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A14722 Anima'dversions of vvarre; or, A militarie magazine of the truest rules, and ablest instructions, for the managing of warre Composed, of the most refined discipline, and choice experiments that these late Netherlandish, and Swedish warres have produced. With divers new inventions, both of fortifications and stratagems. As also sundry collections taken out of the most approved authors, ancient and moderne, either in Greeke. Latine. Italian. French. Spanish. Dutch, or English. In two bookes. By Robert Ward, Gentleman and commander. Ward, Robert, fl. 1639.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver. 1639 (1639) STC 25025; ESTC S118037 599,688 501

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s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s L Reare C S 4. sssss sssss sssss D sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss 6 E ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp 7 S ppppp ppppp ppppp D 2 ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp ppppp 8 S 2. sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss sssss 9. E C S. 2. sssss D pppppppppp D sssss S. 1.   sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss     sssss   pppppppppp   sssss   S. 3. sssss   pppppppppp   sssss S. 4. In this precedent Figure you see the divisions of the Company drawne up into an even body or Battalia all the Fell-leaders standing even in Front together making one Ranke CHAP. LXXV How the Officers are to draw both Pikes and Musquets one File sequenting another into a Ring for the better and speedier exercising them in their postures THe Company standing in an even body as the former Figure shewes before the Captaine shall exercise them in grosse as they now stand the easiest readiest and most convenient way is to see every man particularly doe his postures both of Pike and Musquet Wherefore first draw out the body of Pikes from the shot then command the right Wing of shot to face to the left hand and the left Wing of shot to face to the right hand then Marching forwards joyn their Files together so facing as they were makes them stand in an even body That Officer which intends to exercise the Pikes is to draw them into one side of the Field and some other Officer is to take the Musquets and draw them another way a convenient distance apart so that one division may not interrupt the other then either Officers drawing out their Files one following another leading them round into a Ring the Officers standing in the middest every Souldier facing towards him so that hee may see all their actions and likewise they may heare his words of command and observe how hee handles his Armes that they may imitate him and where he sees any one aukeward and ignorant hee is speedily to step to him and to shew him how to demeane himselfe the words of Command and the postures followe in the next Chapter CHAP. LXXVI How an Officer is to demeane himselfe in the Exercising of the Musquetieres and how every Souldier is to observe and imitate him punctually from Posture to Posture THe Officer having disposed his men as before is shewed himselfe standing in the middest of them taking a Musquet in his hand and Bandelieres about him he shall command silence and being presupposed they stand with their Bandiliers on their match betweene their fingers their Musquets shouldred and their Rests in their hands the Officer commands them to 1 Rest your Musquet This Pocture is performed the Musquet being shouldred First by slipping it then bringing about the right hand and grasping the Musquet at the breech and at the same instant drawing in your right heele to your left ankle with a small jutte of the shoulder you raise the Peece and poise it in the right hand being stretcht out with the Musquet-rest in the left hand likewise stretch'd out then bringing about your left hand and foot you meet the Musquet with your Rest placing it upon the ground aslant from you your Thumbe pressing the side of the Barrell and the Forke of the Rest together your right legge being brought a little forwards standing with a full body towards the mouth of the Peece the But end close to your side above your huckle bone 2 Poise your Musquets This Posture is performed by bringing up the right leg to the ankle of the left the Peece being stayed upon the Rest by the pinching of the Thumbe the right hand at the same motion graspes the Peece at the Breech the middle joynt of the fore-finger plac'd under the Pan the upper joynt next the hand just with the breech-pin the Thumbe upon the inside of the Stocke a little pressing downe the right hand and raising the left with the Rest you receive it and hold it at armes end with the mouth plum upwards the Rest in the left hand with the Arme out-stretch'd the right foot being removed side-wayes at the same instant with the right hand the body will stand full and comely 3 Shoulder your Musquet The Musquet being poised you must bring about your right hand drawing up the heele of your right foot to your left ankle and as your Musquet is ready to touch your left shoulder you must at the same instant bring about your left hand over the But end of the Peece with the Rest in it the ground end of your Rest pointing towards your right thigh joyning the Sear● of the Peece close to your shoulder Note when you intend to poise it as in the former posture you must turne the point of your Rest inwards towarde your left thigh and withall let the Peece slip a little the Breech will lye fit for the right hand to receive it 4 Take your Rest in your right hand fit for march There needs no great commenting upon this Posture onely when the Musquet is shouldred you are take the Rest into your right hand for to be a stay unto you in your march 5 Take your match betweene the fingers of your right hand This Posture is performed by bringing about your right hand and betweene the fore-finger and thumbe thereof take the Match within an inch of the Cole from betweene the little and third finger of the left hand then holding your right hand out from your body 6. Put your Rest string about your left wrist and carry your Rest in your left hand There needs no great circumstance about this Posture onely you having the Rest in your right hand upon a March you now put on the String upon the left hand holding the Rest in it over the But end of the Musquet by which you are in a readinesse to make present use of it 7 Returne your Match betweene the fingers of the Left hand This Posture is performed having the Match betweene the finger and the Thumbe of the right hand you are to bring your Arme about towards the left hand there placing the Cole end of the Match betweene the middle and third finger thereof the light end to the backe of the hand-ward then taking the other end of the Match and place it in like manner betweene the third and little finger by this meanes it is not troublesome but readie to bee
of your right foot with the Stocke towards you your right hand holding it somewhat more than halfe way towards the mouth you stand with a full body boult upright with the Musquet in the same manner by your right side 53 Lay down your Musquet Rest. Match This Posture is performed by stepping forwards with your right foot your selfe and Peece standing as in the precedent Posture then declining with your body you lay it downe gently with the mouth in a right line from you and and the locke upwards after the same manner also your Rest and Match is to be disposed of 54 Take off 55 Lay down your Bandeliers After your hands are free from your Musquet Match and Rest you may with your left hand take off your Hat which may hinder you and with your right hand neatly convey them over your head and so as before lay them downe along by the side of your Musquet but so as the Match may not fire them 56 March from your Armes This is principally used to make the Souldiers apt and ready to finde their owne places againe and to be quicke in re-arming themselves upon a suddaine Allarme The Sentinell Posture is no otherwise then having your Musquet rested primed and charged with powder and Bullet for your better ease and readinesse to give fire upon the Enemy to make an Allarme you stand at that Posture with the But end of your Musquet at your right huckle bone with a light match cockt the mouth of the Peece somewhat mounting and your hand grasping the Stocke with your finger upon the Seare And this shall suffice for the Postures of the Musquet onely you are to draw your Files into an even body againe fit to joyne with the Body of Pikes CHAP. LXXVII How a● Officer is to 〈◊〉 himselfe in the 〈◊〉 of the Pikes and 〈…〉 Souldier ●s to imitate him punctually from Posture to Posture THe Officer having disposed his Pi●●emen as before is shewed and standing in the midst of the Ring with a Pike in his hand after he hath ●●●●●●ded silence and being presupposed that the Souldiers stand with their Pikes advanc'd The Officer commands them to Order your Pikes This Posture is performed the Pike being advanc'd by drawing in your left heele towards the small of your right foot and at the same instant raising your left hand as farre as you can indifferently stretch it you graspe the Pike in it towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end of the Pike and withall sinking your left hand with the Pike in it as low as your skirts you againe raise up your right hand and guiding the Pike with your left you place the But end of it by the out-side of your right foot your right hand holding it even with your eye and your thumbe right up then removing your legge to his former station your left arme being set a kimbo by your side you shall stand with a full body in a comely Posture Advance your Pikes The Pike being ordered as in the former Posture is shewed without changing of your hold you must with your right hand lift the Pike a little from the ground and taking it suddainly againe with the left hand towards the 〈◊〉 end leaving so much length below as you can afterwards reach well with the right hand where it is stayed in the fist at the full length of the arme hanging right downewards your fore-finger and thumbe close at the But end resting it close to your thigh and bearing against the shoulder close to your breast causeth it to stand firme and upright without wavering Shoulder your Pike This Posture may be performed eyther when the Pike is advanc'd or ordered If advanc'd then your left hand is to be brought about to your right side and being stretcht upwards you are to take hold of the Pike towards the top of your head then loosening your right hand which holds the But end the left hand sinkes the Pike downewards sloping in a right line forwarns so that the right hand receiving the second hold as high as it can conveniently reach and graspes the Pike with the thumbe long-wayes upon the Pike and underneath it Then your left hand leaving its former hold immediately graspes the Pike just below your right hand and so both hands being joyned together they gently conveyes it unto the right shoulder leaving the right fist close prest to the Plate bone thereof with your right elbow close downe by your side and your left elbow set a kimbo you stand with an upright full body Note that in acting this Posture your feet are not to bee removed eyther backwards or forwards but occasionally side-wayes as the hands are imployed in the executing this Posture some never stirre any foot at all I leave it as a thing indifferent Levell your Pikes This is performed the Pike being shouldered by bringing your left hand to the Pike and grasping it close under your right hand and withall at the same instant drawing in your left heele towards the 〈◊〉 of your right foot then with an even motion of both your hands you are to raise the butte end of your Pike untill it lyes levell upon your shoulder then returning your hand and foot to their due places you shall stand in a fai●● Posture This may bee performed without moving the foot but then it hath not the like grace with it Slope your Pikes This Posture is performed in the same kind the former was only the hands presseth downe the butte end of the Pike within halfe a foote of the ground which causeth it to lye right sloping Charge your Pikes to the Front This Posture may be performed either when the Pike is advanced or shouldered wherealso you must further observe whether it be to be acted standing or Marching If so be your Pike bee advanced and you are to act this Posture standing Then you must only slip backe your right hand and your right foote a good stride placing your foote side-wayes from your body Then with your left hand you are to receive the Pike about a yard from the butte end holding your elbow in an even distance from your body with your hand close to your breast so that the Pike may have the more freedome to play forwards and backwards just breast-high of a man your left knee being bent for wards and your body yeelding towards the point of the Speare so as you may not easily be thrust back by the Enemy If your Pike be shouldered then you must receive the Pike in your left hand a pretty reach downewards t●wards the butte end of the same at the same instant you are to raise the Pike with your right hand from your shoulder and with your left hand draw in the butt end of the same towards the outside of your right thigh then slipping backe your right foote and hand you receive the butt-end of it you charge it as before
is shewed If this Posture be to be performed Marching your Pike being shouldred then first steppe forwards with your right foote and let your left hand receive the Pike and equall distance from your right hand towards the butt-end of the same raising your Pike forwards with your right hand from your shoulder then at the same instant step forwards with your left foot and receive the butt-end of the Pike with your right hand just behind the side of your right thigh But to performe this Posture ●rooping and your Pike advanced then you are only to step forwards with your left foot and with a little shogge of the shoulder and drawing backe the butt-end of your Pike in your right hand will cause the Pike to fall forwards where your left hand is at the instant to be ready to receive it betweene the Thumbe and the forefingers at a convenient distance Charge to the Horse Note in charging to the Horse it hath beene in former ages used to place the but-end of your Pike in the ground by the inside of your right foot and so to draw your Sword over your left arme and divers Rankes of Musquetiers plac'd to shoot over their heads behind them No question it is a very good way for your Bow-pikes but the former charging is most in use Charge to the Reare You may by the precedent Posture conceive how to charge your Pike either to the right or left hand But for the charging to the Reare the Pikes being either shouldered or advanced is somewhat difficult Therefore you may please to observe that if the Pike bee advanced you must with your left hand take it in his proper place up towards your head then suddenly turning your body about towards your left hand and being faced about you are to thrust backe your right hand with the butt-end of the Pike in it and withall your right leg is to be set out with it this will bring you into the right Posture But if your Pike be shouldered and you are to charge to the Reare then you must take the Pike in your left hand a good distance from your right hand towards the butt-end and at the same instant with your right hand raise the Pike from your shoulder as high above your head towards your left side as possibly you may then standing firme with your left legge you are to bring about your right side and legge towards the left hand about and being halfe turned you are to let loose your right hand and with your left hand you are somewhat to advance the point of the Pike forwards so that the butt-end may bee drawne backe by your right side for your right hand to receive it your right foot also at the very instant being stept backe makes you stand fully charged Port your Pikes This Posture is performed by holding the Pike a halfe distance betweene advancing and charging and was only invented to case the hind most Rankes from the intollerable labour of continuall charging and to secure the Pikes from the Bullets which would have more power to breake them if they hold them advanc'd Besides it is the most aptest and comliest Posture for a Company to use in marching thorow a Port or Gate and most readiest for to charge upon a sudden Checke your Pike This Posture is to be performed at three Motions First if your Pike be shouldered you are to raise it with your right hand from your shoulder and with a ticke of your left hand you are to convey the butt-end of it by your right side then thrusting backe your right with the Pike in it so farre as conveniently may be you are to take a fathom with your left hand as farre towards the Speare end of the Pike as possibly you may then conveying the Pike in your left hand baackward as before you are againe with your right hand to take another fathome within a foot of your Pikes end Lastly stepping forwards with your left foote you bring your left hand withall which receives the Pike within a quarter of a foot of the Speares end Provided alwayes that in all the motions of the hands you suffer not the butt-end to touch the ground untill you have checkt it with your left hand Pikes as you were Trayle your Pikes This Posture is performed after you have used the Circumstances in checking as in the precedent Posture is shewed by bringing up your Right foot even with your left and by removing your right hand just before your left close to the end of the Pike then you are to withdraw your left hand and place it a-kimbo by your side and your right hand will hold the end of the Speare just above your right huckle-bone with your body standing full forwards Pikes as you were Lay downe your Pikes This Posture is to bee performed your Pike being advanced by stepping forwards with your right foot then your right shoulder with a small bearing forwards and with it a little jogge causeth the Pike to meet the left hand which gently conveyes the Speares end to the ground then turning about your right arme in a kind of Circle will cause the backe of your hand to bee next the outside of your right Thigh then leaning your body forwards you convey the butt-end to the ground close at the side of your right foot so as the Pike will lye in an even line from your foot forwards Recover your Pikes and charge This Posture is performed your feet standing even together only owing your body forwards you cause the backe of your right hand to bee put downe close by the out-side of your right foot then in the raising of the butt-end of your Pike you turne your hand with the Pike in it so that the inside of your hand will bee towards your right side Then your left hand in the raising taketh the Pike at a convenient place or distance and elevates it either to the Posture of charging or ordering as the Officer shall please to command The word of Command which the Officer is to use for the reducing of these Postures to their first station is Pikes as you were There are divers other Postures which I doe here omit referring you to the booke of Militarie discipline Composed by that worthy Gentleman Master William Barrife Lieutenant to the Artillery Garden who hath merited much honour in performing so Noble a worke in a most concise and exquisite way for the which our Kingdome is much bound to him CHAP. LXXVIII How the Commanders shall draw their Files both of Musquetiers and Pikes and joyne them in one body fit to be exercised in grosse YOu have seene every Souldier performe his Postures well then you must draw out the File-leader of the Right-hand-file with his whole File Commanding every File-leader successively to draw up his File either of other And being drawne into a body command them to advance their Pikes In the meane time the Lieutenant or some other Officer
