and a foot a foot and a halfe from the swords point which is three foot in Ranke And this is to endure the brunt of a Charge The first was vsed in Ancient times for march Solemne pompes and shewes The second for their fights only before they did Ioyne Noted â—y Capt. Bâ—ngham 〈◊〉 Aelian ch 11. The third was the Sinaspisme of the Macedonians so called because therein they Ioyned Target to Target which they neuer vsed but when either they gaue vpon or receiued the charge of the enemie The Targets so knit together serued for a wall as it were to the whole Phalange and by them the souldier was defended from the Missiue weapons of the Enemie and his body couered euen from the piercing of the sword This was formerly vsed by the Ancient Heroes at Troy and reviued againe to new life by Philip King of Macedon who first constituted the Macedonian Phalange and inuented the distances of opening and shutting the same From his discipline as the learned Captaine Bingham obserues sprung these distances in Aelian Aelian chap. 11. of which I haue spoke And thus I haue briefly declared the vse of those distances which are to be obserued in Battell The words of command for them may be these viz. Eiles and Rankes open to six foot Now they are at open order Rankes and Files close to three foot Now they are at order Files close to a foot and a halfe Now they are at close order Rankes and Flles to your open order That is six foot euery way Thus if your Battell bee disioyned by too large distances you may reduce it to good order by closing If it be thronged vp or pestered too close together you may amend all by conuenient opening Too much thronging bindeth the Souldiers hands and taketh away the vse of their weapons and too farre standing asunder breaketh the Battell and maketh a passage for the Enemy whereby he may enter Therefore these three sorts of distances to wit open Order Order and close Order haue beene inuented as the onely meanes betweene both to amend all and to fit our turne as wee see occasion Thus much for Distances of their vse and the words of command giuen for them The words of command for doubling of the length and depth of a Battell next followeth CHAP. XXV This Chapter sheweth what the words of Command are by which the length and depth of a Battell is doubled either in place or number and teacheth a young Soldier how to performe the Motion IN the three and twentieth Chapter of this booke mention was made of the doubling of the length and depth of a Battell both in place and number but the words of command were referred vnto this Chapter If then you would double the length of your Battell in place the proper words of direction for it may bee this viz. Open your Files from your close order to your open order six foot The manner of the Action is thus performed The middle Leaders presse vpon their Flankers first taking their distance commanded hauing opened both waies the rest of the companie on both Flankes takes their distance from them now sixteene men are so extended as they hold as much ground in breadth as would serue thirty two men It may be commanded some other way peculiar and distinctly from the other as The word of command for doubling the length of a Battell in place Files open to the right hand to your open order six foot Or Files open to the left hand to your open order Files open to the right hand The word being giuen to the right hand the left hand File is not to mooue but standeth fast the next to the left hand Fyle first taketh the distance pressing vpon the right hand still opening by the right hand till they haue taken the distance of six foot Files open to the left Hand The word being giuen to the left hand the right hand Fyle must stand fast the rest must open to the left hand still pressing vpon the left hand Files till they are all in the distance and order commanded Thus by three distinct peculiar words of command may the length of your Battell be doubled in place each of which you may make choise of as occasion serues But if your Battell beare too great a bredth by possessing too much ground then you may amend it by this word of command viz. The two middle Files close first the rest mouer with them both to the right and left hand to the distance named Files close to your order Or Files close to the right hand to your order Or Files close to the left hand to your order Files close If the words be Piles close without naming to any hand then it must be performed thus The two middle Leaders must close the one to the left hand the other to the right hand till they are in the distance commanded then the rest of the companie must take their distance from them on either Flanke closing to the middle Leaders Files close to the right hand If the word be To the right hand the right hand File moues not but standeth fast all the rest close to the right hand File taking their distance one by another from the right hand Files close to the left hand If the word be To the left hand obserue like forme then the left hand File stands fast the rest of the Files close and take their distance from the left hand Thus much of the words of command by which the Battell is lessened or doubled in place The words of command for the doubling of the depth of a Battell in place thereby imploying a greater or lesser bredth as the word is giuen If you would double the depth of your Battell in place the proper word of direction for it may be this viz. Open your Rankes from the Front to the Reare to your open order six foot The manner of the Action is thus to be performed The first Ranke must stand firme the second Ranke takes their distance first all the rest must doe the like distinctly in order Now you take as much ground in depth for ten as would serue very well for twenty men If you would double the length of your Battell in number The words of command for the doubling of the length of a Battell in number that is to make the front haue twice as many Files or persons in it as it had before then you may effect it by this word of command Rankes to the right hand double Or thus Rankes to the left hand double It is thus performed Euery second Ranke cometh between the distance of the Ranke before it and that either to the right or left hand Rankes to the rigâ—â— hand double as the word is giuen so that of ten in Ranke they become twenty in Ranke and but fiue in depth who before were ten in depth because the Front is doubled
Or if you are minded to effect it by middle men then the last fiue Rankes must march vp through the distances betweene the Files till they come to be euen in Front with the File-leaders then they stand hauing euerie one their followers following them as they had before onely now they are fiue in depth when they were before tenne The word of command for it is Middle men to the right hand double your Front Or being minded to diuide your middle men and so to double Doubling of the length of a Battell by middle men Then the last fiue rankes must turne their faces the one halfe in their files to the right hand and the other halfe to the left hand and so march forth from both the Flankes till they haue gotten such a proportion of ground or distance as is answerable to the order the first fiue Rankes doe stand in and then presently without attending any further commandement they must turne their faces againe towards the front and march vpon both flankes till they come euen with the front The word of direction is Middle men double your front to the right and left hand by diuision Or being minded not to diuide your middle men but to bring them vp to the front entire to one particular hand Then the fiue last rankes must face then march forth altogether beyond the skirts of the body then face to the front and march vp to ioyne themselues in euen front with the file leaders The word of Command to effect it maybe this Middle men to the right hand Intire double your front Or if you are minded after all this to make vse of your bringers vp in the front of your battle then you may performe it by this word of Command Bringers vp to the right hand double your front The last ranke you know are the bringers vp These being in the reare doe aduance through the distances betweene the files The length of a battell doubled by the bringers vp And next after them the next ranke and so the rest successiuely till the bringers vp be in ranke with the Leaders and their middle men with the Leaders middle men Thus your front is doubled with your best men being now but fiue in depth who were before tenne in depth Doublâ—ng of the battell in Depth by number If you would double the depth of your battell in number that is make some files haue twice as many men in them as they had before you may effect it by this word of Command The word of Command for it Files to the right hand double Files to the right hand double It is thus to be performed The right hand file which is the outermost file on the right hand moues nor but stands fast the next file to the right hand file moues into the right hand file so that of tenne in depth it is now become twentie Accordingly euery second File moueth into their next file on the right hand Files to the left hand double The like order must be obserued if the word be to the left hand the left hand file must stand fast and euery second file is to moue into the next file on their left hand Thus the depth is doubled by number But it may be you would execute it by Countermarch as did the Macedonians Then the word of Command is Double your files by Countermarch to the right hand Aelian chap. 2â— This is performed when the next side files in seuerall as in the former example the second The first thirâ— fift seuenth ninth are odd files the second fourth sixth eigth anâ— tenth are euen files and the fourth and the rest of the euen files Countermarch to the Reare placing themselues behinde the bringers vp of the odde files Aelian chap. 29. It may be you would double the right flanke with the left flanke to make the Orthiophalanx or heirse * Aelian chap. 30. battell which proceedeth by Wing hauing the depth much exceeding the length The way to doe it is by this word of Command Halfe Rankes double to the right hand Or Rankes double the right flanke It is thus performed Halfe the Rankes for they are diuided as it were into two parts turnes their faces to the right hand and marches into the spaces betwixt the other Rankes and being within they face as the rest Thus the battell is brought into a Wing It may be you would bring it into a file Then the word of Command may be this Rankes file to the right hand Or Rankes file by Conuersion to the right hand It may be you would bring it into two files Then you may giue the word of direction thus Rankes file to the right hand Or Rankes file by Conuersion to the right 〈◊〉 left hand It is thus performed Halfe the rankes falls backe into the spaces behinde the right hand men of the right a The right hand file precedes the right flanke flanke b The left hand file precedes the left flanke and the other halfe into the spaces behinde the left hand men of the left Flanke doing that by diuision which the former did intire by this word of Command Rankes file to the right but you must obserue a double distance betweene Ranke and Ranke to doe it or it cannot be well done We haue another way to doe the former which is by drawing or leading forth of Rankes this is as the other new and vpstart We haue another way by leading forth of files pristine or ancient commonly vsed in former times both of Grecians and Persians Xenophon Cyrop l. 2. 