how a Battalia may be strengthned by doublings And that is either in the 1. Front 2. Reer or 3. Both Flanks The Front may be strengthned by Intire Doublings Divisional Doublings Intire Wheelings Divisional Wheelings Of these I shall proceed in their several Orders shewing how intire Doublings do strengthen the Front And that is by 1. Ranks 2. Bringers up 3. Half Files 1. The Front is strengthned by intire Doublings of Ranks 1. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left Doubles Directions for doubling to the Right from the left the even Ranks from the Front move forward to the Right into the odd Ranks To reduce them Command Files to the left double or Ranks as you were The doubling of this Figure to the right doth easily make appear what is meant by doubling to the left that I need not demonstrate it 2. Command Ranks to the right and left double 1. Outward or 2. Inward 1. Directions Outward Even Ranks move outward from the Flanks with three steps forward into the odd Ranks To reduce them Ranks as you were Or Files to the right and left double inward 2. Directions inward The even Ranks move inward from the Flanks with three steps forward into the odd Ranks To reduce them Ranks as you were Or Files to the right and left double outward 3. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Directions to the right Even Ranks from the Front face to the right and march forth until they be clear of the standing Ranks then face them to their Leader and double the odd Ranks that are standing If you command them to close their Ranks forward it will be the same Figure as may be produced by commanding half files to double the front to the right the difference being only in quality not in quantity vide Fig. 3. To reduce them Command Ranks that doubled face to the left and march forth into your places Or Half Ranks of the right face to the left and double your left Flank Or Ranks as you were 4. Command Double your Ranks inward intire Directions Every even Rank from the Reer face to the right and left out wards and march until they be clear of the standing part then let every even Rank from the Front which is the standing part move forwards into the Front 5. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man This doubling is the same in Figure with the third they differ only in place the quantity being the same Directions Every even Rank from the Front face to the right and march placing your selves on the outside of your right hand men To reduce them Command Right half ranks double your left flank each placing your selves on the inside of his left hand man 2. Intire doublings for the strengthening of the Front by Bringers-up 6. Command Bringers-up double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Directions for doubling to the right Bringers up move forwards with your right legs and pass through ranking themselves even with the Front the rest following successively and placing themselves even with the standing ranks To reduce them Command Bringers up or Reer half files face about to the left and march into your places OR Even files from the left double your depth to the left each fall behind his accidental bringer-up or half file-leader When they march into their places the half file-leaders who were the last that took their places now in this reducement must be the first to take their places 7. Command Bringers-up double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward This I never saw but once in a private Exercise but I conceive it more out of curiosity than of necessity And because it is suitable to the second Command of Ranks I need not demonstrate them in Figures as the even ranks move and take their respective places in the second Figure in this the bringers-up are to be the first movers to the right and left either outwards or inwards If outwards then it is to be performed from the midst of the Reer from the right and left into the Front To reduce them Command The odd files from the right and left flank double your depth to the right and left inwards every man falling behind his accidental bringer-up If inwards then it ought to be performed from the flanks to the right and left inwards even into the Front To reduce them Command The even files from each flank double your depth to the right and left inwards all falling behind his accidental bringer-up 3. Intire doublings for the strengthening of the Front by half-files 8. Command Half files double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Directions If to the right the half file-leaders must pass through or move forwards to the right into the Front and the succeeding ranks are to follow them To reduce them Command Even files from the left double your depth to the left Or Half files face about to the left and march forth into your places Or Half files as you were 9. Command Half files double your Front to the right and left 1. Outwards 2. Inwards What I have declared in the seventh Command I do the same here However I shall demonstrate the Command by doubling outwards 1. Directions It is to be performed from the midst of the half files to the right and left into the Front To reduce this Command The odd files from the right and left flank double your depth to the right and left inward OR Halfe files face about to the right and march forth into your places 2. Directions If the command be inward then it is to be performed from the flanks of the half files marching even into the Front To reduce them Command Even files from each flank double your depth to the right and left outwards OR Half files as you were 10. Command Half files double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Directions to the right Half files face to the right and march until they be clear of the front half files then face them to their Leader and march them up even with the Front To reduce this Command Half files face about to the right and march forth into your places OR Half ranks of the right double the depth of your left flank intire 11. Command Half files double your Front inward intire Directions Front half files face to the right and left outwards and march until they be clear of the Reer half files then face them to their Leader and stand Then let the reer half files march up even into the Front To reduce them Half files upon the intire motion face about and march Front half files face to the right and left inward and close your Divisions OR Reer half files double the depth of your Front half files intire face all to the right and left inward and close your Divisions
I have shewed you how the Front may be strengthened by intire doublings I shal briefly shew how it may be by divisional The Front is strengthened by divisional Doublings as followeth 12. Command Double your Ranks to the right and left by Division To perform this Command Even Ranks from the Front face to the right and left outwards march forth and double the odd To reduce this half ranks that doubled face to the right and left inwards and march into your places 13. Command Half files double your Front by Division To performe this Half files face to the right and left outwards and march until they be clear of the Front half files then face them to their Leader then move forward and double the Front To reduce this Command Half files face about to the Reer and march until they be clear of the Front half files then face to the right and left inward close your Divisions and face to your Leader OR The half files that moved double the depth of the Front half files 14. Command Double your Ranks to the right and left by Division every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man To perform this Command Every even Rank from the Front move forth to the right and left outward each man placing himself according as is commanded To reduce this Command The half Ranks that moved double your Files to the right and left inward every man placing himself on the inside of his right and left hand man I have hitherto shewed how the Front may be strengthened by divisional Doublings Now followeth how The Front may be strengthened by intire and Divisional Wheelings 15. Command Wheel off your reer half files to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire into the Front To perform this to the right Command Half files face about to the right and wheel them to the left about until they be even with the Front To reduce this Wheel off your half ranks and double your left flank intire to the left To perform this reducement let them face to the right then Command Right half ranks wheel about to the right until they be even a breast with the front half files To your Leader 16. Command Wheel your Flanks into the Front There are diversities of Commands for the production of this Figure and much according to the opinion of the Commander I shall insert them and leave the choice thereof to the judicious in this Art Wheel your Flanks into the front Wings into the front Front into the battle Front into the midst Reer into the flanks To reduce any one of them Command Wheel your flanks into the Reer 17. Command Reer half files wheel and double your Front by Division To perform this Command Half files face about to the right and so wheel off to the right and left about moving forwards until they be even with the Front To reduce this Command Half files that doubled wheel about to the right and left inward and march into your places OR Half ranks face to the right and left outward then wheel to the right and left inward and double the depth of your Front half files and face them to their Leader There is some other Wheelings but I shall not trouble you with them because they are more for curiosity than for service c. CHAP. VIII I Shall here insert the several preceding Commands for the strengthening of the Front wherein in the closing of some of the Ranks as may be seen by them severally the Figures are one and the same Battalia in quantity but not in quality in number but not in place Ranks to the right Double Command 1. Produceth one and the same Figure 1. Bringers up double your Front to the right Comm. 6. Half files double your Ranks forward to the right Comm. 8. Ranks to the right and left double first outward and then inward Comm. 2. Produceth one and the same Figure Bringes up double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward Comm. 7. Half Files double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward Comm. 9. 2. Double your Ranks to the right intire Comm. 3. Produceth one and the same Figure Double your Ranks to the right intire every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man Comm. 5. Half Files double the front to the right intire Com. 10. Wheel off your Reer half files intire into the Front Com. 15. 3. Double your Ranks inward intire Comm. 4. Produceth one and the same Figure Half files double your Front inward intire Com. 11. Double your Ranks to the right and left by division Com. 12. Half files double your Front by division Com. 13. Double your Ranks to the right and left by division every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man Com. 14. Produceth one and the same Figure Reer half files wheel and double your Front by division Com. 17. Vide Chap. 11. Chap. 14. CHAP. IX How Battalias may ve strengthened in the Reer HAving ended with most of those doublings that do strengthen the Front I proceed to some few that may strengthen the Reer I might be as large in them as the former but the labour and pains would be of no great necessity because all what hath been commanded in the Front may by counterchange of them be performed in the Reer Therefore I shall only for example sake set down four Commands and demonstrate them by their respective figures and they only shall be performed by the doubling of half Files leaving the rest for the delightful Artist in this pleasing exercise 1. Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left To perform this to the right Command Front half files face about to the left and march directly forwards to the left of the standing part in opposition even in each rank according to their several places If this be commanded for service then face the Reer half files also about to the left Then To reduce them Face them all to their proper Front and Command Double your files to the right intire advancing If it be for a private exercise Command Half files face about to the left and march forth into your places 2 Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left intire To perform this to the right intire Command Front half files face to the right march until they be clear of the Reer half files then face them all to the Reer and march them even in breast with the Reer To reduce this Command Front half files face about to the right and march into your places OR Face all to your leader then right half ranks double your left flank intire advancing 3. Command Front half files double your Reer by Division To perform this Command Front half files face to the right and left and march until they be clear of the Body then face them to the Reer and
half ranks move forwards to the right and left inwards and double the right flank face all to your Leader To reduce the 12. Command inward Front and reer half files double your Ranks intire to the left By direction you may Command Half files face about and every even rank from the front and reer move forth and double your ranks intire to the left flank then face to your Leader 13. Command Half ranks double your right flank to the 1. Right or 2. Left by Countermarch OR Half ranks to the right by Countermarch double your left flank To perform this Half ranks of the right T is produceth the same Figure as the 11. Command face to the right and Countermarch into the left flank losing ground To reduce this Double your Ranks to the left intire every man placing himself on the outside of your right hand men and face to your Leader OR Ranks that doubled face to the right and march forth into your places In like manner if you would double the right flank by countermarch the right flank is then to stand and you are to insert the left into the right flank as before the right will be by this Command inserted into the left And by the reducement of the one by the contrary hand you may reduce the other also 14. Command Left half ranks double your right flank to the right and left 1. Outwards 2. Inwards by countermarch These insertions I shall not demonstrate by Figure because the three last being but well observed will give you a light to the execution of these only I shall briefly give you the performances and reducements thereof If Outward Command Half ranks of the right face to the right and left half ranks face to the left then move forward and double your right and left flank to the right and left outwards face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front and Reer half files double your Ranks intire to the left flank every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man By direction you may Command The Front half files to face about and the even ranks from the midst move forth to the left flank and double the odd placing your selves on the outside of your right hand men And every even rank from the reer half files move forth and double the odd placing yourself on the outside of your left hand men face to your Leader If Inwards Command Ranks face to the right and left outwards and the left half ranks turn off to the right and left inward moving forward until you have doubled the right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front and reer half files double your ranks intire to the left flank every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man For direction you may Command Half files face about and every even rank from the reer move forward and place your selves on the outside of your right hand men and every even rank from the front move forth and double the odd placing your selves on the outside of your left hand men face to your Leader 15. Command Left half ranks double your right flank intire advancing To perform this Command The left flank or the left half ranks march forth until they be clear of the remaining party then face them to the right and double the right flank and face them to their Leader To reduce this The left flank that doubled face to the left and march into your places OR Front half files double your Reer to the right 16. Command Left half Ranks double intire the depth of your right Flank To perform this Command The left half ranks to face about to the right until they are clear of the standing part then face to the left and double the