is to divide the Musquetiers they being drawne into a body as aforesaid into two equall parts or Divisions if there should bee an odde File in one of the Divisions it makes no matter Next you are to draw up your body of Pikes betweene those Divisions of Musquets fronting them with the Musquets in an even line Or otherwise you may draw your Musquetiers upon the left wing of your body of Pikes their Front and Rankes being placed even one against another you are to command the Pikes to open their Rankes and to order their Pikes the Musquetiers are to have all their Musquets Rested Then commanding the right-hand-division only to shoulder their Musquets and to face to the Right-hand Then commanding them to March even through the Rankes of the Pikes an ordinary distance beyond them and causing them to face to the left-hand will bring them into true order with the Pikes Next you are to command the residue or left wing of Musquets to shoulder their Peeces and to face to the right hand and advance them forwards to the side of the Pikes observing their distance betwixt them then facing them to the Left hand makes them stand even with the Pikes Or if you please you may make use of a third way to draw your Musquetiers upon either Wing of your Pikes Your Pikes being first drawne into a square body and your Musquetiers in a like square body being drawne up to the reare of the Pikes You may command them to double their Front to the Right and left hand by Division which is in this kind performed One halfe of the Files of Musqueteirs are to face to the right hand and the other halfe to the left hand either Division marching after they are turned right forwards about sixe foot beyond the flankes of the Pikes Then that Division of Musquetiers which marched towards the left-hand you are to command them to face to the right hand And the division of Musquetiers that marched to the right hand you are to command them to face to the Left Then both the divisions of Shotte at one instant in an even order are to March up by the side of the Pikes untill they front even with them These things being thus performed you are to command your Musquetiers to shoulder their Musquets and slope them You are likewise to command your Pikemen to advance their Pikes and then begin to exercise them in their Motions as followeth having first ordered them in their distance for Motion at six foote both in Ranke and File CHAP. LXXIX How a Commander shall exercise his Company in grosse in their proper Motions after hee hath drawne the Shotte upon either Wing of the Body of Pikes with the words of Command for the performance thereof as also for the reducing them to their first station HAving duly performed those Circumstances specified in the former Chapter and now standing in the head of your Company the Lieutenant in the Reare and the Serjeants upon either Flanke after you have commanded silence and also to stand right in their Rankes and Files you shall command them to Faces to the right hand This Motion is performed only by turning your body to the place where your right hand stood not moving your right foot at all but turning it a little upon the ball and to reduce them to their former station you must use this word of Command As you were so turning to the left hand againe brings them to their former station Faces to the left hand This motion is performed by turning your body to the place where your left hand stood bringing your left legge somewhat about and onely turning your right foot a little upon the Ball and to reduce them to their former station you must use this Word of Command As you were so turning off to the right hand brings them to their first Station Faces to the right hand about This motion is performed by turning of your body round about by the right hand so that your face stands where your back parts did and to reduce them to their former station you must use this Word of Command To the left hand about as you were so turning backe againe by the left hand brings them to their first Station Faces to the left hand about This motion is performed by turning of your body round about by the left hand so that your face stands where your backe parts did and to reduce them to their former Station you must use this word of Command To the right hand about as you were so turning backe againe by the right hand brings them to their first Station These motions of facing being perfectly done you shall command the whole Company to front to the right hand and cause them there to begin anew the aforesaid motions where ten to one you shall finde them anew to seeke so fronting them from hand to hand round about will make them perfect otherwise they will be to seeke as oft as you alter your Front CHAP. LXXX Of Facing Square and how to performe it The usefulnesse of Facings and the severall parts thereof FAcings are so usefull and necessary that a Commander may as well dispence with any one of the grounds of Discipline as with them for upon all occasions in Service they are usefull and not onely sooner executed than any other of the motions but may be needfull when wheelings and Counter-marches cannot be used as in a strait There are no more than foure faces intire besides Angular as in the precedent Chapter is shewed But as for your divisionall there be divers which I have omitted Intire Facings are so called when the aspect of the whole Companie is directed one way Divisionall Facings are so called when the aspect of the Souldiers is at one and the same time directed divers wayes as to the Front and Reare the Right the Right and Left or to all foure at once c. Angular Facings are so called when the Aspect of the Companie is directed to the right Corner man which is the right Angle or to the left Corner man which is the left Angle or to the foure Corner men which are termed the foure Angles These Angular Facings amongst the Grecians were of great use for they made use of them by reducing out of the Square a Diamond Battell and from the Diamond they reduc'd two Triangles by cutting or dividing the same in the middest at the two flat Angles and of two Triangles they framed a Sheere Battell and of three or foure Triangles they framed their Saw-Battell c. Now for the instructing of your Souldiers how to Face Square if the body bee but eight in depth you must command the two first Rankes to stand fast likewise the two last Rankes are to face about the rest of the Body are to face to the Right and Left if the Body be deeper then you must command more Rankes to the Front and so likewise to the Reare and in
the conductor of them become into the Front of the Pikes then he is to leade them quite crosse the Front of Pikes untill he have attained the further part of the Front to the left which being done they are all to stand present and give fire You must observe withall that he in this firing that was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the Leader of the motion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and when they have fired they are to wheele off to the left close by the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall into the Reere of the Musquetiers In the Interim whilst that the Ranke that first fired is wheeling away the second ranke is marching into their places to give fire And in this maner they may maintaine their skirmish so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the while The Musquetiers in their time of their crossing the Front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that they may be no impediment to them in their charge There is another way of firing by extraduction which is that the Right hand Leader of Musquetiers placeth himselfe before the right File Leader of Pikes the rest all faling beyond him but this is a more imperfect way then the former and not worth the further describing For Reducement you must command your Pikes to stand and your Musquets to double their Front by division But if you want roome to doe it then first double your Files to the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so having doubled by division as a foresaid they will be reduced as at first Wheele your flankes into the front face to your Leader The firings belonging to a broad fronted battell are of singular use either offensive or defensive The words of direction that produceth this forme is in the Margent and the maner of performing it is thus first cause your Pikes to stand and your Musquetiers to march untill the reere ranke of Musquetiers be advanced a little space before the Front of the Pikes then let the Musquetiers face inwards or in opposition and close their division and then face to their Leaders And if you would bring more hands to fight double rankes to any hand But the speediest way to produce thus forme is to wheele both flankes into the Front For the manner of firing there are Intervalls made for each division to the right that so they may either fall into the reere of the shot and there continue the firing or else fall into the reere of the Pikes and be thereby secured from the enemies horse Wherefore be pleased to observe the words of Command whereby this forme is produced which is placed in the Margent For the performance of this firing the first ranke is to present and give fire then wheele off to the right all passing downe the Intervalls to the right and placing themselves in the reere of their owne shot the Musquetiers making good their Leaders ground Likewise after the next rankes have fired they are after the former Manner to wheele off and to place themselves This way they may give fire once or twise over and then make use of a second way And that is to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes either standing or advancing Or if neede be the Pikes may close their divisions and charge at the foote the Musquetiers giving fire over them For Reducement If you make this forme of battell by wheeling your flankes into the front and there having given fire as foresaid Then you must cause them to give fire over againe and so fall into their former places for you must observe that the second firing will cause the body to face to the Reere which then becomes a Front accidentall and then by wheeling your Flankes into the Front againe and facing them about to the right will bring them into their first station or if you would reduce them without giving of fire over againe then you must Command your shot to double their Front by division that being done you are to wheele both Flankes into the Reare then facing to their Leaders you must againe Command the Musquetiers to double their Front by division and they will be in their first forme and station CHAP. XC How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire to the Reere with the severall wayes there to belonging and how they ought to be performed HAving in the former discourse shewed the diverse and sundry wayes of giving fire in the Front It seemes now requisit I should doe the same Office in demonstrating the severall wayes of giving fire in the Reere Wherefore after the Commander hath taught his Souldiers these wayes or at least the chiefest of them in giving fire in the Front he must performe the like paines in exercising them in their firings in the Reere And first having Commanded them to face about into the Reere or wheele them about or performe it by Counter marching The Company we presuppose stands in Battallia with the wings of shot upon each flanke of the body of Pikes the Pikes being shouldred you may cause them to march easily forwards the Enemie being supposed to appeare in the Reere Command your last ranke of Musquetiers to face about present and give fire wheeling off by division File-wise marching uptoward the Front and there placing themselves before the foremost ranke of shot the outmost man of each ranke being the Leader up of those which have fired where first taking their place on the outside the rest wheeling about them and ranking even with them on the inside ever observing that they ranke even with the second ranke of Pikes the rest of the shot also doing the like and in this manner to continue the firing as occasion shall require This kinde of firing may easily be performed if Souldiers will but observe these following directions viz when the last ranke of Musquetiers have presented to the reere and are giving of fire then the ranke which marcheth next before them must blow open and present at three motions still keeping along even with the body of Pikes untill that lastly they present to the reere by which time the ranke that last fired will be wheeled away The next ranke so soone as the other hath presented is likewise at three motions to doe the same and so successively for all the rest every ranke observing upon each rankes firing to loose one and to march one ranke neerer to the reere of the battell that so that part may still be kept absolute Captaine Swan at the giving over of Deventer in Gilderland by Stanly and Yorke did defend himselfe from the enemies Horse by giving fire in the reere untill he had gained a place of strength which honorable performance will never be buried in oblivion But suppose the Enemies horse shall still pursue your troopes in the reere you having gained some straight or place of aduantage
left so to give them roome to march up betweene them in the meane time the next File having given fire wheeleth off in like manner marching up on the left hand of the File that fired last before and so successively for all the rest of the Files of Musquetiers all which are to give fire and wheele off as before placing them still on the left hand of the Files which last fired wherein still is to be noted that the Pikes are still to open to the right and left for the receiving the shot betweene them after they have discharged This firing as well as all the former firings in Flank may be led off by their bringers up as well as by their File-Leaders and then the reducement will be answerable The shot having all given fire the Pikes may seeke to defend themselves by charging at push of Pike or at foote if there bee any Bow Pikes they may gall the enemy in the meane time or the shot may play over the shoulders of the Pikes as they charge at the foote one ranke giving fire after another for the formost Ranke having fired may kneele downe and there make ready againe untill the next Ranke behind hath also fired c. For reducement and to bring the Musquetiers into both flankes againe as they were before wee discoursed of these severall firings in Flankes you must first command your Pikes to face inwards and your Musquetiers to the right and left outward and so to passe them through and interchange ground then facing them to their Leader they will be reduced as at first You must observe that all these firings in flanke may as well be performed to the left hand and with the same words onely the words of right must be changed for left and left for right The next discourse shall be of divisionall firings CHAP. XCII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in divisionall firings viz. front and reere upon a March. Musquetiers give fire to the Front and Reere and flanke your Pikes YOu may please to remember how that in the last foregoing firings in the flanke the Shot were placed in the middest of the Pikes and now before we can give directions for these divisionall firings in Front and Reere we must observe the way of reducing the Musquetiers into the Front and Reere of the Pikes from the forme wherein they last stood To performe this you must command the halfe Files of Musquetiers to face about which done let the Pikes stand and the Musquetires march untill they are cleare both of Front and Reere of Pikes then let them stand and face to their Leader then command your Pikes to close their divisions and the shot will bee one halfe of them in Front and the other halfe in the Reere in a readinesse to performe this firing which wee are now about to discourse of The Pikes being shouldred and the words of command and direction given as in the Margent is specified the first Ranke in the Front presents and the last Ranke faceth about to the Reere and doth the like and so by giving fire together wheele off by division viz. the one halfe of the Ranke following after the right hand man of the same Ranke the other halfe after the left hand man who leads them close downe by the sides or flankes of the Musquetiers untill they come to the Pikes The first Ranke of Musquetiers in the Front are to ranke even with the first Ranke of Pikes and the last Ranke of Musquetiers in the Reere are to ranke even with the last Ranke of Pikes leaving a sufficient distance betwixt them and their Pikes for the other Musquetiers to march betweene And by the way take notice that he that was outermost when they gave fire must likewise be outermost when they have taken their places on the Flanks the first and last Ranke having fired and wheeled off the next rankes the body marching on three or foure steppes are in like manner to present and give fire wheeling off by division and passing betweene the divisions there placing themselves they of the Front division are to place them selves behind those which fired last before them and they of the Reere division before them which fired last in the Reere behind them and thus they may continue to give fire after the same manner untill they have all given fire over once then may the body make a stand and the Pikes charge to the Front and Reere if occasion be or if the Commander would continue his firing to the front and Reere still upon this same forme then let the shot of the Front place themselves after they have given fire behind the Musquetiers of their owne division and those of the Reere division are to place themseleves betwixt the Reere of Pikes and the shot of their owne division and so the body moving but slowly forwards they may continue the firing Musquetiers give fire to the Front and Reere placing your selves betweene your divisions In the precedent discourse after fire was given to Front and Reere the shot flanked the Pikes now from this forme I will indeavour to shew you a second way of firing to Front and Reere which may easily be effected if the Souldiers be well instructed To performe this firing take these words of command and directions placed in the Margent which will produce this forme of firing following The command being thus given the first Ranke presents to the front likewise the last Ranke of Musquetiers in the Reere faceth about and presents towards the Reere then both at one instant gives fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves betweene the Musquetiers of their division These namely which were of the Front halfe files falling into the Reere of their owne divisions and those of the Reere halfe files contrary wise falling before their halfe File-Leaders and ranking even with the halfe File-Leaders of the Pikes the next Ranke successively firing and wheeling off after the same manner Having fired once over they are reduced every man to his place The Officer must take some paines in teaching his Souldiers these two last firings otherwise they will seeme very difficult at first for them to performe CHAP. XCIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire to the Reere and right Flanke marching and likewise to both Flankes at once marching and also to both Flankes standing Musquetiers give fire to the right flanke and reere placing your selves betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions THis kinde of firing in Reere and Flanke upon a march is very serviceable at such times as the enemy shall skirmish with the body to annoy them in their passage in Flanke and Reere at one time And this kinde of firing you may performe two severall wayes as first your Musquetiers being placed in their ordinary place upon the Flankes of their Pikes The second and more securer way for the Pikes will be to draw the Musquetieres from that flanke which is
