Pike Here extend your Fingers on the Left-hand and lay it on the Pike level with your Shoulder make your Right-heel come up even with your Left-instep your Pike right before you fall back with your Right-leg and as far as may be put back your Right-arm keeping your Pike about half a Foot from your Side your Eye fixed on the Spear directly to the Rear your Pike sloped Then forsake it with your Left-hand and bring in your Right-leg laying your Pike on your Right-Shoulder closing your Elbow to your Body the Butt of your Pike being about half a Foot from the Ground in the middle of the distance 12. Charge to the Front In doing this fall back with your Right-leg keeping as much as may be your Arm back and the Spear exactly to the Rear sloaping the Pike to the same height as Shouldering then bring with your Left-hand the Butt-end backwards turning the Head with your Right so quit it with that Hand then taking hold on the Butt-end Charge Breast high keeping the Palm of your Hand open against the Butt-end your Left-Elbow under the Pike and your Left-toe in Line with the Spear and when you Charge it must be directly forward your Left-heel being just against the middle of your Right 13. Shoulder as you were Here raise your Pike with both Hands so quit it with the Right and with the Left turn the Head backwards the Spear even with the Rear so with your Right-hand seize it again as high as you can reach with little straining and stand with it from your Body aslope bring up your Right-leg and then forsake your Pike with your Left-hand and lay it on your Shoulder ever keeping the Spear in a direct Point to the Rear not crossing your Fellows 14. Charge to the Right In this Case fall back with you Right-Arm and Leg the Spear being kept in the Rear sloping at the height of Shouldering then turn your Left-Toe to the Right suffering the Right to fall behind the Left-foot so that the middle of your Right-foot may be over against your Left-heel then bring up your Pike in this Action and turn backwards the Butt-end by your Right-side then pressing it in your Right-palm Charge 15. Shoulder as you were Make your Left-toe come to the Left and the middle of your Right-foot come also against your Left-heel with your Pike up and then turn the Head to the Right that is directly to the Rear doing it at one Motion So take hold of your Pike with your Right-hand and keep it sloped with both Hands a little distance from your Body as in Shouldering at what time bring up your Right-leg and lay your Pike on your Shoulder 16. Charge to the Right about In this Case give back with your Hand and Leg then stand with your Pike a little distant from your Side and turning your Left-toe to the Right about bring the Butt-end of your Pike to the Right-side falling back with your Right-leg and Charge keeping the Spear all the while to the Rear a Shouldering height and when you are to Face to the Right about level your Pike and Charge 17. As you were In this turn your Left-toe to the Left about advancing your Right-foot a moderate Step that the middle of it may stand against your Left-heel then with your Left-hand bring the Butt-end by your Left-side taking notice the Spear be exactly with the Rear a Shouldering height then lay on your Right-hand as high as you can easily reach and stand with it in Form after which bring up your Right-leg and Shoulder 18. Charge to the Left Here fall back with your Left-arm and Leg as in the former Chargings Turn the Left-toe and the Butt-end of your Pike with your Left-hand to the Right after which bring up your Left-leg and Charge 19. As you were Raise the Spear with both your Hands turn the Left-toe to the Right and so fall back with your Left-leg and Arm keeping your Pike from your Side the Spear to the Rear then bring up your Left-leg and Shoulder 20. Charge to the Left about Here fall with your Arm and Leg back bringing the Pike over your Head with both your Hands the Spear directly to the Rear at a Shouldering height Turn your Left-toe to the Left about then bring up your Right-toe that the middle may come with your Left-heel and Charge 21. Port. Observe here as in Charging in the Front being wary that you sink not the Spear of your Pike rest it between the Thumb and Fore-finger keeping your Elbow close to your side 22. Comport As far as may be bring your Left-hand backward at the same time stretching out the Right make thereupon a step forward with the Right-foot grasping fast the Pike as high as you can reach with the Right-hand not tossing the Spear too high then forsake it with your Left-hand and bring back your Right-leg even with your Left then close it to your Side keeping the Spear the height of your Head 23. Charge to the Front Here extend your Right-arm advancing at the same time your Right-leg drawing back your Left-hand as far as may be and bringing your Pike forward give a step back with your Right-leg