or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni modo though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to
having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike-men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musketiers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they double Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the rìght hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left han◠double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place
thinke on the other part that service is nothing els but a free mans calling and comfort himselfe with the example of Kings that are but servants though more splendid for the common-weale and as this King our royall Master served for his country let us that are servants serving strangers serve truely where we serve for our countries credit our owne weale and our eternall fame which must live after us This magnanimous King through the experience he had of our former true service is desirous to have more of our countrimen to serve him as we may see by the new employment laid on our Colonell and his Officers Also on divers other Noblemen of our country to bring unto him three other Regiments as Nidesdale Spynie and Murckles Regiments we being the first that shewed them the way to be employed by his Majesty Here I will exhort all brave Cavaliers of minde to follow the laudable profession of Armes not to grudge though their advancement or preferment come not at first but with patience to awaite on Gods blessing since preferment comes neither from the East nor from the west But it is the blessing of the Lord given by man as the reward of vertue Who ever then would be famous by preferment let him first study to be diligent and vertuous in his calling and then doubtlesse God will dispose of him as he thinketh best for his owne Glory Here we see that the Barron of Fowles of worthy memory thought it no disparagement at first to follow my Lord of Rhey and his Regiment as a voluntier till he had seene some service and attained unto some experience and then beginning with a company coming at last with credit to be Colonell over horse and foote and that to animate others of his name and kindred to follow his example rather to live honourably abroade and with credit then to encroach as many do on their friends at home as we say in Scotland leaping at the halfe loafe while as others through vertue live nobly abroade served with silver plate and attendance Officers of one Regiment ought to live as brethren together not envying one anothers advancement entertaining no other emulation then the emulation of vertue every one serving truely in their Stations till such time occasion may be offered for their advancement by degrees for though their patience may be the longer their credits will be the more and their contentments at last will make them forgo and forget their former toyle and disturbances having come to their proposed marke though not altogether to their wished end Here also we see that good discipline is requisite for keeping good order that as vertue is rewarded so vice may be punished as we may see by the institution of the Emperiall lawes whereof one we reade constitute by the Emperor Frederick the second in the code of Iustinian bearing that the labourers of the ground might live peaceably with assurance over all staying in their villages labouring the ground so that no man should be so bold as to presume to take any such men prisoners or to offer them any violence in destroying their Beasty all or in takeing their goods from them condemning them to death that did contemne or violate his ordinance And Cyrus going to warre commanded no man should trouble the labourers Xerxes commanded the like saying the warres were against those that caried Armes not against Shepheards Bellisarius that brave Commander under the Emperour Iustinian was so strict against souldiers that troubled the Boores that the souldiers going by the fruityards durst not throw downe one Apple and for his good order kept victualls were cheaper in the Campe then in Townes Procopius in his third booke of the Gothes warres in Italy reports that Totilas King of the Gothes observed the same strict discipline in Italy suffring the Boores untroubled for paying the contribution Nicephor Gregorius affirmed that while as in the front of an Army marched insolency and violence orderly came in the reare defeate and ruine And now a dayes the Turkes do observe stricter discipline in their Armies then Christians do in so much that their Captaines must not suffer their Souldiers to goe into Orchards or Vineyards as they march by And as order is necessary in an Army so it is in a Regiment requisit to be kept and punishment also to be used for banishing all villany from a Regiment as Gluttony Drunkenesse Whoredome Opression Playing Diceing Roaring Swaggering for it is not seemely that those who should overcome others should suffer themselves to be overcome with any such notorious vices neither ought a brave fellow to vaunt of his valour since it is not tolerable to kill men with words without coming unto blowes But he that comports himselfe modestly is to be commended Here also we see that the Emulation and strife begunne amongst Superiours and Officers of quality brings at last the same amongst their inferiours and followers as was seene in the disorders and quarrelling betwixt our Souldiers and the Rhinegraves horsemen which was wisely prevented and taken away by the wisdome of their Commanders that carried mutuall love and respect to each others for the mutuall good deserving of both Officers which was the chiefe instrument of their reconcilement and taking away of their jarres and idle quarrelling arising of ostentation an unworthy fruit growing out of Dunghills withering faster then it groweth their jarres thus once removed thereafter our love waxed so great that where we chanced both to be on one service as at Wolgast where we stood in neede of helpe the Rhinegraves Regiment especially Rutmaster Hoomes under God made our Retreate safe as you shall heare