56. You shall reade of Cyrus the elder how he commanded thirtie thousand men to be drawne forth out of a A Phalange is a grosse body of men brought into a battell Xenophon in his 4. booke of the ascent of Cyrus the younger a Phalange into a single file And it was his custome when euer his souldiers went to dinner to bring them forth file by file and into a Phalange or body againe at the sound of a horne or a word giuen You shall reade of the Grecians that when they were to ascend the Colchian Mountaines they put themselues into seuerall companies and euery company into a single file euery file hauing an hundred men a peece reducing againe into a body when they came to the top of them where was roome enough This the Grecians at that time did doe Which we Command thus Right hand file leade forth the rest follow in sequence one behinde another Thus many wayes may the Depth be doubled by Number to alter or change the forme of a battell I am not ignorant that there are many more waies to doe it For in the Artillery garden this word of Command is frequent Aduance your files to the right hand which is the doubling of the Depth One file aduances to stand before another the second before the first the fourth before the third or the contrary as
held one of his fingers sometimes they pictured him without any face at all all couered ouer with the skin of a Wolfe on which were depainted as many eyes and eares as could be inserted thereon signifying thereby that it was needfull to see and heare much and to speake little in that he that speaketh not offendeth not All this is to denote vnto vs the excellencie of Silence which is commendable in all men but especially in Souldiers who must rule their tongues and be silent or else they will soone perish and come to nought Plutarch saith that there is no danger in silence Plutarch in the life of Seneca Homer highly commendeth it in the Grecians in his descriptions of their fights with the Troians His words be these The Captaines marshall out their troopes ranged in goodly guise And forth the Troians pace like birds which lade the aire with cries Not so the Greekes whose silence breathed flames of high desire Feruent in zeale to backe their friends on foes to wreake their ire And in another place speaking of the Grecians You surely would haue deem'd each one of all that mighty throng Had beene bereft of speech so bridled he his tongue Thus much of Silence The next qualitie for a Souldier is Obedience Obedience Obedience is the Queene of vertues and crownes her followers with the wreathes of honour It effecteth much with few and gaines the victory ouer multitudes Therefore let Souldiers obey their Commanders for without Obedience nothing can be done Paulus Aemylius being to obserue the custome of the Romans ☞ and to make an Oration of thanks vnto the people for chusing him Consull in his Oration told them That if they had any trust or confidence in him or thought him a man sufficient to discharge his place that then they should not speake nor meddle in any matter that concerned his dutie and the office of a Generall sauing only that they would be diligent without any words to doe whatsoeuer he commanded that should be necessary for the warres and seruice they tooke in hand Plutarch in the life of Aemylius 250. All which saith Plutarch the Romans obeyed and by yeelding vnto reason and vertue came to command all other and to make themselues the mightiest people of the world And indeed they were the most obedient to their Commanders of any insomuch as a certaine Numidian asking young Scipio how he would conquer Carthage Scipio vpon a hill pointing with his finger to his Souldiers below answered him thus With these I will conquer Carthage for if I should bid them from hence cast themselues downe headlong know they will doe it How seuerely the Consuls did punish disobedience in the campe Examples of rigorous punishment for disobedience may appeare by the rigorous punishment which Manlius Torquatus did execute vpon his sonne Titus Manlius commanding his head to be stricken off in his owne presence for hauing passed his command in sallying forth to fight with Genutius Mâ—tius Captaine of the Tuseulans who gaue him the defie and challenge Nothing auailing the poore Gentleman in hauing ouercome and slaine his enemie nor the whole Armies supplications and intreaties The like rigour vsed Posthumus Tiburtus against his sonne Aulus Posthumus at his returne from his conquered enemie All this to shew the excellencie of obedience 1 Sam. 15.22 which the Prophet prefers above sâ—câ—ifice Thus much of Obedience The next qualitie for a Souldier is Secrecie Secrecie Secrecie is a qualiâ—ie appropriated to none but wise men for a foole hauing heard a secret trauelleth as a woman with childe vntill he haue dâ—sclosed i but a wise man keepeth it close in his breast and when any goes about to commit a secret vnto him he will seeke all meanes to auoid it King Lysimachus as he aduised and talked vpon a time with Philippedes the Comicall Poet a friend and familiar of his he said vnto him What wouldest thou haue me to impart vnto thee of all that mine is Euen what it shall please you Sir answered the Poet so it be none of your secrets Anacharsis being inuited one day and feasted by Solon was reputed wise Plutarch in his Morals for that being asleepe he was found and seene holding his right hand to his mouth and his left vpon his priuities and naturall parts Hence Plutarch inferres this That he had good reason so to think because the Tongue required and needed the stronger bridle to restraine it being a hard matter to reckon so many persons vndone and ouerthrowne by their vntemperate and loofe life as there haue beene Cities and mightie States ruinated and subuerted vtterly by the reuealing and opening of some secrets Therefore let all men striue to attaine this vertue of secrecie ☞ especially Souldiers for by their ouer-much babling they may be an occasion of the ouerthrow of themselues and others A strange accident did happen to the City of Athens which Sylla did beleager through the lauishnesse of certaine vnbrideled tongues ☜ Plutarch Certaine old fellowes being met in a Barbers shop within the City of Athens being blabs of their tongues chatted it out in their talke together that a certaine quarter of the Citie named Heptacaleon was not sufficiently guarded therefore the Towne in danger to be surprised by that part which talke of theirs was ouer-heard by certaine Espies who aduertised Sylla so much whereupon immediately he brought all his Forces to that side and about midnight gaue an assault made entrie and went within a very little of forcing the City and being Master of it all for he filled the whole street called Ceranicum with slaughter and dead carkasses in so much that the channels ran downe with bloud A fearefull example Plutarch saith That words haue wings and when they flie out they cannot be recalled backe againe Symonides saith A man may repent many times for words spoken but neuer for a word kept in The Kings of Persia did punish with death the lauishnesse of the tongue This made the Persians famous for secrecie Quintus Curtius reports thus of them Alexander the Great saith he wrought all the wayes he could to obtaine knowledge where Darius was become and into what Countrey he was gone and yet could not get the intelligence by reason of a custome among the Persians which were wont with a maruellous fidelity to keepe close their Princes secrets in the vttering whereof neither death nor hope of reward could cause them to bring forth a word there being in those parts not any goodnesse looked for at any mans hands that hath not the gift of secretnesse whereof Nature hath giuen a facillity in man Thus much of Secrecie The next vertue required in a Souldier is Sobriety or Temperance Sobriety is a great vertue and greatly to be accounted of all men Sobrietie for it extinguisheth Vice in the cradle and stâ—fleâ—h it in the â—eed It is the mother of health an assured medicine against