and take hold of the Butt with your Right-hand then Charge and in all Chargings observe it be done Breast high 24. Fire Herein face to the Right about suffering the Spear of your Pike to fall behind you after which quit your Right-hand from the Butt-end without any motion of the Left and be cautious not to strike upon the Spear 25. Charge as you were Here turn to the Left about place the Butt-end in the Palm of your Right-hand and Charge the Spear being kept an even height 26. Advance your Pike In this Exercise bring your Right-heel to your Left-Instep your Pike directly before you to the Recovery and so fall out with your Right-foot that it may come even with your Left and so bring the Pike to your Right-thigh 27. Order your Pikes Raise your Left-hand so that it may come even with the upper part of your Shoulder place it on your Pike stretching out your Fingers then sinking your Left-hand raise your Right and then raise the Pike that when the Butt-end your right-Right-hand may be against your Eye keep the Pike near your Head by clapping the Butt-end to the Latchet of your Shoe and here all the Butt-ends of as many as are exercised must fall to the Ground at one and the same time 28. Pikes to your Inside Order Place the Butt-end on the Inside your Right-foot to the middle not moving your Foot but only your Pike 29. Lay down your Pikes As many as exercise in this case must step altogether with their Right-legs stoop together with a very Quick Motion and Lay their Pikes down very strait with their Right-hands 30. Quit your Pikes Fall back with your Left-leg bringing it even with your Right Then quit your Pike absolutely and rise up with a quick Motion
gently dress and feed him well This Course in few dayes will bring him to Trot by following some other Horse-man stop him now and then gently and forward not forgetting seasonable Cherishings and Corrections by Voice Bridle Rod Spurs Being thus brought to some certainty of Rein and Trotting forth-right then to the treading forth of the large Rings And here first examine your Horses Nature before you choose your Ground for if his Nature be dull and sloathful yet strong then New-Plow'd-Field is best if Active Quick and Fiery then sandy-Sandy-ground is to be preferred in the most proper of which mark out a large Ring of a Hundred paces circumference Walk about it on the right seven or eight times then by a little straightning your right Rein and laying your left leg calf to his side make a half Circle within the Ring upon your right down to its Center then by straightning a little your left Rein and laying your right Leg Calf to his side make a half Circle to your left hand from the Center to the outmost Verge and these you see contrary turned make a Roman S. Now to your first large Compass walk him about on your left hand as oft as before on the right and change to your right within your Ring then Trot him first on the right-hand then on the left as long as you judge fit and as often Mornings and Evenings as the Nature of your Horse shall require In the same manner you may make him to Gallop the same Rings though you must not enter it all at once but by degrees first a Quarter then a Half-quarter and the Lightness and Cheerfulness of your Body not the Spur must induce him to it The next Lesson is to Stop Fair Comely and without Danger First see that the Ground be hard and firm then having cherisht your Horse bring him to a swift Trot about Fifty Paces and then straightly suddenly draw in your Bridle hand then ease a little your hand to make him give backward and in so doing give him liberty and cherish him then drawing in your Bridle hand make him retire and go back if he strike ease your hand if he refuse let some by-stander put him back that he may learn your intention and thus he may learn these two Lessons at once To Advance before when he stoppeth is thus taught When you stop your Horse without easing your hand lay close and hard to his sides both Calves of your Legs and shaking your Rod cry Vp Vp which he will understand by frequent Repetition and Practice This is a Gracefull and Comely Motion makes a Horse Agile and Nimble and ready to turn and therefore be careful in it That he take up his Legs Even together and bending to his Body not too high for fear of his coming over not sprawling or pawing or for his own pleasure in these faults correct him with Spur and Rod. To Yerk out behind is the next Lesson thus learnt Presently upon your making him stop give him a good brisk jerk near his Flank which will make him soon understand you When he does it cherish him and see he does it comely for to yerk out his hinder Legs till his Forelegs be above Ground is not graceful or one Leg yerk't farther out than the other or one Leg out while the other is on the Ground in this case a single Spur on the faulty side is best But to help him in Yerking staying his Mouth