the word is giuen This is the way to doe it and I will name no more All this variety of waies helpes such as would be exquisite in exercising I say would are not already I presume not to teach any that knowes more then my selfe Nor such as knowes lesse then my selfe yet scornes to be taught but such as knowes little it may be nothing yet haue a a desire to learne To such I that know some thing to others but little doe impart that little which I haue And in the next chapter will teach them how to exercise a company as I my selfe haue beene taught in the Artilery Garden or elsewhere for I haue attained nothing but by paines taking much cost and reading But first obserue my Method in Exercising My Method in Exercising is not at this time to Intermeddle with new formes of battells various fights sundry kindes of Inductions and the like But to apply my selfe somewhat to that which hath been deliuered practized in former times agreeing with our moderne discipline and at this time in vse beginning at the first principle of all to order a company of men into a battell that are at first confused one among another and to doe it by distinct words of Command whereby they may order themselues into a body without helpe of a Sergeant taking their first distance of six foot in square both in file and ranke in which we commonly vse at the first to exercise our Motions in All this I meane to doe and the Chapter following will shew it CHAP. XXVI This Chapter sheweth a young Commander how he should begin to order his Company How to command the same properly by seuerall distinct words of Command And to obserue true Distance in euery Motion Whether it be to Face to Wheele to Charge to Counter-march or double THus then he may Command when the Company is vnordered intermingled one with another parted from their Armes and lying in sundry places Separate your selues To your Armes File and Ranke your selues Euery File-leader know his place Aduance your Pikes Shoulder your Muskets Fall into a body and flanke your Pikes with Muskets Take your first distance six foot both in File and Ranke Order your Pikes Rest your Muskets Stand Right in your Files Stand right in your Rankes Marke your Directions Silence Face to the right hand as you were Face to the left hand as you were Face to the right hand about as you were Face to the left hand about as you were Rankes to the right hand double as you were Rankes to the left hand double as you were Files to the right hand double as you were Files to the left hand double as you were Middle men to the right hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the right hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men double your Front to the right and left hand by diuision Middle men as you were Bringers vp to the right hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Bringers vp to the left hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Now they must aduance their Pikes and so Counter-march Rankes to the right hand Counter-march Rankes to the left hand Counter-march Files to the right hand Counter-march Files to the left hand Counter-march a The second Distance is for Wheeling and charging Files close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Rankes close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Wheele to the right hand Wheele to the left hand Charging vpon a stand when their Pikes are aduanced Wheele to the right hand about Wheele to the left hand about Charge to the right hand As you were Charge to the left hand As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge to the Front As you were Charge to the Reare As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge Front Reare and Flankes As you were Open yâ—ur Files to your open Order Six foot Open your Rankes to your open Order Six foot Order your Pikes March Shoulder your Pikes March Charge to the right hand Marching and charging from the shoulder at oâ—â—n then open Oâ—deâ— Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the left hand Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the Reare Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the right hand This was done by Captaine Bingham in the Artillery Garden Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the left hand Aduance your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Port your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Traile your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Cheeke your Pikes from the traile Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Make a stand Marke your Directions The right hand file lead forth the rest follow in sequence one after another Lay your Pikes on the outside one of another Recouer Marching and aduance your Pikes Stand. File-leaders bring vp your Files into a body Files open to the right hand Open order Six foot Files close to the left hand to your Order Three foot To the 〈…〉 A foot and a halfe In Fâ—le Râ—nkes open backward to your double Distance Twelue foot Rankes File to the right hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the left hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the right and left hand Close your Rankes to six foot Open your Files to six foot Being reduced to your first Distance Order your Pikes Lay downe your Pikes Take