12. Jer. l. 42. Esay v. 28. lXVI 19. XXII 6. Ezec. XXVI 8. XXIII 24. 1 Chro. XII 8 24. VIII 40. X. 3. 11 Chro. XIIII 8. Zech. IX 13. Psal lXXVIII 9. Amos 11. 15. of Bow Arrow Buckler Launce Spear Sheild (a) Neh. VII 7. Ezech. XXXII 2. Jer. XXXVI 1. 13. 11 King IX 17. Watches and Wards (b) Deut. XXXIII 17. Numb XXXI 14. 1 Sam. VIII 12. Exod. XVIII 21. Armies of Myriads Reg'ments of Thousands Bands of Hundereds Fifties Files of tens (c) 11 Chron. XIII 3. 1 King XX. 14. Closeing Hosts for fight And what I have not roome to write PTRPRY THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY The First Book CHAP. I. A discourse of the Postures and the handling of Arms. HE that will be a compleat Souldier must first begin to learn the use of his Arms laying that down in his thoughts for his first foundation But this hath beene the neglect of many in our times who have strived to know high thoughts in the Art Military before they can well performe their Postures Therefore my advice shall be unto all such that desire to thrive in this Art that they will not soar too high but first learn the A B C thereof after which they may proceed by degrees to pronounce to the Souldier with boldnesse their proficiencie therein He therefore that with safety ease and delight desireth to handle his Arms must set tiâ—es apart frequently to practise himselfe therein And here I cannot but much blame the Officers of our Trained Bands in London of two great neglect the first in making men File-leaders either out of respect or favour they bear unto them or else because one man hath a better Buf-coat than another I speake not this to encourage any man to come slovenly habited when he shall march forth with his Captain but rather advise all Souldiers to fit themselves with the best array they can and could wish all the Serjeants in drawing up their Files to pitch upon such Gentlemen to be File-leaders as may take charge of his File and shall be able willing and ready upon all convenient times to instruct and teach his File in all their Postures and neat handling of their Arms which if carefully observed they would reap the benefit of much ease to themselves and the private Souldiers readinesse in the performance of the Postures would much redound ro the honour of the Captain that shall lead them But for the farther satisfaction of the ingenious Souldier that shall enquire what Posture is I shall briefly resolve them thus Posture as I conceive is a garbe or figure that a man stands in in the handling of his What Posture is Arms which he useth for the better grace and becomming of them There are severall motions belonging to each Posture which some call Postures but they much deceive themselves as shall appear clearly unto them by the survey as they shall be set down in order And first we will begin to set down the Postures of the Pike CHAP. II. Severall reasons why the Pike is the more honourable Arms. FIrst I shall begin to set down the postures of the Pike before the postures of the Musket for these reasons following as conceiving First They are the more honourable Arms in respect the Colours flying upon the head of them and upon the drawing up of the Company there is the most properest place for the Captain to be either upon a Stand or upon a March provided he have ground sufficient to March them all a brest If upon a Stand the Captain shall have occasion to engage against an Enemy thither his Officers may repair unto him upon the head of the Pikes there to receive directions And if the Captain shall cause the Serjeants to draw off part or all the Muskettiers from the Body of Pikes to fire against the enemy the Gentlemen of the Pikes in the mean time stands undauntedly to undergoe all the cruell shot of the Cannon from the contrary part for to preserve their Colours who are likewise a place of Randezvous for the Muskettiers to repair unto when they shall retreat from fight Farther it hath been the ambition of many Gentlemen both in Holland France and in these our late unhappy Wars in England to trail Pikes with severall Commanders whom they shall thinke fit And lastly to conclude all that the Pike is the more honourable Arms it is so in respect of its antiquity for there hath been the use of the Pike and Spear many hundred years before there was any knowledge of the Musket as in many Histories you shall finde And so for present I wil conclude this discourse of the Pike desiring the Muskettiers to have a favourable censure of me for I intend not by it to perswade all Souldiers to the handling of the Pike and none to be Muskettiers for that cannot be I should rather advise all Captains that have occasion to raise their Companies to have two thirds of Muskettiers and but one of Pikes that is to say if they should have 18 Files to cause twelve of them to carry Muskets and the other six Files Pikes And in my judgement they shall performe the better service unto any Nation where they shall be employ'd and I shall farther desire the Souldiers especially those that be of low stature to handle and take delight in the use of the Musket for it is an exceeding great honour to him so to handle his Musket as that he doth it with ease and in a comely manner and he that shall become expert therein I have often observed this commendation to follow him by the report of others Such a one is a good Muskettier and an able Souldier concluding thereby he that will take the pains to be a good Muskettier certainly cannot be idle but hath gained somthing more to make him capable of such praise To conclude I shall desire the Gentlemen of the Pikes and the Gentlemen of the Muskettiers to goe hand in hand in love like dear brothers and neither of them to envie each other and in so doing God will give a blessing to all their undertakings But now fearing I have dwelt too long upon this discourse of the Arms I shall next proceed to set down first the postures of the Pike then the postures of the Musket with all the words of command tending to their Motions after collect them in order in a brief way and then set forth unto you the equality of number that the one Arms hath with the other in the postures as followeth CHAP. III. The Postures of the Pike THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of command will be stand to your Arms. Handle your Pike Raise up your Pike to your Open Order Order Close Order Charge with the But end of the Pike at the inside of the right foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over your left arm Charge to the Front Right Flank Left
Flank Reer Order your Pikes and put up your Swords This way of charging to the Horse I have set down as being practised somtimes amongst us in our private meetings but I conceive it to be of little use to receive a desperate charge of the Horse for by these charges the Souldiers are in so lame and weake a posture that the Horse cannot choose if they come on with a full career but beare the Pikes and Pike-men down to the ground Therefore in my opinion the best way of opposing the Horse charge is that which we learned of our ever honoured Captain Major Henry Tillier in the Military Garden which was Files closing to the midst to their closest Order insomuch that there was not above half a foot intervall of ground between File and File the Pikes Porting and after closing their Ranks forwards so close that they locked themselves one within another and then charged on Which in my judgement is so secure a way from routing that it is impossible for any Body of Horse to enter therein and farther to my best remembrance I never could meet with any Souldier that hath been abroad upon any service that ever saw any charging of the Pikes at the Foot therefore I will further proceed From Order Advance Your Pike Shoulder Your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Order as you were From your Order charge to the Front Right Left Reere Order as you were Advance your Pike Shoulder Your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Advance as you were From your Advance charge to the Front Right Left Reer Advance as you were Shoulder your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Shoulder as you were From the Shoulder charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder as you were Port your Pikes Comport your Pikes Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes Comport as you were From the Comport Charge to the Front Right Left Reer Comport as you were Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes Cheek as you were From the Cheek charge to the Front Right Left Reer Cheek as you were Trail your Pikes from your Trail charge to the Front Right Left Reer Trail as you were Order your Pikes Lay down your Pikes Here is to be observed by this Method an endeavouring to performe all the postures of the Pike from each particular posture only shortning it by degrees leaving out what was before commanded untill we come unto the Trail Yet notwithstanding I spared not the charges but have shewn them from every posture in their due order Next followeth the postures of the Musket wherein in answerablenesse to the Pike I shall lay them down in full and afterwards contract them in a shorter way CHAP. IV. The Postures of the Musket THE Musket lying on the ground the first word of command will be as to the Pike Stand to your Arms Take up your Bandiliers Put on your Bâ—ndilieres Take up your Rest Put the string of your Rest about your left wrist Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket Rest your Musket Here the Souldier may perform the Saluting Posture if he shall finde any occasion so to doe for the honouring of his friend or any Gentleman of worth Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Un-shoulder your Musket and Poyse Joyne your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your pan Cleer your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Trail your Rest Ballance your Musket in your left hand Finde out your Charge Open your Charge Charge with powder Draw forth your Scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to an Inch. Charge with Bullet Put your Scouring-stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your Scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to a handfull Return your Scouring-stick Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket recover your Rest Joyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Cole Cock Your Match Fit Your Match Guard your Pan Blow the ashes from your Cole Open your Pan Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning the Rest to the outside of your Musket Un-cock and return your Match Cleere your Pan Shut your Pan. Poyse your Musket Rest your Musket Take your Musket off the Rest