they likewise get their distance commanded so that in this Motion as in the other openings the Battell shall possesse in length after it bee fully opened the double of the ground it had before the opening The words of Command for these Motions To your open oder or any order else Files open to the right hand Files open to the left hand Files open to the right and left Or as some say open both wayes and some onlie files open for when there is no nomination of any hand it is vnderstoode as before in closing an opening from the middle to both hands Our wordes of Command To your first distance or any distance else Open your Stringes to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes OPening of Rankes is an extension of the deapth of the Battell in place and is performed but one way to witte towardes the Reare which is thus done The File-leaders or the first Ranke standes still and the rest of the Rankes falles backwardes towards the Reare vntill the second Ranke haue gotten its distance which then standes the rest of the Rankes moues still backwardes vntill they all haue gotten their distance commanded IKLM IKLM is an Opening of Rankes where yee see the 2 and 3. Ranks hath moued backwards and hath alreadie taken their distance and ye must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to be mouing from the Front IK backwardes to the Reare LM vntill they all get their distance required The wordes of Command Rankes open to your open order or any order else Our wordes of Command Open your Rankes to your first distance or any distance else Some vse an opening of Rankes also forwards from the Reare to the Front if the ground permitt The action of these Motions of opening which I haue now showne both of Files and Rankes by making the Files presse vpon their Sydmen and the Ranks vpon their Followers is according to our common moderne exercise which differs much from the action of the Ancient (e) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greeks for they in opening Files and Rankes did performe the Motion by Facing but in my opinion our common forme is rather to bee followed for although it want not its owne inconvenients beeing subject to stumbling on stobbs stones or holes in the way Yet in respect the terminus ad quem is not certaine nor seene as it was in closing of Files and Rankes The last Ranke or the vttermost File which beginneth the Motion of opening shall never bee assured where to stand or in what part to set themselues to giue a due competent ground to all the Rankes or Files to take their distance commanded neither can the samine be discerned be the ey of the Commander and therefore the Motion must bee begun and the distance must first be takin from the terminus à quo which is seene and certaine to wit the Ranke or File that stands and so euerie one after other shall assuredly get their distance commanded which they could not do behind their backs if they used a Facing but in this I submit my selfe to the judgement of the more learned For I think also that Souldiers may bee taught to take their distance by pacing Obserue that closing and opening both of Files and Ranks are one anothers reducemēts as if ye closed Files to the right hand and would reduce them to their first station command them to open to the left if ye opened Files to the left hand to bring them as they were yee must close Files to the right hand if yee closed to the middle open to the right and left by division and so they are reduced è contra Againe if yee close ranks forwards open them backwards and so yee bring them as they were è contra (f) Aelian Tact. e. 28. Aelian calleth an opening of Files or Rankes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a doubling of the length or deapth in place which in my opinion is not fitly spokin for although Files and Rankes bee opened to a greater distance yet the Battell cannot bee said to bee doubled The use of opening and closing the Battell in length and deapth yee may finde (g) Supra Tit. 3. before when I spoke of distances to the which I remitt you for I will repeat nothing only this I adde that Battells are opened and closed when a Generall will make his Armie appeare strong or weake according as hee mindes to terrifie or allure the enemie Files are closed to the right or laft hand when a troupe of Horse or Foote or Waggones with bagadge are to passe betwixt either of your Flankes and some strait Files are closed to the right and left by division when yee will make a streete through your Battell for a Generall or some great Commander to passe Of Conversion or VVheeling Tit 10. COnversion or Wheeling is a Motion of the whole Battell towards the Flankes or Reare changing the ground And therefore Wheeling is two fold the one when the Battell makes a quarter turne to the right or left Flanke which the Greeks calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or conuersion the other when it makes an halfe turne to the Reare be the right or left hand and this they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or inflexion no other languadge except the Greeke doth expresse this Motion in two seuerall wordes Epistrophe is described clearely by (a) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c When closing the Battell bee the Sydemen and the followers we turne it whollie as the Body of an man either to the Picke or the Target it beeing carryed about the corner File-leader as about a center and changing the place of the Front transfer the countenance of the Souldiers to the right or left Flanke (b) Aelian Tact. c. 31. Aelian in an other place setteth it down more amplie it is thus to be performed Ye must commād the Files to close to the hand to which ye mean to Wheele the Rankes to close also forwardes Then yee cause the Corner File-leader on the samine hand to stand still as the fixed foote of a compasse but moueing in his owne place and all the rest keeping their Files and Rankes closed to turne to the samine hand joyntly about the corner File-leader vntill the Front of your Battell be towards the Flank to which yee Wheele so that the Front of the Battell beeing wheeled falles like a perpendicular line vpon the Front of the Battell before it Wheeled making a right angle of 90 degrees at the corner File-leader about whome they Wheele and the Flanke falles vpon the Front as a parallel which the figure following showeth ABCDEF GHIKLM The figure ABCDEF is An Epistrophe or whee ling to the right hand CDEF is the Battell before the Wheeling whereof CD is the Front DF the right hand File The Command beeing given the right hand File-leader D who is thus marked * stands in his place
see the first ranke is casting it selfe in a File behind the right hand man V. X. is a Fileing to the left hand where the first Ranke is going to File behind the left hand man and as the first Rankes in both doeth so yee must imagine the rest to doe in an instant Y. Z. is a Fileing to the right and left by division where yee see the halfe of the first Ranke falling in behind the right hand man and the other halfe of it behind the left hand man which also yee must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to doe The wordes of Command File Ranke as yee were Rankes File to the right hand Rankes File to the left hand Some say Rankes File by conversion to the right or left hand Files as yee were Rankes File to the right and left by division Or Rankes File by inversion to the right or left There is yet a Doubling of Files by wheeling the Rankes to the right or left hand If the word be to the right the right hand man turnes to the right and the rest of his Ranke wheele together and come aboue him on the left hand all the Rankes doeth the like If the command bee to the left the left hand man turnes to the left the rest of his Ranke commeth all aboue him on the right hand and so all the other Rankes CD AB The figure A. B. is a wheeling to the right hand where yee see the first Ranke wheeling about the right hand man and comming vp vpon his left hand C. D. is a wheeling to the left hand where the first Ranke is wheeling about the left hand man and comming vp on his right hand and so doth all the rest of the Rankes The words of Command Rankes as ye were Rankes wheele to the right hand Rankes wheele to the left hand Yee may wheele Rankes also to the right or left by division The use of Doubling of Files is to strengthen the deapth of your Battell to resist the Enemie The use of Doubling of Files when yee thinke hee mindes to breake through and diuide your forces It serues also to let the shot goe through your Files when ye are marching towards an Fort for which the first maner of Doubling is proper the Fileing of Rankes to the right or left hand Also to giue a Vollie of Musquetados vpon either Flanke or both or to make a streete for a Generall or some great Commander to goe through or else to lodge the Colours The Fileing of Rankes to the right or left or both by division or the wheeling of Rankes performeth this It serueth also to make your Forces seeme small to allure the Enemie to fight as did (u) Polien Strat. lib 2. in Cleandri §. 