in its owne place Here also I cannot passe over with silence the love that ordinarily is seene betwixt Officers and their followers being once put under good discipline they will undergo any thing for love of their Commanders and Leaders who have taken paines and diligence in excercising them in the perfect use of their Armes and in leading them bravely on occasions before their enemies in making with exercise their bodies strong and their hearts valiant then I say what will they not undertake for the love of their Leaders Truely I must confesse they will stand a thousand times more in awe to incurre their Officers wrath whom once they loved through love than in any wise thorough feare of any punishment that may be enjoyned unto them by Lawes and if they love and respect their Officers for feare to offend even in their Marches for their Officers credits they will march so orderly with Armes in their Rancks and Files that you would thinke a whole Regiment well disciplined as this was were all but one body and of one motion their eares obeying the command all as one their eyes turning all alike at the first signe given their hands going to execution as one hand giving one stroake yea many stroakes all alike ever readie to strike or hold up as their Commander
to our Lievetenant Colonell to dissolve the treaty seeing his Majesty of Denmark had folke in readinesse to come in all haste with Colonell Holke for their reliefe Whereupon my Lord Spynie a Scots Noble man with his Regiment with sufficient provision of money and Amunition were sent unto the Towne and being entred the treaty was rejected and made voide At this time also Sr. Alexander Lesly an expert and a valorous Scots Commander with some Swedens forces was sent to governe the Towne his Majesty of Sweden having condescended with his Majesty of Denmark that his Majesty of Denmark should dismisse the protection of Trailesound in favour of his Majesty of Sweden and to that effect the Danes forces should be drawne out of the Garrison for to give place to the Swedens in the meane time the command was turned over upon Sr. Alexander Lesly whom Colonell Holke did assist with the Danes forces till they were removed the absolute command being given to Sr. Alexander Lesly as Governour for his Maj sty of Sweden In time of the still-stand I tooke a foare loffe under my Lievetenant Colonell his hand scale to goe by Sea to Copmanhagen to be cured there seeing no Chirurgian in Trailesound would undertake to cut the bullet out of my knee without hazarding me to be lame which to prevent I choosed rather though with infinite paine to keepe the bullet a fortnight till I came to Copmanhagen where happily I found better cure The eighteenth Observation TWo things we must respect so long as we live our inward integrity and our outward uprightnesse our piety towards God and our reputation amongst men the one makes our life famous the other our death happy so both together bring credit to the name and felicity to the soule Then whensoever our breath is made but aire we shall be blessed leaving a sweete odour behinde us and men will regrate our losse as at this time they did our hurt He whom before I was wont to obey and visite came now and visited me I not being able to stirre my Lievetenant Colonell came to comfort me having neede to be comforted himselfe by good advise how to defend the workes the second night a generall feare having possessed the hearts both of Burgers and Souldiers and I to encourage him did tell him a story of Augustus the Emperour who being neere death commanded that after his decease all his friends should clap their hands and laugh unfainedly as the custome was when a Comedy was well acted even so said I though I was sorry at our losse yet I was glad for being hurt when I looked to be kill'd and having acted my part of the play for that time and retired off the Stage all I could doe was but to minde my Camerads of their duties In the meane time the Enemies cannon having shot foure great bullets of a hundred and sixty pound weight out of morters through the top of my lodging even to the bottome where I did lie affrighting me still when my feete were not able to shift away my body yet recommending my soule to God I resolved he was well guarded whom the Lord had a care of and having delivered me from many dangers I still confided he would not suffer me to be smother'd under walles For which and all his blessings I doe infinitly thanke his Majesty in giveing me time to doe any thing that may please his Majesty for my deliverance To make my Lievetenant Colonell laugh I did tell him a story of a vision that was seene by a Souldier of the Colonells company that morning before the enemy did storme being a predictive dreame and a true One Murdo Mac-claude borne in Assen a Souldier of a tall stature and valiant courage being sleeping on his watch awakened by the breake of day and jogges two of his Camerades lying by him who did finde much fault with him for sturring of them he replied before long you shall be otherwise sturred a Souldier called Allen Tough a Loghaber-man recommending his soule to God asked him what he had seene who answered him you shall never see your country againe the other replyed the losse was but small if the rest of the company were well he answered no for there was great hurt and death of many very neere the other asked againe whom had he seene more that would dye besides him sundry of his Camerades he tould by name that should be killed the other asked what would become of himselfe he answered he would be killed with the rest in effect he describeth the whole Officers by their cloathes that should be hurt a pretty quicke boy neere by asked him what would become of the Major meaning me he answered he would be shot but not deadly and that the boy should be next unto me when I were hurt as he was This discourse ended I wished my Lievetenant Colonell to set all care aside and to looke to himselfe and to the credit of his Nation in maintaining of the place till the reliefe should come and so we parted Here I did observe that no city be it