vp your Pikes and order Thus much for Exercising and of the Postures of the Pike therein vsed The seuerall Postures of the Musket followeth in the next Chapter CHAP. XXVII Of the Postures of the Musket THe Postures of the Musket are sundry and many Some make 32. some 40. some 43. some more some lesse All which are for Military instruction in the time of Trayning and to make the Souldier most exquisite and perfect But in time of present seruice before the face of the enemy or in fight then all this great number of Postures they reduce into three only and no more viz. 1. Make ready 2. Present 3. Giue fire All the other they wittily and properly sort into foure kindes or orders To be performed Standing Marching Charging and Discharging as is to be seene in Captaine Pantons Table all which must be obserued Thus much of them The Postures or words of Command which we must vse in ordinary Training or daily exercising of Souldiers agreeing to the Prince of Orange forme and by order from his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell are these March with your Musket shouldred and the Rest in your right hand March and with the Musket carry the Rest Sinke your Rest and vnshoulder your Musket Poyse it in your right hand and let it sinke into the left In your left hand hold your Musket and carry your Rest with it Take your Match in the right hand betweene the second finger and thombe Hold your Match fast and blow your coale Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and blow your match Open your pan Present Giue fire Dismount your Musket and carry it with your Rest Vncocke your match and returne it betweene your fingers Cleare your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose powder Blow your pan Cast about your Musket Traile your Rest Open your charge Charge with powder Draw out your scowring sticke Shorten your sticke Ramme in your powder Draw out your sticke Charge with Bullet Ramme in your Bullet Draw out your sticke Shorten your sticke and put it vp Bring your Musket forward with your left hand Poyse it in your right hand and recouer your Rest Shoulder your Musket March and carry your Rest with your Musket Vnshoulder your Musket Lay your Musket in the Rest Stand Rested Your saluting Posture as you were In the right hand take your Match betweene the second finger and the thumbe Blow your Match Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and be ready This last is the Sentinell Posture Thâ—s I haue run ouer the Postures of the Musket after the Low Couâ—tâ—y foâ—me first marching then discharging then câ—aâ—ging after standing Adding three more vnâ—o them because thâ— charging with the bullet was left out which I hope will giue oftence to none As for the gesture of the body hand and foot to grace the Posture I referre you to the booke expressing it by Figures Or to â—â—e Aâ—tillery Gaâ—den or Military Yâ—rd where it is done by some â—xâ—â—â—â—â—y buâ— neuer to be obtained without practise You may likewâ—â—â—â—egin wheâ—e you please for this forme is not so strictly ob erâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Artillery Garden B caâ—â—â—ou had the Postures of the Pâ—ke implicite and not distiâ—â—â— but mixt with other kindes of Motions different from thâ—m I will in the next Chapter shew them seuerall and conclâ—dâ— CHAP. XXVIII Of the seuerall Postures of the Pike THe seuerall Postures of the Pike saith Sargeant Trussell are in number twelue Three are to be done standing six marching â—â—d three charging The three which are to be done standing he expresseth thus Lay dâ—wâ—â— yâ—ur Piâ—â— Tâ—kâ— vp yâ—ur Pike â—â—der your Pikâ— The siâ— which are to be done Marching he expresseth thus Aâ—â—ance your Pike Shoulder your Pike Leuell your Pike Slope your Pike Cheeke your Pike Traile your Pike The three which are to be done charging he expresseth thus Poâ—t Charge ouer hand Charge at the right foot for Horse This is the briefe Epitome of the Postures which that Gentleman tooke from Captaine Pantons Table Captaine Panton from the Booke published by the most Excellent Prince the Count Maurice of Nassau and I from both So I end my Booke Let God haue the glory Amen Exodus 15 3. The LORD is a man of Warre His name is IEHOVAH FINIS
should at last haue beene forced of his owne accord to haue forsaken Italy to the great glory of this man who by policy and wisdome might haue beene said to haue ouerthrowne Haniball for this he was despised of the Romanes and counted a coward and confronted by them But Haniball most of all feared him and therefore craftily put this tricke vpon him â—anibals craftiâ—esse against â—abius Hee commanded his Souldiers when they came neere any of Fabiâ—s lands that they should burne and destroy all round about them but gaue them charge in no wise to meddle with Fabius lands nor any thing of his and did purposely appoint a Garrison to see that nothing of Fabius should miscarry nor take hurt This was streight carried to Rome which did wonderfully incense the people against him by the meanes of Metellus their Tribune who made them an Oration in which he taxed him no more of Cowardlinesse but of flat Treason accusing the Nobility and greatest men of Rome saying that from the first beginning they had laid a plot to draw these Warres out at length only to destroy