4. Cleandridas against the Leucans who first first drew out his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a greath deapth whereby his enemies contemning his apparentlie small number did charge him but hee instantlie doubling his Ranks did encompasse them and ouerthrow them But ye must take heed as the Emperour (x) Leo Tact. c. 14. §. 109. Leo advertiseth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. That when yee double the deapth of your Battell yee make not the Front of your Armie too narrow and so giue occasion to the Enemie to ouerfront you encompasse you which was (y) Polyb. histor lib. 1. §. 10. Marcus Attilius Regulus his error in the Battell against the Carthagenians for hee fearing the Forces of the Carthagenian Elephants to breake through his Armie drew his Battell to so great a deapth that it was easilie encompassed by the Carthagenian horse-men led by Zantippus the Lacedemonian and by them vtterlie defeate and himselfe taken prisoner For as too much weakening of the deapth and doubling the length of your Battell puts in danger to bee diuided and broken So too much Doubling the deapth and diminishing the length puts it in perrill to bee ouerwinged and encompassed And therefore a wise Commander will haue a care if his Front bee narrow to take the advantage of a Trench River or Marish thereby to secure his Flankes that the Enemie may not annoy him there and if hee can attaine to none of those yet to make use of his owne Waggons Obserue that this Motion of Doublings alters the forme of the Battell changing both the length and the deapth thereof which no other Motion doeth Obserue also that in Doubling the length of your Battell ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in doubling the deapth ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (z) Aelian Tact. c. 29. Aelian (a) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian speaketh of a Doubling of the deapth in place which is nothing but an opening of Rankes to a geater distance Of Evolution or Counter-March Tit. 8. EVolution or Countermarch called by the Grecians (a) Aelian Tact. c. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Motion of the whole Battell whereby the Front is brought in place of the Reare or one Flanke in place of the other And therefore Countermarch is two fold of Files or of Ranks and both of those saith (b) Aelian Tact. c. 26. Aelian is threefold for either they gaine ground in marching not in charging or loose ground or keepe that same ground the first is called the Macedonian Countermarch the second the Lacedemonian the third the Chorean or Persian The Macedonian Countermarch by File so called from the Macedonians who were the inventers and users of it is described by (c) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the File-Leader turneth his face and the bringer vp with all the rest goe against him on the right or left hand and passing on to the ground before the Frōt of the phalanx placeth themselues in order one after another according as the File Leader himselfe hath turned his face Or it is when the File-Leader turneth his face and the next to him passing by him on the right or left hand placeth himselfe behind him so all the rest one after another As ye shall see in the figure following EFABCD A B C D is the Battell before the Countermarch E F A B the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground A B C D wherein it stood which yee see marked with points and taken the ground before it E F A B and are all faced about to the Reare A B which before the Countermarch was the Front doeth yet remaine the Front but the right hand File B D is become the left hand File B F and the left hand File A C the right hand File A E. the Reare C D is now the Reare E F. The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and gaine ground The Lacedemonian Countermarch by File so called from the Lacedemonians who invented and practised this Motion is set downe by (d) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those
wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the File-Leader turning his face about to the Picke transferreth the whole File to a place equall to the first the rest following standeth behind him or else When the Bringer-vp turnes his face about and hee that stood next before him passing by on either hand is placed againe next before him and the rest following takes place one before another as they stood till the File Leader be first GHIKLM G H I K is the Battell before the Countermarch I K L M the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground it stood in before and taken the ground behind it the Flankes are changed as in the former figure H K the right Flanke to K M the left and G I the left Flanke to I L the right But the Front G H is brought to be the Front L M contrarie to the former where the Front of both figures A B did keepe still one place The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and loose ground The proceeding of this Countermarch is contrare to the former for the Macedonian tooke the ground before the Battell but this possesseth the ground after the Battell In the Macedonian the Motion is from the Reare to the Front in this the Motion is from the Front to the Reare The Macedonian seemeth to runne away but the Lacedemonian to charge and therefore it is preferred to the Macedonian by (e) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian because sayeth hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a show of falling on the Enemie appearing behind Whereas the Macedonian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a semblance to the Enemies appearing in the Reare of flying away neuerhelesse in some cases the Macedonian is of greater use as if ye desire to gaine some ground of advantage or else when yee desire to March on not giue Battell for by it ye doe noways hinder your March but coÌ„tinueth the same in the meane time may mak your Musquetiers giue fire vpon the Enemie so that ye both March fight But the Laced emonian falleth on vpon the Enemie and interupteth the March (f) Zenephon bistor grec lib. 6.605 Agesilaus the Lacedemonian Generall seemeth to haue used this Countermarch when hee made his Armie to March out of the Straites of Mantinea perceiuing that his Enemies were to charge his Reare from the Hilles he made his Reare-guarde to Countermarch and goe out of the Straites himselfe staying last with the Avantguarde The samine (g) Zenoph hist grec lib. 4.519 Agesilaus hauing embattelled his Troupes at Coronea against the Thebans himselfe had the right wing of the phalanx put the Argiues on the left wing of the Theban Armie to flight but the Thebans hauing beaten the Orchemenians who were vpon his left wing forced a passage through them to the Baggadge which hee vnderstanding did presentlie Countermarch his phalanx ledde against them where after a fnrious chocke hee killed manie of them and manie fled away to Helicon after their Confederates The Persian or Cretan Countermarch used by the Persians and Cretans is also called Chorean from the similitude of the Grecian Dances which â—he Dauncers called Chorus used for they ordered themselues in Rankes and Files and danced one through another keeping the same bounds of the place This Countermarch is described by (h) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Chorean is when the File-leaders turning to the Picke or the Target preceedeth the File The rest following till the Leader haue gotten the place of the Bringer-vp the Bringer vp the place of the Leader the Bedie mouing joynthie together so that this Countermarch maintaines and keepes the samine ground the Batell stood in And this is our Moderne Countermarch which wee use in our exercease NOPQ Yee see the figure N O P Q where the File-leaders of euerie File with their next followers that is to say The first two Rankes are turned to the right hand and hath begun to Countermarch and are in the distances betwixt the Files so that the two last of euerie File that is The 10. and 9. Rank hath marched vp with the rest to the Front N O. and hath left the place of the Reare P Q so much voyd as the first two Ranks hath marched through the Files from the place of the Front so that the File-Leaders shall march vntill they come to the place of the Bringers-vp P Q. and the Bringers vp till they come to the place of the File leaders N O. and there doe stand and face about with the rest Captaine (i) Bingam in his Notes vpon Aelians Tact. c. 28. Bingam expresseth this Motion more liuelie by figures of Armed Picke-men The wordes of Command Files to the right hand Countermarch Files to the left hand Countermarch Our wordes of Command are Stringes to the right hand Countermarch Stringes to the left hand Countermarch Because this Chorean Countermarch is that which is used in our exercease How the Motion of this Counter-march is done I will shew you how the motion is performed