and set the Butt end to the ground Lay down your Musket Lay down your Match Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Lay down your Rest Take off your Bandiliers Lay down your Bandiliers Here endeth the Postures of the Musket from the taking of them up from the ground to make ready and the proceeding in them to the laying of them down again Now if the Souldier will take his Rest into his right hand for to be a support and help to him in his march he must observe the following words of command Lay your right hand upon the Butt end of your Musket Lay your left arme over your Musket The Musket being shouldered you may proceed in these words of command to recover the Rest into the right hand Shift your match between the fingers of your right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Return your match and take your Rest into your right hand 't will cause you to be in a fit capacity for to march CHAP. V. The Postures and charges of the Pike to be performed in a shorter way all things acted in order and nothing done twice THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of Command will be Stand to your Arms Handle your Arms. Raise up your Pikes to your open Order Raise up your Pikes to your Order Raise up your Pikes to your close Order From your close Order charge to the Horse Front Right Left Reer Recover your Pikes and put up your Swords Advance your Pikes Port your Pikes Charge to the Front Shoulder your Pikes Charge to the right Comport your Pikes Charge to the left Cheeke your Pikes Trail your Pikes Charge to the Reer After lay the narrow end of the Pike to the ground face about to the left to your first Front and move forward with the Butt end of your Pike on your right side in your Funerall Posture After face about to the right raise up your Pike face then again to your first Front you may lay down the Pike to the ground and march from your Arms having ended all the Postures and Charges in their due courses And here Fellow Souldier whoever thou art thou maist perceive that there are no more then eight Postures of the Pike and foure Charges that is to say to the Front Reer and both Flanks There are some would fain have another Posture added to these which they call the Lazie Posture which somtimes I have
108 men in a Company and the three Field Officers 144. which makes compleatly up 756 men whereof two thirds are Muskettiers and one third of Pikes the Files being six deep THe generall place of Randezvous being appointed out unto the Major it is his care to take a timely view thereof that there be ground and room sufficient enough for the drawing them up And having received orders from his Collonel Major Generall or other superiour officers for the Regiments marching thither he may appoint the Companies to march either of these two ways either by succession or dignity If by succession first the Collonels Company moves away next the Lieutenant Collonels in the reer of him then the Majors and so consequently all the rest from the eldest to the youngest who brings up the reer of all If by dignity first the Collonels Company and in the reer of him the youngest Captain and after him the eldest then the Majors then the second Captain the Leiutenant Collonel bringing up the reer of all But it concernes the Major before their marching to give notice unto the Leiutenant Collonel and the eldest Captain to countermarch their ranks of their two perticuler Companies as soone as they come into the place of the generall randezvous before he shall draw them up to preserve the honour of the right hand File-leaders and Bringers-up of both armes He is likewise to be there before hand attending their marching in and after the Collonels company have made Alt to draw up each perticuler company on the left of him all in one even range commanding them to close ranks forward to order and files into the midst unto the same distance He is likewise to informe himself of the Captaines Lieutenants and Serjeants how many files of Pikes and Muskettiers they have in each perticuler company and accordingly he is to enter it down in his paper book and to make use thereof as followeth He is to require one single file apiece of Muskettiers to be drawn off from the three smaller Companies and two files apiece from the greater which makes 9 files and contains 54 men which are to be led away by an able Serjeant into the Reer for to be a guard to the Bagage or other occasions From thence he may proceed commanding all the Muskettiers to stand and the Pikes to advance their Arms and move forward 10 or 12 paces and then to stand and close their files outward to order three of their colours moving with their Pikes to the right hand the other three moving away to the left After he may command Muskettiers to close their files outward to order and they will stand in four divisions two of Pikes and in the reer of them two of Muskettiers as underneath is set forth the Captaines being all upon the head of the Pikes with their Ensignes and the Lieutenants in the reer the Serjeants attending upon the flanks of each division This being done command each division of Muskettiers and Pikes to face outward and to move to such convenient distance that being faced to the front there may be room sufficient upon the subdividing of each division of Muskettiers for their moving up and flanking each body of Pikes After which the Major may assigne unto every Captain and Lieutenant his due place of honour as they stand all abrest And that they may also naturally fall into their proper places upon the march which shall be set forth in the next figure standing in two grand divisions the one in the reer of the other which may happen sometimes for want of ground but provided they have ground enough they ought to stand in one even range as in folio 5. The Major after they are thus drawn up in one even range will find three files of Muskettiers more in the second grand division and two of Pikes then is in the first therefore he must take from thence one file of each Company and adde them to those nine files in the reer which makes them twelve and then he will have ballanced the divisions equall taking off one file of Pikes and placing it amongst the eldest Captains Pikes CHAP. III. The Reasons follow for the placing of the Captains their Colours and their Lieutenants after the manner before set down WHat hath formerly been declared concerning a Rank or File six a brest or six deep may be satisfactory in some kind unto this point which takes his rule from hence For all private Companies smaller Bodies or single Files must or ought to be as neer as they can conformable to greater Bodies as to Regiments and consequently they to Brigades Therefore take notice that this rule ought ever to be obsâ—rved in the drawing up of Regiments that the right flank as neer as may be ought to be sutable with the left both in strength number and dignity and likewise to be so when they are drawn forth upon a long March the Front equall with the Reer Now suppose thâ—se two grand Divisions stood even a brest we will begin to examine the first worth which is the Collonels and the fourth worth which is the eldest Captains and placed upon the right and left of the first grand Division with the second and third worth who are the Lieutenant Collonel and Major drawn up upon the right and left of the second grand Division and you shall finde they are every way equivalent in number worth and dignity with that of the first In the next place there are no more to place but the fifth and sixth worth who are the second and third Captains and therefore since it is the first place of honour among the Captains in a Regiment to lead the first Body or Stand of Pikes it must then consequently follow that the second place of honour must be to lead the second grand Division of Pikes and therefore the fifth worth is brought into and placed between the second and third that he may aptly stand there to to lead the second Body of Pikes wherein the Lieutenant Collonel the Major and his own Colours are placed so that there remaines no more but the sixth worth or youngest Captain to place who is drawn up between the Collonel and eldest Captain Now if we shall further proceed to ballance it more cleerly consider them by dividing them by two's in their places as first we will begin with the Collonel the first worth who hath joyned to him the youngest Captain which is the sixt worth and they two make the number 7 then compare the Lieutenant-Collonel who is the second worth unto the second Captain joyn'd with him which is the fifth worth and they make a like the same number after compare the Major and eldest Captain who are drawn up into the midst of the Regiment whose places carry the third and fourth worth and their number is sutable with the rest And thus much may be spoken in generall now I shall come more perticulerly to give further satisfaction both for them
Collonels men who march in the â—ront and his Lieutenant Collonel bringing up the whole Regiment is the second place of honour Some may conceive the Majors Lieutenant hath too great a place of honour in leading the Van of the second grand Division to which I answer if the Lieutenant Collonel marcheth not there himselfe but shall bring up the Regiment certainly it must be cleer that it is the Majors due for to march there himselfe at times convenient and being so there is good reason in his absence his Lieutenant should lead his men or in his presence to be thereas a helper unto him for the well regulating of his men as the other Lieutenants are to the other long Field-officers who every one of them according to their severall places may have severall occasions to call them off their Lieutenants therefore ought to be at hand and to march with them in their places whereby they may receive orders from them and know how to act in their absence concerning their own perticuler Souldiers The second Captains Lieutenant is ordered to bring up the second Body of Pikes which being a grand Division it falls to him as due there as the eldest Captains Lieutenant doth in the first it being the greatest place of honour that can be given him in the Reer next to the Leiutenant Collonel Having spoken thus much concerning every Field-officer the Captains and their Lieutenants where their places are to march with the reasons for the same it will be expected to supply two places which are vacant in the Reer of the second grand Division to which I answer upon the long-march the Lieutenant Collonel himselfe moves down there and brings up the Reer of the whole Regiment and therefore it is left vacant for him but then you will say there wants an Officer to bring up the Reer of that Division