the Peoples power and authority hauing brought the whole Common-weale into the state of a Monarchy and into the hands of a priuate person who by his remisnesse and delayes would giue Haniball leisure to plant himselfe in Italy and in time giue open passage to the Carthaginians at their pleasure to send Haniball a second aide and Armie and to make a full conquest of all Italy perswading the people therefore to take the Tyrannicall power of Dictatorship from him and to put their affaires into the hands of Minutius Generall of their Horsemen who would and could tell how to bring them safely to passe The people were tickled maruellously with these seditious words but yet they durst not force Fabius to resigne his Dictatorship Plutarch in the life of Fabius the Dictator though they bare him a great grudge and were angry with him in their hearts Howbeit they ordained that Minutius should thenceforth haue equall power and authority with the Dictator in the Warres a thing that was neuer seene nor heard of before Now say Was not this a braue policie of Haniball to bring Fabius into such dislike at Rome and Rome it selfe into such an vprore vpon it Surely it was and it had as good successe as might be Therefore hauing sufficient presidents for these things feare not to put them in execution when you see fit time I conclude now as I began that all these policies and more are to be attained with learning and often reading of Histories as by all braue Commanders which euer were yet may well be vnderstood And therefore let no man thinke but a Souldier ought to be learned and read the which ioyned with experience makes him a perfect man of Warre and without this learning and reading a Souldier may haunt the Warres many yeeres and neuer attaine to the deepe points of Souldiery In Barrets art of Warre lib. 8. pag. 173. the which by much reading and few yeeres of experience may be farre better perfected as may be seene by Lucullus the Romane Commander and many others of other Nations Thus much of Policie and of the qualities which befits Martiall men The next eight Chapters following declares the vse of Facing the vse of Wheeling the vse of Counter-marching the vse of Doubling the vse of those Distances which are to be obserued in Battell naturally arising out of Doubling with the words of command for either CHAP. XVIII Of the vse of Facing IN exercise we commonly prefix vnto our selues this method or order First to face and stand Secondly to face and march When we face and stand ☜ Of facing and standing it is to shew our Souldiers how they should defend themselues if they should be set vpon in Front in Reare in Flankes by transferring their faces that way to receiue them closing or sering themselues together at a conuenient distance and bearing out a a This is liuely expressed in the Hollow battell called Plaesium wherâ— the Musketier are in the middest the Pikes outwardly FroÌ„ted euery way and charginâ— over-ouer-hand to shelter the Musketiers Apian in the Warres of Siria and Capt. Bingham multitude of Pikes euery way vpon them as that Phalange of Antiochus the Great did when Domitius Scipio's Lieutenant encompassed it round with horse-men and light armed I cannot doe amisse in relating the manner of it vnto you it being so pertinent for my purpose and so fit for the vnderstanding of the motion Therefore out of Apian I will dilate it thus As soone as the horse and chariots of Antiochus were put to flight by the Romane Horse-men and by Eumenes his Phalange of foot being destitute of horse first opened and receiued the light armed that had all the while fought in the Front into the middest of it Then afterwards againe closed And when Domitius Scipio's Lieutenant incompassed it about with horse and light armed which he might easily doe by reason it was thrust vp in a thicke * This Plinthâ—um was a greaâ— square battell full of men and not the hollow Plinthium spoken of in Xâ—nophon The depth oâ— this Plinthium was 32. in depth The light armed in the middest Plinthium it was driuen to great distresse being neither able to charge the enemie nor yet to countermarch in so great a depth as it carried It grieued them much that their long experience nothing auailed them to annoy the enemy and that notwithstanding they were subiect to Arrowes and Darts at all hands Yet bearing out a multitude of Pikes on euery side of their square they called the Romans to come to handle blowes and still made a countenance as though they meant to charge keeping themselues for all that within their Rankes as being foot-men and heauy armed and the rather because they had to doe with an Enemy on horse-backe Besides they were loath to breake the thicknesse of their battell which forme they could not now alter The Romanes also Durst not approach them and come to sword fearing their experience in War and closenesse of Aray and desperation But running about here and there plyed them with Arrowes and Darts whereof none was throwne in vaine falling amongst a troupe so closely put together that they could neither auoid and decline any thing throwne nor giue a way albeit they saw it comming At last being weary and irresolute what to doe they retired easily with a threatning countenance notwithstanding and in good order and not deliuering the Romanes of feare who durst not yet come neare but sought to annoy them aloofe till the Elephants placed in the Macedonian Phalange being affrighted and not to be ruled by their gouernours troubled all and gaue occasion of flight Hitherto Appian Whereby you may see how suddenly they did face maintaining a Charge as it were vpon a stand and when the Romanes would not come to handy strokes with them they angerly yet