If the word of Command be to Countermarch to the right hand then all the File-leaders at one instant stepeth foreward with the right legge and bringing about their left legge turneth their Bodie to the right hand and so march downe through the Files till they come to the place of the Bringers-vp where they shall stand the rest that followeth the File-leaders must not offer to turne before they haue come vp to the place of the File-leaders If the Command bee to the left hand then the File-leaders must step foreward with the left leg and bringing about the right legge turne their Bodie to the left hand march downe as the former The figure N O P Q showeth a Countermarch to the right hand The other to the left hand by it may be easilie vnderstood for if yee make the File-leaders to turne toward N P. which yee see now turned towards O Q. it shal be a Countermarch to the left haÌ„d It seemeth to mee to be this Chorean Countermarch whereof the Emperour (k) Leo Tact. c. 12 § 65. Lee speaketh giuing this word of Command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is to bee obserued in this Motion of Countermarch that cuerie follower remarke his Leader and his right hand man that by them hee may keepe a due distance for otherwise the least disorder in this Motion will breed a confusion of the whole Bodie Obserue also that this Motion of Countermarch cannot bee done but at open Order Also it ought not to bee practised when the Enemie is neare hand for if the Enemie should suddenlie charge a Battell while it is Counterraarching hee should assuredlie ouerthrow it so that in this case the best expedient is to face about your Battell The use of Countermarching of Files is if the Enemie appeare in the Reare and come to charge you
yee may by this Motion bring your File-leaders who are your best men to encounter with him for it was euer the use of good Cōmanders to bring the front of their Battel against their enemies Thus Frōtinus witnesseth Alexāder Iulius Caesar to haue bene accustomed to bring the Souldiers who were in acie or the Front of the Battell to fight against their Enemie (l) Frontinus Strat. lib. I. c. 3. Alexander Macedo cum haberet vehementem exercitum semper eum statum belli elegit ut acie confligeret Caius Casar Bello civili cum exercitum vete ranum haberet hostium autem tyronem esse sciret acie semper decertare studuit COuntermarching of Rankes is when one wing of your Battell is brought in place of the other OF Counter-marching of Rankes or the wings into the midst of the Battell or one wing to double the other This Countermarch is also threefolde as the former of Files for it is Macedonian Laceden onian and Chorean The Macedonian taketh the ground which is on the contrare wing from the Enemie and therefore seemeth to march away from him The Lacedemonian taketh the ground which lyeth on the side of that wing which is towards the Enemie therefore maketh a show of charging him The Chorean keepeth still the same ground whereon the Battell stood before the Countermarch Aelian speaketh but little of those coūtermarches by Rāks neither haue I sene them much used in our exercise Yet for your vnderstanding I will set downe their Motion and their figures because some good use may bee made of them In the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke the right hand corner File faces to the left hand stands the rest of euerie Ranke passes through and place themselues orderlie behind their right hand sidemen beginning either with the vttermost File on the left Flanke or with the File next the right hand File and so they take vp the ground which was on the right wing of the Battell RSVX STXY R S V X is the Battell before the Countermarch S T X Y the Battell after the Countermarche which hath left the place it had and takin the place vpon the right wing and are all faced about to the left so that the front before R S is now become the right Flanke S T. The right hand File before S X is now become the Front The words of command Left wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the right wing or Rankes Countermarche from the left wing to the right The Lacedemonian Countermarche by Ranke is when the left hand corner File turnes his face to the left hand the rest of euery Rank passe through to the left and place themselues orderly before their left hand side-man beginning either from the vttermost File on the right hand or from the File next to the left hand File ABDE BCEF Yee see this Battell hath left the place where it stood B C E F and taken the ground beyond the left wing A B D E they are all faced about to the left The Front before the Countermarch was B C and is now become the right Flanke A B. The right hād File C F is now the Front A D The left hand File B E keeping still its place becomes the Reare The wordes of Command Right wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the left wing or Rankes Countermarche from the right wing to the left The Chorean Countermarche by Ranke is when the right hand corner File faces to the left and marches forward to the place of the left hand File the rest of euery rank following it the body mouing joyntly together while the right hand File come to the place of the left hand File and the left hand File to the place of the right hand File so that the bodie keepeth still that same ground it had before or to doe this more easily face only about your Battell to the left and then command a Countermarche of Files and this will produce the samine effect for it is all one to bring the front of your Battell to the Reare when it is faced to the right as to bring the right wing to the left before it bee faced GHIK In this Battell ye see the first man of euery Ranke with his Sydman that is to say the first two Files on the right Flank H K are turned are Counter-marching through the distances betwixt the Ranks the rest hath followed them on to the right Flank and hath left the place of the left Flank G I so-much voyd as the first two Files hath marched through the Ranks from the place of the right Flanke So that the right hand File shall marche on till it come to the place of the left hand File G I And the left hand File till it come to the place of the right hand File H K and so the Battell shall maintaine the samine ground it stood in and bee faced to the left The words of Command are Ranks to the right or left hand Countermarche and maintaine ground Our words of Command are Countermarch your Ranks to the right or left hand The use of Countermarching by Ranks is when the enemie appeareth on your left wing to charge you yee may by this motion oppose him with your best men and bring your right wing in place of the left against him and may applie your left wing to some advantage as a Riuer Marish or Trench that thereby it may be secure from encompassing or else it serues to bring one of your wings in place of the other when beeing embattelled ye minde to change the forme of your embattelling as if yee desire to set the right wing of your Battell against the right wing of your enemies Battell for some advantage of fight This did (m) Herodot in Calliope 248. Plutarch in Aristide Pausanias generall of the Grecian armie at the Battell of Platea against the Persians who hauing embattelled the Lacedemonians in the right wing of his armie and the Athenians in the left Mardonius the Persian Generall gaue the Thebans and other Greekes his right wing and the Persians the left wing Now Pausanias desiring to oppose the Athenians against the Persians as beeing better acquainted with the Persian fights then the Lacedemonians he Countermarched his right wing to the place of the left and so brought the Athenians against the Persians which Mardonius perceiuing did the like immediatlie Countermarched his right wing of Thebans to the left wing of the Persians as fearing to joyne the Persians with the Athenians By this manner of Countermarche yee may bring your wings in place of the body of your batallion which is this done Your right hand File faces to the left the left hand File to the right and marche both in towards the center of the Battell while they meet other face to face the rest of each Ranke vpon both wings followes them and marches out vntill the two middle Files