right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command Half files double your Front to the left intire OR Half files that doubled face about to the left and march forth into your places 3. How the Flanks may be strengthened by divisional Doublings 17. Command Double your Files to the right and left by Division To perform this Command Half files of the even files from the right face to the Reer then even files march clear of the standing part then move to the right and left and double the odd files To reduce them Command Face to the right and left inward march forth and take your places and face to your Leader 18. Command Half Ranks of the left double your right flank by Division To perform this Command Half files of the left half ranks face about to the right then Front and Reer half ranks of the left flank move clear of the standing body face all to the right flank and move even in breast with the right flank To reduce them Front and Reer half files that doubled face about inwards and march into your places OR The half files that doubled may double the depth of their right flank Obs You may in the Command when they are marched clear of the standing party Countermarch them with this Command Vide Com. 13. Front and Reer half files of the left flank countermarch to the right and left losing of ground into the right flank which will produce the same Figure Com. 18. only in place 4. The Flanks are strengthened by Wheelings 18. Command Left half ranks wheel off and double your right flank to the Right or Left Intire To perform this Command Right half ranks face outwards left half ranks wheel about to the left and keep wheeling until you have doubled the right flank face the moveants to their Leader To reduce them Face them to their proper Front then Command Reer half files double your Front to the left intire But if you countermarch them then the reducement of the 13. Command will give you light to it also 19. Command Wheel Front and Reer into the 1. Right or 2. Left Flank OR Front and reer half files wheel off into the right Flank by Division To perform this Command Face all to the right Wheel off to the right and lest and so keep moving until the Bringer up of the right hand file meet with the right hand file leader To reduce them if faced to the right Flank Wheel both Flanks into the Reer and face them to their Leader But if faced to their proper Front then Command Wheel Front and Reer into their left Flank and face them to their Leader 20. Command Left half Ranks wheel off to the right and left and double your right Flank by Division To perform this Command Half ranks of the right face to the right then the half files of the left half rank face to the Reer Front and Reer half files wheel off to the right and left about and more forwards until you are even a breast then double your right flank and face them to their accidental Front To reduce them Command Files that doubled double
3. For Counter-marches which is but the reducement of File-Leaders into the place of bringers up or one flank into the place of another which is more proper for the foot service than useful in the exercise of the Horse yet because some have used it in their exercise therefore I shall demonstrate one Counter-march by Figure in his place 4. For Wheelings They are of most excellent use in the service of the Horse and ought to be very carefully exercised by every Commander they serve in some respect to execute what is to be performed by Counter-marches which is to bring the Frontiers who are always supposed to consist of the ablest men thereby to be ready to receive the Charge of the Enemy in either Flank or Reer which by Counter-marches you cannot do Accordingly the Motions shall follow that the untutoured Souldier may the better apprehend them It shall be represented by the Letter h. All Motions are to be done intirely at one and the same time for in our Military Exercises they are the very life of an Army and the only means being truly performed that giveth Victory without which all preparations of Forces are in vain and avail nothing in the field to the end for which they were levied And this among experienced Souldiers is of inestimable reputation 1. To the Right Hand Note That in all Motions before a second be commanded I mean in all single Motions the body must be reduced to his first proper form To Reduce them command To the left or To your Leader or As you were 2. To the Left Hand To reduce them command To the Right or To your Leader or As you were 3. To the right hand about 4. To the left hand about This is by turning to the left hand until their Faces front the Reer The proper Front To reduce them To the right hand about 5. Ranks open forward to your double distance 6. Files to the right double 7. Files to the left double It is most convenient for the Horse to move from the right hand To reduce them Ranks to the right double or Files rank as you were 8. Files to the right hand Counter-march 9. Files to the left hand Counter-march Foot pa. 60. To perform this Direct That all the file Leaders move their Horses intirely a little forwards and so likewise turning off to the left hand they march even in rank down to the Reer and none of the rest to turn off until he come to his Leaders ground To Reduce them Counter-march to the left As this is for the maintaining of the same Ground so there may be a Counter-march for the gaining of Ground but I conceive them wholly useless but where you have not ground to make your Wheels Therefore not knowing what necessity may force us unto it is convenient the Souldier should be sometimes exercised therein Note That in your Counter-marches for gaining of ground the Souldier is to turn off the ground his Horse stands upon and so passing through each is to follow his Leader 10. Ranks close forwards 11. Files close to the left 12. Files close to the left to your close Order Observe in closing to the left the left File is to stand fixt the next are to move to the left 13. Ranks close forward to your close Order In performance of this Command the first Rank is to stand the second moving and taking its distance stands likewise and so the third It cannot be expected that any Wheeling of the Horse should be so exactly performed in so little a compass as is taken by the foot therefore every Commander ought discreetly to take larger room for the compass of his motion so that all his Wheelings may be performed intirely without distraction Note That Wheeling to the left for the Horse is the readiest way except you are prevented by some hinderances c. 14. Wheel to the left hand In this motion the whole body moveth to the left upon the left hand file-leader as the center And so you may keep wheeling until you have brought them to their proper front So if you wheel them to the left about the Reer then will be their accidental Front 15. Wheel to the right and left by Division The Wheelings of the accidental Fronts upon both Wings into the proper Front and close their Divisions will reduce them 16. Trot large and wheel to the left Wheeling to the right will Reduce them or by a circular Wheeling of them until they are brought into their proper form 17. Trot and wheel to the left about This bringeth the ablest men to be in the Reer for any speedy On-set and Wheeling to the right about will reduce them c. The word Alt doth signifie to make a stand and is derived from the Dutch word Halt which is as we say hold c. Observe that in all motions you make an Alt that the Souldery may settle themselves in their places both in Rank and File before you put any fresh Command upon them 18. Gallop and wheel to the left 19. Gallop and wheel to the left about To reduce both these is by wheeling to the contrary All these being performed to reduce them to their first form Open first your Ranks and then your Files and in opening of your Ranks the best way is to open them forwards CHAP. IX Of Firings I Had thoughts to have treated of Encampments and Embattelings but that being not my work at present I shall pass them by because it is my business to treat only of the exercise of a single Troop In the first place I shall set out one firing of Walhausens When your Enemy chargeth you in a full career Cruso fol. â9 you are suddainly to open to the right and left facing inwards and charge them in the flanks and when the Enemy is past your body you are to wheel to the right and left inward and so charge him with a full career in the Reer but here you must observe their files to be six and eight in depth and so his Figure is represented as followeth This he commends very much for whilst the Enemy is upon his Career you are but upon your Trot and then opening to the right and left This he speaks of Cuirasiers either he must run through and do but little execution or else Alt in his career and so disorders himself which is advantageous to you But I am of another opinion as to our Mode of fighting being but three in depth we must rather sink than suffer any Voluntary Breach The same Author would have our Harquebuziers to give fire by Files either right or left advancing before the Body in a full career towards the Enemy but many do wholly reject it as being dangerous in Field service But now for the private exercise of a single Troop which may be necessary to bring the Souldier to a more ready and complete use of his Arms I shall demonstrate of Files firing
close your body by command to Distance to action let every Captain or chief Officer Command his Souldiers to streighten their Files and to even their Ranks In the next place to be silent that thereby they may be attentive to the words of Command Which for the several distances are as followeth Commands 1. Files to your close Order 2. Ranks to your close Order there might be abreviated into a shorter method but my intents is for plain capacities 1. Files open to the right 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 2. Ranks open forward 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your close Order 3. Files open to the Left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 4. Ranks open to the reer or backwards 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 5. Files open to the right and left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 6. Ranks open to the right and left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance Reducements 1. Files close to the right 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 2. Ranks open forward 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 3. Files close to the left 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 4. Ranks close to the reer c. 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 5. Files close to the right and left inward or to the midst 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 6. Ranks close to the right and left inward 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order These are useful and may be used at the discretion of the Commander And for your better performance in the closing and opening of Files and Ranks take these following Observations 1. When Files open to the right the left hand File must stand fast every File taking his distance from the File next his left hand 2. When they open to the left the right hand File stands fast c. 3. When Ranks open forward the last rank stands every rank taking his distance from the rank next behind him 4. When they open backward or to the reer the first rank stands c. 5. When Files close to the right the right hand file stands the rest close to the right taking their distance from the right hand file 6. And if Files close to the left the left hand file stands the rest of the Files close to the left and take their distance c. 7. When Files close to the right and left then they close inward taking their distance from those Files within them nearest to the midst of the Body 8. When files close to the right and left by Division it must be outwards according to the fift and sixt observation 9. When Ranks close to the front and reer then the first and last Ranks stand the other taking their distance 10. If Ranks close to the midst then they close towards their two midlemost Ranks I have not used the word Center in any of these Commands because it is conceived that the word is more proper to a circle and not to a square or a broader fronted body It is not of absolute necessity that a Commander in the exercise of a private Company shall use all these openings and closings to those several distances mentioned but so many of them as may be thought fit for his present Exercise intended although it cannot be denied but that they may be useful at some time or other CHAP. VI. Of Marching and Drawing up of a Company THe Souldier being informed of the Dignity of Place together with the several Beats of the Drum and their respective distances I shall march a Company of Foot and draw them up which Company shall consist of twelve Files four Files of Pikes and eight Files of Musqueteers But the Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Sommerset have allotted some files more to each Company and it is a rare thing to have them compleat in the Field so that it hath been too apparent because there hath not been an equality in Files their Companies have been wholly unfit for Exercise but I hope these errors will be better looked into and amended hereafter A Company marching A Company drawing up Files are to be at their Order and Ranks at their open Order When the Company is drawing up the Drum is to beat a Troop the Pikes to be advanced the Musquets to be poised and being in a Body are ready for Command A Company drawn up A number of Men being thus drawn up and completed consisting of Pikes and Musquets there is in them according to the rules of Art a Front a Reer a right and left Flank Front half files Reer half files Right half ranks and left half ranks there is the length and depth of the Battel and these are extended in their number of men The front in this Figure is first of all to be taken notice of There are in all exercises a proper Front and an accidental Front the Company being drawn up and standing in a body with faces to their leader maketh a proper Front Vide Chap. of facings And the accidental front is as the Cheifetains shall command the face of the whole body In short the front is where the faces of the Company are directed one way The first Rank or row of men they are termed File leaders who have the command of their respective Files and are to Exercise them severally Observe that from and with the right hand file leader to and with the left hand file leader is the extent of the Front and is termed the length of the Battel And the Souldiers standing severally from and with their File leaders in a sequence to and with their Bringers up are termed Files or the depth of the Battel The Reer of the body is so termed where ever the back of the Company are turned Every File leader hath his bringer up that by death or other absence next in point of honour is to succeed them both in Place and power The extent and length of the Reer last rank or bringers up is the same with the Frontiers The right and left Flanks are the outmost Files upon either hand of the body from the Front to the bringers up There is in a body drawn up front half files and Reer half files the Front half files extend themselves three in depth to and with the third Rank and the Reer half files is the fourth Rank to and with the last both which have their extents divided in the whole length and depth of the body Half Ranks are from the midst of the Files so taking their length or bounds to the outmost man or file
