here cannot be so understood but onely of the space of ground between horse and horse Monsieur de Praissac is more plain who would have the distance between rank and rank both for the length of the horse as also for the space between horse and horse to be six paces one pace between file and file Yet if we take every pace for five foot as that is the usuall dimention by this rule they should be at a verie large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at ther distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed d standing right in their ranks and files b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1.9 Vt aquali legitimóque spatio miles distet à milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent ibid. cap. 26. c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right ad bastam and left ad scutum facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi due genera per juga versus Their countermarches the same which we use evolutio Chorica per decurias juga evolutio Macedonica per decurias juga evolutio Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us conversio ad hastam vel conversio ad scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kindes 1. facings 2. doublings 3. countermarches 4. wheelings The use of facings is to make the companie perfect to be suddainly prepared for a charge on either flank or the reere Doubling of ranks or doubling by half files or bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the front Doubling of files or doubling by half ranks serveth to strengthen the flanks Countermarches serve either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and so to have the best men readie to receive the charge of an enemie in the reere or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and reere or either flank into the middle of the bodie The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be readie to receive the charge of the enemie on either flank or reere These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a companie of Harquebusiers of 64 men And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter as followeth The form of the first standing To face them to the right is done by commanding Front Right flank Reere Left flank To the right hand Which is done by turning all at one and the same time to the right hand Thus the front is where the right flank was To reduce them to their first form the word of command is As you were Which they perform by turning to the left hand From thence to face them to the left you command To the left hand Which is performed by turning towards the left From hence they are to be reduced by commanding As you were Which they do by turning to the right Now to face them to the reare though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say To the left hand about Which is done by turning towards the left hand untill their faces front to that place which was before the reare To reduce them to their first form as that must be observed the word is To the right hand about as you were Ranks to the right double The use hereof hath been shewed before Every other rank that is every even number passeth into the odde upon the right hand of his leader The second rank into the first and so successively To reduce them the word is Ranks as you were Which is best done by causing those ranks which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance Ranks to the left double The difference of this motion from the former is nothing but that here they which double do it to the left hand of their leaders which before they did to their right hands as the figure maketh it plain This done they must be reduced by commanding Ranks as you were Files to the right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman accounting from the right hand the 4 into the 3 and so the rest which must be done throughout the companie at one instant all together But because the first rank of the companie is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but 5 deep there seemeth no great necessitie of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left as you were Files to the left double The difference between this and the former motion is the difference of hands And by this means those files that stood before now move and they which moved now stand as appeareth by the figure They are reduced by commanding Files as you were or Ranks to the right double Half files to the right hand double the front Thus the middle-men double the first rank on the right hand The other three ranks double the three following ranks as is manifest in the figure To reduce them the word is Half files as you were Unlesse it be better and so I conceive it to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance Half files to the left hand double the front This motion onely differeth from the former in the hand There be also doublings of ranks by the half files entire to the right or left or both by division But because the files especially of Cuirassiers are seldome above five deep the doubling of ranks half files c. is little used The reducing of them hath been shewed in the former motion Bringers up to the right hand double the front In this motion the last rank passeth into the first and so successively as the figure sheweth it It is of good use yet because it is very troublesome for the horse to perform especially in reducing them it may be used or omitted as shall be thought fit They are reduced by saying Bringers up as you were Files to the left hand Countermarch Though it were fit to begin with the right hand yet for the convenient turning of the horse to the left I think it not amisse to preferre the left The figure representeth the Choraean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevitie sake Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the companie they must be closed first the files and then the ranks And being to open them again the ranks are first to be opened and then the
