feet And so in like maner the second third and fourth ranks so subsequentlie al the rest of the ranks must in al points perform the like shoulder their pikes one after another carry the butends of their piques 3. foot or more from the ground straight in discent towardes the right hams of the souldiors piquers marching before them euerie ranke beeing so euen in frunt that the butend of no piquers pique may preceed the one the other in the same ranke and so euen and straight by flanks that the butend of euerie piquers pique may be iust point and blanke towards the right hamme of the piquer preceding in the ranke before him And so they must al with great silence and with a graue and soldiorlike grace march But whereas in this place I doe instruct that all the soldiors of the first ranke and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another should first fall back with their right feet almost a foot behind their left to the intent that their piques should fall the more leisurely to their shoulders and that then all the soldiors of the first ranke at one instant should raise and lift vp their left feet about a handfull from the ground and letting them fall againe to the ground should march forward first with their right feet that instruction I doe giue partlie in respect that the same being orderlie performed as aforsaid it dooth giue a very comelie grace vnto the soldiors in their first beginning to march but chiefelie because that the leisurely falling backe of all the soldiors of the first ranke with their right feet to shoulder their piques and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another with the lifting vp also of their left feet about a hand full from the ground is a warning to euery hinder ranke presently to prepare themselues to march whereas by not performing the same or the like leisurely and soldiorlike warning vpon the stroke of the drum or briefe speeches pronounced as aforesaid it often commeth to passe that the soldiors of the second ranke are suddenlie and disorderly cast too great a distance behind the first ranke and so consequentlie all the rest of the rankes by the sudden shouldering of their piques and stepping forward of the first ranke And I doe further aduertise that the soldiors piquers of any priuate band marching in their single order of rankes doe in any wise obserue the distances of 16. or else 18. feet betwixt euerie rank ranke by flankes and 6. or else 7. feet betwixt euery soldior and soldior in frunt that is betwixt soldior and soldior in euery ranke And this in case the ground will permit them or otherwise that they do march in conuenient distances in frunt and by flanks according to the ground and occasion And in this place because I haue mentioned and touched the distances that ought to be obserued by a single band of piquers and other weapons marching in their simple and single order of ranks I thought it were a conuenient place also to handle and write at large of the many and different distances that ought to be obserued as well in frunt that is in euery ranke from frunt to backe as by flanks that is betwixt euery ranke and ranke not only by single bands but also by squadrons and battels for many purposes and that not onelie by footmen but also by horsmen of diuers different sortes of armour and weapons Howbeit considering that the same hath been briefelie touched although to no great purpose by some other writers of forreigne Nations And that if I should enter to write and discourse of those matters effectuallie it would require manie sheetes of paper and therefore would be very long and tedious to the Reader I thought good to ouerpasse those particularities as thinges very well knowne to all skilfull men of warre of all warlike nations and to proceed to other matters that doe require more particular instruction And that the rather because the many and different distances that are vppon diuers different causes and occasions to be obserued by horsemen as also by footmen are such and so many as they cannot bee expressed by writing but with verie great difficultie for that the same cannot bee particularlye set downe but by the measures of paces and halfe paces and by the measures of more and fewer feet of halfe feet and quarters of feet and other such measures which I thinke no man of any experience can possibly by writing rightlie expresse without failing or erring more or lesse And that by reason that sometimes single bandes are to march in open places where they haue roome inough to inlarge their ranks both in frunt and by flankes thereby to beautifie and giue grace vnto such companies And at other times they are to march thorow Citties and Townes where the narrownesse of the streats doe not giue them roome to inlarge themselues in their distances thereby to make the greater show at other times also bands are to march in the field readie to be reduced incorporated with other bands at which time they are to march more close in neerer distances both in frunt and by flanks And so likewise being incorporated into squadrons they are for diuers different purposes as somtimes for their greater ease to march to giue the greater show and to bewtifie the squadron they are to march in the rankes inlarged and at other times vpon the expecting of the enimie being not yet in sight or beeing in sight they are to straighten their rankes more or lesse or that vpon the neare approch of the Enemies squadrons of both horsmen and footmen they expect and doubt a charge of horsmen in frunt or flankes or both or that they themselues are with their piques to charge a contrarie squadron of footmen For al which and diuers other occasions and purposes they are to reforme themselues into diuers different distances And as piquers and short weapons either in single bands or reduced into squadrons are for diuers purposes to reforme themselues into such varietie of distances Euen so weapons of volee reduced into sleeues wings and other formes are to vse some of the like and other sorts of distances And as footmen are for such different causes and occasions to obserue such varietie of distances as aforesaid Euen so horsmen of diuers armors and weapons as men at Armes Dimilaunces Stradiots Reistres and other sorts of light horsemen are to reduce themselues into diuers different distances according to the effects and nature of their armors and weapons and are again to reforme themselues into other distances according to new occasions and directions sometimes for one purpose and sometimes for others All which variety different sorts of distances and many others are of very great difficulty to bee by writing rightly expressed in their iust and proportionate measures and yet y â— notwithstanding it is
a thing of so great facilitie for all good and diligent Captaines and officers aswell of horsemen as of footmen only by sight of eye and ordinarie practise to instruct and reduce their souldiors vpon any different occasions into all sorts of distances either in Towne Campe or field according to the Art and scyence Militarie as that there is not any Captaine Lieutenant nor Sergeants of band that are any waies worthie to haue the charge or mannaging of a band of footemen nor any Captaine Lieutenant Conductor nor Decurion of horsmen that are any waies worthy to haue the ordering managing of any sorts of horsemen vnder their charges if they doo not very well know all different sortes of distances according to discipline that they are to reduce their soldiors into And if the Captaine or officers aforesaid would haue their souldiors to stay their march and make a stand then the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeant is to say to the first ranke of piquers Auance your piques which words being pronounced al the soldiors piquers of the first rank must in an instant lay their left hands vpon the forpart of their piques about a foot or more before their right handes auancing themselues forward two steps the first with their left feet and the laste steppe with their right feet and therewithall raising their piques vpright with both their hands they must set the butends of them vpon the grouÌ„d with the pointes towards the Element which being by the first rank performed with a comly soldiorlik grace then the second ranke the third fourth so subsequently all the rest of the ranks one after another must after the same sort auance their piques And whereas it hath beene of long time vsed and stil is by many Italian Walloun and French Captains and so likewise by some other Captaines of other Nations that they doo instruct their soldiors marching in their simple or single order of rankes of 5. or 6. or 7. or other such numbers as also when they are reduced into squadron that all the piquers that doo march of the left flank or side of the band or squadron should carrie all their piques vpon their left shoulders as â—y piquers marching vpon the right flanke doo carry theirs vpon their right shoulders and this to the intent as they say that the piquers of the left flanke or side of the band or squadron carrying their piques vpon their left shoulders doo in the same carrying of their piques greatly beautifie the band or squadron in the eies of the beholders whereas if otherwise all the piquers of the left flank should carrie their piques vpon their right shoulders as those of the right flanke doo that it would not make so good a shew as by carrying their piques vpon their left shoulders Thervnto I say that I haue knowne diuers Italians and namelie Marco Antonio ColoÌ„na Ascanio de la Corna Chapin Vitelli all which three were very notable gentlemen and great Captains that did greatlie mislike that the piquers of the left flanke of a band or squadron should carry their piques vpon their left shoulders vtterly condemning the cause before alledged saying that the left flank or side of piquers marching in their simple or single order of ranks or in squadron could not be more bewtified then by the wearing of their swords vpon their left sides and their piques vpon their right shoulders in soldiorlike manner besides that for right handed soldiors to carrie their piques vpon their left shoulders when they are to aduance or vpright or shoulder their piques it dooth giue a greater disequalitie and disgrace in the performance of those and diuers other effects and therewithal is a great deale more vnready for right handed souldiors for diuers other purposes to performe and vse then if they carried al their piques after one sorâ— vpon their right shoulders And as the opinions of diuers Captaines are as aforesaid that the carrying of their piques vpon their left shoulders doth bewtifie the left flanke because it dooth resemble the right So contrariwise I say that such as doo behold either the frunt or the backe of such a band or squadron shall see a disproportion and disequalitie in the partition where the piquers of the left flank do carry their piques in a different sort from al the rest of the piquers of the right flanke For all which causes before alledged with others which for breuities sake I omit I would wish that all piquers should aswell in squadrons as in their single order of rankes carry all their piques vpon their right shoulders not vpon their left except some times when they are in march in the field to ease themselues they may change their piques to their left shoulders Also if there were any piquers that were left handed from their youth I wold wish them to carrie their piques vpon their right shoulders and to practise and vse their piques with their right hands in couching and making head with them against either horsmen or footmen and in all other militarie exercises and actions And because such left handed soldiors doo weare their swordes vpon their right sides I would wish that they should not be placed neither in single bandes nor in squadrons vpon the vttermost flankes or sides of them but in some other of the inner ranks And here it is to be noted that in reducing of a single band or companie of soldiors into their simple or single order the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeants of the band must haue great consideration in forming of their bands and chiefely consisting as our English bands doe of 5. different weapons that is of piques batleaxes musquetiers harquebuziers and archers and that they ought to performe in this sort following First that they should place the one halfe of the harquebuziers in frunt and immediatlie after them should march the one halfe of the archers and after the archers the one halfe of the musquetiers and after the musquetiers al the ranks of the piquers with the Ensigne in the midst or centre of them guarded with halbarders or battleaxers and after the piquers the other halfe of the musquetiers and after the musquetiers the other half of the archers and after them last of al the other halfe of the harquebuziers which band marching in this sort the one half of the different sorts of weapons of volee marching before the piques and the other halfe behind both in like numbers of ranks in one order they are by that means alwaies ready vpon all occasions to be reduced into any forme or different forms to arme aswell the back of the piquers by some called Rereward as also the frunt flanks al four corners of the said piques as for example If the Captain of the band be disposed to arme and draw two sleeues of any one sort of those weapons of volee by the flanks of the armed men he may then with great celerity
ranke either by right line or oblique And incase they march 2. in a ranke by right line then euerie 2. horsemen are of equal frunt throughout from frunt to back as all other sortes of horsemen in their rankes are But if they march in ranks oblique then euerie second light horsman doth march retyred and a good distance wide from the first in such sort as he may march and haue in flanke the midst of the voide ground that is betwixt his fellow formost horseman of his owne ranke and the formost horseman of the second ranke that followeth the first and so likewise the second souldior of the second ranâ—e is to follow him in the like sort but marching and hauing on his flanke likewise the midst of the distance or voide ground that is betwixt his formost fellow of his owne ranke and the formost light horsman of the third ranke And so subsequentlie all the rest of the light horsemen must march in rankes oblique the one to the other Now all this band of 200. light horsemen reduced into 100. rankes marching by right line straight forward are to be reduced into a semicircle in this sort following that is that one Conductor ought to march before all the rankes And another last of all behinde all the rankes Then after two other Conductors are to be placed in the verie midst the one to take care and to see order obserued by the one halfe of the semicircle that is of his right hand and the other to see order obserued by the other halfe of the semicircle that is of his left hand which conductors being so placed and the Cornet either in the midst of the rankes of the light horsemen or else in one of the formost rankes then to reduce these 100. rankes into a semicircle either the Captaine or formost Conductor must march with his band fetch a great and a large compasse and circuite of ground either vpon the right or left hand according as he intendeth to make the frunt of his semicircle And thus he must leade his band in compasse and halfe circle vntill he seeth the hindermost ranke right ouer and against in semicircle to the formost ranke of all the bande which he himselfe leadeth which he perceiuing then he must commaund his trompettor to sound a stay or pause which done the trumpettor must gallop towards the midst of the semicircle I meane of the inner or compasse side and there must againe sound to make of flanke frunt which being performed then of 100. ranks of 2. in a ranke that they were before they are now becomne to be only 2. rankes of 100. in each ranke which being performed then may they march in this forme of semicircle in their rankes either by right line or oblique if the fields be large and open as they are most commonly in Fraunce and many other Countries with great facilitie And incase there were a squadron of 150. Launces that would thinke to breake that semicircle by a charge giuen in the midst of the same semicircle then the aduauntage of the semicircle is vpon the instant and verie beginning of the charge of the launces to open themselues in the midst the formost Conductor of the Corner of the right hand galloping large and something in compasse and leading the one halfe of the semicircle of light horsemen vpon the one flanke of the squadron of Launces and the other Conductor of the other ende or corner of the semicircle to galloppe likewise somewhat large in compasse and lead the other halfe of the semicircle to charge vppon the other flanke of the squadron of Launces and with terrible noises and shoutes to charge both the flankes as also the backe of the squadron with their speares al at one time Or if the Semicircle bee all of stradiots with their zagaias which are double headed Launces then that they beeing lead by their Conductors and opening in the midste as aforesaid doo charge both the flanks and backe of the squadron with their zagaias striking both forwarde and backeward killing and wounding both horses and men By which new extraordinarie and vnexpected kinde of charge the squadron of Launces that thought by right line to haue charged and broken the semicircle in the midst finding nothing there before them to charge but onely the ayre are forced to make a stay or stand and to defend them selues with great disaduantage of Weapon and are compelled to make frunt of both their flankes and backe all at one time which they can no waies performe without disordering themselues out of all forme whereof and by the neernesse of the light horsmen bee they speares or zagaias that haue charged them as aforesaid it commeth to passe that they haue not any ground nor roome to put their horses into any Carrire nor to charge their launces into their restes thereby to giue the greater blow and shocke or anie other waies to annoy the light horsmen that haue charged do with their zagaias or speares vsed as punching staues wounde and kill them and their horses both in flanks and backe as aforesaid by meanes whereof they haue not onelie vtterlie lost the vse of their Launces but are driuen with many wounds alreadie receiued to disorder all their ranks squadron in tumultuarie and disordred sort to fight with their swords and other such short weapons against the said light horsemen with their punching staues to the g 〈◊〉 disaduantage and vtter ruine of the Launces And whereas I haue shewed this order of marching of a semicircle of two rankes oblique according to the Hongarian and Turkie manner I say that it hath beene and is in respect that if any other such light horsemen in rankes by right line should charge them that the hindermost light horsemen of the second ranke that are oblique in ranke to their fellowes before them may at the same instant haue more open and conueniencie of ground to succour their fellowes in the formost ranke and to charge their enemies then they otherwise could haue if they were by right line directly behind the first ranke The great effects that Stradiots Archers on horsbacke and Crosbowers on horsback are to performe in the field both against horsmen and footmen with also the great adâ—antage that they haue against Carabins and against Reistres and all other weapons of fire on horsebacke in seruices of the field STradiots before mentioned are a kinde of light horsemen that haue beene vsed of many yeares both in Italie Fraunce Spaine and Germanie although in their weapons manner of arming euery Nation hath differd one from another more or lesse Amongst the Pagans the Arabians and Persians the Turks and the Tartars in such ages as they conquered the greatest part of Europe Affricke and Asia vsed almost no other souldiors and weapons on horsebacke but light horsemen Launciers with long launces Stradiots with Launcezagaias headed with two steeled heades Archers with their bowes and