leader either upon the right or left hand CHAP. VI. Of Facings SOme have thought that Facings are but of little use so that a commander might dispence with the Exercise thereof There being a mistake in such I must declare That facings are very necessary and of such excellent use as in no wise to be neglected for in service their executions are quicker than other motions and may be performed when other commands cannot be used both for time and place The Body being faced or the faces of the Body is termed an aspect and being particularly turned by command maketh an accidental front which is called a facing So that in short facing is the turning and altering of the aspect to either hand Front or Reer as may appear in the several commands following In which we must understand that facings are either Intire or Divisional There are Angular facings also 1. Intire Facing is when the aspect of the company is directed one way There are four intire facings besides Angular Command Face to the 1. Right Each man is to turn upon that foot to which hand the facing is commanded wheeling the Body to that Aspect When you face to any hand you may reduce them to the contrary 2. Left 3. Right about 4. Left about To reduce them Command As you were or To your Leader Angular facings are when directed to make their Aspects to the right or left corner men that is to the right or left Angle And so if you command to the four corners it is to face them to their four Angles which is Divisional Command Face to the Right Left Angle To reduce them Command As you were or To your leader These Angular facings are not so much in use as formerly Divisional facings are contrary to the Intire for they look divers wayes Which are Command Face to the 1. Right and left 2. Right and left inward 3. Four Angles To reduce them As you were or To your leader It is necessary that the half files doe many of these commands by themselves that they may the better understand it when the body shall come to be subdivided For Angular facings they are out of use or not so much in use as formerly By most Authors facings are to be performed at open order both in Rank and File But it is also necessary to exercise the Souldier in these facings at close Order for if a Souldier should be assaulted in a straight or narrow passage that he hath neither time nor ground to receive it either by doublings Counter-marches or wheelings they stand at their Order or close Order may then by their particular facings defend themselves against any such assault and with wore ease so charge their Enemy by some of these facings than by any other motion Facings are not to be slighted but carefully to be observed and practised they are the ground-work of Military discipline for all motions have relation in one respect or another to them There are two facings square as followeth set down in their platformes See Barrife Ward c. because they are not only useful but may serve as demonstrations of the former Command The two first Ranks stand the two last Ranks face about the rest of the body face to the right and left and march all To reduce them Command 1. Face about to the right march and close your Divisions 2. Face to your leader who standeth at his proper front Figure 2. Command 1. Musquetteers face to the right and left 2. Half Files of Pikes face about to the right 3. March all To reduce them Command 1. Face all about to the right march and close your divisions 2. Face all to your Leader By this little you may perceive much of the Nature of Facings and how useful they are towards the making of the Souldier apt and perfect in other motions I shall proceed to the Nature of doublings with the several branches or parts of them CHAP. VII Of Doublings IT is allowed by the Judicious that they are most necessary and completely useful for the strengthening any part of the Battle as occasion and discretion shall command All which consist in these two Generals 1. Doublings of Length 2. Doublings of Depth All times in quantity of Number sometimes in Number and place The several sorts of doublings are as followeth 1. Of ranks 2. Of half files 3. Of bringers up 4. Of the reer 5. Of files 6. Of half ranks 1. The doubling of Ranks is when every Rank double the odd 2. Half Files are said to be doubled when they shall double their Ranks into the Front 3. Bringers up are said to be doubled when they shall double their Ranks into the Front 4. The doubling of the Reer is when the Front half file doubles the Reer 5. The doubling of files is when even files double the odd 6. The doubling of half ranks is when one rank shall double the other And that is performed by Passing through Countermarches Intire or divisional doublings The doubling of Ranks half files or bringers up into the Front is a doubling of quantity or number and not of place But the doubling of ranks intire or for to double the front by half files intire either to the right or left or by Division It makes not only a doubling in quantity and of place but lengthens the battle also The doubling of files and half files or half ranks or doubling to either flank is a doubling in quantity and not of place But the doubling of files and right half ranks intire and the depth of the left flank intire is not only a doubling of number but of place and depth of the battle Observe that all divisional doublings are to be at open Order both in Rank and File Observe that in all motions they must be performed in three steps and first by stepping forth of that foot which is next to the place named And for reducement to return by the contrary hand Observe that in doubling of Ranks the doubling of Files reduceth them so in the doubling of Files to any hand the doubling of Ranks to the contrary hand reduceth them also Observe that in all motions of doublings that they who are to double before they move from their places are to Advance and Poyse their Arms and when they have performed their Commands they are immediately to conform to the same posture that those whom they double are in whether it be at shoulder or advance Observe that all intire doublings are to be performed at Order both in Rank and File And in all motions observe your right hand man I shall not only give you the words of command for most particular doublings that may be useful for service with directions for the performance of the same with their reducements And as I have been importuned by some of the Deputy Lieutenants to add to them their several platforms or Figures it is accordingly performed But my chief aim is to demonstrate
to the left and the Reer half files file three to the right Face all to your leader and close your divisions 4. Command Files file to the right and left by Division To perform this Command The file leaders of each flank march away with your files until they are clear of the Body then the next file leaders from the right and left are to fall in after the bringers up of the first moveants until the Body become two files upon each wing To reduce them Command File leaders lead up your files to the right and left OR Files file six to the right and left 5. Command Files file inward into the right and left flank by Division Figure 5. You may the better understand this by the directions for the third Command But To perform this Command Half files face about then file leaders and bringers up of each file both from the right and left and fall successively into the reer of each other until they have made two intire files on each flank Face to your leader To reduce this Command Reer half files face about to the right Front and Reer half files file three to the right and left inwards Face to your leader and close your Divisions 6. Command Files by countermarch file to the right every man placing himself in the reer of the right hand file Figure 6. To perform this Command The right hand file stand the rest of the Body face about to the left then every particular file march forward to the left and place themselves behind the bringers up of the right hand file To reduce this Command Files file fix to the left each placeing themselves before their leader 7. Command Files by countermarch file to the right by division each placing himself before his leader and bringer up To perform this Command Reer half files face about the right hand file is to keep his ground the rest moving forwards to the right placing themselves before their File leaders and Bringers up To reduce this Command Front half file ââce about and file three to the right every man placing himself before his bringer up And the Reer half files file three to the left placing your selves before your leaders I have with as much brevity as conveniently I could set forth by demonstration the first part of Inversion which is of Files filing I proceed to the second part of Inversion which is of Ranks siling For the performance of which observe that in all these motions your files are to be at their Order or otherwise as may be thought most convenient and their Ranks to be opened either forwards or backwards at the discretion of the Commander but at twice double distance or more as may be required to his number of men The distances being set let every rank move according to Command 8. Command Ranks file to the right placing your selves before your right hand man To perform this Command The right hand man of each rank is to stand the rest are to move forwards with their right leg and so place themselves before their right hand men 8. Figure Te reduce them Command Files rank twelve to the left OR Ranks as you were Observe Ranks filing are sooner executed in the commands and reducements than files filing For they will sooner be in readiness to receive any opposition with a suteable resistance in the Front for in files filing it will be some long time before the file leaders will be able to do it 9. Command Ranks file to the right placing your selves behind your right hand men To perform this Direct If they be upon a stand they may open backwards to their distance for the work as by example But if they be upon a march then the right hand man marcheth first and all his rank so facing as to march to the right file-wise after their leader The right hand man of the second rank is so to do and fall in the reer of the left hand man of the first Rank To reduce this Command Files rank twelve to the left OR Ranks as you were Aelian Tact. Ch. 30. p. 6. 10. Command Ranks file to the right and left by Division The two former are directions enough for this And may also be performed with the two former either before their right hand men or otherwise To reduce this Command Files convert into Ranks as you were OR Files Rank to the right and left inward as you were OR Files rank twelve to the right and left inward This Figure as by the Notes of Captain Bingham hath been of great use amongst the Graecians and judged by our ingenious Artists not to be slighted by us for the avoydance of the great Ordinance or showers of small shot In Cities I have seen it often used for lodging of the Colours It is also a large Interval for the reception of any Honourable Person Some may dislike in this last Inversion of Ranks filing because there is a promiscuous mixture of Arms This may be easily prevented by bringing both Divisions of Musquetteers into the Front of Pikes or otherwise upon a march at the discretion of the Commander There yet remain divers words of Command of Ranks filing Vide Conversion By wheeling your Ranks into the right Flank or into both Flanks c. But the prolixity of them have made me to abbreviate and being more out of curiosity than of necessity I have shewed what is meant by Inversion both in Files and Ranks and have demonstrated them by their Figures so many as I conceive may be sufficient for the knowledge thereof Many I have heard to use the word Inversion to some of the precedent Commands but I think it very convenient to be left out in the Exercisings of our Rural Militia's It is a word not suitable to a Rustick capacity and a word that may be spared CHAP. XIII Of Conversion and the several Parts thereof COnversion I have declared to consist of a Rank or Ranks And that is performed either by 1. Increase of Files ranking by Even or Vneven Parts 2. Increase or decrease of Files ranking by uneven Parts 3. Files ranking intire into the Front and wheeling into the same 4. Ranks ranking to the right or left 5. Wheeling into both Flanks And of these I shall declare unto you as briefly as I may that your delight in the true understanding of them may not be neglected by the least obscurity Now the reason that I have demonstrated most with Figures is that the young Souldier may see how many Commands produce one and the same Figure their difference being only in quality and not in quantity 1. I shall begin with Files ranking by even parts that is when they rank two three or four keeping the same number in Rank all being in an equal proportion and if more what is wanting to make up the Ranks in the Command must be made good by the next Rank 1. Command Files rank three to the right Observe
in this motion the File leader is first to move unto that hand the Command is given And if six deep the half file leader is to advance the same way To reduce this Command Ranks file or invert to the right Then every File-leader lead up his File and rank to the right OR As you were 2. The uneven parts of Files ranking is when there is such an increase either of two three or more in each Rank so exceeding the Rank before it and these exceedings are termed in Arithmetick A Progressional Increase Or else by the decrease of each Rank following after 2. Command Files rank three first then by increase to the right two in each Division of Musquetteers and Pikes These are termed half Rombes or Wedges For Exercise sake you may make a Wedge or half Rombe of all twelve by 3. Command Files rank first two and by increase two from the whole Body You may alter the mixture of Armes at your discretion 4. Command is in the nature of a Rombe Files rank first two and by increase and decrease two in each Rank Divisionally both of Musquetteers and Pikes The reducement of these three last Commands is Ranks file as you were These Rombes and half Rombes or Wedges were much of use in the Graecian Wars Read the Tact. of Aelian pag. 108. But being not now so much in use I shall not spend much time in them but leave the desirous to the view of Captain Ward 5. Command Files rank to the Right or Left into the Front 6. Command Files rank to the Right or Left by wheeling into the Front I shall demonstrate both in this by Wheeling only observe there must be so much distance between each file as will contain each in rank To perform them Command Files open to the left to your double distance Ranks close forward to your close Order face to the right wheel all to the left until the whole Body be brought into one intire Rank 5. 6. Figure To reduce this Command Face to the Reer then the first six to the right wheel to the right When all have wheeled by sixes to the right then face them to their Leader and close their Files at discretion 7. Command Files rank into the Front and Reer by Division To perform this Command Files open to the left to your order Ranks close forward to your close order Half files face about to the right and face to the left then move all into the Front and Reer and make two intire Ranks When the distance is set Observe that those in motion are to face to the right flank To reduce this Command Front half files face about to the left reer half files face about to the right then wheel all into their respective Files then face them to their Leader and close their files at discretion Here might be inserted for variety and curiosity some more words of Command of Conversion of files ranking into the midst by Countermarches and by Wheelings But by what is demonstrated already you 'l find enough in them and I must look to be censured by some for what is done and conceiving the remainder to be useless I shall omit them to avoid a further censure and proceed to the Conversion of Ranks ranking in equal Parts 1. Conversion of Ranks ranking in equal Parts Observe that in Ranks ranking you may perform it with any number more or less as place and occasion may serve containing in every Rank an equality in Number And it is to be understood after this manner When there is twelve more or less marching a breast and by reason of some narrowness of passage or some other intent the Commander causeth his Souldiers to rank either two three five or seven c. according to the place or occasion 8. Command Ranks rank two to the right To perform this Command The two first in Rank to the right advance forwards the next two of the same Rank in the Reer of them until the first Rank have made six Ranks and in all 36 Ranks To reduce this Command Ranks rank twelve to the left Observe that the first rank stands the rest are to advance two and two until the whole rank of twelve be complete in one rank 9. Command Rank two to the right and left 1. Outward then 2. Inward To perform this outward Command The two outmost men upon the right and left hand advance forwards the next in the same Rank are to follow dividing themselves two to the right hand and two to the left hand so when the Work is finished there will be eighteen Ranks in each Division To reduce this Ranks as you were OR Rank twelve to the right and left inward 2. To perform it Inward Ranks rank two to the right and left inwards Command The two inmost men of the right and left hand in the midst of the Battail advance forwards the next in the same Rank are to follow two from the right hand and two from the left until the Work be finished making eighteen Ranks To reduce this Command Ranks as you were OR Ranks twelve to the right and left outwards I shall demonstrate one Figure of Ranks ranking in unequal parts which is rather to satisfie the curious than of any absolute necessity Vnequal Parts 10. Command Ranks rank 1 3 5 7 9 11. by increase and decrease as they stand in a Body To perform this The right hand man of the first rank march forth then the three next of the same rank follow in the reer of him then five more out of the same rank to make the third and what is wanting in the first rank of the Body to make good the fourth in Figure must be taken out of the second in body and so to proceed in the remainder both for its increase and decrease until your Command be produced To reduce this Command Right hand men rank twelve as you were 11. Command Ranks rank intire to the Right or Left into the Front To perform this Let the first rank stand every rank else face to the right and move away to the right successively placing themselves on the right hand of each rank until they all stand in one intire rank in the Front Figure 11. To reduce this Command Ranks rank as you were OR Ranks rank twelve to the left the second falls into the reer of the first the third into the reer of the second and so all successively until they be reduced 12. Command Ranks rank intire into the Front every man placing himself on the outside of his Right or Left hand man by Countermarch To perform this to the right hand man The first rank stands the rest moves away to the right on the outside of the right hand man The precedent reducement will reduce this OR Ranks rank twelve to the left each placing himself on the outside of his left hand man 13. Command Ranks rank 1. Outward 2. Inward into the Front 1. To