wherein the Majors Lieutenant is placed to which I answer that there is none remaining to do it except it be the Majors Lieutenant himselfe For if the Major shall lead the second grand Division then his Lieutenant may move down to bring up that perticuler Division for to supply the same but in regard the Major as hath been shewn before hath many occasions to call him off it concerns his Lieutenant to keep his place which was first assigned unto him to avoid the trouble of moving up again in his Majors absence Some are of opinion it would be convenient to place the Lieutenant Collonels eldest Serjeant there but in my judgement it is very unhandsome to see any Halberteer either to lead or bring up any Division marching in a regimentall way and rather then I should do it I would let it go unsupplied but if he shall be there placed to bring up his best way of marching is either with a Pallizado or Half-pike and not with his Halberd CHAP. VI. The ordering of a Regiment to the Long-March with the placing of the Officers and the leading of Carriages THe Major giving to every Captain his proper place to march in and what Divisions they are to lead and what to bring up in written notes under his hand commands the Drum-Major to beat a March and so consequently all the rest to take it from him The Souldiers being warned thereby begin to shoulder their Arms and prepare to move the Collonel on hors-back being attended on by his Martiall and Quarter-master draws off the first Division of Muskettiers his Captain Leiutenant being some six foot behinde him which Division is brought up by the Captain Lieutenants Bringer-up The eldest Captain follows next leading the first Division of Pikes and brought up by his own Lieutenant The next Division of Muskettiers is lead by the third Captains Lieutenant and the Reer of the first grand Division is brought up by the third Captain There ought to be full 18 foot of ground betwixt each Division he that brings up a Division ought to be six foot cleer behinde the same and he that leads to be six foot before so that there will be six foot proportion of ground betwixt them both for the better distinguishing of their Divisions the Leaders and Bringers-up thereof And where there is not room sufficient for the marching so many a brest as they are now ordered they must subdivide being carefull to preserve their Divisions marching in greater depths at their due distance of open order in rank and order in file For the Serjeants must not presume upon any sub-dividing to make any more Divisions whereby they may be Leaders thereof but it must be their care upon sub-dividing to bring them down in the Reer of them that march before and keep them intire in all their respective Divisions And it must be their observation to attend upon the Flanks even a brest with those Leaders of Files that were taken off that when there is ground and roome enough they may more readier know where to finde them and to lead them up again as they were at first Care likewise must be had upon any sub-dividing of the Pikes that there be none of the Colours divided who are in a regimentall way to march all three together according to their first placing These rules and observations concern both grand Divisions now the first being led away as is before exprest there ought to be sufficient ground betwixt each grand Division for the leading of the Cariages and in the first place there is to be considered that to most Regiments there is allowed two Waggons for the Bagage Ammunition two Field-peeces or great Cannon besides other Cariages which more concern the victuall for the Souldiers as occasion shall require now concerning the ordering and securest placing of all these upon the March will be in the midst of the Regiment and to have those which are ordered for their good to be Fire-locks or to have Snap-hances for the avoiding of the danger which might happen by the Cole of the Match and being placed where any attempt of the Enemy shall fall on either to Front Reer or either Flank the Cannon may be easily drawn forth to fire upon them and all the wood of the Carriages with their Guard to be ordered in the Reer where ever the assault should happen for their better security and safety The Major in the next place if he please may lead the second grand Division to which purpose he draws off with the assistance of his own Lieutenant the first Division of Muskettiers his Lieutenant being six foot behinde him and so much before the Muskettiers The next that followes is the second Body of Pikes which is led by the second Captain and brought up by his own Lieutenant The last Division of Muskettiers is led by the Lieutenant Collonels Lieutenant and the Reer of the whole Regiment is brought up by the Lieutenant Collonel The Serjeants are to march upon the Flanks attending their own men that when they are to be reduced into Companies they may know more
utriusque Horti Stratiotici Militaris Officialium unus Johannes Hunnings For his much respected Friend and old fellow Souldier Major RICHARD ELTON ENcomiums cannot add unto the prayse Of those that much deserve their Works will rayse Themselves a Name as this great Work of thine With no small pains the which thou makest to shine Renowned Elton loe in thee I finde Bellona's Casket opened and the minde That Mars himself enjoy'd for what thou know'st That others may obtein therefore let all Who do desire to learn Rules Martiall Peruse this Compleat body where they 'l finde That which delights the Fancy please the Minde In Facings Doublings Wheelings with their Distance Both Open Close to us he gives assistance He doth direct new Figures for to rayse Preceding times knew not but these our days New Forms of Battail shown with each their Firings With Rules to guide in Onsets and Retirings Thus have we Elton's skill here brought to light Which none can it obscure no not dark night Of Envies rage can blur what he hath done But he shall shine as glorious as the Sun Thomas Walker Captain To my honoured Friend Major Richard Elton YOur Book needs not my Plaudit it to sell It is enough if but your name it tell Who sees its Front and doth it understand Must needs condemn himself or prayse your hand More could I say and would but more to say Were to light candles to the Sun-shine day For such as read and do it not advance Of Envy do it or of Ignorance John Brett Captain To the Authour his much valued Friend Major Richard Elton LEt them that undertake to prayse a book Not on the Title but the matter look To ground their judgment on For to commend The Work because th' Author is our Friend Is an obsequious flattery and doth yield Some savour of the Court none of the Field From depth of knowledge then we ought to rayse The high expressions of deserved prayse But then with equall knowledge if we can Judge and declare the merits of a man The envious will say when we have shown The Authors worth we publicate our own But let those Momi talk This work of yours Heroick ELTON all assaults endures And all convinceth of Detractions part And shortly will the Ignorant convert And make them Souldiers too so sweet and plain Your Demonstrations are that they will gain Myriads of men now to bear arms that bore Nothing but onely shapes of men before Of Cock-braind Militasters store there are That do pretend skill in the book of War Can Military Discipline express In words of art and windy flourishes Big looks and language lowder than the Drum As knowing more than your Compendium When silly Vapours they nere read or saw More than the Statutes of the Martiall Law Such now must cast the feathers of their pride And here if docible be edified Here 's the true art of Arms. Jehovah grant That as 't is like we shall no Souldiers want The Practise of it onely may extend To settle Right and Peace That 's Wars true end Abraham Stanion Captain To the worthy Authour of the Art Military T' Was said of old that arms do silence Laws And learning by their rude illiterate aws The Proverb lyes for courting in one sheet The Souldier and the Scholler here do â—eet The Sword and Pen Mars doe's himself commense Doctor of War and doe's not more incense Then teach to fight and by his learned Bands An Areopagus midst of Athens stands And by a new found happy union Parnassus and the Campaigne are made one Whence quickly tutor'd from that sacred Rise The Souldier may descend and exercise Till now we did but butcher Victories And were but sloven Deaths-men whil'st our eyes Were wanting to our hands we fell upon A Miscellaneous Execution So that it griev'd the slain that they must die Without a method and disorderly But now we have attain'd the handsome skill By order method and by rule to kill From which we owe the beauties of our death The features of our wounds to you whose breath Formed into this your polemick word Makes you th' Amanuensâ—s of the Sword And as when Cadmus Serpents teeth did sow A crop of armed men from thence did grow So from this learned issue of your brains We may behold to spring well order'd Trains Of exact Myrmidons and as at the sound Of Orpheus harp all the unweildy round Of Lyons Bears and Tygors learn't to meet Well order'd measures with obedient feet Such is your book at whose most sober word The hand the foot the Musket Pike and sword Those livelesse lumps of steel do act and use Obediently the Motions you infuse We read the Persian chivalry was such As teaches Elephants in a slender touch Of brideling art most orderly to storm Liking their strength like bears into a form So the rude multitude whose strength would be A ruine to themselves through Anarchy Bad Masters but good servants are made good By you most regularly to let blood Order's the soul of things then souldiers are The body but your book the soul of War Mars thus conjoyned with Phoebus some may fear Hor. mil. Menc Sans Thunderbolts will transcend Jupiter Sam. Jervis Captain To my Ingenious Friend Major RICHARD ELTON RIch Jems best prayse Themselves 't is understood The Bush is useless where the Wine is good How do they erre who with their looser Rime Prophane thy Prose and with the adulterate Lime Of wit erect some Parapet or Port To raise their Fancie equall to Thy Fort. This Crime 's collaterall mine who strive to raise And mix my Ivy with thy glorious Bays Whose Branches in thy learned Book do spread Themselves in Garlands to impale Thine Head How durst I then draw one Excentrique Line Or thus Intrench upon this Work of Thine This Work of Thine whose well composed Page Shall strike amazement in the aemulous Age Such as their Captive judgements shall surprize And force their eares do Homage to their eyes Imperious Style which can at once advance Our towring thoughts and strike them in a Trance How happily hast Thou Improv'd thy Parts Who art Proficient both in Arms and Arts Mars and Minerva who are counted two Divided essences both joyn in You Whiles Practick and the Theorick Arts appear In You their Center and their proper Sphear But stay Thy Prayse Dear Friend needs heer no more Than Gold in Peru or a Map on shore They that would know thee better let um look Upon these Leaves and read Thee in Thy Book William Short Captain To his ever honoured Friend Major RICHARD ELTON MAny have fanci'd to themselves that this Is the Worlds leaden age and think it is Far worse with all mens wits then with the time That they live in but cleerly from this crime Thou hast redeem'd us no man ever writ Better of Martiall Discipline for it Thou rightly hast display'd in th' Compleat Body Of th' famous and renown'd Art