upon occasions they could make 70000 or 80000 and at a view taken of their own forces and their allies in Italy there were found 700000 foot and 70000 horse Augustus maintained 23 legions Tyberius 25. In Galbaes time the State maintained 31 legions so that ordinarily in those and later times there were of legionarie and auxiliarie souldiers maintained 372000 foot and 37200 horse whose ordinary pay besides corn and apparrell at one denarius a day for the foot and three for the horse besides the increase of wages given to the officers amounteth to five millions five hundred sixteen thousand sixtie two pounds and ten shillings by the yeare which is more as Sr. H. Savile observeth then the great Turk at this day receiveth in two yeares towards all charges Besides these they maintained a guard of many thousands for the Prince with double pay and others for other employments and yet they never mutined for lack of pay g Virtus militaris praestat caeteru omnibus Cicero pro Mur. Nobilis res atque inprimis utilis militaris est scientia c. Leo. Tact. cap. 20. O viros summâ admiratione laudandos may be said of them as Vegetius saith of the Lacedemonians qui eam praecipuè artem ediscere voluerunt sine qua aliae artes esse non possunt that is O men worthie to be praised with highest admiration which would principally learn that art speaking of the art militarie without which other arts cannot subsist But now if we shall compare our times with these must we not be forced to cry out with h De militia Rom. lib. 5. Lipsius O pudor O dedecus The Low-countreys are without all controversie worthily stiled the Academie of warre where the art militarie if any where truely flourisheth and yet in comparison of the Romanes the said Lipsius is constrained to say who would not speak the worst of his own countrey Exercitium nobis neglectum c. Ubi campi doctores nostri sunt ubi quotidianae meditationes armorum c. With us saith he exercise is neglected Where are our teachers for the field where are our daily practisings of arms Or whereas otherwise i Omnes artes in meditatione consistunt Athleta auriga venator propter exiguam mercedem vel certè plebis favorem quotidianâ meditatione artes suas aut servare aut augere consuescunt Militem cujus est manibus servanda respublica studiosiùs oportet scientiam dimicandi usúmque rei bellicae jugibus exercitiis custodire Cui contingit non tantùm gloriosa victoria sed etiam amplior praeda quémque ad opes ac dignitates ordo militiae imperatoris judicium consuevit evehere Veg. lib. 2. cap. 24. no man professeth any art which he hath not learned shall the militarie art be onely that which men suppose they can leap into and be expert in both at an instant Tympanum sonuit c. The drumme beats they runne together and enter their names with the Clerk of the band something they change in their habit and their gate they swagger and drink ecce jam miles behold saith he here is a souldier alreadie Another complaineth after the like manner k Voyla que c ' est de nostre milice et discipline militaire et principalement de ceste partie tant noble Vn rustault chargé d'armes et monté a cheual c'est assez pour la Cavallerie Walhauson Disciplina hodie non dicam languet apud nos sed obiit neque mala sed nulla est Lips Politic. lib. 5. cap. 13. Hodiernam militiam tristi oculo intueor pudendam lugendámque nobis hosti ridendam aut spernendam Ibid. cap. 8. See saith he what our militia and militarie discipline is come to and principally this so noble a part of it speaking of the horse A clown is laden with arms and mounted on horse back that is enough for the Cavallrie Now if we should bring our trained bands especially the horse to the touchstone and trie what alloy they be of I feare we may ask with Lipsius haec ridenda an miseranda sunt A principall defence and bullwork of the kingdome consisteth in having the trained bands horse and foot well chosen well armed and well disciplined But how this is generally in every part neglected is too shamefully apparant Whether for want of good laws or of good men to see them strictly executed it is not for me to determine Sure I am there is great need of reformation But my zeale transports me beyond my bounds and I digresse from what I intended therefore for this matter hîc terminus esto CHAP. XXVII Of exercise in particular Of managing of the horse and arms THe Cavallrie being to be exercised must be instructed how to manage their horse and their arms Concerning the horse presupposing him to be of sufficient stature and strength nimble of joynts and sure of foot c. he must of necessitie be made fit for service so as you may have him ready at command to pace trot gallop or runne in full careere also to advance stop retire and turn readily to either hand and all with alacritie and obedience Now to bring him to this readie turning he is to be ridden the ring and figure 8 first in a great compasse and so in a lesse by degrees first upon his pace then on the trot and so to the gallop and careere These things he may be taught by using the hand leg and voice For the hand observing not to move the arm but onely the wrist if you would have him to face to the left a little motion of the little finger on that rein and a touch of the left leg without using the spurre doth it if to face or turn to