and the whole body turnes about him vntill the Front of the Battell be in an evin line with the right Flanke of the former The Battell after the wheeling is ABCD wherof BD is the Front DC the right hand File BD falls as it were perpendicular vpon the former Front CD making the angle BD C a right angle DC falles as it were parallel vnto the former Front The other figure is a Wheeling to the left which by the former ye may easily vnderstand for the left hand File leader I. hauing also this mark * stands still and the whole Battell moues about him to the left leauing the place they stood in IKLM and taking the place GHIK The Front of the Battell before the Wheeling is IK the left hand File IL The Front after the Wheeling is GI The left hand File IK which is parallel vnto the former Front and GI falls vpon I K maks the like angle as was in the former figure After yee haue made them close Rankes and Files The words of command for Epistrophe are Wheele your Battell to the right hand Wheele your Battell to the left hand Our wordes of Command are The Great turne to the right about The Great turne to the left about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith (c) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perispasmus or Wheeling about is a Motion of the Battell in two Epistrophes or single Wheelinges whereby the Front is brought in place of the Reare In performing of the Motion yee must doe all as before in Epistrophe except that your Battell must make an halfe turne towards the Reare to the right or lefthand whereas before it made onlie an quarter turne to the right or left hand So that Epistrophe brought the Front of the Battell to either of the Plankes Perishasmus bringes the Front to the Reare as yee see in the figure following VXYZABC NOPQRST The figure N O P Q R is a Perispasmus or Wheeling about to the Reare by the right hand where the left hand Fileleader Q* stāds still the rest of the body moues about him an halfe turne vntill they bee all faced to the Reare and leaues the place they stoode in P Q S T and taks the place N O Q R so that it falls vpon the other like an quadrant vpon an others angle the right hand Fileleader beeing the point of the angle to them both the Front before the wheeling is P Q the right hand File Q T the Front after the wheeling Q R the right hand File Q N which fals in a right line with the former Q T. The other figure is a Perispasmus or wheeling about by the left hand where the body moues about the left hād Fileleader Z* to the left making an halfe turne till they be all faced to the Reare and leaues the place they stood in Z A B C takes the place V X Y Z. The tront before the wherling is Z A the left hand File Z B the Front after the wheeling is Y Z the left hand File Z X which falles in a right line with Z B. Obserue that the corner Fileleaders about whom the Battell is turned either to the Flankes or to the Reare which I haue marked so* are said to stand still not in respect of Motion but of altering of ground for they doe also moue in their own place where they stand not changing the ground onely facing to the hand they wheele but all the rest changes the ground and moues to the Flanks or the Reare as the Commād is The wordes of Command for Perispasmus after closing the Battell are VVheele your Battell to the righthand about VVheele your Battell to the left hand about Our words of Command are The great turne to the right round about The great turne to the left round about The reducement from a wheeling which the (d) A lian Tact. c. 24. c. 31. Greekes calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is thus performed If ye made an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or quarter turne to either hand yee must first face them to the contrarie hand and then wheele the Battell backe to the place it stood in before and after they haue faced againe as they were Open Rankes and Files and so they shall bee brought to their first station many doe not use a facing in this Reducement but if yee haue made a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or halfe turne To reduce the Battel ye must yet mak another Perispasmus or wheeling about to the same hād as if yee wheeled about to the right hand yee must yet wheele about to the right hand if yee wheeled about to the left hand ye must yet wheele about to the left and then open Rankes and Files and so your Battell shall bee reduced to its first Station Obserue that the Remoter the Souldiers be from the Fileleader that stands and the neerer they approach to the opposite corner the swifter pace they must moue in wheeling because they mak an greater arc of an Circle and therefore hath more bounds to walke for euerie Ranke of the Battell in wheeling considdered as a Rhombe describes an quadrant or semi circle according as the wheeling is to the Flanks or the Reare about the corner Fileleader as a center And ye know that of many Circles described about one center taking proportionable arcs they shall be Unequall in bignesse for the Remoter the Circles be from the Center the greater the arcs of them are as yee see in the figure following ABCDEFG F G and D E and B C are proportionable arcs of three Circles described about the center A whereof yee see F G to bee the biggest because it is remotest B C the least because it is nearest to the center A. Suppose then three men were placed the one in F the nixt in D the third in B and were to make their course the one to G the next to E the third to C which they behoued to make in equall time it is certaine that hee who goes from D to E must goe more swiftly than he who goes from B to C because his bounds is greater and he who walkes from F to G must goe yet a swifter pace than hee who went from D to E because his arc is geater Hence it is cleare that the Remoter the Souldiers are from the File leader about whom they turne the swifter pace they must goe because they describe the greater arcs and the File-bringer vp who is Diagonallie opposite to the File-leader that stands as Center describes the greatest arc of all For lacke of this consideration I haue seene much disorder in wheeling of a Battell There is another kinde of VVheeling used in the Low Countre exercise which is a wheeling by the Center to either hand or to either hand about It is thus performed The middle File-leader of the Flanke to which they wheele stands still as the Center all the rest moues about
him the one halfe falling backward the other halfe advancing foreward according as the Command is to wheele If the Command bee to the right hand the right Flanke middle File-leader standes still and all those of the right Flanke goeth backeward the left Flanke forward If to the left hand the left Flanke middle File leader stands the left Flanke moues backeward and the right forward vntill they haue all made their Quarter-turne or halfe turne as the word is to wheele to the Flankes or the Reare ABCDEFGH This Figure is a wheeling of the Battell by the Center to the right hand where the fift File leader D* did stand as the Center the body hath moued about him the right Flanke F C falling backward the left Flanke A B advancing forward vntill they haue left the place D E G H and taken the ground A B C F. D E is a part of the Front before the wheeling E H the right Flanke B F is the Front after the wheeling F C the right Flank the number of the Files are set downe in the Reare of both the figures because I had no place to set them in the Front for the intersection of the two Fronts By this yee may also easilie conceiue a wheeling to the left for making the sixt File leader to stand the right Flanke F C to moue forward and the left Flanke B A to fall backward and make a quarter turne vntill the Front B F shall be converted to the left hand Likewise yee may consider a wheeling to the right or left about if yee cause the Bodie make an halfe turne to either hand vntill the Front bee towardes the Reare so that B F shall fall parallel vnto the former Front whereas now it cuttes it perpendicularlie The wordes of Command for this Motion VVheele your Battell by the Center to the right hand VVheele your Battell by the Center to the left hand VVheele your Battell by the Center to the right or to the lefth and about This VVheeling doeth not alter the ground so much as the other wheelings The use of this Motion The vse of VVheeling is when the Enemie comes to assault you in any one place as on either of the Flankes or the Reare ye turne the Front of your Battell towardes him and so bringes your best men to fight with him which Good Commanders was alwayes accustomed to doe as I shew before But if he come to charge you on more places then one as in the Flankes and the Reare or in the Front and the Reare or in the Front and the Flankes VVheeling will doe you no good your onelie remeade will bee to face about and receiue his Charge By this Motion (e) Plutar. in Pyrrho Pyrrhus ouerthrew Arieius King of Lacedemon and (f) Polyb. Hict lib. 1. Sect. 21. Amilcar defeate Spendius with the rest of his Rebelles See the Histories For I will not burding this small Treatise with many Allegations Obserue that Epistrophe and Perispasmus are in the whole Battell the same which Clisis and Metabole was in a particular Souldier for as thir turnes the face of the Souldier to the Flanks or the Reare keeping still his place so doeth the others turne the Face or Front of the whole Battell to the Flankes or the Reare changing the ground There is another kind of VVheeling which is when the winges are wheeled into the Bodie this is done either towardes the Front or towardes the Reare If towardes the Front then yee command the middle File leaders to stand still I meane from changing of ground not from Motion for they moue in their owne place and the right wing to