also carrie his Bullet bagge in which hee shall beare his Moulds to cast his Bullets also his Wormes with which he shall cleare his peece when at any time it is cloid either by mischance or ignorance and his Screwes with which he shall vnloose euery vice-pinne or engine about the Musquet when he either intends to take it in peeces or else to scowie it to mend any thing that is out of frame or otherwise to vnbreech it and lastly he shall carrie in it his priming yron being a small artificiall wiar with which he shall clense and keepe open the touch-hole of his peece so as the priming powder may enter in and make the peece goe off vpon the first touch of any sparke with which it encounters all this perfitted he shall bee armed with a good and very sufficient musquet being of as neate and nimble a cast as can bee made prouided it bee strong cleane wrought and of a good temper of yron the Barrell must bee in length foure foot and a halfe and the bore according to the size of a full Musquet and tried by the gage or allowance of the Tower of London the Stocke must be straight cleane and smoothe wrought without knots or flawes in any part but especially towards the lower end the extreamest part at the nether end below the breech should be at least eight inches in depth flat and smoothe so as if the peece happen a little to recoyle yet it may not offend the Souldiers body and the wood of which these Stockes are made would be either good Wallnut-tree good Peare-tree or some other fast firme and smoothe light wood which is neither apt through the shortnesse of the graine quickly to breake nor yet through the largenesse to split or riue in sunder you must haue regard that the barrell be smooth euen and not galled within that it carry the full bore equally cleane throughout and not carry Musquet bore at the top and hardly Harquebusse in the bottome for it is an abuse too frequent amongst our Gun-makers and the effect is nothing else but deceit and the peece of such a bore is hardly so good as a Pistoll see that the pan be tight and the touch-hole vnworne for if it bee otherwise the one will scatter and lose the powder the other will blow backe in the Souldiers face or else recoyle and doe greater mischiefe and on the contrary part if the hole be too little the powder will want passage and the piece will hardly go off without much toyle and great losse of labour see that the breech be strong and close all the screwes and pinnes about it fast and sure the scowring stick straight round smooth and headed with a rammer of yron sutable to the bore of the peece let the Cocks and Trickers be nimble to goe and come for as concerning Seares they are vtterly out of date and the Inconueniences are found in our daily experience for vpon euery motion or touch of the Souldiers garments they are apt to make the piece flie off before there is occasion killing sometimes him that marcheth behind sometimes him that is before sometimes sets fire on him that beares it and sometimes wounds his Officer that comes to giue him direction so that for these and the like mischiefs they are vtterly forbidden neither is the charge of a Tricker greater then that of a Seare and whosoeuer shall bee drawne to reformation there wil be found little or no ods at all in the bargain only the stupidity and blockishnesse of our ignorant wilfull Plebeians is so great that but with huge difficultie they can neuer be brought to relish any alteration especially if there be but the value of one penny betwixt them and their first custome or that any debausht fellow who hath either runne from his Colours beene an vnder-slaue to a Sutlers boy and now for his last refuge keeps a Tipling house in the Countrey for men of his equall qualitie If he I say will but affirme what they surmise it is not the wisedome of Nestor nor the experience of Caesar no not Apollos Oracle which is able to change any part of their resolution to this I haue been a pregnant witnesse and at this I haue often smiled chiefly when I haue seene some of more eminent condition how well they could be pleased to be flattered in their owne yet a false opinion But to returne againe to the arming of this Souldier he shall haue for his right hand a handsome Rest of Ash or other light wood with an yron pike in the nether end and an halfe hoope of yron aboue to lay the Musquet in when hee rests it and double strong strings shall be fastened neere thereunto to put ouer the left arme when at any time the Souldier shall haue occasion to traile the same Now as touching the length of these Rests there is not any certaine quantitie thereof for howsoeuer generally they are foure foot and vpward yet they should be according to the stature of the partie which beares them carrying the Musquet so euen that hee may in a comely manner discharge at a leuell without very much bending either of his shoulders or bodie Lastly if about his necke hee haue a piece of Buffe or quilted leather cut in the proportion of a large Gorget and extending to the vttermost poynts of his shoulders he shall finde both profit and ease therby for it will both saue his garments from wearing with the Musquet and also make the burthen lesse and more easie To conclude then for the Bastard Musquet which differeth nothing from the full Musquet but in the bore onely and the charges which must be made sutable to the bore they are of excellent vse for they carrie as farre as the full Musquet and pearce as deepe though their bore be lesse and their lightnesse and nimblenesse to those which are weaker and of much lesse abler bodies is such an ease and comfort that they are able both to hold out in Marches and in Seruice with any man how strong or potent soeuer Now for their arming it is in all poynts like that of the full Musquet without any difference for as their Seruice is alike so alike are their Accoutrements and what adornes the one is as seemely and becomming for the other so that it shall be needlesse to wade further in this Discourse but leaue the rest to the discretion of the Captaine in whose power it is to alter and dispose of his Armes according to his owne will and the rule of his Iudgement TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND IVDICIOVS EMANVELL SCROOP Lord SCROOP of Bolton and Lo President of the North. THE ARGVMENT Of the Arming of Pikes SInce my Lord you are by his Maiesties fauor the Viceroy or President of your Country on whom all these Military actions depend I cannot be perswaded but any thing which comes cloathed with this Title and carrying the Badge of experimented Truth shall find from you
