ruffe Where the joynes with the r. in this manner r the single stroke with the ruffe must be joyned together The r and halfe in this manner r 2 is a ruffe and halfe ruffe joyned There is also a preparation to the March which is only to be beaten once and no more at the beginning of the March The first is the preparation the March follows The preparation rIIr Iâ—Ir II II r Ir rrr rrIrI IrIr rrrr rr2r2 IrIr I have insisted somewhat long in the office of the Drummer for that I finde a great defect in that place and would wish a more generall reformation Instructions for those that are ignorant in arming and disarming themselves EAch Souldier having brought his Arms into the field standing with them at their first order as may be observed in the following notes of the postures and motions Then the Commander giveth the Word Disarme or Lay downe your Armes First lay downe your Musket stepping forward one pace with your right foot then recover your foot to its place then receive your Match into your right hand out of the left Next lay downe your Rest stepping forward with your left foot recover your foot backe againe Take your Match into your left hand betwixt the two lowermost fingers as formerly then lay downe your Match with your left foot stepping forward on the right hand of your Rest recover your foot as before Afterward in upright forme of body put off your Hat with your left hand and holding it by your left side take off your BandilieÌ„rs with your right hand laying it downe betwixt your Musket and your Match the charges fromward you Afterwards retire three paces backward that you may the more gracefully come to the stand where you were to arme your selfe The next word of command is Arme or Take up your Armes First take up your Bandiliers putting them on as you did take them off then your Match as formerly then your Rest last your Musket Performe these directions and all other with a gracefull and comely cariage of body The Word of command Foot your Armes The Armes being laid downe the Souldier standing three paces backe Armed and standing at his first order Being armed and standing at your first order then follows the preparation to the Postures The word of Command is Prepare Joyne your Musket with your Rest open your pan blow your panne prime your pan Shut Cast off and so forward as you may perceive by the following notes until you have shouldered and sloped then begins your postures The first motion in the Postures is Slip your Musket the last motion is Give fire Note all the rest of the motions that follow after giving fire until you have sloped your Musket are dependances unto the Postures but more especially to the first Posture Now followeth the action of Souldiers being prepared their Muskets being charged as all ought to be the enemy being not far from them only waiting for the Word from the Commander as you may observe in the next place The Postures and Motions of a Musketteere the musket being charged first standing then marching 1 Hand your Armes order your Musket and Rest even with your body in the ranke you stand in which is called your first order 2 Joyne your Musket with your Rest 3 Poyse your Musket and breast it 4 Shoulder your Musket 5 Slope your Musket 6 Slip your Musket 7 Poise your Musket 8 Rest your Musket Falling backe with your right foot observe in this and most of all your Motions to keepe the mouth of your Musket high and strait over your Leaders right shoulder 9 Hand your Match 10 Blow your Match 11 Cocke your Match 12 Try your Match 13 Guard your pan 14 Blow your Coale 15 Open your pan 16 Present your Musket breast or rather middle high removing backe your left foot unto your right then your right foot slopewaies backe standing with a full and upright body your left knee bending your right elbow even with your shoulder 17 Give fire 18 Recover your ground with your feet 19 Returne your Match 20 Blow your pan 21 Prime your pan 22 Shut your pan 23 Cast off your loose powder 24 Recover your Rest 25 Blow off your loose powder 26 Beare about your Musket unto your left side falling backe with your left foot trayle your Rest between your Musket and bodie 27 Hand your Charge and open it 28 Charge your Musket 29 Draw out your skouring-sticke and shorten it against your breast 30 Ramme downe your Bullet 31 Returne your sticke 32 Recover your Musket and Rest 33 Poyse your Musket 34 Rest your Musket with your left foot forward againe 35 Your saluting posture 36 Your buriall posture 1 Your guard posture 2 Your Order posture 3 Your sentinell posture 3. These three last are in the number of the former but remembered because they are to be used upon severall occasions Shoulder your Musket and march with your Rest in your right hand Note that the three generall postures do begin the Musket being charged and shouldered The names of the 3 generall postures are these that follow 1 Make ready 2 Present 3 Give fire which are to be â—erformed in 12 Motions If marching then gracefully with an eleven paces especially to the front Note that all