any expresse mention to which hand they should open or close Then the whole Troupe is to edge indifferently and at an instant to both hands towards or from the middle space betweene the two middlemost Leaders The words of commandment are Fyles close Fyles open Fyles open There be two sorts of doubling The one by Ranks the other by Fyles and both these are performed diuers wayes as shall be shewed When an Enemie goeth about to disclose you with the ouer-breadth of his body it will bee necessary for you then to increase or double your Front which may be done either by Rankes when euery second ranke commeth betweene the distances of the Ranke before it and that either to the right or to the left hand Doubling of Ranks to the right or left hand The word of Directions are Ranks to the right or left hand double Middle-men to double their Ranks or Front to right or left hand Or by the Middle-man when the last fiue Rankes doe march vp through the spaces betweene the Fyles till the bringers vp middle-men be euen in front with the Leaders The words of command are Middle-men to the right or left hand Double your front Or by the bringers vp by Induction which is when the bringers vp doe aduance through the distances betweene the Fyles and next after them the next last Ranke and so the rest successiuely till the bringers vp bee in the ranke with the Leaders and their Middle-men with the Leaders middle-men and so the second third Bringers vp to double their Rankes on the Fronts and fourth ranks from the front The words of direction are Bringers vp to the right or left hand double the front Or by deuision when the last fiue Rankes doe turne their faces the one halfe in their fyles to the right hand and the other halfe to the left hand and so march forth from both the flancks till they haue gotten such a proportion of ground or distance as is answerable to the order the first fiue Ranks doe stand in and then presently without attending any further commandement they turne their faces againe towards the front and march vpon both flanckes till they come euen with the front Middle-men by Deuision double the Front The words of command Middle-men by deuision double the front Middle-men double the body This also may be performed to either hand without deuiding of the ranks by the marching forth onely of the whole fiue rankes together But in this case the Shott on both flanks or on either must edge outward till they haue giuen the Pikes a full distance to come vp betweene them and the formost fiue rankes of Pykes The words are Middle-men double the body Double the Front by the Hankes Or by ranke to either flanke which is when the second ranke is drawne out euen with the ranke before it The words are Double the front by the flanks Or by halfe rankes when euery second ranke diuideth it selfe and increaseth the former vpon each side Doubling of Fyles When you will haue the Body of greater depth then you must cause the one fyle to mingle with the fiue other either to the righ hand or to the left which is termed doubling of fyles and is performed after this manner Doubling of Fyles to the right or left hand If to the right hand then is the outermost fyle to the right hand to stand and the Leader of the second fyle shall side behinde the Leader of the first fyle and so of all the rest of the second fyle behinde those of the outmost fyle successiuely so as the bringer vp of the second fyle shall come to stand behinde the bringer vp of the first fyle and so likewise all the other fyles by euery second fyle So that the second fourth sixt eigth and tenth shall stand within or goe into the first third fifth seauenth and ninth all which in a knowne number of fyles may be done at once without confusion or disorder But because this manner of Doubling in the very orderliest best performance cannot but breake the Body by reason of the disioyning of Fyles I would rather put the one halfe of the Fyles behinde the other halfe which may bee speedily performed either by the aduancing of falling backe of the one halfe part of the Fyles the wordes of Direction are Fyle vpon fyle But if you desire to keepe the same ground then let the one halfe part of the fyle in the Body which is to Double close their Ranckes forwards towards the Leaders to halfe the Distance they were in before the Commandement was giuen And the other halfe part of the fyles in the Body to shorten their Distances toward the Reere or Bringers vp to halfe that they held backwards By which meanes it will fall out that the Leaders of the halfe which is to double will stand a little beyond the Bringers vp of the other halfe and by Edging of their fyles behind the other halfe may easily performe your Direction The wordes of Command are these Fyles double the Body to the right or left hand Counter-March COunter-Marches are two-fold for either wee Counter-march the Ranckes or the Fyles and these either by changing your ground