all carefulnes and secrecie for by Martiall Law it is death to discouer it contrary to appointment If any muteny happen in the company the Serieant vpon commitment shall guard them till they bee deliuered ouer to the Prouost hee ought to bee a punnisher of all sinne and an encourager to vertue In the absence to the superior Officers he commands as much as the Captaine he deuids euery Squadron to the places which are most fitting conducts them to their watches directs both the Corporalls and Souldiers what they are to doe and appoints how all the Sentinels must be placed to the best aduantage To be short it is one of the maine and principall points of his Office as conueniencie will giue him leaue to draw forth the short and to teach them the manage and true vse of the Peece and how in the comliest and brauest manner that may be to conforme both the weapon and their bodies to the most excellentest Postures as first by laying a Musquetiers Armes confusedly before him to command him to Take vp his Armes that is to say hauing his Morian on his head and his Sword by his side he shall first take vp his Bandeliers with his right hand and put them on with the same then take vp his Match and put one end betweene his little finger and his Ring finger of the left hand and the other end betweene the Ring finger and the great finger of the same hand then take vp his Rest and put it into his left hand then stepping forward with his right Legge take vp the Musquet within a hand full of the vpper end ank so raise it vpright then letting his hand sinke let him Iert it vp without sloping and so catch it by the breech and then laying the Rest to it let him shoulder it then the Serieant shall command him to Prepare for Skirmish that is to say hee shall light his Match at both ends put Bullets in his mouth and change his Rest if it bee in his right hand into his left Then the Sergeant shall teach the Souldier to Rest his Musquet then The Sentinell Posture then the Saluting Postures and all these Postures are to be done standing still After this he shall teach him the Postures which are to be performed in marching as Shoulder your Musquet and carry your Rest in your right hand Leuell your Musquet and Slope your Musquet Then the Postures which are to be performed in charging as Cleere your Pan Prime your Pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose powder Blow your pan Cast about your Musquet with both your hands and traile your Rest Open your charges Charge your Musquet with powder Draw your scouring Sticke Shorten your Sticke Rame in your powder Draw out your Sticke Charge with Bullet Rame in your Bullet Draw out your Sticke Shorten your Sticke and put it vp Bring your Musquet forward with the left hand Hold it vp in your right hand and recouer your Rest And lastly he shall teach him the Postures which are to be performed in discharging as Carry the Rest in the left hand preparing to giue fire Slope your Musquet and let the Rest sinke In the right hand poyze the Musquet In the left hand carry the Musquet with the Rest In the right hand take your Match betweene the second finger and the thumbe Hold the match fast and blow it Cocke your Match Trie your Match Guard your pan and blow your match Open your pan Present your Musquet Giue fire Dismount your musquet and carry it with the Rest Vncocke your match and put it vp betweene your fingers Now assoone as your Sergeant hath taught all these Postures perfectly and that the Souldier can doe them readily nimbly and exactly with a comely grace and a braue presence he shall then instruct the Souldier how to reduce and bring all this great number of Postures as namely the fiue which are done standing the three marching the eighteene charging and the fourteene discharging which are only for Military Instruction into three only and no more and which three he shall only vse in seruice or before the face of the enemie and no other and they are thus pronounced Make ready which containes all the Postures which are done either standing still or marching the next Present which containes all the Postures in Charging and lastly Giue Fire which containes all the Postures in Discharging Besides these he shall also teach them how to giue their vollies with those in their Ranke as when the first Ranke haue giuen their vollie if the Battalia march then that first Ranke to stand still and the second to passe through it and so giue their vollie and then to stand and the third to aduance vp and so consequently all the Rankes but if the Battalia stand the first Ranke hauing giuen their vollie shall fall backe to the Reare either in wheele or in countermarch and the second Ranke shall come into their places and giue their vollie and so consequently all the rest but if the Battalia fall backe or Retire then shall all the shot stand still and no man aduance a foote of ground but the first Ranke shall giue their vollie and then fall backe to the Reare so likewise the second Ranke and fall backe in like manner and so all the rest till they haue lost so much ground as to the Commander shall seeme sufficient so shall the