on the Bridle striking your Rod under his Belly or touching him on the Rump with it To Turn readily on both hands thus Bring his large Rings narrower and therein gently walk him till acquainted Then carry your Bridle-hand steady and straight the outmost rather straighter than the inmost Rein to look from rather than to the Ring trot him thus about on one side and the other sucessively as aforesaid After some time stop and make him advance twice or more and retire in an even Line then stop and cherish him To it again after the same manner making him lap his outmost Leg above a foot over his Inner And thus the Terra a Terra Incavalere Chambletta are all taught together Perfect your Horse in the large Ring and the straight Ring is easily learnt Your Horse being brought thus far to perfection with the Musrole and Trench now let a gentle Cavezan take their place with a smooth Cannon-Bit in his Mouth and a plain watering Chain Cheek large and the Kirble thick round and big loosely hanging on his nether Lip and thus mount him and perfect your Horse with the Bit in all the aforesaid Lessons as you did with the Snaffle which indeed is the easier to be done of the two To teach your Horse To go a side as a necessary Motion for shunning a blow from an Enemy is thus Draw up your Bridle hand somewhat straight and if you would have him go on the Right lay your left Rein close to his Ncek and your left Calf likewise close to his side as in the Incavalere before making him lap his left Leg over his Right then turning your Rod backward jerking him on the left hinder Thigh gently make him to bring to the right side his Hinder parts and stand as at first in an even direct Line Then make him remove his Fore parts more that he may stand as it were Cross over the even Line and then bring his hinder parts after and stand in an even Line again And thus you must do if you would have him go on the Left hand using your Corrections and Cherishings on the right Use it and you may be sure of Perfection For the Carreere only take this Let it not extend in length above six score yards give your Horse warning before you start him by the Bridle hand and running full speed stop him suddenly firm and close on his Buttock For the Horse of Pleasure these following Lessons are to be learnt As first to bound aloft to do which Trot him some sixteen yards then stop and make him twice advance then straighten your Bridle-hand then clap briskly both your Spurs even together to him and he will rise tho' it may at first amaze him if he does it cherish him and repeat it often every day till perfect Next to Corvet and Capriole are Motions of the same nature and in short are thus taught Hollow the ground between two joyning Walls a Horses length by the side of which put a strong smooth Post of the same length from the Wall and fasten at the Wall an Iron Ring over against the Post Thus done ride into the hollow place and fasten one of the Cavezan Reins to the Post and the other to the Ring then cherish him and by the help of the Calves of your Legs make him advance two or three times then pause and Cherish him make him advance again a dozen times more and then rest double your Advancings and repeat them till it becomes
Mouth with your Right-hand put it into the Barrel with a swift Motion holding the big end of your Scowrer near the Muzzle of your Musket 22. Ram down Powder and Ball. Grasp full with your Thumb and Fore-finger from the Muzzle your Thumb on the Top of the Scowrer reserving a handful in your Hand 23. Withdraw your Scowrer Your Hand Thumb and Fore-finger turned towards the Muzzle clear your Scowrer at three Motions and hold it up even with your Forehead extending your Arm as if you were about to dart it 24. Shorten it to an Handful Turn the Butt-end of your Scowrer towards you sink it till within an Inch of the End letting it rest against your Body a little below your Right-breast the Scowrer sloping 25. Return your Scowrer Put it up in its proper place grasp the Muzzle of your Musket with your Right-hand extending your Thumb upon the Scowrer keep it half a foot distant from your Side 26. Poise your Musket Here before you bring up your Musket with your Left-hand Grasp it under the Cock with your Right falling with your Right-leg to your Left Keep it Poised against your Nose and when faced to the Front let your Right-elbow rest upon your Body 27. Shoulder your Musket In this do as has been taught in the like case before 28. Order your Musket Sink a little your right-Right-hand and take hold on the Stock on the top of the Scowrer with your Left-hand then suffer that Hand to sink and take hold on the Muzzle with the Right-hand letting the Butt-end easily sink near the Ground then let it after a little Pause come down As many as Exercise grounding them together then close to the Right-foot and place the Butt-end about the middle of it your