or keeping still the same ground But though to shew the diuersitie of them the kindes are distinguished by Rankes and Fyles yet in the practice you are to nominate neither but are to say To the right or to the left hand Counter-march Counter-march and loose ground Counter-marching of Ranckes and altering of Ground are thus affected When the Command is deliuered the Leaders turne and passe through the Distances betweene thc fyles and when they are passed as farre beyond the next Ranke turnes after them and so successiuely the rest in due distance Marching out after their Leaders till they haue taken another like place from the Bringers vp equall to that they did possesse or otherwise passe on further at the discretion of the Commander The vse is when the Enemy shewes himselfe vpon your Reere and you desire to confront him with your best men the wordes of Direction are To the right or left hand Counter-march and passe if you will keepe the same Ground then thus The Leaders vpon the Word giuen must turne as before and March through the Distances of the fyles till they come betweene thc Distances where the Bringers vp stand and so the rest successiuely After them the Middle-men the ranckes of the second Middle-men standing firme till the fiue first Ranckes haue possessed the place betweene the last fiue and doe by that meanes double them Then the Middle-men to the Bringers vp without attending any further Command shall march till they haue gotten the distance of the Rancks which done they shall take their place right behind the Leaders Middle-men so the rest likewise successiuely Marching out after one another to the same distance shal turne take their places till the
distribution of the Billets to the end that vpon any occasion or when any Alarme happens the Souldiers may know whereto come together and ioyne themselues to their Cornet if they shall tarry longer then one day in a place the Leiftenant is to visit the Horses to see how the Souldiers gouerne themselues and that they indamage not their Hostes which if he finde to remedy making the Captaine acquainted with euery thing and when afterwards they doe dislodge the Leiftenant must command their fires to be put out and see it performed Going to lodge in any Village or Fort or to be in Garrison that the Leiftenant ought so to accommo date the extraordinary reformed Officers and others according to their merits In all places where they lodge more then once aday the Leiftenant shall write the names of the Souldiers vpon the Billets and shall keepe a Register of those Billets that when their Hosts shall come to make any complaint he may readily finde their names and chastise them as he sees cause When the Troupe is to march and that the Trumpets sound to horse the Leiftenant must bee first in order and on horse-backe taking care that all the Souldiers doe the like with diligence and if he finde any of them negligent in this point be it either through an ill custome or of purpose to loyter behinde and pillage the houses he must punish them presently with all seuerity for an axample to others It is necessary for the Leiftenant to haue knowledge of the country and of the waies there happening many occasions that he is to send out to discouer and beate the coasts about the commodity of Guides not being at all times found In case the Troupe be charged by the Enemie the Leiftenant with some few Souldiers being best mounted must stay behinde Cornet THe Cornet in the absence of the Captaine and Leiftenant commaunds the Troupe In marching he goes alwayes in the head of the Troupe yet behinde the Captaine who must suffer no man to march beyond the Standard or to be equall with him In occasion of fight the Cornet of a company of Lances shall take his place on the left hand of the Captaine and equall in front with him and going to the Shocke together with him must indeuour to breake his Cornet or Standerd vpon the Enemy which Standard falling so to the ground he is not to take care to take it vp and if any man shall take it vp and restore it him againe he must not put it againe vpon his Staffe nor no new in the place without the permission of the Generall In occasion of fight with foote the Cornet of Lances must likewise breake his Standard vpon the same foote but neither vpon Foote nor Horse that is turned and running away The Cornet of Curasiers in marching goes before the troupe with his Cornet as also when hee presenteth himselfe in the place of Armes and when hee is to salute he is to doe it in the same manner as the Cornet of Lances doth In the time of fight the Cornet of Curasiers is to take his place in the middle of the Troupe leaning behinde him the two third parts of the Troupe and the other part that is before must bee those that be best armed and the best men The Cornet ought to keepe a List of the names of the Souldiers of the Troupe In all occasions of Mutiny discord and disputes he is