vollie still be continued and the enemie neuer free from anoyance To conclude a good Serieant is an admirable benefit and if he liue and execute his place well any long time no man deserueth aduancement before him for besides all that hath beene spoken of him hee is of wonderfull vse in all Scalados Assaults Mines or things of that Nature and if to beautifie all the precedent vertues he likewise be inriched with any small proportion of learning espetially in the Art of Arithmaticke whereby he may iudge of the alteration and proportion of sundry bodies and how to deuide and subdeuide numbers at his pleasure then I dare affirme he is an absolute Serieant nor can his Captaine wish or desire a rarer or better Iewell to depend vpon his person TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN LORD MORDANT OF TVRVY THE ARGVMENT The Office of the Ensigne THe Ensigne or Alferes as the Spaniard cals him is my good Lord the first great Officer of a priuate Company for all the former howsoeuer necessary are but petty and low places this only the first of Eminence and Account and therefore in his election great consideration is to bee had and to the making vp of his perfection many great vertues are required as Valour Wisedome Fidelitie and Honestie he hath the guard of his Captaines Colours and therein is trusted with his Honour and Reputation and if hee be comely of person strong and amiable hee is a greater glorie to his place and more becomming in Seruice but because in the Warres Officers expect to be aduanc't by
a noble respect for I know not any to reward vertue but vertue nor any in these secure times that will looke on a Souldier but he that hath a daily vse of his knowledge if such you Lordship looke for this questionles will not hurt you and how euer it want something that you desire yet in the volume you shall find enough to giue an honest satisfacton The course to which I am drawne in this Epistle is the manner of arming the Pike which being the first and most principall weapon which guardeth an Armie may challenge from euery Commander the seuearest respect in adorning thereof I doe not meane the greater more eminent sort of persons which serue with this weapon but only the priuate and common Souldier such as make not vp one Fyle or one Ranke but fashion whole Bodyes and Grosses of what quantitie soeuer The persons for this weapon are to be chosen out of the better sort of men such as are tall comely actiue and valiant yet in this choyce you are not so constantly to stand vpon proportion and outside as discreetly to consider the setled inclination of euery Souldier and to what armes by his owne nature he is principally adicted In which Inquisition that you may be sure not to faile it is not amisse for euery Captaine to apply his men vnto sundry weapons and to that which he seeth him approach with the greatest facility and delight in that to stay him and incourage him for so shall the Commander be best serued and the Souldier grow skilfull with the least amaze and trouble When therefore you haue attayned a body answerable to the vse and vertue of this weapon you shall then arme him after this manner vpon his head hee shall weare a good and sufficient Spanish Morian well lined within with a quilted Cap of strong huswiues linnen for Buckram which is the vsuall lyning is too course and galleth the Souldiers head as also it is too stiffe and vnplyable by which meanes it will not quilt like the other the eare plats shall bee lined also and with a string be made fast vnder his neather chap which will keepe the Morian constantly vpon his head and breed lesse trouble to the Souldier in the heare of encounters The auncient custome of arming the Pikemans head hath beene with a Burgonet but the inconvenience thereof hath beene found for when the Burgonet is made fast vnto the head if in a charge the Enemie hit vpon the hye broad Crest which goeth thwart the crowne of the head with the push of his Pike then it is ten to one but hee either breaketh the Souldiers necke or at least ouerthroweth him to the ground or if to saue the hazard the Burgonet be loose or the string vnder the chappe breake then he disarmeth his head and so leaueth him in greate danger at euery encounter And hence it is that all Burgonets are disallowed and only the Morian or close round cappe of steele with a small welt on the top thought meete for the vse of this Souldier About his necke he shall haue a large easie and well compast Gorget arming as close to his doublet as is possible prouided it pinch not and ouer this Gordget vpon his body he shall cast a payre of Curaces that is to say the breast plate and backe part which Curaces shall be of a nimble and good mould and fashioned according to the nearest easiest and fittest apparell which is for a mans body for though the variation of our apparell be Infinite and without either reason measure or order yet it is not meete that armes should bee so changeable but that rather a man should frame his apparell to his Armes then his Armes to his apparell for needle and thrid will doe the one but fire and the hammer is required to the other these Curaces must be at least hye Pike proofe for that is the allowance of our Nation to bee greater is but burd'nous to the Souldier and bringeth neither ease nor profit as for the leathers and Buckles with which informer times this Armor was fastned about the Souldier they shall now be neglected and instead thereof euery seuerall member of the Armour shall be made fast about them with Claspes of Iron hooked or pinned together either with hookes or cleft pinnes of Brasse or Iron for the leathers at euery encounter are soone cut in pieces but these neuer at the neather part of his Breast-plate hee shall haue a payre of faire lardge Taces reuited in sundry Ioynts and made in such true compasse that they may arme close