right-Right-hand an Inch below the Muzzle the Lock being outward 29. Lay down your Musket Turning it with the Back upwards step forwards with your Left-leg so with your Right-hand place it on the Ground that it may lye with the rest in a strait Line This some call grounding a Musket 30. Quit your Musket Here stand upright with a quick Motion rising with a falling back of your Left-leg to your Right 31. Handle your Musket With your Left-leg step forward and lay your Right-hand on the Muzzle 32. Order your Musket Raise the Muzzle and fall back with your Left-leg to your Right turning the Lock outwards by the middle of your Foot And thus much for the Exercise of the Musket by it self which may be much advantageous to young Trainers who have occasion to be called or sent out upon Duty in the City or Country and Country Militia of the Trained Bands or for any other who is desirous to be knowing in and entring upon Military Affairs from whence I shall proceed to the brief Exercise of the Pike and Musket jointly as they are Exercised in Companies Battalions c. The Exercise of Pike and Musket jointly We now supposing the Muskets shouldred and the Pikes advanced the Word next is 1. Musketiers make ready Hereupon you must perform all the Postures and Motions together till you stand Cock'd and guarded with your Musket before you and for the better Security your Thumb on the Cock whereupon the Pikes are to be recovered before the Pike-men The Butt-ends in the Palms of their Hands and the Spear upright on their Left hands to the height of their Mouths when the Commander gives the Word Charge Then the Muskets and Pikes must be brought at once by turning the Left-toe that way the Charge is made and the Left-heel against the middle of the Right-foot in every Charge charging directly forward not at the first Charging closing the Pikes to your Breasts but in bringing down the Pike charge a little way distant and when they are brought down then close them The Charge is To the Right four times then to the Right about and so As you were Then to the Left Charge four times then to the Left about and so As you were Furthermore the Pike-men must turn as the Musketiers bearing up their Right-heels to their Left-insteps their Arms being extended as they turn so that they bring their Muskets straight before them carrying their Left-hands as high as their Mouths bearing back their Arms and when they Face fall back with their Right-legs not bringing down their Arms till the word Charge is given and then it must be done with a decent quick Motion not suffering the Pikes to clatter After this the Words of Command are viz. Recover your Arms. Half bend your Muskets Poise your Muskets Shoulder your Muskets This Exercise is to be observ'd as is before laid down in the Exercise of the Musket The Musketiers upon this being at Shoulder and the Pikes that stood recovered falling out with their Right-legs whereupon the Pikes are brought to their Thighs in their Advance Then the next is Poise your Muskets Upon this the Pike-men with their Left hands must grasp their Pikes over against their Shoulders after which the Words are Order your Arms. Pikes to your inside Order Lay down your Arms. Quit your Arms. To the Right about March You must observe these as directed in the Exercise only over and above when you are clear of your Arms you must disperse and upon the beat of Drum close hastily together with a Huzza your Swords unsheathed with their Points upwards Then further observe the Words of Command viz. Return your Swords Handle your Arms. Order your Arms. Pikes to your out-side Order Advance In ordering your Arms observe you make a little stop before you let the Butt-ends come to the Ground so that each one may bear you company and they may fall together at once and after they are laid down and quitted you must stand up together so suddenly as all your Risings may appear as it were but one Motion When you March from your Arms step Front and Rear at once with the Left-feet Marching but a little distance Then lay your Right-hand on your Sword taking hold of your Scabbard with your Left and then drawing hold your Swords upright before you after you have held them there a while bring them down at one Motion and when by Command your Swords are returned stand upright to your Arms facing to your proper Front and if any thing is to be further known consider the Excercise of the Pike and Musket distinctly and you will be informed to your Satisfaction Of the Match-Lock These Locks were formerly in more use than Fire-Locks and at this day they are sometimes mixed among them wherefore I shall speak some what relating to the Words of Command that seem to differ from the Fire-lock viz. 1. Lay down your Match 2. Handle your Match 3. Blow your Match 4. Cock and try your Match 5. Return your Match All these chiefly consist in keeping your Match in order with a good hard and well lighted Coal fastning it on Command advantageous in your Skrew blowing the Coal and so by pulling