ought to know by the Drumme 1. A Call 2. A March 3. A Troope 4. A Charge 5. A Retreate 6. A Battalia 7. A Batterie 8. A Reliefe For when the commanders voyce cannot extend to the hearing of the company the Drumme denounceth expresseth the same The next Chapter shewes what the distances of Files and Rankes are which Souldiers must know CHAP. XIII What the distances in Files and Rankes are Which Souldiers must know THere bee Fiue sorts of distances in Files say somme and they be these that followeth Distances in Fiâ—es The first is closest The second is close The third is order The forth is open order The fift double distance which is Pouldron to pouldron A foote and a halfe Three foote Sixe foote Twelue foote There is fiue sorts of distances in Rankes say they Distances in Rankes The first is closest The second is close The third is order The fourth is open order The fift double distance which is To the sword poynt Three foote Sixe foote Twelue foote Fower twenty foote Although they be thus set downe to be fiue in number yet most Commanders obserue and teach as most proper onely three viz. Close Order and Open order Antiquitie had no more yet the rest must not be cashered or slighted for some times a commander must doe that in a double distance which cannot be done in a single Therefore Souldiers are bound to know all distances in Files and Rankes that they may the better execute what their Captayne commaunds The next Chapter shewes how a File and a Ranke is distinguished for a Souldier to know CHAP. XIIII How a File and a Ranke is distinguished for a Souldier to know A File is a number of men beginning at one leader and contynuing in order of followers to the last man A distinction of a Fiâ—e Aelian chap. 4. Or thus A File is a sequence of men standing one behind another backe to bellie and consisteth commonly of Ten or Eight in depth Suidas The depth is no other then a File for Rankes stretch forth in length Files in depth A Ranke is a number of men side to side in a right line stretching out in length from one end of the body vnto the other and is termed the length because it runneth along the Front vnto each wing Aelian Chap. 7. A distinction of a Ranke Or thus A Ranke is a row of men standing one by another Pouldron to pouldron or shoulder to shoulder their faces being directed all one way This distinction of Files and Rankes a Souldier must know that when he is bid to double Files he may not Rankes and when he is bid to double Rankes he may not Files The next Chapter shewes what the fightes are which Souldiers must bee expertin CHAP. XV. What fights they are which Souldiers must be expert in THe fights necessary for all Souldiers to be expert in are Sixe First to fight aduancing vpon an Enemie This is when the Enemie appeares in the vantgard To fight aduancing vpon an Enemy and they by two rankes a peece march from the body ten paces and giue fire at the place appoynted Or when the first ranke giues fire marching still on with the body and the nex ranke passes through by their right hand giues fire standing still before them And so still successiuely all the rest in order This is like the Lacedemonian Countermarch to gaine ground Secondly To fight retyring from an Enemie This is when the last Ranke faces about to the right giues fire To fight vpon a march retiring from an enemy marches vp to the Front and places themselues before their File leaders But if you will maintayne a set fight with the Enemie to gayne a better ground then it is requisite you teach them the Macedonian Countermarch making your File leaders to face about and stand the rest to passe through by the right hand placing themselues behind their leaders and so meeting your Enemy in the Reare with your best men Thirdly To fight Front and Reare with the Enemy This is when the middle men face about to the right To sight Front Reare with an Enemy and all the Muskettiers fall in the diuision betweene both Fourthly To fight with both Flankes against an enemy standing This is when the outward File of each Flanke is commanded to face hauing giuen fire To fight standing both Plankes against an Enemie each File deuideth it selfe into two parts one halfe marches vp to the Front and places it selfe in a right line before the first File of Pikes The other halfe marches to the Reare and places it selfe in a right line behind the bringer vp of the same File of Pikes the like doth all the rest on the contrary Flanke Captaine Bingham his exercise so continuing halfe the shot will bee in the front the other halfe in the Reare Then doe but face them to the right and left by deuision and each Flanke will be a battell for the Enemy Fiftly To giue fire by Flankes vpon the Enemy marching This is when both their outward Files next to the Enemie makes readie To fight marching both flankes against an enâ—mie faces to either hand giues fire at command stayes till the rest