perform it outwards Command The first rank to stand the rest to face to the right and left outwards the second rank to advance clear of the first and then to move forth even with the Front in breast and all the rest successively do the same until they be all even with the Front in one intire rank To reduce this Ranks as you were OR The first 12 or 12 middlemost stand the rest face to the right and left inwards the second to move into the reer of the first rank the third into the reer of the second and successively the rest into the reer of the remainder and being faced to their Leader and even in their ranks they are reduced 2. To perform it Inwards Command Ranks rank inward into the Front To produce it the first rank to move to the right and left outwards and so to keep moving or opening then the second rank is to advance into the ground of the first and the second is then to move with the first to the right and left outwards then the third is to advance into the place of the second rank so all are to do until the last rank is advanced intire into the Front To reduce this The first six upon the right and left hand stand then Command Ranks rank six to the right and left outwards And close your Divisions Lastly the Conversion of Ranks by wheeling into the Flanks 14. Command Ranks wheel to the Right or Left into the right Flank To perform this Command Every particular rank to be at double Distance in rank and at close Order in file Then Wheel them to their right hand until they have brought their Faces or Aspects unto the right Flank After you may face them to the Front To reduce this Command Files rank twelve to the right The first man is to stand the rest is to move forward to the right successively twelve in rank But if you wheel them to the left hand into the right flank you must command them to face about and wheel your ranks to the left hand until their Faces or Aspects be brought to the right Flank 15. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half files wheel outwards to your right Flank I shall put in execution but two Ranks one in the Front half files and the other of the Reer half files which is sufficient for Demonstration To perform this Command Ranks open all to your twice double distance then Front half files wheel to the right and Reer half files wheel to the left And face to your Leader To reduce them Command Front half files rank twelve to the right Reer half files rank twelve to the left Face to your Leader march up and close forwards to your due distance 16. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half Files wheel inwards into your right Flank To perform this Command Front and Reer half files march clear to your twice double distance Front and Reer half files face about Front half files wheel your Ranks to the left and Reer half files wheel your Ranks to the right Face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front half files rank twelve to the left Reer half files face about and rank twelve to the right Face to your Leader and close your Divisions 17. Command Ranks rank to each Flank by wheeling to the right and left into the same by Division OR Ranks wheel to the right and left by Division into both Flanks advancing or placing themselves before their right and left hand men Observe they are to be at double distance in Rank and at Order in File Figure 17. To reduce them Command them to face to the Reer and wheel into their places OR Files rank twelve to the right and left inward into the Reer and close them to their order then face them to their Leader But if you would avoid mixture of Arms you may place all your Musquetteers either in Front and Reer Or else wheel only the Musquetteers first and leave the Pikes standing Or else it may be performed in marching and then the Reducement is Ranks as you were 18. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half files wheel outwards to your right and left Flank by Division They are to observe the same distance as in the former To perform this Command Half files face about Ranks open to your double distance then Front and Reer half files wheel to the right and left outwards into both Flanks Figure 18. To reduce this Command Who being faced to their Leader Front half files face to the Reer rank twelve to the right and left inwards And Reer half files face about and rank twelve to the right and left inward Files close to the midst to your order Face to your Leader CHAP. XIV Of making File-Leaders successively both of Number and Place in a File and so for a whole Body The Sweedish Mode also AS I have stinted my self to a set Number of Files so I have also to a set Number in a File not exceeding six being according to our present Mode of Discipline for if I had gone to a various Number in Files and added two to each File my Figures had been more delightful to some Spectators others I hope will find enough in this to qualifie or make them fit to do their King and Country service c. And now the Souldery having marched sometimes together and so loving being Souldiers indeed by reason of such experiences as they have attained unto in the exercise of this Military Art that each Leader is willing his follower should take his place which is a great incouragement to an ingenious Souldier This ought not to be slighted because it is profitable to a Commander to bring what Ranks he pleaseth to lead in the Front and to exchange them again and at last to bring the proper File-Leaders into their places Besides the incouragement it hath in private exercises it makes men studious whereby they may be able to Command in their respective Files when they are become Leaders In the first place take these short Commands to produce them as followeth Command 1. A File-Leader 2. Rank two to the left and Files to the left double 3. Countermarch Front and Reer into the midst and face to that part which was the Reer 4. Face about to the right 5. Countermarch from the Reer into the midst and face to that which was the Reer 6. Files rank two to the right and Files to the right double This being performed they are reduc'd I shall demonstrate by Tables the succession of each man's Leading and give you some or several Words of Command according to my own and others severally that shall produce such Leader into his place as they shall stand in sequence and as they shall also stand in their respective Dignities The Front and standings of each File as they come to be Leaders according to various Commands A File       Â
termed a Macedonian Countermarch In all which there is Countermarchings of Files Ranks The Front The Reer half files Half Ranks And these may all be performed by intire or divisional Countermarches 1. The Countermarchings of Files is when every Souldier followeth his leader 2. The Countermarchings of Ranks is when every Souldier followeth his side man 3. The Front and Reer half Files Countermarchings is when the Souldier shall follow their File leaders or Bringers up 4. The Countermarchings of half Ranks is when the Souldier shall follow their outside men I shall in the first place shew how Intire and Divisional Countermarches are performed by files and Ranks 1. Observe That in the execution hereof your distance is to be at six foot in rank and file 2. When you are to Countermarch to the right the file leaders are to step forward with their right legs and face about to the right passing down to the Reer with their respective File following them keeping even a breast with their right handmen and to be sure not to turn before they be advanced to the ground of their File leaders 3. All Intire Countermarches of Files or ranks may be reduced by contrary Countermarches If the Command be to the right reduce them to the left And so for Contermarchings of the Front Reer or flanks into the midst reduce them back from the midst It shall be my endeavour to demonstrate how all Intire and divisional Countermarches shall lye under these three heads Of Mantaining Losing and Gaining of ground First of Countermarches maintaining Ground In the second precedent rule it will not be amiss to cast your eye back for your better direction by which you 'l be able to pass these Countermarches with greater delight and Order 1. Command Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch To perform this Let the file leaders step forward with their right legs and march even in Rank to the Reer and none to turn off until he come to his File leaders Ground To reduce this Command Files to the left hand Countermarch 2. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch To perform this Face them to the Right and the right hand file is to turn off to the right and to march even to the Ground of the left hand file You may reduce this by Ranks Countermarching to the left 3. Command Countermarch your Front and Reer into the midst To perform this Command Half files face about and turn to off the left Front half files turn off to the right and face to your leader You may reduce this figure by doing the same over again Or else by any other divisional Countermarch 4. Command Front and Reer half files countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left You may reduce this Figure by doing the same over again OR By Countermarching Front and Reer into the midst 5. Command Countermarch your Front and Reer half files to right and left from the midst To perform this Command Front half files face about and turn off to the right and Reer half files turn off to your left then face to your leader To reduce this Command To Countermarch from the midst into the Front and Reer The three last figures by command are several but the figures are still one and the same in quantity but not in quality or motion as you may perceive c. 6. Command Countermarch your flanks into the midst To perform this Command them to face to the right and left outwards the right flank turn off to the right and left flank turn off to the left until they meet in the midst To reduce them Command Countermarch from the midst to the right and left into both flanks 7. Command Right and left half Ranks interchange your ground To perform this Face to the right and left inward and march all and interchange your ground This is of no great use except it be when the right or left flank hath fought that then the reserved flank may come into service also You may reduce them by interchanging of them back again OR Divisionally to Countermarch their flanks into the midst of the Battel Secondly Countermarches lofing ground 1. Command Files to the Right or Left hand Countermarch placing your selves before your bringers up To performe this Command The bringers up to face about to the right then the file leaders with the rest successively to turn off upon the same ground he stands And on the same hand the Command is given so to place themselves accordingly You may easily reduce them by any other Countermarch of files 2. Command The last Rank stand the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left placing your selves behind your bringers up To perform this As the last Rank is to stand and keep their first aspect let all the rest face about to the right and march all turning successively behind their bringers up To reduce them you may pass them through or else Countermarch by file into their places 3. Command Front and Reer half files Countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left From the midst every man placing himself before his leader and bringer up To perform this Command The first rank of the front half files to stand the rest to face about and turn off to the right half file leaders face about and turn off to the left and both to march clear of the Front and Reer following their half file leaders and bringers up of the front half files To reduce this by an other Countermarch 4. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch losing ground To perform this to the right As in maintaining ground upon their turning off the rest march into the same place or ground and turn off also as in figure 2. Now this of losing ground altereth only in this the outmost file is to face to the right about until he hath directly faced the left flank and so to gain so much ground upon the left flank as they have lost upon the right OR That they have placed themselves on the outside or before of their left hand men 5. Command Ranks to the right hand Countermarch each following his right hand man and place himself on the outside of his left hand man To perform this Command The left hand file to stand the out most file to the right turn about to the right as to make his aspect or face to the left then move forward until he be clear of the second file losing the ground he stood upon and gain it again on the outside of the left flank To reduce this figure may be done by a contrary Countermarch 6. Command The right and left hand file upon each flank face to the right and left outwards the rest pass through placing your selves before your outmost files Observe files become ranks by their faceing To performe this Command The right hand file to face to the right and the left hand file to