the Trigger trying your Pan with false Flashes laying it down at Command and by the same order taking it up again shortning it to the Pan that it may give true Fire and upon firing to return it and recover the Coal if it be shattered by the force of the Powder You must observe also to keep your Match dry that on occasion you may not be disappointed And this in brief is all materially relating to the Match-Lock the other Postures of the Musket are all ready described being sufficient to direct the Exercise yet seeing many lay much stress on the Beat of Drum Take that a long with you as it relates to Exercise and so I shall take Leave of the Foot and make a visit to the Horse Exercise by Beat of Drum relating to the Foot There are usually observed in this six Points which are called Points of War and are said to be semi-vocal because by them the Soldiers understand what is to be done and can distinguish their Duty and Exercise and of these in their order 1. The Call This is to Summon the Soldiers together to their Arms or upon any other occasion as to hear Proclamation or receive Directions c. from the Officers and are not without leave to Ramble especially in time of War beyond the hearing of it under great Penalties 2. The Troop When the Soldiers hear this they must Advance their Pikes Shoulder their Muskets and close their Ranks and Files to order following their Leaders or Commanders to the place of Rendezvous Quarters or elsewhere 3. The March When you hear this you must betake you to your open Orders in Ranks Shoulder both Musket and Pike and so as the Drum beats you March slower or quicker 4. The Preparative Is to warn you to close your proportionable or due distance when you are to prepare for Battle or Skirmish and to see every thing be in order that may turn to advantage 5. The Battle This is by some called the Charge or Signal to Charge the Enemy and is beat in the beginning of the Fight to animate the Soldiers Courage 6. The Retreat This is beat when being over-powered it is thought covenient to draw off and save a total Rout or sometimes when an Enemy you suppose stronger than your self advances towards you to engage but by Retreating you avoid him There are two more things on the Drum somewhat to our purpose viz. 1. The Tatto or Tapto This is used in a Rounds and Garisons to give notice to the Soldiers and Inhabitants when they ought to repair to their Quarters and Houses 2. Revalley Is to let them know when it is time to rise in the Morning and attend on their Duty also In Garisons to let the People know when its safe to go abroad the out Scouts being Relieved The Exercise of Horse in Troops or Squadrons c. The Exercise of the Horse is various from that of the Foot and therefore that I may not be wanting in what is necessary to the young Soldier in their Exercising in the County Troops or those that may enter the present Service Abroad I shall endeavour to give the Words of Command proper with their Explanation And first when a Troop or Squadron is drawn out to Exercise I suppose their Carbines and Pistols loaden and the Corporals passing through the Ranks to see they are all ready upon which observe the chief Officer Commands Silence and gives the following Words of Command viz. 1. Lay your Right Hands on your Swords 2. Draw your Swords 3. Put your Swords in your Bridle-hand 4. Lay your Hands on your Pistols 5. Hold up your Hands Give Fire When you have fired let not your Pistol-hand sink till the next Word of Command viz. 6. Return your Pistols And this you must observe in Firing to the Left and Right Then 7. Lay your Hands on your Carbines 8. Advance your Carbines 9. Cock your Carbines Fire 10. Let fall your Carbines 11. Take your Swords from your Bridle-hands These must be done with a swift and exact Motion all as near as may be doing it at one and the same time If a Squadron of Horse is to Wheel to the Right the Right-hand-man must not close to the Left as has in ancient times been for that many times disorders the Rank but you must keep your Ground suffering the Left to come about whilst you only turn your Horses Heads observing your Left-hand-man To close the File The Right Wing file stand 1. Close your files 2. To the Right 3. To the Left as you were 4. To the Left wing and stand 5. To the Left by Files close the Squadron 6. To the Right as you were 7. The Right and Left Wing Files stand 8. By half Ranks close Files to the Right and Left And by closing Files you may cleave or divide the Squadron The Order of closing Ranks 1. File-leader stand Or open on the Front 2. By Ranks close the Squadron to the Front Or the first distances 3. On the Front as you were And so be cautious in observing each Motion How doubling Ranks must be Ordered 1. By half Files to the Right double your