right locking themselves so firme and stedfast one within another which 't were impossible for any Body of Horse to enter in amongst them Secondly it is of excellent use for to maintain a breach and to keep out an Enemy Thirdly it is very usefull to both arms at such time when a Commander hath any thing of consequence to discover unto his Company which he may have many occasions so to do as before his Exercise to advise them to silence to observe their words of command and their directions and when they are to fight against an Enemy to perswade and keep them off from fear by assuring them good reasons of hopes of overcoming These or such like speeches manytimes a Captain may have just occasion to expresse himselfe unto his Company and being at so close a Distance they may more aptly hear his words and obey his Comands But here now by the way too much preaching upon the head of a Company concerning matters of Exercise is too much a dulling of the Souldier who rather would fall into action then so to be confounded with much talking Close order may be of very good use also for most things which hath been spoken of the closest order only here the Souldier hath a little more liberty in the handling of his arms by being at a wider Distance This Distance also is of good use before wheelings because many times upon their moving they are apt to flie out to their proper Distance of order which they always should be at in their wheelings where note if first they were at order they would flie out to wider Distance Order is the Distance which the Souldier doth fight upon and is to be used skirmishing against an Enemy it is also usefull at such time when the Drum shall beat a Troop and that the Souldiers are marching to relieve some Court of Guard or making some expedition against an Enemy for then they are in a fit capacity of Distance for to fight It is also very usefull and to be observed upon facings for all intire doublings and for wheelings Order likewise in File and open order in Rank is to be used at such time when the Drum shall beat a march and the Body upon their moving or marching Open order is the Distance proper for all doublings of Ranks and Files by the half Files or by the Bringers up wherein they have intervall of ground sufficient to move in It is also a very proper Distance for facings and ever to be observed in time of Counter-marches It is the properest distance for the Ranks to be in upon a March but the Files are then to be at order as is before exprest The use of double Distance is to be observed at such times when the Souldiers shall stand or happen to be in some eminent danger of the Cannon shot from the Enemy for standing then so thinne they may be much preserved from danger it is likewise very good for Inversion and Conversion You may take notice of these briefe directions in openings of Ranks and Files when the Files are commanded to open to the right the left hand File stands and all the Files take their Distance from the left observing always in the Motions of Files their Leaders and to move altogether along with them If it be an opening of Files to the left then contrary wayes the right hand File stands and they take their Distance from the right So likewise for closings unto what hand soever they be commanded to close the out-most File is to stand the rest are to move and close to that In opening or closing of Ranks the first Rank is always to stand the rest are to move either opening or closing according as is commanded always observing in their motions their right-hand-men and moving altogether CHAP. XXII Directions of the way and manner of drawing up a private Company THe Postures being formerly described forth the diginity of places in a File and words of Command made known unto the Souldier for their severall Distances It next followeth to shew the joyning of Files and drawing up a Company where first pray minde at such times when the Drums are beating about the Quarters and in severall places makes Proclamation as by order from their Captain for all Gentlemen Souldiers that are under his Command to repair unto his Randezvous unto such a place and at such an hour then it must be the immediate care of every Officer under his Command punctually at that hour and place thither to repair for the more incouraging of the Souldiers as they shall come in and not to stir themselves from thence without some order from their Captain for fear of giving bad examples unto others And when they shall perceive some considerable number of men to come in the Serjeants then may take advice with their Lieutenant and Ensigne which of them they will appoint out to draw forth the Muskettiers and which the Pikes and whom they shall make the right hand File-leader of the Muskettiers and who shall be the left and again who shall be the Leader of the right hand File of Pikes and who shall be the left For these four being such remarkable places of Honour unto the knowing Souldier that speciall care must be had in placing deserving men to be there Now it is or ought to be the discretion of every Lieutenant and Ensigne as being Commission-Officers to resolve the Serjeants herein that they may with more alacrity go on to draw the rest up between and so to order unto each of them their perticuler duties as to carry equall paines in drawing forth the Files Therefore in respect that for the most part in every Company they have three Serjeants two of them ought to take charge in drawing forth the Muskettiers being helpâ— by the advice of their Lieutenant and the other to draw forth the Files of Pikes being assisted in Counsell by their Ensigne for at such times the Officers ought not to be idle and to stand gazing upon each other but every one according to his particular place and relation should be very active and assisting to each other In the drawing up the Company the properest way will be then as you may understand in perfecting up a Company to draw them forth into Files and to make them six deep as being our custome here in England and farther to have care in choosing able Souldiers to be File-leaders who having spent some time and pains in their Files in shewing them their Postures they may be called to joyne into a Body For farther direction herein unto the Serjeants whose proper place it doth belong unto to observe this order in drawing up their Files that they may ingrosse the Pikes into one Body by themselves and the Muskettiers into another and not to flank the Pikes untill such time they shall perceive that in both Arms they are compleat There are likewise severall places of honour that the Serjeants ought to take
notice of and to be informed of placing of man of worth and desert in both Armes that is to say in the Body of Pikes and of the Muskettiers which underneath by figures I shall set forth for farther satisfaction therein Here I have set down the manner how the Serjeants should draw up their Files in each armes a part by themselves and have figured forth unto them the foure chiefe places of honour in both arms It concerns them therefore very much to minde and have regard to these particular places and to order such men of worth there which may be well deserving of the same and those Gentlemen whom they shall thinke fit after to be worthy of File-leaders places they are to draw them up between the figure 1 and the figure 4 and between the figure 3 and the figure 2 and that rule to observe in both armes and to be carefull to place good Souldiers in the Reere and such who may be able Souldiers for Halfe-file-leaders because there may be much occasion by doublings to bring them up for to assist the Front Thus much I do confesse may be sufficient forthe present to give directions to the Serjeants for drawing up the Files and joyning them together Next after I have shewn how to flank their Pikes with Muskettiers I will set forth unto them and the Drums where their places are upon a stand and where to be upon a march Next followeth to flank the stand of Pikes with the Muskettiers command the Gentlemen of the Pikes to face to the right and left half-ranks of Muskettiers to Face to the left and then to march and interchange ground facing after to their leaders and closing Files inward to order they will stand as underneath is set forth If it should happen as somtimes it doth for a Company to be very large as in a Collonels why then they may have just cause to have foure Serjeants as I have thus placed them But here again it will be expected of diverse Souldiers to shew some reasons for the placing of the Serjeants being thus drawn up and upon a stand which I shall endeavour fully for to doe after I have set down where their places are upon the march Now before we shall come to treat of the Company upon their long march the Captain perceiving for his most conveniencie of marching in the street or in a lane that it will be convenient to divide his Muskettiers into equall divisions for their march and therefore according to this number here set down they may be divided into foure divisions that is to say two to march in the Van and two in the Reer and two divisions of Pikes But before they are moving it is the Serjeants duty to come unto the Captain to be informed from him where their proper places are to march and what divisions each of them shall lead and likewise so the Drums to know their places where to beat upon the march To answer to them all in the first place the Captain ought to give directions to his youngest Serjeant to lead the second division of Muskettiers in the Van the first division of Pikes being led by the â—nsigne he commands the second for to be led by his second Serjeant and after orders or appoints the eldest Serjeant to lead the first division of Muskettiers of the Reer-guard and the third Serjeant to lead the last division of Muskettiers the Lieutenant bringing up the Reer and Drums commanded