or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni modo though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to
continuing three dayes was never appeased till at night the third day Arius Silvius and Alvare of Caster gentlemen and chiefe of the Iustices came with men of warre in Armes to Lisbone and appeased the 〈◊〉 The Kings Majesty hearing the newes of this horrible sedition being much grieved did presently send unto Lisbone two of the chiefest of the Court to wit Iackes Allmod and Iackes Lopes with full power to punish the Malefactors of such cruelty where publiquely there was executed a great number of the seditious popular and the Priests that moved them to the sedition were first put off their charge then hanged then burnt the Iudges and Magistrates that were sloathfull to suppresse that popular rage and fury were some deprived of their estates and condemned to great pennance and the Towne it selfe was deprived of their priviledges and honours I pray God to keepe my country from the like Who pleaseth to reade the story it is much worth and of great observance for any good Christian Another notable story of the like we have in the beginning of the Reigne of Charles the fift successor to Ferdinand King of Spaine and Sicil in whom did faile the race of the Kings of Aragon the people being moved by a Monke continued long in seditions one after another till God did remove it at last and since they lived peaceable To conclude then this point it is a vaine thing to be a follower of the popular sort for none is the better for their praise nor the worse for their blame And therefore Plutarch said well that one man could not be master and servant of the people otherwise perforce it behooveth him to fall into inconveniencie as we reade in the fable written of the serpent the taile whereof came one day to quarrell the head saying he would goe his day about foremost and not goe alwayes behinde which being granted unto him by the head he found it worst himselfe not knowing how or where to goe and became the cause that the head was all spoyl'd and rent being compelled against nature to follow a part without sight or hearing to leade it The same we have seene happen unto those who in the Government of the publique would do all things to please the multitude and being once tied to that yoake of slavery in all things to will and agree with the common and lower sort that oftimes are rashly moved and without reason howsoever they cannot thereafter come off and retire hinder or stay the fury and rashnesse of the people And therefore the great servant of God Moses did properly comprehend in the blessings promised unto the Israelites their obedience to Gods lawes that the Lord might establisâ— them in the first ranke a head in briefe that they should be as Masters an t should not be subject Reade Deut. 28. The twelfth Dutie discharged of our expedition by water to Aickilfourd in Holsten and of the intaking of it THe eleaventh of Aprill 1628 we got orders to ship againe and being shipped we sayl'd along the coast of Holsten till we arrived before Aickilfourd where lay a Garrison of the Emperialists being five hundred strong halfe Dragoniers and halfe foote souldiers having anchored while we were providing for our landing the Towne being no strength the Dragoniers marched away leaving the Captaine of foote to defeâ—â— the place who had a Skonce without the Towne with a running line from the Skonce to the Port of the Towne and thinking us to be but a weake flying party that durst not remaine long on the land seeing the enemy lay strong of horse and foote neere by he resolved as his best to defend the Skonce without whereunto he drew his strength his Majesty commanded us to land our forces and to storme the Skonce he staying a shipboard looking 〈◊〉 us we land in all haste being allmost two thousand foote of severall Nations English Scots Dutch and French all about equall strongth we threw dice for the Avangard who should fall on first concluding those threw most should have the leading and so successively to second one another having throwne sixes the honour of the Avangarde or leading fell on me and mine the English falling next unto us having put our selves in order and dealt out Amunition recommending the successe to the Lord by our preacher Mr. William Forbesse companion of our dangers and having directed Ensigne Allane to recognosse or spie the best advantage being retired I commanded Captaine Lievetenant Carre with fifty musketiers to a broken house that flancked on the Skonce giving him orders to give fire from thence on their backs as we marched to them in front and in case of their retreate to the Towne to cut off their passage or at least to march in with them Thus done I gave charge to my musketiers that no man should give fire till I commanded but to follow their Leaders still in good order The ground we were to advance on to the Skonce was plaine as pavement the Skonce not being high our resolution was to storme without giving fire and as we advanced those of the Skonce did give three severall salvees of musket thundring amongst us whereof some felt the smart and Captaine Mac-kenyee was favourably shot in the legge and I more favourably in the hilt of my sword which afterwards I gave to Mac-kenyee The most hurt was done to the English marching after us led then by Captaine Chamberlaine a worthy and a valorous gentleman In this time we were advanceing our musketiers commanded by Carre giving fire on their flancks wany were hurt and the Captaine shot in the Arme seeing us give no fire but marching hard to storme he quit the Skonce and retired to the Towne and enters the Port before us shutting us out and leaving a few hurt men behind him we brake downe the Stacket and the Towne not walled we entred the broade side and follow the enemy to the market-place thinking he would fight us there But he retired into the Church and shutting the doores defends the Church shooting out he did us great hurt our Souldiers not having forgotten their cruelty used at Bredenberg resolved to give no quarters and with a huge great ladder and the force of men we ran-forced the doore and entred I thinking to get the Officers prisoners entred withall but could not finde them incontinent perceiving a great quantity of powder spread a thwart the Church fearing the blowing up of the powder I commanded every man upon paine of death to retire the word not well spoken the powder blew up blowing the top of the Church above a hundred were killed and a number burnt pitifully and I with Lievetenant David Monro standing behinde me was also pittifully burnt the blast past Captaine Chamberlaine entring findes the Officers and gives them quarters as his prisoners of the souldiers few or none of two hundred and fifty escaped The Towne was plundered and his Majesty fearing the coming of the enemies Horsemen before