wheele forwards to the left about its owne middle Fileleader transferring their faces to the contrarie wing The left wing in the same time wheeles forward to the right about the other middle Fileleader meeting the other wing in the midst face to face Then the Commander bids the right wing face to the right hand and the leftwing to the left hand so they shall all haue their aspect towards the Front If the wheeling be towards the Reare ye must first face your Battell about by either hand then the bringersup of the middle Files who are now become leaders stands still both the wings shall moue about the Bringersvp the one to the right hand the other to the left till they meete other in the midst as did the former then the Commander may bring their aspect to the Front or the Reare as hee pleases IKLMNOPQ This figure is a Wheling of the wings into the midst of the Battell towards the Front where ye see the right wing K L O P to bee wheeling to the left hand about the middle Fileleader K* the left wing I K M N to be wheeling to the right about its own middle Fileleader marked also K* and ye must conceiue those two wings to moue still on vntill they meete other the Pickes joyning with the Pickes and the Musquetiers with the Musquetiers and then the left hand File of the left wing I M shall come in evin line with the right hand File of the right wing L P making thereof the Front of the Battell after they are turned and the File K N shall come in an evin line with K O making thereof the Reare N Q O is a parte of the ground where the Battell stoode before it began to wheele But if yee wheele your Battell towards the Reare ye must conceiue N and O to be joyned to stand still and the right wing after it is faced about to wheele to the right hand about O the left wing to wheele to the left hand about N vntill they meete other face to face so that the File I Mâ— shall come in evin line with L P. The words of Command for this Motion are Wheele the wings into the midst of your Battell Or Wheele your Battell to the right left hand by division towards the Front or towards the Reare The use of this wheeling is to bring all your Musquetiers or all your Pickes to the Front as occasion shall serue and therwith to double your Front The Musquetiers are brought to the Front by wheeling towards the Front if they were before on the Flankes The Pickes are brought to the Front by wheeling towardes the Reare if they were before in the middle Suppose then that an troupe of the enemies horse were comming to charge your Front or your Reare minding also to encompasse your winges by this wheeling of the winges into the midest of your Battell with one labour yee both bring your Pickes against the Enemies horse and doubles the length of your Battell to eschew over-winging This wheeling hath onely a quarterturne but if yee will make an halfe turne either to the Front or the Reare yee shall bring the Pickes to both Flankes if they were before in the mids as in the former figure if yee should make an
the first ranke hath giuen fyre it standeth still the Ranke next it passeth vp through the same Ranke and presenteh in due distance before it and giueth fyre the third Ranke passeth through them both and giueth fyre before them and so the rest of the ranks successiuelie till the bringers-vp haue giuen fyre in the Front But I thinke this not so fit for seruice as to show the varietie of exercise If the Commander please to make more execution against the enemie hee may command the second Ranke to double the first and to giue fyre altogether so that for fiue shotte hee may shoote ten and for ten twentie The use of this exercise is to advance and to charge the Enemie if yee bee stronger than he and to gaine ground vpon him But if ye desire not to gaine ground as beeing more fite to defend then offend yee may make the Rankes giue fyre where they stand without advancing and fall away to the right or to the right and left as before If ye sustaine a charge both in Front and Reare then they who hath giuen fyre falleth away to either hand and joynes in the the division made through the middle of the Battell betweene the two middle rankes as in the figure following ABCD A B C D is a winge of 100 Musquetiers wherof the one halfe of the rankes giues fyre in the Front A B The other halfe of the Rankes giues fyre in the Reare C D and the Ranks that hath giuen fyre both of A B and C D to wit the first and the tenth falles away to the right and left hand and joynes in the division E euerie man toward his owne Front the Rankes next them presentes giues fyre and falles away as the former and so all the rest Or else they may fall away by Countermarch as I haue said before but in so doing they must bee expert Musquetiers and carie their Peeces aright otherwise they will disturbe the whole Ranks And it is a verie comelie sight to see this Battell when the pickes are charged both to the Front Reare the Musquetiers doing their duetie that is giuing fyre and falling away by Countermarch gracefullie and with readinesse as I haue seene the Souldiers of the Artillerie Garding doe it most exactlie How to Giue fire in the Reare The second way of Giuing fyre is in Reteiring from the Enemie and then they giue fire in the Reare which is in this manner The Captaine marching in the Reare for that is his place in a retreit from the Enemie honour beeing alwayes accompanied with danger commands the last Ranke to make ready and then to the right hand about and giue fire which they doe the body still continuing their marche and thereafter turnes off to the right hand or if they be many to the right left towardes both Flankes or else through the divisiones of the body which are made for that end and marches vp a good swift pace to the Front where euerie man falles in the Front of his own File As soone as the last Rank is turned to giue fire the next Rank makes ready and when the last Ranke is fallen off and marched away it turnes about giues fire falls off and doth all as the former did and so all the rest of the Rankes successiuelie one after another as in the figure following FGHI F G H I is a winge of an 100 Musquetiers Retireing from the enemie where yee see the 10 Ranke in the Reare hath giuen fire turned to the right hand divided it selfe and fallen away the on halfe through the division H F betwixt the Musquetiers and the Picks the other halfe through the division K and are marching away vp to the Front but if yee would keepe the bodie of your Musquetiers whole ye may make the Ranke which giues fyre divide it selfe and the one halfe fall away to the right hand the other to the left so that the halfe which falls away through the division K shall fall away by the Flanke I G. The ninth Ranke hath turned about and presented and after it giueth fyre divideth it selfe and marcheth away as the former and so doeth all the Rankes successiuelie one after another continueing still their march and giuing fyre vpon the Enemie If yee would make more execution vpon the Enemie yee may make the penult Ranke double the last as I show before in doubling the Front The use of Giuing fyre Reteiring is when the Enemie is stronger than you and followes you in the Reare yee beeing much weaker and not able to encounter him yee march away and makes haste to gaine your owne Quarters or Trenche or Forte from whence you sortied or to joyne with moe of your owne arme and yet ye skirmish with the Enemie giuing fyre vpon him and no wayes hindering your owne marche The third way of Giuing fyre is How to Giue fire on the Flankes Marching by an Enemie which is done vpon the Flanks after this maner The outmost File of the Flanke next the Enemie is commanded to make ready and to turne to the right or left hand according as the Enemie appeares vpon the right or left wing and to giue fire altogether thereafter they march not with the bodie but stands still and keepes their ground and charges their Musquets againe Now whensoeuer the foresaid File turnes to giue fire the next File vnto it makes readie keeping alwayes along with the Body till its bringer-up bee past a litle beyond the leader of the File that gaue last fyre and then the whole File must turne and giue fire and doe all as the former did Thereafter the first File marches up and joynes with the second File Assoone as the second File turnes to giue fyre the third File which is now outmost towards the Enemie makes ready turnes about giues fyre and doth all as the other two and so the rest one after another and then the first two Files marcheth vp to the third and those three to the fourth after it hath discharged and so foorth all the rest till the whole wing of shotte be gathered together and then they all marche vp and joyne in equall Front with the Pickes as yee see in the figure following KLMN K L M N is a winge of 100 Musquetiers marching by an Enemie who showes himselfe on the right Flanke of the Battallion L N Your first File P. towards him hath giuen fyre vpon him and hath charged their Musquets againe in the place they stood The next File hath also giuen fyre vpon him and are charging againe in the same ground also the third File hath turned to the right hand and so hath presented to giue fyre after which yee must imagine the first File P. to march vp and joyne with the second File O. and both of them to marche vp to the third File and so foorth till the whole wing gather and joyne together againe after they haue given fyre The like yee