to fall in behinde the two first Ranks of each division and to beat between the second Rank and fourth Having thus stated to them all their proper places next it will be convenient for the Captain to command them to shoulder their Arms both Pikes and Muskettiers and the Officers and Drums taking all their places as before directed they may begin to move and draw forth into a long March as followeth CHAP. XXIII Severall reasons given for the placing of the Serjeants after this manner WHen a Body is drawn up in manner as before expressed the Captain being Commander in chiefe his discretion is to ballance the Officers as neer as he can with equall dignity and worth his Front proportionally with the Reer To which purpose he takes unto himselfe the youngest Serjeant and places him on the right Angle in the Front whereby he may be there ready to march down into the Body or elswhere according unto the discretion of the Captain to fulfill his commands as also to stand there as a Spectator of the Captains actions and an assistant which may be much improvement to him And in like manner he commands the third Serjeant to the left Angle in the Reer as being the second youngest and may be a help unto his Lieutenant there as the fourth is to him in the Front The eldest Serjeant he orders to the left Angle in the Front as being the most honourable place for him being there ready to lead upon a march the Van of the Reer-Guard the second Serjeant he is appointed to stand on the right Angle of the Reer to make them equall in dignity unto the Front Now if you please to examine the dignity of the Serjeants in the first place as the first Serjeant and the fourth making the number 5 and after take a view of the second place or Reer and there you shall observe that the second Serjeant and third may every way ballance themselves to be equivalent in the worth with the first and fourth carrying with them a like the same number So that it is cleerly evident that the Serjeants are rightly stated in number and dignity the Front proportionably with the Reer in the judgement of any knowing Souldier Something more may be spoken of the second Serjeants place which you may take notice in his March to lead the second Division of Pikes which is the most honourablest place of leading that is appointed forth unto the Serjeants the first only excepted and upon a Stand when they shall lead up their Divisions every Serjeant is to be take him unto his place as they were at first placed and to continue there untill such time they shall receive further order from their Captain Thus much I conceive may give satisfaction unto the discreet Souldier in these perticulers leaving them liberty to judge according unto their own best thoughts while we endeavour to draw up our Divisions all a Brest again and to make some description of a Body The Captain upon his March having attained some convenient place to draw up his Company makes Alt and commands the Serjeants to lead up their Divisions upon the left and causes the Muskettiers to open from the Pikes making sufficient intervalls for the Drums to beat two a Brest even with the Front the first two between the right hand File leader of Pikes and the Muskettiers upon the right the second two Drums doing the like upon the left And always the Captain ought to march his Company after this
Body for one File alone cannot be said to have any Ranks in it but joyning two or more Files together unto one you may account them provided they be six deep to have so many Ranks for number as doth extend from their Leaders to their Bringers up And further know that a Rank is a Row of men standing shoulder to shoulder in an even line from the left Flank to the right or from the out-most man upon the left unto the out-most man upon the right standing all in a row File wise Neither can it be said of one Rank to have any Files in it for as the closing of Files to Files makes Ranks so the adding of Ranks to Ranks makes Files As for the Depth of Files they have in these latter Ages much varied therein sometimes making them sixteen deep others ten and eight deep and now lately they have brought them unto six deep as being the custome of the Swedes and the French and altogether now the practise here in England In which form and way I purpose to walk but to proceed to my former promise to the Souldier There is in every Body of men drawn up consisting of Pikes and Muskettiers whether of greater or smaller number it makes no matter a Front a Reer a Right-Flank and a Left-Flank there is also Front half-Files and Reer half-Files there is a Right half-Ranks and a Left half-Ranks and there is a Length and Depth of the Battail and of every one of these in their severall kinds they have their perticuler extents and bounds according to their number of men Therefore take notice in the first place that the Front is the first Rank or row of men which are the File-leaders and chief men of their Files who properly ought to take charge of their Files being as it were their Captains and leads them first on in the Brunt against a furious Enemy the extent of the Front is from the left hand File-Leader unto the Leader of the right hand File The Reer is the last Row or Rank of men being the Bringers-up of the Files who next the Leaders are the chiefest men of honour in the File and are as it were unto them their Lieutenants and in the absence of the Leaders they are to take charge of the File and to instruct them in their Postures the extent of the Reer is from the Bringer-up of the left hand File unto the place of the Bringer-up of the right The right Flank is the out-most File upon the right where always ought by the way to be very able Souldiers placed because they first give on-set or fire against the Enemy if on that part they shall be charged the extent of the right Flank is from the Leader of the right hand File unto the Bringer-up of the same The left Flank likewise is the out-most File upon the left and his extent is from the Leader of the left hand File unto the Bringer-up The Front half-Files extent or bounds reacheth no further then from the Front unto the midst of Ranks or to the Bringers-up of the Front half-Files which being but six deep is the third Rank from the Front and the Length of the same reacheth from the out-most part of the left Flank untill you come unto the right The Reer half-Files beginneth from the midst of Ranks or from the fourth Rank from the Front and runneth downward in his depth to the Bringer-up of the whole File and the Length of the same is to be taken side-wise as they stand shoulder to shoulder from the out-most man upon the left unto the out-most man upon the right The right half Ranks in their Length runneth no further then from the out-most man upon the right unto the midst of Files or to the left hand File-leader of the right half-Ranks the Depth of the right half-Ranks reacheth from the Front running down unto to the Reer As for the left half-Ranks as much may be said to take his Length from the midst of Files or from the right hand File-leader of the left half-Ranks unto the out-most Files upon the left the Depth of the left half-Ranks may be understood in form and manner conformable to the right Next come we to speak of the Length and Depth of the whole Battail the Length of the Battail is ever to be accounted of the number of men in a Rank and not in a File for the Files perhaps may not be above six deep when that there may be hundreds in a Brest in the Ranks and farther the Length of any Battail is to be taken from the out-most point of the left-Flank or left-hand File-leader stretching it selfe forth by an even Line along untill you come to the outmost point of right Flank or right-hand File-leader the Depth of the Battail always is to be taken from the Front or first Rank and going down backward in a straight Line down to the Reer to the last Rank or to the Bringers-up of the Files For as the Length of the Battail is to be taken from the left Flank going a long in Front unto the right so the Depth of the Battail is to be taken from the Front going backward down to the Reer There is also to be understood that in every Battalia drawn up there are other parts and Denominations very considerable to be known that is in every such an one there is a Van-Guard a Reer-Ward and Main-Battail The Van-guard are the Muskettiers upon the right or the right Flank or as most commonly called amongst us in these dayes the Right-wing or the Left-wing which are the Muskettiers and the Flankers of the Body of Pikes the reason as I conceive the Muskettiers are accounted and called Wings is because they are first drawn off as by flying motion in Forlorns to ingage against an Enemy but of this by the way to proceed the Reer-Ward or Reer-Guard are the Muskettiers on the left Flank and the Battail is the Body of Pikes and here I shall conclude concerning the Description of a Body CHAP. XXVI Directions to all such as shall desire to exercise a Foot-Company with some admonitions to the Souldiers as shall be exercised by them HE that intends to exercise a Body of men must truly know what he shall command and so to give his directions unto the Souldiers as they may aptly make ready execution of the same He must at such times above all the rest assume unto himself the confidence presence as near as he is able of a compleat Souldier He is also to stretch out his voice so as he may conveniently be heard understood by the inferiour Officers and Souldiers which will cause them more readily to obey his Commands He ought to carry a cheerfull countenance unto them provided they do well but otherwise if carelesly dis-regarding his Commands he may look harshly upon them His eyes ought to be quick and nimble observing all their Motions whether it be to the right or left to