his Majestie nor yet was he any wayes beneficiall to the Colonells who did the service but put all in his owne purse neither yet did be acknowledge Sir Iohn Hepburne with the least token of his bountie whose merit at this time was not inferiour to his owne His Majesty having taken in Swinfort and beset it he continued his march to Wurtzburg and coming before the Towne he summoned them to render whereupon they did send Father Ogleby Abbot of the Scots Cloyster at Wurtzburg to capitulate with his Majestie in the behalfe of the Burgers who got granted unto them the like accord as was made with Erfort in all degrees the accord subscribed his Majestie entered the Towne the same day that our forces arrived at Carlstat being within two miles of them that night The Citie given over the Castle refusing to heare of any Treatie they begunne from the Castle-workes to plague his Majesties Armie with Cannon where ever they could lie or stand within or without the Citie on either side of the Maine they were cruelly tormented by the enemies Cannon so that at last it went on in earnest on both sides for his Majestie having had intelligence that Generall Tilly with a strong Armie of fiftie thousand men being joyned with the Duke of Loraine were coming for the reliefe of the Castle his Majestie resolved that taking of time was best and that it behooved him on the sudden to have it or not at all This Castle being a strong Strength sequestred on a height from the Towne and the Souldiers as they retired from the Towne they did breake off one Arch of the Bridge to hinder his Majesties passage over the Bridge unto the Castle being the onely way he could get to it and the Castle-workes did so command the Bridge that a single man could not passe over without great danger of life being the whole Bridge did lie open just under the Castle where there was one long plancke laid over the broken Arch being distant in height from the water neere eight fathom so that it seemed a hazard or torment to any man to passe over alongst the plancke where some valourous Officers and Souldiers would rather adventure to goe before the mouth of the Cannon than to crosse over the plancke though there were no danger of the enemies Cannon or Musket which still played furiously on that passe of the Bridge to hinder his Majesties Souldiers in setting over where at first two valourous Gentlemen of our Nation being brethren were killed on the Bridge viz. Sir Iames Ramsey his Major called Bothwell and his brother Neverthelesse before our coming from Carlstat being within two miles his Majestie had ingaged the rest of our Country-men that were with him on this piece of service being the most desperate and of the greatest importance that was ever done in Dutchland during the continuance of the warres And therefore Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton were made choice of with their Regiments by his Majestie who knew both their worth and valour being perswaded if they refused it none would undertake the service after them the passage being so dangerous and of such hazard that without great difficultie there was no probabilitie to gaine much credit there and his Majestie resolved except those Cavaliers with their followers would make way to others the wished event could not be hoped for at that time seeing the enemy was within three dayes march to relieve it and to the end they might shew good example to others they were commanded with their fellowes being all Musketiers to crosse the Bridge and to beate the enemy from the water side and then to force a passage for the rest of the Armie towards the Castle the orders were as hard as the passage was difficult yet Cavaliers of courage being daring men and once resolved nothing could seeme difficult unto them to gaine honour and credit to themselves and Country especially being made choice of by a King out of his Armie to give testimony publikely in view of the whole Armie of their valour and resolution exemplary forcing their enemies to give ground for them and theirs having had not one foote of ground on that side of the water till they should gaine it at their landing for I was none of the actors nor yet of the spectators till I had viewed it the next day being informed particularly by my Camerades of the manner of their on-falling The bridge day over the Maine with six Arches in length being a very faire and spatious bridge over which sixtie men could well march in front lying open unto the Castle batteries and workes the middle Arch whereof being broke a plancke was set over where with difficultie strong-headed Souldiers might crosse one after another under mercy of Cannon and Musket and while as they could but file over the enemy could receive them with full bodies of pikes and muskets which was a great disadvantage and the distance betwixt the water and the plancke would terrifie any to venter over for feare of drowning though he were in no feare of an enemy so that many who went with resolution to passe over returned againe choosing rather to crosse alongst the water in small boates Notwithstanding the enemy would emptie Salves of muskets on them before their