may vnderstand if the Enemie appeare vpon your left wing for then the left hand File is to turne about to the left and to giue fyre vpon the Enemie and to doe all as the right hand File hath done and so the rest of the Files in the left wing doe after the like manner as those of the right observing only the diversitie of the hand Or if the Enemie bee on both your Flankes yee may make both your Flankes doe as one hath done Although this forme of Gathering together of the Files which I haue showne bee most usuall yet there is many good Commanders who dislike it and thinkes it better that the File which hath giuen fire doe not stand longer than they be free of the body but turning a little to the left marche immediately vp to the other side betweene the Picks and the wing of Musquetiers where there is a distance left for that effect QRSTV Heere yee see the first File V. hauing given fire and beeing free of the body is marching up the division Q. S. to joyne with the rest on the left side betweene the Picks and the Musquetiers the second File doth the like and so all the rest one after another but in this the whole wing in marching is to edge a litle to the right that it may keepe the diuision cleare and free to receiue the Files as they giue fyre This they thinke doth not so much dismember the body as the other nor yet oppose the Files so muche to the Enemies shotte for when three Files stands one before another they make a great proppe to the Enemie But I leaue euerie one to their owne opinion for Martiall Commanders differs amongst themselues in points of exercise euerie one following the custome of his owne Countrey If yee would Giue more fyre vpon the Enemy yee may make the second File to double the first and both to giue fire together and so through the rest of the Files as I shew before in giuing fire by doubling of Rankes in the Front or the Reare The use of Giuing fyre in the Flankes is when the Enemy appeareth on either of your Flankes to charge you and ye not able to sustaine his charge yee marche away by him in good order and giues fyre vpon him and if hee would continue his march with youres thinking to hasten and cut off your passage or come betwixt you and your retreete yee may make as much haste as he and yet sustaine skirmish with him A Collection of the VVords of Command which are most necessare in exercise and seruice Tit. 12. IN this treatise I haue set downe sundrie Motions with their wordes of Command more to show the varietie of exercise than to approue them as steadable in Service Therefore I haue made heere a collection of the words of Command which are most necessarie in the exercise of Motiones and usefull in Service Our Scotts words I haue set downe in the right hand Columne the English in the left But the wordes of Command for the Postures of the Picke and the Musquet I shew you (a) Supra Tit. 5. before Your Company then beeing orderlie drawne vp and standing at a due distance both in Rankes and Files which is open order The Captaine or other Officer after he hath commanded Silence hee begins Stand right in your Rankes and your Files As yee were To the right hand To the left hand To the right and left hand by division To the right hand about To the left hand about Half Files to the right or left hand about Ranks as yee were Rankes to the right hand double Rankes to the left hand double Bringers vp as yee were Bringers vp double your Front to the right hand Bringers vp double your Front to the left hand Halfe Files as ye were Middlemen or Half Files to the right hand double your Front Middlemen or Half Files to the left hand double your Front Halfe Files to the right double your Frōt enteare Halfe Files to the left double your Front enteare Halfe Files double your Front to the right and left by diuision Files as ye were Files to the right hand double Files to the left hand double File rāk as yee were Rankes file to the right hand Ranks file to the left hād Rankes file to the right and left by division Files Countermarch to the right hand Files Countermarch to the left hand Rankes Countermarch to the right Flanke Rankes Countermarch to the left Flanke To your order or close order Files close to the right hand Files close to the left hand Files close Close your Rankes to your order or close order To your open order or any order else Files Open to the right hand Files Open to the left hand Files Open Rankes Open to your open order or anie order else Wheele your Battell to the right hand VVheele your Battell to the left hād VVheele your Battell to the right hand about VVheele your Battell to the left hand about Stand right in your Ranks and your Stringes To your first order Right about Left about Right and left about Right round about Left round about Sixt Ranke right or left round about Rankes to your first order Double your Rankes to the right hand Double your Rankes to the left hand Tenth Rank to your first order Tenth ranke to the right hād aduance to the frōt Tenth ranke to the left hād advance to the Frōt Sixt rāk to your first order Sixt Ranke to the right hād advance to the Frōt Sixt Rank to the left hād advance to the Front Strings to your first order Double your Stringes to the right hand Double your Stringes to the left hand Strings to the right hand Countermarh Stringes to the left hand Countermarch Rankes to the right hand Countermarch Rankes to the left hand Countermarch To your second or third distance Close your Stringes to the right hand Close your Stringes to the left hand Close your Stringes Rankes close to your second or third distance To your first distance or any distance else Open your Strings to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes Open your Ranks to your first distance or any distance else The great turne to the right about The great turne to the left about The great turne to the right round about The great turne to the left round about The wordes of Command for the exercise of Musquetiers The wordes for Giuing fire in the Front First Ranke make ready Advance before the Front sixe paces Present and giue fire Fall away orderly to the right or to the left hand or to both by division Next Ranke doe the like All the rest follow For Giuing Fire in the Reare Last Ranke make ready To the right about present and giue fire Fall off to the right or left hand or to both by diuision March vp to the Front Next last Ranke doe the like At the rest follow For Giuing fire in the Flanks Right or left hand File make ready To the right or left hand present giue fire Keepe your ground and charge your Musquets againe Next File to the right or left hand present and giue fire Keepe your ground and charge your Musquets againe The rest of the Files doe the like First File marche vp and ioyne with the second Marche vp both and ioyne with the third and so foorth AND this much for exercising of foote Companyes in their Postures and Motions I intended to haue spoken of the Duetie and Charge of euerie Officer of foot and of the Embattelling and Encamping of Foot-men if I had not beene pressed with shortnesse of time and diverted by sundrie distractiones besides the leevying of my Company and chiefly by a little praeparation which I haue made for the plantation of New Scotland in America A Worke so Noble so Glorious so conducible to the honour and commodity of this Kingdome that the like hitherto was neuer intended The Author wherof although his rare Vertues bee not now according to their hight acknowledged by vs yet ensueing times will approue them and proue him to haue beene the Glorie of his Age. If in this treatise I haue committed any errour I submitt my selfe to the judement and censure of the Learned and experimented Souldier whose amendation I craue As for the envious Thrasonicall Critick who will still be carping that which hee vnderstands not I disdaine him I defy him If in this I bring any profite to my Countrie men it shall encourage mee with the first opportunity God willing to proceed and set foorth somewhat of the exercise of Cavalerie and also of the forme of erecting any regular or irregular figure of Fortification with the manner of assayling and defending a Fort and that more to allure others of better vnderstanding to employ their pen and publish more perfectly in this subject then that I esteeme any thing of mine worthy of light avouching only this that in a true affection to my KING and my Country and in a firme resolution to spend the last drop of my Blood in their seruice I shall bee Inferiour to no Man liuing FINIS Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of Andro Hart ANNO DOM. 1627.