assembly within their Campe they must neuer breake their rankes to go to lodge vntill by the commandment of the Coronell or Sergeant Maior to the Ensignbearers giuen they vnderstand or see that the Ensignebearers with their Ensignes in their hands pronouncing licence to lodge are departed or departing out of the Centre of the squadron And therewithall it is further to be noted that all the Ensigne-bearers of euery regiment must fixe their Ensignes vpright in the ground all in one rank a conuenient distance from and before their quarters euery Ensigne directlie before the band that it doth belong vnto I meane in the frunt of euery one of their quarters and bands towardes the place of armes and assembly And thus farre concerning the aforesaid different particularities And now againe I reuert to other briefe speaches and wordes and other orders proceedinges and particularities militarie to be performed by Captaines and officers in the field And if a Captain or diuers Captains or their officers would haue their piquers staÌ„ding at their piques auanced as is before written to take their piques into the boultes of their armes as soldiors do vse when they approach verie neare the place of their watch or as piquers ought to do when they are to charge another square of piques or to make head and resist a charge of horsemen then are they to saie to the first ranke Vpright your piques which is asmuch to say take the butends of your piques into the palmes of your right hands carry them in the boultes of your armes with the pointes vpright towards the heauens which being performed by the first ranke then the second third fourth and fift rankes and so consequentlie all the rest of the rankes one after another ought to vpright their piques as aforesaid And if all the piquers of a band or diuers bandes being reduced into any forme of squadron in the field hauing vprighted their piques in the boultes of their armes as aforesaid and that the Sergeant Maior or Captaines would haue their piquers to charge or to receaue a charge of another square of piquers their Enemies then are they to say to the first rankes of piquers Straighten and close your rankes couch your piques and charge which being pronounced all the piquers of the first ranke must ioine and close themselues close in frunt letting fall the points of their piques and carying them close breasthigh with both their hands steadilie and firmely the points full in the faces of their Enemies And the second ranke likewise straightning and closing themselues by flanke and frunt and ioyning themselues to the backe of the first ranke and following them steppe with steppe carrying their piques abouehand ouer the shoulders of the first ranke the points of their piques likewise towards the faces of their Enemies And the third ranke closing and straightning themselues in flanke and frunt and ioyning themselues to the backe of the second ranke And the fourth ranke likewise straightning closing themselues to the backes and shoulders of the third ranâ—e and carrying their piques firmelie with both their hands ouer â—y shoulders of all the ranks before them the points of their piques likewise towards the faces of their enemies approching And all the rest of the ranks of piquers following step with step each one at the heeles of the other must carry their piques still vpright in the palmes of their handes and in the boults of their armes as abouesaid but yet bending the poinâ—es of them somewhat towards their enemies that they may be seen ready in an instant to let fal the points of their piques towards their enemies and to succor the ranke before them vpon any necessitie or heard incounter of their Enemies Aduising therwithall that no Captaines nor officers of bandes do in any wise teach nor suffer their piquers when they shall approch their Enemies to charge them to shake and clatter their piques as some newe phantastical Captaines and officers of this time do teach their soldiors to do as though they would make their enemies afraid before they come at them which is more like vnto such as do plaie the Soldans and Sarazins vpon a Stage then like soldiors piquers in the field who should at an approach and charge carie their piques as steadie and firme as they can possiblie the points full in the faces of their enemies as is aforesaid But in this place I thinke good further to notefie vnto the Readers of these mine instructions that in the yeare 1588. I did heare some two or three of our Nation of principall offices and charge Militarie hold an opinion that when two squadrons of Enemies all piquers should come to incounter and confrunt the one with the other that then the â—ormost ranks of them should lie at the push of the pique and so should annoie the one the other with thrusts and foines as they terme it at all the length of their Armes and piques according to the vse of single Combattes either in sport or earnest betwixt piquer and piquer By which kinde of fighting of squadrons at the push of the pique I say that none of the rankes can fight but only the first ranke because that if they obserue their proportionate distances according to order and discipline the piques of the second rank are too short to reach with their points the first rank of their enemies squadron likewise standing still foining at all the length of their Armes and piques as they vainelie imagine Yea although to the trouble and disorder of the first ranke before them they do thrust and foine ouer their shoulders During which time of the pushing and foyning of the two first rankes of the two squadrons of enemies all the rest of the rankes of both the squadrons must by such an vnskilfull kind of fighting stand still and lookeâ— on and crâ— aime vntill the first ranke of each squadron hath fought their bellies full or vntill they can fight no longer which is a very scorne and mockerie mylitarie to be either spoken or thought of by any men of warre that doo pretend to haue â—eene any action effectuallie performed betwixt any great numbers of piquers reduced into form of squadrons in the field For in troth according to all reason and true experience such a squadron as should thinke it their greatest aduantage to fight in that sort must contrarie to discipline inlarge themselues in their ranks and distaunces both in frunt and by flankes to the intent that they may haue elbow roome enough without any impediment by the nearnesse of the ranks behind them to pul backe their armes and to thrust at their enemies approching them at all the length they can of their armes and piques and againe with dexteritie to pull backe retire them to giue new thrusts which opening enlargment of ranks being perceiued by the contrarie squadron who if they be skilful men of warre doe come closed
in their rankes both in frunt and by flankes as close as they can possiblie march pace with pace and step with step as if they were one entire body carrying their piques with both their hands breasthigh all the points of the piques of the first rank of one euennesse equality not any one preceeding the other And so likewise the points of al the piques of the second third and fourth ranks carrying the like equalitie and euennesse but yet the points of euerie ranke of piques shorter and further distant almost by a yard from their enemies faces then the pointes of the ranke that doo preceed them And all those fower ranks marching or moouing forward together pace with pace and step with step carrying their piques firmly with both their hands brest high as aforsaid their points full in their enemies faces they doe altogether giue a puissant thrush the points of the first ranke of piques first lighting vpon the faces of the first ranke or rankes of their enemies and the points of the second third and fourth rankes subsequently in a manner all in an instant doe all one after another in such terrible sort light vpon the faces breasts and bodies of the formost rankes of the enimies that do stand still pushing and foining with their piques in their rankes opened and inlarged that they neuer giue them any leysure any waies to pull backe and recouer the vse of their piques to giue any new thrustes nor yet to close their ranks inlarged but doo ouerthrow disorder and breake them with as great facilitie as if they were but a flocke of geese as all men of right consideration and iudgement may easilie consider and see But after all this it may be that some very curious and not skilfull in actions of Armes may demand what the formost rankes of this well ordered and practised squadron before mentioned shall doo after they haue giuen their aforesaid puissant blows thrusts with their piques incase that they doo not at the first incountry ouerthrow and breake the contrary squadron of their enemies thervnto I say that the foremost rankes of the squadron hauing with the points of their piques lighted vppon the bare faces of the formost ranks of their enemies or vpon their Collers pouldrons quirasses tasses or disarmed parts of their thighes by which blowes giuen they haue either slaine ouerthrown or wounded those that they haue lighted vpon or that the points of their piques lighting vppon their armours haue glanced off and beyond them in such sort as by the nearnes of the formost ranks of their enemies before them they haue not spaceenough againe to thrust nor that by the nearnes of their fellowes ranks next behind them they haue any conuenient elbowe roome to pull backe their piques to giue a new thrust by meanes whereof they haue vtterly loste the vse of their piques they therfore must either presentlie let them fall to the ground as vnprofitable or else may with both their hands dart and throw them as farre forward into amongst the ranks of their enemies as they can to the intent by the length of them to trouble their ranks and presently in the twinkling of an eie or instant must draw their short arming swordes and daggers and giue a blow and thrust tearmed a halfe reuerse thrust all at and in one time at their faces And therewithall must presentlie in an instant with their daggers in their left hands thrust at the bottome of their enemies bellies vnder the lammes of their Cuyrasses or at any other disarmed parts In such sort as then al the ranks of the whol squadron one at the heeles of the other pressing in order forward doo with short weapons and with the force of their ranks closed seeke to wound open or beare ouer the rankes of their enemies to their vtter ruine At which time and action all the inner rankes of piques sauing the first 4. or 5. ranks can with their piques worke no effect by reason that the said 4. or 5. rankes before them being next to their enemies are so neare and close together that they cannot with any thrust vse the pointes of their piques against their said enemies without endangering or disordering their fellowes before them For which causes by al reason and experience militarie short staued long edged and short and strong pointed battleaxes or halbards of the length of 5. foot or 5. foot and a halfe in all their lengths at the vttermost in the hands of lustie and well armed soldiors that doo follow the first 5. rankes of piquers at the heeles doo both with blow at the head and thrust at the face worke wonderfull effects and doo carrie all to the ground By all which particularities before alleaged and declared I thinke it may be apparant to all such as are not obstinatelie ignorant that Battles and squadrons of piquers in the field when they doo incounter and charge one another are not by any reason or experience mylitarie to stand al day thrusting pushing and foining one at another as some doo most vainelie imagine but ought according to all experience with one puissant charge and thrush to enter and disorder wound open and break the one the other as is before at large declared And if all the piquers of a band or of diuers bands beeing reduced into any forme of squadron should be charged with a square or troupe of horsemen hauing their piques vprighted in the palâ—â—s of their hands and boults of their arms as abouesaid and the sergeant Maiors and Captains seeing the Launces ready to charge them they shuld then say vnto their piquers Straighten and close your ranks close couch your piques and make head which beeing by them pronounced al the soldiors in the first rank shuld close themselues in an instant in frunt and setting the but-ends of their piques vnder their right feet firmely to stay the endes of them from sliding they should hold their piques with their left hands about a yard and a quarter from the butends leaning their right knees strongly vpon their piques to keepe them the more firme should direct the points verie lowe towards the breasts of their enemies horses hauing all their short arming swords redie drawne in their right hands the points forward readie to kill or hogh any barbed horse or horses that by chance may breake the piques and enter And then the second ranke of piquers straightning and closing themselues in frunt should let fall the pointes of their piques towards their enemies and should ioine themselues close to the backe of the first ranke bearing their piques firmely with both their hands almost close to the vpper part of their breasts ouer the shoulders of the first ranke at all the conuenient length they may with the pointes towardes the faces of the enemies horses And the thirde fourth and fift rankes of piquers in the same sort should close and ioyne themselues close each one to the
then if the harquebuziers that are within the piques in the centre of the battle as also the piquers of the flankes and backe to the intent that the squadron may keepe proportion and forme do likewise straighten and close themselues in their rankes by frunt and flankes as the piquers before them haue done it commeth to passe that they are so close together that hauing no elbowe rome to discharge their peeces at some kinde of point and blanke the discharging of their shott vpon diuers accidents doth become more daungerous to their fellowes piquers in the rankes before them then any waies to the Launces because that being so neare together euerie each one do so trouble the armes peeces and handes of their companions that when they thinke to shoote ouer their fellowes piquers heads at the Launces they are more likely to shoote too lowe and to kill some of their fellow piquers in the rankes before them to the daunger of the disordering of the whole squadron Besides that it is wonderfull daungerous if any flaske or tuchboxe by any accident should fall on fire by so many matches light being so neare together which if it should happen by one flaske or touchboxe taking fire there is no doubt but that the same would set on fire a great sort of other flaskes and touchboxes burning and scorching many soldiors in such sorte as that one accident alone would cause so great disorder and feare that it were enough to discorder and ouerthrow a whole squadron if it were of ten thousâ—â—â— men although they were the most practised soldiors 〈◊〉 are in Christendome But peraduenture som body not experienced in y t straight ning closing of a squadron of armed footmen by frunt and flanks will say y â— althogh al the ranks of piquers both by frunt flanks back do straighten close themselues to make head against y e launces as aforsaid yet that y e harquebuziers that are within the squadroÌ„ may remain so inlarged in their ranks as y t they shal haue so much elbowe room without any waies troubling or touching one another that they may with great facility discharg their peeces ouer y e heads of the piquers before them without any waies troubling them or endangering the firing of their flasks touchboxes to the great mischiefe of the Launces Whervnto it is to be answered that if euery rank of the whol squadron be of one number of soldiors as al wel formed squadrons are that by flanks y e number of ranks be of the like number to the frunt back wherby it commeth to passe that the squadron is a iust square in frunt in flanks back or that the squadron be double as broad that is as broad again in frunt and back as it is by flanks or else that the squadron be triple as many that is three times as many in frunt as by flanks or more or fewer according to the nature and aduantage of the ground or of other occasions and aduantages that may seeme best to the Sergeant Maior or to the Sergeant Maior generall that hath the ordering of y e said squadron then in which of those formes soeuer or any other that the squadron of footmen should be reduced into the formost 7. ranks of piquers in frunt straightning and closing themselues in their ranks to make head against y â— horsmen charging as aforesaid likewise the 7. ranks of piquers at the back of y â— squadron straightning closing themselues turning their faces and piques