presently to informe his Captaine and Leiftenant and to be assistant to the Captaine and Leiftenant or either of them in seeing all directions performed that are commanded by a superiour Officer as also all such as the Captaine hath authority to command The Quarter Master his Office THe Quarter Master is to fetch the word euery night and the directions from the Sergeant Maior of the Horse he is to distribute the Billets among the Souldiers and was wont to dedeliuer out their pay vnto them which now is giuen out by the Leiftenant of the Troupe though in my opinion not so well for it were much better that the Captaine or Leiftenant should call the Quarter Master apart appointing him the manner how he should pay the Souldiers to leaue the discharge of it to him which without doubt would giue greater contentment because the Souldier in this point of his accompt may speake more freely with the Quarter Master then the other Officers who by this meanes also are deliuered from a great many harsh replyes which they must ordinarily receiue from the Souldiers to the diminishing the respect they ought to beare them He is to attend the Quarter Master Generall and to take his orders from him of lodging the Troupe carrying with him one or two Souldiers appointed him by the Leiftenant that he may the better aduertise the Troupe where they shall lodge In the absence of the Cornet Leiftenant and Captaine he is to command the Company Trumpet THere ought to be two Trumpets in euery Troupe of Horse who ought to be diligent to sound precisely at the times appointed one of them is to be euer with the Cornet vpon all occasions When the Troupe doth march they goe before the Captaine in the head of the Troupe and in fight in the flancke of the Troups In Lodging the one lodgeth with the Captaine the other with the Cornet Going out of their lodging either on foot or on Horse-backe they are neuer to leaue off their Trumpets but alwayes to haue it by them They are imployed in Messages for Prisoners and other occasions to the Enemie and therefore ought to bee intelligent men and well gouerned that they may be able to discouer and at their returne to giue an accompt of any aduantage of disorder or important things they are able to learne among the Enemies as also to keepe themselues so as they discouer nothing that may offend their own party Briefly many important seruices may be drawne from them and good vse made prouided they bee discreet Corporall of Horse THough there haue beene some who are of opinion that it is not necessary to haue a Corporall in a Troupe of Lances and Curasiers notwithstanding I finde this Officer necessary for by the meanes of a Corporall the duties are better distributed and they themselues goe forth with the Leiftenant to assist him to place his Centinels when it is the Souldiers turne of their Squadron to doe it and in sudden occasion of sending out a number of Souldiers the easiest way is to command a whole Squadron to the seruice their lodgings also are made and distributed with more facility especially when the Troupe is not lodged altogether in one place and when there are few houses to be distributed the houses being distributed so many to a Squadron the Leiftenant giues the Billets thereof to each Squadron whereby he is to lodge his Souldiers In Troups of Harquebufiers we vse no Corporalls and they are of better esteeme because they haue euer beene there and the
charge is giuen then the rankes must close to the Swords point but this closing of the Swordes point is to bee vnderstood of the fiue first rankes which makes vp halfe the depth of the body for though the whole body doc aduance their Pikes and close their rankes to the distance three foot yet vpon the signall of charge the fiue last rankes shall neither couch or charge their Pikes nor cloase to their close order vnlesse there be an expresse command for it which command as I said before is neuer to be deliuered but when a great Shocke is giuen or sustained and then it is of vse for the holding and sholdring forward of the formost fiue rankes and as I take it will be performed with ease and strength whilst their Pikes are aduanced for it were bootlesse for those to bend that are without reach of an Enemy besides the aduantage in the vse of these fiue rankes if you should be charged in the Reere or vpon any other occasion and therefore in this sort would I haue the last fiue rankes with their Pikes aduanced to attend the opportunity of fighting Both the heauy Armed and the light Armed are to bee made acquainted with these distances there are also other Distances which I would haue the light Armed accustomed to and those likewise are of three sorts as the former which I would haue distinguished by the great the meane and the lesse of your open orders the great thirtie foot betweene Fyle and Fyle the meane twentie foot and the lesse fifteene foot but though the rankes alwayes obserue three