never so strong or so well beset nor no Armour be it of what proofe it will is able to encourage a fearefull heart as in this City and at this time were many of the Burgars Souldiers strangers Officers of women and children who were tormented by the feare of death and of their meanes whose feare was generally so great that they were bereft both of wisdome and courage as people given over so that their feare in some sort did frustrate their lawfull defences the like I did never see neither wish to see againe for the enemy could not though victorious put them in a worse habit nor make them seeme more miserable than I did see them at this time making themselves unfit to resist their enemies and they were all of them in mine eyes like to the sword-fish having weapons but they wanted hearts they had quaking hands without use and in a word if the enemy had seene them as I did he would rather pitty them as cowards then kill them like gallants Notwithstanding of this feare which possessed the burgars and those Souldiers that had not beene on occasion yet our Nation that are ever most couragious in greatest extremity failed nothing of their wonted valour but having once retired to the Ravelin maintained it couragiously repelling the enemies valour with resolution built on vertue and love of credit so that they made their enemie with great losse to be frustrate of his hoped for victory finding the valour of the Scots tempered with constant resolution and vigorous spirits his fury was made to setle by little and little till at last resolution the strong Armour of the descreete Souldier prevailed against all the shuffles and cries of the enemy and the defender seeing the storme past and the tempest cease he laughes and smiles with as much honour quiet and safety as before he suffered toyle griefe or
Lord of Rhees Regiment is made up againe Where we see that as vicissitude maintaines the world even so concord is a great meanes of continuance as discord is too often of discontinuance and ruine Likewise we see that no estate is free from mutability and change which is the great Lord of the World who will be adored and followed as soone as order doth faile but where order is kept and concord as in this Regiment change hath no place to ruine though well to alter for order was so kept by this Regiment like to brave Souldiers who in a running skirmish come up discharge fall off flie and yet reinforce themselves againe having kept order in their proceedings which though now she admits of some change being reinforced againe and joyned together with the chaine of love and respect she admits of no confusion or ruine but is ready againe with her brave Souldiers being reinforced in a strong body to make head unto their enemies one day to be revenged of their former losses as God willing shall be cleered in the sequell of my discharge of dueties and observations of this new reformed body of the old Regiment My cozen Lievetenant Andrew Monro being killed in combat I have more then reason to condemne and disallow of that miserable sort of fight where oftimes the victorious puts himselfe in a worse case both of soule and body than he that is killed Yet this kinde of fighting hand to hand called Monomachia hath bin much practised both amongst Pagans and Christians even amongst all Nations as it is yet Of old it did serve for proofe of things hidden being in one rancke with the burning iron and scalding water to the end men might discerne the innocent from the guilty this kinde of violence of proofe was so common that Fronton King of Denmark made a law as reports the Saxon history that all differences whatsoever should be decided by the combat and Leoden reports that yet to this day they observe the same in Muscove But wise men finding this custome deceivable in deciding the truth and so uncertaine that many times the innocent doth succumbe and therefore it was forbidden by the civill and canon law as is evident by severall ancient constitutions inserted in the Decretalls Notwithstanding whereof amongst the Romans it became so common as to be thought but a sport which made the name of fighters esteemed of amongst the Romans as we reade in the Cod. Titulo de gladiatortbus and therefore this custome being displeasing unto the Emperour Iustinian he commanded all should be subject unto the Iudge and said that valour without justice was not to be allowed of This combat betwixt those two was well fought of both in presence of many witnesses where it was thought that the Dutch-man was hard so that a sword could neither pierce him nor cut him This fashion of fighting is so common that we neede not illustrate it by examples of Histories either ancient or moderne but who so would satisfie their curiosity in this point let them but reade Preasack his Cleander a story well worth the reading And truely dayly experience teacheth us as in this accident that the end of combats doth shew often that he who appeales often times doth receive the reward of his temerite which might be cleered by many examples amongst the ancients We have one very notable written by Quintus Curtius where Dioxippus the Athenian that brave fighter being all naked and smered over with oyle as the fashion was then with a hat of flowers on his head carrying about his left Arme a red sleeve and in the right hand a great batton of hard greene timber durst enter in combat against Horrat Macedonian carrying on his left Arme a bucler of brasse and a short pike in the right hand a jacdart-staffe as we terme it or something like it and a sword by his side at their approaching Dioxippus with a nimble slight and a pretty cunning shift of his body eschewed the stabbe or thrust of the staffe and before the Macedonian could have wielded the Pike the other doth breake it in two with his cudgell and quickly closing with his adversary gives him such a knocke on the shinnes that he fell to the ground his heeles above his head tooke his sword from him and would have kill'd him with his batton had not the King saved him Thus much of combats which for my part though I cannot allow of neverthelesse