the left and then the rest of the body to turn their aspects accordingly place themseves before their right left hand men To reduce them Command them to Countermarch to the right and left into the midst of the Battel OR Command If they be faced to the proper Front The two inmost files to stand the rest pass through to the right and left inward and close their divisions 8. Command The two outmost files of each flank face to the right and left inward the rest pass through to the right and left and place yourselves behind your outside men To perform this Command The right and left hand file of each flank face inward and the rest of the Body are to face to the right and left outwards then all are to move forwards and to place themselves behind their right and left hand men Else the motion is the same as the former To reduce this Command The two innermost files face to the right and left outwards and the rest pass through to the right and left inwards placing themselves behind their right and left hand men Then face them to their leaders Now if it be the Commanders pleasure to reduce them by any other word of Command it may be done by the precedent words of Command or of the next following or of any other divisional Countermarch except interchanging of ground 8. Command The outmost file of each flank stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves on the outside of your right and left hand men The ninth figure is the same as this if faced to their leader To perform this The outmost files of each flank stands the rest of the body faceth to the right and left outward and so passing forwards through the intervalls into each flank place themselves on the outside of their right and left hand men To reduce this may be performed by any of the foregoing Countermarches of ranks Or else being faced to any of the flanks then the Ranks become files and by divisional Countermarches of files you may reduce divisional Countermarches of Ranks OR By Ranks files only some facings must be observed For the proper Reducement Command The two inmost Ranks to stand the rest to face to the right and left inward and so march into their places 9. Command The right and lelft hand files upon each flank stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves on the outside of your right and left hand men following your inmost files Observe in the performance of this the two inmost-files are to be first in motion But first Command The two outmost files of each flank to stand and the rest of the Body to face to their right and left outwards so moving away first from the midst until they have successively placed themselves on the outside of their right and left hand men you may close their files into the midst to open Order The reducement of the eight figure will reduce this also 10. Command Front and Reer half files Countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand interchanging ground To perform this Command Half files to face about and turn off to the right front half files doing the like move forwards until they be clear one of an other six foot then face to their leader if you please and close their divisions A Countermarch interchanging of ground will reduce them and then close c. 11. Command Front and Reer half files to the right hand interchange ground You may reduce this interchanging of ground as they were or by some other word of Command Thirdly Countermarches to gain ground 1. Command The file leaders stand the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left and place your selves before your leaders The Command is so plain that there needeth no directions Only if your command be to place your selves behind your leaders then the file leaders are to face about and the rest are to execute it as the former only in placing themselves they are to turn their aspect behind their leaders And then Commanding them to place themselves before their leaders will reduce them 2. Command File leaders face about to the right and stand Bringers up with the rest following them pass through to the right and place your selves behind your leaders Face to your leaders To reduce this you may do it by the same Command or by the first Command 3. Command File leaders stand and the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left placing your selves before your file leaders following your Bringers up This is the same with the second figure only in their work they are to keep their aspect to the Front And the reducement the same also 4. Command File leaders and half file leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and place your selves before your file leaders and half file leaders You may reduce this by the same Countermarch or any other Divisional Countermarch 5. Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and place your selves behind your Leaders and half file-leaders following your Bringers-up The file-leaders and half file-leaders are only to face about to the right and to stand the motion is the same with the fourth Figure but in taking their places they are to face to the Reer The Reducement as the former 6. Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves behind your Leaders and half file-leaders c. I need not demonstrate this it being the same with the fifth and sixth only in the motion they are to pass to the right and left outwards And is reduced as the former 7. Command File-leaders to face about the rest pass through to the right and place your selves behind your Leaders and Bringers up To perform this Command The first Rank is to face about and stand then the two last Ranks from the Reer i. e. the fourth and fifth Ranks are to face to the Reer and move all c. The former Directions upon any Divisional Countermarch will reduce this 8. Command The outmost File of the right face to the right the rest pass through to the Right or Left and place your selves Before or Behind your right hand men If your Command be behind your right hand men then the right hand file is but to face to the left I shall not trouble you with them conceiving them of no great use You may reduce these by a contrary Countermarch 9. Command The outmost File of the right hand stand and the right hand File of the left half Rank stand and the rest pass through and place your selves on the outside of your right hand men Face to your Leader The same is done on the left hand And if you place them before their left hand men then face them all to the right and so let them pass through observing the
motion And if you place them behind their right hand men then let the right hand men face about to the left and the rest pass through and fall behind them Figure 9. A Counter word of Command will reduce them c. There are many Countermarches that produce one and the same Figure provided you close your Divisions and face them to their proper Front only they differ in place First therefore you may briefly observe that in those Countermarches that Maintain their Ground the first second third fourth and fifth Commands then in losing of ground the first second third fourth fifth tenth and eleventh Commands and in gaining of Ground the first second third fourth fifth sixth and seventh do and will produce one and the same Figure Secondly Also for maintaining of Ground the sixth and seventh and in losing of Ground the sixth seventh and eighth and also in gaining of Ground the ninth Commands produce one and the same Figures Oserve For the Countermarchings of half Ranks see in the doublings of the Flanks thirteenth and fourteenth Commands they producing the same Figures as the eleventh and twelfth Figures by all which you will the better understand the one for the other Although Countermarches are of great Antiquity and used amongst the Graecians yet it is not much of use in our present Mode of Discipline Therefore to conclude though knowledge of them be no burthen yet to be exercised in the face of an Enemy may prove prejudicial and the best expert in this Art allow that they may be best spared of any motions whatever CHAP. XVI Of Wheelings I Am to treat of Wheelings and the several uses of them as to the strengthening of the Front Reer and both Flanks Before you enter upon them take these four Observations 1. That you close your Ranks and Files to your Order 3. Foot 2. That in all your Wheelings you keep a due distance to your Leader 3. That in all Commands for Wheelings such moderation is to be used in their motions that they on the contrary flank be not forced by running to disorder themselves 4. That your Arms be at such Postures as may be equivalent to each other This is If the Musquets be poysed the Pikes are to be advanced which are the Postures best to be used in these Motions There are two sorts of Wheelings First Angular Wheelings Secondly Wheelings on the midst or Center I shall not use the word Center for it is more proper to a Circular body than to a square These in their Motions or Actions are termed either Intire or Divisional 1. Intire Wheelings are for the gaining of ground upon the Enemy or to fight him with your best men as occasion serveth turning the first Aspect wholly to the Command given 2. Divisional Wheelings being performed extend the Battle either in length or depth And may for the most part of them be called Doublings I have in the exercise of Doublings demonstrated some of them by Figures and shall not recite them here again but quote them by their several numbers of Commands First I shall begin with Angular Wheelings And they so called because the corner man to which the Aspect is commanded is the main hinge of the motion Observe the Wheelings to the right and to the left To the right and left about are termed Angular And for the Wheelings to the right and left and to the right and left about on the same Ground are Wheelings on the midst of the Front all which are Intire the other Divisional Center 1. Command Wheel your Body all or your Battle to the 1. Right Intire Angular Wheelings or 2. Left This Wheeling moves the main Body from the Ground whereon it first stood and placeth it on the right Flank causing the Aspects of the proper Front to be upon the same Observe that the right hand man is to move to the right hand with a very small Motion and every man else to remember that the farther off he is from the Right Angle the swifter must his motion be To reduce them Wheel to the left But this will not transfer them to the same Ground But to reduce them to their first Aspect on the same Ground you must face them all to the right then wheel them to the left and facing them to the left it is compleâted 2. Command Wheel your Body all or your Battle to the 1. Right or 2. Left about This turneth the Aspect towards the Reer Now by reason the motion is twice as much as the former there ought to be the greater care had in the performance of it observing so much the motion of the right hand man that they fail not of being even in Rank with him To reduce them to their first Ground face to the right wheel to the left about then face them to the left Although to the left about may reduce them but not on the same Ground You may observe that Wheelings are the most facil for their Reducements as for Example Wheel your Flanks into the Front is reduced by wheeling your Flanks into the Reer OR To wheel your Front and Reer into both Flanks is reduced by Wheeling both Flanks into your Front and Reer c. Secondly I proceed to Wheelings on the midst or Center of the Front which are Intire and Divisional and are quicker in their motions and performed on less Ground 1. Command Wheel your battle to the 1. Right 2. Left on the same ground Intire This is termed Grove Van Nawsaw's Wheeling But it is a wonder to me why our Antient and Modern Writers call these Commands Wheelings on the same Ground when I am sure there will be ground lost in the motion from the first they stood upon In a direct square this may be better performed and less loss of Ground To perform this Command The left Flank advance forward still wheeling to the right and the right flank contrarywise facing to the left and keep falling backwards even in Reer with the left half ranks and so still moving unto the place commanded face all to the right flank You may wheel to the left also To reduce this Wheel your Battle to the left on the same Ground 2. Command Wheel your Body to the 1. Right or 2. Left about on the same Ground The direction to the former will serve for the performance of this only the motion is double as much and their faces are turned from the first Front toward the Reer To reduce this wheel your Battle to the left about on the same Ground Divisional Wheelings Bingham 2. part Tactic pag. 92. 3. Command Wheel to the right and left from the Front OR Wheel off your Front by Division Or if you will not go so far then wheel your Front into the Flanks by Division This wheeling your Front into the Flanks by Division produceth the same Figure with Figure â If upon occasion Musquetteers be on the Front of the Pikes by
this motion they will flank their Pikes But otherwise being to be performed in a standing Body the Pikes will flank the Musquetteers and may easily he performed The File-leaders of the right flank with their respective Files are to wheel about to the right and the File-leaders of the left flank are to wheel about to the left and close their Divisions Figure performed To reduce them wheel them off by Division again from the Reer of by the fourth Command 4. Command Wheel your Body inward to the Reer If this be to reduce the former it is presupposed the Commander is in the head of the first proper Front then the Pikes will be in the midst of the Battle as at first again But if reduced without this Command the Pikes will be in the Flanks ready to defend the Musquetteers from the fury of the Horse To perform this Command the Body to open from the midst to the right and left to such a distance as they may turn off to the right and left This I shall not demonstrate to you in Figure because the precedent Figure performed will give light to the execution of this and so for the next Command 5. Command Wheel off your Body from the Reer into the Front To perform this face them to the Reer then to the right and left and wheel them inward to the Front To reduce the fourth Command and this also Wheel them off again to the right and left by Division 6. Command Wheel off your Front and Reer into the right Flank These Commands following will produce the same Figure Wheel of your Body by Division from the left Flank OR Wheel your left Flank into the Front and Reer OR Wheel your right Flank into the midst To perform this sixth Command Command them to face to the right this done they must wheel together about the third and fourth men in the right hand File the Front Division wheeling to the right and the Reer Division to the left until the Bringers-up meet with the File-leader Figure 6. To reduce this it may be performed several ways as the Body may be faced If they stand faced to the right then wheel your Flanks into the Reer and being faced to their proper Front they are reduced But if faced to the Front then wheel the Front and Reer into the left Flank But for the performance of the same Command into another Figure It is but to pass through your Musquetteers from the left Flank to the right then the same Command will bring all the Pikes into the Front 7. Command Wheel your Body inward to the right Flank from the left To perform this Command To face to the right then open to the right and left to a convenient distance c. Figure 7. To reduce this it may be done several ways as the former at the discretion of the Commander This produceth the same Figure as the sixth only it is altered in motion therefore I thought good to demonstrate it although Wheelings in this nature is difficult 8. Command Wheel off to the right and left inward to the Front To perform this let them open to the right and left from the midst and then wheel c. This Figure when performed is serviceable against the Horse because all the Pikes are in the Front and stand according to this Figure To reduce them is by wheeling them off to the Reer 9. Command Wheel your Flanks into the Front This is perform'd folio 62. Command 16. where you may see the diversity of words of Command for the producement of it 10. Command Wheel your Flanks into the Reer The former Command folio 60. being reversed will serve for your better intelligence herein 11. Command Wheel Front and Reer into the right Flank This is performed folio 78. Command 19. 12. Command Wheel both Flanks into the Front and Reer OR Front and Reer half files wheel off by Division inwards into the midst of Ranks To reduce it by another word of Command Right and left half Ranks wheel from the midst inward to the Front and Reer To perform this Command Half files face to the Reer Front half files and Reer half files move all together and wheel off your Divisions to the right and left Then face them to their proper Front and close their Divisions To reduce them The reducement of the next Figure will serve for both 13. Command Wheel Front and Reer into both Flanks To perform this from the precedent Figure Face to the right and left outward observing the former direction and giving due distance for the motion There are several Commands that will produce this Figure Wheel off your Body by Division from the midst of the Battle into the right and left Flank OR Wheel the midst of your Body by Division into the Front and Reer OR Wheel your right and left Flank into the midst OR Right and left Ranks wheel off by Division to the midst of Files To reduce this Wheel Front and Reer into the midst of the Battle OR By Wheeling the Flanks into the midst of the Battle if faced OR If you please to face the Body to one of the Flanks then wheel Front and Reer into both flanks and face them to their proper Front and close their Divisions 14. Command Left half Ranks wheel off to the right and left and double your right Flank by Division Folio 79. Command 20. 15. Command Front and Reer half Files wheel off by Division Folio 78. and Command 19. 16. Command Right and left half Ranks wheel off by Division from the midst of Files To perform this Command them to face to the right and left inwards and then let them move backwards to such a convenient distance as to wheel off from the midst of Files To reduce them wheel off to the right and left inwards I need not trouble you with more Angular Wheelings either wheeling them outwards to the right and left about from the midst of the Battle Part of Aelian's Tacticks chap. 36. 34. 46. or inwards to the midst because the demonstration of the former may give light unto all such c. and I conceive them not of such absolute necessity But I must advise that those Intire and Divisional Wheelings may be diligently learnt and practised as being of great use in this Military Art I have in all my method demonstrated the Commands by their Figures to the right hand you may easily command the same to the left hand and the Reducements accordingly You will find to several Countermarches and Wheelings no Reducements directed for them because they may be reduced the same way back as was commanded or by some other Command as directed I know but little more to be invented for the secure Exercise of a Foot Company and because I would not be singular I have demonstrated some that may be better spared than practised in service however here is for all Some may make use of what is necessary to the