leasurely retreated and when they were distressed made as though they would charge holding out a multitude of Pikes euery way to the amazement of the Romanes who durst not approach them The like may be done by our c That is the Hollow square wheâ—e the Pikes are without and the Musketiers within Battell if it should be charged as that was Thus much to face ane stand Now to face and march ☞ Off facing and Marching When we face and march it is to shew our Souldiers how we can vpon deliberation as occasion serues preuent the enemie from Falling on our right or left Wing by bringing it to some Riuer or such like place of strength for succour wherby the enemy can haue no way to encoÌ„passe it which we do by bidding them first to face then to march to the place afterwards to face againe And so they are reduced to the first posture and the Front is as it was at the first This we continually vse in our Trainings at home to make ouâ— men fit for it in the face of the Enemie Howsoeuer some may be ignorant in the vse of the motion yet they cannot bee vnskilfull in the motion it selfe by reason of the practise No Battell can well be without this motion especially in the field where the enemy doth seeke aduantage Let me therefore shew you some other excellent vses thereof that it may bee the beter esteemed and the oftner practised This motion as it is performed marching The vse of Facing as it is performed marching is of this singular vse not onely to giue an assault vpon the aduerse wing of the enemy but to fail any way off from the enemy and suddenly againe to turne vpon him with an euen front to his front that is Pikes to his Pikes Shot to his Shot whereby he is preuented from falling either on the Flankes or on the Reare comming on with one maine Bodie Manie other vses it hath as partly this To Captaine Binghâ—m in his notes vpon Aelian chaâ— 25. shunne a dangerous ground on which an enemie hath strewed Calthrops or laid a secret trap this was found practised by Alexand. the great when he fought with Darius at Arbela Arrian describes it thus * Arrian lib. 4. Alexand. 17. saith he Alexander hauing imbattelled his Army to fight with Darius had intelligence that Darius had strewed the ground betwixt the two Armies with Calthrops hee commanded therefore the right Wing which himselfe led to turne faces to the right hand and to follow him to the end to goe round about and avoid the places that were strewed with Calthropes Darius marching against him to the left hand disioyned his troopes of horse and Alexander taking the aduantage and gâ—uing in quickly betwixt the spaces put Darius to flight Here you see the euent of it and what a victory Alexander gained thereby If he had faced and stood still what would it auailed him Had hee marched fore-right hee had falne vpon the Calthropes but by facing and then marching vpon it hee effected all First he auoided the ground where the Calthropes lay by facing and marching forth then hee reduced them againe to their first posture by facing them to the left hand Afterwards taking his aduantage hee went on to the charge and so defeated the enemie Why Alexander made choice onely of this motion is not to be wondred at because necessity made him to make vse of this motion when no other would serue Countermarch had bin ridiculous so had doubling wheeling had bin in vaine nay it was impossible for him to haue wheeled the ground being so scantie betweene him and the Calthropes his Phalange of so great a bredth and the enemie so nigh Yet say he had wheeled hauing had ground sufficient hee must haue beene forced hauing wheeled to haue faced withall and marched further out then wheeled againe or else to no purpose so haue failed of his expedition Thus you see how fit this motion serued Alexanders turne and by it may learne to make like vse of it vpon like occasion Another singular vse of this motion is to get the vpper ground from the enemie This was found practized by Philopaemen the Achaean Generall When Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant had put his left wing to flight yet he by this meanes restored the battell and withall obtained the victory Polibius lib. 11. 634 Polibius describes the manner of it thus The fight being begunne betweene Machanidas the Lacedemonian Tirant and Philopaemen the Achaean Generall it happened that Machanidas had the better for he hauing put the left Wing of the Achaean Mercenaries to flight followed hard the chase Philopaemen as long as there was any hope endeauored to stay his men when he saw them vtterly defeated hee hasted to the right Wing and perceiuing the enemy busie in the chase and the place voide where the fight had bin commanding the first * A Merarchy consisteth of 2048 men Merarchies to turn their faces to the right â—â—and he led them on with high speed not yet breaking the order of their imbattelling and quickly seizing vpon the forsaken ground hee both cut betwixt them that gaue chase and home and withall got the aduantage of the vpper ground against the left wing of the armed whereby hee obtained the victorie Captain Bingham vpon the same motion Aelian chap. â—5 If Philopaemen had in this action vsed wheeling of his Battell which onely was the other motion which would haue serued his turne besides the troublesomnesse of the winding about he should haue bin forced to haue vsed two wheelings and so failed of the celeritie which was at time requisite faces were turned in a trice and he made himselfe master of the ground hee desired before hee could haue wheeled once his Battell Besides to haue Fac'd and stood still had beene to no purpose but Facing and Marching on was to some purpose as you haue heard Thus you see what Facing is Of the vse of Facing in generall How it is the easiest of all Motions but of no lesse importance or necessitie How it may be done in a trice though the Enemy come very suddenly vpon vs Though he encompasse both our Wings Though hee enuiron vs round with Foot and Horse yet we may Face vpon him and make him resistance How that there is no Battell but hath need of this Motion So that when we finde our Enemies to encompasse our right Wing wee turne our Faces and Weapons that way to receiue them To the left when they come to charge vs on that side If on both sides then wee turne Faces halfe to the right and halfe to the left hand But being to remoue the Battell from any of the Flanks we cause Faces to be turned to that Flanke so we lead on vpon the Enemy either to assault him or to preuent him where he would assault Which if we cannot doe we make a stand and so receiue him All this I
haue expressed fully both by precept and example Now it remaines that I shew you foure other things First by what words of Command it may be done Secondly in what order Thirdly with which Legge comming forward Fourthly how to reduce all this by way of document or obseruation shall be declared in the next Chapter following CHAP. XIX Obseruations for Facing shewing the manner how to performe the action with many other Circumstances appertaining to the precedent Chapter IN the precedent Chapter mention was made of Facing In this Chapter are certaine Obseruations positiuely set downe for the exact performance thereof They are in number foure The first obseruation is for the motion of the Legge The second for reducement to its first Posture The third for distance to grace the Action The fourth for words of Command either to Face and March or to Face and Stand expressing their vse Of these in order The first Obseruation First then obserue that in Facing vpon a stand the Motion must and ought to be performed with the right Legge that is the left Legge must stand firme The right must either remoue forward or backward Forward when you Face to the left hand Backward when you face to the right hand Be it to the right about or to the left about the left Leg stands firme only you moue the foot vpon the heele or toe But in the March it is to be done How to Face Marching sometimes with the right Legge sometimes with the left Legge With the right Legge when it is to the left hand With the left Legge when it is to the right hand for you must gaine ground and not lose The second Obseruation In the second place obserue or take notice how to reduce vnto the first Posture This must be thus performed When you Face to the right returne backe to the left hand How to reduce vnto your first Posture When you Face to the left returne backe to the right hand Hauing Fac'd about to the right returne about to the left Hauing Fac'd about to the left returne about to the right For still the contrary must be done Obserue it and forget it not The third Obseruation In the third place obserue or take notice of the Distances appropriated to Facing These Distances are of three sorts to wit Open Order Order Close Order The first for Exercise The two last for Seruice No Captaine must be so absurd as to Face vpon an Enemy in open Order the Enemy comming to push of Pike The Grecians would neuer Face to receiue the Charge of an Enemy but in their close Order Their close Order was a foot and a halfe from file to file and three foot from ranke to ranke This we commonly vse with Pikes But our Musketiers are neuer to be closer then the second Distance of three foot in square because they are to haue a free vse of their Armes If then they be at a closer Distance they will much throng and trouble one another and are subiect to firing In the last place obserue how to giue the words of Command The fourth Obseruation either to Face and March or to Face and stand That you may doe it orderly and properly I haue fitted them to your mouth thus Face to the right hand March Words of Command to Face and March Face to the left hand March Face to the right hand about March Face to the left hand about March Thus you may set vpon your Enemy as you see aduantage or preuent him where he would charge you to your disaduantage or shun a dangerous ground prepared for you as Alexander did when Darius would haue intrapped him Thus much to Face March and of the words of Command for it Now to face and stand with the words of Command for that Motion The words of proper direction for it are these Words of Command to Face stand Face to the right hand * If you restore to the first Posture you are to say As you were Thus if the Enemy haue encompassed your right Flanke you are ready for him Face to the left hand Thus if the Enemy haue encompassed your left Flanke you are ready for him Face to the right and left hand by diuision Thus if the Enemy hath encompassed both the Wings of your Battell being vnable to auoide it * They face to the right and left by diuision you Face thus to resist him Face to the right and about Thus if the Enemy haue suddenly made his Approach vpon your Reare you are ready for him and resist him in an instant Middle men to the right hand about This forme is called Phalange Amphistomus described by Aelian chap. 38. And is of excellent vse to resist the charge of the Enemy assaulting vs in Front and Reare Obserue the forme of this Face being ten in depth This is the Pâ—inthium full of men The three last Rankes face about to the Right The three first Rankes in the Front stand as you doe The