supposed that there is depth enough in this peece of ground to imbattell two such Battels more one in the Rear of another and may bee allowed 20 paces in distance betwixt each Battell and 7 paces in depth besides for the Carriages to be plac'd in as I shall shew you Wherefore observe the formost Battell hath ten men deep in File this 10 must be multiplyed by 7 the space of ground each souldier occupyeth with his weapons before and behind him and the product amounts to 70 foot the two next Battels being of the same depth in file takes up 210 foot of ground To bring this into paces you must divide the 210 by 5 for so many foot goes to a pace and the quotient will shew you it to be 42 paces these three Battels take up in depth then to this 42 paces you must add the distance of 40 paces which the two Battels towards the Rear are allowed them between the Rear of one Battell and the Front of the other and 7 paces for the Carriage to bee plac'd in and you shall find the 89 paces in depth of ground just taken up In the next place you may observe that the second Battell which is called the Battell of succour and is plac'd 20 paces behind the formost or main Battell is divided into three grand Battalia's having in each Battalia 340 men viz. in all three 1020 and are so plac'd with convenient distances for the formost Battalia's to retrait between them it being supposed that many of them will be slain before they be driven to make a retrait whereby those distances will easily contain them In the Rear Battell there is only 800 which are divided into two grand Battalia's of 400 in each with a large space for the former Battels to retrait into The Impalements as before is shewed hath in the Rear 1633 and upon each Flank 1036 viz. in both Flanks 2072. All these being summ'd up together you shall find 7605 men plac'd in all the Battalia's with the Impalement Lastly there remains 400 wanting five men which may be imployed to line the Horse or to surprize the enemies Ordnance or for what other purposes the Generall shall think fit Thus you see 8000 men marshalled in Battalia upon this peece of ground The Horse are 300 divided into six Troops viz. upon each Flank three Troops and in each Troop 50 Horse as before is shewed If you desire to know how many Horse may bee ranged a Brest in Battalia
halfe Files described The manner of doubling the Reere by the Front halfe-files described The manner of doubbling the Reare by Countermarch described It is at the discretion of the Commander to face the Companie which way he pleaseth eyther for motion or Reducement The manner of doubbling Flankes by way of Countermarch described The manner of doubling Halfe-files to the Right intire to accommodate the doubling of Halfe-rankes described How the Halfe-ranke of the Right are to double the left Flank is described The halfe files having doubled the Front to the Right intire causeth them to be 40 in Ranke or Brest before they were but 20. The difference betweene intire and divisionall doublings and of doubling halfe files intire described The manner of doubling the Front inward intire described The manner of doubling the Frong with halfe files by division described The manner of doubling the Reare with halfe-files by division described The manner of doubling the Reare intire by the Front halfe-files described The manner of doubling by half Ranks intire described The manner of doubling Flanks by division described The manner of doubling Ranks intire described The manner of doubling Files intire advancing described The manner of Files doubling their depth described Inversion This sort of inversion is called filing on sequâ—nce Three kinds of CouÌ„termarches viz. the Chorean Lacedaemonian and Macedonian described by Aelâ—an in his Tac. pag. â— 125 cap. 28. The distance for Countermarch is 6 foot in Rank File Note when there is a Countermarch commanded without any other addition then it is alwaies intended a Chorean Countermarch Of countermarching to lose ground The Macedonian Countermarch to gain ground Of countermarching Ranks to maintain ground Of countermarching Ranks to lose ground Note that for countermarching Front Reor into the midst the Front half-Files are ever to turn off towards the right-hand the â—ear half-File to the 〈◊〉 which being truly â—bserved they 〈…〉 even in the midst of the Battell otherwise not Of bringing Front and Rear together in the midst of the Battel Countermarch Of countermarching to make a large Intervall between the first and last Ranks Of Countermarching to take the ground before the Flank Of Counter-marching to take the ground on the outside of the Flankes and to direct their aspects inwards Of taking the ground on the outside of the flankes not altering the aspect Of enterchanging ground by the Flanks and bringing the inmost Files of Pikes to become the outmost Rankes Of wheeling Anguler Of wheeling on the Center 〈◊〉 wheeling the 〈◊〉 inwards to the 〈…〉 Of bringing Flankes into the Front of the Battell Of wheeling the Reere into the midst of the Battell Note that if the length of your Battell be double the number of the depth as is shewed in this moâ—â—r then this wheeling of Front and Reere into the right or left flanke doth quadruple their forme in depth If the number be equall in length and depth then by this wheeling they will but double If the number of your length exceeds more then double your depth by so much the more will the extention of the depth be beyond quadruple Of wheeling the left flanke into the midst of the Battell Of