all the Belly and forepart of the Souldier euen downe to his midde thigh vpon his shoulders hee shall haue a large payre of well moulded Pouldrons which shall arme him from the top of the Shoulder down to the Elbow But as touching the Vantbrace which armeth from the elbow to the hand they are not greatly materiall in this case neither are they respected or required in our Musters It is true that the Pouldrons and Taces are many times likewise neglected the first because it hindreth a little the vse of the arme the latter because of the burthen and some hiderances in swift marches but in as much as they are still required by all our supreame Commanders and that the benefit farre exceedeth the trouble therefore in this discourse I must giue them all possible allowance Lastly all these seuerall parts of Armor is rather to bee of a Russet or blacke collour then mil'd for they are least perceiued in the night are fittest for secret Ambuscadoes and preserueth it selfe the longest time from Rust and putrefaction In his right hand he shall haue a stronge straight yet nimble Pike made of a well growne Ashe and headed with a Pike of steele being also armed with plates of Iron downeward from the head at least foure or sixe foote deepe vpon the staffe the Pike shall bee in length full fifteene foote besides the head It hath beene an auncient Custome to arme Pikes in the mid'st Iust in that place where the Souldier shall carry it when hee either marcheth or shouldereth it either with cloathe veluet silke or other stuffe either according to fancy or in obseruation of the Captaines Colours for the space of eighteene Inches or thereabouts but by reason of some suggestyons against it as nourishing of the worme fretting the Pike with dust and such like it is now not so much respected yet in that I know it is comely to the eye and some helpe to the younge Souldier in shewing him the true place where he shall carry his Pike in Marching Shouldering Sloaping and the like I will therefore leaue it to the discretion of euery Commander assuring my selfe that howsoeuer curiossity may repine yet notwithstanding Iudgement may make it tollerable The Pikeman shall haue by his left side a good sharpe and broad Sword of which the Turkye or Bilboe are the best the length of the blade being a full
this that your noble Name this noble Subiect haue the chance to meet together and imbrace in this short Epistle for it is not onely Warre which your Honour I know will both loue and allowe but it is the best and noblest kind of warre with which now I must crowne this third Decad Warre on Horsebacke Warre which is compounded of two most excellent Ingredians Man which is the neerest to God in his Image and the Horse which is the neerest to man of all sensible creatures in vnderstanding the one I know you must loue for himselfe the other I know you will loue for the goodnesse of his vse and both being dedicate to the Seruice of their King and Countrey cannot but draw a respect of greater valew If it be so what can take my pen from the paper or but draw the shadow of an affright before mine Epistle trust me I think nothing for being arm'd with a purpose which hath no end but vertue I know I shall encounter with a fauourable Interpretation and that 's to me beyond all merit all profit I haue my Lord in the former Decads briefly runne ouer all the Inferiour or lower Officers of the Infanterie in which I haue touched their Elections Vertues Vses Duties it remaineth now that I likewise ascend as many steps in the Cauallarie or Horse-Cornets and though not in so many and so large discourses for that were to make infinite gates to little cities yet will I so linke and chaine them together that one shall not peepe with an halfe face ouer the others shoulder but stand open and plaine that each may bee knowne by his owne true and naturall complexion All Horse-Troups commonly doe consist of common Souldiers Corporals a Quarter-Master a Trumpet a Clerke a Cornet and a Lieutenant These Troups are also of sundry sorts as Men at Armes or Launciers the armed French Pistoleirs the Carbines and the Light-horse The first of these are armed at all pieces from the head to the knee with a close Caske and Curaces of Pistoll-proofe a Lance in his right hand a Sword by his left side and a case of Pistols at the forepart of his Saddle the Horse is caparison'd with strong Leather a Headstall Noseband and Raynes with a faire Bit in his mouth a Saddle plated before and behind with Steele Brest-plate or Petterell Crooper Trappings and Saker The Horse himselfe should be of the proudest and best generation of the largest Size his pace trotting for the most part stoned though lustie strong and large Gueldings may be tollerable and exceeding well ridden and manadg'd for the Warres being quicke and nimble to start into a swift cariere easie to stop and ready to turne on both hands without any disorder or knauish qualitie the vse of these are to charge vpon Pikes to breake their Battalions and to put them into rout and disorder The second sort which are armed Pistolleirs are in all points to bee accoutred like the former Launciers without any difference onely instead of the Lance and short Pistoll he shall haue a case of long French Pistols of full two foot barrell but not with French locks for they are oft out of temper nor knowes euery simple and raw Souldier how to handle them but with good strong Snaphaunces or fire-lockes they serue for the same vse which the former doe onely they doe not charge fully so farre home but hauing let slie their Pistols wheele charge and come on againe they are of admirable benefit and doe soone disorder a battell and being disordered they are great executioners The third sort which are Carbines are armed Petronels they haue for Armes a faire Burgonet or Morian on his head a Gorget Curaces of proofe