Rest in the midst to the Right and Left by diuision Thus if the Enemy haue enuironed you about on all sides On all sides you are ready to resist him Plutarch in the life of Paulus Aemilius This was the last remedy of the Macedonian Phalange opposed against Paulus Aemylius in his Battell with Perseus which distressed the Romanes and had gained the victory had it not beene broken for want of ground Thus much for Facing Now if in stead of Facing you would command Charging giue the words thus Charge to the right hand Charge to the left hand Charge both to the right and left hand Charge to the Front Charge to the Reare Charge both Front and Reare Charge euery way A Caution When you charge vpon a stand fall backe with the right Legg When you charge to goe on come forward with the left Legg This is to charge Marching Thus much for this Chapter CHAP. XX. Of the vse of Wheeling WHeeling is of the same vse with Facing both may be done vpon the sudden approach of the Enemy whether hee shew himselfe on the right or left Flanke or in the Reare of your Battell The excellency of Wheeling If he shew himselfe in the right or left Flanke Wheeling will haue the preheminence of Facing for it will oppose him with thy front which are thy best men If he shew himselfe in the Reare Wheeling will yet haue the preheminence and oppose him there with thy fileleaders or best men as it did before in the Flanke But * Of the prehemincie of Facing ouer Wheeling if the enemie shew himselfe in Front and Reare or in more then these places at once suddenly to charge thee Facing will then haue the preheminence and Wheeling will doe more harme then good Therefore being in this straight the best remedie is to turne faces and so receiue him But hauing sufficient place and fit occasion to wheele
Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian Chapt. 25. omit not this oportunitie but meet him with thy best men For example whereof I bring the Graetians They coveting alwaies to bring their best men that is the fileleaders to fight did thus In open order they chose to countermarch In close order hauing place to wheele their battell about they did turne the face of it against the enemie If they could doe neither of these they came to the last remedie which was turning of faces of euery particular man in the battell This was the Grecians order which shewes the excellencie of their discipline And therefore we are willing to follow them being the Mirrours of Arts and Armes They were so perfect in these motions by their continuall practise and exercise that few or none were euer comparable vnto them In wheeling they would moue as a ship or some other body caried about wholly and ioyntly together remaining vndisolued When they were to wheele to the right they did first warne the right corner file leader to stand still as it were the hooke of a doore-hinge and the rest they commanded altogether to proceed forward and to turne about the same fileleader like the doore * They will not wheele vnlesse they be at an vnfitting order Pouldion to Houldion and then Rankes to the swords point a distance not fit for that motion Thus was the battell wholy turned by them as the body of a man to the right to the left or about to either being caried about the corner fileleader as about a Center This was a comely sight to looke vpon would to God all would doe it as exactly as they But wishes are in vaine men will doe as they list not as they should a Some will neither obserue the distance vsed by the Grecians no the distance appointed by our Tacticks for the comely grace thereof This distance is three foot from file to file and three foot from ranke to ranke If this be not obserued the motion will want grace the vse of it will be frustrated the enemie will preuaile against them For how can those men fight whose hands are tyed being thronged and pestred together they are as it were bound and tyed and can neither assault the enemie nor defend themselues but are subiect to be killed one of another Therefore true distances must be obserued But of distances more hereafter Faceing and wheeling are the subiects on which I treat Now faceing and wheeling being ioyned together are of singular vse To preuent the enemie where he would assault you To giue the assault on him and to circumuent him in taking of aduantage of ground Wind and Sunne it likewise serues to strengthen the middest of your battell with the best men By Wheeling the Wings into the middest of the battell In doing whereof you curtall the depth and extend the length bringing more men to fight then you had before Thus much of Wheeleing The words of Command followes in the next chapter CHAP. XXI Of the words of command for Wheeling THe words of command for Wheeling may be thus giuen Viz. Wheele the body to the right hand The Vse Thus if the enemie appeare to the right Flanke you bring your best men to fight against him Wheele the body to the left hand The Vse Thus if the enemy come to charge your left Flanke you bring your best men against him Wheele the body about to the right hand The Vse Thus if the enemie appeare in the Reare you bring your File-leaders that is your best men to fight Wheele the body about to the left hand Thus you are reduced to your first Posture The Vse But it may be you would Face then march after Face againe then wheele If you would it may be commanded thus Face to the right hand Face March. and march twenty paces Face to the left hand and march twenty paces Then wheele to the left and charge over-ouer-hand Thus you may gaine the aduantage of ground vpon the right Flanke The Vse you may assault your enemy on the left Wing with your File-leaders or Front you may gaine the aduantage of Wind and Sunne from the enemie And presently fall vpon a charge It may be you would extend the length of your Battell by wheeling by bringing the Wings into the midst Then you may command thus Wheele the Wings into the middest of the Battell Face to your Commander Thus the strength of your Battell lies in the middest The Vse it may be you would reduce Then command thus To the right hand about Then begin with the Bringers vp and say Wheele your Wings againe into the middest of the Battell Then bid them Face to their Commander after that Face to the left hand about And so they are fully reduced as they were It may bee you would know the way how to performe this Wheeling for as yet you are Ignorant Then obserue how to do it by this Instance which will somewhat explaine it vnto you There be ten File-leaders in Front The Instance fiue of them on the right Wing wheeles forward to the left transferring their faces to the contrary Wing their Followers mouing with them and standing behinde them as they did at the first only they change their former ground as did the File-leaders The other fiue on the left Wing wheeles forward to the right meeting them in the midst face to face hauing all their Followers behind them as the other fiue Then the Commander bids them Face to him And so the countenances of all the Souldiers are directed or transferred all one way Thus you may performe this wheeling but action doth better performe it than words This wheeling of the Wings into the midst of the Battalia was vsed by the Ancient Grecians to make their Diphalange Antistomus their Diphalange Peristomus their Hollow-wedge The Figure of which is to be seene in Aelian with the description of them Chap. 36. 40. and 41. What Victories haue beene gained by this kinde of Imbattalling I haue seen and read in a written Copie of Captain Binghams composing to be diuulged shortly for a publike good that is now but for a priuate vse This worthy Captaine was the man that did first shew the Gentlemen of the Artillery Garden how they should performe this kinde of wheeling which now they doe most exactly And he will proue the vse of it to be as profitable for Seruice now as heretofore with the Grecians if we will but doe what he shall aduise Thus much of this Kinde of Wheeling and of the other Wheeling which must not be vsed when the enemy is vpon you but when he is aloofe off Now of Counter-march CHAP. XXII Of Counter-marches and the diuers kindes thereof with the manner how they are to be made and of their vse COunter-marches are two-fold for either we Counter-march the Files or the Rankes And these either by changing of ground or keeping still
the same ground If we Counter march by Files it is to oppose the enemie appearing in the Reare with our best men If by Rankes it is to bring one Wing into the place of the other or all our best men into the middest of the Battell If we Counter-march by Files or Rankes to change our ground we do it either by the Macedonian the Lacedemonian oâ— the a The modern Counter-march standing is thus performed The Fyle-leaders counter-march to the right the next Ranke stands til they be past then they follow the like do all the rest transferring themselues to a new ground moderne Counter-march which was inuented for that purpose and to be performed standing If to maintaine ground then we doe it by the Choraean Counter-march which makes the File-leaders to take the ground of the Bringers vp and the Bringers vp the same ground in the which the File-leaders stood The like in the Wings These Counter-marches namely the Macedonian the Lacedemonian and the Choraean are described by Aelian thus The Macedonian Counter-march b Aelian chap. 20 of the Macedonian Crunter-march by Fyle by File is said to be when the File-leader turneth about his face all the rest with the Bringer-vp goeth against him on the right or left hand and passing on to the ground before the Front of the Battell place themselues in order one after another according as the File-leader himselfe hath turned his face This Counter-march you see transferreth the whole File to another place equall to the first by taking the ground that lyeth before the Front in lieu of that it lost behinde It likewise maketh Shew to the enemy appearing in the Reare of running away but it is of excellent vse Say that before thy Battell lay a Riuer The vse of the Macedonian Counter-march by Fyle and betweene the Riuer and thee a faire plot of ground higher than that thou standest vpon the enemy appearing in the Reare and compelling thee to fight the only way to