of all the Files bee cleare of them Then marches vp by the Pikes till all the rest doing the like bringes them againe to their first place Or when they giue fire and stand and being as it were in two Files the body of Pickes marching an officer comes and gathers vp the winges ioynes them againe in equall front with the Pikes To fight against horse in a set battell for the purpose against an enemy Sixtly To fight against horse in a set battell for that purpose This is when they countermarch their winges into the midst of the battell and are impaled round with Pikes and so drawne forth on either side vnder the shelter of them In these sixe fights your Souldiers must bee very expert that they may auoyd all confusion And thus much shall suffice for the Twelue Chapters before mentioned ☞ The next two Chapters declare what qualities they are which befit Martiall men and how requisite it is for them to bee wise and politicke to preserue the liues of their men and how politicke wisedome may be attayned with a briefe Summarie thereof CHAP. XVI What qualities they are which befitt Martiall Men. THe qualities which befit Martiall men are many but I will at this time treate but of Eight and they be these viz. Silence Obedience Secrecie Sobriety Valour Loyalty Freedome from Bribes Moderation in expence I begin with the first Silence SIlence Silence was of such veneration amongst the Aegyptians that they made thereof a God which with them was called Harpocrates and according to the Greekes Sigaleon him they portratured in the likenesse of a young childe August de ciuit Dei li. 18. cap. 5. who close to his lips
leasurely retreated and when they were distressed made as though they would charge holding out a multitude of Pikes euery way to the amazement of the Romanes who durst not approach them The like may be done by our c That is the Hollow square wheâ—e the Pikes are without and the Musketiers within Battell if it should be charged as that was Thus much to face ane stand Now to face and march ☞ Off facing and Marching When we face and march it is to shew our Souldiers how we can vpon deliberation as occasion serues preuent the enemie from Falling on our right or left Wing by bringing it to some Riuer or such like place of strength for succour wherby the enemy can haue no way to encoÌ„passe it which we do by bidding them first to face then to march to the place afterwards to face againe And so they are reduced to the first posture and the Front is as it was at the first This we continually vse in our Trainings at home to make ouâ— men fit for it in the face of the Enemie Howsoeuer some may be ignorant in the vse of the motion yet they cannot bee vnskilfull in the motion it selfe by reason of the practise No Battell can well be without this motion especially in the field where the enemy doth seeke aduantage Let me therefore shew you some other excellent vses thereof that it may bee the beter esteemed and the oftner practised This motion as it is performed marching The vse of Facing as it is performed marching is of this singular vse not onely to giue an assault vpon the aduerse wing of the enemy but to fail any way off from the enemy and suddenly againe to turne vpon him with an euen front to his front that is Pikes to his Pikes Shot to his Shot whereby he is preuented from falling either on the Flankes or on the Reare comming on with one maine Bodie Manie other vses it hath as partly this To Captaine Binghâ—m in his notes vpon Aelian chaâ— 25. shunne a dangerous ground on which an enemie hath strewed Calthrops or laid a secret trap this was found practised by Alexand. the great when he fought with Darius at Arbela Arrian describes it thus * Arrian lib. 4. Alexand. 17. saith he Alexander hauing imbattelled his Army to fight with Darius had intelligence that Darius had strewed the ground betwixt the two Armies with Calthrops hee commanded therefore the right Wing which himselfe led to turne faces to the right hand and to follow him to the end to goe round about and avoid the places that were strewed with Calthropes Darius marching against him to the left hand disioyned his troopes of horse and Alexander taking the aduantage and gâ—uing in quickly betwixt the spaces put Darius to flight Here you see the euent of it and what a victory Alexander gained thereby If he had faced and stood still what would it auailed him Had hee marched fore-right hee had falne vpon the Calthropes but by facing and then marching vpon it hee effected all First he auoided the ground where the Calthropes lay by facing and marching forth then hee reduced them againe to their first posture by facing them to the left hand Afterwards taking his aduantage hee went on to the charge and so defeated the enemie Why Alexander made choice onely of this motion is not to be wondred at because necessity made him to make vse of this motion when no other would serue Countermarch had bin ridiculous so had doubling wheeling had bin in vaine nay it was impossible for him to haue wheeled the ground being so scantie betweene him and the Calthropes his Phalange of so great a bredth and the enemie so nigh Yet say he had wheeled hauing had ground sufficient hee must haue beene forced hauing wheeled to haue faced withall and marched further out then wheeled againe or else to no purpose so haue failed of his expedition Thus you see how fit this motion serued Alexanders turne and by it may learne to make like vse of it vpon like occasion Another singular vse of this motion is to get the vpper ground from the enemie This was found practized by Philopaemen the Achaean Generall When Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant had put his left wing to flight yet he by this meanes restored the battell and withall obtained the victory Polibius lib. 11. 