foote and an halfe Obserue that when your Companie marcheth they must keepe 3. foote betweene Files and 6 foote between Rankes Close Order or third distance is when your Souldiers stand a foote and an halfe remoued from File to File and 3. foote from Ranke to Ranke and this distance is onely for Picke-men when they charge or receiue the charge of the Enemie For the Musquetiers are neuer to bee closer than three foote in square because they must haue a free use of their Armes (c) Aelian Tact. c. 11. Aelian calleth this distance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constipatio or a joyning of Targets together and taketh vp a cubitt There is also a double Distance or open open Order which containeth 12. foote betwixt Rankes and Files and is used when ye march toward a Forte to let the shotte goe through the Files and when ye double your Files by conuersiō Now the measure of those Distances cannot be taken justlie by the eye but the Souldier to learne them must acompt the distance of sixe foote to bee betwixt File and File when the Souldiers streatching out their airmes toucheth one anothers hands and betwixt Rankes when the endes of their Pickes come well neare to the heelles of them that march before As for the Musquetiers they must keepe levell with the Pickes And the measure of the 3. foote betwixt the Files is whē their Elbowes toucheth one another betwixt Rankes when they come vp to touch one anothers Swords The measure of a foote and an halfe betwixt Files is when they joyne shoulder to shoulder Manie Commanders holdes that open Order is not sixe foote in square but is 12 foote in Ranke and 6. in File Order 6. foote in Ranke and 3. in File but I leaue euerie man to his owne opinion For it is in Militarie Discipline as in all others Sciences Certant doctores adhuc sub judice lis est Alwayes the former opinion is most receiued What Distance and intervall the Romans used betwixt the Maniples and Cohortes of their Legions (d) Veget. de re Militari lib. 3. cap. 15. see Vegetius Of Marching Tit. 4. AFter that a confused Bodie of men is orderlie digested into Files and Rankes and that euerie one of them knoweth their Distance the next thing of consideration is how to make them March in due order All Marches are either in Battell array or by diuisions I will not here touch the Grecian Marches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the knowledge wherof I remitte the Reader to find in (a) Aelian Tactic cap. 35. cap. 36.37 38. sequent Aelians Tactikes but will onelie speake of the ordinarie Marches used now a-dayes Suppose then that yee haue a Companie of men consisting of 200. whereof the one halfe are Pickes and the other Musquetiers and yee would draw them vp in Battel You must first know what should bee the length of your Battell that is How many men ye should put in Ranke the deipth alreadie knowne 10. which is speedilie done thus Diuide your whole number 200. by the deipth 10. the quotus beeing 20. sheweth you the length of your Battell so that you haue 20 in Ranke and therefore your Battell consisteth of 20. Files 10. deepe Of those 20. Files 10. are Pickes 10. Musquetiers which you shall dispose after this manner Set your 10 Files of Pickes altogether diuide your 10. Files of Musquetiers and draw them vp fiue of them vpon the right hand of the Pickes and the other fiue vpon the left hand of the pickes all fronting equally so that the Bodie of your Pickes shall bee flanked with your Musquetiers vpon the right and left as you see in the Figurs following where P. signifieth the Picke-men and M. the Musquetiers for lacke of better figurs to expresse them ABCDEF Heere then yee see your 10. Files or bodie of Pickes are B. E. your fiue Files of Musquetiers on the right Flanke of your pickes C. F. the other 5. Files of Musquetiers on the left Flanke A. D. frō C. to A. is the whole number of your Files as well Musquetiers as Pickes from C. to F. the number of your Rankes Now if yee would march by diuisions as being forced by the straitnesse of the ground yee are to command the Bodie to make an halt or stand then yee command the fiue Files of Musquetiers which are on the right Flanke of the Pickes to march out from the Bodie till their Bringers vp bee before the File-Leaders of the Pickes And this shall bee your first diuision of Musquetiers Next yee are to command the fiue Files of Pickes on the right hand to march out from the rest and to follow the Musquetiers Fileing euin with them but keeping a distance of 12 foote betwixt the diuisions where the Enseigne must march and this shall bee your first diuision of Pickes After them shall follow therest of the Pickes which shall bee your second diuision of Pickes keeping also a distance as the former Last of all shall follow the 5. Files of Musquetiers which was on the left Flancke of the Pickes and this shall bee your second diuision of Musquetiers The Officers of the Companie must bee thus placed The Captaine marcheth in the Front before the first diuision of Musquetiers The Enseigne with the Colours is to march before the first diuision of pickes The oldest Sergeant is to leade the second diuision of pickes The second Sergeant leads the second diuision of Musquetiers The Leiuetenant marcheth after the second diuisiō of Musquetiers bringeth vp the Reare The chiefest Drumme beats in the first diuision of Pickes betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke The second Drumme beats in the first diuision of Musquetiers betwixt the 3. and 4 Ranke but some by the contrare maketh the chiefest Drumme to beate in the first diuision of Musqueties because say they the Captaine ought to haue the chiefe Drum with him Some also I haue seene make the Drum who marcheth with the Pickes to beate in the Front beside the Enseigne but those differences are not of great moment if the Companie haue a third Drum he shall beate in the last diuision of Musquetiers The figure following expresseth this march clearclie In this figure then A. B. C. is the first diuision of Musquetiers before which the Captaine marcheth In D. the second Drum beates betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke D. E. F. is the first diuision of Picks C. D. is the interuall or distance betwixt the first diuision of Musquetiers and the first diuision of Pickes where the Enseigne marcheth In E. the first Drumme beateth betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke of Pickes G. H. is the second diuision of Pickes F. G. the distance betwixt the two diuisions of Pickes which is the oldest Sergeants place I. K. is the last diuision of Musquetiers H. I. the interuall where the second Sergeant marcheth K. is the place of the Leiuetenant in the Reare Now when ye come againe to a faire Campaigne desireth to
to the left hand File leauing the voide distāce in the middle which other closings leaues vpon the wings as if the halfe Battell should moue from K N to L O and the other halfe from K N to I M with this word of Command Files close to the right or left by division to your order or close order To reduce your Files after closing to their first posture or station is to open Files to the distance they had before their closing of which I shall shortly speake (c) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Aelian saith that closing of Files is to bee done by facing as indeed it is the most fitte action How the Motion is to bee performed but I haue seene many Commanders in exercise use this Motion without any Facing only mouing sydelings to the hand to which the command is to close and forsooth they will defend this to bee good because say they Facing in so small a bounds as a private company taketh vp is needlesse but I say they maintaine ane errour for laying aside the authoritie of the Grecian practise which justly may bee tearmed the touchstone of martiall discipline they are easily convinced by reasone because Facing performes the Motion more assuredly and more gracefully then going asydwayes seeing their steps are not sure being subject to stumbling neither the actiō comly and although the first or second file next the hand to which they close haue but a litle ground to goe Yet the ground doth accresse according as the Files are remoued from the standing File which our blunt Commanders doth not consider so that the vttermost File must marche the halfe of the boundes wherein the battell stoode before the closing as for example Say yee had a single company of 200 men making you 20 in Front and standing at open order sixe foote betwixt Files The bounds that the length of your Battell takes vp is 120 foote this is found by multiplying the number of your men in Front by the distance they stand in as 20 multiplied be 6 the factum is 120 if then yee command Files to close to the right hand to their order or distance of 3 foot the left hand File shall haue 60 foote of ground to march before he close to his distance requyred which if hee march sydelings yee may easily consider what a stedfast and gracefull Motion it will bee The Argument then is evident The most assured and most gracefull Motion is the best Motion But so it is that closing of Files by facing according to the Grecian forme is the most assured and most gracefull Motion Ergo Closing of Files by Facing is the best The major I hope no man vvill deny The minor I haue alreadie proven This I thought good to aduertise you whom I would wish to learne the Arte Militare scientifice and not according to the vulgare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there are manie men who pertinaciously will maintaine their badde customes and will obtrude them for precepts and good Laws vpon men as also I haue knowne manie Commanders more fraught with a Thrasonicall ostentation then any skill to performe their charge Closing of Rankes is a contracting of the deapth of the Battell Of Closing of Rankes and it is performed one way only to wit towards the Front which is thus done The File-leaders or first Ranke stands still the second Ranke comes vp and closes to the distance commanded the rest of the Rankes moue vp and close to the samine distance euerie man taking his distance from his Leader PQRS This figure P Q R S is the boundes wherein your Battell stood at open order or distance of 6. foote betwixt Rankes Now the deapth is contracted and the Ranks hath marched vp from the Reare R.S. and closed towards the Front P Q. to their order or distance of 3 foote so that your Rankes possesses only the halfe of the boundes they had before the closing from R S to the 10 Ranke is the voyd ground wherein the halfe of your Rankes did stand before your closing to wit the 10.9.8.7 6. so that the 10 Ranke stands now in the place where the 6 stoode before the closing The wordes of Command Close your Rankes to your order or close order Our wordes of Command Rankes close to your second or third distance The Emperour (d) Leo Tact. c. 7. §. 