comfort of Age and Wit the grace of Strength and Vertue the guide of Wit in all Souldiers they are not to be allowed of eyther young or old for Stre●gth without Wit is dangerous Wit without Vertue hurtfull and pernicious so likewise Age without Strength is but tedious Therefore Commanders ought to be of a prime judgement in making choise of such Souldiers as are likely to prove serviceable And in regard our Weapons are of a divers Nature as Pike and Musquet it is to be observed that Nature hath framed men fit in stature and qualities to use them The tallest and ablest men ought to be trained up to manage the Pike the men of meaner stature are to serve in Musquets and to inable them the better every man from his youth should exercise themselves in manlike actions which might make them hardy setling their joynts and breeding strength so that in a short time their Armour and Weapons would seem very easie and light Likewise Souldiers must be very carefull to observe their Rankes and Files and especially in time of Battell taking notice that upon all occasions they must make their Leaders place good if he should chance to be slaine before him for if the Front of the Battell be not kept compleat the en●my will soone ruine it The consideration of which caused Manlius Torq●●tus for example to p●steritie to put his Sonne to death because contrary to command he observed not his Rankes Likewise no Officer nor Souldier ought to goe beyond his Commission although a Conquest might ensue the reason is because none may trench upon the jurisdiction of Authority and also in regard for the most part a thousand times more mischiefe may ensue than good possibly can which made Posthumu● 〈◊〉 use martiall Law against his Sonne Aulus Posthumus at his returne from his conquered Enemy If an Army be so fortunate as to gaine a Conquest so many as are appointed for the execution of the victory must be diligent in the execution and not to fall to pillaging whereby the Enemy may take an opportunity to rally his broken forces and overthrow you It were very good for Souldiers to practice all kinde of Weapons and to bee singuler in the use of them Likewise Souldiers must be very perfect in the divers beates of the Drumme they ought to be very expert in swimming by reason many exploits are to be atchieved by it and the lives of many Souldiers sav'd by it They should use themselves to carry heavie burthens that they may bee the fitter to carry provision in a March and to carry earth up the Trenches without wearisomnesse for a Souldier must looke to be exposed to all manner of toyle upon occasions of necessity In consideration whereof the worthy Commanders of ancient times 〈◊〉 choise of Country labouring fellowes to be their Souldiers because they could indure paines and hardinesse rather than out of Cities and Townes for such are fittest to be Horsemen Souldiers are further to take notice that in Garrison or in a setled Campe their duty is upon all occasions not making any delay at the sound of the Drumme to repaire to his Colours with his compleate Armes be it to answer an Alarum or to releeve the Watch where no Souldier of what birth or degree soever should not take it in scorne or hold it a disgrace to stand Sentinell untill such time as hee understands himselfe better and then being a Gentleman of a Company he must not refuse to be instructed and taught by the meanest Officer it must bee farre from any Souldier to disobey any of his Officers precepts and especially such as are given in charge by the higher Authority neyther to contemne or slight the Martiall lawes lost death be his reward Souldiers must be very wary how they undervalue their Officers especially their Generall or how they speake invectively or reproachfully of any service or designe that hath not taken effect Souldiers must rather choose death then cowardly to runne from their colou●s neither must they have any converse with the enemy either by speech sending or receiving of Letters were it from his dearest Friend without the Generalls Lycence A domesticke Traytour is a Monster amongst enemies and let such a one know that never any prospered For as Queene Elizabeth once said in the like case that shee would make use of the treason but never trust the Traytour Now lastly we must take notice of each Souldiers particular duty both in Garrison and in field as the next Chapter shall declare CHAP. LVI The duties both of Officers and Souldiers in Garrison EVery Fort or Garrison hath a Governour a Major and a Captaine of the Watch these are the principallest in authority Next there are divers other Captaines and Officers both of horse and foot with their Companies to each belonging of the duties of each I will discourse briefly of and I thought it fitting to place this discourse here rather then in the end of the tract of Fortification The duty of a Governour is to be vigilant and carefull that all Officers and Souldiers under his jurisdiction doe punctually performe their duties and where default is according as the offence is to punish he is to have daily intelligence of the enemies proceedings which he must procure either by sending out partyes of Foot or certaine Horse or else by the Countrey people hee is to see all the Workes and Fortifications about the Towne preserved and kept and what defences else hee in his wisdome shall thinke necessary to be raised the Garrison must indeavour to doe it what out-Watches either of Horse or Foot he sees sit to be placed upon places convenient for the prevention of the enemies secret approaches he must command it and his Major must see it executed he is the chiefe judge in place of judicature only assisted by the chiefe Officers who have each of them a voyce and the Governours stands for two by which meanes a Malefactour is according to his demerit punished or freed according as most voyces shall agree upon by his authority hee may commit the chiefest Officer for any misdemenour and cause him to be brought to his tryall By his care and wisedome all things are to be managed his Major is his eye mouth and hand His duty is to see the Watches set to see the Gentlemen of the round doe their duty the Sentenells stand at their postures the Ports well guarded hee is to receive no Troopes into the Fort but first hee must goe to them with a sufficient guard of Pikes and Musquets he is to receive the patent from the Captaine of those troopes which if he findes it to be the Princes hand and Seale he is immediatly to acquaint the Governour withall and by his permission to conduct them in if there be divers Companies that Company which first enters the Towne hath the preeminence the rest inccessively in order and so accordingly they are to take their turnes to watch
used upon all occasions 8 Vnshoulder your Musquet This Pcture is performed by turning the point of your Rest outwards towards your left knee and withall letting the Musquet slip a little downe your breast the Breech of the Peece will lye faire for the right hand to take it with a graspe just under the pan with the middle joynt of the fore-finger the uppermost joynt next the hand against the Breech-pin and the thumbe upon the Stocke on the inner side and with a small jutte the left hand with the Rest being taken off from the Stocke the right hand will poize it up standing with a full body the mouth of the Peece right up and armes out-strecht as more plainly in the first Posture is discourc'd of not forgetting to let the foot act with the hand 9 Joyne your Rest to the outside of your Musquet The Musquet being poised you are to step forward with your left leg and withall bringing your left hand with your thumbe prest against the inner side of the Forke of your Rest then drawing in your right elbow you gently let the Musquet and the Rest meet the upper side of the Forke plac'd against the out-side of the Stocke the thumbe pressing the lower and the end of the Rest lockt in the in●ide of the But end of the Peece it rests in an equall ballance in the left hand 10. Open. 11. Cleere 12. Prime 13. Shut your Pan. The Musquet and Rest being joyned together with your two fore-fingers thrust betweene the Barrell and the tippe of the Pan thrusting them side-wayes makes it open with ease then with the boale of your thumbe prest downe into the Pan and wrung about cleeres it then take your Primer in your right hand and knocking it gently against the side of the Pan untill the concavity of it bee filled then with your fingers shut ti and a little turning the butte end of your Musquet from you give te a jogge or two 14. Cast off your loose cornes The Musquet being primed and the Pan shut you are to turne the butte end from your right side a little distance as the Peece rests upon the Rest then with a shogge or two shake off the superfluous cornes of Powder to prevent taking of fire when you try your Match 15. Blow off your loose cornes 16. And cast about your Musquet to your left side This posture of blowing off the loose cornes is to be performed either the Musquet being rested as I have said before or when the Musquet and the Rest are joyned together for the first you are onely to stoope with your head and with a puffe or two blow them off otherwise you are to bring the Musquet towards your head tilluing the pan somewhat from you and with a sudden strong blast beate them off so that when the Match is tryed it may not indanger the firing Now for the casting about your Musquet after the loose cornes be blowne off it is but slipping backe your left legge and you holding your Musquet and Rest together in your left hand with your right hand you convey the butt end of the Peece on to the left side and in the motion turne the stocke upwards and letting your Rest slip you may easily charge 17. Trayle your Rest. 18. Ballance your Musquet in your left hand This posture is performed after the Musquet is brought about to the left side stepping forward with your right foot and at the same instant you bring about your Musquet and withall your right hand graspes the barrell of the Peece some foote from the mouth untill the Rest bee slipt and trayled and the Peece ballanc'd in the left hand fit for to charge 19. Charge 20. with Powder Bullet This Posture is performed after the Musquet is ballanc'd in your left hand by taking one of the Charges of your Bandelieres in your right hand and pulling the lidde of it off with your teeth then thrusting the mouth of the charge into the bore of the Peece giving it a shogge or two that the Powder may empty into it then giving the Peece another jogge with the butt end of it against the ground to make the Powder sinke to the bottome of the barrell then having your bullet ready in your mouth and taking it in your right hand betweene your forefinger and thumbe setting your right legge forwards towards the mouth of the Peece as you bring your hand to the same letting the bullet drop in with a jogge to sinke it to the Powder or by ramming it downe with the Gunne-sticke 21. Draw forth 22. Shorten your scowring-stick This Posture is performed by drawing forth the Scowring-sticke with the right hand at three even pulls the lower side of your hand towards the upper end of the Musquet the Scowring-sticke being thus produc'd you are to shorten it against your breast your hand slipping downe almost to the lower end of it so that with ease it may bee put into the mouth then thrusting it downe part of the way at the second motion and ramming downe the Powder at the third 23. Put your Scowring-stick into your Musquet This Posture is performed as before is said after the Scowring-sticke is produc'd and shortned the right hand holding it close by the lower end the right foote being set out a pretty step towards the mouth of the Peece is with ease put in and rammed downe 24. Ramme home your charge This is performed after the Scowring-sticke is entred the Bore of the barrell about a handfull then at two motions more you thrust it downe to the Powder or Bullet giving a good jobbe or two downe that the Bullet may bee home to the Powder 25. Withdraw 26. Shorten 27. Returne your scowring sticke This Posture is performed by taking the Scowring-stick in your right hand the upper-side of your hand towards the mouth of the Peece so that all your fingers takes the stick flat about the middle the joynts upon the outside of it and the thumbe upon the inside then making three even distinct pulls in withdrawing it turning your hand so as the small end of the sticke is towards your breast then shortening it against the same you have it fit to returne into the stocke which is to bee done likewise at three even portions 28. Bring forward your Musquet and Rest. This Posture is performed after the Scowring-stick is returned by drawing backe your right foote and bringing your Musquet with your left hand before you so as the barrell of the Peece may be towards your breast the Rest is to trayle after by the string that hangs upon your wrist 29. Poyze your Musquet and recover your Rest. This Posture is performed your right heele being drawne in towards the small of your left foot at the same instant your right hand is to take the Peece below under at the great screw then poyze it upwards setting your Right foot out againe then bringing your Rest forwards with your left hand so farre
as the string will permit you shall easily receive it and so with a full Body stand poysed 30. Ioyne your Rest to the outside of your Musquet The Posture is performed after the Musquet is poyzed by drawing in your left heele towards the small of your right foot your left hand holding the Rest close by the forke and your thumbe pressing the end of the forke close you bring it to the Musquet then joyning the Rest to the out-side of the Musquet and locking them fixe together by pressing the lower side of the forke with your thumbe the Peece lyes firme in your left hand in one even ballance your right hand being at freedome and your left legge set out againe 31 Draw forth your Match This posture is performed by drawing in the right heele to the small of the left foot at the same instant bringing your right hand with a kinde of circumference towards your left you are to take the Match betwixt the thumbe and second finger then holding it out towards your right side at the same instant you are to set out your right legge againe your Musquet being held in a due height 32 Blow your Cole Having taken the Match from between the little finger and the third finger of the left hand betwixt the thumbe and second finger of the right hand within an inch of the coale of it then bringing it towards your mouth turning your head towards your right side stooping very little you gently blow it your right legge being let out forwards 33 Cock 34 Fit Your Match Having blowne your Match as aforesayd you are to bring it with a little circumference to the Cocke and are to fit it into the same with your thumbe and finger not screwing it in having before directed the widenesse of the Cocke to the thicknesse of the Match your left legge being set forwards with the knee somewhat bending out 35 Guard your Pan. Having tryed and governed the Match with your thumbe and second finger to the end you may set it higher lower shorter or longer and your left heele being drawn towards the small of your right foot you are gently to lay the two fore fingers of the right hand full upon the Pan to defend the Powder from the sparkles of the Match 36 Blow the ashes from your Cole Having guarded your Pan as aforesayd and your left heele being drawne towards the small of your right foote you are gently to raise the Peece up towards your mouth and without stooping blow off the ashes from your Cole 37 Open your Pan. Having blown off the ashes from the Cole standing in the same posture as aforesayd you are at the same instant handsomely with your middle finger to shove aside the Pan lid and removing your left legge forwards with the knee bending out 38 Present upon your Rest. Your left leg being set out as aforesayd and your right hand having graspt the Musquet with your thumbe in the small of the Stocke and your middle finger plac't against the tricker then having plac'd the Musquet in the Rest the mouth of it being kept at a reasonable height and the lower end of your Rest being set forwards the Butt end of your Peece will be plac'd full upon your right breast then setting your right legge somewhat out side-wayes standing with a full body towards the mouth of your Peeece you shall bee ready to give fire 39 Give fire breast high Having as before is shewed presented well viz holding the Musquet and the Rest in the left hand bearing the right Arme or elbowe somewhat up and turning a little the body to the left side the left knee bowed and the right legge straight and not laying your cheeke to the Stocke before you shall set the Musquet to your breast then taking your ayme breast high without starting or winking you are gently to pull downe the tricker and so give fire with a full body upon the Enemy 40 Dismounte your Musquet joyning your Rest to the outside of your Musquet You having discharged must pull in your right legge a little then thrusting your Musquet a little forwards you shall joyne your Rest to the outside of your Musquet holding it in an even ballance in your left hand not forgetting to hold the mouth up especially if it hath not gone off for feare of hurting any man 41 Vncocke and returne your Match Your right heele being drawne towards the small of your left foote you are to bring about your right hand in a comely manner and with your thumbe and second finger pull the Match out of the Cocke and returne it betweene the two last fingers of the left hand 42 Cleere 43 Shut your Pan. You standing in the same posture as before after you have returned your Match you are with the thumbe of your right hand to run the Pan and cleare it that no sparkles may remaine then with your fore-finger you are to thrust the cover of the Pan close after you have blowne off the sparkles 44 Poize 45 Shoulder your Musquet After you have cleared and shut your Pan you must graspe your Musquet with your right hand close by the britch-pin as in the second Posture is shewed then raising the Musquet with your left hand you poize it up holding the mouth of it right upwards your right arme being stretched out your rest remaining in your left hand likewise extended then drawing your right heele to the small of your left foote at the very instant your right hand brings the Musquet to your left shoulder your left hand with the Rest in it being ready the same moment to embrace it at the butt end the Seare being thrust close to your shoulder then removing your right legge againe to his former station you stand upright with a full body 46 Take the Match betweene the fingers of the right hand To performe this view the posture before described at the figure 5. onely the Match is to bee placed betweene your fingers of your right hand as before it was in the left 47 Take your Rest into your right hand clearing your string from your wrist This is to be performed first by drawing in your right heele to the small of your left foote and withall bringing your right hand to your left you receive the Rest clearing your left wrist from the string 48 Returne your Rest into your left hand the String loose This is performed as the former Posture is at the Figure 47 in reverse 49 Return your Match into your left hand This is performed as the former Posture is at the Figure 5. 50 Vnshoulder your Musquet and Poize This is performed as the former Posture is at the Figure 8. 51 Rest your Musquet This is likewise performed as is shewed in the former Posture at the Figure 1. 52 Set the But end of your Musquet upon the ground You are to dismount your Musquet off the Rest then placing the But end of it upon the ground close by the outside
they differ in circumstance After the words of command and direction are given as is exprest in the margent then the Front halfe Files are to face about to the left the Pikes being all advanced and the Musquetttiers all either poized or shouldred and so being led by the halfe File Leaders to the Reare they March directly forwards to the right of the other part of the body which stood faced in opposition vntill the Leaders of the doubling have ranked even in ranke with the bringers up the rest ranking even with the other standing Rankes according to their places If this doubling be used in service then the whole body is to face about to the reare being the part to be doubled but in way of exercise the Commander may keepe his place and the doubling being performed and the whole body faced to the leader Then for reducement you may command Files to the Right intire adllancing then every man falling before his Leader will reduce each man to his first station Or otherwise you may command Front Halfe-files face about to the Left march forth into your places which they performing accordingly will reduce them Front halfe-files double your Reare to the Right by Countermarch This kind of doubling of the Reare by the Front halfe Files is performed contrary to the former for it is done by way of the Lacedemonian counter-march and doth produce the same effect to the reare as doubling the Front by Bringers up doth into the Front the counter-march by which it is performed is a counter-march of losse of ground where note one part or moitie of the body countermarcheth thereby not altring the number of the length and depth of the figure but onely transferring one part into another You must further observe that if the reare be doubled to the right then the counter-march must bee to the left If the doubling be to the Left then the Countermarch must be to the Left If the doubling bee to the Left then the Countermarch must be to the Right The way to reduce them is if the Commander stand at the head of that part that is doubled to Command Front halfe-files face about to the Right March forth into your places But if he keepes his first standing and having faced them to him Then Front halfe-files march forth into your places To double the Reare to the Left is the same onely changing the hand Halfe Rankes to the Right by Countermarch double your left Flanke Halfe-rankes or Flankes are then sayd to be doubled when the depth of the Battalia is increased to double their former proportion of number or place or both this doubling of halfe-rankes to the left Flanke by Countermarch is a doubling of number and not of place for the depth still retaines the same proportion onely augmented by one man but the length of the Battalia is diminished both in number and place the right Flanke being wholly inserted into the left Flanke after the words of Command is given that produceth this motion which you shall finde plac'd in the Margent then the halfe Rankes to the Right are to face to the Right and then even in Ranke together they are to counter March betweene the Intervalls untill to the outmost File to the Right be come into the outmost File of the Left Flancke the body being 20 in Ranke or brest then the second into the nineteenth the third into the eighteenth the fourth into the seventeenth the fifth into the sixteenth and the rest in like manner The use of this doubling is to strengthen one of the Flanckes by bringing more hands to doe present execution the other Flancke being in more surety The way for reducement of this motion is after this manner the halfe Rankes last doubled being faced to the Right then they which were the Last which tooke their places in the motion now are the first which take their places in the reducement orderly Marching in Ranke together untill they come to their places then facing to their Leader they become Files againe The left Flancke may in like manner double the right by Counter-march the difference is this The right Flancke stands the left Flancke is inserted into the Right as before the Right was into the Left Halfe Files double your front to the Right intire If in this doubling of Halfe Files to the Right intire it should be performed as the body stands in an ordinary Square Flanked with Musquetiers then it would produce a mixture of Armes wherefore to avoid this before you enter upon this doubling of passing in through or betweene your halfe Ranckes Cause your halfe Files to double the Front to the Right intire which being performed you may then proceed to the doubling of your Flanckes any way you please without Mixture of Armes This doubling of the Front by Halfe-files to the Right intire is thus performed After the words of Command are given the halfe-files are to face to the Right then marching out forwards untill the left-hand File belonging to the Reere be marcht past the right halfe-file belonging to the Front then facing to the left they march up even abreast untill the File-Leaders of the halfe-files to the Reere bee plac'd even in ranke with the File-leaders of the Front all the rest of the rankes placing themselves even with the other rankes This manner of doubling halfe-files is a doubling both of number and place for the length of the Battell is not onely double so many a-brest as they were before but they also have extended their Length to double their proportion of ground which formerly they did occupie now you are to conceive that this doubling of Halfe Files which I have now discour'st of is performed for this purpose that when the Halfe Rankes of the Right double the Left Flanke there shall by this meanes bee no mixture of Armes Halfe Rankes of the right double your left flanke In the next place let us demonstrate the way how the Halfe Rankes of the Right should double their Left Flanke which is thus performed the Left Flanke stands the Halfe Rankes of the Right are to face to the Left and then the inmost File of the Right Flanke all the Files of the Right Flanke being by this facing become Rankes is the Leader of this motion marching forth Right to their Left hands betweene the Intervalls of the Rankes of the left Flanke untill the twentieth File accounting from the Right Flanke which now is become a Ranke have placed themselves orderly in the fortieth File which is the outmost File of the Left Flanke the nineteenth in the nine and thirty the eighteenth in the eight and thirty and so of all the rest this doubling is of number and not of place For reducement to both these doublings first cause the halfe Rankes which last doubled to face to the Right and so to march out into their places They that last tooke their place in the motion are the first