backeward to the intent to make frunt and head against a charge of Launces that would charge them in back the harquebuziers y t do remaine within the squadron empaled on euery side with 7. ranks of piquers as aforesaid still remaining enlarged in their rankes to haue the more commoditie to discharge their peeces ouer the piquers heads of diuers disproportions and disorders that must by the forming of this foresaide squadron of necessitie succeed by the harquebuziers remaining still enlarged in their rankes and the piquers straightned and closed in their rankes This one chiefe and most notorious deformed disorder that doth include all the rest must needs ensue to the present ruine and ouerthrowe of the whole squadron that is by 2. or 3. charges of the Launces giuen at one time vpon the open and vnguarded places of the squadron and that by reason that y e harquebuziers remaining stil enlarged in their rankes in frunt and by flankes the more orderlie to discharge their peeces doo occupie so great a quantitie of ground that all the rankes of the piquers that doo empale the harquebuziers of the right and left flanks straightning and closing themselues by frunt and flanks as the ranks of the piquers of the frunt and backe haue doone cannot possiblie performe the same in any such sort but that the said piquers of both the flankes must remain a great deale too short to close themselues and ioine with the 7 ranks of piquers in frunt and the 7. rankes of piquers in back wherby of necessititie it would come to passe that there would be 4. open places betwixt the 4. or rather 8. corners of the squadron vnguarded with piques where the Launces without receiuing any resistance nor so much as one blow of the point of a pique might charge and giue in amongst the harquebuziers within the bodie of the squadron to the disordering and vtter ouerthrow of the whole squadron with great facilitie as any man well practised and of good experience and iudgement in matters militarie may easily consider conceaue For which causes dangerous accidents and reasons before alleaged mine opinion is that I would neuer place nor yet suffer any weapons of fire to enter within the body of my squadron of piques But now furthermore if any number of souldiors of what weapon soeuer they bee beeing reduced into any forme of square and that the Sergeant Maior or Captaines would make of flanke frunt then are they to go to that flanke and side that they would make frunt and beeing right against the midst somewhat distant from the flanke they should say to their soldiors aloud Frunt to me souldiors which being by them pronounced the first rank next vnto them is to turn their faces towards them so subsequentlie al the rest of the rankes one after another But because that by making the flanke frunt the squadron commeth to be in disproportion by reason that the distances of the ranks of a squadron being reduced into any forme of square to march or to fight are greater by flankes that is betwixt ranke and ranke then they are by frunt that is betwixt soldior and soldior in frunt The Sergeant Maior and Captains in making the flank frunt must straighten all the rankes in frunt and inlarge them by flanks and so reduce them into their due and proportionate distances And incase the sergeant Maior or Captains will make of the
the sound of the drums for that purpose all the souldiors of flanke are presently to make frunt and are therewithall presently to reforme their distances as well in frunt as by flankes which by this making of flank frunt is growne into great disproportion which reforming of their distances as well by frunt as flanke is to bee performed by straightning their ranks in frunt and enlarging them by flanks into their conuenient and proportionate distances either to march or fight Which being performed then the Sergeant Maior to the intent to giue the more ground and roome to the other part of the squadron of 5. compertiments to reduce themselues by flanke is to command the Coronelles Drummer and so the rest to strike a march which doone then the Captaines and all that part of the squadron that haue made flanke frunt are orderlie one ranke after another to shoulder their piques and march after their Captaines but 50. or 60. paces where the Drummers againe striking and sounding a pause all that foresaid part of the squadron are presentlie one ranke after another to aduance their piques and make a stand which being performed then the sergeant Maiors Lieutenant is presently to command the drummers that doo remaine vppon the frunt of the 5. compertiments that haue not altered their frunt nor flankes to strike a march which being performed he and all their captaines must with that part of y e squadron march certen paces straight forward thereby to take the more compasse of ground and then turning vpon the left hand must draw them vp almost close by the left flanke to the frunt of that part of the squadron that haue alreadie made of flanke frunt Al which being performed according to the orders before set downe the whole squadron is now come againe to be in the same proportion both in number of souldiors in euery rank as also of number of ranks by flanks that they were at the first that is of 60. in euery rank 35. ranks But heere it is to be noted that the ranke of Ensigne-bearers of the first part of the squadron that made flanke frunt with their guardes of halbarders by this making of flanke frunt being brought into disorder by reason that now they are not in ranke as they were before must presentlie vpon the stroke of the drummer commanded by the Coronels Ensignebearer march vp not betwixt the rankes but through the rankes of the souldiors till they al come betwixt the seuenteenth ranke before them and the eighteenth ranke behinde them and there betwixt those two rankes they must reduce themselues into order and ranke which being by them done then both they and the rest of the other Ensignebearers of that part of the squadron that marched vppe and reduced themselues by flanke as aforesaid being in one ranke haue before them iust 17. rankes and behind them 18. which in all are 35. ranks All which performed then the sleeues winges and troupes of the different weapons of volee that did before arme the right and left flankes and all 4. corners of the squadron are againe by their officers to be lead and reduced into the same forms vpon the right and left flanks that they were before that the squadron did make of flanke frunt or else may be reduced into any other varietie of formes that the Coronell or Sergeant Maior shall thinke most conuenient And so march forward if the plainnesse of the Countrie and other requisite causes do cause and permit them so to do But now it is furder to be noted that if the same squadron accompanied with sleeues winges and troupes of diuers sorts of weapons of volee as aforesaid not hauing the enemie in sight nor neare should happen in their march to come to a straight passage where betwixt rocks mountaines and hilles or any such like there could not passe aboue .5 soldiors in a ranke and that there were no other open way neare by many miles for the Regiment to passe but only the same then the Coronell if he be alone with his Regiment of .4000 men as aforesaid is presently to take order that the highest partes and sides of the mountaines rockes hilles be possessed of both sides of the passage with certen numbers of harquebuziers and some mosquetiers as also of some light armed halbarders to backe them that thereby the rest of the shott and squadron of armed men may the more safelie passe through the straight which being perfomed then he is to send the one halfe of the shott of all the diuers sorts of volee y t did arme the right and left flanks of the squadron to march before through the straight I meane all such weapons of volee as did arme the foreparts of both the flankes and frunt of the squadron and not the other halfe of shott that did arme the hinder parts of the flankes and backe of the squadron who are for the guard of the backe or Rereward of the squadron and for diuers other causes and accidental employments to remaine hindermost and to march .5 in a ranke and to follow the last compertiment of piquers into the straight and that I would wish to be performed in this order and sort following First I would send the compertiments of mosquetiers of the right flank marching according to the narrownes of the straight .5 in a ranke and the harquebuziers of the same flanke after them backt with some light armed piquers and halbarders then I would send the compertiments of archers likewise of the right flank marching .5 in a ranke then I would that the compertiments of mosquetiers and harquebuziers that were for the guard of the left flanke marching 5. in a ranke backt likewise with some number of light armed piquers and halbardars should follow the archers of the right flanke and that after them should follow the archers of the forepart corner of the left flank which different compertiments of weapons of volee of the forepart of the right flanke being marcht through y e straight into the plaine should march so far on the right hand as there should be space and roome enough for the compertiments of the piquers of the right flanke to reduce themselues into forme vpon their lefte flanke and that then euerie sort and weapon of volee should reduce themselues into the same formes of sleeues winges and troupes and other such like as they were vpon the right corner and flanke of the squadron before that they marched into the straight Then would I that the different Compertiments of the like weapons of volee of the foreparte of the left flanke of the squadron that haue followed the first compertiments and are now likewise come through the straight should march so much on the left hand of the plaine as they may leaue ground and space enough for the squadron of piquers to reduce themselues into their forme betwixt them and the weapons of volee of the right flank that they there should
deuided into partes and corporalates vnder their Corporals and Sergeants for watches bodies of watches Centinels and all other ordinarie and extraordinary emploiments and actions militarie in Campe Towne or field then any smal bands are For it is most euident that smal bands of 150. to an Ensigne consisting of 5. different sortes of weapons viz piques battleaxes mosquets harquebuzes and longbowes and that therefore euery one sort of those weapons is to be reduced into diuers little diuisions by themselues which besides the vncomely sight to see so many small compertimentes in euery such little band it would require a much longer time vpon the dailie and ordinarie dislodging of an Armie reduced into a vaungard battle and rereward to draw so great numbers of compertiments out of such a number of little bandes then out of a few bands of 500. to draw a few great compertiments and to incorporate and reduce them into any forme or formes And this before written I thinke might suffice to perswade any that do professe Armes that are of any discretion although but of meane iudgement in matters Militarie that such great bands as aforesaid are a great deale more fitt and conuenient to forme battles and squadrons withall then such small bands as aforesaid are Howbeit because there be some 3. or 4. of our Nation y t haue written in certen lewde and false pamphlets and libells against me as is before mentioned that haue not bene ashamed to name themselues the inuentors and deuisers of a new discipline Militarie who how farre wide they are from the vnderstanding of all true discipline all men of right consideration may euidently see by their writinges speakings vaine opinions and actions that they I say in their malitious and friuolous libels do write as aforesaid that small bands of 150. are as readie to be reduced into any squadron as great bands of .500 are I therefore to make that which I haue before written more apparant and vtterlie to conuince their obstinate ignorances will by comparing the best orders and waies of fourming of squadrons both with great and with small bandes shewe with what great readines and facilitie squadrons may be formed with a few great Compertiments out of great bandes of 500. to an Ensigne and with what difficultie great squadrons are reduced into forme with many little Compertiments out of small bandes of .150 to an Ensigne that therby all men of consideration may euidentlie see the erronious and vnskilfull opinions Militarie that those our such men of warre do hold And therefore I do for example alledge That admit that a generall of an Army of .18000 footmen reduced into .6 Regiments of .3000 to euerie Regiment and .8000 10000. or .12000 horsemen of diuers armors and weapons with all other prouision and furniture belonging to such an Armie to inuade some forren dominions that the whole 18000 footmen being deuided into 5. partes he had concluded according to the commendable opinion of some notable men of warre that I haue knowne in my time that 3. parts of the 5. should be all piquers and short weapons or all piquers without any short weapons to forme a vaungard battle and Rereward according to the manner and vse of the Italians and Spaniards of this time and that the other two parts should be all weapons of volee weare I say determined to make a proofe whether little bandes of 150. or great bands of 500. were most apte and ready to forme squadrons withal and therefore hauing reduced 3. of the 6. Regiments into little bands of 150. that is 20. bandes of 150. to euerie Regiment of 3000. and the other 3. Regiments into great bandes of .500 that is .6 bandes of 500. to euerie Regiment of 3000. he then geuing these or the like directiōs hereafter set down should most manifestly see the great aptnes dexteritie and readinesse of great bandes of .500 to reduce squadrons into with the wonderfull vnreadinesse great disorders and imperfections in reducing of squadrons into forme by little bandes of 150. consisting of .5 different weapons as aforesaid The Lieutennant general therfore first to make proofe whether the piquers of one of the regiments of the small bands or the piquers of one of the Regiments of the great bands were more readie to be reduced into squadron is to commaund that at a certen houre vpon a sound and warning giuen by his trompettor two Coronells with their two Regiments the one consisting all of small bands of .150 and the other all of great bands of .500 should with all celeritie reduce themselues into their simple and single order of rankes which reducement of bandes into their simple and single order is euer to be performed before squadrons can with order and reason Militarie be formed and that either in the place of Armes if the Generall shal appoint that place or otherwise if it shal please him to commaund both the Coronells at one time to march out of the Camp to two seuerall places grounds appointed both of like distance from the fortifications of the Campe there to reduce .3 parts of their Regiments which do consist of piquers the other two parts consisting weapons of volee as aforesaid into two seuerall squadrons each of them 60. piquers in frunt 30. by flanks which are in each Regiment .1800 piquers Then I say that the 3. partes of piquers of euerie great band of .500 being .300 and the other two parts of weapons of volee in number 200. marching out of their quarters into the place of Armes which is betwixte their quarter and the fortifications of the Campe and there reducing themselues into their simple and single order of 100. rankes 5. in euerie ranke or rather into 50. rankes of 10. in euerie ranke I mean the one halfe of the weapons of volee that doconsist of 100. marching before the ranks of y ◠piquers and the other halfe of y ◠like number of weapons of volee behinde the hindermost ranke of all the piquers with the Ensigne according to all discipline in the middest of the piquers And so all those 6. bandes of 500. vnder euerie Ensigne marching 10. in a ranke one after another out of the Campe towardes the ground where they are to forme their squadron whither being comne the weapons of volee that are in frunt of the first band marching a conuenient distance to the right hand from before the piquers to the intent to giue the piquers place and to be readie to arme the forepart of the right flanke of the squadron And the compertiment of piquers of this formost and first band being comne to the ground wheras they are to aduaunce their piques and make a stande and hauing perfourmed the same the other halfe of the weapons of volee of the same band that marcht behind who are to arme the forepart of the left flank of the squadron being drawne vp by their Conductors so large a distance on the left hand from their compertiment of piquers as they may leaue ground enough