the rest of the Motions which follow after giving fire are dependances unto the first Posture In the first Posture are 8 Motions in the second 3 in the third 1 Motion The first Posture Make ready 8. Motions Slip your Musket Poyse your Musket Joyne yoâ—r Musket with your Rest Hand your Match Blow your Match Cock your Match Try your Match Guard your pan The second Posture Present 3. Motions Blow your Coale Open your Pan. Present breast high The third Posture Give fire 1 Motion Give fire When you have given fire winning or maintaining ground recover your Rest with your right foot stepping forward But losing ground recover your Rest unto your foot joyning it with your Musket falling about into your file and ranke making ready againe as you go If you observe 3 paces in the presenting Posture as some Regiments doe then to the Front or right Flanke begin your first Motion with your left foot stepping forward but to the Reare or left Flanke with your right foot pacing first Note that there be many Regiments that observe but 2 paces in the presenting Posture Note when you give fire to the Reare turne right about The Postures and Motions of a Pikeman standing and marching 1 Hand your pike 2 Advance your pike 3 Lay downe your pike 4 Take up your pike 5 Order your pike 6 Shoulder you pike 7 Levill your pike 8 Slope your pike 9 Advance your pike 10 Port your pike 11 Comport your pike 12 Cheeke your pike 13 Trayle your pike 14 Recover your pike 15 Shoulder your pike Note when you beare your pike shouldred it must be sloped except you be commanded to level it Observe when you charge
As you were Files to the left hand double As you were Halfe Files or middlemen to the right hand double your Front As you were Half files to the left hand double your front As you were Bringers up to the right hand double your Front As you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front As you were To the right hand Countermarch maintaining ground As you were to the left Counter To the right hand Countermarch losing ground As you were to the left Counter To the right hand Countermarch winning ground As you were to the left Counter Now follows some things to be acted in a closer distance namely order three foot both Files and Ranks The Word of Command Files close that is to the middle or to the right close or left at discretion Ranks close forwards Halfe files or middle men to the right hand intire double your Front As you were Halfe Files to the left hand intire double your Front As you were Halfe Files to the right and left by division double your Front As you were The body to the right hand wheele moving on the right corner man To the left hand wheel moving on the left corner man To the right hand wheel moving on the middle man or men in Front which are Leaders or wheel about at discretion Now follow some things which are to be performed at a double distance 12 foot ranke from ranke or double double distance 24 foot agreeable to the number of men that are in ranke Ranks open to your double distance keeping their files at their order Ranks to the right hand by conversion As you were Ranks to the left hand by conversion As you were Ranks to the right and left by conversion As you were Ranks close These Motions which I have repeated of Facing Doubling Countermarching and Wheeling are commonly known and practised by the Officers and Companies in the Netherlands and in other places where the warres are there are not many that knoweth or for some reasons teacheth any more Now to satisfie those that desire to learn and understand more then common things of this subject I have joyned with these some other which are of great importance in time of advantage or disadvantage to be practised against a skilfull enemie Therefore I will begin againe setting downe the additions in their places Where the word Note stands in the Margent there follows a change of that which went before The Company being framed into a square open order as is set downe before Not that all the Musketteers must be in one division on the right hand of the pikes a double distance from the body of pikes The Commander standing at the head of the company before the middle file Leaders giveth the word If it be the Captaine then the Lieutenant ought to be at the reare the Ensigne at the head of the pikes the Serjeants on both the Flanks the Drummes even with the formost ranke on both the Angles Facing To the right hand As you were To the left hand As you were Right about As you were Left about As you were To the right and left As you were To the Front and Reare As you were Every way square As you were Every way quarters As you were Ranks doubling Ranks to the right hand double As you were Ranks to the left double As you were Files doubling Files to the right double As you were Files to the left double As you were Files to the right and left double As you were Files to the Center double As you were When middle men is named to double it is the oldest used word of Command for the Reare to double the Front which I do now