divisionall Countermarches of Files Only observe by the way that as the Front half-Files emptieth the spaces of ground between the Leaders and the halfe-File Leaders placing themselves in the ground before the Front So in the mean time their places are to be replenisht by the Souldiers of the Rear halfe-Files who are to march up and supply their roomes File-Leaders and Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Lacedaemonian Countermarch makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy both to Front and Rear and leaves all the ground whereon they stood transferring them into the ground before the Front and behind the Rear the ground or place of their former standing being vacant The motion is thus to bee performed The Rear halfe-Files are commanded to face to the Rear and then the Front halfe-Files passe through to the right placing themselves before their Leaders the second Rank before the first the third before the second the fourth before the third c. The Rear halfe-Files at the same instant passing through to the Rear placing themselves before their bringers up To reduce this motion into their former stations if you have not closed their distance you may face them about and so let them returne into their places or else by doing the same Countermarch over againe or to the contrary hand or any such like way will reduce them Note if you reduce them by another Countermarch you must first close their divisions File-Leaders face about Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behind your File-Leaders and Bringers up This divisionall Macedonian Countermarch doth little differ from the last onely that turned the aspect outwards to the Front and Rear but this Countermarch turnes the aspect inwards toward the midst placing the best souldiers in the midst with a large lane or distance betwixt them through which any great Personage may bee conducted crosse the length of your Battell whereby the bravery of the souldiers may be seene This motion is thus to bee performed The first Rank or File-Leaders face about the last Rank stands the Rear halfe-Files face about and so the Front-division passe forwards and place themselves behind the File-Leaders and the Reare halfe-Files behinde their bringers up Note that when the Rear halfe-Files face about the last Rank which are the bringers up are still to keepe their standing The way to reduce this motion is to bee done either by the same word of Command which produced it or else by any of the precedent divisionall Countermarches Front halfe-Files interchange ground with the Reare passing through to the right This Bastard Countermarch of enterchanging ground is not truely derived from any one particular ground of Countermarch but rather participating of them all and yet in it selfe it differs from them all for whereas the other Countermarches of Files in division did bring their Front and Rear into the midst yet their Front half-Files continued still on the same part and their Rear halfe-Files did not alter into the place of the other But this contrary to any other of the divisionall Countermarches transfers the Front halfe-Files into the ground or place of the Rear halfe-Files and them into the contrary part bringing the File-Leaders and bringers up together into the midst For the performing this motion you must cause the Front halfe-Files to face about passing forwards to the right being led by the bringers up of the Front half-Files between the intervalls towards the Rear The Rear half-Files at the same instant in like manner marching forwards between the intervals on their right hands into the Front untill the Front-division have attained the place of the Rear and they contrariwise the place of the Front For the reducement of this countermarch do as much back again or if you would reduce it some other way you may first make an entire Countermarch of Files and then countermarch Front and Rear into the midst Under two Countermarches it cannot be reduced Countermarch your Flanks into the midst This Chorean Countermarch of the Flanks into the midst by bringing the outermost Files to be the innermost is thus to bee performed You must first command the whole body to face to the right and left hand by division The outermost Files by this facing becomming Ranks every man in the right-hand File being a Leader in his halfe Rank File-wise and so likewise in the left-hand File the same Then you are to countermarch the right Flank to the right and the left Flank to the lelft which you must alwaies observe to doe and your Flanks will meet just in the midst of your Battalia Lastly having faced them to their first Front the Countermarch is ended To reduce them you may either make use of the same Countermarch again or any of these following divisionall Countermarches of Flanks unlesse it bee that of enterchanging of ground Note that upon the Countermarching of Flanks into the midst the right Flank must alwaies observe to turne to the right hand and the left Flank to the left hand for if they should both turn off to the right they will meet wrong or if they turne off both to the left it will be as bad Outmost Files of each Flank face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves before your outside men This Lacedaemonian Countermarch of half Ranks or Flanks makes shew of charging the enemy with both Flanks but leaves a wast distance of ground unoccupied between the two outermost Files or midst of the Battell the way to performe this motion is after this manner First you must cause your right-hand File to face to the right and the left-hand File to the left the rest of the body faceth to the right and left the right Flank passing through to the right and placing themselves before their right-hand men the second File from the right begins the motion on the right Flank the left Flank in right manner passing through to the left and placing themselves before their left-hand men the second File accounting from the left begins the motion on the left Flank but you must note that the Files become Ranks with the facing For reducement if you will first face them to their proper Front you must command the two inmost Files to stand the rest are to passe through to the right and left-hand inwards and take their place or you may make use of a Chorean or a Macedonian Countermarch of Ranks by division and with a facing and closing their divisions they will bee in their first forme The out most File of each Flanke face inwards the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves behinde your outside men This Macedonian Counter-March corespondes with the last onely it differs in turning the Aspct inwards whereas the former directed their Aspects outwards and it is thus performed The
face them to the right and then wheele then to the left about which being performed face them again to the left and they are reduced perfectly to their first forme station Further observe that every following wheeling is a reducement unto that which is placed next before it and the wheeling next before may reduce that next following as to wheele your Flankes into the front by wheeling your Flankes into the Reere it is reduced or to wheele Front and Reere into both Flankes if you wheele both Flankes into the Front and Reere they are likewise reduced as before Wheele your Battaile to the right on the same ground This wheeling on the Center is more suddenly performed then the Angular wheelings and may be done in farre lesse ground for the left Flanke advanceth forwards still wheeling to the right the right Flanke contrariwise facing to the left and so falling backwards if you have an odde File then the middle File leader must be the Center of the motion but if you have an even number of files then the middlemost file leader from the left or if your wheeling bee to the left then the middlemost file-leader to the right must be the Center This hath beene used by the Grave van Nassaw in the Netherlands For the reducement you must wheele your battell to the left on the same ground and they will be in their first forme and station Wheele your Battell to the right about on the same ground This wheeling is also a wheeling on the Center or midst of the Front whereby the aspect of the Front proper is transferred towards the Reere and withall the Battell is remomoved from off the ground whereon formerly it stood and is placed upon the ground before the front it requires the very same action the former did onely the motion is double to the other To performe this motion every man of the left Flanke is to observe duly his right hand man and the right Flanke must keepe even and straight after their left hand man which becomes their Leaders filewise untill they have attained their ground after which they face as before making an even Front For the reducement wheele your Battell to the left about upon the same ground and they will be in their first forme Wheele off your front by division This motion of wheeling by division in great Battallias is very efficatious to oppose severall enemies at one and the same time with the front of your Battallia whereby your ablest Souldiers will bee first brought to action but if you wheele off your Battell by division and joyne them againe when they be in the Reere then all your Musquetiers are brought from the flankes into the midst of your Battallia and your Pikes will be upon the flankes this motion is easie to be performed for all the file-Leaders to the right flanke are to wheele about to the right the rest of each file following their Leaders the file-Leaders likewise of the left flanke are to wheele about to the left and then joyne or close their divisions To reduce them you must wheele them off againe by division or the wheeling next following will performe it Wheele your Front inwards to the Reere This divisionall wheeling of the Front inwards to the Reere may serve for a reducement unto the precedent wheelings and so it brings the Musquetiers to the flankes againe but if you performe this motion the company being first reduced then it brings the Pikes to the flankes if you chance to be anoyed with Horse in the Reere upon a March you having gayned some place of advantage as aside hill or the like then by wheeling your front inwards to the Reere you may perswade the enemy you are taking your flight but you shall be ready to entertayne his aproches with a setled orderly body for your shot will bee in the middest and the Pikes impaling their flankes so as the Horse can have no power over the shot to route them but they shall bee able to give fire upon them continually this motion is thus to bee performed The right hand file-Leader with all the Leaders of the right flanke are to advance forwards and so are to wheele about to the left every file still keeping close to their right hand file likewise the left hand file-Leader with all the Leaders of the left flanke are to advance forwards and wheele about to the right every file of the left flanke closing close to the left thus the outmost file of each flanke will meet and become the innermost the front being metamorphis'd into the Reere For reducement you may wheele them againe off to the right and left by division or else wheele your front inward to the Reere Wheele your Flanks into the Front This divisionall wheeling of the flankes into the front is Cosen-german to a doubling for by it all your shot are brought from both the flankes into the front and thereby so many shot more are brought to doe execution accordingly as the depth will permit This motion of wheeling your flankes into the front will not onely secure your shot but also is very proper to baricado up any passage with your Pikes so as the enemies horse will be defeated of their expectations upon the first motion of dividing every devision wheeleth about his owne angle untill the outmost file Leaders of each flanke meete together in the midst then facing to their Leader performes it For reducement of this motion wheele your flankes into the Reere or else foure times the same although the further way about Face all about to the Right and wheele your Flanks into the Reere This divisionall wheeling of the Flankes into the Reere is also neere akind to a doubling and is to be performed as the other in all respects for this wheeling brings your two outmost Files to be the first Ranke the bringers up of the right and left hand files meeting together the bringers up of the left flanke meeting face to face with the bringers up of the right flanke and so being faced to their Leader they which before were compleate files are now become halfe Rankes eyther to the right or left but you must note that before you beginne to wheele you must face your body about to the Reere and then the action will be all one as if you wheeled your flankes into the front It shall neede no further explayning in regard in the motion before this it is fully exprest But by the way take notice that in all wheelings you must observe to follow your Leaders which must be understood as well of those which are accidentally become Leaders by reason of facings as of those which be the first and propet Leaders as for example in this wheeling you must note that the bringers up are become the Leaders of the motion also you may further observe that the two middlemost bringers up are the Hinges of the wheeling For the reducement of this wheeling the
least in danger crosse the Reere of Pikemen The words of command and direction you shall finde in the Margent which produceth this latter forme of firing the words of command being given to fire to the Reere and right Flanke The outermost File of Musquetiers presents to the right and the last Ranke of Musquetiers presents to the Reere and so both give fire the rest of the body in the meane time marching a reasonable pace The right hand File on the right Flanke and the last Ranke of the Musquetiers in the Reere of the Pikes having fired the File facech to the left after their File Leader and so marcheth up betweene the Musquetiers of the same division and the Pikes the Rankes also wheeling off to the right and placing it selfe next after the Reere of Pikes and if you please you may make an Intervall or space betweene the Musquetiers in the Reere that so one part may wheele off to the right on the outside the other part wheele off to the right and march up betweene the Intervalls into their places The first File file upon the Flanke and the first Ranke in the Reere that presented having given fire and wheeled cleare of the body the next File and ranke is to present and give fire after the same manner wheeling off and taking their places as aforesaid and so successively the rest both Files and Rankes gives fire observing the same order and having given fire once twice or oftner over they are still reduced to the same they were before the firing began then draw your shot from the Reere to the left Flanke againe and they will be in their first forme and station Musquetiers give fire to both Flankes marching up betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions This kinde of firing to both Flankes marching may be upon some occasions serviceable and the shot after they have given fire may be eyther placed betweene their owne divisions and the Pikes or betweene the midst of the Pikes for their better securitie the shot being placed upon both the Flankes of the Pikes as we left them in the former discourse you must make use of the words of command and direction which is placed in the Margent which will produce this forme of firing The command being given the outmost file of each Flanke presents outward the rest of the body still continuing of the march the presented Files in the interim giving fire then facing after their proper File-Leaders who are to leade them up betweene the Musquetiers of their owne divisions and the Pikes in the time of their wheeling away the next two outermost Files are to present firing after the same manner and leading up as before the rest successively doing the like untill they have fired all over which brings them to their former places Advance your Pikes and stand face to the right and left Musquetiers give fire and Flanke your Pikes This kinde of firing to both Flankes upon a stand is produced by the words of command and directions placed in the Margent onely observe the Musquetiers are placed upon both Flankes of the body of Pikes as you left them in the precedent discourse The words of command being given the whole body both of Pikes and Shot are to face to the right and left hand and then the formost Rankes of Musquetiers which before the facing were the outermost Files are to present and give fire and then wheele off by division Ranking even with the formost Rankes of Pikes and leaving sufficient Intervalls for the rest of the Musquetiers to march betweene them and the Pikes The next Ranke presenting and firing after the same manner but not advancing forwards onely firing upon the same ground and wheeling off by division afterwards passing downe betweene the Intervalls and so ranking after their Leaders but you must observe by the way that they that were outermost when they gave fire are likewise to be so when they have taken their places All the Rankes of Musquetiers having fired and wheeled off as before the Pikes if neede be may charge and the Musquetiers giving fire over againe wheeling off outwards and placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisious Having advanced your Pikes and faced your body to their first Front all your Musquetiers will be in Front and Reere and then if your halfe Files about and give fire after the same manner formerly discoursed of to the Front and Reere having faced them againe to their first Front they will be reduced as at first into their ordinary square CHAP. XCIIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in a Triple way of giving fire to the Front BY this triple firing to the Front the precedent forme of firing to both Flankes standing may be reduced for the Musquetiers of the Reere division opening to the right and left and sleeving upon the Flankes of the Pikes untill the Leaders of the Reere division who then were the halfe File-Leaders ranke even with the Front of Pikes and those in the front division are placed before the Pikes in the Front securely covering them from the enemy The word of command and directions that produceth this forme of firing is placed in the Margent Musquetiers of the Reere double your Front of Pikes by division The one halfe of the shot being placed before the front of the Pikes and the other halfe placed upon eyther flanke even with the first Ranke of Pikes and the word of command being given then the first Ranke of Musquetiers both of front and flankes presents to the front and gives fire wheeling off to the right and left by division The Musquetiers of the front division being wheeled off as aforesaid close by the flankes of their owne Musquetiers passe directly downe betweene the Intervals and place themselves even in Ranke behind the Musquetiers of the Reere division which are upon the flanks like wise the Musqueters that fired at the same time on the flankes wheele also off the right flanke to the right the left flanke to the left marching directly downe even with the reere Rankes of the Pikes and there place themselves againe even in ranke with the last ranke of Pikes this done the rest of the rankes successively give fire and doe the like every ranke taking his place after the ranke that fired last before them the other Rankes mooving one ranke forwarder the Musquetiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will all be reduced to the Flanke againe as at first View the figure in the next page The Figure of the Triple firing to the Front Front Serjeant Serjeant Serjeant Serjeant CHAP. XCV How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers in giving fire three wayes at once viz. to the Front Reere and right Flanke IN performing this firing three wayes at once first you may suppose the Musquetiers to be placed upon eyther Flanke of the Pikes then by commanding the halfe Rankes of the left to double