exceed the number of 10. or 11. may in an instant bee numbred by the Captaines or officers sudden casting their eies vpon such ranks as also by the souldiors that are to reduce themselues into their rankes wheras if they were of greater numbers the captaine lieutenant or sergeants may quicklie mistake the number of soldiors in ranke and so to their reproach faile in their intended reducements Besides that squadrons how great and of what forme soeuer they are formed the compertiments of diuers or many bands are more conueniently and certeinlie brought into their proportions and formes with the compertiments of bands that doe not exceed the number of 10. or 11. in a ranke at the vttermost or rather fewer then if they were of greater numbers with other causes and reasons also which for breuities sake in this place I omit And now all this beeing as aforesaid by a Captaine considered and he hauing with himselfe concluded that all the compertiments of different weapons throughout his band shall march 5. in a rank or any other number as aforesaid he is presently to giue order to his officers to reduce them into that number in euerie ranke which to performe some one of them is first to saie vnto the harquebuziers who are to be the first compertiment Ranke your selues harquebuziers fiue in a ranke appointing them the ground where the soldiors of the first ranke shall reduce themselues and so likewise the like briefe wordes and orders are to bee pronounced to the Archers to the Musquetiers and to the armed men which being by them heard euery different sort of those weapons ought with all celeritie to reduce themselues throughout their compertiments into the foresaid number of 5. in a ranke all the backer rankes of euery compertiment obseruing the proportionate distances of the two first rankes of their owne compertiment in frunt and by flanks But because when soldiors doo begin to reduce themselues into ranks after the number pronounced by their Captains or Sergeants that in the first second or third ranke or else in some of the rest of the rankes there happen sometimes more soldiors to faâ—l into some of those rankes then there should be by the number pronounced as aforesaid and that those soldiors that came last into that ranke or those ranks are vpon pride or wilfulnesse lothe to put themselues out of that ranke or rankes and to retire themselues to find out some ranke or ranks that doe lacke the number pronounced the Captains therefore and the officers of bands ought to instruct their soldiors at such times as they are to reduce themselues into their simple or single order of rankes according vnto the number by their Captains or officers pronounced that if in the first second or third ranke or in any of the rest of the former ranks that disorder doe happen that then the ouerplus of the number of the soldiors by the Captaine or officers pronounced that doe find themselues on the left flanke or side of that ranke or rankes shall presently put themselues out of the same ranke or ranks and retire vntill they find a ranke or rankes that doe lacke the number of soldiors by their Captain or officers pronounced And to the intent that this order may be the better performed the Captaines Lieutenants and sergeants ought to instruct their soldiors that in the reducing of themselues into ranks the first soldior that is to begin in the first ranke being placed by the Sergeant in the place where the first ranke should begin the rest of the soldiors of the same armor and weapon that are next vnto that first soldior by the seargeant placed shall presently fall into ranke by the left side or flanke the one of th' other vntill that ranke be compleat according to the number by the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeant pronounced And so likewise the second third fourth and consequentlie al the rest of the ranks are to reduce themselues into theyr ranks by the left flankes or sides the one of the other and not to enter into ranke disorderlie th' one betwixt the other So that by the performance of this prescribed order any ouerplus of soldiors that shall happen to fall into any of those rankes shall find themselues to be on the left flanke or side of those ranks and therfore shall know that it is their duties presently to retire out of those ranks vntill they find some other ranke or rankes that doo lack the number by their Captains or Sergeants pronounced Al which different weapons being reduced into their compertiments by the orders aforesaide then the Captaine may command his lieutenant and Sergeants of the band to draw the one halfe of euery different sort of weapon of volee behind the compertiment of armed men there to place them in the same like order as the other halfe of those weapons of volee are before the armed men so as the armed piquers shall hold the middle place of the band according to all discipline And the like briefe speeches and prescribed orders of reducements by the left flanke the one of th'other may serue for horsmen be they men at Armes Launces borderers or Stradiots or of any other kinde of armor and weapon on horsebacke As for example If a Captaine or Lieutenant of men at Armes or Dimilances would reduce his companie into their simple or single order of rankes he is to say vnto those that are to begin the first ranke Ranke your selues Launces three in a ranke or 4 or 5 in a ranke or as it shal please him Vpon which speaches pronounced all his whole band or companie is to performe his commandement and words pronounced with the like obseruations as are before prescribed vnto the bands of footmen hauing alwaies speciall regard to their proportionate distances in frunt and by flanks And these prescribed orders before set downe al soldiors bee they horsmen or footmen ought to know performe with all celerity quietnes silence vpoÌ„ very seuere punishment Now the Captain or Captains hauing reduced their soldiors into their simple or single order of ranks or into any forme of square that the soldiors piquers do stand at their piques the butends on the ground and the points vpright and that the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeants would haue them to march they are then to say to the first ranke Shoulder your piques and march which is as much to say Lay your piques vpon your right shoulders and march which shouldering of piques must be doone with a comely and soldiorlike grace all the piquers of the first ranke falling backe with their right feet almost a foot behind their left that their piques may the more leisurely and comelie fall to their shoulders and then raising vp their left feet about a handfull from the ground letting them fall againe they must all in an instant aduance forward so fal into their march first with their right
make his frunt of pointing or directing with his warder March to yonder ground there auaunce your piques and make a pause and make of your right flanke frunt and reforme your distances according to discipline both by frunt and flankes or if he hath determined to make his frunt of the left flanke he may then say Make of your left flanke frunte and reforme your distances both by frunte and flankes according as he hath before determined either the one waies or the other to make his frunt which making of frunt either of the right or of the left flanke is to be vnderstood that they should turne their faces and weapons one of those waies which being by them performed then if they were 55. rankes and. 5. in euerie ranke in their marching they are now by making of their flanke frunt become 55. in frunt that is so many in euery ranke and by flanke only 5. rankes which aduancing of their piques and pause and making of flanke frunt by the first company or compertiment performed then he is to say to another compertiment of the like number of rankes by flanke be they of euen or od numbers it is importeth not so as he faile not in his great and generall account of the number of the rankes of the whole squadron by flanke or flankes March and double your selues by the backe of yonder conpertiment or companie and there 〈◊〉 make of flanke frunt as that companie hath done Which being by them preformed then persentlie but rather at the first the Coronelles Trompetter is to sound the doubling of their Companies into squadroÌ„ by back which being by all the companies or compertiments performed and reduced into their conuenient distances both by frunt and flankes according to discipline either to march or to fight then the Sergeant Maior may giue order and reduce vpon the flanks and corners of the squadron all the different sortes of weapons of volee into as many formes as he listeth of sleeues winges hearses troups c and may backe as many of them with light armed piquers and halbarders or battleaxes as the number or remnante of those weapons will giue them leaue And yet there is another order of forming of a Squadron by doubling and redoubling of the compertiments vpon the backe of the first compertiment which with diuers others because I do not allowe them for so good as these before sett downe I omitt and therefore proceeding to the third order of forming of a squadron by doubling the compertiments only by one flanke that is only either vpon the right or vpon the lefte flanke with diuers and sundrie particularities concerning the same I say that incase I had a regiment of 4000. footmen of diuers sorts of weapons as abouesayd and that I were disposed to reduce 2100. piquers into squadron of 55. in frunt 38. by flanks and that I thought good to make my compertiments altogether of like od nuÌ„bers as of 5. soldiors in euerie ranke from frunt to backe and the same of 38. rankes by flankes I would then deuide them into 11. compertiments of 5. in euery ranke throughout euery compertiment which vnited are 55. piquers in euery ranke and in number of rankes by flanks 38. euery which compertiment of 5. from frunt to backe coÌ„teining 190. soldiors the whole squadron consisting of 11. compertiments as aforesaid doth come to consist of 2090. soldiors the ouerplus which lacketh nomber to make a ranke and therefore to be tearmed a broken ranke 10. soldiors who are either to march and place themselues with the ranke of Ensignes or otherwise readie to be emploied as the Sergeant Maior shall thinke most conuenient Now hauing all these 11. compertiments in the field seperated from all the rest of the weapons and being disposed to reduce them presently into forme the Coronell or Sergeant Maior either leading them himselfe or pointing with his warder in his hand to the ground to y â— which they shal march vnto is to vse these briefe speaches or the like to the Captain that dooth lead the first band or compertimeÌ„t March vp to that ground there aduaÌ„ce your piques make a pause then presently after he is to say to the second band or compertiment March vp and double your selues by the left flanke of the first compertiment and so subsequently he is to commauÌ„d his trumpettor to sound as also otherwise to giue direction to the rest of the compertiments that they shall double themselues euery one vpon the left flanke of the other but after that he hath vsed the briefe speaches aforesaid to the two first compertiments then besides the sounds of the trompettor for the forming of the squadroÌ„ if he be not disposed to gallop with his horse by y e flank of the rest of y e compertiments y t are furder off behind and to vse the like speaches of doubling by flanks as aforesaid he may by certen signes that hee may vse to accustome his Captaines and officers vnto either with his hand or with his warder direct them to the doubling of their rankes by flankes as aforesaid which squadron with all the Ensignes guarded with their halbardes or battleaxes placed in the Centre or betwixt the 2. middle rankes of the same beeing by the Coronell or Sergeant Maior with so great facilitie perfourmed and by him and his officers straightlie lookt into that all their rankes as well in frunt as by flanke doo obserue their most conuenient and proportionate distaunces either to march or to fight he then may forme his sleeues wings squares hearsses and troups of harquebuziers Archers and mosquetiers and backe as many of them with the rest of the piques and battleaxes as the ground and the sayde remnant of those weapons wil giue them leaue or as the approching and coÌ„ming of the enemies shall giue them occasion Now as this squadron is formed altogether of compertiments of like od numbers so may the Sergeant Maior forme the very same squadron with compertiments of different odde numbers as with compertiments of â— and 7. or with compertiments of different euen and odde numbers as of 4. 5. and 6. so as they all vnited in frunt doo come to make 55. souldiors and by flanâ—e 38. ranks as is before declared which different particularities with many others concerning aswell the ordering of horsmen as footmen I haue set down by demonstration in a booke which I mean shortly to put in print entituled Certen military discourses and Arithmetical tables with diuers formes and demonstrations for a Lord Martiall or for a sergeant Maior to form squadrons and to reduce both horsmen and footmen into diuers and many forms of battles by me Composed 1585. or rather 1580. But now this foresaid squadron being reduced into the forme of 55. by frunt and 38. by flankes ouerplus a broken ranke of 10. souldiors as aforesaid if the Sergeant Maior vpon the comming of the enemie or vpon any other occasion shall thinke
again reduce themselues into the like formes of sleeues winges and troupes that they were vpon the forepart of the left flanke before they marched through the straight But it is to be noted that presently vpon the entring of the last compertiments of the forepart of the weapons of volee of the left flanke into the straight that the Sergeant Maior is to come to the frunt of the right flanke of the squadron if the same flanke be next vnto the passage and he is in briefe words to say Single 5. in a ranke throughout from frunt to backe and march after the last compertiment of shot through the straight and being marched thorough into the plaine Auaunce your piques and make a pause Vppon which his direction the Captaine with his whole compertiment of 5. in a ranke from frunt to backe is to single the same from the rest of the squadron and to followe the shot and march into the straight vppon the separation and marching of which compertiment then the Sergeant Maior is to say to the Captain of the next compertiment Single your compertiments of 5. throughout and follow and march straight after the first compertiment through the straight and being marched thorough into the plaine double your compertiment by the left flanke of the formost compertiment of piquers which compertiment being something separated and marching into the straight then vppon the same direction receaued by all the Captaines that are before the frunt of the rest of the compertiments as well by such briefe speaches as aforesaid as by the sound of the trompettor and drummes they are all subsequentlie and orderlie with their compertimentes to separate them and to followe one another by right line and as euerie one of those Captaines with their compertimentes haue marched one after another thorough the straight into the plaine so they are with all celeritie to reduce themselues by the left flanke the one of the other into the same form of squadron that they were before they entred into the straight and that is that the Captaine of the thirde compertiment of 5. in a ranke throughout as aforesaid seeing the seconde compertiment reduced and doubled by the lefte flanke of the firste Compertiment hee likewise is to reduce his compertiment by the lefte flanke of the seconde and so consequentlie the fourth fifth and all the reste of the compertiments are by their Captaines to bee lead and reduced by the left flanks the one of the other which being by them performed and the squadron reduced into the same forme of number of ranks of soldiors in euery ranke that it was before they entered into the straight then all the shot of the different weapons of volee that did march through the straight before the first compertiment of piquers I meane the one halfe of those that before they came to the straight did arme the forepartes of the right and left flankes of the squadron and now againe already before the squadron is altogether againe formed by their Captaines and officers reduced into the same formes vpon the foreparts of the right and left flankes of the squadron that they were before that they first separated themselues from the squadron and entred into the straight And euen as those different compertiments of shot did one after another orderly march through the straight and are now againe reduced and come into their first order as aforesaid So the different compertimentes of sleeues winges troups and other such like of different sorts of weapons of volee that did arme the right and left hinder flanks and corners of the squadron in the like order immediatly following the last compertiments of piquers through the straight are presentlie againe by their officers to be reduced into the like compertimentes and formes for the guard of both the hinder flanks and backe of the squadron that they were before the squadron did enter into the passage All which being performed and al the harquebuziers mosquetiers and halbarders that were sent to possesse the tops of both the sides of the passage being come downe into the plaine and reduced into such formes or otherwise employed as the Coronell and Sergeant Maior shall thinke most meet they may then begin againe to march forward Howbeit in this place it is further to be noted that the squadron marching forwarde in the enemies countrie the one halfe of the drummers are to bee placed vpon the frunt and the other halfe vpon the backe of the squadron and that during the time they march the enemie being not in sight but vpon the sight and approch of the enemy and doubt of battle then vpon that occasion all the drummers phifers y ◠did march in the frunt back of the squadrō must presently reduce themselues the one halfe vpon the forpart hinder part of the right flank of y ◠squadron the other halfe vpon the forpart hinder part of y ◠left flank of the squadron I meane more towards al the 4. corners of the squadrō vpon both flanks then towards the midst of those flankes because that all their different strokes of direction may bee the better heard and vnderstood aswell in frunt and backe as flanks And the cause wherefore I woulde haue no drummers placed in the frunt of a squadron vppon the occasion of battle is that they should bee no impediment to the piquers through the greatnesse of those instruments to vse their piques nor vnto mosquetiers nor harguebuziers in case that any vpon any occasion should be reduced vnder the guard of the frunt of the piques to vse their mosquets or harquebuzes Besides that I would neuer permit vpon any occasion that any drummes or at the most aboue one drummer and a phifer should march in the midst of the squadron with the rank of Ensignes because that the greatnesse of them would be an impediment to the ranks to close themselues by frunt and flankes as vppon some occasions they ought to doo But heere it is furder to be noted that the squadron being againe reduced into forme and marching forward in the enemies Countrie and finding the ground in diuers partes as they march of that nature y t they cannot march in squadron formed and hauing great intelligence by discouerers and espialles that the enemie is not so neere hand as that by reason and discipline military they ought to keepe themselues in squadron then they ought according to the bredth or frunt of their squadron to deuide the whole squadron into as few and as great compertiments of number of soldiors in euery ranke from frunt to backe as the grounds or passages will giue them leaue that by the greatnesse of their compertiments they may a great deale the sooner reduce and forme their squadron againe vpon any sudden or great Alarum As for example If the squadron were double as broad in frunt as by flankes as of 60. in frunt and 30. by flankes then the Coronell