than for publick Service 5. Command Give fire to the right and place your selves even in Front with the Pikes marching up between the midst of the Pikes Observe in the performance hereof the Pikes as they march are to open to the right and left and the fired Musquetteers are to be lead up according to Command To reduce this Command 1. Pikes to face inwards 2. Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards 3. Pass all through and interchange Ground 4. Face to your Leader 6. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right placing your selves on the outside of the left Flank of Pikes If you will reduce this without any firing you may Command the right half Ranks to pass through your Ranks of Pikes The Ingenious may find many ways for the Reducement Or when all the Musquetteers are on the left flank you may fire them over again and they are reduced 7. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and to the Reer placing your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions Having placed your left flank of Musquetteers in the Reer A useful firing then Command The outmost file upon the right flank are to face to the right and the last rank of Musquetteers in the Reer are to face about and both are to present and give fire together and having fired the outermost file upon the right hand faceth to the left and marcheth after their Leader in the interval between the Musquets and the Pikes They are to march a reasonable pace and the rank fired in the Reer is to wheel to the right placing it self in the Reer of Pikes c. This is easily reduced by commanding the Musquetteers to draw off into the left flank again Observe that flank that is farthest from the Enemy ought to be drawn into the Reer 8. Command Musquetteers give fire to both Flanks marching and place your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions To perform this the outermost file of each flank presents outward 9. Command The Body standing Advance your Pikes Musquetteers and Pikes face to the right and left Musquetteers present and give fire to both flanks and flank your Pikes The outermost file upon the right and left flank presents and fires wheeling off by Division ranking or flanking the Pikes as they stand faced leaving such a distance as the rest may securely follow them every rank is to fire upon the same Ground and wheel off by Division after the same manner From this Figure as they will stand after firing there may be produced a great many brave Figures but now I must leave them to the skilful Artist To reduce this Command The Musquetteers to march all until they are clear of the Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and close their Divisions and face them to their Leader 10. Command Because it may easily be produced from the precedent Figure it shall be from the first Figure of firing in the Front and Reer Chap. 19. the Body being faced to the right and left will be a firing to both Flanks 11. Command Shall be a firing to right Flank and to the Front and Reer Left half Ranks double your right Flank by Division You may face the Divisions any way which you intend for their firing After firing they are to wheel off into their own Divisions every Rank moving into his Leaders Ground To reduce them face them to their proper Front then Command half Ranks that doubled face to the left and so march into your places See the doubling of Flanks Figure 17. CHAP. XXI Of several Divisional Firings I Might here make mention of a great many Figures for firings some serviceable and others not but all left to the judicious for censure and to make use of the best yet none useless for delight or Garden Exercises The Figures cannot be perfect because I am tied to the exercise but of twelve Files four of them Pikes and eight Musquetteers it being a Number that our Western Commanders can make use of and no more yet any who may be capable to perform them will be able to invent others and command the production of such like in geater Numbers and with better delight 1. Command The two outmost Files upon each Flank stand the two inmost half Ranks of the Reer face about to the right the two inmost half Ranks both of Front and Reer march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then half Files rank to the right and left inwards by wheeling into the Front For the Pikes open them to the right and left from the midst then Command the right and left hand File of Pikes to stand the Reer half Files of the remainder face about to the right then both half Files rank to the right and left inward into the Front and Reer This Figure in great Bodies must be performed otherways and may be very serviceable against the Horse the Pikes may advance into the Front of Musquetteers to secure them against the Horses fury if occasion shall serve After their first firing and wheeling off to the right and left in the Reer of their own Divisions then when the Pikes are defending them from the Horse let them fire over the Pikes This being done pass through the Musquetteers before the several Fronts of Pikes as they were before any firing To reduce them Command Face the Front and Reer to the right and left inwards The Front and Reer Ranks of Pikes file to the right and left inwards the right and left hand files of Pikes close to the right and left inwards and close all to the midst Then Command the Front and Reer Ranks of Musquetteers file to the right and left inward face in opposition and march into your places closing the whole Body to their close Order and open them again to their Order Evening of their Ranks and streightning of their Files they are reduced 2. Command and Direction Musquetteers open six foot to the right and left Front half Files of the right Flank of Musquetteers Advance intire into the Front of Pikes The Reer Division of the left Flank of Musquetteers face about to the right and double intire the Reer of the Pikes The Front Division of Musquetteers of the left face about to the right and march even in breast with the Reer half Files of Pikes The Front half Files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march until you are clear c. Face them to their Leader To reduce them The Front Division of Musquetteers face to the right and march into your places Reer Division of Musquetteers face to the left and march forth into your places Front half Files of Pikes face in opposition and close your Divisions The left flank of Musquetteers advance even with the Front of Pikes Musquetteers close to the right and left inward and face them to their Leader And they are reduced 3. Command Front half Files face to the right and left
when he heareth it sounded in the Field he must retire to them with all Speed 4. Tucquet Or March When this is sounded he is presently to March in which he is to observe his right-hand man and to follow after his Leader 5. Charga Or Charge When this is sounded by and with the examples or directions of his Commander the Souldier is to give proof of his valour in the speedy charging of his Enemy 6. Auquet Or Watch When this is sounded at night the Souldier is to repaire to the place for mounting of the Guard for Watch Or at the morning for dismounting of the Guards I have read of another sound called Attende Hoe for listening unto A call for summons A Senat for State and the like This when sounded the Souldier is to hearken unto it that he may the better be able to perform those Edicts that shall be then commanded The third and last Military Signe is 3. A Mute That is by signes to the eye as by the Cornets Colours or other motions by the hand of the Commander c. You see there are two principal senses of Advertisements the Eare and the Eye the true observation and use of these signes availeth much in Warr for he that is negligent in either may not only lose himself but be the cause of the loss of many others so that by being careless herein Victory it self is often lost How careful ought every Souldier then to be that by silence he may the beter hearken to all Commands that by the Vigilancy of his eye he may the better observe Vide Chap. 5. every sign that may by given For Vegetius saith that nothing profiteth more to Victory than to obey the Admonitions of signes CHAP. V. For the Marching and drawing up of a Troop of Horse EVery Troop of Horse must be furnished with a Captain Lieutenant Cornet and a Quartermaster two Trumpeters a Clark a Sadler a Chirurgeon and a Farrier And every Troop is usually divided into three equal parts each of which is called a Squadron and are severally known by the Captain 's Lieutenant's and Cornet's Squadron acordingly there are three Corporals There are as great diversitie of judgements almost as Authors about the placing of some Officers either in their marchings of a single Troop or being drawn up into a Battalia Some would have the Captain and one Trumpet in the front Then the Cornet leading of his Squadron and the third to be lead by the Eldest Corporal and the Junior Corporal in the reer Ward fo 26. with the Lieutenant who hath the command of a Trumpet with him Markham varieth something from this and but little only the two junior Corporals to be extravagant in the March who are so ordered on purpose to keep the Souldiers in their Ranks and to be orderly in their March Both Ward and Markham marcheth six in file but Ward marcheth Five in Rank and Markham Four only Others again differ in placing of Officers both in March and Battalia as Walhawsen would have the Harquebuzier to March eight in File and the Cuiraster ten in File But Markham and Ward being later Discipliners in this Art Military I shall only insert two platformes accordingly These of Markham and of Captain Ward are decyphered six in File and a File so drawn is distinguished according to their dignity of Place a Leader a Follower two Middlemen a Follower and a Bringer up The Ancient Dignity of a File 1 Dignity of place 1 H Leader 2 5 h Follower 3 4 H Middle man to the front 4 3 H Middle man to the reere 5 6 h Follower 6 2 H Bringer up Cruso exerciseth eight deep and therefore useless to our mode of fighting for our Custome is to make the Horse but three in File I shall not stand to answer the objections on both sides but shall leave it to the most expert in this Art I conceive it enough that our late experience hath taught otherwise And our present discipline being in practice to the Contrary Accordingly here shall follow a Troop of threescore Horse marching with each Officer in his respective place and also the form of a Troop drawn up in a body And when you march through any City or Town Observe your Pistols must be loaded and so fixed that you may be in a readyness to fire when ever occasion may be offered and command given having one of your Pistols drawn forth of your Holster mounting your muzzel and resting the butt end thereof upon your Thigh A Troop marching to our present mode A Troop drawn up In the March some place the Quartermaster to lead up the Lieutenant's Squadron and the two other Corporals to be extravagant that is to view and see each Souldier to keep his place In private exercises it is not denied but the Quartermaster may lead up the Lieutenant's Squadron But it is conceived best to place the Quarter-master in the Reere for it is presupposed that he is or may be to take up Quarters c. CHAP. VI. The Exercising of a Troop as Armed with a Carabine and Pistol THe Horse being in a body to exercise and to make the Souldier more able to handle his armes when he shall be called forth to fight The words of Command shall follow Notwithstanding there is but little difference between the words of Command for the Pistol with a Snaphans and the Carabine I shall however give them severally Although Mounting to Horse is no Posture of Arms and but a preparative to exercise and Service I shall presuppose the Souldiers to be dismounted annd stand ready by their Horses in a body The word of Command according to our English mode is To horse Now all being ready to Mount must be careful that his Horse be well girt c. And as a preparative to Exercise there is another word of Command Silence Without there be silence in the body the Souldier in no wise can distinctly hear what is commanded by the chief Officer It is the Souldiers Ear and care to preserve the body from fractions and where Silence is not diligently performed the Souldier doth not only fail in his motions but the event will be naught for it is the very footstep to rashness And it is as Livius saith Temeritas praeterquam quòd stulta est etiam infoelix not only foolishness but infortunate The words of Command for the Carabine All the Carabines being dropt let fall and hanging by their Swivells The Postures are as followeth Silence being commanded 1. Handle your Carabine Postures 2. Mount your Carabine Some terme this Order and others against that because it 's proper to the Pike placing your butt end upon your Thigh 3. Rest your Carabine in your bridle hand 4. Bend your cock to half bent 5. Guard or secure your cock 6. Prime your Pan. 7. Shut your pan or fix your hammer 8. Sink your Carabine on your left side 9. Gage your flask 10. Lade your