Wheeling Front and Reere into the midst of the Battell Of wheeling the Flankes into the midst of the Battell The maner and use of firing described That Generall seekes his owne ruine if he assailes an Armie upon all quaâ—ters unlesse his power be fouretimes more then his adversaries Note the Shot are to prime and charge as they troope downe into the Reere to place themselves to the Flankes of the Pikes The shot are to give fire even with the front of Pikes when the enemies battell drawes neere * First blowing your cole set out your left Leg next opening your Pan set forth your right Leg lastly presenting set forth your left Leg againe At the Battells joyning the shot are to give fire even with the halfe Files of Pikes When the battell retreits then the shot ought neither to advance nor retreite but every ranke is to give fire upon the same ground he stands on so wheele off that the next may doe the like The severall wayes of firing belonging to the Demie-hearse Battell described The severall wayes of giving fire by Introduction discribed The severall wayes of bring belonging to the Diamond forme of Battell described The severall wayes of firing belonging to the semicircular forme of Battell described Of extraduction the severall uses firings reducements described A second way of giving fire by extraduction described The severall wayes of firings belonging to a broad fronted battell described * In giving fire to the Reere when you blow your Cole you must step forwards with your right foote opning your Pan stepping forwards with your lest foote Present to the Reere stepping forwards with your right foot â— A Second way of giving fire in the Reere described The second manner of giving fire to the Flanke described A third way of giving fire in Flanke described The fourth way of giving fire in Flanke described The fifth way of firing in Flanke and placing the shot in the midst of the battell of Pikes described A second way of firing in Front and Reere described Of firing to both Flankes Marching Of firing to both Flankes standing The word of command and direction that produceth this triple firing is Halfe Rankes of the left double your right flanke by division In omni praelio non iam multitudo virtus indocta quam ars exercitium solent prestare victoriam Veg. lib. 1. Montanis locis impeditis quasi nullus equorum usus ex quo intelligitur magis necessarios pedâ—tes qui possunt ubique prodesse Veg. lib. 2. Vbi bona composita millitia pedes prevalet apud rudes aut Barbaros contra Lip pol. l. 5. Ab equite pedite omne Bellicis negotijs profluâ—t robur sine quibus quamvis egregia fint illa consillia sunt tamen invalida Tacit. lib. 1. Neque quisquam expraeciaris peâ—sis usquam pedes incedere sua quiâ—em sponte videbatur Xeno Cy. lib 4. In equite apud antiquos omne Rubur quia ratio ordinandi militiam pedestrem illis inâ—â—gnita suit Arist. pol. lib. 4. The Office of the Generall of the horse Quantò quis magis inficiatur vitium suum tantò magis in ipsum penetrat quanto magis intro fugies tantò magis in caupona eâ—is Plâ—t prop. vic Austeri duces suis facies hostibus sunt utiles Apipan Corbuloni plsus molis adversus ignaviam militum quam contrà perfidiam hostium erat Tacit. An. 13. Gaudet tamen esse timoâ—i Tam magno poâ—â—lu se net â—allet omari Lucan lib. 3. de Civ Amil. tibus imperator potiùs quam hostis metui debet quem admodum homines fine nervis ambulare nequeunt ita nec bellum usquam progreâ—i sine pecunia Lip pol lib. 5. Exereitus labore
57 33 549 56 34 552 55 35 558 54 36 562 53 37 568 52 38 573 51 39 477 50 40 580 49 41 582 48 42 583 47 43 584 46 44 582 45 582 Now for the mounting your peece to any of these degrees it is not so proper to put the Ruler of the Quadrant into the mouth of the Peece in regard there may be error because many of these kind are taper-bored or galed at the mouth to rectifie this your Gunners have invented a very apt instrument framed after this manner First there is a Ruler of 18 Inches in length at the middle point or pricke thereof must be another shorter Ruler framed artificially above a foot long joyned close and falling perpendicularly on the middle point of the longer Ruler Whose containing Angle lighteth justly on the middle point of the longer Ruler from which point is drawne by Art the 1 â— part of a Circle and divided into 45 equall divisions or degrees so as the 90 degrees stand just on the Center or middle point of the longer Rule The use of it is thus by laying the longer Rule crosse the mouth of the Peece you shall immediatly perceive at what degree the said Morter Peece is elevated by the Plumb-line the Peece being mounted at any grade above 45 observe the Figure And for to conclude this Chapter remitting all further Circumstances wee will only take notice of another Table which Vffanio hath likewise Calculated for a Morter Peece to shoot thereby fitted to the 12 points of the Gunners Quadrant as you may perceive Thus having runne over such rules and examples as I conceive most apt and necessary for the true levelling of Ordnance It now only remaines in the Chapter following to take a view of such Rules and Instruments as are most proper and commodious for the taking of heights and distances without the which it is impossible ever to accomplish any designe belonging to this Art of Gunnerie or to the Art of Myning Wherefore be pleased to take a Survey of the subsequent Chapter Points Paces 0 100 1 24 2 377 3 468 4 534 5 570 6 583 7 566 8 532 9 468 10 377 11 243 12 0â—0 CHAP. LII The Description of such