or Sergeant Maior may presentlie command the whole squadron to be deuided into 6. compertiments of 10. souldiors in euery ranke from frunt to back throughout euery compertiment or if the ground be of that nature that in some places there cannot passe aboue 7. or 8. souldiors in frunt then he may deuide his whole squadron into â— compertiments that is of 4. compertiments of 7. in euery ranke and the other 4. compertiments of 8. souldiors in euery ranke throughout euery compertiment and by flanks that is in length from frunt to backe euery compertiment of 30. ranks the Ensigns alwaies placed betwixt two of the middlemost ranks of euerie compertiment or of so many of the compertiments as shalbe requisit All which compertiments vpon intelligence or discouery of the enemies approching may in any conuenient ground be presently incorporated and reduced by flank or flanks into the same form of squadron that it was at the first forming of the same or into any other forme that the Coronell or Sergeant Maior shall thinke most requisit by any one of the same orders of reducementes that I haue before very particularly set downe And it is furder to be obserued that the said squadron marching in the open fields with sleeues wings troups of weapons of volee belonging to the same should euer at certen times make certen pauses aswel to the intent to ease themselues and take breath because that armed men or mosquetiers with their heauy furniture or the soldiors of any other weapon cannot possibly continue any long march without such pauses and staies as also that if anie dismarch or disorder hath hapned in their ranks forms or orders the same may be presently againe reformed and redressed And the like pauses and staies are to bee made by bands of horsmen for the same coÌ„sideration causes But now peraduenture some that may read this place of my booke may say that I forgot in this place to write of horsmen aswell where they should be placed in the field either vpon the flankes or corners of the compertiments of diuers sortes of weapons of volee reduced into their orders as also in marching through the straight whether they should march halfe before and halfe behind or otherwise Wherevnto I answer that it were impertinent to this place considering that here I doo but only shew how a Regiment of 4000. footmen vnder their coronels Captaines and officers without any bandes of horsmen should be reduced into diuers formes aswell to march as to fight as also to passe through a passage or straight and being passed through the same howe againe to reduce themselues into forme that by the ordering forming and marching of this squadron and regiment as aforsaid all such as doo professe armes and that doo not knowe how squadrons of footmen should bee formed may by that which I haue before set downe see consider and obserue how any squadron of a great deale greater or smaller numbers may diuers waies be reduced into form although in troth bands and squadrons of horsemen are to bee reduced into forme or diuers formes euen after the verie same order and sort that bandes and squadrons of footmen are But yet something to satisfie such as shall reade this my booke I will by the helpe of Almightie God in some places more conuenient of these discourses make mention and set downe diuers verie important particularities concerning the ordering fourming and employing of bandes squadrons and diuers other formes of horsemen of sundrie sortes of armous and weapons But now peraduenture some will with more reason furder demand where the baggages and carriages of the Regiment that I haue not hithervnto mentioned shoulde bee placed in marching through the straight and how the same should be guarded as also where the field peeces of the same regiment if there be any shuld be placed vpon the squadron formed and in what conuenient place or places they should be with their horâ—es or oxen drawne and go through the said straights Whervnto I say that incase there were 8. field peeces belonging to the Regiment that is 4. fawcons of the Caliuer of 5. pound the bullet and 4. fawconets of the Caliuer of 3. pound the bullet I would then vpon the squadron formed and marching forward that 2. peeces viz one fawcon and one fawconet should with their horses be drawn vppon the flanke or side of the squadron betwixt the sleeues of the weapons of volee and the squadron I mean vpon the forepart of the right flanke and so likewise another fawcon and fawconet to be drawne by the hinder part of the same flanke likewise betwixt the weapons of volee and the squadron and euen in the same manner in the like places order and sort I would haue the other 4. fawcons and fawconets to be drawn vpon the left flanks of the squadron ready vppon all occasions to be drawne forward and placed the 4. formost that were vppon the formost right and left flanke of the squadron somewhat distant or wide from the 2. forecorners of the squadron or vpon some occasions vpon the very frunt of the same squadron readie to be discharged at the enemie approching and so likewise the 4. peeces that are drawne by the hinder flankes of the squadron are readie likewise to be placed vpon the frunt or both the corners of the back or rereward of the same square incase that the squadron vpon any accident or comming of the Enemie should make of back frunt And heere it is to bee noted that all these 8. field peeces must bee accompanied with their gonners officers and all other their assistants with some numbers of pioners and with all kind of thinges and Instruments belonging to them as bullets ladles rammers and other such like as also with a large and sufficient quantitie of good powder well guarded by some number of halbarders and archers from the danger of fire Howbeit vpon the occasion of marching through a straight as aforesaid then I would that 4. of these field peeces with their powder bullets and all other thinges requisite should vpoÌ„ their carriages be drawen with their horses conducted by their Carters gonners and pioners and guarded and accompanied as aforesaid iust betwixte the last troupes and compertiments of weapons of volee and the first compertiment of piques and so likewise that the other 4. field peeces that did before march vpon both the hinder flankes of the squadron should vnder the conduction of their gonners and assistants as aforesaid with their powder bullets and al other things necessarie march through the straight in Rereward iust betwixt the hindermost compertiment of piquers and before the formost troupe or compertiment of the weapons of volee that did and are againe to arme the hinder partes of both the flankes of the said squadron and those 8. peeces marching in the order and sort as aforesaid are most readie againe vpon the whole Regiment being past through the straightes and the
which it may bee alleaged that such iust squadrons in frunt flankes and backe are more ready vppon any sudden vnlooked for occasion and comming of the Enemie to make of any of both the flankes frunt with a conuenient breadth then a squadron that is broad in frunt and narrow by flankes is able to performe by reason that the iust squadron hath no more to doo but to make of one of the flanks frunt by turning their faces and weapons that waies and to reforme their distaunces by frunt and flankes whereas the broad squadron to make of flanke frunt must not onely doo the like but also must draw out a great sort of rankes from the contrary flanke and draw them vp to the head of that flanke that is nowe made frunt and also reforme themselues in their distances by frunt and flanke with diuers other particularities by me at large before set downe But incase that the sergeant Maior when he hath fourmed this iust square of men and not of ground as aforesaid shall vpon any occasion thinke it requisite to inlarge the same squadron in frunt that is to increase euery rank from frunt to back with some conuenient number of soldiors and to shorten the same squadron by flanke that is to make fewer rankes then hee may with great celeritie and dexteritie draw out as many rankes from the back or rereward as hee shall see requisite to inlarge the frunt withall and draw them vp by one of the flankes But because the squadron commeth to be shortned by flanks by so many rankes as the Sergeant Maior hath drawne out from the backe or Rereward and therfore that there shal remaine an ouerplus of broken rankes more then at one time can be drawne vp by flankes as aforesaid the sergeant Maior then must consider whether the numbers of the piquers of those broken ranks be sufficient to increase one ranke more by backe And incase there doo lacke number to performe the same then hee is to consider whether the numbers of the piquers of those broken rankes will serue to increase euery ranke one souldior or more by flanke which is to be vnderstood from frunt to backe and as he may with those broken rankes best performe either the one or the other he is to doo the same But incase that the Sergeant Maior shall see that the armed men of those broken ranks doo lacke number to performe as well that by flanke as the other by backe as aforesaid hee then is to place them in the ranke of Ensignes or otherwise to employ them in other seruices as he shall thinke most requisite The particularities of all which with many more I haue before set downe at large and therefore it were superfluous to particular the same againe And now as I haue formed this foresaid battle and iust square of 60. piquers in frunt flanks and backe which in all do amount to 6600. men with diuers other requisite matters Euen so by the like orders of reducement If a Lord Marshall or a Sergeant Maior Maior haue 4000. or 5000. yea or 10000. or more or fewer piquers to reduce into one bodie of squadron hee may reduce them into a battle of a thirde part broader in frunt then by flanks or double as broad or more in frunt then by flankes or otherwise as he thinketh most conuenient As for example If he haue 5355. piquers and that hee woulde reduce them all into one squadron double as broad or more by frunt then by flankes as of 105. piquers in frunt and but of 51. rankes by flankes and that hee would reduce his squadron into form by compertiments throughout of 5. in a ranke he shall then finde that 21. compertimentes reduced into squadron by flanke or flankes as aforesaid will forme that squadron of 105. piquers in euerie rank from frunt to backe and of 51. ranks by flankes Or if the Sergeant Maior be disposed to forme the same squadron of the like number of 5355. piquers with greater compertiments as of 7. in euery compertiment throughout from frunt to back that thereby he may form his squadron with the fewer compertimentes hee may then command all the Captains or leaders of the piquers to reduce euery one of their compertimentes into 7. in a rank throughout from frunt to back and then he shal find that 15. such compertiments or diuisions of 7. in a ranke throughout euery compertiment reduced into squadron either by the flanks the one of the other or by both flanks subsequently al at one time as I haue in the beginning of this proiect of squadrons very particularlie declared doo make iust 105. piquers in frunt and 51. rankes by flanke which is more then double as broad in frunt then long by flankes But because peraduenture there are some professing armes not knowing how squadrons should be fourmed that will imagine that it is a matter of farre greater difficultie to forme a squadron of 10000. or 12000. piquers or of greater numbers then of 3000. or 4000. Therevnto I say that the orders and waies of reducing of 3000. or 4000. or of 10000. or any greater numbers into one bodie of squadron is all one sauing that the compertimentes or diuisions of piquers or of piquers and short weapons to forme great squadrons must be longer by flankes then the compertimentes of small squadrons are and therefore whereas the number of piquers of one bande or companie are sufficient to make a compleat compertiment of number of piquers by frunt as of 5. 6. 7. or any such euen or odde numbers not exceding 10. or 11. as also of numbers of rankes conuenient by flanks to beginne the squadron withall and that so likewise the piquers of other such single bandes are able to performe the like beeing reduced by the flankes the one of the other as aforesaid whereof it shoulde come to passe that such small squadrons should bee composed of the compertiments of single bands by themselues yet great squadrons or battles double as broad in frunt as long by flankes or iust squares or any other formes must bee composed of compertimentes although of like numbers in frunt as aforesaide yet much longer by flankes which to performe because no one band haue piquers enough to maâ—e a compertiment of so great a number as is requisite with celeritie to forme so great a squadron the Sergeant Maior in that case is to commaund the piquers of 2. bandes presentlie to bee reduced into one compertiment and so likewise of other bandes to the intent that by such great compertiments he may with the more celeritie forme his squadron in such sort as if a Lorde Marshall or a Sergeant Maior Maior were disposed to forme and reduce his squadron of 10000. or 12000. piquers or any greater or smaller numbers into one squadron or battle and that hee would forme the same double as broad by frunt as long by flankes hee may by the like order of reducing of compertimentes of greater numbers
by flanks performe the same with as great facilitie as hee did in the reducing of the other squadrons of smaller numbers with the compertiments of single bands into forme And therfore if a Sergeant Maior Maior would forme one battle of aboue 10000. piquers and that hee would make them double as broad or more in frunt then long by flankes As for example of 143. in frunt and of 71. rankes by flankes he is first to consider how many compertiments of euen and od numbers wil make that frunt and he shall find that 17. compertiments of 8. souldiors in euery ranke from frunt to backe and of 71. rankes by flankes in euery compertiment reduced into squadron by flanke or flankes as I haue verie particularlie in my first forming of squadrons before declared doo make y ◠squadron in frunt 136. souldiors and then drawing vppe another compertiment of odde number as of 7. souldiors in euerie ranke throughout the whole compertimente from frunt to back in all are 17. compertiments of euen numbers of 8. and one of 7. which are odde which in all are 18. compertiments All which diuisions reduced into squadron by flankes as aforesaid the whole squadron so formed dooth come to be of 143. souldiors in frunt and 71. rankes by flankes which in all doo make 10153. souldiors But now whereas all these squadrons before reduced and described do consist only of piquers with a few halbardiers for the guard of the Ensignes which hath bene altogeather vsed of late yeares by the Italians Spanyards in respect as I haue heard them say that such squadrons all of one weapon are mor readilie reduced into squadron then of two different weapons and therewithall more beawtifull and terrible in the sight of the Enemie in shewe through the equalitie of the length of the piques then if there were many rankes of short weapons within the piques which through the shortnes of the weapons would make the squadron to shewe vnto the Enemie as though there were a voide place without any soldiors in the midst of the piques Yet because many yeares past I haue in Fraunce seene the Sergeants Maiors of the Suissers reduce certen rankes of halbardiers within their piques thereby according to discipline to strengthen their battles aswell against the charges of horsmen as against squadrons of footmen piquers I will here with the helpe of Almightie God sett downe and shew how a squadron of halbardiers or battleaxes inuironed or impaled about with 5. rankes of piquiers in frunt flanks and backe should be reduced into a squadron broader by a third parte in frunt and backe then long by flankes which is to be performed in this sort following that is Incase that I haue .1500 armed battleaxes or halbardiers and that I were disposed to reduce them into .50 in frunt and .30 by flankes and that I would deuide that whole number into .10 compertiments of .5 battleaxes in euery ranke throughout euery compertiment so as euery compertiment from frunt to backe should containe 150. battleaxes Or that I were disposed to commaund the .1500 battleaxes to be reduced into .5 compertiments of 10. souldiors in euery ranke throughout euerie compertiment from frunt to backe that is of 300. souldiors in euery compertiment the same being by the captaines and officers performed I then appointing the ground where I would make the frunt of the squadron would command the Captaines or leaders of euery compertiment either of .5 if the compertiments be all of .5 or of .10 if they be of .10 soldiors throughout euerie compertiment to march vp the one by the flanke of the other vntill they come all to make one equall frunt in their iust proportionate distances from frunt to backe which being performed then I would commaund two compertiments all of piquers each one of them of .150 marching .5 in a ranke to be drawne vp the one compertiment of .150 close by the right flanke of the battleaxes and the other compertiment of the like number in like sort close by the left flanke of the battleaxes vntill the formost rankes of both those compertiments of piquers vpō both flanks be of equal frunt with the frunt of the battleaxes and their last ranke equall with the last ranke of the battleaxes which being performed then of 50. battleaxes that they were in frunt before now by the conioining and reducing of those 2. compertiments of piquers vpon the two flankes as aforesaid the squadron is come to be of 60. soldiors in euery ranke from frunt to backe which performed then would I commaund 300. piquers reduced into 60. rankes of 5. in euery ranke to be drawne close by the frunt of the squadron of battleaxes piquers before reduced euen from the one flanke and corner to the other And at the very same instant I would command 60 ranks of piquers more of 5. in euery ranke to be drawne close by the backe and Rereward of the same squadron which being performed then aswell the 60. ranks of piquers 5. in a ranke in frunt as the 60. ranks of piquers 5. in a ranke in backe are either vpon the sound of the trumpet or the stroake of drummes to tourne their faces and weapons and to make of flanke frunt I meane that waies that the squadron of battleaxes and the piquers on the flankes do make frunt and therewithall presently to reforme themselues in their distances so as of 60. rankes of 5. in euerie ranke that the same compertiment of piquers that was reduced in frunt was before it is now by making of flanke frunt as aforsaid become to be of 5. rankes of 60. soldiors in euery ranke And so likewise the aforesaid compertiments of the like number of 300. piquers of 5. in euery ranke reduced vpon the backe of the squadron by making of flanke frunt towards the squadron of battleaxes and piquers are now likewise become to be 5. rankes by flanke and 60. in euerie ranke All which being performed the squadron of battleaxes dooth come to be enuironed or empaled with 5. rankes of piquers in frunt flankes and back the whole squadron conteining in frunt 60. soldiors by flanks 40. rankes And now this squadron being thus formed then would I reduce all the different sortes of weapons of volee into their most conuenient forms of forlorn hopes of sleeues of winges of hearses of troupes and other formes according to the nature and effect of euery different sort of weapon and as the comming of the enemie should require or as the ground or groundes woulde permit hauing therewithall regard as wel to arme the backe or rereward of the squadron with weapons of volee as to arme the frunt and flanks And as I haue very particularly shewed how a squadron of Halbardiers or battleaxes enuironed about with 5. rankes of piquers should be reduced into the forme aboue described and therewithall said that the same should be armed in frunt flankes and back with weapons of volee of diuers sorts so