and Pouldrons to the elbowe but no more they haue Swords by their sides and at their Saddles faire Petronels with Flaxe Touch-boxe Bullet-bagge and other necessaries the Horse should be a strong nimble tall Guelding swift couragious and well ridden hee should haue a Headstall Raynes and Bitt a Petrell Cropper and a faire Buffe Saddle of the Morocco fashion the vse of them is as Musquets amongst Pikes for they wing the Launces or Pistolleirs and deliuer their volleys further off and when Battels are broken they are great executioners The last sort are the Light-horse whose Armes are a Morian or Steele cap for his head a Gorget and a light paire of Curaces onely or else a Iacke a Plate coat or a Shirt of Male in his right hand a slender Chasing stasse and at his Saddle pommell a case of short Pistols his horse should bee of a fine light nimble trotting Guelding of a middle size and well ridden his furniture a small Headstall Raynes and Snaffle a light Scotch Saddle a Petterell and a Crooper their vse is to gallop foorth and to discouer to charge vpon loose wings of Shot to search and find out vnknowne passages and when Battels are broken to pursue the chase and to finish vp the execution To these the Low-countries haue produced another sort of Horsemen which their experience there haue found out to be of notable vse and they call them Dragoons which I know not whether I may tearme them Foot-Horse-men or Horse-Footmen for they are Musquetiers on horsebacke and are imployed for the taking and maintaining or at least for preuenting the enemy from taking of Passages or Foords which leade ouer Riuers These mounted Musquetiers are euer eleuen in a raunge and when they come to the Passage ten of them doe alight and the eleuenth holdeth the Horses which threeding their bridles one into another is very orderly done and with great speed and when they come to remount againe they finde their horses in readinesse for them The Bodies or whole companies euer consist of one hundred ten men that is to say an hundred for Seruice ten to take charge of the Horses In Horse-Troupes the common Souldier is Sentinell as in the Foot-company neither is there any difference more then the Horse betweene them and the foot Sentinels either in order or dutie they haue also their Companies deuided into Camarados or Fellowships which march cabin and feed together two Camarados make a Squadron which Squadron is euer commanded by a Corporall and the Office of the Corporall of Horse containeth in all points the full duties of both the Corporall and Serieant of foot The Quarter-master of Horse is the same which the Harbinger or Furrier of the Foot is the Trumpet the same which the Drum Phiph is onely differing in the tearmes and sounds of the Instrument for the first point of warre is Butte sella Clap on your saddles Mounte Cauallo mount on horseback Tucquet march Carga carga an Alarme to charge Ala Standardo a retrait or retire to your Colours Auquet to the watch or a discharge for the watch besides diuers other points as Proclamations Cals Summons all which are most necessary for euery Souldier both to know and obey The Clerke of the
between the Prince the Captaine and the Souldier he ought to haue the two best parts of a Gentleman Valour and Temperance for howsoeuer there haue bin a false position held a mongst Souldiers that Muster-masters must be Pen-men and not men of the Sword yet there is errour in the conceit for I haue in mine owne experience knowne Captaines and Muster-masters equally to exchange and alter their conditions Muster-masters becomming Captaines and Captaines Muster-masters and indeed not without great reason for beleeue it this place euer deserueth a full Captaines experience Againe whereas in the old lesse orderly times it was not lawfull for the Muster-master to take Musters without the presence of the Treasurer the rude Soldier taking vpon him an ill libertie to bend his Pike vpon him vnlesse hee came vnder that protection yet it is now otherwise and the Muster-master may take his view or musters of the Souldiers when he please where he please and in what maner he please prouided it be done with an honest vprightnes without any enuious crueltie against the Captaine or by withdrawing from the Souldier his full meanes and due reckoning As concerning the principall parts of his office and dutie they consist chiefly in the taking of Musters that is to say in the taking of a full and perfect view of all the seuerall Souldiers of euery Band and Troupe as well the officers from the first to the lowest as the others which are inferiour collecting into a Booke the names and surnames of euery person their ages haires complexions and other especiall markes as also their Armes and Weapons of euerie seuerall kinde their Horses Furnitures and other especiall markes to them belonging with whatsoeuer else may auaile and helpe his knowledge heereafter when hee shall haue a cause to take a reuiew of the same And that this may be done more effectually and for the discharge of those greater officers as our Lord Lieutenants or their deputies by whom armies are first raised euery Captaine at his arriuall at the maine Rendiuous shall when hee bringeth his Souldiers before the Muster master to bee first viewed and receiued into pay deliuer to the Muster-master the Indenture which passed betweene him and the Lord Lieutenant or his Deputie at whose hands he receiued his men and by that the Muster-master shall call view euery man and his seuerall Armes particularly by themselues which found iust and according to the Indenture and the Instructions of the Generall presently the Muster-master shall giue vnto the Captaine a Warrant of Entery containing the Captaines and his officers names together with the full number of Souldiers as they are allowed in list with their seuerall payes and entertainments