landing Neverthelesse Sir Iames Ramsey and Sir Iohn Hamilton in obedience to his Majesties commands with a few Souldiers adventured to crosse the River with small Boates their Souldiers giving fire before their landing and in their landing against their enemies and being happily once landed and beginning to skirmish their Souldiers they left behinde them who before durst not adventure to crosse alongst the plancke seeing their Officers and Camerades ingaged with the enemy to helpe them they ranne over the plancke one after another so fast as they could runne till at last they past all and made a strong head against the enemy till by the valourous Conduct of their Leaders and their following they forced the enemy to give ground retiring unto their workes Their Leaders desirous to gaine further honour and reputation pursued the enemy so hard till they had beaten them out of a Torne they had fled unto At which time Sir Iames Ramsey was shot lame in the left arme and then his Camerade Sir Iohn Hamilton succeeding him both in command and courage notwithstanding of the enemies strength and great fury used against them having disputed with long service for the ground at last it was made good by Sir Iohn and his followers till such time his Majestie had set over after them the most part of the Armie so that they were blocked up on all quarters and forced to remaine within their workes till that against night the service being ceased we with the rest of the Armie were come from Carlstat and quartered that night without the Towne on the other side of the Maine His Majestie before day gave Orders to the Swedes and some Dutch Regiments to
six weekes together uved no great hostilitie but lay secure within our Leaguers as within walled Townes but at such times as we were commanded forth as Convoyes for our Horsemen that went for forrage and then sometimes we lighted on one another striving alwayes for elbowroome whereof at length the Emperialists made us very crimpe or scarce having but one quarter of our Leaguer free to bring in our forrage being onely from the Southwest The thirty-fourth Observation WEE reade in Dion that after Caesar had wonne the Battaile of Pharsalia amongst the honours the Senate had ordained to be given unto him they commanded to dresse for him a Triumphing Chariot which was set opposite to Iupiter within the Capitoll and that he should stand on a Globe representing the world with the inscription Semi-Deus est Even so the Lords of Nurenberg in consideration of the great respect they carried unto his Majesty of Sweden at the first entering their City after the Battaile of Leipsigh they presented two Globes unto his Majesty a Terrestiall and a Coelestiall in signe of their love and obedience unto his Majesty and his Majesty againe by his Royall word promised under God to defend and protect them against all mortalls and being thus engaged unto them their enemies menacing their ruine with a mighty and a strong Army being minded to overcome them with the sword or to make them starve by hunger having closed up as they thought all passes where through succours could come unto them by planting of a wonderfull strong Leaguer about them of intention to blocke them and his Majesties Army both within them being then but weake within their Trenches and walles His Majesty againe like a wise Generall pondering and considering how weighty his enemies enterprizes were in seeking to overcome Nurenberg and knowing if that onâ—â— they did get Nurenberg on their side the rest of the great Cities would follow in regard where of his Majesty resolved the safest course for him and the Towne both was to set downe his Leaguer strongly betwixt the Towne and the enemy aswell to hinder their correspondence in case of their unconstancy as for their defence in case of their loyalty For his Majesty knew well there was as great vertue in keeping of a conquest as in getting of it And therefore at this time as formerly at Statin Werben and at Wertzburg against Tilly he resolved to take him to a defensive warre with the spade and the shovell putting his Army within workes having the supply of such a back-friend as Nurenberg was to assist him with men meate and Amunition untill such time as he might weary his enemy as formerly he had done or that succours might come to him that he were bastant for them in the fields and having thus happily resolved both the Armies strongly intrenched before others they did bring the eyes of all the Potentates in Europe upon their actions and designes to see how the end would prove and who should be thought wisest of both But you shall see that he that was at this time the terrour of the world the subduer of Sweden the daunter of Pole and Denmark and the hope of Britaine Holland and Germany was able even unto his death to suppresse the pride and Tyranny of the house of Austria and of his Ministers and Servants being all but Novices in warres in comparison to the Lyon of the North the invincible Gnstavus who in glory and dignity did farre surpasse all his enemies as is cleered by his former wisdome in Governing his victories and hereby his great care and diligence in preserving his friends from the fury of their enemies exercising his Army within a close Leaguer to handle their Armes well after his owne new discipline being taught to keepe their faces to their enemies in retiring as in advancing never turning backs on their enemies as of old It is also to be admired the great provision this City was provided with being no Sea-towne as of victualls and Amunition where it was reported that they had oates which was distributed to the Army that had bin kept above a hundred yeares and this City was ever from the beginning renowned for their wisdome and policy in counsell more then for their force in Armes from whence did come the Dutch Proverbe that he who had the wit of Nurenberg the money of Vlme the pride of Ausburg with the power of Venice might doe much in this world Here then at Nurenberg as at a safe bay his Majesty like