634 Polibius describes the manner of it thus The fight being begunne betweene Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant and Philopaemen the Achaean Generall it happened that Machanidas had the better for he hauing put the left Wing of the Achaean Mercenaries to flight followed hard the chase Philopaemen as long as there was any hope endeauored to stay his men when he saw them vtterly defeated hee hasted to the right Wing and perceiuing the enemy busie in the chase and the place voide where the fight had bin commanding the first * A Merarchy consisteth of 2048 men Merarchies to turn their faces to the right â—â—and he led them on with high speed not yet breaking the order of their imbattelling and quickly seizing vpon the forsaken ground hee both cut betwixt them that gaue chase and home and withall got the aduantage of the vpper ground against the left wing of the armed whereby hee obtained the victorie Captain Bingham vpon the same motion Aelian chap. â—5 If Philopaemen had in this action vsed wheeling of his Battell which onely was the other motion which would haue serued his turne besides the troublesomnesse of the winding about he should haue bin forced to haue vsed two wheelings and so failed of the celeritie which was at time requisite faces were turned in a trice and he made himselfe master of the ground hee desired before hee could haue wheeled once his Battell Besides to haue Fac'd and stood still had beene to no purpose but Facing and Marching on was to some purpose as you haue heard Thus you see what Facing is Of the vse of Facing in generall How it is the easiest of all Motions but of no lesse importance or necessitie How it may be done in a trice though the Enemy come very suddenly vpon vs Though he encompasse both our Wings Though hee enuiron vs round with Foot and Horse yet we may Face vpon him and make him resistance How that there is no Battell but hath need of this Motion So that when we finde our Enemies to encompasse our right Wing wee turne our Faces and Weapons that way to receiue them To the left when they come to charge vs on that side If on both sides then wee turne Faces halfe to the right and halfe to the left hand But being to remoue the Battell from any of the Flanks we cause Faces to be turned to that Flanke so we lead on vpon the Enemy either to assault him or to preuent him where he would assault Which if we cannot doe we make a stand and so receiue him All this I
haue expressed fully both by precept and example Now it remaines that I shew you foure other things First by what words of Command it may be done Secondly in what order Thirdly with which Legge comming forward Fourthly how to reduce all this by way of document or obseruation shall be declared in the next Chapter following CHAP. XIX Obseruations for Facing shewing the manner how to performe the action with many other Circumstances appertaining to the precedent Chapter IN the precedent Chapter mention was made of Facing In this Chapter are certaine Obseruations positiuely set downe for the exact performance thereof They are in number foure The first obseruation is for the motion of the Legge The second for reducement to its first Posture The third for distance to grace the Action The fourth for words of Command either to Face and March or to Face and Stand expressing their vse Of these in order The first Obseruation First then obserue that in Facing vpon a stand the Motion must and ought to be performed with the right Legge that is the left Legge must stand firme The right must either remoue forward or backward Forward when you Face to the left hand Backward when you face to the right hand Be it to the right about or to the left about the left Leg stands firme only you moue the foot vpon the heele or toe But in the March it is to be done How to Face Marching sometimes with the right Legge sometimes with the left Legge With the right Legge when it is to the left hand With the left Legge when it is to the right hand for you must gaine ground and not lose The second Obseruation In the second place obserue or take notice how to reduce vnto the first Posture This must be thus performed When you Face to the right returne backe to the left hand How to reduce vnto your first Posture When you Face to the left returne backe to the right hand Hauing Fac'd about to the right returne about to the left Hauing Fac'd about to the left returne about to the right For still the contrary must be done Obserue it and forget it not The third Obseruation In the third place obserue or take notice of the Distances appropriated to Facing These Distances are of three sorts to wit Open Order Order Close Order The first for Exercise The two last for Seruice No Captaine must be so absurd as to Face vpon an Enemy in open Order the Enemy comming to push of