the left about a harder c. If you would have him to trot you are to move both your legges a little forward for the gallop to move them more forward and for the careere to yerk them most forward and to move the bodie a little forward with it After every motion performed it were good to keep him a while in that motion as when you bid him stand to stand a while c. Also it were not amisse after every thing well done to give him some bread or grasse as a reward For the voice you may use the vvords Advance hold turn or the like but because the voice cannot alwayes be heard it were good to use him chiefly to the motions of the hand and leg It will also be very usefull to teach him to go sidewayes this he may be brought unto by laying his provender somewhat farre from him in the manger and keeping him from turning his head towards it He must also be used to the smell of gunpowder the sight of fire and armour and the hearing of shot drummes and trumpets c. but by degrees and vvith discretion When he is at his oats at a good distance from him a little povvder may be fired and
and to hold it on the left side with the muzzell upwards 9. Gage your flasque He is to take the flasque into the right hand and with his forefinger to pull back the spring and turning the mouth of the flasque downward to let go the spring 10. Lade your pistoll Having gaged his flasque as in the former posture he is to presse down the spring which openeth the flasque with his forefinger and so to lade his pistoll 11. Draw your rammer He is to draw his rammer with the right hand turned and to hold it with the head downward 12. Lade with bullet and ramme home Holding the rammer-head in his right hand as before he is to take the bullet out of his mouth or out of the bullet bag at the pistoll case being in fight with the thumb and forefinger and to put it into the muzzell of the pistoll and the rammer immediately after it and so to ramme home 13. Return your rammer He is to draw forth his rammer with the right hand turned and to return it to its place 14. Pull down your cock With the bridle-hand he is to bring the pistoll towards his right side and placing the but end upon his thigh to pull down the cock 15. Recover your pistoll He is to take the pistoll into his right hand mounting the muzzell 16. Present and give fire Having the pistoll in his right hand as in posture 15 with his forefinger upon the tricker he is to incline the muzzell with a fixed eye towards his mark not suddainly but by degrees quicker or slower according to the space he rideth and that not directly forward toward the horse head but towards the right turning his right hand so as the lock of the pistoll may be upward and having gotten his mark he is to draw the tricker and give fire 17. Return your pistoll He is to return his pistoll into the case and then to draw his other pistoll as occasion may serve and to do as before Now concerning the snap-hane pistoll those postures wherein it differeth from the fire-lock pistoll are these as in figure 18. Bend your cock Holding the pistoll in the bridle-hand as before hath been shewed with the right hand he is to bend the cock 19. Guard your cock With the right hand he is to pull down the back-lock so to secure the cock from going off 20. Order your hammer With the right hand he is to draw down the hammer upon the pan 21. Free your cock With the right thumbe he is to thrust back the back-lock and so to give the cock libertie But the more compendious way of lading for the gaining of time which in the instant of skirmish is chiefly to be regarded is by using cartouches Now the cartouch is to be made of white paper cut out of convenient breadth and length and rowled upon a stick or the rammer if it be not too little fit according to the bore of the barrell to contain a due quantitie of powder the bullet The proportion of powder usually required is half the weight of the bullet but that is held too much by such as can judge Having moulded the paper the one end of it is to be turned in to keep in the powder and the due charge of powder to be put into it at the other end which powder is to be closed in by tying a little thred about the paper then the bullet is to be put in and that also tyed in with a little thred When the Cuirassier is to use his cartouch he must bite off the paper at the head of it and so put it into the barrell of his pistoll with the bullet upward and then ramme it home By b For the more speedy lading of the pistoll and avoiding the trouble of carrying either flasque or touchbox there is a late invented fashion of spanner or key which I have represented in figure 1 which contains six charges of powder at the least and priming powder sufficient for those charges for the cartouches wherewith the pistoll cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will finde to be of very good use when he is used thereunto this means he shall much expedite the lading of his pistoll The Cuirassier being become ready in his postures his next and chiefest study is to be an exact marks man And to this end he must frequently be practised at some c The Romanes exercised their souldiers at severall heights at stakes set up in Campo Martio Ad palum quoque vel sudes juniores exerceri percommodum est cùm latera vel pedes aut caput petere punctim caesÃmque condiscant Veg. lib. 2. cap. 23. But their manner of fighting with their swords was not caesim but all upon the thrust or point because that manner sooner pierced the vitalls and laid not open the bodie in fetching of a blow Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 2. marks to be set up at some tree or stake of