foot onely the men in the Fyles are to side or stand stooping either to the right or left hand Diaginall to the distance the Fyles are ranged in either 3. feet 2. feet or 1 ½ feet to the hand required or shall be demonstrated in his place where I purpose to declare the vse of these Distances and my meaning herein your Musketiers are neuer to be closer then your meane order of three foot in square because they are to haue a free vse of their Armes The Generall motions which the Company or Troupes are to obserue NOw that I haue framed the Body in manner as you haue seene particularly inlarged euery part thereof with the distances to be vsed and obserued in all occasions I may boldly proceed to the orderly mouing of the same which I would gladly so effect that the whole Body or Troupe should moue as nimbly and with as small confusion as the body of man which by the due execution of that which followes may be in many performed But before I proceed to deliuer the Motions themselues I finde it requisite to giue these three rules which you are euer to obserue 1. All commands are to bee deliuered in the Front wheresoeuer it be 2. Whensoeuer the Flanck is made the Front the shott that are now in the Front and the Reere shall remoue and fall vpon the Flancks the right to the right and the left to the left 3. Whensoeuer these words of direction as you were are propounded it is meant thereby that you are to returne by the contrary hand to the place from whence you came as for example if you did turne to the right hand you are to returne as you were to the left hand and so in all other motions The motions of Troupes are two-fold of the whole or of part of the person of a Souldier in his station or of the limmes of the body constituted into Rankes or Fyles and these either of keeping or leauing the place they stand in In that of keeping their places the men only turne their bodyes the way which is commanded them in that of leauing their places the whole body moueth into an other place or a part thereof which motions for the better vnderstanding wee will distinguish the Rankes and Fyles By Ranks the body changing his place but so as the Leader of the corner Fyle of that hand to which the body wheeleth turnes his body only that way the Manaple moueth vnlesse in doubling of Rankes wherein it is changed but in part or by countermarching which may be done and the place kept This is mouing by ranckes which is to be vsed when we desire to keepe neere to our first station By Fyles howsoeuer each man in his owne place may alter or the men in their Fyles may change their places the Body or maine keepeth the proportion still vnlesse you make of the Flanke the Front wherein though the Maniple retayneth his order and so much ground yet not the same ground The motions of the person in his proper place are commanded by these termes of direction to wit to the right hand to the left hand and to the right or left hand about or to the Reere The motions of the lymbes is properly so termed when only some of them doe moue and the rest doe stand as in these words of commaund Rankes to the right or left hand double Fyles to the right or left hand double Ranks close forward Ranks open backwards Fyles to the right or left hand close or open to the distance you will haue them To the Right hand If you will make the right Flanke the Front then are you to say To the right hand at the deliuery of which words the Souldiers are presently to turne their faces that way and so your command will be performed To the Left hand In like sort if you will haue your left Flanke the Front you must say To the left hand and presently they will all turne their faces towards the left flancke When you will restore them backe againe to their first aspect you must say As you were By the right or left hand to the Reere When you will make the Reere the Front then are you to say By the right hand about or by the left hand about or to the Reere at which words euery Souldier is to turne his face to his backside Ranks close When you will close your Rankes you must say Ranks close which is alwayes to be vnderstood that all the Rankes moue at one instant close forwards to the first ranke of Leaders which is to stand firme Ranks open When you will open your ranks you must say Ranks open by which is alwaies vnderstood they are to open backward vnlesse an expresse commandement to the contrary Fyles to the right or left hand close So likewise if you will close the Fyles to any distance you must say Fyles to the right or left hand close to what order you please and then all of them turning their faces to that hand giuen moue ioyntly and wholly togeather sauing the outmost Fyle to that hand you close which is to stand firme till the Troupe haue gotten his distance and if you will restore them then you are to say As you were When the commandement is giuen for the altering any of the Distances by Fyles Fyles close without