after facing above move into their places again The first firing Let them face as before and give fire on the same ground they stand and fall in the Reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge on and retreat into their places again Command Muskettiers move forth and range even a brest with the Pikes into Front Reer and Midst and they will stand in a square as followeth The first firing Upon this figure as they are faced to front reer and both flanks and the Pikes to the outward angles of front and reer it will be best to fire on the ground they stand and to fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge to the four angles The second firing Let them double their ranks outward and give fire after face about move three paces into the midst of Pikes and having made ready again let them face about and move forward and fire as they did before and after dismount their Muskets taking them in both hands they may as occasion shall require make use of the Butt end thereof against the horse and the Pikes may stand upon their charge The third firing Let the Muskettiers double inward file-wise the Pikes keep their aspects to the four angles the Muskettiers as before may give fire to front reer and both flanks and fall in the reer of those Pikes next their right hand And having their aspects unto the the same angles they may fire there if they please by way of extraduction and move forth to the left into their places again then let the Pikes face to the front and Muskettiers upon the wings face about to the right and Muskettiers move forward three paces face to your leader formes the following figure The first firing Let the first division give fire together and wheel off into the reer the reer the next two divisions moving forward into their ground giving fire altogether and wheeling off to the right and left into the reer the rest stil moving forward until the reer division is likewise come up into the front and gives fire in like manner and falling off to the right into his first place again this firing may be continued twice The second firing Let them give fire altogether to the front after this manner let the middle divisions move forth to the right and left cleer of the Pikes the reer division at the same time moving forward upon the out-side of those in the front and give fire and move into their places again making ready whilst the Pikes close forward and charge on five or six paces they may retreat again into their places The third firing Let them face all to the reer and fire after this manner the first division kneel down the middle divisions move forth cleer of the Pikes the front division marching down into the reer may give fire altogether the out-most division and the front division over the heads of them in the reer and move in and back again into their places then face to their leader Command The outmost division of Muskettiers upon the left in the midst and the three last divisions of Pikes and Muskettiers face about march all three paces and stand Middle divisions face to the left and move two paces face all to your leader divisions of Pikes face inward front division of Muskettiers and the second from the reer face about and move little and close your divisions to your leader The first firing Let the first division give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel down into the reer the other divisions successively moving up into the front and firing in like manner this firing may be continued twice over The second firing Let the divisions of Muskettiers double their ranks to the right and left outward and give fire in single ranks as they did before untill all have fired twice over The third firing Let them double their files to the right and left inward and the reer divisions to face about then let them give fire both to front and reer falling first in the reer of themselves after to wheel off into the midst and facing to front and reer the middle divisions may move forth into their ground firing in like manner the Pikes may after charg whilest the Muskettiers make ready again and after retreating into their places they may continue their firing as formerly the Pikes charging on as before The fourth firing Let each division of Muskettiers double ranks outward and fire to front and reer and to wheel off in one single rank to the right and left and rank again in the midst and after double inward file-wise and face to their leader Command The four last divisions face to the left the four first divisions face to the right march all untill you be cleer one of another then face to the right and move untill you be even a brest in front and reer to your leader The first firing Let the first divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after wheeling off to the right and left into the reer they at the same time moving forwards into their places firing and falling off in like manner they may performe the same firing to the reer being thither faced The second firing Let the reer divisions move to the right and left outward cleer of the standing part then face to the front move up even a brest with the front divisions and let every division fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may charge and after both they and the outmost divisions may move down into their places Command The in most divisions of Pikes advance forward three foot before the front the rest face inward and move two paces to your Leader Upon this figure let the first ranks of the front division fire and fall behind the front divisions of Pikes the next rank may fire and fall behind the first then let the reer division move up and give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after wheel about to the right and left inward moving down cleer of the reer and facing again unto their Leader then they may fire a second time in the same way the front divisions moving forth and firing first and falling behind the Pikes the reer divisions comming up into their places firing and falling off again by wheeling about inward untill they be cleer three foot of the reer then facing to their leader they will stand as followeth where the Ensigne may display his colours if the Leader pleaseth to march upon it Having now spent much time in these particular firings it will be convenient to give the souldiers some respit to refresh their almost tired spirits that they may more cheerfully appear upon the next summons of the Drum and therefore we wil conclude this Exercise and prepare for the lodging of the colours Reducement Reer divisions of Pikes move streight forward untill you range even a brest with the
to shew the practise of this our City in their severall drawings up with the reasons to confirme the same And having passed over as much as is convenient to satisfie any ingenuous Souldier concerning the drawing up of six Companies in a regimentall way with the confirmation and reasons of every perticuler Officer as he there stands it may in many things give full light to this that follows of seven Companies Yet neverthelesse for more fuller satisfaction herein I shall shew the true manner hereof that I may not be wanting to any Souldiers benefit that he shall receive thereby Where note for better order herein that I have pitcht upon a perticuler number of men although it may many times fall out so that the Captaines Companies and the Field-officers cannot be so full as I have here set down Or again it may chance to fall out as in our Trained Bands of London that they be a great deale fuller as somtimes they are for I have led a perticuler Company my self upon a generall day being drawn into the â—ield consisting of above 300 men Yet neverthelesse whether the Companies be great or small observe this generall rule make two grand Divisions and ballance their number equal in both Arms and make no more Subdivisions then what you have Captains to lead and Lieutenants to bring up and let the Serjeants March by the Flanks and not presume either to lead or bring up any Divisions being conceived by most to be very improper And again if you fight the Regiment let your Muskettiers as neer as you can be equall alike in their Subdivisions as they may most conveniently fall out whether four five or six a brest it makes no great matter always leaving in time of fight between such number of Files six foot of ground intervall for to wheel off their Ranks after they have fired Now suppose the whole Regiment were marching to their generall place of Randezvous the Major being there before hand attending the Companies comming in he orders to the Collonels Company the most convenient place for their drawing up and next to him the fourth Captains Company upon the left and next to him the third Captain and after him the eldest or first Captain which makes the first grand Division In the next place he orders the Lieutenant Collonels Company to be on the left of the whole Regiment standing in even Front with the Collonel upon the right of him the second Captain is placed and after him the Majors own Company which makes up the second grand Division Having thus far proceeded let the Major command the Pikes and Colours to advance forward ten paces before the Front of Muskettiers then let him close the Pikes of the first four Companies to the right to order and the Pikes of the last to the left to order and the like of the Muskettiers in the Reer to those hands to the same distance then they will stand in four Divisions two of Pikes in the Front and two of Mukettiers in the Reer In the next place let him count how many Files of Pikes there are in each Division and he will finde in the Collonels Division 26 Files and in the Lieutenant Collonels but 22. To make these even he must take off one file a piece from the youngest Captains and bring them into the midst of the Lieutenant Collonels Division and then he will make them equall there being in each grand Division 24 files of Pikes The Pikes being made thus equall let him move down into the Reer and examine the Muskettiers where upon the right he will finde 52 files and upon the left but 44 to make these even in number he must take off one file a piece from the four Companies of the first grand Division and lead them away up into the midst of the second and then there will be in each grand Division of Muskettiers 48 files a piece In the next place let him face them to the right and left outward and move them to such convenient distance as he may after divide his Muskettiers into four Divisions to move up and flank the Pikes This being performed he ought to appoint unto every Captain and Lieutenant his place where to lead and where to bring up and what men upon all occasions they are to fight To which purpose there being in the first grand Division four Captains there must be four places to lead and four to bring up and therefore having their four Colours upon the long-march that Body of Pikes may be divided into two Divisions and to march with two Colours in the first Division of Pikes which are to be led by the eldest Captain and brought up by the Captains Lieutenants Bringer-up the second Division of Pikes is to be led by the fourth Captain and to be brought up by the eldest Captain Lieutenant The Reer-guard of Muskettiers in this grand division is to be led by the third Captain and to be brought up by his Lieutenant who upon the long-march his Captain if he pleaseth may exchange places being more honour to him to be there to bring up then to lead that Division as hath been formerly exprest As concerning the Captain Lieutenant his place is to be fixed according as in the Figure to lead the