follow because when I name halfe Files it is to be understood that the halfe Files in the Front are to double the halfe files in the Reare The Reare doubling the Front by Middlemen Middlemen to the right hand double your Front As you were Middlemen to the left double your Front As you were The reare doubling the Front by Bringers up Bringers up to the right double your front As you were Bringers up to the left double your front As you were Halfe files in the Front doubling the Reare by middlemen Halfe Files to the right hand double the Reare As you were Halfe files to the left double the Reare As you were The Front doubling the Reare by Leaders Leaders to the right double the Reare As you were Leaders to the left double the Reare As you were Halfe ranks doubling the flanke Halfe ranks to the right double your flank As you were Halfe ranks to the left double your flank As you were Countermarching maintaining losing and winning ground Countermarch to the right hand and maintaine ground Corian or moderne As you were to the left Countermarch to the right lose ground Macedonian As you were to the left Countermarch to the right and winne ground Lacedemonian As you were to the left You may if need require countermarch your Leaders and bringers up into the center or your flanks or angles or wings into the center or middest of the body or exchange your angles or double your wings or flanks by Countermarch Now follow some things which are to be performed in the second distance namely order 3 foot Files close that is to the middle or to the right or left at discretion Rankes close forwards Ranks to the right hand intire double As you were Ranks to the left intire double As you were Ranks to the right and left by division double As you were Files intire doubling Files to the right hand intire double As you were Files to the left intire double As you were Files to the right and left intire double As you were Files advance to the right intire double As you were Files advance to the left intire double As you were Files advance to the right and left intire double As you were The halfe files in the rear intire doubling the halfe files in the front Middlemen to the right intire double your front As you were Middlemen to the left intire double your front As you were Middlemen to the right and left by division double your front As you were The halfe files in the front intire doubling the reare Halfe files to the right intire double the reare As you were Halfe files to the left intire double the reare As you were Halfe files to the right and left by division double the reare As you were The halfe rankes intire doubling the flanke Halfe rankes to the right hand intire double your flanke As you were Halfe ranks to the left intire double your flanke As you were Halfe rankes by division double your right flanke As you were Halfe rankes by division double your left flank As you were Right flanke advance to the left intire double your flank As you were Left flanke advance to the right intire double your flank As you were
Port your Colours 6 Comport your Colours 7 Charge your Colours 8 Brest your Colours 9 Vaile your Colours Display your Colours 1 The first posture from hand to hand 2 The second overhead ps. with one hand 3 The third twise over-head ps. changing hands 4 The round over-head ps. 5 The backe ps. 6 The Crosse ps. 7 The retreating ps. losing ground 8 The advancing ps. winning ground 9 Furle or roule up your Colours Now followeth those small Maps which I promised in the Preface of small and greater bodies that such things which I have written may be the better conceived and fixed in the memory of all Observe these letters following for each Officer standing in their right places and for the Front Reare and Flankes C Captaine L Lievetenant E Ensigne S Serjeant D Drumme Fr. Front Re Reare Rf. Right flanke Lf. Left flanke P. Pikes M. Musketteeres The Captaine leading before the Front into the field or advancing towards the enemy Out of the field or skirmishing in the reare or marching from the enemy at the reare at all times neerest the enemy The Lievetenant his place is at the reare if the Captaine bee at the front or in the front if the Captaine be at the reare The Ensigne before the head of the Pikes and sometimes in a battalia between the halfe Files of Pikes The Serjeants on the outside of the flanks and in skirmish leading up the Rankes or Files of Musketteers to give fire The Drums in a march hearse form betwixt the third and fourth Rankes In a battalia on the corners flanks and in the middest with the Colours Observe that in the Maps are plaine squares Oes and small prickes The plaine squares are the Pikes the Oes and small pricks the musketteers the Oes leaders bringers up and middlemen Observe when many companies are united or joyned together making an intire body the Serjeant Major directeth every Officer what part of the body he shall be at to make good that place The Table at the end of this Book directeth unto all the speciall things contained in this