Ranks to the Front 2. File-leaders advance your Ranks File-leaders take your Ground And in this manner Command likewise to the Left the Order being one and the same in the Words of Command Again 3. The first half Files stand 4. By half File-leaders on the Left-wing double your Rank to the Front Now to reduce this take the following Method 1. Right-wing half Ranks advance your Ranks 2. Half File-leader take your Ground 3. The first half File stand 4. By half File-leaders on the Right and Left-wings double your Ranks to the Front Carocoling to the Right and Left Then the last half File stand and the first half File by Carocol in the Right and Left on the wings then double yur Ranks to the Rear Here observe the first File must open the half Rank to the Right and Left the first half File by Carocol Then To the Right and Left double your Ranks to the Rear Here observe the last half File must open the half Rank to the Right and Left As for the word Carocol it signifies no more when you Wheel by it than that it is made by the depth of the Flank of the Squadron by which Order not the Files but the Ranks make the Motion There is an other Word which some may not well understand at the first setting out which is called Controversion and this in Wheeling is performed by the Front of the Squadron so that whilst the Rank makes the Motion the File remains Instructions for Wheeling with the proper words of Command When the Word is given viz. To the Right by Conversion understand that you must close your Right-leg to the Horse your Knee touching that of your Right-hand-mans and in like manner observe in the Word of Command to the Left as when it is said Close to the Left then
Guard he is to answer Feints least of all in this the Right defence being to secure your self without your Sword which is done by presenting your Sword to the Left-shoulder of your Adversary or as said his Eye so that your Body be quite covered without your Sword The Terce-Guard with the Point lower than the Hilt Here you must in this bow your Head holding up your Arm high so that if you come to give a Thrust your Head may be as it were under it your Nails being in Quart till you make your Thrust and then change them into Terce your Feet must be kept at their due distance and not as at a full Elong your Sword must be presented towards your Adversaries Left-side and you must make use of your Left-hand for the Parade and it is to be pursued and defended as the forgoing Terce-Guard only in defending it you must not make so much use of your Left-hand but more of your Sword The Guard of Both Hands This is a Guard that I find not any proper Name for though it is sometimes used as very necessary how ever as to the holding your Sword in this Guard keep your Body exactly in the Posture of the Quart-Guard with the strait Point but joyn your Left-hand to your Sword about eight or ten Inches from the Hilt the Blade being held between your formost Finger and Thumb secure your self within your Sword as soon as you present it viz. Present the Point towards your Adversaries Right-thigh with your Point sloping towards the Ground a little for to pursue this Guard you must endeavour to take a way your Adversaries Left-hand by striking at it and immediatly after the stroak proffer a Thrust at his Body that he may be doubtful when you really intend to give in your Thrust and indeed the pursuit is much like that of the Quart-Guard with the sloping Point and thus much for the Five sorts of Guards Of the several Parades The Parades are generaly Two but are subdivided as the Guard and those two are the Parade in Quart and the Parade in Terce which are as is said divided again into the Parade in Quart with the Point a little higher than the Hilt The Parade in Quart with the Point sloping towards your Adversaries Right-thigh and as though without it 2. The Parade in Terce with the Point a little higher than the Hilt and the Parade in Terce with the Point sloping towards your Adversaries Thigh on the Left-side There is yet an other Parade of some use and used by many Fencing Masters which may be properly termed a Counter-Caveating Parade by reason what ever Lesson your Adversary makes use of or upon what side so ever he Thrusts if you make use of this Parade as you ought you will undoubtedly meet with his Sword and the easier cross his purpose than by any of the former and of these I shall give proper Directions 1. The Quart Parade or the Parade within the Sword is so called because in putting by the Thrust you do it on the inside your Sword or on that side the Nails of your Hand are next 2. The next is called the Terce Parade or the Parade without the Sword for here contrary to the former you put by the Thrust upon that side which is without the Sword and as the other is termed the Quart for as much as it is within your Sword or on that side your Nails look to so this is called