first Division of Muskettiers and to be brought up by the fourth Captains Lieutenant but at such time when they are drawn up all a brest they are to take their places as at first fixed both in their leading and bringing-up as shall be set forth in the following Figure with all their severall places appointed thereunto As concerning all the rest they are placed in manner as was shewed in my discourse of a Regiment consisting of six Companies But here it may be objected that in the first grand Division I have placed the Collonel eldest Captain third and fourth and by casting up their number of dignity we finde it to amount unto 18 and in the second grand Division the Lieutenant Collonel Major and second Captain whose number amounts but to 10 here we finde say they a great deal of difference and alteration your intentions principally tending to make them equall in dignity for certainly where the greater number is there is the lesser dignity and therefore a wrong unto that part where ever it so falls out To which I answer where there is no just exceptions to be made to the contrary the former rule ought ever to be preserved in the keeping an equall ballance of the number of dignity but herein it doth not For the Collonel ought always to have placed in his division the eldest Captain who is to lead his colours and the first Body of Pikes which is the first place of honour among the Captains and in the second place the Majors Company is always drawn up upon the out-most part on the right of the Lieutenant Collonels grand Division to carry an equall proportion of number they being the second and third worth unto
for the trimming of the souldiers who ought likewise to have some skill in Chyrurgery that when the souldiers are upon the watches and guards where iminent danger may be he may be then at hand to be ready in the absence of the Chyrurgion of the Regiment to bind up and dresse the hurt and wounded men He is free from duties belonging to the Company and in some places is allowed to be an Officer in the list of their armies which I conceive it ought so to be in respect they allow but of one Chyrurgion to a Regiment and if it should happen many to be wounded as oftentimes in field fights there are one man is not able scarce in three dayes to bind up the wounds and dress the sores of them that are maimed And therefore it concerns every Captain to be provided and to have in the absence of the Chyrurgion a Barber Chyruâ—gion attending on his Company Of a Clerk of a Company HIâ— carriage ought to be very just and honest his cheifest duty is to keep the muster Roll â—nd to have it ready upon all occasions for the entering of his men upon the muster Roll and pay bill He is many times intrusted to receive the service money of the Company and payes such moneyes unto the souldiers as shall be ordered him from his Captain to pay He must inquire out in their quarters where they lie and duly for to pay them and every pay day to deliver up a true bill giving an account unto his Captain of all such moneys he hath-either received or paid forth Of a Drum Major THere ought to be in every Regiment a Drum Major being skilfull in his profession instructing the others in the true beating of a march with all other points of war A Drum-Major must likewise be well skill'd in severall languages and tongues and to be wise and courteous when he shall be imploy'd or sent to an enemy He is in a discreet manner upon the marching of a Regiment to order part of the Drums where they shall beat seeing them tiâ—ely and duly relieved by the others for the better performance of their service For upon the march if all the Captains Drums should beat together it would quickly tire them out therefore for their ease it is his place and duty to order them according to discretion to take their turnes to beat and to be relieved by each other He is moreover to take into his charge such Drums as shall be brought in from the enemies by their Drummers when they come to ransome their prisoners and upon their returne to deliver them again unto them He ought to be lodged neer the Serjeant Major in respect he is to give instructions to the rest of the Drummers and may upon fail of their duties give them correction Of the Drummers to a private Company EVery Captain ought to have two good Drummers that knows how to beat all the severâ—ll points of war before mentioned It is likewise expedient that he should be a good linguisht in respect somtimes he may be sent unto an enemy for the ransoming of prisoners His duty is coming to the camp or garrison of an enemy having his Generals Pass in his hat to beat a call till he is fetcht in and because he shall not discover the weakness of guards works or trenches he is is led blind-fold and so carried to the Commander and place where his prisoners are With whom after he hath ransomed them he is to returne to his own quarterâ— giving an account of such things he hath seen or heard which may prove advantageouâ— to his own party or of any other thing he had opportunity by their neglect to take notice of Of a Gentleman of Arms. HIs duty is to see that the souldiers keep their armes neat and clean and that they be well fixed and if any thing be amiss or broken he is to have them carried to the Armourers to be repaired And if any souldier shall be sick dead or have leave to returne to his own country he is to bring his armes to his own lodging there preserving and keeping them clean untill he shall have occasion to deliver them to some other newly entertained He is likewise to mark and figure the armes of the Company and to preserve and keep a list what number of figure each souldier shall bear upon his armes He is likewise to keep the powder bullet and match and to deliver it forth upon occasions to the Corporalls or Lanspassadoe Of a Lanspassadoe HIs duty is concerned in the absence of his corporall to officiate in all things belonging unto his place and is at all times to be an assistant unto him for his ease help-mate upon all occasions for the better managing of his place and many times they arerounders and Sentinell perdues in time of great necessity The duty of a Corporall THe Corporals of a Company are not tyed to a set number but to be ordered according to the severall strengths and divisions of the same for each to take his charge and care of every Squadron thereof And unto each of them there is a Lanspassadoe for an assistant for their rule of dignity I conceive it makes not much more matter then to make them the right hand file-leader in every perticular division but if any will be so curious to order them according to that let them apply themselves unto the former rules for directions to the saâ—e The Corporalls duty in his Squadron is to teach and instruct them in the use of the Pike and Musket and to have a Roll and list of his men in his division or squadron And when a souldiers name is crossed out he is to give notice unto his Serjeant and when a new one shall supply his place his care must be to instruct and enable him in the postures of such armes as he shall bear Being with his Squadron upon his guard he is to provide them with wood coale candle and light Having an out-guard his care must be to strengthen ti his little Corps due guard and sentinels must be set forth according to the avenews or commings on of the enemy whereby he prevents their cuttings off or surprisall the negligence whereof proves both dangerous to themselves and the whole army Wherefore it behoves hiâ— to be very carefull and vigilant to visit them after giving them an especiall charge to be both faithfull and carefull in the great trust reposed in them He must likewise preserve and keep the word constant in his memory when the Captain of the Watch goes the first Round he shall with his Sword drawn against his brest give it him and receive such orders from him as he shall command him but afterwards when the Round shall come again he shall cause the Rounders or Gentlemen with his Sword drawn to give the word to him before they passe He ought never to go alone being called forth by the Sentinell but to have a Guard
Squadron to their Guard and to carry to prison such Offendours as his Captain or other superiour Officer shall commit to the Provost Martiall He is to see that the Muskettiers in time of skirmishing present all even a brest with their matches all cockt giving fire all together in good order and to direct them how to fall off and rally again in the Reer of their own divisions His duty likewise is to fetch Ammunition Powder Match and all other Materials for the Companie He is moreover every perticuler evening to attend at the place of Parade or at the Majors Lodging to fetch the word and carry it to his Captain Lieutenant Ensigne and Corporals and likewise as soon as he is come into his Guard he must direct the Corporals where to set out the Perdues and Sentinels and how to order his Watch. He must likewise make frequent Rounds and if he finde a Sentinell a sleep in the Field he is to commit him to the hand of Justice and thus much concerning the duty of a Serjeant Of an Ensigne AN â—nsigne being a Commission Officer in the absence of his Captain and Lieutenant is Commander in chiefe of the Company and ought to march upon the head of the same leading them with a half-pike His Captain and Lieutenant being present and upon a Stand his Colours ought to rest upon his side being held by his right or left-hand and unfurled upon the March his colours ought to be shouldered taking up the corner end of them in his right hand and to let them be halfe flying the Pikes and Muskets all conforming unto the same Posture Marching through a City for the more grace his colâ—urs may be wholly flying being advanced and held up by his right hand or resting upon his right side He ought to be a proper man grave valiant and discreet and to be well skill'd in the Postures of the Pike in respect he leads them and they expect from him to be taught the Postures thereof He ought to be well skill'd in all the lofty figures of the displaying of the colours above the head and to make use of them according to discretion and command which is not only a healthfull exercise to his body but also most becoming to him or any other Gentleman or Commander whatsoever that shall somtimes make use of the same although condemned through sloth and ignorance by others who will not take the pains to learn it An Ensigne upon a Troop lodging the colours or in time of skirmishing may fold them up and retreat into the second rank for the securing of his colours which he ought to stick by and not to stir from them at such a time although he hazardeth his last drop of bloud or makes them his winding-sheet