the day from whence such pay shall enure or begin which Warrant signed vnder the Muster-masters hand and seale the Captaine shall deliuer to the Treasurer or vnder-Treasurer and from thenceforth receiue his pay accordingly The second taking of Musters is when the Souldiers are to depart into the field or goe vpon any present or great seruice at which time the Muster-master shall by a Booke receiued from the Captaine or his Clarke and compared with his owne first Booke take a view of all the Souldiers and Armes finding them strong and sufficient giue them by a bill vnder his hand full allowance for their meanes as was before shewed Now the third taking of Musters is after seruice performed or when there is supposed to be any losse or decay in the Army and this Muster he shall take by the first second booke ioyntly compared together and recording downe all such as shal be lost either by the Sword by sicknesse or by any other casualtie also to take speciall notice of the exchange or alteration of any Soldier or when any new man is entred that an honest and true account may be kept betweene him the Captaine and the Souldier for full count and reckoning and in this muster or any other if hee shall find the company not to be full or in strength according to the list then shall he defalke and make checke vpon the same and in his certificat vnto the Treasurer shall set downe the true and full number which shall be paid and no more As thus at these three especiall times he shal take these seuerall viewes so shall he also doe at any other time when the Generall shall appoint or vpon the suit of any Captaine who hauing bene checkt and hath againe made vp his Company strong as before desireth to haue it againe reuiewed that he may receiue certificat for his full entertainment And in this taking of Musters or viewes it is a great caution which euery Muster-master ought to obserue that by all meanes as hee makes seuerall distinctions of names and Armes so he must also distinguish nations persons and not suffer the French to passe vnder the name of English nor Italian vnder the Dutch for it is a matter of great consequence such vndistinguisht mixtures haue bred many confussions in the greatest armies and therefore after the first warning they are to be checkt and punisht seuerely If the Army liue vpon lendings then at euery six moneths end there is a count and reckoning to be had betweene the Prince and euery Souldier which hath suruiued and liued in the armie the full space of six moneths and vpward as thus for example the ful pay of euery common Soldier is eight pence per diem which amounteth to foure shillings eight pence the week so that hauing but three shillings a week lendings there remaineth twentie pence a weeke to reckon for at the sixe moneths end which commeth to betwixt forty shillings or seuen nobles a man which commonly is paid in prouant apparell It therefore appertaineth to the Muster-master by comparing his seuerall Books together and noting the deaths and exchanges of men to make out his certificat to the Prouant-masters or Treasurer what apparell or money shal be deliuered to euery Captaine This dutie I haue knowne performed by an officer called the Controller of Musters which because it stands vpon no old foundation but by him that euilly found it out was as euilly put in execution I would be loath therefore either to giue it allowance or president And therfore to conclude this Epistle it is to be vnderstood that for as much as armies are large and extend into many parts so as it is impossible for any one man to exercise all these duties in his owne person and in euery place therefore euery Muster-master hath allowed vnder him diuers Deputies or Substitues which are called the Commisaries of Musters who haue the full powers of Muster-masters and may performe all things in such sort as hath been formerly declared and haue for the same competent allowances besides commonly the dead pay of one priuat Souldier from euery Captaine that is within his Muster Little more then what I haue declared doth depend vpon this Officer and all that is
spoyle Forragers to Watch to Ward to Scout to serue for great Caualgadas or Ambuscados and to Skirmish then to bee light Armed and most nimbly mounted according to a former instruction and if to both these and the former be allowed for euery two men a light boy mounted on a small Hackney to attend them it will not only bring a benefit to the Colony but also make the seruice to be better performed and where the Liuetenant Colonell findeth any defect in these armings hee is out of his owne perticuler authoritie to see there bee a speedy Reformation It is his Office to see that his Colonels Regiment doe not at any time lose the true dignity of their places but in as much as it is a Rule in Armes that in all marches the Generalls Regiment shall euer haue the Vantguard and the rest alternately by turnes that is to say he that this day hath the Vauntguard the next day shall haue the Reare hee shall therefore carefully looke to those changes and when his Colonels turne commeth hee shall challenge the same and not suffer any man to step in betweene him and his Honor and likewise in what place of the Armie soeuer his Regiment doth march he shall obserue that the Colonels companie continually doe take their place vpon the left wing of his owne Regiment also he shall see that in true Marshalling of the Regiment the Colonels Cornet or Guiddon doe march euer vpon the head the Liuetenant Colonels and the Serieant-Maiors Cornets one Ranke behind the Colonels and the Inferior Captaines one Ranke behinde the Liuetenant Colonels and the Serieant-Maiors Also he shall haue a speciall respect to the marching of euery Officer and that they keepe their due places in due forme that is to say that the Captaine and the other Officers doe each of