Instruments with the best selected Rules which have beene invented and practised for the taking of heights and distances whereby a Gunner may make his Shot at more certaintie IT is one of the most necessariest things and not to be sliâ—ghted the knowledge and understanding of these kind of Instruments the true use of them with the Rules and documents which our ablest Practitioners have through their paines and industrie invented for future ages to practice For the ignorance of this makes both the Art of Gunnerie and Myning lame and imperfect wherfore I will indeavour to be as briefe as the matter will permit in discoursing of the severall parts of it And by the way you may remember that in the fiftieth Chapter page 125. I began to describe the Instrument called a Gunners Quadrant but I left the description how it should bee used about the taking of heights and distances to be discoursed of in this Chapter only be pleased to have a regard and reference to the precedent Figure of the Quadrant and then I shall indeavoure to describe those parts of it that serve for our purpose Wherefore observe as I have said in the Figure that from the Center A there is a line drawne aslope called the Hipothenusall line which comes to the corner C. upon which if the plumb-line falls upon the Center A looking through the sights EF and withall beholding the extreames or highest parts of any Altitude Note then the distance from the middle part of your foot to the base thereof is the just height of the said Altitude adding thereto the height from your eye But if the Plumb-line falls on the line A. B. then that marke you view through the Visuall sight EF is of equall height or levell with your eye Now the square lines or Scale which extend it selfe from B to C and from C to D are divided into 12 equall parts and if it were divided into 90 or a 100 divisions or ten times as many the better it were for the use of Shadowes Length and Heights Now by the way forget not to remember that the side C D is called the right Shadow and this serves to measure all the Heights with the length thereof but the side B C is of contrary shadow and that serves to measure all heights without the length thereof the Rule we have described the use of it in page 125. Now suppose we were to take the height of a Castle wall of a Fort or any other Altitude aproachable first we must aproach as neere to the object that wee ghesse we are neere about the length of the height of the same then set your quadrant to your eye looking through your visuall sights beholding the extreme or highest part of the Altitude then moving too and from the same untill the thred and plummet cut or fall upon the part 12 of right shadow then measuring how farre it is from the middle part of your Foot to the base of the said Altitude You have the just height of that Altitude only adding the height from the ground to your eye You may further find out any upright height with the length thereof both by the shadow and without shadow if the ground be plaine wherefore you must aproach as neere to the Base or foot of the Altitude that the plumb-line may fall on the part of Right shadow then measuring the distance from the middest of your foot to the Base thereof multiplying the measure by 12 adding thereunto the height to your eye from the ground and you have the true Altitude Or letting the Sunne beames pierce through the Vissuall sights the Plumb-line falling at liberty upon that part of Right-shadow then measuring as before is shewed and multiply that measure by 12 and dividing by the parts whereon the Plumb-line cuts the quotient will tell you the true height of the same Altitude And note this for a generall rule that upon what part of Right shadow the Plumb-line cuts if you measure the height or Altitude it will prove more then the shadow by such proportion as 12 exceedeth the part or division of the Scale where the Plumb-line pointed unto As for example if the Plumb-line be found to fall on the part 2 of right shadow if you measure the distance from the midst of your foot to the Base for the Altitude six times that measure is the height of the same adding from your eye to the ground for you must observe that the part 2 is contained in 12 being the division of the Scale 6 times Likewise what part soever the Plumb-line falls on of right Shadow looke how oft that part is contained in 12 just so many times as the measure is from your foot to the Base is the height
of the thing you measure adding from the ground to your eye The contrary Shadow shewes to measure all Altitudes without the length thereof first multiplying the length of the shadow by the Point or division of the Scale where on the Plumb-line falleth then dividing the Product by 12 the quotient thereof is the true height of the Altitude In measuring any Altitude without shadow you must goe as neere to the same that you perceive you are within the length thereof then lifting up your Quadrant orderly going to or from the same untill you espie the top of the Altitude through the Visuall holes then the threed falling upon the part 12 standing upright with your body at the middest of your foot make a marke then goe directly backwards from the same untill through the visuall sights you espie the highest part againe the plumb-line falling on the part sixe of contrary shadow and as before make another marke the distance betweene these two markes the height of your eye from the ground being put to it is the true height of the altitude Further observe if the plumb-line