frunt and 30. rankes by flanke or into any other farre greater squadron with weapons of volee reduced into diuers formes to arme the frunt flankes and backe according to the commandement of the Generall or Coronell or Sergeant Maior But now let vs see how the other aforsaid regiment of 3000. deuided into small bandes of hundreds and fifties according to the contrarie opinion three parts of them piquers and the other two partes weapons of volee as aforesaid may with most celeritie be reduced into y â— like squadron of 1800. piquers before set downe that is 60. in frunt and 30 by flanks I say that to form that squadroÌ„ each one of the 20. Captaines must according to all order and discipline first reduce their bandes vnder their Ensignes into their simple and single order of rankes as also into their different compertiments as the great baÌ„ds before haue doone And because that they may the more readily forme the squadron it will behooue them to haue speciall regard to the number of 60. souldiors that their squadron must conteine in euery ranke from frunt to backe as also that there must be 30. ranks by flankes which beeing by them considered they then must reduce all the piquers of euerie one of their bandes into such numbers of ranks as that they may be by flank in equall numbers of ranks with the squadron that they intend to forme of 30. ranks which to accomplish they must reduce their compertimentes of piquers of each one of their bandes into 30. rankes of 3. in a ranke which number being 3. partes of the 5. parts of each one of their bands as aforesaid doth amount iust to 90. piquers the other two partes consisting of weapons of volee beeing 60. So as they must forme their squadron with the compertiments of 90. piquers 3. in euery ranke as the great bandes did forme their squadrons with compertiments of 300. piquers 10 in euery ranke which to perform considering that they are 20. compertiments of 90. piquers to euery compertiment out of 20 little bands as the compertiments of the great bandes were but only 6. compertiments of 300 piquers to euery compertiment out of the 6. great bands of 500. to euerie band will require 3. or 4. times longer time then to reduce them into squadron by the 6. compertiments of the great bandes as aforesaid Or incase that the Coronell would giue order that those little bands being reduced into their simple and single order of 3 in euerie ranke throughout euerie Compertiment as aforesaid should come to ioine 3. or 4. CoÌ„pertiments of piquers out of 3. or 4 little bandes thinking thereby to forme the squadron with greater celeritie They I say shall first before they bring that to passe finde themselues greatly confused to forme the same by their seeing so great a number of little bandes dispersed ouer the place of Armes which do occupy a great deale more ground in the said place then 6. great bands do Besides that it will require a double or rather a treble time more first to reduce 20 little bandes into their simple and single order of ranks and little Compertiments of so many different sorts of weapons in so many places dispersed and then to drawe out and to incorporate such a number of small Compertiments one with another and after to reduce them into one bodie of squadron as aforesaid then only with 6. greate Compertiments of piquers to forme the like squadron to arme the same with many formes of different sorts of weapons of volee in frunt flankes and backe By all which alleadged both Pro et contra as also performed in the sight and presence of such a generall as aforesaid I thinke it would be euident vnto him and to all other men of consideration and Iudgement in his Amie that this little squadron formed but of 1800 piquers is a great deale sooner and with more facilitie performed with the Compertiments of a few great bandes then with a great number of little Compertiments out of many little bandes as aforesaid which if it be so in so small a squadron where the little Compertiments of 90. piquers marching 3. in a ranke doo beare length in number of rankes by flankes to forme such a little battle without patching and peecing so many little compertiments to forme the squadron withall what then if the Generall should command the Coronels and Sergeants Maiors of 2. of the 3. Regiments of those little bands to reduce al the piquers that according to the former diuision doo amount vnto 3600. piquers into a squadron on of 90. piquers in frunt and 40. rankes by flanke when that to perform the same they must not onlie first of all reduce euery one of their little bands into their simple and single order of ranks of 3. or 4. or more in euerie ranke but because that their compertimeÌ„ts of 30. ranks 3. in euerie ranke are too short by 10. rankes to make 40. rankes they must not only incorporate themselues by flankes with the like nomber of rankes but also must with pieces of other bandes patch and piece their incorporated Compertiments and after the patching and pieâ—ing of them then reduce and forme their squadron which to performe doth require a verie long time and doth greatlie confuse confound the Coronels and Sergeants Maiors and al the rest of the officers of those Regiments to their great disgrace and reproach wheras contrariwise the 3600. piquers of the. 2 Regiments of 6000. that do consist but of 12. great bands being in the place of Armes reduced into 10. Compertiments of 9. piquers in euerie ranke in each Compertiment from frunt to backe are with great facilitie with out any coÌ„fusion to be reduced by doubling themselues by flanke or flankes as aforesaid into the aforesaid squadron of 90. piquers in frunt and 40. rankes by flankes which being so as by all reason and practise Military it is then if the Generall should giue furder order to the three Coronels or Sergeants Maiors of al the three Regiments of 9000. that do consist of little bands as aforesaid to reduce al their piquers which according to the proportion and diuisions aforesaid do amount iust vnto 5400. piquers besides the other two partes that are weapons of volee into one bodie of squadron of 108. piquers in frunt and of 50. rankes by flanke how wonderfully then would the Sergeants Maiors officers of those Regiments find themselues confused to forme so great a squadron of the peeces and patches as they may be well termed of 60. little bandes when euery one of those single Compertiments do not only lacke number in frunt to make conuenient compertiments to forme the frunt of the batâ—e with celeritie but also are a great deale too short by flankes to forme the aforesaid squadroÌ„ in number of ranks by flanks and therefore must of necessitie not only incorporate a great number of little Compertiments and peeces of compertimeÌ„ts with other little
are incident and doo ordinarilie ensue in reducing of little compertiments of small bandes into diuers formes of squadrons with sleeues winges forlorne hopes c with the great perfections and easinesse of reducing the great compertimentes of great bandes into all sortes of formes with great facilitie as is before declared considered I come to conclude that the aforesaid Lieutenant Generall or any other Chiefetaine of right vnderstanding obseruation and iudgement would forme the footmen of his Armie into great bandes and not into such small bandes as are before mentioned And thus farre concerning the proouing that great bandes of 500. are more conuenient for all purposes and emploiments then small bands of 150. or 200. are Concerning Ensignes and Ensignebearers of priuate bandes of footmen as also concerning the Standard and Standard bearer of an Emperour or of a King HEere it is to be noted because Ensignebearers of footmen are to march in the midst of the armed men aswell in squadrons as in priuate bands and therewithall to be euer ready to take their places vppon the assembling reducing or marching of such bandes that they with their Ensignes ought to be lodged in their Captaines tents or lodginges or verie neere vnto their Captains alwaies accompanied with one of the drummers and the phiâ—er of the band the other to accompanie the Captaine And incase there be but onely one drummer and a phiser then they are alwaies to accompanie and lodge where the Lieutenant and ensignebearer with his Ensigne in their soldiors quarter doo lodge and that in respect that they may with al celeritie by the stroke and sound of the drum assemble their band vppon al sudden Alarmes or mutinies or other accidents Also it is to bee noted that an Ensignebearer in the field carrieng his Ensigne displayed ought 〈◊〉 carrie the same vpright and neuer neither in towne nor field nor in sport nor earnest to fetche florishes about his head with his Ensign staffe taffata of his Enâ—igne as the Enâ—ignebearers of London do vpon midsommer night because that such florishes in all true discipline are houlden for mockeries Howbeit sometimes to aduaunce lift vp and raise his Ensigne higher vpon certen occasions it it verie allowable Also an Ensignebearer carying his Ensigne woond vp about the Ensigne staffe or else he carrying the same open leaning it to his shoulder ought marching doune a hill to gather together the lower parte of the taffata of his Ensigne in such sort as it may not touch the ground And therfore Ensignes of a conuenient size and not too large and great are far better and more conuenient then Ensignes that are very large Also the halbarders that do march in the ranke of the Ensignes and are for the gard of them ought to carrie their halbards with such respect as they ought not to teare nor touch any part of the Ensignes as neare as they can possible Also all Ensignebearers marching in the field either amongst their single companies or being reduced into squadron vpon the discouerie of the Enemy are presently to vnwind open display their Ensigns but yet if the wind be great they may gather together the lower parte or taffata of their Ensignes and leane the Ensignestaffe and Ensigne to their shoulders vntill they approch neerer to the enemie at which time all Ensignebearers ought to display and aduance their ensignes carrying them in their left hands to the intent that they may bee the more ready vpon the neer approch and encountring with the enemie with their right handes to drawe their swordes and defend their Ensignes by reason that they ought not to fight nor thrust with the points of their ensigne staues but only in assaults of Towns or vpon some other great extremitie but to carry them vpright and sometimes aduanced to the intent that they may be still in the sight of their souldiors Also if any Ensignebearer or ensignebearers in their band or bandes happen to march by an Emperour or King or by the Lieutenant Generall they ought to carrie them displaied and aduaunced and when they come almost ouer against such a Prince or his Lieutenant Generall they ought to pull downe their ensignes lower bow downe forward the point and taffeta of their ensign or ensignes not directlie towards the prince or Lieutenant Generall but directly towardes the waie that they are marching and at the same instant they ought also to bow something forward their heads and bodies in token of respect and reuerence without any waies moouing or touching their burgonets which ought to be alwaies fast tied with a taffeta vnder their chinnes Also when a single band or companie of soldiors or a squadron of diuers bandes marching in the fieldes shall come to aduaunce their piques and make a stay or pause then the Ensignebearer of that single band if it be alone or all the Ensignebearers of a whole squadroÌ„ must display and aduance their Ensignes Also a squadron of diuers bands marching in the fields it is lawfull for all the Ensignebearers in their ranke or rankes of Ensignes to carrie their Ensignes woond vp about their Ensignestaues rested or leaned to their shoulders so as in the ranke of Ensignes or in each ranke of Ensignes if the squadron be so great that there be more then one ranke of Ensignes that one Ensignebearer in eache ranke must carrie his Ensigne open and displayed and he during the time that he so carrieth his Ensigne ought to be in the midst of the ranke of the Ensignes vntill such time as he to ease himselfe doth wind vp his Ensigne and retire againe to his owne place be it on the right or left hand leauing the middle place to the Ensignebearer that doth succeede and supplie his place with his banner or Ensigne displayed But it is to be noted that in a squadron whereas there be diuers Ensignes for some of them to carrie their ensignes woonde vp and leaned against their shoulders others displaied vprighted and aduaunced and other ensignebearers also their ensignes opened and leaned to their shoulders it is verie vnsoldiorlike and vncomely to see such varietie of carrying of ensignes in one squadron therefore either they ought all to carry their ensignes woond vp and leaned against their shoulders sauing only one ensignebearer with his ensigne displayed vprighted or aduaunced as aforesaid or incase in calme weather or vpon any other occasion the ensignebearers like not so to do then they may carrie them al opened displaied but in any wise all after one sort sauing only he that is the chiefe ensignebearer for the time who ought to cary his ensigne vpright opened displaied although all â—y other ensignebearers do carry their ensignes woond vp as aforesaid But all this before notwithstanding here it is to be noted that in case an Emperor or a Kinges Standard be in any battle or squadron of footmen in the field that then
or receaue the greater annoiance from the shot of their Enemies being more thinne and dispersed in their distaÌ„ces then he is to say vnto such societies or troups Inlarge souldiors inlarge which being by the harquebuziers heard they then should presentlie inlarge themselues more thinner and into greater but yet conuenient disâ—â—â—ces as wel the societies of the loose shot of threes and foures as also such troupes of shot as are before mentioned thereby to discharge with great order and dexteritie seconding supplying the one the others place as also each one to succour the one the other incase of any wounds or hurts receiued according to the directions by me before very particulerlie set downe And if it happen as your souldiors are in skirmish or marching towardes or entring into skirmish or retiring that you doo perceiue and espie any ground or grounds of aduantage for your harquebuze or mosquet shot to worke any good effect against your enimies either by ambush or otherwise as of hilles bankes trenches caues wooddes shrubs vines or any other thing to encouer your shot then you are to say to so many societies or troupes of your souldiors as you shall think meet for that effect To your aduantage souldiors to your aduantage and therewithall you must name the aduantage and strength that they should preuent the enimies of be they bankes hedges trenches hilles or any other strength which being by them heard they must presently performe the same And incase that you beeing in skirmish doo see any reason of aduantage to drawe the loose shot of societies or troupes or both more on the one side then on the other that is more to the right hand then to the left then you are to say vnto them Wing Wing souldiors to the right And if to the left hand then you may say Wing Wing souldiors to the left And if you see that the enemies haue spent their powder and heated their peeces and that your aduantage is to approch them with more furie then you are to say Auaunce Auaunce forward souldiors And incase your souldiors being in skirmish you shall see your aduantage to reduce some of your loose shot into troupes of 6. of 9. of 12 or of 15. or more be the numbers euen or odde it importeth not so as the particularities by me before set down be alwaies obserued in such sort that the one troupe may fauour and flanke the other then in passing amongest them you are to say to your Corporals and souldiors Troupe troupe and flanke souldiors And if you find your souldiors ouerpressed with number of shot or that your souldiors with long skirmish haue almost spent their powder or heated their peeces then you are to say Retire retire and frunt souldiors which beeing by them heard they must retire stil with their faces towards their Enemies discharging their peeces not too fast least that they should find themselues to their own mischiefe altogither without powder And incase that you haue piquers or halbarders to backe your shot which you should neuer be without and that you see that your Enemies as also your owne soldiors by long skirmish haue spent much of their powder and heated their peeces and that your shott with the shot of your enemies are readie to enter pellemelle then you are to say to your piquers and halbarders Charge charge and execute soldiors which being by you pronounced they are to enter with all furie vpon their enemies and with puissant hand to do execution vpon them And here it is to be noted that harquebuzes of a yard long the Cannons at the most well ranforced backward of a conuenient thinnesse forward and the bullets of a conuenient Caliuer or heigth not too great are a great deale more maniable and therefore better for soldiors to vse in the field then such heauie harquebuzes as we in these daies do miscall Caliuers that are of great bullets and the Cannons long and heauie with deformed stockes which said harquebuzes ranforced of conuenient heueth lightnes will wound or kill as well 50. or 60. paces off which is distance enough as any such heauie mistearmed Caliuers therewithall they do not so soone wearie the soldiors in handling and vsing them in seruices of the fielde as such foresaid heauie peeces do besides that they haue this commoditie that when in skirmish soldiors do grow very neere together and so sometimes pelle melle that they haue no more leisure to recharge their peeces but that they are forced to betake themselues to their swordes they may then I say take their peeces being of such conuenient heueth lightnesse in the midst with their left hands and drawing their swordes may beare a blow either at the head or legges or beat by any thrust of sword halbard or pique either with the vpper or lower part of their harquebuze and may therewithall at that instant enter and run in with the points of their swordes to the mischiefe or endangering of their enemies which cannot be performed with our such heauie mistearmed Caliuers which most commonlie vpon such accidents through the too much heueth of them are throwne awaie by the souldiors that vse them Aduertising furder that whensoeuer your souldiors bee in skirmish with the enemie in the plaine and open fields that your harquebuziers be alwais instructed neuer to discharge their peeces nor giue any volee of shot at their euemies aboue 20. 