together but after that time is expired you must increase his Ring turnes by two and by two untill he comes to twenty two viz. ten for the left Ring and twelve for the right the proportion of the Ring I have here drawne whereby any man may perceive both the Rings together with the furrowes and place of stopping and turning If you finde your horse not fitting but untoward and unable to tread out this Ring then let some other horse that is perfect tread it out before him and let him follow him but if you tread it out your selfe doe not trot your horse but tread it out softly untill the way be beaten that he may the better see how to demeane himselfe then afterwards to fall on with a gentle trot But if your horse be over metled you shall not suffer him to trot the Rings at all but onely to tread them faire and softly for two or three dayes together untill be be staied and acquainted with them If through often treading the Rings grow hard then tread out new ones When you come to mannage your horse or to passe a carriere it is not then best to use one place alwayes or one length lest hee be to seeke when he change places thinking he should not doe it in any other place or that hee should not passe his accustomed length and so stoppe before you would have him After you have ridden your horse a few weekes you may increase your Ring turnes every day two times untill hee come to 46. which makes a leaven large turnes and a halfe viz. 22. for the left Ring and 24. for the right When soever you gallop your horse in the Ring remember alwayes to helpe him with your Voyce Rodde or Spurre according as the quality of the horse shall require and when he doth well forget not to cherish him When you have trotted or troad your number of Rings that you shall see meete then trot your horse right out in the furrow between the two rings untill you come to the place of stop there staying a good pretty while together keepe his body right in the path and after hee hath made his stoppe you must cause him to goe backe three or foure steps which will not onely stay his mouth and make him easie rayned but also lift his legges and be apt to advance or rise before To teach him to goe backe you must so soone as he hath stopt pull in your bridle hand moderately according as the horses resistance shall require so keeping your hand steady without giving him any liberty strike him softly upon the bowing of his necke with your riding rod saying with a soft voyce in that instant back back I say thus being obsequious unto him a pretty while together if he then will not move his legges or doth make resistance then spurre him in time first with one spurre then with the other but most of that side his hinder part stands out of order when these things are performed and your horse well verst in them then at the stop you shall further teach him to advance or rise with both his fore feete together three or foure times a foote or halfe a yard above the ground this thing is so necessary that the horse cannot manage well nor turne readily without this performance If he will not advance by striking him at his stoppe on the right shoulder with your rod then keepe still a steady hand and correct him twise or thrice together with the even stroke of your spurres or else with one spurre after another cherishing him with your voyce as saying hup hup or hoyce immediately after trot him out againe the distance of forty or fifty foote with a swift trot and at the stoppe doe as you did before continuing the same course untill he be perfect likewise you may teach him the same devices upon his gallop In the next place we are to take notice of the narrow and streight turnes having sufficiently spoken of the former large turnes of the narrow turnes there are three kindes viz. halfe turnes whole turnes and double turnes The halfe turne is when the Horse turneth on the one side and setteth his head the way his Tayle before stood the way he goes being but halfe a Circle but if he doubles it and goes the whole circumference of the Circle his head will stand as it did at his first setting out and this is called a whole turne and two such whole turnes will make a double turne in these turnes divers things are to be considered First that the horse brings in the contrary legge upon the other and that he carries his legges neither too high nor too low also that he keepeth alwayes one path and that he neither presseth forwards not reeleth backwards in his turning also that he keepeth his body at one stay not any wayes awry neither head necke nor any part of his body but to come in whole and round together and to close his turnes in so narrow a roome as may be When you are come out of your Ring trot your horse right out in the middle furrow unto the place of stop and having stopt turne your horse faire and softly on the right hand taking circumference enough that being done give him the like turne on the left hand and then returne him againe as before on the right hand Note when he is to turne on the right hand he is to bring his left foote over the right foote before which is performed by helping him with your voyce in saying to him turne here and by striking him with your rod moderately upon the left shoulder Likewise when you turne him on the left hand helpe him with your voyce as before and with your rod on the right shoulder to bring in the right fore foote over the left fore foote If your horse be harder to turne on one side than on the other you must helpe him with the contrary legge or spurre or with your rod by beating him on the contrary shoulder And to make him close truely it shall be needfull to helpe him with your closing stroke of your heele and Spurre Further if your Horse be so stiffe necked and wresty that he will turne upon one hand and not upon the other you shall tread out in new plowed Land another fashioned Ring as beneath is figured which both differs in shape and in the order of treading from the former For whereas you were wont before in the former figure to goe twice about in the right ring following still the right hand and then to goe twice about the left ring following then the left hand Now in this last ring you shall goe three times about each of them following still the right hand in both of them and whereas before foure goings about made a large turne now sixe goings about shall doe no more than make a large turne the reason is this if you should
so little as you will have him Likewise to make him keepe his head alwayes towards the Enemie being in fight at single duell you must make him goe sidewayes with his hinde part onely and his fore part stand party steady to performe this you must turne your bridle hand somewhat on that side you touch him likewise you must helpe him with your rod by striking him therewith on the contrary flanke behinde Further take notice the carriage of your Horses head is a matter of no small consequence his forehead being the strongest part of his head his snought or mussell the weakest and tendrest the more he thrusteth out his mussell the more he distendeth his backe and beareth the lesse force in his actions and it is impossible hee should ever make good Manage observe time keepe order or continue in breath any space of time together whereas by bringing in his mussell and extending his forehead he uniteth his force together and gathereth his strength in his backe whereby he becommeth more nimble in his actions Secondly he shall see his way the better and be in lesse danger of falling in running and if he should chance to fall he is the abler to rise speedily Thirdly in his performances against an enemie he shall be able to execute or suffer more with his forehead than can be expected from his Mussell being the tendrest part of him Fourthly he cannot be so apt to be urged right forwards upon a sudden as otherwise he might doe Lastly the Horse that Raynes well and bringeth in his head shall alwayes bee better stayed both of head and necke and have a better mouth than otherwise Wherefore if your horse will not bring in his head at any time when you stop him with your bridle hand then holding your hand still at that stay correct him sometimes with your right Spurre and sometime with your left and sometimes with both your spurres at once and at the selfe same instant thrust him with your right hand upon the necke towards his eares to force him to bring in his head but if he will not yeeld with that then by pulling your bridle towards you cause him to goe backe some three paces and then to returne faire and softly to his first place this being put in action divers times together and every time he thrusteth out his nose correct him as before is shewed Moreover if your horse by wresty so as he cannot be put forwards then let one take a Cat tyed by the tayle to a long pole and when he goes backewards thrust the Cat towards his stones where she may claw him and forget not to threaten your horse with a terrible Noyse or otherwise take a Hedgehog and tye him streight by one of his feete to the inside of the horses tayle so that he may squeake and pricke him Likewise if your horse be fearefull and shie so that he is afrayd of every thing he sees you must take heede that in no wise you correct him for it least he should take the thing he beholdeth and shunneth to be the cause of his chastisements and so become more fearefull than before but rather stay a while and doe not force him forwards but by gentle meanes make him by little and little aproach neere the thing he feares which if he performes cherish him with your speech and hand and you shall set by standing still sometimes to looke on it and sometimes by going towards the object he feares he will be so acquainted therewith as he will not feare it and when he commeth at it let him gaze and smell on it a good while to the intent he may be more assured thereof Further to embolden your horse to make him hardy in the warres you must use to incounter upon a soft pace or trot with another horse man face to face in one path but beware they dos●e not one the other but rather let the adverse horse bee compelled backe a few steps which will harty the other or if you please you may incounter one with the other riding in two sundry pathes the one comming cheeke by cheeke within a foote of the other the pathes being both of a just length each of them containing about tenne paces to the intent in managing your horse too and fro upon a trot you comming one towards another from two contrary ends may both meete right in the midst of your course passing one by another which you cannot chuse but doe if you keepe true time as well in their trotting as in their ●urning also not forgetting upon what hand soever the one turneth the other must doe the same and in the selfe same instant Moreover when you trot the Ring you may embolden your horse by entring both together into the Right Ring then turning your horse tayle to tayle follow you the right hand and let him follow the left in the same Ring the ring path being so inlarged that at your meeting in ryding it about you may not touch one the other Having ridden thus about twise you may enter the left ring and doe as before was shewed CHAP. CVI. How to make a Horse endure Pike Sword Gunshot Drumme and the like IN this Chapter we are to deale with the difficultest matter of all and that is now to make a Horse abide Pike Gunshot Sword Drumme and the clattering of Armour or to runne upon any hazard to performe this you must acquaint him throughly with the rod or truntion so as he may not feare it sometimes coying him therewith upon the Necke and by holding the point right forth by his eye or betwixt his eares so as it may bee alwayes in his sight and being throughly assured of the rod then appoint a foote man having a staffe in his hand or pike to stand in your way as you should passe and as you aproach let the footeman by little and little make signes seeming to strike your horse upon the head then encourage your horse to goe on towards the footeman who at the same instant must retreate backe as if he would flee in doing this you shall much imbolden him Likewise to make him abide the sword a footeman must performe it in the same manner as he did with the Pike but be ware he strikes him not After this cause half a dozen footemen or more to stand in his way making a gre●t shouting and noyse threatning him with their loude voyces against whom you must incourage him to goe forwards first with a soft pace secondly with a trot thirdly with a gallop at which time let the footemen retreate fayning to runne away also let them threaten them with their staves Pikes or swords To make him dure Gunshot Drumme or clattering of Armour or any hideous noyse whatsoever let your horse goe hard by another horse or rather betwixt two other horses that are accustomed to the like noyse and are not afrayd and as you ride together cause
their horses so that to everytroope of 120. there is 132. men allowed CHAP. CX How a single Troope of horse ought to be drawne into Ranke and File NOw it remaynes wee should make entrance into the discourse of Exercising a single Troope Therefore supposing our Troope to consist of one hundred and twenty horse wee must first order them into Rankes and Files Rankes are a number uncertaine and hapens according to the quantitie of souldiers be they more or lesse A File is a number certaine consisting of sixe persons viz a Leader two Middle men a Bringer up a Follower betweene the Leader and the Middleman to the Reare and a Follower betweene the Middleman to the Front and the Bringer up which is the last man in the File called the Reare A File differs from a Ranke because they stand face to backe and never above sixe deepe A Ranke differs from a File in regard they stand even a breast shoulder to shoulder and have no certaine extent The order of a File you shall see in this discription following 0 Leader 1 Follower 0 Middleman to the Reare 0 Middleman to the Front 1 Follower 0 Bringer up The description of a Ranke you shall understand by this demonstation following where you shall suppose twenty in Ranke and sixe deepe in File Sixe in File Reare CHAP. CXI What Orders and distances a horse Troope should observe in exercise NOw let us take notice what Orders or Distances these Files and Rankes are to observe in exercising where note that in horse Troopes there are but two sorts of distances or orders either in Ranke or File viz. close order and open order Close Order in Files is knee to knee Open Order in Files is sixe foote which is accounted a horses length Likewise close Order in Rankes is to the Horses crooper so that little or no distance remaines betweene the head of the Follower and the crooper of the Leader Likewise open order in Rankes is sixe foote above which they must never open CAAP. CXII The motions which the Cavalrie are to observe in their exercise THe Motions of the Cavallrie are of foure kindes as namely first Facings secondly Doublings thirdly Counter-Marches fourthly Wheelings The use of Facing is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either of the Flankes or the Reare Doubling of Rankes or doubling by halfe Files or Bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the Front Doubling of Files or Doubling by halfe Rankes serveth to strengthen the Flankes Counter-Marches serve either to reduce the File-leaders into the place of the Bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an Enemy in the Reare or to bring one Flanke into the place of the other or Front and Reere or either Flanke into the middle of the body The use of Wheeling is to bring the Front which is all wayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the Enemy on either Flanke or Reere CHAP. CXIII The Manner how a Commander over 120. Horse besides Officers should Troope with them into the Field to be exercised NOw wee are to suppose this Troope of 120. horsemen are to be ordered in Ranke and File fit to draw into the Field for exercise where note they are five in Ranke and sixe deepe in File and every Officer marching in his due place as appeares by this subsequent demonstration Captaine Trumpet Cornet Eld. Corporall Second Corporall Yongest Corporall Livetenant Trumpet CHAP. CXIV How a Commander should draw this Troope of Horse into a body in manner of Battalia standing at their open Order or Distance of sixe foote YOur Troope of horse being drawne into the Field before you can exercise them you must draw up the dimissions into an even body in manner of Battallia viz. the first devision led by the Captaine being come to a convenient place of Exercise is to stand firme Then the Cornet is to leade up the second Division upon the left side of the former fronting even and keeping even destances both in Ranke and File Thirdly the Eldest Corporall is to leade up his Devision upon the left side of the Cornets fronting them even with the former Lastly the second Corporall brings up his last Division upon the left hand of the eldest corporall observing their due orders and proportions both in Rankes and Files And being thus drawne in Battallia there shall be consequently be in the Front the Captaine whose place is to stand upon the right hand before the Front of the first Division The eldest Trumpet and Cornet before the Front of the second Devisions The eldest Corporall before the Front of the third Division The second Corporall before the Front of the fourth Division And in the Reare the Lievetenant the youngest Corporall and youngest Trumpet Trumpet Second Corporall Eldest Corporall Cornet Captaine Front Reare Livetenant Trumpet Corporall CHAP. CXV How Souldiers are to be made to understand their Commanders intention in time of skirmish BEfore wee can proceede to the Exercising of this Troope of Horse wee must take notice how and by what meanes the souldiers should understand their Commanders 〈◊〉 that accordingly they may immediatly act and put in execution such things as are commanded And this is to be performed by the Commander three severall wayes First by the immediate command of the Captaine either so that every souldier heares the word of Command distinctly himselfe or by Tradition from inferiour Officers whose office is to eccho such commands throughout the Troope and this is termed vocall Secondly when the Captaine commands the Trumpet to sound such points of warre as are generally knowne to every particular souldier this is termed Semivocall The first point of warre the Trumpet sounds is Butte Sella this is the warning to clappe on the Saddles The second is Mountè Cavallo that is the warning for the souldiers to mount upon horse backe The third is Tucquet that is the warning for a March. The fourth is Carga Carga that is a command for to charge the Enemy The fift is Al● Stand●rdo that is a command for to retreate to the Colours The sixt and last is Auquet that is a command for the souldiers to repaire to their Watch or Guards or for the discharging of the Watch or Guards In the third place when the Commander shall make such perfect signes pregnant to the sight as by charging with his Trun●ion or Pistoll or by holding up the colours whereby the souldiers take notice by the first to charge on and by the second to make a stand and this is termed Mute wherefore you may perceive it is a thing of great consequence to accustome your souldiers to these things without which a world of inconveniences and confusion must of necessitie betide you in times of skirmishing Further in regard the exercising a Troope of Horse is tedious and painefull for a