Terce because it is without your Sword or on that side the back of your Hand is to Observe a little more viz. when you are to hold your Hand or Nails in Terce that you hold your Nails quite downward And now to Parie these Five several ways you must do the first Parade in Quart with the Point somewhat higher than the Hilt viz. When you are standing to your Guard if your Adversary offers to give a home Thrust on that side his Sword lieth which I presume to be within your Sword without disengaging and is the Simplest and plainest Thrust that can be given with the small Sword yet frequently it surprizes a Man I say when so it is that when you perceive your Adversary offer to give a home Thrust which observe by keeping your Eye steady on the Hilt of his Sword you must then immediatly turn your Wrist with so small a Motion of the Arm that it can scarcely be perceived to your Left-side and by that means you may put by his Sword with the Fort of yours upon the Left-side keeping the Point of your Sword after the Parade towards his Right-shoulder you may in putting by your Adversaries Sword use a little beat or Spring towards the Ground by which you will more certainly disappoint him immediately bringing your Sword to its right posture again and by this way of Parying you may have the luck to Spring or Beat your Adversaries Sword out of his Hand The second Parade in Quart is with the Point sloping towards your Adversaries Right-thigh and as tho' without it in this manner When you perceive your Adversary is thrusting with your Sword turn the Nails of your Sword-hand in Quart with a full stretched Arm and your Hand as high as your Face and when you do this slope your Point to the lowness of your Adversaries Thigh and by that means with the Fort of your Sword on the Feeble of his put by his Thrust always observing to Parie with the Fort of your Sword and not the Feeble lest your Adversary having the stronger Arm force upon you the Thrust in spite of all you can do The first Parade in Terce or without the Sword the Point a little higher than the Hilt must be thus mannaged viz. Perceiving your Adversary giving in the Thrust without your Sword take notice immediatly to turn your Wrist with some small motion of the Arm as in the first Parie in Quart till your Nails be in Terce and so Parie his Thrust Remembring in this to keep the Point of your Sword after you have Paried him towards your Adversaries Left-shoulder as in the first Parade in Quart you are to keep it towards his Right This Parade is most effectually done with a Spring to put by the Sword or gain an advantage of disarming your Adversary The second Parade in Terce is called that within the Sword bearing a sloping Point towards your Adversaries Thigh and as though within it This observe to do when you perceive your Adversary giving in his Thrust without or below your Sword as it were at your Arm-pit immediately letting the Point of your Sword sink as low as his Thigh turning your Nails quite round to your Right-side until they are from you keeping your Hand as high as your Head and so put by the Thrust on your Right-side and when you are Parading let your Head be close as if it were under your Arm and this preserves your Face from your Adversaries scattering or Counter-Temps Thrusts Thus having
the Roots of his Ears or Lashing Assoon as you find he approaches the Haunt of the Partridge known by his Whining and willing but not daring to open speak and bid him Take heed If notwithstanding this he rush in and Spring the Partridge or opens and so they escape correct him severely Then cast him off to another Haunt of a Covy and if he mends his Error and you take any by drawing your Net over them swiftly reward him with the Heads Necks and Pinions As for the Water-Dog the instructions above for the Setter will serve only to fetch and bring by losing a Glove or the like keep a Strict Subjection in him and Observance to your Commands The longest Barrel is the best Fowling Piece Five and half or six foot long with an indifferent Bore under an Harquebuse and shooting with the Wind and side-ways or behind the Fowl not in their Faces is to be observed having your Dog in Command not to stir till you have shot A Stalking-Horse for shelter to avoid being seen by the shie Fowl is an old Jade trained on purpose but this being rare and troublesome have recourse to Art to take Canvas stuft and painted in the shape of a Horse grazing and so light that you may carry him on one hand not too big Others do make them in the shape of Ox Cow for Variety and Stag Trees c. The great Fowl or those who divide the Foot reside by shallow Rivers sides Brooks and Plashes of Water and in low and boggy places and sedgie Marish rotten Grounds They also delight in the dry parts of drowned Fens overgrown with long Reeds Rushes and Sedges as likewise in half Fens drowned Moors hollow Vales or Downs