oppose him with the best men and to got this ground for thy aduantage is this Macedonian Counter-march This Counter-march was first Inuented by Philip King of Macedon Father of Alexander the Great The Lacedemonian Counter-march by Fyle is Of the Lacedemonian Counter-march by Fyle described by Aelian chap. 28. when the Bringer vp turneth his face about and all the rest turning also their faces and proceeding forward together with their Fyle-leader order themselues proportionably in the ground which was behind the reare of the Battell Or else when the Bringer-vp turneth his face about and hee that stood next before him passiing by on the right or left hand is placed againe next before him and the rest following are placed one before another in their former order till the Fyle-leader bee first In this Counter-march you see the proceeding is contrary to the former that tooke the ground before the Phalange or Battell this takes the ground after In that the moouing was from the reare to the front in this from the front to the reare * Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian chap. 28. Aelian preferreth the Lacedemonian Counter-march before the Macedoman because in it the Soldiers seeme to fall on and charge wherin the Macedonian they seeme to flie There is notwithstanding times as Captaine Bingham notes when it is better to vse the Macedonian As when you seeke to gaine some ground of aduantage or in case you mean to march on and not to fight with the Enemy vnlesse you be compelled for the Macedonian continueth still the march and staieth not the Lacedemonian returneth vpon the Enemie and so looseth ground in marching There is likewise times say I when it is more requisite to vse this Lacedemonian Counter-march than any other As in case you haue passed the ground which the enemy following seekes to gaine and to charge you suddenly the onely way to possesse it againe and to fight with him with your best men is thus to Counter-march the Macedonian here will doe no good Aeâ—ian chap. 28. The Lacedemonians haue another Counter-march which bears the name and that is this the Fyle-leaders begin the Countermarch and euery one in their Files follow them orderly This is no other then our modern Counter-march now in vse The * Of the Choraean Counter-march by Fyle otherwise called Persian or Cretan Choraean Counter-march by Fyle is said to be when the Fyle-leader turning about to the right hand precedeth the Fyle and all the rest follow till the Fyle-leader haue the place of the Bringer-vp and the Bringer-vp the place of the Fyle-leader This Counter-march saith Aelian is called likewise Persian Cretan Persian and Câ—etan saith Captaine Bingham because it was vsed among the Persians and Cretans Captaine Bingham in his notes vpon Aelian chap. 28. Choraean also for the similitude it had with the solelmne Grecian daunces vpon Stages the company that shewed themselues in such daunces being called Chorus who in their daunces ordered themselues into syles and rankes as Souldiers doe in battell and moouing themselues to the brinke of the Stage when being straightned by the place they could passe no further they retired one through the rankes of the other exceeding not the bounds of the place as is done in this Counter-march The words of command for the Choraean Cuunter-march by Fyle It may be commanded thus Fyle-leaders Counter-march to the place of the Bringers-vp and stand and let your Files follow you keeping your distance Or thus Fyles Counter-march and maintaine ground The Lacedemonian may be commanded thus * The words of command for the Lacedemonian Counter-march by File deliuered in Captaine Binghams owne words Bringers-vp turne your faces about to the right hand the rest turne your faces about and beginning at them that are next the Bringers-vp Counter-march and place your selues in your distances before the Bringers-vp and one before another till the Fyle-leader be first Or thus Face all to the Reare Bringers-vp stand the next Ranke passe through by their right hand and place your selues before them keeping your distances all the rest moue with them placing your selues one before another till the Fyle-leader be first When your men are perfects you need but say The Lacedemonian Counter-march and it is enough This gaines the ground lying after the Reare as the Macedonian the groundlying before the Front Now the Macedonian may be thus commanded File-leaders turne your faces about to the right hand Words of command for the Macedonian Counter-march by File Aelian chap. 28. the rest of euery Fyle passe through in order one after another and place your selues at your distances after your Leaders turning your faces about and so stand Looke what these Counter-marches doe by Fyle the very same they doe by Ranke for like aduantage The Macedonian Counter-march by Ranke taketh the ground that lyeth on the side of the contrarie Wing beginning to moue at the corner of the Wing
which is nearest the enemie seeming therfore to him to runne away because it dismarcheth from him as that of the Fyle did before The words of command for it may be these The right hand corner File face to the left Words of command for the Macedonian Counter-march by Rank the rest of each File passe through to the left and place your selues orderly behind your side-men keeping your distance The vse This gaineth the ground lying on the side of the right Wing farthest of from the Enemy The Enemy appeared to the left Wing Bâ—â—his Counter march you may set the strongest part of your Battell against the Enemy and apply the weakest vnto some Riuer Lâ—ke Hill or such like place so that the Enemy cannot come to encompâ—sse it Of the Lacedemonian countermarch by ranke The Lacedemonian Counter-march by Ranke taketh the ground that lieth on the side of that Wing which is towards the Enemy and bringeth the best Wing to be formost against the Enemy comming still on vpon him without any shew of running away and by these words of command may be effected Words of command for the Lacedemonian Counter-march by ranke The vse Left hand corner File where the Enemy appeareth turne your faces to the left hand the rest of each Ranke turne your faces and passe thorow to the left hand and place your selues before your side-men keeping your distances Thus when our forces are able to encounter the enemy and we desire to bring our best wings to fight then we proceed after this manner to oppose him Of the Choraean Countermarch by ranke The Choraean Countermarch by ranke keepeth the same ground the battell had at first and bringeth one Wing into the place of the other or else the Sections to possesse the place of the Wings thereby to strengthen the midst of the battell These two may be effected as the other by seuerall words of Command The first by this word of command Words of command for the Choraean Countermarch by ranke Rankes to the right hand Countermarch and maintaine ground The second by this word of command Countermarch the Wings into the midst of the battell The way to doe it is this First they are to face to the right and left hand by diuision Then to Countermarch into the midst of the battell After they are to face to their Commander and so the Countermarch is effected The vse Thus we strengthen the midst of our battell with our best men bringing them to fight with the enemie which is the end of Countermarch Wherein notwithstanding there is a Caution to bee held that if the enemie be very neare that we cannot conueniently Countermarch before he come vpon vs we forbeare lest we fall into disorder and in disorder be easily defeated In which case the best remedie is to turne faces and so receiue him As Countermarches are not to be done vnlesse the enemie be aloofe off so neither can they well be done but at open order When then your files and rankes are at six foot which is your first distance Then you haue sufficient roome to Countermarch any way But in Countermarch obserue this If the word be for the right hand then step forth with the right legge and bring the left legge ouer If to the left then step forth with the left legge and bring the right ouer But if the Word be to the right and maintaine ground then stand fast with the right legge and bring the left ouer Thus much of Countermarching Now of Doubling CHAP. XXIII Of the vse of Doubling THere is two kinde of Doubling the one of Rankes the other of fiâ—es The first doth double the a The length of the batell is the Ranke the depth is the File Rankes stretch forth in length Files in depth saith Suidas Length the second the Depth of your battell The Length of your battell may bee doubled in Place or Number In b Doubling of the length of a battell in place place when euery file doth open from three foot to six foot which is your open order in files By this meanes the Front possesseth double ground to that it had before There is another way to double the Front in place as you shall heare anon The Length of your battell is c Doubling of the length of a battell in Number doubled in Number when of twentie in a ranke it is made fortie and of fortie fourescore So that you haue twice as many men in the Front as you had before This doubling of the Length of your battell by number may be done vpon fit occasion either in open order or in order In open order by doubling of Rankes by middle men doing the same By bringers vp doubling the front either to the right or left hand at discretion In order by middle men doubling of the Front either to the right or left hand intire or by deuission to both Which doth likewise double the length of a Battell not onely in number but in place also as Captaine Bingham doth obserue in his notes upon Aelian chap. 29. Chap. 29. Two Causes are assigned for the doubling of the length of your Battell both in number and place The one to ouerwing the enemie The other to auoid ouerwinging Two wayes you may auoid ouerwinging One is by making choise of such a ground as may giue you this aduantage of the enemie That he can neuer compasse you in behinde Pâ—â—tarâ—â— in the liues of Aâ—esâ—laus and S lla pag. 630. 478. nor flanke you on the sides Now if you cannot finde such a ground vse art Cast a trench vpon each flanke or Waggons on either Wing As Syila and Huniades did fearing to be encompassed by the multitude of their enemies The second way to auoid ouerwinging is by placing of Aides in the Reare of your Battell or by laying them in Ambush aloofe off that so vpon a word giuen they may suddenly start out vpon the Enemy as Caesar made his to doe at the Battell of Pharsalia where he put Pompey the Great to flight These Aides must be of the most chiefest Souldiers you haue with Officers appointed for their conduct as was vsed by the auntient Romanes before and in Vegetius time Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 17. who did alwaies res rue many of these Aides when their number was inferior to their Enemies their Battell lesse pitched and they in danger to be ouerwinged But when they had plenty of fighting men they by Doubling would make their Battell equall in length and depth to their Enemies So that they could not breake through or ouerwinge them Thus much to aâ—oid ouerwinging And for the doubling of the length of a Battell in plâ—ce and number Doubling the depth of a Battell in place The depth of your Battell is doubled in place when euery Ranke from the swords point opens to three foot from three foot to six foot from six foot to twelue foot which is