are best horst or those that are nimblest of foote so that they may the safer retire upon all occasions moreover they must not stay over long behind the Army but so as they may soone recover it for otherwise they will be cut off by the enemy If a retreat be wisely carried the enemy that shall follow may receive more dammage then they that retreat But on the contrary side if you perceive the enemy doth provide to steale from you it is wisedome to anticipate such passages as they must passe thorow sending secretly certaine troopes to fortifie at the entrance of them likewise to barricado up the way with trees and to have your Army alwayes in a readinesse to set out after them following them at the heeles but in this case the Army must keepe a very strict order in their Battallia's and march up close together commanding your horse to charge the enemy in the Reare which will bee a meanes to stay the hindermost part of the Army and then the Vantguard of your enemies Army being come to the passages that are blockt up it will so discourage the enemy that your Army marching up to them in Battell aray they will bee easily overthrowne as there hath beene divers examples to verifie this The lightest Ordnance are the best to pursue the enemy withall for which purpose Grave Maurice the Prince Van Nasaw had fifty or sixty small field peeces cast which hee used to place between his Battallions which were of great service in the time of fight for two or three men could weild one of them as they pleased both in advancing it forwards and drawing backe as occasion served and it were very fit and of excellent use to have such small peeces cast here in England for his Majesties service which may bee imployed many waies I have observed the Hollanders how they made use of these small Ordnances to place them in little vessels which they provided to safeguard their great rivers as the river Issel and the Rhine one of these had thirty or forty souldiers to man her and eight or tenne of these peeces whereby they prevented the enemy from marching over the said rivers likewise they were safeguards to the Army when they were convayed by Boates up those rivers or when they lay intrencht neere any great river they safeguarded the Reare of the qnarters from treachery also they safe conducted such Boates as brought Victuals and Ammunition to the Army If occasion should bee in our land which God forbid it should be they could not doe us lesse service than by experience they have done them besides such small vessels being made for service were of more worth to offend an enemy that should dare saile up in any of our great rivers than the greatest Ship of burden for it were impossible for our great Ships to make a fight in the river Thames but they will be more ready to hurt themselves than the enemy whereas these small vessels will lye under the shot and glide up and downe by the great vessels sides and gall them In the next place it remaines how an Army should March neere an enemies Battery to secure themselves from the shot in this you must observe the situation of their Batteries how they are flancked by which you may come to perceive in what direct li●e e●ch peece of Ordnance shall make her true shot and so accordingly either to open the files and ranckes for the passage of the shot or else to fetch a circumference in your March so as the shot shall not touch the files but only a ranke but the securest way is to March secretly by the most obscurest places so as the Ordnance may not discover you Lastly for conclusion if the enemy should assault your troopes in in some narrow passages or high wayes you are to demeane your selfe as followeth First you are to fill the passage or high way with your pikes if the breadth of your troopes be not sufficient to performe it then double your rancks whereby the Wings will extend themselves to the filling up of the passage these then charging your enemies hande or foote your Musketiers being in the Reare the Battell being thus ordered let the first ranke of Musketiers which are those next the pikes face to the right hand and march forth file-wise close up by the right flanke of the pikes untill he that is leader of the said file be even with the Front of the Pikes then he is to face to the right hand and lead them quite crosse the Front of the Pikes untill he hath attained the further part of the Front to the left hand which being performed they are to make a stand and couch under the Pikes and give fire upon their knees so as the Pikes may not be hindred to charge then are they to march downe by the left flancke and place themselves in the Reare of the shot and the next files in order are to advance into the Front after the same manner and performe the same service by this meanes continuall fire shall be given upon the enemy whilst this skirmish is in action Let there be drawne out certaine Pikes and Musketiers into the best inclosed fields either on one or both sides of the way where they may secure themselves from the enemies horse and there charge the enemy on the flancks or at least keepe them from charging your owne troopes that are in skirmish to maintaine the passage view the figure following in the next page The figure of the Battell Front Left flancke Right flanke Reare In this figure the Character p shewes how the Pikes are plac't their Fronts being doubled the other represents the Musketiers as you may perceive them marching up the right flancke and so plac't under the Pikes in the Front ready to give fire upon the enemy you may likewise perceive certaine shot drawne out into two closes upon each side of the high way whose duty is to give fire upon the enemies flancks as they are charching the Front of the Battell or if the enemy should draw out any forces to charge your Flancks then these shot having Pikes to joyne with them shall be able to encounter with them and prevent them Thus I hope I have collected sufficient instructions which may give any reasonable man satisfaction concerning the ordering of their March only if you please I will referre you to divers Modern● Authors which have write of this subject viz. Ierosme Cattamo pag. 133. Machiavill pag. 67. Bellay pag. 151. Barrit pag. 132. Edmonds pag. 39. Garrits Arte of Warre pag. 245. In the next place we are to discourse of the incamping of an Army and how to order the Guards and the Intrenchments Thus ends the sixteenth Section RVLES TO BE OBSERVED IN QVARTERING OR INCAMPING AN ARMY SECT XVII CHAP. IIII. How a Generall is to quarter his Army with the election of places of greatest security what Redoubts are to be raised
onely differing in hand The Words of Command which reduceth it are Front halfe-Files face about to the left March forth into your places Halfe Ranks of the right double your left Flank intire to the right This doubling of the left Flank by advancing the right Flank and placing it before the Leaders of the left Flank which is a doubling both of number and place being very usefull for the strengthning of any Flank where it shall seem needfull And if you desire to have your Musketires to double even with the Musketires of the contrary Flank then you must first cause the half Ranks of the right Flank to march forth-right untill the Rear-Rank of the right Flank be advanced about 3 foot before the Front of the left Flank and then cause that Flank so advanced to counter-march their Ranks to the right and then all your Musketires will be together and the Pikes likewise by themselves The manner of performing this motion according to the words of Command in the Margent is as followeth First the left Flank stands and the right Flank marcheth forth-right untill the Rear of the right Flank be advanced before the Front of the left Flank as before is shewed then face them to the left and cause them to march untill the Pikes are even in Rank with the Musketires which perfects the doubling For the Reducement let the halfe Ranks that doubled face about to the left and march untill they are cleer of the left Flank then cause them to face to the right and to march straight down into their places then the Commander being at his first Front faceth them all to him which reduceth them as at first The left Flank may also double the right Flank intire after the former manner only changing the hand the Command for reducement is Halfe Ranks that doubled face about to the Left march forth into your places Half Ranks of the left double your right Flank by division This motion of doubling Flanks by division doth make a strong form of Battell to give fire three severall waies at once The manner of performing it after the word of Command is given as followeth The Rear half-Files of the left Flank face about to the right and then both the Front half-Files and Rear half-Files march forth-right untill they are clear of that part of the body that stands then each division faceth that way which they are to double which the Front half-Files must do to the right and the Rear half-Files to the left so march forth-right untill the doubling be performed For reducement if the Commander stands at the right Flank which is the part that was doubled then the reducement is as followeth the half Ranks that doubled are to face about inwards and march forth-right untill they are clear of the right Flank which stands then the Front half-Files face to the left and the Rear half-Files to the right and then close their division The Commander going to his first Front and facing the whole body to him they are reduc'd as at first If that the right Flank would double the left Flank by division the way is the same only differing in the hand The words of Command to reduce it are Halfe Ranks that doubled Face about inwards March forth into your places Double your Ranks to the right intire This doubling of Ranks intire to the right is a doubling both of number and place and in some sort worketh the same effect as the doubling of half Files doth to the right intire but differeth in regard of the parties which are the doublers and in the distance left after the doubling The motion of this doubling ought to be thus performed After the word of Command is given for the doubling to the right as in the Margent is exprest then every even Rank faceth to the right The right hand man of each Rank becoming the Leader of his Rank likewise leading them forth and in their March of moving forwards a little bending to the left that when the left-hand man of each Rank which are the bringers up of the motion are clear of the standing part of the body by only facing to the Front they may stand even in Rank with the rest of the Company For reducement of this doubling you must observe that the left-hand men are the Leaders of the motion wherefore command the Ranks that doubled to face to the left and march forth-right into their places Or you may command the halfe Ranks of the right to face to the left and double the left Flank this will work the same effect with the former To double Ranks to the left intire is to bee done after the same manner onely observe the difference of the hand This kind of doubling may also be done by division The words of Command used for this reduceme●t are Ranks that doubled face to the left march forth into your places Double your Files to the right intire advancing This kind of doubling of Files intire to the right advancing is also a doubling both of number and place for it increaseth the depth to double their former proportion of number as from ten to twenty It also gaineth so much ground the more before the Front as formerly the Battell did contain by transferring the even Files of the body into the ground before the Front of the odd Files But this doubling doth diminish the number of the length of your Battell although it preserves their place The manner of performing this motion of doubling is thus to be done first the word of Command being given as in the Margent is specified the odd Files are to stand beginning your account from the outmost File to the hand named the Musketires and Pikes of the even Files are to advance their Arms and follow their File-Leaders every File-Leader leading his File forth-right before his next File to the right untill the bringers up of the even Files are orderly placed before the Leaders of the odd Files For reducement Let the Files that doubled face about to the left the bringers up of each File leading them forth-right downe the distance or spaces which are on their left hand untill they are come even with the Rear and then stand and face about to their Commander and they will bee in their first forme and station The doubling of Files to the left intire advancing is after the same manner only differing in the hand The words of Command used for this reducement are Files that doubled face about to the left march forth into your places Files double your depth to the right every man falling behind his Bringer up This kind of doubling of the depth of Files to the right doth sympathize with the former doubling last discourst of both for number and place only it differeth from the other both in the manner of executing and in some sort of the matter executed for whereas the other doubling by advancing of Files did
Captaine to performe it shall prove very convenient to take some extraordinary paines in making every File-Leaders most perfect in their Postures and Motions and then every particular File-Leader shall teach and instruct the residue of his File in the same manner from whence will arise such an emulation betweene each File who shall be most expert and make the best performances that in a short space they will transcend in their Millitary discipline These things being thus performed and the Troope drawne in Battallia as befor● is deciphered then the Commander at his ease and pleasure may exercise them in grosse in this Subsequent forme CHAP. CXVI The Description of the Postures for the Cavalry which every Officer is to teach his Souldiers before they can be fit for Service FOrmerly I have shewed you how to backe your Horse to use his Raines to ride him in the best and aprovedst way for Service now it remaines before you exercise them in their Motions to shew them first their postures and premising that a Horseman cannot fit himselfe for exercise or to execute any Service unlesse he be first mounted on horsebacke compleately armed as formerly is taught therefore I will omit those things and begin with the first posture according to the Netherlandish rules the words of command follow viz. 1. Vncap your Pistols This posture is performed by turning downe the Caps of the Pistoll cases with your right hand 2. Draw forth your Pistoll You are to draw your Pistoll out of the case with your right hand the left Pistoll first in regard it is most trouble some for the right hand to draw and at first there is most time to performe it being drawne mount the Muzzell of it 3. Order your Pistoll You are to sinke your Pistoll into your Bridle hand and instantly remove your right hand towards the midst of it and then rest the But end upon the right thigh 4. Span your Pistoll This is performed by sinking the Pistoll into his Bridle hand and taking the Spanner in his right hand to put it upon the Axeltree and winding about the wheele till it sticke and then to returne the Spanner to his place which most usually'st hanges about their neckes in a silken string or plac't in the case 5. Prime your Pan. Your Pistoll being held in your Bridle hand not farre above the locke you are to take your priming boxe in your right hand and pressing the spring with your fore finger to open the boxe to put powder into the Pan. 6 Shut your Pan. You are to presse in your Pan pin with your right thumbe whereby it will easily close 7. Cast about your Pistoll You are to assume the Pistoll in your bridle hand and casting it about against the left side erecting the mouth of it 8. Gage your Flaske You are to take the flaske into your right hand and with your fore finger pull backe the Spring and turning the Mouth of the Flaske downeward you are to let goe the Spring 9. Lade your Pistoll Having gaged your Flaske as in the former posture you are to presse downe the Spring which openeth the Flaske with your fore finger then placing the mouth of it in your Pistoll give it a shogge to cause the powder to proceed 10. Draw out your Rammer You are to draw out your Gunsticke with your right hand turned and to shorten the great end of it against your brest whereby you may the easier put it to the mouth of your peece for to ramme it 11. Lade with Bullet and Ramme home Holding your Rammer head in your right hand as before you are to take the Bullet out of your mouth with your Thumbe and fore finger and so put it into the mouth of the Pistoll and immediately ramme it home 12. Returne your Rammer You are to draw forth your Rammer with your right hand turned and shortning it against your brest as before returne it to it's place 13. Pull downe your Cocke You are to bring backe the Pistoll with your Bridle hand towards your right side and placing the Butt end upon your right thigh you may pull downe the Cocke 14. Recover your Pistoll You are to take your Pistoll in his due place with your right hand bearing up the Muzzell 15. Present and give fire Having your Pistoll in your right hand with your finger upon the tricker you are to incline the Muzzell with a steady eye towards the Marke not suddenly but by degrees according to the distance you ride before a necessity of discharging shall be you are not to give fire directly forwards the horses head but in a diameter line by his right side turning his right hand so as the locke of the Pistoll may bee upward and having a true view of the Marke draw the tricker and let flye 16. Returne your Pistoll You are to returne the Pistoll into the Case and speedily draw out your other Pistoll if occasion commands making the same performances as before 17. Bend your Cocke Now in regard our English Pistolls differ from the firelocke Pistoll I will briefely touch two or three postures that are Heterogen●all to the former And as before is taught the holding of your Pistoll in your bridle hand now to performe this posture you are to place your two fore fingers of your right hand upon the vice pin that sk●ues in the stone and by it to draw up the Cocke 18. Guard your Cocke With your Right hand you are to pull downe the backe locke and then be carefull in securing the Cocke from striking downe 19. Order your Hammer You are gently to draw downe your ste●ele upon the Pan with your right hand provided alwayes there be a good flint and that it be evenly measured least it under or over reacheth which may hazard the firing 20. Free your Cocke You are to thrust backe your backe locke with your thumbe and fore finger of your right hand so as the Cocke may be let downe without danger of staying it from giving fire CHAP. CXVII Of the exercising of the Harquebuz and Carabine with the Postures to them belonging and diuers breefe rules appertaining to the use of them as also to Cuirassiers HAving discourst of the managing of the Pistoll in his severall postures it will seeme convenient here by the way to observe some briefe notes concerning the use and managing both of Pistols Harquebuzes and Carabines and then onely name the Postures belonging to the Harquebuz and Carabine that goe with Snaphanes The quickest and most compendious way of charging either the Pistols belonging to the Cuirassiers or other Peeces of what kinde soever is by using of Cazrouches which are made of white paper after this manner following First you are to have a former of wood of the just widenesse of your Pistols bore about this you are to winde a Paper which shall containe the true charge of powder and Bullet the ends must be tyed with a thred and in the midst betwixt the
the second ranke hath tenne this ranke makes two sides parrallell to the two former sides of the Rhombe as the Figure shewes the third must be 17. and so forwards to one the whole Battell hath in it 121. horse with the Officers the Figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXII The Manner and forme of imbattelling the third kinde of Rhombe consisting of Files but not of Rankes THe third kinde of Rhombe which Files but Rankes not you are to order your Troope after this manner following First you must make a File of any Number the Captaine of the Troope being File-leader and the Reare Commander the last of the File To both the Flankes of this File you are to lay two other Files either of them one lesse in number than the first these you must begin to place even with the middest of the distances of the first file on both sides as suppose 11. in the first File the next file on either side must have 10. a peece and the next after them 9. a peece and still one the lesse in all the rest after plac't Files and so it shall prove to file but not ranke This forme is advantagious and profitable for turning of faces when neede shall require from one point of the Rhombe to another turning to the right hand is called turning to the staffe turning to the le●● is called turning to the Raynes but in these our moderne warres we use to command them to face to the right or to the left hand as occasion shall offer the figure of this discourse followeth the Troope of horse consisting of 121. with the Officers The Front Reare CHAP. CXXIII The manner of imbattelling the fourth kinde of Rhombe which Rankes and Files not THis last kinde of Rhombe whose property is to Ranke and not to File is made by a con●rary way to the former The presedent Rhombe which shewed to File but not to Ranke began at the Front point and Reare point and proceeded to the Flankes This beginneth at the Flanke points and proceedth to the Front and Reare First therefore a Ranke is to be layed of what number you please to the distances of this Ranke you must lay two Rankes more one on either side whose number must be one lesse a peece than the former Ranke thus continue laying of Rankes towards the Front and Reare and in every paire of Rankes diminish one a peece untill you come to the points either of which have but one namely the Captaine and Lievetenant by this meanes the Rhombe will ranke but not file the figure followeth Front Reare CHAP. CXXIIII The manner of Framing the Battell called the Wedge or halfe Rhombe used by the Macedonians THe forme of this Battell called the Wedge plainely appeares in the Rhombe which both Rankes and Files for the halfe of that Rhombe is a Wedge Wherefore first you must beginne with a Ranke of an uneven number as suppose 15. horse before that Ranke you must place another Ranke of 13. having two lesse than the former and so you are to proceede untill you end with one which is the place of the Captaine this was the Invention of King Philip of Macedon who placed his best men before that by them the weaker might be held in and inabled to charge Elian giveth reasons why the Wedge was in those times accounted better than a Square forme which we now have in use in regard it is apt and proper artificially to breake the Enemies Square battels for he Compares a Square Battle to an Axe for although it be sharper than a Wedge yet having the edge drawne out in length it cannot possibly by strength be driven farre into the Wood but by redoubling of strokes The Wedge being once entred insinuateth it selfe the point being Narrow and it holdeth what it getteth untill at last it divides the Square forme in Sunder although never so tough Polybius reports lib 4. 278. that the Thessalians being Imhatteled in this kinde of forme they could not be resisted by the Gracians and Persian Squares Moreover the Wedge is of greater strength than the Rhombes because it bringeth more hands to fight for the hinder part of the Rhombe is of no use but to avoyde surprises for it avayleth nothing in charging whereas all parts of the Wedge are effectuall viz. the point to enter and the sides even to the flanke corners where the reare endeth doth dispart and dissever and utterly disorder the Enemie whereby victory is gained And questionlesse this forme of a Wedge were of excellent use in our warres especially when an enemie is charged in Flanke and Reare or Front and Flanke then this Battell in forme of a Wedge to come full upon the point of the enemies Battalia where they shall finde an easie place for entrance in regard the foote Troopes are constrained to make a double resistance both to Front and Flanke so that there will be a space open for entrance and then the sides of this Wedge battell will give such a Valley upon the point that of necessity they cannot be able to withstand it The Cornet in this Wedge forme of imbattelling is to take his place right before the Lievetenant in the second Ranke from the Reare the figure followeth this Troope consists of 121. Horse Front The Leivetenant CHAP. CXXV The reason why we retaine the custome of Ranking five deepe in File WEE have learned from Generalls in former ages the framing of Square Battels in regard they were oppinionated that forme was the easiest to be framed and best for Motion besides the ablest men were plac't in Front and had all the principall Commanders to lead them on to give the Enemie a charge the weapons which the Horsemen used were Speares of such a wonderfull length to to Match their Enemies Pikes which as Leo reports Chap. 25. that they were 16. Cubtis in length that is 24. foote and Livy verifies the same that their Pikes were very unwildy in regard of their bignesse and length and then they for the most part did order their horse Troopes eight deepe in File as Polybius speaketh plainely who was Generall of the Horse of the Achaeans besides Leo in his seventh Chapter writeth after this manner If there be many horse saith he viz. above twelve thousand then let them be ordred tenne deepe in File if but few then let it be no more than five further he saith too much shallownesse maketh a Battalia weake and ready to be broken by this we may conjecture that the filing of Troopes five deepe was not a thing inforc't of necessitie untill such times as they found the inconvenience of their over-long Speares so that the Macedonians caused their Speares to be but 15. or 16. foote in length and then five horse in depth was rather at the most then otherwise to make use of those short weapons to offend the Enemy in their charge They further aimed to order their Battells so that the Battalias might