Booke These squares that you see on the other leafe are 1000. divided into foure Battalions in every Battalia you may perceive their number of figures placed at such distance as they may best second on the other if need require with 100. horse on both the flankes with 100. fire-locks in two parties scouting out before for the approch of the enemy The P. stands for Pikes the M. for Musketteers On the other side of the leafe as you may observe a greater Army divided into many Battalions with their number in each square with their horse on the flanks and their forlorne hopes before and the distance as you may perceive from one Battalia unto the other standing removed one from the other in the best and surest manner for the relieving of one the other or for any other exploit when the superiour Commander shall see fit occasion with Ordnance and Wagons The Table THE Officers of a foot company page 1 The use of the Drum 2 The names of all the beats of the Drum ibid. For what use each severall found is 3. 4 5. Instructions how to beat the March ibid The March 6 Instruction for the unskilfull in arming and disarming in laying downe and taking up of their Armes 7. 8. 9. 10 The preparation unto the postures 11 The postures and motions of a Musketteer first standing then marching with the beginning and ending of the postures and their names 12. 14 The marching postures divided with some observations concerning giving of fire in front flanke and reare ibid. 15 The postures and motions of a Pikeman standing and marching ibid. 16. 17 The postures of a Pike divided The performing of all by the Drum and signes 18 The severall sorts of distances 19. 20 The words of command ought to bee right delivered ibid. What Files and Rankes are 21 The body distinguished ibid. 22 Of facing and doubling of Rankes Files halfe Files and bringers up 23. 24 Countermarches halfe Files intire doubling ibid. The body wheeling 25 Of conversion ibid. The reason why some things are repeated againe 26 Each Officers place ibid. Of facing and Rankes and Files doubling 27 Why halfe Files and why middlemen are named 28 Middlemen and bringers up doubling the front ibid. Halfe Files and leaders doubling the reare ibid. 29 Halfe rankes doubling the flanke ibid. Countermarches maintaining losing and winning ground ibid. Rankes and Files intire doubling 30 Files advancing and doubling ibid. Middlemen intire doubling the front 31 Halfe Files intire doubling the Reare ibid. Halfe Ranks doubling the Flank ibid. Flank advancing intire doubling 32 The body wheeling ibid. The use of wheeling the Front into the Center 33 Files and Ranks closing and opening 34 Rankes and Files by inversion and conversion 38 Files in sequence and Files and Rankes ranking 39 Such words of command as are not explained in one place are in another unfolded 40 In facing what foot to remove 41 In facing marching standing or trooping how to beare their Armes ibid. Observations in all sorts of doublings 42 All sorts of countermarches performed by signes 43 How to performe Rankes filing by inversion and conversion 45 Files ranking by conversion 48 Files filing in sequence 50 Files ranking few or many ibid. Ranks ranking few or many 51 In what forme to march few or many 52 How to beare their Armes at speciall times 53 The uniting of many Companies into one body 54 How the Battalions should march 55 Musketteers giving fire in Front Reare or Flanks how to fall off 56 The Authours reason why he doth not inlarge himselfe in this Subject and the cause why he writes nothing of the exercising of the troopes of Horse 60 The office and duty of the Ensigne-bearer and the displaying of the Colours 61 The reason why the Maps are placed at the end of the Book 64 A Table of the Maps of severall forms of Bodies small and great Marching Exercising Skirmishing and in Battell Letters for the Officers in their places 65 A company of 100 marching 67 A company of 200 marching 68 A company exercising with all their Officers in their places 69 A body standing in battâ—ll forme 70 A Battalia of 200. approching toward the enemy giving fire in Front 71 A Body marching from the enemy giving fire in the Reare 72 A Body marching giving fire in both the Flankes 73 A second forme of a Body marching giving fire in both the flanks 74 A third forme of a Body marching giving fire in both flanks 75 A Battalia giving fire in front with three files at once 76 A Battalia giving fire in front with foure files at once 77 A hollow Body for severall uses 78 A Sconce battalia ready for all assaults of the enemy 79 A Battalia giving fire in front and reare both at once 80 Another forme of giving fire in front and reare or on both the flankes at once 81 A Battalia marching being prepared to receive an enemy in front reare right and left at one time 82 A Battalia fronting every way prepared for battell 83 A Battalia fronting every way giving fire under the Pikes the Pikes charging over their heads 84 A Battalia fronting every way each division of Pikes being on both hands flanke