them march vpon the head of his owne Squadron the Liuetenant only excepted who shall march in the Reare accompaned with the Quarter-Master and the eldest Corporall shall march vpon the head of the Liuetenants Squadron for it is the priueledge of his place and a due which he may require in all Armies Againe the Liuetenant Colonell shall looke to the orderly seperation and deuiding of all his Regiment seeing them cast into Rankes and Files according to true marshall discipline prouiding that the Files be neuer aboue fiue men deepe for it is impossible to bring in depth more hands to fight at one instant he shall also see that when they march in Battalia then they shocke close together and as it were ioyne Cush to Cush But if it be to performe any Euolution or alteration of figure whether of greater or lesser quantitie then he shall see that they obserue at least sixe foote distance which is supposed to be a full Horse length betweene one horseman and another lastly when Regiments come to be drawn together and ioyned one with another in their seuerall Battalias then shal the Liuetenant Colonel see that there be a double distance held which is fiue and twenty Foote betweene euery seuerall company in his Regiment and a double double distance which is fiftie Foote betweeene his Regiment and any other so that in all motions on Horsebacke there is only to bee obserued but these foure certaine distances the first Close as Cush to Cush the second Open which is sixe foote the third Double-Distance which is fiue and twenty foote and the last Double Double Distance which is fifty foote of these but two of them are to be vsed in discipline as ether in seruice vpon the face of the enemie or in drilling and exercising the Troops to make them perfect for seruice those are the first two Close and Open wherein the Liuetenant Colonell is to obserue that when at any time he causeth the Squadrons to open entierly that then he must first open the Rankes and after the Files and in closing of the Battalia he must first close Files and then Rankes and in both these he must vse only but the two first Distances as if he close Files it must be Close that is Cush to Cush leauing no streete at all if he open Files there must euer be sixe foote distance betweene one File another so likewise in Rankes if hee close them it must be to the Horse buttocke without leauing any streete at all and if hee open them it must bee sixe foote betweene the buttocke of the former horse and the head of his follower also in marches the Rankes must neuer open aboue sixe foote neither in any other Motion whatsoeuer Now that the Troops may march orderly and keepe their true distances in a direct and Souldierlike manner He shall obserue that wheresoeuer his Regiment mooueth that then all moue together in one Instant and assoone as the head or Vanguard beginneth that in the same time the Reare bee ready to follow so shall they still keepe their proportion Iust neither shall any error be found in their proceedings No lesse necessary then these Rules already declared are the words of Command by which euery Troope or Regiment is gouerned and directed and therefore it is the Liuetenant Colonels charge to prouide that not any Captaine in his Regiment vse any friuolous or new words of his owne Inuention but only such as shall be generally receiued through the whole Armie for an vnknowne language is such a Babilonian confusion in the eares of an ignorant Souldier that nothing but amazement and error accompany such speeches Therefore the words which are continually in vse are to be commended to euery Officers memory which because they differ in nothing from those which command the foote I will therefore referre you to that former Epistle in which all the generall words of directions are at large declared For all other perticularities which shall necessarily depend vpon this great Officers duty you must haue patience to behold them in the Office of the Colonell himselfe to whom since hee is the Imediate second and chiefe Substitute it is therefore to be imagined that whatsoeuer the Colonell is liable to performe that in his absence the Liuetenant Colonel must see effected after the best and most respectiue manner that may be for any remisnesse or slacknes in him carrieth with it a double Iniurie one to himselfe and another to his Colonels reputation and in the warres euery small omission is dangerous for a man ought not to erre twice I could wander infinitly in this maze and make one occasion beget another but I should then both breake promise with your Lordship and my selfe and instead of an Epistle send you a troublesome paper but I will be faithfull to my first purpose and only knit vp mine Epistle with this That if the Liuetenant Colonell doe containe himselfe within the Bounds already prescribed howsoeuer a greater debt may bee challenged yet without doubt little more can well be proued TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM FINES LORD SAY and SEALE THE ARGVMENT Of the