30. or 40. paces distant or 50. at the vttermost For it is to bee noted that to discharge or giue any volee or volees of shot at the enemie in skirmish any greater distance then 50. paces the same dooth worke but very little effect by reason that such weapons of fire are in those actions so vncerten as all Captaines and souldiors that are of experience in matters of Armes doo verie well knowe although I haue diuers times heard some talke and tell how they haue seene skirmishes wheras the harquebuziers haue discharged their peeces at their enemies 10. 12. or 14. skores of which considering the verie small effect that such discharginges and volees doo worke against the enemie is to be holden for a verie great skorne and error militarie for such harquebuzes as doo vse to skirmish so farre off are more meet by al reason and true experience to skare Crowes in a corne field then to worke any good effect against their enemies in the field Briefe speeches to be vsed by Captaines or leaders of Harquebuziers when they would reduce them into a broad square with distances oblique IF a Captaine or leader of harquebuziers would vpon any occasion or aduantage of ground reduce any number of harquebuziers into a broad square or hearse oblique of 7. rankes with intent that they may haue the more conuenient distances for the discharging of their volees then they are to say vnto them Oblique your selues harquebuziers 21. and 20. in rankes or any other numbers greater or fewer so as
the first ranke doo exceed the second ranke by the number of one and the third the fourth likewise by the number of one and so consequently in the same sort to the last seuenth ranke which should be of equal number to the first Then the harquebuziers presentlie are to reduce themselues into the forme oblique all the harquebuziers of euerie second ranke being fewer in number then the greater ranke preceeding them by the number of one should place themselues oblique to the ranke before them that is they shoulde place euerie one of themselues with their faces directlie towards the voide places or distaunces of the greater ranke before them sauing that the last ranke as aforesaide must be of equall number to the first ranke to the intent that the same may bee a fourmed and proportioned hearse that is broad in frunt and narrowe by flankes And all those harquebuziers beeing reduced into this forme oblique with conuenient and proportionate distances may through those distances oblique giue gallant volees to the great mischiefe of their enimies without hurting or endamaging the one the other And because that these distances oblique may seeme strange to such as neuer sawe horsemen or footemen reduced into that fourme So it is that I haue manie times seene in Hongarie in the Warres of Emperour MAXI MILIAN against the Turks the harquebuziers Hongarians called by the name of Heydukes march and serue in those orders and distances oblique And so in like manner the horsemen Hongarians being all light horsemen and called by the name of Vssarons although I haue seene them in the field in many and diuers orders and formes yet their distances were most commonlie oblique which order oblique is also vsed by the Turks Tartars and other such orientall Nations because that all their horsemen are light horsemen and not men at Armes sauing that the Persians onely of all the rest of the orientall Nations doo vse both men at armes with their horses barbed as also light horsemen And this aforsaid order oblique is of great aduantage for all light horsmen in the field and chiefelie for such as doo vse to charge their speares as the Hongarians doo in sockets made fast to their Saddles or as our light horsmen borderers that doo charge their speares vpon their thighs as also for such light horsmen Stradiots as will after the maner of the Moores vse double headed Launces or zagayas by some called punching staues for diuers causes and reasons that I am able by the helpe of Almightie God to shewe by effectuall demonstrations in the field Of the which some I did shew this Iast Summer 1588 in exercises of the field vnto diuers Captaines and Gentlemen of the shire of Essex Speaches to be vsed to a broad square or to any ordered troupe of harquebuziers being in a straight or ground of aduantage where horsmen cannot charge them WHen a good number of harquebuziers are reduced into a square or troupe formed not in rankes oblique but by right line to flanke a breach or to make head against the enemie in some straight or passage or that the place is such and of that strength for the guard of the harquebuziers that it is more requisit that they should make resistance against the enemie in some square or troupe formed then any waies disseuered or in troupes confused then the leaders vppon the approch of the enemie are to say vnto them Discharge soldiors to your knees and charge againe volee after volee which beeing by them heard the first and second ranke being in rankes of conuenient distances are at one instant to giue a volee as neere as they can taking their sightes at point and blank which being doone they ought in an instant to fall vppon one of their knees and to charge againe while the third and fourth rankes doo likewise giue their volees which being by them performed they ought in like manner to kneele downe and charge their peeces giuing place to the fist and sixt ranks to discharge their peeces ouer all their heads which being performed throughout the whole hearse or troupe sauing that the two hinder rankes shall not need to kneele bicause there are none behind them to shoot ouer their heads then all the first rankes that haue charged their peeces againe are to stand vp to giue volee after volee and so to their knees againe and to giue place to the hindermost rankes to discharge their peeces ouer their heads according to the former prescribed order But to the intent that two ranks may the better giue a volee both at one instant without daungering the one the other as aforesaid it were requisit that euery second ranke should be reduced oblique as aforesaid to the ranke preceeding for otherwise there can but only one ranke discharge at a time vnlesse their rankes be very thin Briefe speaches to be vsed to Mosquetiers beeing in a broad square WHen a conuenient company of mosquetiers well guarded with armed men are reduced into a broad square of 15. or 20. in frunt and 6. by flankes more or fewer and that all their restes be fixed in the ground in conuenient distances and that their conductors vpon the approach of the enemie would haue them to giue volee after volee from their rests taking their certen sights from pointe at blanke and that euerie ranke should orderlie succeede the one the other in discharging their peeces then they are to say vnto them Discharge retire and aduance which being by the mosquetiers heard then the first whole ranke taking their sights at pointe and blanke are all at one time to discharge their peeces at the squadron or troupe of horsemen or footmen approching which being by them performed they are presently to retire to the last ranke of rests there to charge againe leauing their owne ranke of rests still fixed in the ground Then the second ranke are to aduaunce themselues and to clappe their peeces vpon the first ranke of rests as they do stand directly before them and the third ranke are to aduaunce themselues to the second ranke of rests the fourth ranke to the third ranke of rests and the fifth ranke to the fourth ranke of rests and the sixte ranke to the fifth ranke of rests whilest the first that hath discharged and is now retired to the sixte or last ranke of rests do charge their peeces againe so geuing continual volees of bullets by discharging retiring and aduauncing as aforesaid they may annoie the enemy be they horsemen or footmen in terrible sorte without falling into any disorder or cōfusion And the verie like speaches may be vsed to little squares or troupes of harquebuziers in the field when they are to retire hauing discharged and other troupes to aduaunce and supply their places geuing them time to charge again and so by retiring aduauncing and succeeding euery one the other they may giue continuall volees of shot at the enemies Aduertising
large from the corner of the squadron as they shal think requisite and finding the hindermost ranke of 7. soldiors or of 8. if they be disposed to make their flanke of 8. archers to be of such cōuenient distance from the corner of the squadron as they shal think meet then the chiefe Commander of those Archers is presentlie to goe to the midst of that flanke where they are to make of flanke frunt and then being a conuenient distance from them he ought to say vnto them Frunt to mee Archers and let this worde passe throughout from flanke to flanke Vppon which his wordes pronounced all the souldiors in flanke throughout next vnto him are presentlie to turne their faces and weapons towardes him and make of flanke frunt and so subsequentlie all the rest of the archers throughout al the rankes must performe the like And this making of flank frunt may be performed aswel by the stroke of the drumme as by the briefe speeches of the commander which being by them performed then they must presently reforme themselues into their conuenient distances both by frunt and flanks that thereby they may without any impediment giue their volees as aforsaid And thus of a great number of ranks that they were before when they marched in their simple or single order of rankes as of 7. or else of 8. in a ranke from frunt to backe they are now become a great number of Archers in frunt that is in euerie ranke and but onelie of 7. or else 8 rankes by flankes which order and forme is to be vnderstood and tearmed a hearse of Archers and as this hearse is now reduced into a wing either from the right or left corners of the squadron so may the like winges be drawen from all 4. corners as also vpon the frunt or flankes of the squadron or any other place or places where it shal please the General of the field or the Lord Marshall to direct or command But heere it is to be furder noted that such hearses are not to giue any volees of arrowes at their Enemies but onlie vppon a token or signe giuen vnto them by some chiefe Commaunder of the hearse who by his officers is to make all the souldiors of the hearse priuie to the same signe and token And therefore the same Commaunder and signe giuer is to be of good vnderstanding in archerie as also of the distances of groundes that thereby he may not faile to giue his signe when the hindermost archers are within the reach of the former rankes of the enemies bee they horsemen or footmen for if hee should faile in the same whereby the Archers through the too great distance of ground shoulde shoot short hee should then commit a very grose error Also it is to bee noted that if the commander of the archers doo thinke it requisite he may deuide the deliuerie of his archers arrowes into two volees that is that hee may if the hearse doo consist of 8. rankes by flankes take order that fower of the formost rankes shal giue their first volees and as the enemies doo approch neerer to giue order that the other 4. hindermost rankes shall likewise giue their volees altogither with the rankes before them And as the reducing of Archers into these aforesaide formes of hearses are verie conuenient and of great effect for battles euen so they may bee brought into diuers other formes according to the scituation of the ground or grounds and diuers other occasions and likewise worke verie great effectes But now whereas there be diuers in this time professing Armes that doo greatly disesteeme archers thinking that a farre greater number of Archers were not able to encounter with a smaller number of mosquetiers Thereunto I say that that their opinion doth proceede of nothing else but of their lacke of vnderstanding and knowing the wonderfull imperfections and failinges that do belong to musquets and mosquetiers in the field as also of the strange and incredible effects of archers arrowes and therewithall that they did neuer enter into the consideration that mosquetiers are not to worke any effect in the open fieldes but from their restes fixed in the ground or some other accidentall or naturall rests and themselues standing still to take some sight from point at blanke at their enemies when they discharge which at men in motion with any certentie it is not possible for them to performe and if they faile in taking their sightes at point and blanke then their bullets do flie straight at the Cloudes without doing any other hurt besides that when they haue once discharged their first charges of full bullets or haileshot of warre from their rests incase they be forced vpon the vncerten comming of the Enemie to remoue and new place their rests and charge againe their peeces are so exceeding heauie and they therewithall so troubled with their rests hanging vpon their fingers that they are driuen to a verie long recharging of their mosquets againe which recharging if it be not in such particuler sort and perfection as I haue before set downe the bullets of their second volee will scarce go within the compasse of the height of piques vprighted or rather of younge trees as all skilfull soldiors that do know their wonderfull vncerten effects in seruices of the field will confesse so as I com to conclude if the trial were to be made in the open plaine fields betwixt 1500. archers and 3000. mosquetiers without any other weapon of succor either for the one side or for y e other y e mosquetiers being reduced into anyformes of greatest aduauntage and conueniencie for mosquetiers y t can be deuised those 1500. archers being reduced into many many troupes of fifteenes of twenties of fiue twenties of thirties more or fewer and they approching assailing the mosquetiers both in frunt and by flanks giuing their volees of arrowes in continuall motions at the mosquetiers who if they meane to worke any effect of necessitie must stand still to discharge their peeces as aforesaid during which time of their standing still they shall to their great error and mischiefe receaue the continuall volees of the archers arrowes vpon all parts of their bodies in such sort as the archers there is no doubt being well instructed and led in their troupes by their Captaines and other officers would with great facilitie with a verie few volees of arrowes breake all the mosquetiers although they were of a farre greater number For although mosquets will carrie their bullets point and blanke a great deale furder distance then archers are able to work any effect with their arrowes yet their wonderfull vncertenties many of the particularities whereof I haue in other my bookes very particulerlie set downe are such and so manie as against archers reduced into great numbers of troups as aforesaid and assailing them in motion with infinite volees of arrowes they would be found to be of a wonderful