your double distance The vse of this is twofold First to imploy a great deale of ground for your owne aduantage making your number seeme more then it is Secondly to make way for the Canon shot by which the enemy afar of would annoy your flanks Therefore you march at a double distance The depth of your Battell is doubled by number Doubling thâ— depth of a Battell by number when of ten in File it is made twenty of twenty forty and of sorry fourescore The doubling of the depth of your Battell may be done vpon fit occasion either in open order or in close order In open order by doubling of Files When Files double by Countermarch either to the right or left hand Or when halfe the Rankes double the right or left flanke When Ranks file by conuersion either to the right or left hand which is vsually done at a double distance In order or close order by aduancing of Files to the right or left hand By File-leaders drawing forth their Files into one or if you will both to the right and left hand by diuision Then both right and left hand File leads forth together so the body is drawne into two Files All these waies and more may the depth of your Battell be doubled in place and number not to change the forme thereof or if it be to alter the fashion whereby your Battell may bee made suteable to the ground vpon any occasion which is not the least thing to be taken notice of Obserue A large fronted Battell is vnfit for a narrow place A deepe narrow Battell for a Champion is not so suteable This the Romanes and Grecians knew full well and therefore they would order themselues accordingly making a politicke vse of either as they saw occasion It is reported of Manius Acilius the Romane Consul that being to fight with Antiochus the Great in the Straits of Thermopyles because therein he could march with his men no more then fiue in Front He ordered all his Legions into an * Orthiophalaâ— is a deepe Pâ—lange commoâ—ly called a Heirs hauing the Depth much exceediâ—â— the Length Aeâ—â—an chap. 30. Appian in the warâ—es of the Româ—nes with Sâ—â—ians Orthiophalanx wich was a kinde of Battell in forme of a Heirse of far greater depth than length Thus being extended in depth and but fiue in Ranke he proceeded on appointing Marcus Cato one of his Tribunes with a selected band of men to fetch a compasse about to seeke some other passage If not to scale the Rocks and then to seize vpon Antiochus Campe. And likewise hee sent Lucius Valerius another of his Tribunes wiâ—h a like band of men to force the Aetâ—lians from the Rocks on the other side he being to passe vnder them that so hauing gained the Rocks they might further his passage and annoy Antiochus from thence wiâ—h missiue weapons He himselfe led his Army in Front against Antiochus in the manner before said Now Antiochus hauing fortified the Straits with a wall where it was broad stood there ready to receiue him with his Battell of Macedonians farre broader in Front than Acilius Armie was But when Marcus Cato had gained the Hills Antiochus was instantly strucke into amazement and Acilius taking courage thereby came brauely on and forced Antiochus to flight Thus suting his Battell to the nature of the place and yet making vse of his men for his best aduantage he obtained a glorious victory One example more out of Xenophons Historie and so I will conclude â—â—nophon lib. 4. The Grecians which Cherisophus and Xenophon conducted out of Persia were in the Champaigne ordered into a square hollow Battell euery part of like strength with their baggage and loose multitude in the midst These Grecians when they came into the Country of the Carduchans and Colchans were otherwise ordered There was high Hilles huge steepe Mountaines and but narrow passage They must now be Imbattelled not in a hollow * The Pâ—aesium a square batâ—l of men â—ollow in the â—ddest Plaesium but in seuerall Companies and euery Company into a single File euery file hauing an hundred men a peece ascending those steepe Mountaines and beating the enemie from thence which stood thereon in battell aray doing more with ten thousand men than a King of Persia could doe with twelue Myriades that is twelue hundred thousand Thus the Grecians and Romanes Mirrours of Armes and learning did alwaies shape their battell according to the proportion of ground and being perfect in the art of Imbattelling did all things proper as they saw occasion The like must we And thus much shall suffice for the doubling of the Length and Depth of a Phalange or Battell Now followes the Distances to be obserued in them So the words of command shall follow for all in the fiue and twentieth Chapter CHAP. XXIIII Of the Distances to be obserued in Battell And of their vse DIsorder is the confusion of a Battell but good Order pâ—euâ—nts â—â—is confusion Therefore all Commanders as much as in them lies must studie to preuent this in time And this may be done by obseruing of Distance for Distance is the rule that squares all Distance is to the battell as the soule to the body The Battell may be called a body Now take away Distance from this body and it falls to ruine for want of a soule Iphicrates the Athenian said That in an Armie of men the light horse-men resembled the hands the men at Armes the feet the battell of foot-men the stomacke and brest and the Captaine the head of the body See here a Millitary body proportioned to the body of a man See how it receiues motion and life Distance being the soule that makes it moue Care then ought to be had in mouing now this care is effected by the obseruing of Distances Three kinds of distances are mentioned by Aelian Aeâ—â—aâ— chap. â—â— for the opening and shutting of a Phalange or Battell The first are large distances of foure Cubits which amount to six foot The second are lesse but of two Cubits which amount to three foot The third are of a lesser kinde but of a Cubit which amounteth at the most but to a foot and a halfe These are all one and the same with open Order Order and close Order Open Order is when euery Souldier in the battell taketh six foot both in File and Ranke and marcheth with their Pikes shouldered It is for ease in marching being likewise of great vse going against a Fort or strong place of the enemies for it giues way to the Cannon shot and is of singular vse to saue your men We vse to march thus when the enemy keepes aloofe off Order is when euery souldier in battell taketh three foot both in File and Ranke and marcheth with their Pikes either aduanced or Ported This is to prepare for skirmish when the enemie is neare Close Order is when euery Souldier in the battell taketh a foot and a halfe in File
the word is giuen This is the way to doe it and I will name no more All this variety of waies helpes such as would be exquisite in exercising I say would are not already I presume not to teach any that knowes more then my selfe Nor such as knowes lesse then my selfe yet scornes to be taught but such as knowes little it may be nothing yet haue a a desire to learne To such I that know some thing to others but little doe impart that little which I haue And in the next chapter will teach them how to exercise a company as I my selfe haue beene taught in the Artilery Garden or elsewhere for I haue attained nothing but by paines taking much cost and reading But first obserue my Method in Exercising My Method in Exercising is not at this time to Intermeddle with new formes of battells various fights sundry kindes of Inductions and the like But to apply my selfe somewhat to that which hath been deliuered practized in former times agreeing with our moderne discipline and at this time in vse beginning at the first principle of all to order a company of men into a battell that are at first confused one among another and to doe it by distinct words of Command whereby they may order themselues into a body without helpe of a Sergeant taking their first distance of six foot in square both in file and ranke in which we commonly vse at the first to exercise our Motions in All this I meane to doe and the Chapter following will shew it CHAP. XXVI This Chapter sheweth a young Commander how he should begin to order his Company How to command the same properly by seuerall distinct words of Command And to obserue true Distance in euery Motion Whether it be to Face to Wheele to Charge to Counter-march or double THus then he may Command when the Company is vnordered intermingled one with another parted from their Armes and lying in sundry places Separate your selues To your Armes File and Ranke your selues Euery File-leader know his place Aduance your Pikes Shoulder your Muskets Fall into a body and flanke your Pikes with Muskets Take your first distance six foot both in File and Ranke Order your Pikes Rest your Muskets Stand Right in your Files Stand right in your Rankes Marke your Directions Silence Face to the right hand as you were Face to the left hand as you were Face to the right hand about as you were Face to the left hand about as you were Rankes to the right hand double as you were Rankes to the left