cattalogue of the iust number of the Army together with the true sortment and diuision of euery weapon and in his memory he must euer carry ready framed the formes and proportions of sundry Battailes as quadrats or squares the equall or vnequall Tryangles diamunds and the like any of which he is to sorte fashion to the Grounde according as the necessity of the place requireth euer regarding to giue those Formes the greatest preheminence which are able still to bring the most hands to fight at one instant without disorder or trouble as in the champayne the broade Square is best the bastard or base square where there is aduantage of hedge diche water wood or marrish and the vnequall and imperfect proportion in Straytes amongst Hylls and Mountaines or in craggie or rockie places It is his place to take away all disorder from vnruly and Ignorant souldiers by letting them vnderstand the constant and true place of euery Ensigne as which shall make vp the first rankes Square or diuision which the second which the third and so of the rest wherein although some doe alow a constant rule yet many times it varieth vppon lot and may better be referred to the Serieant-maiors discretion who is to prouide that not the companies which challenge it by right but the companies which are euer best armed be still put into the vangard he shall after he hath framed his Battaile of pykes lyne them with shot on eytherside and not so onely but he shall also haue sundry loose wings of Short trouping by them in a pretty distance remote which shall euer be ready to entertayne any skirmish and keepe the Battayle from disquiet also he shall seriously prouide for the safety of his shot when the enemies horse aboundeth much by drawing out certaine ranks of pykes proportionable to the loose vnguarded shot vnder whose safety vpon euery extremity they shall retyer and then againe make good their places till the seruice be finished It is the Serieant-maior Generals office vpon any day of Battayle to goe to the Generall or Colonell Generall and from one of them to take his directions knowing whether the Generall will haue his owne Regiment to haue the vant-guard or no or otherwise the Battayle or reare which resolued he shall then atend the Lord Marshall to the ellection of the field In which it behotueth the Serieant-maior to be very skilfull in the situation of the Country and to know the distance of places and the difficulties of euery passage with all the seuerall circumstances which shall depend vppon the same as well for the guard and safety of his owne as for the hindrance and anoyance of the enemy so that althings being assured he may then cause the Drumme-maior to beate a remoue and all the Captaines being assembled to the place of armes he shall thence by the directions of the Lord Marshall draw forth the Battayle disposing euery Commander into the places which are most conuenient and framing his Maniples and diuisions sutable to the passages through which they are to march yet by no meanes into a lesse then a third or else fourth part of the front and keeping euery diuision iust tenne deepe and neither more nor lesse and herein he shall haue respect that in drawing vp the Maniples to make an entyre Battayle the Ensignes may fall into their due places as namely the Generalls vppon the head the Lieutenant generall the Lord Marshall the Master of the Ordnance the Treasurer the Colonell general and the Serieant-maior Generall one ranke within the Battell the Colonels of the Infantiue a ranke behinde them and the Captaines a rank behind them He shall haue an especiall care for the safe garding of the munition baggage placing it either before behind or on any side where the enemy is least suspected It is at his discretion to make stands which some call Altoes or Hallts when and at what time he please whereby the souldier may be refresht when he is weary with trauell and it must be done in places fit and commodious for the same as where there is cleane running water some shelter yet a large prospect so as no souldier may offer to straggle but the Officers may both perceiue him reprehend him Now that all these duties may be the better performed this Officer is intended to be euer on Horsebacke yet not vpon a horse of warre but rather vpon a comely and nimble Hackney on which he may ride in amongst the Ranks passe from File to File seeing euery man to performe his dutie in a carefull and modest manner and herein is to be obserued that if in his passages to fro he doe happen to encounter or meet with the Generall although on foot yet shall not the Serieant-maior alight from his Horse but keepe his seat for it is his particular preheminence neither shall he dismount at any time in the day of battel for any such errour is a cloud betwixt him and glory for being on foot he is no more then one man but mounted on horsebacke and assisting with directions he supplieth the places of many hundreds his Armour must be light and nimble being the same pieces which belong to a Foot-Captaine and in his right hand he shall beare a Trunchion with which hee may correct any man that wilfully offendeth as also with it to seperate vnruly horses carriage or baggage which troubles the Battalions or to demonstrat and point out to any thing which he commandeth his ordinary place is neere the person of the Generall or the Colonell generall for from them hee must take many instructions if any Squadrons or maine Bodies be broken hee is to bring Supplies and sawder them vp againe he is called the Guide of the Battel and therfore to looke that all things succeed rightly When the Army is encampt hee giueth the first directions for the Corps de guards charge for the Sentinels it is he that reacknowledgeth the Quarters and taking his orders from the Lord Marshall prouideth for the generall safty of all the Armie as the Watch the Ward the Scout Guard for the Munition Entrenchments and the like of all which I haue entreated something in the former Offices The Serieant-maior is first to take notice of alarmes of all kinds and to examine the causes then to giue information to the Generall and Lord Marshall and so to proceed according to order It is a very landable dutie in the Serieant-maior Generall if in the day of Battell he select and appoint a certaine number of Souldiers who from time to time shall draw forth the hurt maimed and slaine parties which else would trouble the Squadrons and to conuey them to cure or other place for other purpose It is his office to appoint the orders and formes of Camisados and Ambuscados to direct the place where the order how and the manner and forme of Silence he ought to awaken and stirre vp the Generall to the prouision of