When the Generall shall passe by or any such man of worth he ought a little to vaile his colours inclining the head or narrow end therof a little down-ward but not to bow his knee or uncover his head He may somtimes for his ease or recreation upon the March request some Gentleman of knowing trust of the Pikes to carry his colours for him untill such time as he shall come again for to take them In the absence of his Lieutenant when his Captain shall exercise the Company he may stick his colours in the ground or deliver them to some Gentleman of the Pikes and fall down himselfe in the Reer with a half-piâ—e or cane there to be an assistant to his Captain in supplying the Lieutenants place except his Captain should command him to the contrary He ought to have a Guard a long with him as well to the lodging of his colours as to any other place He ought to performe all courteous offices for the Souldiers unto his Captain which will gain him both love and reputation amongst them they thereby better respecting him and more couragiously following of him Of a Lieutenant HE that is a Lieutenant to a Company ought to be a good and able Souldier and well to understand the duty of a Captain in respect that in his absence he is as Captain and Commander in chiefe over them He is likewise to receive all Orders Charges and Commissions from his Captain assuming no authority unto himselfe but in the absence of his Captain he is to see all such Orders he hath received dutly executed for the better ease unto him He is likewise at such times frequently to exercise the Company in all their Military Motions Skirmishings and False-firings in the pan He is to hold the Serjeants and Corporals strictly to their duty causing them to provide all things necessary for the Company and to be assistants unto him where he shall see cause He is to teach and instruct the Souldiers in the use of their Arms and somtime for their ease he may command every file-leader to draw forth his file and to shew them their Postuâ—es By which means he shall do such good service to his Captain that when he shall exercise them himselfe he may finde them more apter and readier to fulfill his commands at which time the Lieutenant ought to be in the Reer and to see all things there truly executed according to the Captains commands He is in time of danger and great importance to advise with his Captain about the wel-fare of the Company for knowing his Captains intentions and purposes before hand he may be the better provided to withstand the furious on-set of the Enemy He ought to have the Ensigne and all other Officers of the Company as neer him as may be there being often times urgent businesse to make use of them as occasion shall require He must neither cashiere nor punish any man in the presence of his Captain but ought to make him acquainted therewith that he may punish the offendour by committing him either to prison or cause him to give recompence to the party wronged To conclude he ought to know how far his power doth extend either in the presence or absence of his Captain always demeaning himselfe so that he may gain the love of all the whole Company by acting those things amongst them as may be just and honest Of a Captain HE that is a Captain of a Company ought in respect he leadeth the same and is chiefe to appoint unto the Officers their severall places what divisions they shall lead and where they shall march and according to the number of files to make his divisions answerable thereto by dividing his Muskettiers as neer as he can the one halfe upon the right of the Pikes and the other upon the left For they being the Flankers ought equally to be ballanced but if there be an odd file it ought to be contrived and carried to the right In the Van Battail or Reer he must according to the number of his men order his Officers places and draw them off accordingly in as equall a way as they will afford He is as well as his own to know all
Guards which shall relate unto these severall Camps both in regard of the severall and most convenient places for securing the Camp by Sentinels and Per-dues they are to be primarily appointed and ordered according the discretion and command of the Masters of the Field whether Generals or Majors of Brigades and afterwards the Serjeant Majors and Captains of Regiments according to their commands and relieved order are to designe them for the aforesaid place The enlarge the severall Arguments and Disputes that might further arise in point of Field-duties relating hereunto would be too tedious and to little purpose in regard that whosoever shall but diligently observe what hath before been set down concerning the duty of Watches in Garrisons and Fortresses may sufficiently be able to apprehend and performe all manner of duties that shall concern this Field Service provided that he be carefull to adhere to the directions of the Field-Officers in all points and diligent to observe the manner of managing of all things according to their instructions And therefore to avoid prolixity and fruitlesse disputes I referre the Reader to what hath been above related CHAP. XXV The ordering of a private Company unto a Funerall Occasion WHen any Commander or Souldier of worth shall be deceased a private Captain that would shew respect and honour by marching a long with his Company attending the Corps to the place of buriall must order his Souldiers after this manner They being summon'd by beat of the Drum to meet at their usually place of Randezvous they may be drawn up according to the usuall manner having a Van-guard Battail and Reer-guard being thus ordered and each of the Souldiers having either in his hat a black feather or ribbin the Captain may draw them off and order them to their long-march moving them away in an orderly manner unto the place of him that is deceased and there make Alt. After which he may command the Muskettiers in the Van to open to the right and left outward to such convenient distance as the Pikes may move up between them and take possession of their first ground and those Muskettiers may face about and move down cleer of the Pikes and after close their files inward to order and face to their Leader Now being in two divisions let them so continue with their Arms ordered untill such time as they shall perceive the Corps to be brought forth into the Street then the Captain may face them all about and move them some three Pikes length before the Corps after which he may command his Muskettiers to performe their Funerall Posture which is to have their Muskets under their left arme with the But-end upward their Rests likewise on that side trailing After which the Pikes are to face again to their first Front and to lay the narrow end of their Pikes down upon the ground after facing about to the left and and bringing up the But-end of their Pikes on their right side conforming themselves with the Muskettiers in their Funerall Postures In the next place the Ensigne strips his colours off from his Staffe and ties them about his right Wast putting a black Ribbon towards the very end of his Staffe he after faceth to the Body of Pikes standing in the Reer of them and trailing his Staffe in the same Posture next followeth the Captain having in his hand a half-half-pike or leading-staffe conforming himselfe likewise to his Funerall Posture Thus being all ready to march and rightly faced toward that place where the Corps are to be interred are after this manner following to lead and to bring up The first division of Muskettiers which was the Reer-guard is led by the Lieutenant the next division of Muskettiers that was formerly the Van-guard is led by the second Serjeant the Body of Pikes is led by the eldest Serjeant he trailing a half-pike upon the head of them the Ensigne bringing it up and the Captain 12 foot short of him bringing up the Reer of the whole Company And after him the Ministers marching just before the coffin and in the Reer and next unto it the neerest kindred and after them those that are invited to the Funeral Having thus stated the manner and order of the Military Part with all others belonging thereunto for any ordinary Funerall Occasion I shall in the next place proceed to shew their order upon the March and how each Arms ought to be disposed before the Corps enter into the Church with the rest of the Train All persons being ordered as before expressed the Drums being covered with black-bays and placed betwixt the second and third ranks in each division and all being ready to move the Drums may begin to beat their Funerall March and the Lieutenant leading them away with the But-end of his Pattison upward and comported the rest following and marching in a leasurable and slow way a long together untill they come within a hundred foot of the Church-doore or place where the Corps are to be interred there making Alt. After which let the Muskettiers in their ranks file to the right and left not advancing ground and face in opposition making a Guard for the rest to passe through and resting their Muskets or putting the But-end thereof to the ground with the barrel towards them which is a conformity to the Pikes being ordered In the mean time let the Pikes advance their Arms and immediately after move forward betwixt the Guard of Muskettiers and let their ranks afterward file to the right and left making also a Guard their Pikes being ordered and they as the rest facing in opposition Then let the Captain who bring up the Reer of all his whole Body move forward with the rest to the Church-doore then falling off in respect of ordering his Company the rest of the Train marching into the Church After which the Captain may cause them all to face to the Church or to their Leader he standing then before the Church-doore commanding them to rank again as they were After every Leader may draw off his file and set their Arms a part in each file by themselves and go in to hear part of the Sermon if there should be any such order before-hand from their Captain placing Sentinels to look to their Arms. And when Sermon is almost done they ought to go forth of the Church and draw forth the files by some little warning of the Drums to be in readinesse to answer such directions as they shall receive from their Captain Who may if he have conveniency of room draw all his Muskettiers into a Ring and the Pikes in like manner on the out-side of them and as soon as the Souldiers have notice being all ready and presented that the Body is laid down in the grave they may upon warning of the Drum give one volley of shot altogether and after make ready again performing the same twice over more After which the Ensigne may put his colours upon his staffe and furle them up