either side a certaine Company of men to view the Carriages that no treason be put in action as the like was performed betweene the King of England and the King of France the King of Englands men went through the wicket of the grate to guard the King of France and the King of Frances men came to guard the King of England on either side there were locks and boults and but 20. men a piece to guard them By this meanes it could not possible be that any mischiefe could ensue CHAP. CCXII. A Policie to conduct troopes of Horse over Bogges Mores or deepe snowes XEnophon in his Ascent of Cyrus being troubled in his march with wonderfull deepe Snowes Mores and Bogges hee was taught by the Comarch or guide to binde bagges of Straw about their Horses foot-locks which would preserve them from danger of sinking without which necessary and experienced practise divers of them have beene proved with farre greater prejudice to sinke even up to the bellies CHAP. CCXIII. A Policie used by the Citizens of Priennia by which meanes they deluded their Enemie by a colour of plenty which caused him to leave his Siege THe City of Priennia being besieged by Aliattes made use of this Stratagem when their Towne could not hold out any longer their victuals being spent they turned out of their Citie divers fat Cattell as Horses and Mules into the Enemies Campe the Enemy perceiving this sends 〈◊〉 a Spie into the Towne to see whether they were so well provided as they made ●hew of Bias the Governour having intelligence of this Spie caused divers heapes of sand to be piled up together in the Streetes and Market-place and to be strewed over with Corne as Wheat Rie Pease and other Graine which made a wonderfull shew of plenty this Messenger being suffered to have recourse about the City did take a particular view of all things and returned into the Campe with this answer that he saw infinite plenty both of Corne and Victuals which made Aliates presently removed his Siege Had not this Policy taken effect the City could not have subsisted a weeke longer The like Policy Gracchus caused the Citizens of Cassilinum to use whereby Haniball was deluded the Citizens sowing Parsnip-seeds in the fields about the Towne and defending it from the Enemies spoiling it made Haniball thinke that there was store of plenty and that it was no policy for him to stay his Siege untill those Roots were growne wherefore he presently removed CHAP. CCXIV. A politique Stratagem whereby young Scipio brought Haniball into a mighty suspition with Antiochus YOung Scipio being sent by the Roman Senate to Antiochus who had by the instigation of Haniball prepared an Army against the Romans which should have beene conducted by that crafty Enemy Haniball for prevention he thus practised hee would often frequent the Company of Haniball falling into friendly conference about the Battels betwixt them fought before in Italy and Affrica feeding and pleasing the humour of Haniball lest he should leese his company and so faile of his intended purposes which was to bring Antiochus into a mistrust and iealousie of the fidelitie of Haniball so that the conduction of the moyetie of this Army might not be granted him which tooke effect for his secret comming to Scipio● lodging yet so that some of Antiochus friends might take notice of it also in the day having conference together if any approch'd neere Scipio would suddenly be silent and winde away from his company which actions of his wrought his desires for Antiochus durst not trust him fearing there was some plotted treachery betwixt them CHAP. CCXV Politique devises used by Archelaus Mithridates to cause his Souldiers to fight when they were both unwilling and fearefull ARchelaus Mithridates Lievtenant at Pir●a perceiving his Souldiers had small courage to fight he so wearied them with continuall labour that they were glad to desire him to fight that the warres might be ended the same did Cyrus King of Persia in the warres against Astyages King the Medes minding to stirre up the valour of his dejected Souldiers fiercely to give Battell to their Enemy he wearied them all one day with hewing downe of wood and on the morrow after hee made a plenteous feast for them demanding in the feast time which day liked them best they allowing of the pastime of that day present to whom he replyed this pleasure must be obtained by the other dayes paines for except yee first overcome the Medes yee can never live at freedome or in pleasure by this they tooke great courage to fight After the same manner Epaminondas being ready to give battell to the Lacedemonians hee perceiving his Souldiers hearts to faint frames a short Oration to instigate them to fight telling them how that the Lacedemonians had determined if they got the victory to slay all their men to make all their wives and children bond-slaues for ever and to beat downe the City of Thebes flat to the ground with these words the Thebans were so grieved and moved that at the first brunt they overcame their Enemies Agesilaus had pitcht not farre from Orchomeno a City that was in league with him hee perceiving that the chiefest part of his Army had their treasure in the Campe commanded the Townes-men to receive nothing into the Towne belonging to the Army to the intent his Souldiers might fight the more furiously knowing they should fight both for their lives and goods Also Gelon King of Syracuse entring warre against the Persians to make his Souldiers disdaine and undervalue the Enemy causeth divers of the poorest and most uncomliest weake persons of the Enemie to be stript starke naked and led them before all the divisions of the Army to perswade them that the Enemy was but silly poore wretches and scarse worth the fighting withall All these Projects have taken good effect in the ancient warres CHAP. CCXIV. A Politique Stratagem used by Flavius to bring Gracchus into an ambush whereby he and his Romans were s●aine TItus Gracchus being in the Country of the Lucans who were then divided divers Townes being rendred up to Haniball and certaine abode under the Romans jurisdiction of the which sort the chiefe Ruler that yeare was one Flavius a Lucan this Flavius on a suddain turned to Haniball and sending to Mago to speake with him he conspired to deliver Gracchus the Roman Generall unto him so as the Lucans might be received into amitie which being condescended unto he brought Mago to a great covert of Wood willing him to hide himselfe with a great company of men of Armes appointing him the time when he would bring the Roman Captaine into his hands Returning to Gracchus he gave him to understand that he had begun a great enterprise and that he must be the instrument to effect it which was that he had moved and perswaded all the Princes of the Lucans that were gone to the amity of Haniball to returne againe to the obedience of Rome I
rest of the Pot and then to bee covered to keepe them in In the next place there are divers Wimbles to be made of a just bignesse to the Pottes these are to bore the holes in the earth to place the Pots in note the holes are to bee bored somewhat aslent that the stones may flie side-wayes to disorder the Rankes if it be swardy ground then only the top of the sward is to be laid to cover the Pots and the residue of the earth is to be cast quite away towards your owne Troopes to avoide suspition then there are Regals cut from pot to pot to lay the Pipes which are to convey the traines of Powder these are also to be covered as the former there may be also long traines made both from the two ends and also from some other places about the middest these traines are to bee likewise conveyed in Pipes tenne or twenty rodde towards your owne Bataliaes and when the Enemy is marcht full upon them then those appointed to attend these traynes are to give fire unto them Note if the earth should bee wet then the Pots and Pipes that convay the Traines must bee closed with Pitch or Yallow to prevent the moystning of the Powder View the Figure following of all the parts of the Stratagem which happily may cause you better to understand it CCLXXIV How to make Torches and Candles to burne in any weather being a thing most necessary in the warres THese kinde of Torches are invented to keepe fire either in windie or raynie weather they are made of this composition following Sulphur Salt-peeter Rosin Calxvine quick Peal Lin-seed Oyle and common Lamp-oyle Pitch Tarre Camfire Waxe Tutia Arsnicke Quick-silver and Aqua-vitae of this composition may bee Torches Candles or Balls of Wild-fire made that will burne in the water without extinguishing CHAP. CCLXXV How to arme Pikes with Wild-fire and Pistols for to with-stand a Breach and defend it against the Enemie THis kind of arming of Pikes at the Speares end with Wild-fire was invented for the defence of a Breach Port or Bridge and it hath beene approved that an Enemy hath beene more feared with it then with any other kinde of weapon the manner of framing these Weapons is after this fashion First there must be Powder bruised eight parts Peeter in Roch one part Peeter in Meale one part Sulphur in Meale two parts Rosin-Roch three parts Turpentine one part Lin-seed Oyle one part Verdigrease halfe a part Bole-Armoniack 1 3 part these ingredients must bee put in a Bagge made of strong Canvas which first must be put upon the Pikes end and the lower end of it being tyed fast to the Pike and the Bagge filled up with this Composition the other end thereof must also bee fast tyed to the end of the Speare the whole Bagge must be soundly woulded with a small Cord this being done then there must bee 〈◊〉 in a Pan Pitch foure parts Lin-seed Oyle one part Turpentine one part Tarre 1 3 part Tallow one part these being mixt together must be daubed all over the Canvas a good thicknes then being cold two holes must be bored into the Bagge two inches deepe with a sharp square Iron filling the same with fine bruised Powder to this may be made fast divers Pistoll-Barrels charged with Bullets this instrument will performe excellent service in a throng of people View the figure CHAP. CCLXXVI A Device to make a Musquet sh●ot with the same quantity of Powder halfe as farre againe as her usuall Shot is THis Invention the King of Sweden did make tryall of and it is a thing highly to be prized in the Warres for many times it happens that the wings of Shot in a pitch'd Battell are drawn out to skirmish with an Enemie before they be within the true distance of the Musquets commanding Shot or being discharged by the Enemie out of some Fort many times when they are out of distance whereby much Powder and shot is spent to no purpose now to remedie this there is an approved device which will cause a Musquet or Canon to shoot halfe as farre againe with the same quantity of Powder and this is effected by taking of white Case-pepper of the soundest Cornes and steepe them 24 houres in the strongest Aqua-vitae then being taken out and dryed in the Sunne so that they may not danke the Powder then charging the Peece with the usuall charge of Powder you must take so many of these pepper Cornes as will cover the circumference of the Bore and being put downe close with the sticke to the Powder then putting next to the Pepper the Bullet this being tryed at any marke it shall be sensibly found to convey the Bullet with such a violence farre beyond the accustomed shooting and being charged without this ingredient the Bullet shall not come little more then halfe the way CHAP. CCLXXVII Of the Bow-Pike and how it is best to be used in the Warres THis Invention of joyning a Bowe to the Pike may bee of excellent use in the Warres to impale the Flankes of an Army for when the Horse shall charge eyther in Flanke or Reare those Arrowes will gaule them they are very good to be drawne out to safegard some small troopes of shot that shall bee sent out to discharge upon the Horse but for the placing of these in the Front of the maine Battalia's I hold it not so good unlesse it be onely the two first rankes for it will bee very troublesome when the Troopes snall joyne at push of Pike besides the Pikes heads will soone out their Bow-strings in sunder and make them of no validitie and questionlesse in the time of stormie wet weather these Bowes would doe great service when the Musquet cannot be discharged for wet but were it so that a Pike were made of such an indifferent bignesse towards the But end that there might be disposed in it three Petronell Barrels made of a very light substance as there is a new Invention found out in that kinde there is a light locke to be plac'd a yard from the But end this shall at once pulling up strike fire twice having a double pan and that part of the Pike the Petronell is plac'd in is to be turned round so that the Touch-holes of these Barrels may turne to the locke one after another without removing either of hand or foot this would worke some effect against the Enemies Pikes it going with that force that it would enter their Corslets which the force of an Arrow could not performe View the Figures CHAP. CCLXXVIII The Description of an Engine whereby the diversitie of the strength of powder may be truely knowne TO know which are the strongest sortes of Gunpowder according as this Figure demonstrates you must prepare a Boxe as A B beeing foure inches high and two inches wide having a Lid joyned unto it the Boxe ought to be made of Iron Brasse or Copper and to be fastened to a good thicke
in a Company and not to be suffered some to be 200. and some 300. and some 150. which if it must needs bee so and may not bee altered then I could wish all Companies to be only of the extent of 200. and 80. of them to bee Pikemen and 120. Musketires The rowes of lesse squares marked on each side of the figure with the letter B. are the Hutes for the Souldiers to lie in between the Front of which and the Colonels ground you see a large void space or distance which is twenty foot wide marked at each end the use of it is for the drawing up of the Companies or for the Officers to walk in and for the Souldiers to speak with them there this space is marked in the figure with C. Right under the Colonels Hute you see another void space as wide as the Colonels Hute is and as long as all the Quarter of the common Souldiers marked with D. the use of it is for the Officers of the Regiment commonly called the Officers of the Staffe as the Provost-Marshall the Quarter-Masters of the Regiment and the like Of the Quarters of the common Souldiers on either side of this long void space these bee the proportions All the little squares bee Hutes or Cabbins in the longer rowes marked with the letter M. on the first Hutes are the Musketires lodged and in the other rowes marked with P. are the Pikemen lodged one row of Musketires and one row of Pikes makes up one complete Bond or Company of 126. men In the Musketires row are twenty four Hutes and in the Pikemens but eighteen the reason is because the King by his orders commands that every complete Company should have three Corporalships of Musketires foure Files or Rots as the Swedes terme them make a Corporalship of Musketires but of Pikemen three Files or Rots make a Corporalship so that twelve Files of Musketires and nine Files of Pikes viz. twenty one Files firemen in depth in each File is a complete Band of 126. men besides the Officers and Serjeants When his Companies were weak then hee would have but two Corporalships of Musketires and the remainder to be Pikes Each of these Hutes are nine foorsquare viz. three yards every way and whereas one row of Musketires and one row of Pikes belongs to one Company these therefore neerer set together than the row of Pikes belonging to severall Companies are for the Pikes and Musketires of the same Company are parted with a street but six foot wide whereas betwixt the Pikes of severall Companies is a street of eighteen foot wide and betwixt the Musketires of severall Companies a street of twelve foot wide and so you see the severall proportions marked The length of the row of Pikes is but 162. foot as you see it marked betwixt the two first rowes of their Hutes The length of the Musketires row is 216. foot as is marked in the margent the distance of breadth being observed they amount to 360. foot or 72. paces so broad is the whole Quarter for one intire Regiment Below all this in the Rear or lower end of the Quarter you have a voyd space 14. foot of ground running all the breadth of the Quarter serving for the freedome of Ayr this is marked with E. Last of all you may behold another lowance of ground marked with the letter F. which is for the Sutlers Chap-men Butchers c. of the Regiment Add now the distances of length together and they come to 300. foot which is the length of the whole Quarter for one intire Regiment Now rests the chief point of discipline in the number and order of the placing of the Hutes and the men in them Concerning the number there be three men to be lodged in one Hute as well Pikes as Musketires so that in 24. Hutes of Musketires of one Company there bee 72. men and in the 18. Hutes of Pike-men of one Company there be but 54. men which number added together amounteth to 126. which is a complete Band. These 72. Musketires are again divided into three Corporalships and the 54. Pike-men also into three Corporalships Four Files or Rots of Musketires goe to one Corporalship and of Pike-men but three Files or Rots to a Corporalship So that 24. Musketires goe to one Corporalship and of Pikes 18. according to the number of either of their Cabbins Furthermore their order being to march six deep in File therefore in every two Hutes there is one Rot or File lodged which presently know how to put themselves in order Thus hath every Corporall of Musketires eight Hutes to look unto and every Corporall of Pikes six Hutes under him This certainty and disposing of the numbers serveth much for private government this order of quartering they are opinionated is prevalent for the ready resisting of the enemy Whereas you see two rows of Pikes and two rows of Musketires still together with their Cabbin doors inward one to another this is the use of it Suppose the enemy in the night falleth upon the Quarters the Alarme being taken and given by those of the outmost Guards out slips the two rows of Pikes into the street or alley betwixt them and presently marching out betwixt the Captains Hutes they are instantly in a fair order of Battell The Pikes being gone then the two next rows of Musketires joyning together march also out upon both sides of the Pikes where they are ready instantly to flank them Thus one Squadron or halfe-Regiment issuing out upon one side of their Colonels Tent and the other halfe on the other presently they draw themselves in complete Battalia and find their Colonels and Captains in the head of the Quarter ready to conduct them to the Brest-work thus so soon as the Alarm is given in from the outer Guards the Souldiers will bee ready to entertain their assault every man before his own Quarter upon which the enemy falleth before he can possibly march hee never so fast come neer to doe any execution If you desire to heare how in that huddle of darknesse they can possibly find their weapons know that by the order of their standing every man can at first comming most readily clap his hands upon his owne To instance in the Pikes for example The place where they all stand together is upon a thing made after the fashion of a paire of Gallowes at the head of the Quarter the upper overthwart beam is for the Pikes to stay against then there is another beam lower for to hang the Corslets upon and to lean the Muskets against this is to have a defence over it to defend the wet Now when any service or exercise is done abroad hee that lyeth in the Rear of the Quarter by comming in first setteth down his Armes inmost and he that commeth in last leaveth his outmost which when hee again goeth first out hee findeth his formost and when the last man commeth he findeth his own left every man