severall heights Now because the Cuirassier is armed pistoll proof he must not give fire but at a very d La pistolle ne fait quasi nul effect si elle n'est tirée de trois pas Monsieur de la Noüe discours 18. neare distance being carefull to bestow his bullets so as they may take effect The principall place of advantage to aime at is the lower part of the bellie of the adverse Cuirassier also his arm-pits or his neck Some would not have a Cuirassier to give e Les Reitres bien instruits ne deschargent point leurs pistolles qu'en heurtant qu'ils addressent tousiours aux cuisses ou aux visages Ibid. fire untill he have placed his pistoll under his enemies armour or on some unarmed parts If he fail of an opportunitie to hurt the man he may aime at the breast of the horse or his head as he shall see occasion He usually giveth his charge upon the trot and seldome gallopeth unlesse it be in pursuit of a flying enemie or such like occasion Having spent both his pistols and wanting time to lade again his next refuge is his sword whereof the best manner of using is to place the pummell of it upon his right f As is shewed in the posture 22. thigh and so with his right hand to direct or raise the point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth either at the bellie of the adverse horse-man about the pummell of the saddle or at his arm pits or his throat where if it pierce not as it is very like it will not fail by slipping under the casque yet meeting with a stay in that part of the bodie where a man is very weak and having a sword of a very stiffe blade as afore-said it will doubtlesse unhorse him Being past his enemie he is to make a back-blow at him aiming to cut the buckle of his pouldron whereby he disarmeth one of his arms c. Basta highly commendeth the aiming at the enemies fight and
so by raising the vizures of his casque with the point of the sword to runne him into the head But this seemeth not so likely to take effect as that of aiming at the throat and sometimes as some casques are made it would be of no use In these and the like exercises the Cuirassier is frequently and diligently to practise himself at some mark which will render him fit for service when need shall require Some authors for the disposing of the Cuirassiers for fight hold that they ought to be ordered in grosse bodies that so g The Cuirassiers among the horse are like the gravis armatura of foot among the Romanes quae tanquam murus ferreus stabat si hostes fugâsset non sequebatur quia ejus jus est facilè nec fugere nec sequi Veg. lib. 2. cap. 17. Or like the Equites Cataphracti among the Graecians Aelian cap. 2. by their soliditie and weight they may entertain and sustain the shock of the enemie They are also fit for troops of reserve to give courage to the other Cavallrie and to give them opportunitie to re-assemble themselves behinde them c. CHAP. XXX Of exercising the Harquebusier and Carabine ALthough there be some difference between the Harquebusier and the Carabine in regard of their horse their arming and their piece howsoever most authors take them for one and the same yet in regard the harquebuse differeth nothing from the carabine in length but onely in the bore their manner of using their severall pieces is one and the same and so one instruction may serve for both In march he is either to carry his carabine hanging at his belt by the right side See fig. 3. posture 23 and 24. as is shewed chap 24. or else to order it upon his right thigh as the Cuirassier in posture 4. In fight he is to strive to gain the left side of his enemie contrarie to the Cuirassier because that in presenting he is to rest his carabine on his bridle-hand placing the but end on the right side of his breast neare his shoulder He must be taught to use his carabine with all exactnesse and dexteritie and to be an exquisit marks man For the h Walhausen would have the Harquebusier to give fire not onely to the front and flanks but to the reere also by turning his bodie onely the horse running the contrarie way in full careere But how possible this is to be done I leave to the judgement of any man that knows what belongs to Cavallrie manner of handling of the harquebuse or carabine the directions for the pistoll in the foregoing chapter mutatis mutandis may serve for sufficient instruction Yet in regard the carabines with us are for the most part snap-hanes and so something differing from the firelock I will set down the order of handling it in the words of command holding it needlesse here to dilate them Postures for the Snap-hane carabine 1 Order your carabine 2 Sink your carabine into your bridle-bridle-hand 3 Bend your cock 4 Guard your cock 5 Prime 6 Shut your pan 7 Cast about your carabine 8 Gage your flasque 9 Lade your Carabine 10 Draw your rammer 11 Shorten your rammer 12 Lade with bullet and ramme home 13 Withdraw your rammer 14 Shorten your rammer 15 Return your rammer 16 Recover your carabine 17 Order your hammer 18 Free your cock 19 Present 20 Give fire For the use of his sword he is to demean himself as the Cuirasier CHAP. XXXI Of exercising the Dragon THe Dragon was invented for speciall services to assist the Cavallrie as Infanterie considering there be many exploits which cannot be effected by the Cavallrie alone The musketier must exercise himself to give fire on horse-back as the Harquebusier Being come to guard a passage or to do any other the like service they are to allight and to demean themselves as Infanterie Whereof it shall be needlesse here to enlarge seeing we have books in such abundance upon that subject as they are able rather to a By reason of the frivolous