hand double as you were Files to the right hand double as you were Files to the left hand double as you were Middle men to the right hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the right hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men to the left hand Intire Double your Front Middle men as you were Middle men double your Front to the right and left hand by diuision Middle men as you were Bringers vp to the right hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Bringers vp to the left hand Double your Front Bringers vp as you were Now they must aduance their Pikes and so Counter-march Rankes to the right hand Counter-march Rankes to the left hand Counter-march Files to the right hand Counter-march Files to the left hand Counter-march a The second Distance is for Wheeling and charging Files close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Rankes close to your Order Three foot in File and Ranke Wheele to the right hand Wheele to the left hand Charging vpon a stand when their Pikes are aduanced Wheele to the right hand about Wheele to the left hand about Charge to the right hand As you were Charge to the left hand As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge to the Front As you were Charge to the Reare As you were Charge to both by diuision As you were Charge Front Reare and Flankes As you were Open yâ—ur Files to your open Order Six foot Open your Rankes to your open Order Six foot Order your Pikes March Shoulder your Pikes March Charge to the right hand Marching and charging from the shoulder at oâ—â—n then open Oâ—deâ— Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the left hand Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Charge to the Reare Do all this by the beat of the Drumme As you were March Do all this by the beat of the Drumme Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the right hand This was done by Captaine Bingham in the Artillery Garden Beare-vp your Pikes and Counter-march to the left hand Aduance your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Port your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Traile your Pikes marching Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Cheeke your Pikes from the traile Keepe your first Distance six foot in File Ranke Make a stand Marke your Directions The right hand file lead forth the rest follow in sequence one after another Lay your Pikes on the outside one of another Recouer Marching and aduance your Pikes Stand. File-leaders bring vp your Files into a body Files open to the right hand Open order Six foot Files close to the left hand to your Order Three foot To the 〈…〉 A foot and a halfe In Fâ—le Râ—nkes open backward to your double Distance Twelue foot Rankes File to the right hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the left hand Rankes as you were Rankes File to the right and left hand Close your Rankes to six foot Open your Files to six foot Being reduced to your first Distance Order your Pikes Lay downe your Pikes Take vp your Pikes and order Thus much for Exercising and of the Postures of the Pike therein vsed The seuerall Postures of the Musket followeth in the next Chapter CHAP. XXVII Of the Postures of the Musket THe Postures of the Musket are sundry and many Some make 32. some 40. some 43. some more some lesse All which are for Military instruction in the time of Trayning and to make the Souldier most exquisite and perfect But in time of present seruice before the face of the enemy or in fight then all this great number of Postures they reduce into three only and no more viz. 1. Make ready 2. Present 3. Giue fire All the other they wittily and properly sort into foure kindes or orders To be performed Standing Marching Charging and Discharging as is to be seene in Captaine Pantons Table all which must be obserued Thus much of them The Postures or words of Command which we must vse in ordinary Training or daily exercising of Souldiers agreeing to the Prince of Orange forme and by order from his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell are these March with your Musket shouldred and the Rest in your right hand March and with the Musket carry the Rest Sinke your Rest and vnshoulder your Musket Poyse it in your right hand and let it sinke into the left In your left hand hold your Musket and carry your Rest with it Take your Match in the right hand betweene the second finger and thombe Hold your Match fast and blow your coale Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and blow your match Open your pan Present Giue fire Dismount your Musket and carry it with your Rest Vncocke your match and returne it betweene your fingers Cleare your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose powder Blow your pan Cast about your Musket Traile your Rest Open your charge Charge with powder Draw out your scowring sticke Shorten your sticke Ramme in your powder Draw out your sticke Charge with Bullet Ramme in your Bullet Draw out your sticke Shorten your sticke and put it vp Bring your Musket forward with your left hand Poyse it in your right hand and recouer your Rest Shoulder your Musket March and carry your Rest with your Musket Vnshoulder your Musket Lay your Musket in the Rest Stand Rested Your saluting Posture as you were In the right hand take your Match betweene the second finger and the thumbe Blow your Match Cocke your Match Try your Match Guard your pan and be ready This last is the Sentinell Posture Thâ—s I haue run ouer the Postures of the Musket after the Low Couâ—tâ—y foâ—me first marching then discharging then câ—aâ—ging after standing Adding three more vnâ—o them because thâ— charging with the bullet was left out which I hope will giue oftence to none As for the gesture of the body hand and foot to grace the Posture I referre you to the booke expressing it by Figures Or to â—â—e Aâ—tillery Gaâ—den or Military Yâ—rd where it is done by some â—xâ—â—â—â—â—y buâ— neuer to be obtained without practise You may likewâ—â—â—â—egin wheâ—e you please for this forme is not so strictly ob erâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Artillery Garden B caâ—â—â—ou had the Postures of the Pâ—ke implicite and not distiâ—â—â— but mixt with other kindes of Motions different from thâ—m I will in the next Chapter shew them seuerall and conclâ—dâ— CHAP. XXVIII Of the seuerall Postures of the Pike THe seuerall Postures of the Pike saith Sargeant Trussell are in number twelue Three are to be done standing six marching â—â—d three charging The three which are to be done standing he expresseth thus Lay dâ—wâ—â— yâ—ur Piâ—â— Tâ—kâ— vp yâ—ur Pike â—â—der your Pikâ— The siâ— which are to be done Marching he expresseth thus Aâ—â—ance your Pike Shoulder your Pike Leuell your Pike Slope your Pike Cheeke your Pike Traile your Pike The three which are to be done charging he expresseth thus Poâ—t Charge ouer hand Charge at the right foot for Horse This is the briefe Epitome of the Postures which that Gentleman tooke from Captaine Pantons Table Captaine Panton from the Booke published by the most Excellent Prince the Count Maurice of Nassau and I from both So I end my Booke Let God haue the glory Amen Exodus 15 3. The LORD is a man of Warre His name is IEHOVAH FINIS
Captaynes Lieuetenants Antients and Sergeants so that all the trayned bands in London Midlesex are furnished with able sufficient Officers out of both these Schooles to your honours that were the Founders I the last in degree of inferior officers had my first egresse from the Artillery Garden In that Schoole I spent Foure yeares compleat to gayne the little knowledge which I haue neuer presuming to shew my skill much lesse to contend with others in it vntill the Scollers of another Schoole Low-Country-like banded together for tryall of skill vrged me thereunto Then for the honour of my Schoole put on by my owne Schoole fellowes I entred the List to play my Schollers Prize And I haue now done it but whether I haue performed it ill or well resteth not in me the Scholler to iudge but in you the Maisters of Science most skilfull in the Art Military Iudge then and Censure Your Friend Edward Cooke To the worthy Company and whole body of Noble Souldiers seruing in the Fift Cautionarie or Trayned Band of Midlesex otherwise called Captayne Perts Company WHere a generall voyce warrants an approbation worthie Gentlemen and Souldiers there euery seruice is a Duty The truth of it concernes inuites mee to write a peculiar Epistle vnto you and therein to extoll your worth And none will discommend me for it that either imitates your vertues or would be praysed as you for worth Your worth Implyes your rare parts your rare partâ— though many may bee Epitomized in Foure 1. Your pronesse of mind to beare Armes 2. Your actiuenesse in all Millitary motions 3. Your Subiugated wills to obey your Officers 4. Your Damon and Pythian like affection one to another The three first are rare but the fourth and last is the most rare and excellent For as a Diamond fairely set in Gold it giues luster to all the rest and makes me stile you Philonida or Philonis a bande of friends or true friendship or indeed the Holy band Plutarch telleth of an holy band errected by one Gorgidas Plutarch in the life of Pelopidas which did consist of three Hundred chosen men entertayned by the state kept within the Castle of Cadmea called the Townes band as you the Kinges band This band was neuer broken nor ouerthrowne before the battaile of Chaeronea where they were all slaine found lincked together with cordes of silke arme in arme Pikes sticking in their brests Philip King of Macedon Father to Alexander the great King Philip their enemie shedding teares for them and causing them to bee buried together who in death would not be parted Thus the louing Holy Band Fell by the Macedonians hand Each one dying for his Frend Keeping Friendship to the end From whose ashes doth arise You that them doth Sympathize Neuer to dissolue together Nor like God to liue for euer For one by one be sure to die Time takes away time will supply And as he brought you to the Wombe So backe hee leads you to your Tombe Yours in life and death Edward Cooke To his Brother in Law Thomas Chamberlaine a louer of Armes and an expert Souldier