piquers at one time and the other 2. squadrons of 100. a peece being each one of them reduced into 4. ranks of 25. in euerie rank to the intent to beare the greater breadth or into 5. rankes of 20. in euerie ranke as the other 3. were may immediatlie vppon the Retraite of those 3. Squadrons giue a newe Charge vppon the frunt and corner of the Squadron of piquers to the indaungering of the disordering and breaking of the saide Squadron whereas if the whole number of 500. Launces were reduced into 100. rankes 5. in a ranke or into 8 rankes that is 62. in a ranke ouerplus 4 or into 10. rankes that is 50. in euerie ranke or more or fewer I say that in mine opinion one charge of the squadron of 500. launces should not be able to worke so great an effect to the endaungering of the squadron of piquers as those 5. little squadrons or hundreds should be able to doo seconding one another and charging at different times and thereby the two last squadrons finding the squadron of piques in some disorder through the charge of the. 3. first squadrons should with great facilitie giue in amongst them ouerthrow them or at least put them in great hazard of breking ouerthrowing And so likewise 500. launces or stradiots or any greater number haue a great deale greater aduauntage to charge disorder break in the open fields any number or numbers of harquebuziers or mosquetiers incase they be without any succor of piques or aduauntage of ground in troupes of hundreds and fifties or many other smaller troupes then if they were reduced into any 2. or 3. great bodies of squadron or troupes But yet because I haue said before that a squadrō of Launces of 10. or 12. rankes are to be reduced into forme with a great deale greater facility then a squadron of footmen that doth consist of many rankes and peraduenture of diuersitie of weapons and that all Captaines that do leade Launces do not well knowe how to forme such a squadron although but of a few ranks as aforesaid I will therefore here briefely set downe how they shall presently reduce such a squadron of few or of many rankes into forme with great facilitie and that is by any one of two waies the first to reduce them by flanke or flankes the other by right line As for example the Captaine or Captaines of such a band or bands of men at Armes or dimilaunces commanding their officers to reduce their band or bandes into their simple or single order of 6. Launces in a rank throughout and then considering the one halfe of the full number of the rankes they are vpon the sounde of the Trompette or else by briefe speaches pronounced to commaund the formost one halfe of the launces to marche some 20. or 30. paces and the other halfe of the launces to stay and kepe their ground which marching forward of 20. or 30. paces by the first halfe to giue conuenient ground and place to the other halfe to reduce themselues into squadron by flanke being performed and they there in their rankes making a stay and pause then some captain or captains or other leaders for that purpose appointed placing themselues vpon the frunt of the hinder halfe of the launces that haue not yet moued they vpon the sounde of the trompet are to march vp either by the right or left flanke of the formost halfe of the launces now making their pause and standing still vntill that the formost ranke of the hinder halfe of launces doe make equall frunte with the formost ranke of the formost halfe of launces and so likewise that the hindermost ranke of the same one halfe of launces bee equall with the hindermost ranke of the formost one halfe of the launces and so consequently all the rest of the ranks be euen and straight by flankes one with another which being performed then of 6. in a rank that the same band or bandes of launces were before throughout they are nowe comne to be 12. in a ranke throughout which being done then to make them a broade square of many in frunte that is in euery ranke and but only of 12. rankes the captain or captains that doe lead them are to lead and draw the flanke of their band or bandes to the ground whereas they will make of flanke frunt where being comne they are to make a stay and pause and then either by the sound of the troumpet vpon that flanke that shall be made frunt or else vpon some of the captains galloping to the midst of the same flanke and being something distant from the flanke and pronouncing with a loud voyce Frunt vnto me men at Armes or frunt vnto me Launces then presently all the horsemen that are nexte vnto them are to tourne their horses faces and make frunt that waies and so subsequetnly al the rest of the ranks of the launces one after another which being performed then of how many rankes soeuer they were before by flankes now they are becomne to be only of 12. rankes by flankes and in frunt of the like number that they were by flanke or flanks And as the first forming of this squadron was performed by doubling of the hinder halfe of the Launces by the flanke of the formost halfe of the Launces as aforesaid Euen so may the Captaines either by the sound of the trompette or by brief speaches commaund their Launces to double themselues by right line that is that the second ranke of 6. should enter into y e formost rank likewise of 6. and that the fourth ranke should enter into the third ranke and so consequentlie euerie second ranke throughout to the verie backe or Rereward to enter into the ranke before him in such sort that of 6. that euery ranke was before they are now by this doubling by right line becomne 12. in euerie ranke from frunt to backe which being performed and all the ranks reformed in their distances as well by frunt as flankes then the Captaine or Captaines may presentlie make of flanke frunt according as I haue before verie particulerlie declared and then the standard or Ensigne or Ensignes if they be men at Armes or the Guidons if they be dimilaunces being placed in the midst of the same squadron the whole broade square is readie to straighten and close their rankes by frunt and flankes and either to charge their enemies or to receaue a charge And as this broad square of many Launces in frunt and but of 12. Launces by flankes hath bene reduced into forme by two different waies as aforsaid so may any other squadrō or squadrons of launces be reduced by any of those two waies of how many rankes by flankes soeuer they are But yet as the reducing of horsemen by right line is verie good and ready so the reducing of them into squadron by flankes as aforesaid is better because they do no waies alter nor disorder themselues in their distances
neither in frunt nor by flankes whereas otherwise by entring and doubling their rankes one into another by right line they come to disorder their proportionate distaunces which they must again with all speed reforme Aduertising furder that as this squadron hath beene formed by the aforesaid two waies so may the same or any other euen at the first be as well reduced by any of those 2. waies into form in vaungard and frunt without making of flank frunt so as the Coronell Sergeant Maior or Captain that hath the forming of the said squadron haue good regard aswel to the ground and number that he wil make his frunt of as to the number of y e ranks by flanks and therwithal to place and accomodat the broken rank or ranks if there be any with the standard ensigne or Guidon Now because in these daies new opinions and fancies in matters of armes grounded vpon very weake or rather no reasons at all do beare a very great swaie and that amongst other errors militarie there be some that doo hold allow that launces should be rather reduced into troup to charge or receiue a charge then into squadron formed I for diuers reasons of the which some I will after alledge would that when any Coronell or Captaines of men at armes or dimilaunces shal haue occasion to reduce their bands into form either to march or fight that then they doo in any wise reduce them into forme of squadron according to the ancient-vse and not into troupe according to the newe fancies incase that time and leisure wil serue And therwithall that they do form them with a triple frunt that is three times as many in frunt as by flanks and somtimes more As for example if the frunt be of 24. or 25. Launces then the flanke should be of 8. launces And somtimes also with a quatriple frunt that is 4. times more in frunt then by flankes as also at other times and vpon other occasions into farre broader frunts then quadruple although by flankes not aboue 10. or 12. rankes at the most as aforesaide and that the Standardes or Ensignes if they bee men at Armes or the Guidons if they bee dimilaunces bee placed in the midst of the squadron And y e those horsmen be instructed how to inlarge themselues in their rankes when they march in squadron and how presentlie vpon the sight of the enemie approching to straighten themselues by frunt and flankes with their iust proportionate distances in such sort as they may charge or receiue a charge of the enemie without disordering their horses or Launces or confounding their ranks But incase that vpon a sudden Alarm giuen vppon the approch of the Enemie the Launces being in Campe Towne or Village be not reduced into their single order vnder their Ensignes or Guidons but that they are then assembling themselues and the enemie neere at hand then they must make of necessitie vertue that is to reduce themselues into troupe making as neere as they can a triple or quatriple frunt or more that they may somewhat resemble a squadron hauing regard to their distances that they may vse their Launces without disordering the one the other as neere as they may And whereas there be some professing armes in this time that doo holde an opinion that Launces haue a greater aduantage to charge or receiue a charge in troupe then in squadron as aforesaid they therein doo shew that for lacke of vnderstanding and consideration they doo greatlie erre in the ordering of horsemen Launces For the Almaines Italians English and diuers other Nations haue of great antiquitie vsed both squadron of men at Armes and dimilaunces and also troupes But it was neuer heard of before these disordered ciuill wars of France and the Lowcountries that Launces in troupes confused should be preferred and iudged to be of greater aduantage then launces in squadron formed considering that the reducing of Launces into troupe dooth amongest men of war proceed of nothing else but of lacke of time to reduce them into squadron vpon some sudden Alarme and approch of the Enemie So as such as doo hold that opinion might aswell say that two or three thousand piquers and short weapons haue more aduantage to fight in a battle of necessitie then in a Squadron formed which battle of necessitie or extreamitie terme it as you list is neuer vsed but vpon some great and sudden accident as when a puissant enemie dooth make a sudden approch vpon your Campe most commonlie by night or at the breake of day with a Canuesada killing both scoutes Centinels and watches through their negligent watching or discouering and therevpon an alarme giuen for lacke of time to reduce your piquers into squadron formed you are faine in the place of assemblie to make them to runne togither into rankes confused closing themselues as close as they can to defende the Ring or entrie of the Campe. By the which comparisons reasons and examples of footmen piquers before alledged such new fancies and lacke of vnderstanding in the ordering or rather disordering of launces may be easilie discerned by men of reason and iudgement And now to the intent that your men at Armes or dimilances may be the better able to charge or receiue a charge of their enemies it is verie meete and conuenient that their Captaines and officers should reduce them some time into squadron with a triple or quatriple frunt And being so reduced that they should be taught how to straighten and close themselues in frunt and flankes and how presently vpon the sound of a charge they should almost all at one instant put spurres to their horses galloping vpon the hand about 8. or 10. paces and then charge their Launces from their tasses or long Cuisses and thighes presentlie into their restes and not to carrie their Launces at the Armes ende as they do commonlie vse at Tilt to make the fairer shew and then imagining the squadron of the enemies Launces to be within 15. or 20 paces directly before them they should altogither put their horses into their Carrires to the intent to giue the greater blowe and shocke to the ouerthrowing or breaking of their enemies Then I would wish them to be taught how they should receiue a charge if another squadron of launces should charge them and that they should doo in this sort First when they shall see the squadron of their enemies comming to charge them either galloping vpon the hand or in their full Carrire then they being straightned closed in their rankes by frunt and flankes should stand firme all the Launces of the three formost rankes ready charged in their restes but yet the pointes of their launces something high vntil they do see the enemies squadron within 15. or 20. paces of them at which time they should with a terrible shout altogither in an instant as if they were one entire bodie put spurres to their horses and fall into their
Carrire and so charge and shock with their enemies to the disordering or breaking of them All which being by them performed they should then stop their horses and discharge their launces setting them againe vppon their thighes And then they should be instructed how with al celeritie to make of flank frunt by turning al their horses faces that waie and by inlarging themselues and doubling and redoubling their rankes to reduce their squadron againe into a triple or quatriple frunt Then I would wish that all the squadron of Launces should disorder themselues pelle melle out of their rankes and that they should be instructed either vppon the sound of the Trompet or vpon the pronouncing of these wordes Troup troup Launces presentlie to fall into troupe making their frunt triple or quatriple or more in respect of the flankes as neere as their Captaines or officers can guesse And being thus fallen into troup they should be taught how to charge or receiue a charge of their Enemies without disordering themselues or their launces Then I would haue them againe reduced out of troupe into squadron and taught how they should charge y e flank or corner of a squadron of piques and how incase they doe not disorder nor breake the piquers that they should retire againe and then falling into troupe they should with a terrible shout offer a false charge by making a point casting about when they come within 10. or 15. paces of the squadron of piques incase that the piquers making head with their piques doo not disorder themselues But if they should perceiue the squadron of piquers to waâ—er or swaie as commonly they do a little before they break that then they should giue in vpon the piquers with a full charge to the vtter ouerthrowing of them And thus with these and such like exercises they should be made skilfull able with all aduantages to charge any squadron of horsmen or footmen with great art and deâ—teritie Now peraduenture some not skilful in matters of armes may say that I haue made in a maner no difference betwixt the charging of a fquadron of men at Armes or Dimilaunces and the receiuing of a charge of another squadron of the like Weapons because I doo allow to the squadron that should charge but 30. paces that is 20. galloping vpon the hand and 10. for their full Carrire to giue the greater blow and shocke Wherevnto I answer that such as are leaders of any squadron of Launces that will fall into their gallop 12. skores or 15. skores distant or more to the intent to charge another squadron of Launces shall finde themselues in so great a distance greatly disordered confounded in their rankes and their horses out of breath and thereby the force of their blow and shocke greatlie weakened when they shall come to encounter with the squadron of their enemies freshe and not disordered â—ho haue put forward their Horses into their Carrire not aboue 10. paces Now if it should bee said vnto me that it were more meet that a squadron of launces that is disposed to receaue a charge should keepe their ground and stand firme with their launces in their rests rather then to fall into their carrire of 10. paces as aforesaid I say that their receauing of a charge in standing still should be greatly to their disaduauntage because that force and violence in this action must be repulsed with the like or greater force violence For any man of iudgement by reason may consider that a squadron of launces straightned and closed in frunt and flanks with their iust and proportionate distances coÌ„ming to charge their enemies squadron but 30. paces that is 20. galloping vpon the hand and. 10. with a terrible shoute in their full carrire will worke a wonderfull effect to the breaking of the squadron of launces standing still without mouing forward with any force Besides that the disaduauntage of such a squadron as receaueth a charge standing still without mouing forward with force is greatly augmented by the terror and thundering of their enemies horses feete vpon the ground comming in their full cartire as also by the noise of the armors of the horsemen and with the furious comming of the horses in squadron with the pointes of so many launces in the eyes and sights of both horses men standing still in colde blood whereas contrariwise the squadron comming but. 30. or 40. paces in hoat blood to charge them first galloping vpon the hand after in their full carrire as is aforesaid doe gather heate furie and force in such sorte as their blowe and shocke becommeth so violent that it doth amaze disorder and breake the contrary squadron with great facilitie But a squadron of Launces standing firme vpon their ground vntill they see their enemies within 20. paces of them then putting themselues into their full carrire and meeting with their Enemies 10. paces of it is distance enough to receaue and encounter them with as great force as if they had begun their carrire when the squadron of their Enemies was a greater distance of But now in this place it is to be noted and obserued that the Ensignebearer if he be of men at Armes or the Guidon bearer if he be of light horsemen be euer lodged both in Campe and Towne in the Captaines Tent or lodging or very neer vnto the same euer accompanied with the trumpetor of the same band to the intent that they may receaue all orders and sudden directions and hauing receaued the same may signifie them by the soundes of the trumpet Light horsemen borderers I will not take vpon me to set downe any thing for their instructions how they should vse their speares in the field because that they themselues by their continuall exercise are so skilful with al such weapons as they do vse in the seruice of the borders But yet I would wish them to learne to reduce themselues into semicircles or halfe moones into two rankes either by right line or else oblique after the manner of the Turkes and Hongarians Because I thinke that the same would be of great aduauntage for them for diuerse purposes as I haue shewed by diuers demonstrations and formes in a Booke by me Composed 1585. and not yet printed entituled Certen Military discourses Arithmeticall Tables formes and demonstrations to reduce both horsemen and footmen into many formes of squadrons c. But because that in my forementioned Booke I haue but only sett downe the formes and demonstrations of those semicircles by figures of little horsemen and not how nor in what sort they should be reduced into those formes I will here briefely set downe concerning those reducements as also of the aduauntages that such light horsemen haue in such semicircles against a squadron of Launces And therefore to reduce them into the aforesaid formes I say that if therebe for examples sake 200. light horsemen they are to march 2. in a