fals on the part 6 of contrary shadow and at the second station on the part 4 the distance betwixt these two markes is the height of the altitude adding as before Or if the plumb-line fals on the part 4 of contrary shadow at the first station then upon the part 3 at the second you shall finde the distance betweene your two stations to be the just height and the furthest station is foure times the length or height thereof Or suppose your Plumb-line falls upon the part 2 of contrary shadow and at the second station it falls on the part one then the space betweene the two standings will be six times the length or height of that Altitude or the sixt part of the measure is the height of it and your further station will be twelve times the height thereof In the next place we must observe some rules for the taking of distances from the Platforme or Batteries your Ordnance are planted on to any Marke you are to shoot at And to performe this you must lay your Quadrant flat upon some steady thing as a stoole or staffe firmely and perpendicularly set up then placing your Quadrant upon the same and turning the edge of the Rule to the marke you desire to measure the distance of then espying the Marke through the Visuall sights at that place or station set up a Staffe then turning your body round not altering neither Rule nor Quadrant by the Line of levell then through the Visuall sights make choyce of some other Marke athwart the â—rst and set up the second Staffe the distance whereof suppose to be 60 feet then comming to the first station where the Quadrant is placed viewing through the visuall sights upon the Rule some other marke in a straite line backe from the first station the distance whereof suppose to be 100 feet and there place a third Staffe so as the first and the third Staffe will be in a straite line with the marke then removing the Quadrant to the third station turning the right Angle or Line of levell overthwart towards the second station so as the Visuall line may be paralelled to the Line that crosseth from the first station to the second there you must place a fourth Staffe so as the Visuall line passing from the same and running by the second Staffe may crosse the marke or end in a point there with the first Visuall line The distance between these two last stations suppose to be 65 feet The Staves being thus orderly placed you must abate 60 feet the distance between the first and second Staffe or station from 65 the distance between the third and fourth Staves or stations the remainder is 5 for your Devisor then multiply the said 65 by 100 the distance from the first to the third there ariseth 6500 the which divide by 5 the quotient is 1300 feet the distance from the first Staffe to the marke Observe this figure following where the Towre represents the marke the Vnit. 1. the first Staffe or station the figure 2 the second Staffe the figure 3 the third Staffe and the figure 4 the fourth Staffe Or you may finde out the distance to any marke neere hand by the quadrant and Gunners Staffe divided into even portions First placing the angle of the quadrant upon the toppe of the Staffe it being erected perpendicularly and then through the sights of the rule view the marke you desire to measure letting a long thred fall to the ground from the center of the quadrant whereon the plum-line hangs which thred must be drawn alongst the Line of levell or edge of the quadrant to the ground observing where the thred points at on the ground and beholding the marke through the visuall sights and looking what proportion that part of ground betweene the Staffe and where the thred points at hath to the Staffe the same proportion shall the length to the marke have to the height or length of the Staffe as by this subsequent Figure more plainely appeares Wherefore observe the Gunners Staffe A. B. is to be supposed eight foot long and the distance betweene the Staffe and the ground where the thred points you to being the space C. B. is but eight Inches Therefore looke what proportion C. B. beareth to the length of the Staffe which being reduc'd into Inches will be 96 Inches the same proportion shall the length to the marke D. have to the Staffe which by making use of the Rule of three will discover unto you in this manner for example If eight Inches yeelds 96 what will 96 Inches if you multiply 96 by 96 the product is 9216 Inches and this divided by 8 yeelds in the quotient 1152 Inches the true distance from the Staffe to the Marke Moreover by the quadrant you may foresee whether Waters or Springs may possibly bee brought to any place desired which indeed is a thing of much consequence in the Warres Wherefore observe that by going to the head of the Spring or Waters and by setting your quadrant to your eye being in height equall with the Water so that the plum-line falls preciesely on the Line of levell now if you may see above the place through the sights then you may judge the Water is possible to bee brought but if you sight falls under then it is impossible It commeth commonly to passe when the place to the which you would have Water conveyd is of any great distance from the head of the Spring or Rivers banckes the Hills Vallies and such like impediments hinder the visuall Line from having its free course wherefore observe this remedie At the head of the Spring or River-bancks you intend to cut out you shall looke through the sights of the instrument as before and take notice of some marke in in the next Hill towards the place then goe to that