with Muketteers with a diamant of Pikes in the midst 85 A very strong from of a Battalia for night or day against horse or foot having Muskeeteers in the front flankes and reare 86 A Battalia of five companies in one body all the Officers in their right places giving fire in front 87 A Battalia of 500. marching from the enemy giving fire in the reare 88 Instructions for the better understanding of the two following armies 89 A small army divided into foure Battalions with their distances each from other as you may perceive in the figures betweene each Battalia the number of paces with horse on the flankes and fire-lockes before Of this read more page 89 90 A great army divided into many Battalions with their horse on the flankes with fire-lockes forlorne hopes Ordnance and Wagons as you may read more of this page 89 90. 91. ERRATA IN the preparation to the march in the first ranke of the March if there be an r make it an i. In the second line or ra k where there is no r make the fourth i an r. Page the 10. the Ingravers error placing the cock on the wrong side of the Musket and the Trâ—cker too high Pag. 68. the Ingravers error the Drummers place should bee a ranke forwarder In the first division likewise a rank too many The eldest S. between the division of Pikes FINIS Note Note Doubling the flank Note Counter-March Note Note Intire doubling Note Note Note Note Note Note Note Wheeling Note Note The use of wheeling Note Fâ—les closing Note Files opening Note Note Rankâ—s closing Ranks opening Note Closing â—f Files â—nd ranks Opening Files and Rankes Note Inversion Note Conversion Note Note Files by conversion Note Sequence Note Files rankâ— Note Ranke ranke Most things performed by signes Note The maner of facing Bearing of their Armes Note Note Note Note Movâ—ng al together Countermarch by signes Note Note Note Note
distance Files to the right hand ranke by conversion As you were Files to the left ranke by conversion As you were Files to the right and left ranke by conversion As you were Files close to what distance the Commander judgeth fit or convenient If you would ocasion being offered draw out your Files in depth at a passage or such like into one or two Files or ranke your Files or ranke your Ranks The word of Command Files to the right file on in sequence As you were Files to the left file on As you were Files to the right and left file on As you were Files to the right ranke 2. 4. 7. or more As you were Files to the left ranke 3. or more As you were Files to the right and left Ranke 5. 6. or more or fewer As you were Ranks to the right ranke 3 5. or more As you were Ranks to the left ranke 2 4. As you were Ranks to the right and left ranke 3 5 6. As you were The manner how to performe these last and most of all those things which are written before in this Booke which bear only the words of Command and are not there explained may you find after in another place unfolded and more at large set forth for the manner of acting them Many other things of this subject might be added but I suppose these are sufficient for all such as are willing and inclinable to follow them and for any understanding Officer to work on and make triall of their further skill wishing a happy issue unto their good endeavours As I have said before concerning the performance of the Postures and Motions of Musketteers and Pikemen particularly by signes of the Commander and the beating of the Drumme So likewise may be performed the most of all other Motions of Facings Doublings Countermarches and Wheelings Opening Closing Marching fast or leasurely Trooping Charging Retreating and such like by signes of the Commander and the beating of the Drum Here followeth some short remembrances for the acting of these particulars concerning distance and forme First for facing Facing any way by command at a stand some teach to remove the same foot as the hand is named which is a very good way but for some respects I follow the ancientest and knowne manner practised in most parts Which is at a stand to remove the right foot either when you face to the right or left Right about or left about turning upon the left toe or heel but the toe is the best the Pike at the order the Musketteer his Musket shouldered or rested at the discretion of the Commander If the body be marching then facing any way that foot which is furthest from the hand named ought first to remove the Pikes and Muskets shouldered The body trooping the pikes advanced the muskets shouldered For all Doublings Observe that in all doublings hand and foot ought to go together although some do teach that the contrary foot to the hand which is named should first remove but the best way is the same hand which the Commander nameth the same foot first remove the right hand the right foot the left hand the left foot Observe likewise that in all movings or doublings at a stand no above three paces the Pike at the order the Musket rested or shouldered But if they move above 3 paces then the Pike ought to be advanced the Musket shouldred