King of Sweden who used to range his Battalia's but six men in depth so that with ten thousand well-exercised men he could extend the Front of his Army as broad as the enemy could with fourteen thousand and make his partie good with them in regard of his sundry Retreats which brings fresh hands to fight and weary out the enemy as also hee would not misse of places of advantage environed with water or marish grounds c. so that his Army should not be assaulted upon all sides Sebastian King of Portugal when he aided Mulehamet in the Wars of Barbary against Abdimelec King of Morocco ranged the Rear of his Battell against the River Maraga which was as a wall to defend them Moreover a Generall must take this for a Rule viz. to enlarge or strengthen the Front of his Battell according to the number of his Souldiers as also according to the force of his enemies Troops if the place where you are to imbattell in be narrow then of necessity you must straighten your Ranks and if the place be wide and open you must bee very carefull not to extend the Front of your Battell too wide except your Army bee of greater potencie than the enemies then by extending out the Wings of your Battell you may gain advantage by over-winging them whereby you may charge them both in Flank and Front at once But hee that shall adventure to charge an Army upon all sides either must have four times more men than the enemy or else he must be sure to perish for want of discretion Also there is great discretion to be used in ordering of Battels that they may not bee plac'd in low grounds neer any hill or high banks or upon the side of a hill because the lower grounds are subject to the enemies Ordnance if the enemy should have this advantage the best way to prevent it is to march out of distance from such places of advantage to cause them to come down to you But some fondly have maintained the lower ground to be of greatest advantage in regard the Muskets will doe more service in shooting upwards than downwards To this I answer it is but a simple opinion for it is double advantage to have the higher ground in regard both Horse and Foot will soon find to their costs that it is a double pains besides they come upon them with a great deal more power down hill than they can up hill and a bullet shot from a side-hill may shoot through two or three Ranks when as that which is shot upwards cannot shoot past through one as for their bullets rowling out they are simple men that charge them the mean time But this by the way Tenthly your Battell must bee so ordered and disposed that the enemy may bee brought into some stratagem or made to disorder his Troops which may be done many waies as by causing your Army orderly to retrait so that the enemy may disorder his Ranks in the pursuit and then to take the occasion to fall on again orderly and rout them The ancient Generals were very politick in this for when they knew that their enemies plac'd their greatest strength in any one Point or Wing of the Army then contrarily they would frame that Point or Wing weakest which was to encounter with them their ablest forces they commanded to stand firme and not seek to repulse the enemy but to resist them and the weakest Battalia's they caused to assault the enemy and then to retrait to their Battalia's behind them by this means they brought the enemy into two great disorders the first was the enemy had his best Souldiers inclosed betwixt their adversaries Battalia's the second was when the enemy thought they had gotten the victory their Bands would disorder themselves by pillaging as the like hapned at the Battell of Dreux in France where the Lord of Guise stood fast with his Battalia all the rest being fled from him but the valiant Switzers who opposed themselves against all the fury of the enemy In the mean time the Prince of Codee's Troops being confident of the victory some of them following the slaughter and others fell to pillaging thus being scattered abroad the Lord Guise finding his opportunity with those men he had hee marched up to them with a bold countenance and overthrew them before they could order themselves in any form to receive their charge Likewise Scipio plac'd his weakest Forces against Asdrubal's best souldiers which hee had plac'd in the midst of the Battell and upon each Flank Scipio had plac'd his ablest men So soon as Asdrubal charged Scipio's Battell they retraited only the two Flanks of his strongest souldiers stood firme Asdrubal's souldiers pursuing the retrait before they were aware were gotten between the two Divisions of the Flanks of Scipio as if they had been in an half-Moon they there being charged upon both sides by them his weakest men being there were soon vanquish'd and the rather because his chiefest Forces being plac'd in the midst of his Battell could not come to fight Eleventhly You must know how and when to make use of such instruments as may hinder the enemies Horse and disorder and annoy his Foot-troops and for this purpose the King of Sweden made use of an instrument which he termed a Swines Spike formerly used by one of our Kings whereby he gained a Conquest in France it was a peece of Ash four foot long at each end a speared pike of yron his Musketires stook this at their girdles and as they advanc'd forwards to give fire upon their enemy every man stook down his instrument aslope into the ground this hindred the Horse from charging them Also many have made use of the Caltrop it being a small peece of round wood with pikes sticking up every way each souldier having one or two of these about him may cast them before the Front and Flanks of the Army these will much annoy the enemies Horse Also your Powder-pots being plac'd in the earth and fire given unto them just as the enemy shall be approaching over them these will infinitely disorder and kill them Moreover it behooves a Generall to be of a very quick apprehension and to forecast with himself what stratagems will best sute with the condition of the enemy and the situation of the place and how and when to put them in execution that they may work their best effect In the framing of your Battell you must bee mindfull to order the Battalia's so as there may be a space left of two paces for the Musketires to march down by the sides of the Pikes after they have given fire upon the enemy for if the distance should bee lesse as divers would have it the motion of the Battalia's would presently close them up Also the distances between the Battels of the forlorn hopes and the front of the main Battel ought to be sixtie paces or according as the place will admit
which both Generall and Officers must make use of in the time of fight or skirmish HAving collected the best Observations that my poor indevours could attain unto for the fitting of all thing requisite before the time of fight now it remains to discourse of such necessary principles as are convenient to be used in the time of fight so that there may bee nothing omitted which may bee an inducement or furtherance to a victory Wherefore presupposing that the Battell Standards are pitcht and the Army ranged accordingly as before is shewed the first thing that is to be done is to draw out a certain company of Horse and Foot to surprize the enemies Ordnance in which they are not bound to keep any array or order but to run disbanded and fall pell mell upon the enemy whereby his Ordnance will be disabled from shooting above once In the mean time the Forlorn Hopes and such disbanded Shot are to skirmish with the enemy partly to see if they can disorder any of their Divisions or gain some prisoners whereby the Generall may learn how they are imbattelled and what Stratagems they intend to use with the true number both of their Horse and Foot so as he may the better fit himself for them as also by their first onset to breed courage in his own men and to make them disdain their enemy The Forlorn Hope is duly to bee supplyed with men and munition either from the Wings of the main-Battel or else some Maniples appropriated for that purpose according as they prevail against the enemy so they are to be strengthned if the enemy bee too potent for them then they are to retrait behind the main-Battell and when the two Battels joyn these are to sally out and charge the enemies Flanks Some Stratagem or other ought to bee put in practice at the first encounter for a small matter if it comes unexpectedly will discourage an enemy If there be any Ambuscado's secretly laid for to charge the enemies in the Flanks or Rear let them execute their charge when the two Battels joyn in fight whereby they may be disheartned If in case the enemy take the charge and make a retrait those Officers that lead up the Forlorn Hopes to skirmish must not pursue the retrait nor suffer the souldiers to follow the enemy no further since that this skirmishing is to no other end than to breed a certain impression and good opinion in the minds of your own souldiers The absolutest way to disorder the enemies Troops is to charge their Battalia's either with your Horse or Foot both in Flank and Front * and then having certain Troops of Horse ready formed in manner of a wedge-Battell that shall indevour to enter the point of the Battell and so disorder their Ranks The Generall is to cause it to bee given out in the time of fight that hee hath a new supply of men comming unto him and may make a shew of some matters like a truth that may signifie his Succours to be neer at hand This may take effect to discourage them so that with little difficulty they may be vanquish'd Sulpitius put all the servants and labourers belonging to the Army upon beasts unfit for fight causing them to bee ranged in such sort that they seemed afar off to be a great number of Horse-men whom he sent up upon a mountain some what neer unto his enemies Army commanding them to keep themselves close untill the Battell was begun and that then they should shew themselves in many Troops like Horse-men faining to march down to charge the Rear of the enemies Army this put the enemy to flight But if the Countrey be plain so that no Ambush can be laid then there must be Trenches digged and men laid privily in them and covered over with green boughs Also such kind of Ditches may be digged and covered over slightly with boughs and earth laid slightly over and certain firme places bee left betwixt the Trenches with good marks for to find them at which places they may retire that are sent to charge the enemy faining to be afraid in their speedy retrait to cause the enemy to follow them the faster and so to fall into the snare Note that upon the disordering of the enemy the main-Battell is not to follow the pursuit but certain Troops of each Wings both of the Horse and Foot are to pursue the victory If any accident should happen unto the Generall during the Combat which might dismay his souldiers it is a point of great wisdome for to cover it and to make the best of it presently as Hostilius who seeing that his assistants which should have entred Battell with him went their waies without striking stroke hee knowing their departure would have greatly dismaid his souldiers caused it to be given out through all the Army that they went away through his commandement this did not only appease the people but did moreover incourage them that they were victorious Sylla having part of his Troop slain fearing lest his Army should be discouraged hee said he sent them of purpose to be slain in regard they conspired against him In the Battell of Flanders when the enemy had cut off the whole Regiment of Scots that were sent to guard a passage one only man brings the newes of it his Excellency caused him to be slain lest he should have frighted the Army by the report of so sudden an accident A Generals care must ever be to avoid confusion of fight which is to begin before your time which causeth such inconveniences as are cause oftentimes of losse Therefore in the beginning of your fight take great heed you invade not nor fight confusedly wheras every part of the Army hath his ordinary time to fight neither suffer any part of your Army to fight with your enemy in any other fashion than you appointed them At your first onset in charging the enemy the Army must give a mighty terrible shout to dishearten the enemy and then afterwards keep great silence that the sounds of the Drums and Trumpets may be heard and distinguished as also such commands as Officers shall give If your Horse-men be oppressed with your enemies Horse-men send for succour a supply of Musketires who may scattering and out of order as occasion shall serve shoot at the oppressors and upon occasion retire and returne very often to these you may send a guard of Pikes for rescue the better to bring them off safe But if you invade your enemy with Musketires with your guard of Pikes send some Horse so that both may defend them from invasion of the enemies Horse-men Likewise to give the enemie his hands full follow him with a Battalion resolutely to put all or one of his Battalions to rout and having discomfited any one of his Battels send only a small or convenient company to pursue the chase and with the rest invade quickly some part of his Army fighting with any one
against a Battel meerly of one Front A third ods the Grecians found out wherefore they invented a Battell accordingly and termed it the Cyrte it being a convex Battell the intent of it was to delude the enemy for it made a semblance of small Forces by reason of the convexitie of the Figure it being a Maxime in Philosophie that all round things seem far lesse than they are in compasse but being extended in length they prove as much more as they seemed to be because the rotunditie of the fore-part obscureth the exteriour from the eye And indeed it is the perfection of skill in a Generall to have so much art in imbattelling that he shall make shew but of few Forces but bring as many more hands to fight A fourth ods the Grecians found out which was a form of imbattelling they termed Epicampios and this was to oppose the former deluding forme it being a figure most apt to oppose the same for as the former was a convex Battell this was a concave and no lesse deception to the eye in regard the circumduction of the Front is like an embowing for this Figure opening it selfe will easily receive the orball form of the other into its concavitie or otherwise dilating it selfe on either Wing the Front of it will equallize the former Battell in all respects And this latter they made use of to entrap the Battell called the Horsemans Rhombe for soon they would wrap them into their voyd space of their Front as they charged them and so galling them upon all sides soon vanquish them A fifth advantage they found out to oppose their enemy that charged them in the Front and Rear at once Wherefore they framed their Battel sixteen deep in File so that the halfe Files to the Rear did but face about and they were ready to entertain the enemy both waies at their first approach and this they termed the Phalange Amphistomus having respect to the two Fronts this kind of forme was principally to entertain the charge of Horse A sixth forme of imbattelling they invented which they termed Antistomus and this did not much differ from the former only this receives the charge upon either Flank and the former upon the Front and Rear A seventh form of imbattelling they invented very advantagious to be opposed against the Horse-Battell called the Wedge and this they termed Diphalange Antistomus The manner of the Battell called the Horsemans Wedge was to charge the Foot in the Front with such furie that they would pierce and enter the most strong resistance for the prevention thereof they plac'd the ablest men in their middlemost Files so that when the Horse charged them each Flank divided it selfe by the middlemost File faceing each towards other and so made a lane for those Horses to passe betwixt them without any dammage to themselves yet they galled the Horse on both sides in their violent passage the Foot standing on either side like two walls faceing inwards gave them a fruitlesse passage for otherwise a square Battell of Pikes were not able to resist the furie of this wedge-Battell The eighth forme of imbattelling which they invented was of great advantage to be opposed against the square Battell and this they termed Diaphalange peristomus the manner of it was thus The two Wings opened themselves like a paire of Compasses or otherwise dividing themselves into such a sufficient distance as they might intrap and inclose the square Battell betwixt them The square forme of Battell fearing to be inclosed betwixt them transforme themselves into two marching Phalanges and being thus divided they direct one against the right the other against the left Wing of the enemy Likewise if they did expect a charge upon both their Flanks then they wisely provided for it for they divided their Troops into two Phalanges one sequenting the other the first had all the Leaders in a right-hand deduction and the following Phalange in a left-hand deduction one having their Commanders in the right Flank and the other in the left Flank this forme of imbattelling they termed Heterostomos that is when the Phalange proceedeth in a Wing not by File but by Rank These kind of Phalanges may march in a double treble or quadruple side according to the place and part suspected where the enemy should fall on These deductions or Paragogies if they begin the fight in Flank doe make their Front or length double to their depth this last they invented to teach their souldiers to receive heedfully the charge on all parts and it was used most upon a March for accordingly they demeaned themselves as they understood the enemies manner of approaching for if the enemy marched his Army in a right deduction viz. when the March extendeth it selfe out into a Wing having the depth much exceeding the length Then they invented another forme of Battell which was advantagious to bee opposed against the former and they termed it Coelembolos or hollow wedge-Battell and their framing of it was after this manner viz. when the Antistomos Diphalange or double Phalange dis-joyneth and divideth the Wings in the Front the Rear being still closed in manner of the letter V the advantage is this when the enemy approacheth with his right induction and chargeth at the midst of the aforesaid Battell it suddenly opens its Front in the midst as before is demonstrated and frustrates the charge of the enemies Front clasping them in and circumventing the flanks of the enemies right induction Then to prevent this great advantage they devised another form of Imbattelling which should over-march this and they termed it a Triphalange or treble Phalange The manner of framing it was thus they divided their forces into three Phalanges two of them marching up in an even Front But having both in their Front and Rear as large a division betwixt them as the Front of the Battell Coelembolos or hollow wedge-Battell these two Phalanges charge the two Wings of the Coelembolos and the third Phalange standeth with its Front even at the Rear of the two former Phalanges ready to advance up in the space betwixt them this last waiteth onely for a time of advantage to give an onset and they termed it the forbearing Phalange this questionlesse hath much advantage of the former Lastly they invented a forme of imbattelling called Phalagiophalange which they made use of to oppose the Horse-Battell termed Hetromekes or the Herse of Horse this Herse-Battell had the depth double to the length or breadth and was profitable in many respects for seeming to carry so few in so small a breadth it deceiveth the enemy and it did easily break the force of the Foot with the thicknesse and strength of the imbattelling and it might be led through straight passages without perceiving The Foot-Battell before named which was to encounter with this Horse-Battell did extend its Front very wide and was very slender in