Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	file_n	front_n	left_a	2,096	5	10.6385	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

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

above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they ●ouble Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the right hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left hand double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then

three dayes march to relieve it and to the end they might shew good example to others they were commanded with their fellowes being all Musketiers to crosse the Bridge and to beate the enemy from the water side and then to force a passage for the rest of the Armie towards the Castle the orders were as hard as the passage was difficult yet Cavaliers of courage being daring men and once resolved nothing could seeme difficult unto them to gaine honour and credit to themselves and Country especially being made choice of by a King out of his Armie to give testimony publikely in view of the whole Armie of their valour and resolution exemplary forcing their enemies to give ground for them and theirs having had not one foote of ground on that side of the water till they should gaine it at their landing for I was none of the actors nor yet of the spectators till I had viewed it the next day being informed particularly by my Camerades of the manner of their on-falling The bridge lay over the Maine with six Arches in length being a very faire and spatious bridge over which sixtie men could well march in front lying open unto the Castle batteries and workes the middle Arch whereof being broke a plancke was set over where with difficultie strong-headed Souldiers might crosse one after another under mercy of Cannon and Musket and while as they could but file over the enemy could receive them with full bodies of pikes and muskets which was a great disadvantage and the distance betwixt the water and the plancke would terrifie any to venter over for feare of drowning though he were in no feare of an enemy so that many who went with resolution to passe over returned againe choosing rather to crosse alongst the water in small boates Notwithstanding the enemy would emptie Salves of muskets on them before their landing Neverthelesse Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton in obedience to his Majesties commands with a few Souldiers adventured to crosse the River with small Boates their Souldiers giving fire before their landing and in their landing against their enemies and being happily once landed and beginning to skirmish their Souldiers they left behinde them who before durst not adventure to crosse alongst the plancke seeing their Officers and Camerades ingaged with the enemy to helpe them they ranne over the plancke one after another so fast as they could runne till at last they past all and made a strong head against the enemy till by the valourous Conduct of their Leaders and their following they forced the enemy to give ground retiring unto their workes Their Leaders desirous to gaine further honour and reputation pursued the enemy so hard till they had beaten them out of a Torne they had fled unto At which time Sir Iames Ramsey was shot lame in the left arme and then his Camerade Sir Iohn Hamilton succeeding him both in command and courage notwithstanding of the enemies strength and great fury used against them having disputed with long service for the ground at last it was made good by Sir Iohn and his followers till such time his Majestie had set over after them the most part of the Armie so that they were blocked up on all quarters and forced to remaine within their workes till that against night the service being ceased we with the rest of the Armie were come from Carlstat and quartered that night without the Towne on the other side of the Maine His Majestie before day gave Orders to the Swedes and some Dutch Regiments to storme the enemies workes who having kept slight watch were unawares surprized by some Swedes that had entered with ladders over the wall so that a panick feare having possessed them they retired in disorder from their Poste and the Swedes and Dutch followed so hard that they had not time to draw up their draw-bridge neither yet to let downe the Portcullis of their inward Ports being so amazed our people flocking in after them cut them downe as they were found giving no quarters at all so that they that entred first made the best boo●●e though least service Here fortune favoured his Majestie miraculously at this time beyond mens expectation as formerly having got here a great deale of riches as also many Cannon and great store of Amunition and of all sort of victualls abundance The fury past his Majestie set a Governour on the Castle and a Garrison which was strong and he gave Orders presently to beginne to repaire the workes seeing Generall Tilly with his Armie were drawing neere and his Majestie having got intelligence that they were quartered within two miles off Wurtzburg according to his accustomed manner his Majestie with a partie of Horse and Dragoniers fell upon their neerest quarters in the night and defeated foure Regiments of their Horse and retired the next night unto Wurtzburg attending when the enemy would seeke for his revenge The twentieth Observation HIs Majestie at this time as formerly used great expedition in marching unto Franconia knowing it was one of the Circles of the whole Empire that was of most importance for the enemy being a straite and a strong Country by reason of the strengths within it And therefore it was that he divided his Armie in crossing the Vault at divers places that his Artillery might passe the sooner through For he knew who ever was Master of Wurtzburg he commanded the whole River of the Maine and consequently whole Franconia which fortunately happened according to his Majesties deliberation Here also we see the evill that comes of greedinesse in making generall Commanders to be hated by those that follow them for Bawtizen having got a great summe of money of these Townes by the helpe and service of the foote it became him according to right and discretion to have shared with the Colonells who commanded the Briggads and Regiments but seeing his want of discretion in not acknowledging them they being once joyned againe to his Majesties Army would never consent to be commanded by him a foot-step afterwards for ought his Majestie could doe having dealt so niggardly with Cavaliers of their worth so that his Majestie was forced to direct him to command elsewhere This greedinesse is the most pestiferous roote that ever grew in a generall Commander for on this march Souldiers were usually commanded to lie in the Fields and not suffered to quarter in the Townes which they had taken for feare to hinder the payment of the moneys imposed on them so that publique employment is ill bestowed upon a greedy person and this greedinesse in a man of warre to gather riches may los● him all his fortunes and avarice hath beene the losse of many Armies and of many Kingdomes also for no vice is more pestiferous in the extraordinary use than this to bring a man to be disdained of others especially of those would follow him Here also we see that of old our Nation was much esteemed of abroad especially the Clergie

Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his pann● and prime againe having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musket●ers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving-fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and