ported poised or breasted at discretion the whole body moving or any part thereof All those which are in the rankes or files that move must observe their Leaders and beare their Armes as they doe the leaders or formost men receiving the word or sign from the Commander Observe when you double to the right hand you must returne back to your place turning to the left If you double to the left returne backe to the right When rankes middlemen or bringersup are to double each man in those rankes which are to move must observe the right-hand man in that ranke they stand in moving with him pace by pace unto the place appointed and so likewise backe againe unto their owne places if it bee so commanded neither going before nor after one another but even altogether Doubling of files halfe rankes flankes wings or angles each man in the file hee standeth in must observe his file-leader and move even with him pace by pace the file-leader looking downe his file setting forth the same foot the hand is named the rest of his file seeing him will doe the like although they heard not the word of command To know by signe without words the severall Countermarches maintaining losing and winning of ground that which followeth will instruct you Countermarching maintaining ground is known by the Leaders turning upon the same foot as the hand is named neither pacing forwards nor backwards till he bee turned then marches downe the file unto the rear the Leaders observing the Commander and all the rest of the files moving together at their distance turning at the same place where the Leaders turned till the front be turned and brought into the same place where the rear was and the rear where the front was Countermarching againe to the contrary hand in the same manner bringeth every one in his first station Losing ground is known when the Leaders step forwards one pace and turning to the hand named then standing still the second Ranke with all the rest that follow passe on their leaders right hand if the right be named and place themselves behind their own Leaders at their distance Winning ground is knowne when the Leaders step backwards with the right foot if the right be named or signed by the Commander and being two paces past the second ranke then that second ranke likewise steppeth backe following their Leaders at their distance and so subsequently all the rest winning of ground towards the enemy who marcheth after them to charge their reare or bringing their front in the suddennest manner to follow the Enemy retiring or to double their owne reare in the quickest forme to receive the Enemy over winging them In all sorts of Countermarches they may beare their Arms Pikes advanced or comported if shouldered then at the turning they must advance port or charge or arme their Pike with their right hand aloft being turned shoulder againe the Muskets shouldered or brested at discretion There are other manner of wayes to performe these Countermarches either for files or rankes But these here set downe are the playnest and as I suppose the best which may suffice for this time Note that you must not countermarch if the Enemy be neare at hand lest the Body be brought in disorder and so easily overthrowne Wheeling When you are to wheele if the Body be great and stand at their open order the best way is to close both Files and Rankes especially the Files to their order if the body be small
pace through the divisions into the Front placing themselves before their own Files and so in like manner the rest This is to be performed when the Battalia marcheth from an Enemy the Enemy pursuing them Now followeth the giving fire in Flanke There are three severarall wayes to give fire in Flanke the body marching the first is The body or Batalia marching by a River side or Moras or Wood or in plaine Champaine ground either assaulted sometimes with horsemen or with foot if it be on both the Flanks at once Then the outmost File on each hand that is on both the Flanks make readie the Commander giveth the word To the right and left present then the outmost File on each hand turnes at 3. motions to the hand commanded and presents giving fire stands fast onely turning their faces as they were towards the Front untill such time as the second File who marched along with the Body hath given fire in the same forme as the first did Then the first File marcheth up even with the second both standing fast till the third File hath given fire and so subsequently all the rest one after another A Serjeant must stand at the head of those files that have given fire or if the division be great a superior Officer takes that place gathering up again that whole wing joyning them in equal front with the pikes The second forme to give fire in Flanke If it be on both Flanks the outmost File on each Flanke being ready at the word of Command presents Having given fire faces againe towards the Front standing fast till the leader of that File which gave fire last be free from the marching Body one pace behinde the bringers up