impertinences and manifest errours which abound in many of them distract then instruct the reader and in my opinion had need of an Index expurgatorius Being so allighted to do their service as abovesaid every of them is to cast his bridle over the neck of his side-mans horse in the same order as they marched keeping them so together by the help of such as are thereunto especially appointed CHAP. XXXII Of exercising the Cavallrie in their motions HAving shewed how every horse-man is to be exercised in the managing of his horse as also in the use of his particular arms it followeth now that he be taught how to demean himself being joyned in a bodie And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Graecians and Romanes had the same order of exercise and that in the same words which we retain to this day A file the Romanes called Versus and Decuria A rank Jugum A file-leader Decanus because their decuria or file used to consist of 10 among the foot with some 16. a bringer up Tergiductor a leader being every odde man in the file Prostes a follower which is every even number Substes a side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their 2 cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our 3 foot Their 4 cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at 6 foot distance between file and file in march and 3 foot in fight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and reere and the like But for brevitie sake I passe them over referring the reader to the books of Infanterie To exercise the horse they are to be drawn up into a bodie not by ranks but by files and those of 5 deep as most affirm or of 6 as others would have it and that because the number of 5 is not divisible by 2 and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwaies an odde rank Some would have them especially the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square bodie and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be 2 paces open order 4 paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but 2 kindes of distances Close order which is 3 foot and open order which is 6 foot But this must be understood cum grano salis as the Civilians speak for here we must observe a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavallrie and that of the Infanterie for in the foot the distance is taken from the center of the souldiers bodie which
files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the bodie Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the bodie moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the center Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the commander a Vox autem percipi interdum non petest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorun transitum himitum multitudinis strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35. but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usus invenit c. Tria generasignorum Vocaliae semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3. cap. 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kindes of militarie signes or directions 1 Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2 Semivocall by trumpet or other war like instrument to the eare 3 Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.82 distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64 horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8 in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5 in file though the companie consist of 100 horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors Melzo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first next after him two attendants with spare horses they bearing his armour then the trumpeters then the cornet in the first rank of horse But VValhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the reere Flamin de la Crore would have them march in divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant Quartermaster are to come in the reare And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part THE SECOND PART OF MARCHING THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparati In itinere minùs armatus minùsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu vel fraude repente turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of suddain charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3. heads 1. The knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2. The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3. The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Meteren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by usuall wayes the use of mappes may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain
Par 4. Cap 8. THE INFANTRIE AND CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY THE PRINCE OF ORANGE NEERE VORSTENBVRGH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Fig 15 Par 4 Cap 8 FORME OF BATTAILE ORDERED NEERE VORSTENBVRGH IN THE MARCH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Differing from figure 15. in that some of the Horse are here placed within the body Fig 16 Par 4 Cap 8 CHAP. IX Of certain ceremonies before fight HAving shewed by these former rules and examples how the horse are to be ordered for fight not onely by themselves but also when they shall be joyned with foot that which a Quid superest nifi pugna quae jam manuum est non verberum Lips de milit Rom. lib. 4. now remaineth seemeth rather to require action then words Indeed with antiquitie when the armie was embattelled and readie for combat it was usuall for the Generall to deliver some set speech either from some higher place of turf