I should be loath to refuse to fight in a just quarrell but would rather referre the successe to God to determine of then to let that be called in question which is dearest unto me The twenty-second Dutie discharged being the last under his Maiesties service of Denmarke of our expedition by water unto Holsten HIs Majesty being resolved in Aprill 1629 with his sword in his hand to conclude a settled and a sure peace with the Emperour or otherwise to free Holsten and Yewtland from the tyranny of the Emperiall Army and to that effect his Majesty did gather his forces together to a head in Denmark where they were to be shipp't for landing at Angle in Holsten so that orders were given to me his Majesty having provided shipping to transport our Regiment from all quarters and to meete at Angle Before our parting Captaine Forbesse of Tullough and Captaine Andrew Stewarts Companies were put on warre ships to lie before Wismar I having shipped with the rest of the Regiment we sailed unto Holsten and landed at Angle where the Regiment being come together we were one thousand foure hundred strong besides Officers and having lyen at Angle till the peace was concluded his Majesty did thanke off or dismisse his Army save a few number that was kept a moneth longer till the enemy had marched out of the country we being discharged of service and having gotten our honourable passes we were directed by his Majesty to the Rex-marshall toward Funeland with orders from his Majesty that he should reckon with us and give us contentment accordingly The reckoning made we were forced to accept of two parts and to discharge the whole having made no reckoning but for us who were present leaving our Colonell being absent to make his owne reckoning thereafter with his Majesty Likewise his Majesty did give orders to the Rex-marshall to provide shipping and victuall for our Officers and Souldiers to transport them for their country which accordingly was obeyed As also his Majesty did give orders to ordaine us both Officers and Souldiers free quarters in Alzenheur till the shipps were ready to saile So that we being free from our honourable Master his service we were ready to imbrace new conditions from a new Master The twenty-second and last Observation on our Danes service HEre concluding our Danes service we see that the end of warres is peace and that the end of this peace was the beginning of greater warre under a new Master Happy therefore is that man or that
the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Contrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an enemie on walls within Townes or Forts they are very commodious for service providing they resolve to fight well and to abide by their Officers and in my opinion being well led they may beate Musketiers accidently off the Feild and being well lined with shot they are a safeguard against Horsemen having the least advantage of ground Thus much in briefe for the use of the Pike the most honourable of all weapons and my choice in day of battell and leaping a storme or entering a breach with a light brest-plate and a good head-piece being seconded with good fellowes I would choose a good halfe-Pike to enter with CERTAINE OBSERVATIONS VVORTHY THE YOVNGER Officer his consideration being short and practicall for his Highnesse speciall use I. THIS life is a Comedy or a Play wherein every one doth his part we should presse to passe it over with moderate affections that the end be not cruell or dolefull as in Tragedies but full of mirth like a Comedy II. Vnto the Victor the life is sweete and happy but to those that are overcome nothing is more bitter then to put their hopes in their Enemies mercy III. As unto Champions of old lots gave fellowes and not election with whom they should fight so every one of us hath destines in our times where with to strive IIII. As he who goeth a journy doth reckon the miles so he that hath entred the way of this life shall not determine of his yeares For as from the spring flow the Rivers from the roote the branch so from the first education cometh the rest of mans life And if thou wouldst live truely thou must presse to profit thy country to defend the Common-wealth and to live well without liberty thou must preferre death before ignominious shame or slavery For as this life is Rosie so it hath flowers mixed with thornes the one to be plucked up the other to be eschewed so farre as we may V. It is a part of victory to trouble the enemy before we fight and as it is laudable to overcome an enemy it is no lesse praise worthy to have pitty on the miserable For as courage doth merit infinite glory so the love of all and the good will of all merits mercy and meekenesse VI. The feeble and weake minded man is ever pridfull in prosperity for he thinkes his vertues are such as can maintaine the Fortunes which he hath gotten and thinks still he is able to attaine and acquire more and more but when the tempest of adversity doth arise then is he so farre afraid that he becomes voide of all hopes and this oftentimes is the cause of the suddaine change of his fortunes VII Nothing doth diminish more the publishing of praise then when one continually casteth up his owne successe in actions of warre and oftimes striving to get abundance of honour men show their riches of swelling pride for disdaining his former friends he misk nowes his acquaintance pressing to goe before he is greevous or displeasing to all his familiars Our care then should be to want this arrogancy ostentation or pride and pray for humility being more acceptable unto God then detestable pride which is an unprofitable evill a secret poyson a hidden pest the ingenier of deceipt the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the beginner of vice the moth of holinesse the blinder of hearts breeding sicknesse out of remedies and begetting langour out of medicine VIII There is ever some fatality incident unto those that desire vaine-glory or ostentation and those that are proud rejecting the prayers of the humble with disdaine they often incurre the indignation of God and fall