unto a wise Master of a ship perceiving the storme coming on casts out his best Anckers riding out the storme till it blowes over and then finding the Gale to favour him he lanches forth to looke for his enemies For his Majesty knew well when it was time to give a blow as he did know the surest way to ward and hold off a blow and we see here his Majesties counsell was of much worth to the good of the City as his power in Armes so that his very enemies did not only praise his wisdome but oftimes did admire it and as the enemy did strive to starve us his Majesty knew well that such a strong Army as they were in the dogge-dayes lying in the Leaguer in time of so great infection betime would become neere as weake as we were As also his Majesty knowing the evill that is incident to all Armies through idlenesse he pressed to keepe us still in handling and exercising our Armes for he knew well mans nature was like Iron that did rust when it was not used and on the contrary he knew that well exercised Souldiers as he had would desire to fight when Novices as his enemies had would be afraid to stirre out of their Leaguers for oftimes it is not the multitude doth the turne but it is Art begets victory Having spoken in the discharge of this duty of the actions of some worthy personages I minde here to observe somewhat in commemoration of the persons worths that did leade them First then we see that the Spaniard divers times was forced with little credit to retire out of the Paltz and that in respect he never turned faces about in making use of ground Cannon Pike or Musket which proves his retreates to have bin dishonourable and the Leaders to have bin no Souldiers For we presuppose in foure dayes retreat the defender could once have made choise of ground where making use of his Cannon his enemies would be glad they had not advanced so farre but rather that they had suffered them to passe but an enemy once feared never fights well except extremity make him desperate and then it is not safe to deale with him Likewise we see here as they were not all Spaniards that fled so they were not all Swedens that followed so that we finde there are some good of all Nations but it is certaine that at such times the worth and valour of a Leader is best knowne not only in fighting
of Pikes goes to bring out the Colours to be placed in Front of the Company before they march As also the Colours are to be conveyed againe in this manner at all lodging and dislodging The Company marching to Parad or watch with complete Officers the Captaine leads off six Rots of Musketiers his Drumme beating betwixt the second and the third Ranke then followes up after that division the oldest Sergeant leading up the first five Rots of Pikemen the Ensigne leading up the other Division of Pikes his Furer furing his Colours after him and the second Drummer beating betwixt the two Divisions then the Lievetenant leads up the last Division of Musketiers being six Rots also and coming in equall Front with the rest the Captaine making a signe for the Drumme beating they order their Armes the Captaine standing in Front on the Right hand the Ensigne on his left and the Lievetenant on the left hand of both with a Sergeant on each Flancke and the under-Beifells with halfe Pikes stand in the Reare of the Company Twelve Companies thus complete would make up three Squadrons every Squadron of Pikes and Muskets being drawne up severall apart after the former example of the lesse body Pikes and Colours on the right hand and the Musketiers on the left which three Squadrons thus drawne up and complete would make a complete Briggad of Foote to be divided as followes viz. eight Corporall-ships of Musketiers being thirty-two Rots divided in foure Plottons every Plotton being eight in front led off by a Captaine and every Division after him led up by a sufficient Officer till at a haulte all were drawne in even front after this Division should follow the thirty-six Rots of Pikes being twelve Corporall-ships with their Colours a Captaine leading off the first five Rots before the foure Colours should stirre where betwixt the second and third Ranke of the first Division of Pikes the Drummer should beate then the Ensignes should leade off the other Division their Furers with their Colours following them till they drew up in even Front with the first Division of Pikes which ought to be in one Front with the thirty-two Rots of Musketiers that make the right wing of the Briggad keeping their Armes orderly shouldered till they were commanded otherwise and their Sergeants ought to looke unto the Flanks till such time that the whole Squadron of Pikes being thirty-six Rots were drawne up in even Front with the Musketiers after this manner the other Squadron of Pikes being thirty-six Rots also which should make the Battaile of the Briggad ought to march by Divisions being led up in all respects and order after the manner of the former Squadron of Pikes till they were in even Front with the rest then the other thirty-two Rots of Musketiers belonging to that Squadron which are appointed to be the Battaile of the Briggad ought to be led up as the first Division of Musketiers were in all points which ought to draw up at a reasonable distance behinde their owne Squadron of Pikes appointed for the Battaile of the Briggad where their Sergeants on the Flancks ought to looke to their order and not to suffer them to stirre their Armes till they were commanded And after them should march up the last Squadron of Pikes in all respects observing the order of the former Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his panne and prime againe
having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike-men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musketiers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they double Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the rìght hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left han◠double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place