Carabine 11. Draw forth your scouring stick or Rammer 12. Shorten your Rammer 13. Lade with Bullet and Ramm home 14. With-draw your Rammer or scowring stick 15. Return your scowring stick 16. Recover and rest your Carabine in your bridle hand 17. Fix your Hammer or Steel 18. Free your Cock 19. Present your Carabine In presenting of the Carabine he must rest it upon his bridle Arm placing the butt end to the right side near the shoulder or at length with his right hand 20. Give fire Note That the Carabine is to be fired about twelve foot distance and to be levelled at the knees of your Enemies Horse because that by the strength of the Powder and motion of the Horse your shot may be at Random 21. Drop or let fall your Carabine These Postures may serve for the Harquebuz but observe when at any time you make your Approaches towards an Enemy your Carabine is to be mounted with the butt end on your thigh with your hand above the lock and so when you march through any Town or City otherwise to be dropt Here follow the Commands for the Pistols Postures 1. Vncape your Pistols 2. Draw forth your Pistols This must be performed with the right hand the left Pistol first and then to mount the Muzzel 3. Order your Pistol Rest your Pistol a little in your bridle hand and then immediately take your Pistol near the middle part of it and place the butt end upon your thigh 4. Sink or rest your Pistol in your bridle hand 5. Bend your Cock or draw up your Cock to half bent 6. Secure or Guard your Cock 7. Open your Pan. 8. Prime your Pan. 9. Shut your Pan or order your Hammer or Steel 10. Cast about your Pistols Which is to be done against your left thigh with your muzzel upwards in your bridle hand 11. Gage your Flasks 12. Lade your Pistols with Powder For your more speedy lading of your Pistols there is lately invented a small powder flask with a suitable charge but it is not to be denied but your Cartroaches are very serviceable 13. Draw forth your Rammer 14. Shorten your Rammer 15. Lade with Bullet and ram home 16. With-draw your Rammer 17. Shorten your Rammer 18. Return your Rammer 19. Recover your Pistol 20. Fix or order your Hammer or Steel 21. Free your Cock 22. Bend your Cock at full bent 23. Present your Pistols 24. Give fire In the firing of your Pistols you are not to fire directly forwards to your Enemies horses head but towards the right hand with the lock of the Pistol upwards 25. Return your Pistol c. The Souldier having fired and returned his Pistol if time will permit him so to do he is to take himself to the use of the sword his sword being drawn and placed in his bridle hand near to the hilt of the sword and having received it into his weapon hand for service must place the pummel upon his right thigh and so to raise his point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth and therewith to endeavour to disable his Enemy either by cutting his Horses bridle or other his Arms that he serveth in which if discreetly managed will prove perilous to them And further it is very requisite that the Harquebuzier and Carabinier be often exercised to shoot bullets at a mark that in time they may be approved marks-men In order to which they are to take special care not to over-charge their peeces with powder as it is too much an errour in many endeavouring more for a report than for execution Wherefore there ought not to be in proportion for any peece but almost half as much the weight in Powder of the bullet or the Diameter and half of the peece is charge enough And it ought to be the special care of every Commander to see that his Souldiers be served with good powder and well cast bullets and that their bullets be directly fit to their Carabines and Pistols I should now come to shew you what is to be learned by a Souldier for the better demeaning of himself being joyned in a body But shall not in this place shew at large what is meant by a File or Rank half files or half ranks front Read in the exercise of the foot pag. flanks or reer because it will spend too much time and our late unhappy differences have given some light thereunto besides there is so much writ of them in several Treatises of the Infantry that it would be too much trouble here to treat thereupon CHAP. VII Of Distance EVery Troop consisteth of Ranks and Files Note That in drawing up of a Troop it must be performed by files not by Ranks and by squadrons as Chap. 5. In Order to distance I must briefly declare what a File and a Rank is A File is a sequent Number certain See Foot Ch. 3. standing head to crupper in a straight line from the Front to the Reer and according to our Mode of Discipline consisteth of three Persons 1 h 2 h 3 h A Rank is a Row of men uncertain in Number Pouldron to Pouldron even in breast be they more or less according to the quantity of Souldiers as it falls out to make a Rank There are to be observed two sorts of distances or orders in File and Rank Viz. Close Open Order Close Order in Files is three foot or as occasion serveth closing knee to knee Open Order in files is six foot Close Order in Ranks is three foot or as occasion serveth closing to the Horses crupper Open Order in Ranks is six foot And herein you must further know that there is a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavalry and the Infantry In the Foot the distance is taken from the Souldiers body which cannot be understood in this place but only of space of ground between Horse and Horse CHAP. VIII Of Motions There be four kind of Motions Facings Doublings Counter-marches Wheelings BUt some of these being not of use to our present mode of Discipline therefore I shall treat no more of them but what may be useful 1. Facings are used to make the Company perfect and to be suddainly prepared for a Charge on either Flank or Reer With 10. 8. and 6. in depth 2. Doublings There hath been used in the Horse service these following as 1. As to strengthen the Front There were used to strengthen the Flanks 1. Doublings of Ranks 2. Doublings of half Files 3. Doubling of the Front by bringers up 4. Doublings of Files 5. Doublings of half Ranks The three first as to our Mode of Exercise may be wholly laid aside in regard they cannot be performed the Troop being but three in depth It is conceived the other two may be necessary either for Exercise sake or in regard of some suddain Onset on the Flanks thereby to strengthen them but I otherwise think this may be prevented by a speedy wheeling
in the Front and Reer and then of firing by Ranks And first of Files firing in the Front 1. Files firing in the Front The right hand File and the left hand File March some distance before the head of the Troop and Rank themselves to the right and left inward and so Present and Give fire which being performed let them wheel off to the right and left outwards into the Reer of their first Station and so set themselves in their respective places even with the remainder of the Body leaving distance for every Rank to march into his proper place after they have once fired over 2. Files firing in the Reer When they have thus fired they are immediately to fall off to the right and left and March forth into their places As you observe in each firing both the Files do rank themselves and then fire Now a further exercise you may Command for each File to face in opposition and fire each to the other Firing in the Front firing in the Reer I shall now demonstrate one platforme of firing by Rank But in firing by Rank observe the first Rank may advance upon a larg Trot Gallop or Carrere as Command is given between thirty or fourty paces from the Body The first Rank having fired wheels off to the left if occasion will permit and falls into the Reer and immediatly upon the wheeling off of the first Rank the second advanceth according to Command and fireth and so the third You may fire also by divisions which is of singular use in the exercise of Horse either by firing by single divisions both in Front and Reer or in opposition both in Front and Reer also as in firing of the Files before mentioned so that I need not trouble you with any platformes of them After that these firings have been performed and the Souldier is grown expert in the handling of his Arms and well managing of his Horse there is one thing that ought not to be forgot by any Commander which is of most excellent use That is for the Souldier to be well exercised both with his Carabine and Pistol to shoote with Bullet at Marks which if it be not well exercised and taught it will be to little purpose as to the Executive part of this Art So it ought to be the care of every Chief Officer to exercise those Troops under his Command sometimes as occasion may serve in a Regimental way leaving sufficient distances betwen each Troop that each other may be relieved orderly and so to retreat in due order to avoid Confusion CHAP. X. The Conclusion BEfore I conclude these few spent hours about the Exercise of the Horse and that my demonstrating of them but three in depth I hear many brave Souldiers but old ones to make some objections against me As first in medling with that which is of too high a concern for me My answer to that is breifly That those that have writ Books of this Art although they have been gallant Souldiers if they had been in Command now and of late years to have seen what have been performed in the Executive part of the Horse service they would correct their Judgements and amend their Mode of Exercise finding in it much error and serviceable for nought but to prolong Execution as if all experienced genus's in this Art should be tyed up to the Low Country services And what I have done is but my duty if accepted else for my own private use also for my friends and relations that come after me And because there ought to be a great deal of care had in a work of this nature I leave the correction hereof to the better Learned and more Experienced in this Military Art And for the drawing of the Horse but three in File I say If the Grecian Writers were alive and some of our Modern Writers that have Commented upon them and made Collectives out of them which they have published for authentick Maximes in this Art would now much admire to see our Mode of Exercise so changed for the better 64 in a Troop When as our late Cruso in his Military instructions in his platformes of Exercise demonstrates then Eight in depth and Eight in rank And Captain Ward in his Drilling and exercise of Horse is six in File and twenty in Rank Leo Ch. 7. Sect. 81. Ch. 14. Sect. 78. 108 109. and alleadgeth it for the best and is taken out of Polibius General of the Achaeans Horse Leo writeth almost the same That if there be many horse to be exercised they are to be ordered ten in File and if but few no more but five giving this reason That if the Body be but shallow the Body will be so weak that it is subject it self to fraction Then Livie verifieth that of Leo and saith the Souldiers had then Speares of four and twenty foot in Length which was to match the Pikes of the Infantry But in some process of time as History makes it appear the Macedonians found great inconveniency in the length of those Spears and made some of them to be fifteen foot in length and being then at that length determined that five Horse in depth was too many as to be offensive to their Enemies but notwithstanding these results endeavoured to make their Battalias seem to be square and for their better advantage in shew order ten in Rank and five in File to every Troop of Horse And these depths were only in those dayes used when the Horse fought only with Spears and Guns not at all used Now if they had the use of Guns so much as we and should fire in Ranks five six eight or ten in depth and our mode of fighting being but three in File their exercise would be so long in the performance thereof that it would not only be tedious but hazzardous to us for of late years it hath been experienced and seldome known any Troops to stand it out as may be thought that time in competition for victory for we know that the ordering of our Horse in making a large Front as occasion and ground will give leave and thereby over-winging our Enemies Battalia hath proved Victorious And whereas they alleadge when they are six and eight in File they can make their body to shew powerful against their Enemy by commanding them to double their Fronts by their Middle-men or half-file-leaders and can if occasion serve take away a party in the reer and file the Enemy in their Flank or Flanks c. But this I conceive to be dangerous and of ill consequence for when we are settled in Battalia three deep we are then fixed for service and need not be troubled in doubling of the Front thereby we are free from distraction and other disturbances which are most incident by suddain motions to the breaking of Ranks and the like which contrarywise is with us for our fighting is not by wheeling off as formerly but by charging at Pistols
you were From your shoulder charge to the Front Right Left Reer Shoulder as you were 4. Port your Pikes This is useful when the Souldiers are to enter either Gate or Sally-port and it is an ease for the Reer half Files to Port their Pikes when the Front is at their Charge From your Port Comport Cheeke Trail your Pikes Port as you were From your Port charge to the Front Right Left Reer Port as you were 5. Comport your Pikes This is necessary for a Souldier upon his March up a Hill to have his Pike Comported From your Comport Cheek Trail your Pike From your Comport charge to the Front Right Left Reer Comport as you were 6. Cheeke your Pikes This is useful for the Sentinel Posture From your Cheeke Trail your Pikes Cheeke as you were From your Cheeke charge to the Front Right Left Reer Cheeke as you were 7. Trail your Pikes This is useful in a Trench to move for security of any breach undiscovered and is seldom used else but marching through a Wood c. From your Trail charge to the Front Right Left Reer Trail as you were From your Trail Order your Pikes 8 Lay down your Pikes Oberve that if your Pikes be laid down when you begin your exercise then your Command must be 1. Handle 2. Raise your Pike to your Open order Order Close order c. You may observe that the Postures of the Pike some are for conveniency and ease to the Souldier as to expedition either in Marchings or other services commanded and the several charges serve either for defence or offence none ought to slight any of these Commands but to put them into practice for at some one time or other they may be useful Here followeth the Postures of the Musquet or Calliver In which I do affirm that the word of Command generally used Make ready is no Posture but a word for brevity presupposing the Souldier to be expert in all and doth include those postures precedent to that Present your Musquet and so from the Presenting of your Musquets the other postures following unto that Give fire which is the completement of all the rest of the Commands given Therefore for the better handling of Arms no Judicious Practitioner in this Art but will confess it is better to be Instructed from Posture to Posture for more comely and swifter execution thereof The Musquetteer being shouldered Command Snap-haunce Sloop your Musquets Let slip your Musquets 1. Vnshoulder your Musquet and Poyse 2. Palm or rest your Musquet 3. Set the Butt end of your Musquet to the ground 4. Lay down your Musquet 5. Take off your Bandeliers 6. Lay down your Bandeliers 7. Face about to the left march 8. Face about to the right and march to your Arms or stand to your Arms. 9. Take up your Bandeliers 10. Put on your Bandeliers 11. Take up your Musquet 12. Rest or Palm your musquet 13. Secure or Guard your cock 14. Draw back your hammer or steel 15. Clear your pan 16. Prime your pan 17. Put down your steel or hammer 18. Blow or cast off your loose corn 19. Bring or cast your musquet about to your left side Handle your Charger Open your Charger 20. Charge with Powder 21. Draw forth your scowring stick 22. Shorten your scowring stick 23. Charge with Bullet 24. Put your scouring stick into your Musquet 25. Rain home your charge 26. Withdraw your scouring stick 27. Shorten your scouring stick 28. Return your scouring stick 29. Bring forward your Musquet and poise 30. Palm or rest your Musquet 31. Fit your hammer or steel 32. Free your cock 33. Bend your cock 34. Present your Musquet 35. Give fire 36. Palm or rest your Musquet 37. Clear your Pan. 38. Shut your Pan. 39. Poyse your Musquet 40. Shoulder your Musquet Match-lock I need not here insert every Command but only add such as are used for the Match-lock wholly laying aside the rest Take your Match from between the fingers of your left hand Lay down your Match Take up your Match with your right hand Return or place your Match into your left hand Open your Pan. Clear your Pan. Prime your Pan. Shut your Pan. Draw forth your Match Blow your Coal Cock your Match Fit your Match Guard your Pan. Blow the ash from your Coal Open your Pan. Uncock and return your Match So you are ready for a March or in the Posture upon the first motion That which is called the Saluting Posture is to be performed from the resting or palming of the Musquet when he shall have an occasion as a Souldier to salute his Friend or to the honouring of any other person deserving And the Sentinel Posture is for the Musquet to be in the Palm of the left hand at his Resting posture But his Musquet to be charged with Powder and Bullet his Cock freed and to be secured with his Thumb so to be ready to execute his charge and commands given c. There is indeed a word of Command sometimes used Reverse your Musquet which is the marching Funeral Posture That is to put the butt end of your Musquet upwards under your left arm holding it in your left hand about the lock of your Musquet Thus I have finished the Postures of the Musquet or Caliver with a Snap-hance and with a Match-lock without a Rest for your further inquiry if there need be I refer you to Lieutenant Barriffe or Captain Ward If I should forget to say something of the excellency as to the use of the Half-Pike and Musquet that is now of use in the Artillery Garden Half-Pike first invented by Lieutenant Barriffe and Mr John Davis of London whatsoever is performed in the exercise thereof it is with greater ease than the Rest and Musquet is And knowing how far it hath been the care of many Souldiers by invention to make the Musquetteers as well defensive as offensive but none amongst many of their Projects was received like this all falling to the ground and this standing as the best being of most excellent service for it serveth as a Rest as a Pallisado to defend the Musquetteer from the Horse When the shot is all spent they may with that Weapon fall in among the Enemy and in the pursuit of an Enemy by reason of the lightness thereof and their nimbleness in Action may do great execution and in Trenches they are good seconds for the Souldiers preservation Those Souldiers that are thus Armed are the best to be commanded out upon any Party because they are the best able to defend themselves and offend their Enemies And when any hedges are to be lin'd with shot West Country that the Musquetteers by their forced service become silent and the ways deep and narrow then the Half-Pike will be of singular service And last of all the Souldâer so marching with his Half-Pike and Musquet It is not only a Grace to the Souldier but a Terrour to the Enemy Besides this hath