WHen I first made entrance into this worke you know worthy Brother that there was no speech made in the Citty or Subburbes of Plague or Pestilenc But when I had almost finished it the Plague began amongest vs. Then was both speech complaint too in an vncessant manner So I least of Inâ—ited by you in the heate thereof to finish it least dying and leauing it an abhortiue it should vtterly fayle and come to ruine But what auailed it mee to write of warlike â—tratagemes and Policies to oppose opugne repell an humaine Enemie in the field when tht Lord God of Hosts great in powâ—r whom none could resist was entred the field destroying Thousands on his right hand Ten Thousand on his left hand and all the Kingdome in generall had not his mercy exceeded his Ivstice Then it was for mee not to write but to pray not to forcast where to flie from the sword of the Lord but how to submit my selfe to the sword of the Lord which when the Lord saw he manifested his power to me preseruing me that I might hereafter trust in him and declare his goodnesse to the Sonnes of men Thus the Presse of the Lord went forth it tooke away whole families it contynued many Moneths together in the Subburb in be Citty The Citty was almost desolate yet not desolate because she had a gracious God with a flaâ—ming sword purging not consuming her A blessed Sauiour interceding for mercy not Iustice A King on earth as Hezekiah weeping and praying in secret for her calling vpon his Lordâ—â—pirituall and Temporall on all the Moyseses and Arons in the Kingdâ—me to ioyne with him in Prayer as they had in fasting to crye mightily vnto the Lord to spare this Citty the holy Citty the Citty where his name was called vpon Nay shee had a carefull Magistrate in her whom diuine prouidence did preordayne to that place to do hâ—r good Sâ—r John Gore was then Lord Mayor of London And Alderman Heylyne and Alderman Parkebust were Shriefes who went in person to visite her releining her relinquished members readie to starue for want of foode Sending his two worshipfull Brothers the Shrieues to doe it for him if his Lordship was otherwaies imployed These two good Samaritans came into the Suburbes among the poore Trinobantes of Saint Sepulchers inquiring their number their estate their wants their greiuances finding them great past their expectation they returned with melting hearts condoling their miserie and informing the Lord Mayor of it who by them through their meanes sent instantly a supply of Fourteene Poundes for their reliefe commanding information weekely to be giuen of their wants they should be relieued Which was done by me and performed by them euen till the sicknesse was mightily decreased our Gentlemen returned home so they left off being seconded by M. George Allington Esquier and one of the Maisters of the Pipe office who sent them Fortie shillinges as formerly he had done at other times weekely This money was truly distributed though it came not to my hands The money that came to my handes from the Lord Mayor Sheriffes and Churchwardens was Twenty Fiue Poundes Ten shillinges So when all this was discharged and the plague quite ceased and thankes rendered to Almighty God for our deliuerance I betooke my selfe to Penn and Paper againe to fininsh what before I vndertooke which by Gods helpe I haue effected and would not haue published it to the world had not some Low Country-like forced You brotherlike perswaded Now if any good come thereby let such as reape it thanke you who would not let me rest till I had finished then printed it If none at all then let them blame me not you if not excuse me thus he had a good intention but hee failed of the execution in this I rest and resting rest
out on the other party doe either see or suspect which way they are intended to goe and many times there wanteth not Runnagates or Traitors In the next place it shall be declared how these things at hand may be preuented and resisted 3. When they are vpon their march they must send most trustie and fine witted men with the best tried horse which must search the places thorow which they must take their iourney before and behinde on the right hand and on the left hand lest the enemie goe about to set an ambushment and lie in wait to deceiue them 4. When they haue discried an Ambush they must compasse the same about politikely so it shall suffer more perill and danger than it went about to doe 5. When they approach nigh vnto the enemie they must be inquisitiue to know what manner of man their aduersarie is what his Companions are and Leaders whether they be rash and hastie or warie and circumspect whether they be hardy or fearefull cunning in the feats of warre or such as are wont to fight at all aduenture whether they excell or exceed them in number of men or munition and fence of armour whether they can doe more with footmen or horsemen with Piâ—emen or Musquetiers whether by night or in the dawning of the day or in the 〈◊〉 of repast their custome be to assaile their wearied enemies Then to debate and treat of their owne power what may be done in this case whether it be more profitable to prolong the vrgent necessitie of battell or to fight it out of hand If they know themselues to haue the better Horsemen the better Footmen the better Souldiers the better furnished in many things let them not deferre the conuenient and fit occasion of fighâ—ing But if they perceiue their enemies to be the better let them auoid the open and set battell for a few in number and weake in strength oftentimes vnder good Captaines haue obtained the victory by sudden inuasions and lying priuily in waiâ— which they may doe taking time 6. When they are resolued to aduenture a set battell with the enemie they are first to sound the mindes and dispositions of their Souldiers whether they stand affected to fight or no it being as they would haue it they must begin to forecast how to get the Sunne the Wind and Dust in the face of the enemie The higher ground likewise to the intent the enemie may fight both against them and the place for these are not the least meanes of obtaining the victorie 7. When they hope for victory through Footmen against the Horsemen of their enemies they must chuse ruffe places vneuen and full of hils But if they looke to gaine the victory through Horsemen against the Footmen of their enemies they must chuse such places as be indeed somewhat higher but plaine and open encumbred neither with woods nor sennes 8 When they haue cunningly incompast the battels of their enemies they must leaue them some way whereby they may flie for if a passage to depart away be once opened as soon as the minds of all doe agree to runne away they are slaine and murdered like beasts Neither is there any danger to pursue them when they haue flung downe their weapons and will fight no longer but being so inclosed that they haue no way to flie they fight stoutly and become desperately desperate because they looke for no safetie or life so you haue no oddes at all but are both indifferent alike For they are as couragious and as desperate to fight as you rather more by the occasion Therefore young Scipio's counsell is to be followed ☜ The way whereby the enemie may flie must not bee fortified 9 When they are not resolued to fight but to depart away from the enemie the Souldiers must not know that they doe it to shunne battell but they must bee brought in beliefe that they are called back for this policie That the enemie may be allured vnto a more conuenient place that he may be the more easily vanquished and intrapped by them Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 21. This they must not faile to doe for Vegetius saith they will be readie to flie if they perceiue their owne Capaines to despaire 10 When their enemies doth perceiue their flight then their care must be to send some before to possesse the places of greatest aduantage which the enemie doth couet that the rest may the better passe in safety and the enemy be frustrated of his purpose Others behind must lie in ambush to intrap the enemy who comes on with boldnesse no whit suspecting this policy The rest must be preadmonished to be euer in readinesse lest the sudden coÌ„ming of their enemies make them fearefull 11 When they are in feare to bee inclosed by the number of their enemies they must either seeke some place of naturall defence or make the place so by art I will explaine both by examples How to choose a ground to fight with an enemie when you feare to come into the champion to be inclosed by his number Plutarch in the life of King Ageslaus Agesilauâ— being in Aegypt and hauing to do with a great multitude of Aegyptians of whom he stood in feare of to abide them battell in the champion by reason of their multitude did thus He brought his men into the field One while hee made as though hee fled and inticed them to follow him suddenly againe he would turne this way and that way in fine he brought all this multitude into a strait sluce walled about on either side with great broad ditches full of running water so that euen when they were in the middest of it he suddenly stopped their passage with the front of his battaile which he cast to the breadth of the sluce and thus made the number of his fighting men equal with the number of his enemies who could neuer compasse him in behinde nor flanke him on the sides ☞ This he did by choosing a place fit for his purpose How to fortifie a pl ce by art The place may be helped by art in case it be otherwise too open and fit for the enemy that abounds in number to incompasse them on euery side So Caesar a Caesar â—e bello Gall. lib. 2. 36. lib. 3. 323. being to fight against multitudes of Gaules drew a deepe Trench on both the Flankes of his army to secure it from the charge of the enemie The like did Sylla b Plutarch in Syla Aâ—iâ—n in bello Mitbridates against Archelaus the Generall of Mithridates in the battell of Orchomene and both of them so securing their armies from circumuention became Masters of the Field and Conquerours of their enemies Of latter times Iohn Huniades the Hungarian c Turkish Hist 297. §. 2. King being to fight against the huge armie of the Turke gained a noble battell against them by placing his armie on the one side against a Fenne and inclosing