then leadeth his File a round pace up on the other side of that division of Musketteers next unto the pikes till he be equall in Front with the rest of the Leaders his whole File even in ranke with the rest in like manner all the rest of the Files must do in all points as the first did Remembring that as soone as the File hath given fire presently prepareth againe whether he be to stand or move The third forme of giving fire in Flanke The outtermost File next the Enemie being commanded to make readie keeping still along with the Body till such time as they be ready and then at command they turne to the hand directed according to the sight of their enemy either on the right or left Flanke or both together and give fire all together When they have discharged they stand nor still as they did the two former wayes but speedily joyning their rests unto their Muskets turning their faces towards the reare the rear-man or bringer-up being then a leader turning short about the reare of that division of Musketteers going a speedy pace yet orderly next unto the pikes up unto the Front placing himselfe with the rest of the leaders so he that was the Leader before is now the bringer up of the File Observe alwayes in every forme of giving fire in Flank that as the first presents the next file maketh ready keeping still along with the Body presenting not till they be free of the File that gave fire last Two times giving fire in this lâ—st forme the first leader with every man in that File commeth in his first place againe In this manner of giving fire two hundred Musketteers may deliver as many shot in as short a time as three hundred any other way I could very much inlarge my selfe in this Subject but I hope these will content my friends for this time who have honest hearts and judge charitably and because I know that there have beene many very excellent Books of military Discipline set forth within these few years in this Kingdome namely the Instructions for Musters and Armes by order from the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell and thirteen other written by skilfull and painfull Gentlemen Souldiers as I have set downe in my Preface If I had appointed me any command with the horse-troops as I have with the foot-companies I should likewise set downe some observations concerning the exercising and imbattailing of them But for this and some other reasons at this time I omit Only remembring the Officers of the troops of Horse which are yet unskilfull or not so skilfull as they would desire to be to observe the forme and manner of the exercising of the Foot-Companies which will in some measure teach them their duties For in the exercising of Horse and Foot there is not much difference Before I passe any further let me remember the Ensigne bearer in few words concerning his place and duty and the displâ—ying of the Colours The Ensigne or Colours is the honour and reputation of the Captaine and Souldiers therefore the Ensigne-bearer ought not onely to be a good soldier bould and valiant but likewise discreet and wise in counsel and in the absence of the Captaine and Livetenant have the same authority the Captaine hath Where the company is appointed to gather together he ought to be one of the first and to be carefull of his Colours and at all times see that they be well guarded and be ready to do any thing to further the service Within these few yeares a Supreame Commander in setting downe the duty of each Officer in his place speaketh of the Ensigne these words following The Ensigne shall never turne his face out of his order start from any danger nor forsake his Ensigne upon paine of death In a march he may beare his Colours flying rested upon his shoulder before the head of the Pikes And being in a batalia his Colours somtimes advanced and breasted flying in the midst of the Pikes between the halfe Files In a troope the Colours furld or rold up In presence of the Generall or supreme Commander hee must beare his Colours flying and passing by him vaile them the point even with his knee once and no more for that time without any other ceremonies But if he passe by the King or Prince he shall likewise withall bow somewhat one of his knees The Souldiers ought not to forsake or leave their Colours before they be lodged and then with leave of the Captaine may depart The postures of the Colours Note that in those parts where the wars are especially within the Leager or any Army in the field the Ensigne ought not to display his Colours but onely to beare them flying marching skirmishing or at a stand or to vaile them as I have shewed before But with the trayned bands in those parts and likewise within this kingdome the Ensigne doth use at their meetings or Musters some more postures in displaying his Colours The Ensigne may performe most parr of the postures and motions with the Pikes except laying downe cheeking and trayling for which two last he may use comporting 1 Hand your Colours 2 Order your Colours 3 Shoulder your Colours 4 Advance your Colours 5