Pike The Grecians would neuer Face to receiue the Charge of an Enemy but in their close Order Their close Order was a foot and a halfe from file to file and three foot from ranke to ranke This we commonly vse with Pikes But our Musketiers are neuer to be closer then the second Distance of three foot in square because they are to haue a free vse of their Armes If then they be at a closer Distance they will much throng and trouble one another and are subiect to firing In the last place obserue how to giue the words of Command The fourth Obseruation either to Face and March or to Face and stand That you may doe it orderly and properly I haue fitted them to your mouth thus Face to the right hand March Words of Command to Face and March Face to the left hand March Face to the right hand about March Face to the left hand about March Thus you may set vpon your Enemy as you see aduantage or preuent him where he would charge you to your disaduantage or shun a dangerous ground prepared for you as Alexander did when Darius would haue intrapped him Thus much to Face March and of the words of Command for it Now to face and stand with the words of Command for that Motion The words of proper direction for it are these Words of Command to Face stand Face to the right hand * If you restore to the first Posture you are to say As you were Thus if the Enemy haue encompassed your right Flanke you are ready for him Face to the left hand Thus if the Enemy haue encompassed your left Flanke you are ready for him Face to the right and left hand by diuision Thus if the Enemy hath encompassed both the Wings of your Battell being vnable to auoide it * They face to the right and left by diuision you Face thus to resist him Face to the right and about Thus if the Enemy haue suddenly made his Approach vpon your Reare you are ready for him and resist him in an instant Middle men to the right hand about This forme is called Phalange Amphistomus described by Aelian chap. 38. And is of excellent vse to resist the charge of the Enemy assaulting vs in Front and Reare Obserue the forme of this Face being ten in depth This is the Pâ—inthium full of men The three last Rankes face about to the Right The three first Rankes in the Front stand as you doe The Rest in the midst to the Right and Left by diuision Thus if the Enemy haue enuironed you about on all sides On all sides you are ready to resist him Plutarch in the life of Paulus Aemilius This was the last remedy of the Macedonian Phalange opposed against Paulus Aemylius in his Battell with Perseus which distressed the Romanes and had gained the victory had it not beene broken for want of ground Thus much for Facing Now if in stead of Facing you would command Charging giue the words thus Charge to the right hand Charge to the left hand Charge both to the right and left hand Charge to the Front Charge to the Reare Charge both Front and Reare Charge euery way A Caution When you charge vpon a stand fall backe with the right Legg When you charge to goe on come forward with the left Legg This is to charge Marching Thus much for this Chapter CHAP. XX. Of the vse of Wheeling WHeeling is of the same vse with Facing both may be done vpon the sudden approach of the Enemy whether hee shew himselfe on the right or left Flanke or in the Reare of your Battell The excellency of Wheeling If he shew himselfe in the right or left Flanke Wheeling will haue the preheminence of Facing for it will oppose him with thy front which are thy best men If he shew himselfe in the Reare Wheeling will yet haue the preheminence and oppose him there with thy fileleaders or best men as it did before in the Flanke But * Of the prehemincie of Facing ouer Wheeling if the enemie shew himselfe in Front and Reare or in more then these places at once suddenly to charge thee Facing will then haue the preheminence and Wheeling will doe more harme then good Therefore being in this straight the best remedie is to turne faces and so receiue him But hauing sufficient place and fit occasion to wheele
Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian Chapt. 25. omit not this oportunitie but meet him with thy best men For example whereof I bring the Graetians They coveting alwaies to bring their best men that is the fileleaders to fight did thus In open order they chose to countermarch In close order hauing place to wheele their battell about they did turne the face of it against the enemie If they could doe neither of these they came to the last remedie which was turning of faces of euery particular man in the battell This was the Grecians order which shewes the excellencie of their discipline And therefore we are willing to follow them being the Mirrours of Arts and Armes They were so perfect in these motions by their continuall practise and exercise that few or none were euer comparable vnto them In wheeling they would moue as a ship or some other body caried about wholly and ioyntly together remaining vndisolued When they were to wheele to the right they did first warne the right corner file leader to stand still as it were the hooke of a doore-hinge and the rest they commanded altogether to proceed forward and to turne about the same fileleader like the doore * They will not wheele vnlesse they be at an vnfitting order Pouldion to