or stone or at the head of the troops and riding amongst the Maniples to encourage his souldiers And they either with an acclamation lifting up of their hands or clashing of their arms used to manifest their assenting resolution Unto which kinde of b Caesars armie being so dismaid through feare as they were almost brought to desperation tantus subitò timor omnem exercitum occupavit c. was by an elegant oration of his suddenly revived Hac oratione habitâ mirum in modum conversae sunt omnium mentes summáque alacritas cupiditas belli gererdi iunata est Caesar de bello Gal. lib. 1. cap 9. allocutions the ancient Sages use to ascribe a marvellous efficacie not onely amongst the Grecians or Romanes but also those whom they then accounted barbarous as the Britons Gaules Germans c. as the histories of those times sufficiently testifie Next to this they sounded the Classicum that is a generall charge and this was seconded by a generall shout of the souldiers or a concussion of their arms Moreover a c Tunicarussa punicea vel caccinea Some resemblance hereof there is in the bloody flagge at sea scarlet red or carnation coloured coat or cassock was hung out upon the top of the Generalls tent and a countersigne or a word of distinction was given to the souldiers as d Veg. lib. 3. cap. 5. Victoria palma virtus or the like to know each other by The Grecians used also to sing the Poean before the fight to Mars and after battell to Apollo c. Of all which ceremonies which they duly observed as found to be of very good use and which were much graced by the solemne and stately manner of performing them our times have retained very few For as the actions of the modern warres consist chiefly in sieges assaults sallies skirmishes c. and so affoard but few set battells so the practise of delivering publike speeches is almost grown out of use and esteem amongst our chief Commanders Yet the late e Meteren lib. 12. J. Petit. lib. 15. Prince of Orange at the battell of Newport before the conflict delivered a pithie short speech to his souldiers adding to his publike Oratorie publike Orisons and riding up and down gave courage to his souldiers The Classicum is still retained that is to sound a generall charge namely amongst those troops which are to give on And sometimes the Clamor militaris or shout of the souldiers which was not onely an acclamation or assent unto the Generalls speech but also a f This by the Grecians was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines Barritus the originall of which words is shewed by Lips ubi supra yet afterwards when the Empire was become Christian they used when they were readie for conflict to crie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the victorie of the crosse as appeareth by Leo the Emperour who reigned in the East from the yeare of our Lord 886 to 903 Tact. cap. 12 69. Cùm ad conflictationem movet exercitus consueta Christianis vox usurpanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And after this in the very charge they were to make their shout as it followeth there 106. Conflictationis tempore post vocem Victoriae crucis magna atqui altos clamores edere oportet c. loud and dreadfull kinde of noise which they used to make when they gave the charge thereby to encourage one another and to strike a terrour into the enemies as the Turks crie Bre Bre Bre the Irish Pharro Pharro the French Sa Sa Sa the Dutch Vallaen Vallaen c. But as for the countersigne or word of distinction that is seldome used now adayes unlesse upon occasion of some Camisado or other exploits in the night when the souldiers may easilie misse those means to know each other by which in the day time the light the sight of the ensigne or cornet their skarfs required among the Cavallrie or long acquaintance may afford them But these being but ceremonies as I called them in the title of this chapter I willingly withdraw my self from them Neither should I have been desirous to have meddled with them at all but that the example of others g Lips de milit Rom. Reusnerus de arte stratagem who have writ in this kinde led me unto it and the respect unto my reader in common civilitie required it at my hands whom I could not well leave after the sight of so many dumbe figures without a word or two at the parting There remaineth onely now that every one according to his office rank and abilitie strive for honour and victorie propounding to himself the goodnesse of the cause the authoritie of the Prince the command of the Leaders the vertue of the souldiers the honour of the conquest and the disgrace and damage of the defeat Above all lifting up his eies and heart unto Almightie God from whose hands victorie and the means to obtain it is especially to be expected h Psalm 18. vers 32 34. It is God that girdeth me with strength of warre and maketh my way perfect He teacheth my hands to fight c. i Psalm 144. vers 1. Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth mine hands to warre and my fingers to fight k Psalm 44 vers 5 6 7. Through thee will we overthrow our enemies and in thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us For I will not trust in my bow it is not my sword that shall help me But it is thou that savest us from our enemies and puttest them to confusion that hate us And to this purpose we may not unfitly apply that which Hezekias spake to his Captains and souldiers by way of encouragement after that he had fortified himself against the power of the Assyrians l 2 Chron. cap. 32. vers 7 8. Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismaid for the King of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for