Heaths c. Where obscurely they may lurk under the Shelter of Hedges Hills Bushes c. The lesser or Web-footed Fowl always haunt drowned Fens as likewise the main streams of Rivers not subject to Freeze the deeper and broader the better tho' of these the Wild-Goose and Barnacle if they cannot sound the depth and reach the Ouze change their Residence for shallow places and delight in Green Winter Corn especially if the Lands ends have Water about them Small Fowl also frequent hugely little Brooks Ponds drowned Meadows Pastures Moors Plashes Meres Loughs and Lakes stored with unfrequented Islands Shrubs c. How to take all manner of Fowl or Birds For taking the first I mean the greater Fowl with Nets observe in general this Come two hours before their feeding hours Morning and Evening and Spreading your Net on the Ground smooth and flat stake the two lower ends firm and let the upper ends be extended on the long Cord of which the further end must be fastned to the Ground three Fathoms from the Net the Stake in a direct Line with the lower Verge of the Net the other ten or twelve fathom long have in your hand at the aforsaid distance and get some shelter of Art or Nature to keep you from the curious and shy Eye of the Game having your Net so ready that the least pull may do your work strew'd over with Grass as it lies to hide it A live Hern or some other Fowl lately taken according to what you seek for will be very requisite for a Stale And you will have sport from the Dawning till the Sun is about an hour high but no longer and from Sun-set till Twilight these being their feeding times For the small Water Fowl Observe the Evening is best before Sun set Stake down your Nets on each side the River half a foot within the Water the lower part so plumb'd as to sink no further the upper Slantwise shoaling against but not touching by two foot the water and the Strings which bear up this upper side fastned to small yielding sticks prickt in the Bank that as the Fowl strike may ply to the Nets to intangle them And thus lay your Nets as many as you please about twelve score one from another as the River or Brook will afford And doubt not your success To expedite it however a Gun Fired three or four times in the Fens and Plashes a good distance from your Nets will affright and Post them to your Snares and so do at the Rivers when you lay in the Fens Winter time is the most proper for taking all manner of Small Birds as flocking then promiscuosly together Larks Lennets Chaffinchee Goldfinches Yellow-Hammers c. with this Bird-lime Put to a quarter of a Pound of Birdlime an ounce of fresh Lard or Capons-grease and let it gently melt together over the Fire but not Boyl then take a quantitiy of Wheat-ears as you think your use shall require and cut the straw about a foot long besides the Ears and from the Ear lime the straw six Inches the warmer it is the less discernible it will be Then to the Field adjacent carrying a bag of Chaff and thresh'd Ears scatter them twenty Yards wide and stick the lim'd ears declining downwards here and there Then traverse the Fields disturb their Haunts and they wili repair to your Snare and pecking at the Ears finding they stick to them mount and the Lim'd straws lapping under their Wings dead their flight they cannot be disengaged but fall and be taken they must Do not go near them till they rise of their own accord and let not five or six entangled lead you to Spoil your Game and incur the loss of Five or Six dozen Lime-Twigs is another Expedient for taking of great Fowl being Rods that are long small strait and pliable the upper part apt to play to and fro being besmeared with Bird-lime warm Thus to be used Observe the Haunts of the Fowl have a Stale a living Fowl of the same kind you would take and cross pricking your Rods one into and another against the Wind sloping a foot distant one from the other pin down you Stale some distance from them tying some small string to him to pull and make him flutter to allure the Fowl down If any be caught do not run presently upon them their fluttering will encrease your Game A well taught Spaniel is not amiss to retake those that are entangled and yet flutter away Thus likewise for the Water consult the Rivers depth and let your Rods be proportionable what is Lim'd of them being above the Water and a Mallard c. as a Stale placed here and there as aforesaid You need not wait on them but three times a day visit them and see your Game if you miss any Rods therefore know their Number some Fowl entangled is got away with it into some Hole c. and here your Spaniel will be serviceable to find him For Small-birds a Lime-bush is best thus Cut down a great Bough of a Birch or Willow-tree trim it clean and Lime it handsomely within four Fingers of the bottom Place this Bush so ordered in some quick-set or dead Hedge in Spring time In Harvest or Summer in Groves