84. Leo speakes of a closing of Rankes backwards to the Reare which he calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Motion because it is not commodious nor yet aggreeable to our moderne practise I will not touche OPening OF opening of Files is an extension of the length or deapth of the Battell and therefore is twofolde of Files or of Rankes Opening of Files is an extension of the length of the Battell in place and it is threefolde as was the closing For Files are opened to the right hand or to the left hand or to both Opening of Files to the right hand is thus performed The left hand File stands still the next File vnto it first taketh its distance pressing vpon the next File on the right hand and so the rest of the Files successivelie still presseth upon the right hand till they haue all obtained the distance commanded TVXY TVXY is an opening of Files to the right hand where yee must conceiue the left hand File TX which is the 10 to stand still so ye see the 9 and 8 to haue already taken their distance and the rest of the Files to be moueing towards the right hand VY till they haue all gotten their distance required In opening of Files to the left hand ye must doe the contrare way for yee make the right hand File stands still and the rest to open towardes the left stil pressing vpon the left hand as the former did vpon the right hand till they haue all gotten the distance commanded and so both of them taketh vp the double of the boundes they stood in before ABCD ABCD is an opening of Files to the left hand where the right hand File BD stands still The 2 and 3 haue already gottē their distance the rest are moving towards the left hand AC till they also get their distance required Opening of Files to both hands is performed thus The two middlemost Files presse vpon the Flāks the one vpon the right the other vpon the left and take their distances and standes the rest of the Files on both Flanks takes their distance from them moving the one halfe to the right and the other to the left hand till they haue all gotten their distance commanded EFGH EFGH is an opening of Files to both hands where yee see the two middlemost Files to haue gotte their distance the fyft hauing pressed vpon the right Flanke FH The sixt vpon the left EG the files next vnto them the 4 vpon the right Flanke and the 7. vpon the left hath also taken their distance The rest are mouing vpon both Flankes till
halfe turne the Files K O and K N shall come to bee the Flankes of the Battell and I M and L P shall joyne in the middle This is of good use against troupes of horse comming to charge both your Flankes for the Pickes may withstand the charge of the horse and the Musquetiers play vpon them from the middle The wordes of Command Whele your Battell to the right and left hand about by division If ye wold reduce any of those to their first station ye haue nothing to doe but to face to the contrarie hand and to wheele your Battell back the contrary way quarter turne or halfe turne as they wheeled first and then they face as they were (g) Aelian Tact. c. 24. cap. 31. Aelian describeth an triple wheeling which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I thinke it is an superfluous and foolish Motion neither can I belieue that ever the Greeks did use it for to what effect shall ye make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triple wheeling of your Battell to the Picke or the Target when a single wheeling or quarter turne to the contrary hand will effect the samine with greater readinesse and thrise alse little paines and time as for example if you make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Target that is if yee wheeled your Battell thrise to the left hand yee bring the Front of it to the right Flanke against the enemie now if you make but one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or single wheeling to the right hand yee doe the same thing and I think there is no man of sense but will accorde that it is superfluitie to use three turnes when one turne will doe the businesse and chiefly in affaires of warre where the lest moment of time doth carrie with it a great weight This I thought good to advertise anie who shall read this Motion in Aelian that hee may eschew it for it is not only against our moderne excercise but contrarie tosense and reason Of the particular exercising of Picke-men and Musquetiers Tit. 11. OVr Pickemen as I shew before represents the heauie armed our Musquetiers the light armed both of the Grecian Phalanges and the Roman Legions Their heauie armed did carie for defence a Target besides the compleat arming of the bodie but whether the Discipline of our time hath done well or not in laying aside the Target from our Pickemen I will not disput because it is thought heauie and vnwealdie for an armed man and verie noysome in a March yet I thinke that custome and exercise would alleviat those difficulties and I belieue no good Commander will deny but it were expedient that stronge able men beeing File leaders of euerie Battaillon were appointed to carie large Targets of proofe after the Macedonian fashion that vnder the shaddow of them the rest of the Battaillion might be sheltered from the shot of the Enimie and also the Battaillion might be kept strong against the charge of the Enemie minding to breake it as the Greckes did when they made their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which did mightilie astonish the Romans themselues when they had adoe with them for (a) Plutar. in Emilio Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consul Lucius Aemilius saepe apud Romanos confitebatur se nihil unquam vidisse terrililius Phalange Macedonicâ Now as for the particular exercise of the Pickemen alone there is no other but that they ought exactlie to doe their Postures shown (b) Supra Tit. 5. before the Motions which I haue hitherto described beeing alike competent to them the Musquetiers for ordinarlie the pickemen in time of fight or skirmish doeth nothing vntill the Battells come neare to push of picke and then onelie they charge their pickes against the Enemie for the burding of sustaining the fight before that lyes vpon the Musquetiers of both sides during which time the Pickemen stands as idle spectators seruing onelie as a prop for the Enemies shot and neuer beeing able to offend them which is a pitifull consideration To remead this inconvenient the Gentlemen Souldiers of the trained bandes of the Artillerie Garding of London doe practise a shooting with the Bow they who are Pickemen without anie disturbance or hinderance of the use of their picke which is thus done They haue a Bow tyed to the picke in that place where they shoulder by a little engine or vice about which it turneth as they list so that plāting the But-end of the picke on the ground against the right foote and holding the Bow with their left arme the picke sloped and beeing as it were a rest vnto the Bow they shoote off their volie of Arrowes which hang in a Cace at their Girdle behind their backe with great ease dexterity if they be exercised therwith therafter they may fasten their Bow to a little pinne and recouer their picke order advance shoulder or doe anie other posture commanded as well with the Bow as without it When the whole Battell shoottes the followers must shoote throw their owne File ouer their Leaders heade they must stand in order at the least But when the Enemie commeth neare hand to charge the first fiue rankes must close to their close order and if it bee against horse while they foote their Pickes to receiue the charge and haue their swords drawne the last fiue Rankes may shoote their volies of arroues and doe great execution against them whereas without their Bowes they can doe nothing but stand with their pickes ported The wordes of Command for the use of the Bow with the Picke are those Order your picke Slope your picke Vnfasten your Bow Draw out your Arrow Noke your Arrow Shoote whollie together Recover your picke Fasten your Bow Advance your Picke This weapen is of excellent use both against the Enemies foote and his horse as for the foote it ouerthroweth cleane the Musquetiers seeing they are vnarmed the pickmens face armes and legges are also subject to the wounds of the Arrow which partes being hurt maketh them vnable for seruice but it doth especiallie gall the horse for a horse beeing wounded and hauing an hooked Arrowe fixed in his flesh hee will so rampage and runne to and fro that hee shall disorder the whole Battell They serue also to shoote fireworks into the Enemies Trench or Fort and also are steadable for convoyes who oft-times are assallied by horse But yee will say that those onelie of the first Rankes can use this Bow and that it cannot bee handled by them of the middle and Reare of the Battell for they will harme their owne Leaders To cleare this I would ask you How did the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or light armed of the Grecians anie seruice beeing placed in the Reare of their phalanx or the Roman Velites in the Reare of their Maniples for they were sundrie times so ordered as yee may see in (c) Aelian Tact. c. 7. 15. Aelian and (d) Leo.