Houldion and then Rankes to the swords point a distance not fit for that motion Thus was the battell wholy turned by them as the body of a man to the right to the left or about to either being caried about the corner fileleader as about a Center This was a comely sight to looke vpon would to God all would doe it as exactly as they But wishes are in vaine men will doe as they list not as they should a Some will neither obserue the distance vsed by the Grecians no the distance appointed by our Tacticks for the comely grace thereof This distance is three foot from file to file and three foot from ranke to ranke If this be not obserued the motion will want grace the vse of it will be frustrated the enemie will preuaile against them For how can those men fight whose hands are tyed being thronged and pestred together they are as it were bound and tyed and can neither assault the enemie nor defend themselues but are subiect to be killed one of another Therefore true distances must be obserued But of distances more hereafter Faceing and wheeling are the subiects on which I treat Now faceing and wheeling being ioyned together are of singular vse To preuent the enemie where he would assault you To giue the assault on him and to circumuent him in taking of aduantage of ground Wind and Sunne it likewise serues to strengthen the middest of your battell with the best men By Wheeling the Wings into the middest of the battell In doing whereof you curtall the depth and extend the length bringing more men to fight then you had before Thus much of Wheeleing The words of Command followes in the next chapter CHAP. XXI Of the words of command for Wheeling THe words of command for Wheeling may be thus giuen Viz. Wheele the body to the right hand The Vse Thus if the enemie appeare to the right Flanke you bring your best men to fight against him Wheele the body to the left hand The Vse Thus if the enemy come to charge your left Flanke you bring your best men against him Wheele the body about to the right hand The Vse Thus if the enemie appeare in the Reare you bring your File-leaders that is your best men to fight Wheele the body about to the left hand Thus you are reduced to your first Posture The Vse But it may be you would Face then march after Face againe then wheele If you would it may be commanded thus Face to the right hand Face March. and march twenty paces Face to the left hand and march twenty paces Then wheele to the left and charge over-ouer-hand Thus you may gaine the aduantage of ground vpon the right Flanke The Vse you may assault your enemy on the left Wing with your File-leaders or Front you may gaine the aduantage of Wind and Sunne from the enemie And presently fall vpon a charge It may be you would extend the length of your Battell by wheeling by bringing the Wings into the midst Then you may command thus Wheele the Wings into the middest of the Battell Face to your Commander Thus the strength of your Battell lies in the middest The Vse it may be you would reduce Then command thus To the right hand about Then begin with the Bringers vp and say Wheele your Wings againe into the middest of the Battell Then bid them Face to their Commander after that Face to the left hand about And so they are fully reduced as they were It may bee you would know the way how to performe this Wheeling for as yet you are Ignorant Then obserue how to do it by this Instance which will somewhat explaine it vnto you There be ten File-leaders in Front The Instance fiue of them on the right Wing wheeles forward to the left transferring their faces to the contrary Wing their Followers mouing with them and standing behinde them as they did at the first only they change their former ground as did the File-leaders The other fiue on the left Wing wheeles forward to the right meeting them in the midst face to face hauing all their Followers behind them as the other fiue Then the Commander bids them Face to him And so the countenances of all the Souldiers are directed or transferred all one way Thus you may performe this wheeling but action doth better performe it than words This wheeling of the Wings into the midst of the Battalia was vsed by the Ancient Grecians to make their Diphalange Antistomus their Diphalange Peristomus their Hollow-wedge The Figure of which is to be seene in Aelian with the description of them Chap. 36. 40. and 41. What Victories haue beene gained by this kinde of Imbattalling I haue seen and read in a written Copie of Captain Binghams composing to be diuulged shortly for a publike good that is now but for a priuate vse This worthy Captaine was the man that did first shew the Gentlemen of the Artillery Garden how they should performe this kinde of wheeling which now they doe most exactly And he will proue the vse of it to be as profitable for Seruice now as heretofore with the Grecians if we will but doe what he shall aduise Thus much of this Kinde of Wheeling and of the other Wheeling which must not be vsed when the enemy is vpon you but when he is aloofe off Now of Counter-march CHAP. XXII Of Counter-marches and the diuers kindes thereof with the manner how they are to be made and of their vse COunter-marches are two-fold for either we Counter-march the Files or the Rankes And these either by changing of ground or keeping still