been apapproved of by some of the ablest Souldiers in this Kingdom Vic. Wimbaldon Sir Tho. Genham If once the Countrey saw the practice of it and what a strong preservation it is against the incursion of the Horse and in all other respects rather an advantage to the Souldier than disadvantageous to him it would be not only esteemed good but carefully put into practice As the Musquetteer is secured by the gallant invention of the Half-Pike Bow and Pike any strange eye would think it very unjust that such Numbers of the Pike-men should be slain by the shot and not able to resist and offend again I could therefore say much for the Long Bow to be joyned with the Pike how their showers of Arrows will gaul and terrifie the Horse wound and hurt the Souldiers both on Horse and Foot So if this should be duly performed all hands would be fighting and all in a readiness for self preservation History is full of the great slaughters and Atchievements in those days when the Bow was most in use but because it is laid aside I shall be silent hoping the practice will never be forgotten CHAP. III. The Places of Dignities both of Files and Ranks IN this Military Age who would have thought that few or any could be so ignorant of the difference between a File and a Rank but finding in our Annual Exercises many Farmor like Souldiers to be much guilty thereof I shall speak a a little thereunto shewing what is required to the making up of a File and also of a Rank with the dignity of each as they stand both in File and Rank A File First Know that a File is a sequent Number of men standing one behind an other Front to the Reer Or from the first which is termed a File-Leader unto the last which is termed a bringer up which shall be demonstrated according to our mode of Discipline A Ranke Secondly A Rank is a Row of men be they more or less standing or marching shoulder to shoulder in a direct Line from the right hand to the left and from the left to the right even a breast And by the way observe that in all preparations to exercise Files must be made up first and being then drawn forth and the Files joyned together Ranks are made Both which are according to Barriffe Ward and others but in giving their Dignities to a file of eight deep there are various opinions yet all endeavouring after a Geometrical proportion and it is that which Commanders should chiefly follow as near as possibly they can And because the Sages of our Times do differ in their Judgments more in this particular than in any one thing that I know of I shall set down what Rules I have know or heard leaving it to the more experienced that can command better Here followeth the Rule of Barriffe Ward and others in placing the Dignities for six eight and ten both in File and Rank I shall here insert those various Opinions of the Dignities of Souldiers eight in File and so for eight Companies in a Regiment by all which you may dignifie each Officer in his due place of Honour either in March or in a Body The consideration that there is or ought to be an answerableness in the Reer to the Front in the left flank to the right by an equitable right in their true Dignity is that which giveth life and being to orderly Discipline for the worth of one must be answerable to the other in Skill Valour and in Number The equality in this opposition is thus As 1 and 4 makes five in the Colonels Division so 3 and 2 in the Lieutenant Colonels Division makes five also Then as in the first 5 and 8 makes thirteen so the second 7 and 6 is thirteen which is an equal opposition As inform'd Mr. Elton's Rule A Second Opinion for the Dignity of eight Companies is as followeth These oppose as the first and somewhat more in the equality of their Number as one and six is seven in the right Wing of the Colonels Division so two and five is equal to that in the right Wing of the Lieutenant Colonels Division and six and seven is equally thirteen in the first as five and eight in the second But according to the Rules for the Dignity of a File the second Captain hath lost his place of Honour For those of that Opinion who place the second Captain in the Lieutenant Colonels Division affirm that there may be a Geometrical equality in length and breadth in File and Rank yet in point of Honour according to first Rule in the Colonels Division the second Captain being placed loseth his Dignity for if the eldest Captain in priority is placed upon the Head or first Division Body or stand of Pikes leading the Colonels Colours then by the self same Rule of Equity the second Captain Numb 5 may and ought to be in the head of the Lieutenant Colonels Division Body or stand of Pikes To which I conclude that the second Captain hath as much Honour to bring up the Reer of the Colonels own Division of Pikes when so marched but if marched intire Regimentally there to bring up the Reer of the whole Body or stand of Pikes is a greater Honour and the second Captains Dignity A third Opinion for the Dignity of eight Companies This is the most received Opinion of the other two of late years and the Reasons may be as followeth First their opposement is more upon a direct equality than the former as for example 1 and 8 stands upon the right Wing of the Colonels Division which maketh 9 now equally to oppose this there is 3 and 6 on the left Wing of the Lieutenant Colonels Division that maketh 9 also then upon the Right Wing of the Colonels Division there is 4 and 5 that maketh 9 and to oppose that there is 2 and 7 which is 9 also all this makes out the justness of this opposement and in that particular exceeds both the former for what can be said for the second may be alleadg'd for this third also The differences in them as to their opposements may hereby be discerned and how that all three make equal in numbers as in half Files and half Ranks 18 is equal to 18 and in Rank and File making 36. Indeed when the Seignior Officers of a Regiment had more Souldiers in their respective Companies there was then great reason to stand upon an equal opposement or else one Wing might be too strong for the other All this being now laid aside and there being of Souldiers an equality of number in each company why then should our first rule for the dignity of a File be laid aside for the marching of a Regiment either intire or divisional In the second Opinion the second Captain is placed in the Lt. Colonel's divisions in the third he is placed in the Collonels although I conceive he ought to be in that
move down to the Reer even in breast with the last Rank If this be for service you may face them all to the Reer If only for Exercise you may reduce them as they now stand by Commanding Front half files face about to the right and advance forwards until they are clear of the standing part then face them to the right and left inwards and close your Divisions 4. Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left by Countermarch To performe this If the Command given for the left face the standing half files to the Reer and the rest Countermarch to the left and lose ground But if it be only for Exercise you need not face the standing part to the Reer at all To reduce this as being only for Exercise Command Front half files face about to the left and march forth into your places But if it be upon service that they are all faced to the Reer then all upon the Reducement are to face about to the left and the front half files to march into their places Object But Some may object here and say that this is a countermarch and no doubling and so ought not to be demonstrated in this place Answ To which I answer that what is done by the Front half files in short is a Lacedemonian Countermarch of losing ground but if it were a direct countermarch they ought not to stand mixed with any other part of the body by passing through to the Reer but only to Countermarch into the midst and there remain so that now passing through into the Reer makes it an absolute doubling What I have mentioned in the beginning of this Chapter may be sufficient to the ingenious Artist having concluded what I intended for the strengthening of the Reer I thought to have inserted here a strengthening of the Front and Reer but being in the Chapter of Wheelings Command the tenth the inquisitive may be better satisfied CHAP. VI. Which is the last in order to shew how a Battalia may be strengthened in both Flanks THe Flanks are doubled by 1. Files 2. Half ranks 3. Division 4. Wheelings 1. First by Files 1. Command Files to the Right or Left double If to the left to perform this Command Every even ranks from the left move with three steps into the odd To reduce this Command Ranks to the right double OR Files as you were In all motions observe to move that leg first to which the Command guideth 2. Command Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left double advancing To perform this if to the right Command Every even file from the right advance three steps forward and double the odd To reduce this Command Ranks to the left double OR Files as you were 3. Command Files to the right and left double outward In doubling outward the outmost File of each Flank stands and the even File each flank doubles the odd To reduce this Command Double your Ranks to the right and left inwards OR Ranks as you were 4. Command Files to the right and left double Inward To reduce this Command Double your Ranks to the right and left outwards OR Ranks as you were 5. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left 1. Outwards advancing 2. Inwards This will be performed as in the third and fourth Command only instead of falling behind their right or left hand men here they are to advance before them as in the second Command 6. Command Double your Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left intire advancing To performe this to the right The even files from the right advance so far until they be clear and double the odd files to the right To reduce this Command Files that doubled face about to the left and march forth into your places OR Front half Files double your Reer to the left OR Half Files double your Front to the right 7. Command Double your files to the 1. Right or 2. Left Intire advancing every man placing himself before his leader To perfom this to the right The reducement Command Front half Files face about to the left and march forth into your places OR Front half files turn off by countermarch and double your Re ex to the right Face all to your leader 8. Command Files double your depth to the right intire To perform this Command Even files from the right face about to the right and march until they are clear of the Reer placing themselves after their bringers up then face them to their leader To reduce this Command Half files double your Front to the left OR Front half files double your Reer to the right 9. Command Files double your depth to the right placing your selves behind your bringers up To perform this Command Every even File from the right face about to the right and double the remaining files behind their bringers up To reduce this Command Bringers up double your Front to the left OR Half files double your Front to the left each placing themselves before their half file Leaders There is but a small difference between the Figures of some of the precedent Commands as some may at first sight guess them to be yet if you would but well observe them the words of Command are several and in the Battalia there is difference in the Dignity of place but not in quantity or number Secondly How the flanks are doubled by half ranks 10. Comand Half ranks of the left double your right flank to the 1. Right or 2. Left To perform this to the right Left half ranks face to the right and move to the right forward and double your right flank To reduce this Command Face to the left and march forth into your places OR Double your Ranks to the left intire You may face them at discretion I shall demonstrate another Figure to the left shewing how it may be performed without mixture of Arms c. 11. Command Half Ranks of the right double your left flank to the right To perform this Command Half ranks of the right face to the right turn off to the right and double your left flank To reduce the 11. Command Ranks double to the right intire every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man 12. Command Half ranks double your right flank to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward 1. To perform this Outward Face all to the right then the left half ranks move to the right and left outwards doubling your right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command 1. Front and Reer half files double your ranks intire to the left flank OR Half ranks that doubled face about to the right and march forth into your places OR Half ranks face about to the right and the even ranks from the midst move forth and double your left ranks intire to the left flank face to your Leader 2. To perform the 12. Command inward Face all to the right then the left
present incumbrance This experience hath discovered and that firing upon motion to be the most speediest and safest way for firing in the Reer Now for a Publick Exercise when you have fired over once you may then face them to their Leader and fire in the Front But if you be upon a march and should be pursued by an Enemies Horse then Wheel your Flanks into the Front and face to the Reer your Pikes will defend your Body so your Musquetteers may fire over them as in the 17. Figure by extraduction and reduced accordingly Secondly In firing to the Reer the Musquetteers may be in the Reer of the Pikes And first having fired they are to wheel off and place themselves between the Front of Musquetteers and Reer of Pikes And secondly having fired in the Reer they may wheel off by Division and march into the Front of Pikes the Body still marching Or if both flanks be in the Reer they may fire wheel off by Division and double both flanks This last hath reduced it self and for the second you may for exercise fire them in the Front and in their wheeling off to flank their Pikes or for expedition for the Musquetteers to open to the right and left and march the Pikes up in the interval and they are reduced as at first You may perceive the use of firings in the Reer and that the Souldier ought to be very well exercised in them For a true experience herein doth not only add to the perfection of the Souldier but his safety also Before I conclude this Chapter I shall add two Figures of firing in Front and Reer marching 3. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until you be clear of the Front of Pikes Face in opposition and close your Divisions So for the reer half files face about to the right and march until you be clear of the Reer of Pikes face them in opposition and close their Divisions Having fired their first and last Ranks they wheel off to the right and left by Division the Front Division are to place themselves even in Rank with the Front of Pikes and the Reer Division of Musquetteers are to place themselves even in Rank with the Bringers-up and so each Rank successively after each other will reduce this Figure 4. Command Half Files of Musquetteers fire to your Front and Reer placing your selves between your Divisions This firing is plain without direction and the firing being ended they are reduced CHAP. XX. Of Firings in the Flanks THere are reasons to be given and Experience hath found it necessary for firing in the Flanks When you are upon a March an Enemy may endeavour an assault to molest you in your passages that your disadvantages may be the greater either by ambushments laid against you or to frustrate your designs Now in the performance hereof there are several circumstances that are to be taken notice of as the strength of your Enemy the time number and place all for your own security or advantages against him I shall begin with some Exercises upon the right flank and what is performed there by Figure may also be performed upon the left hand In order hereunto pass all your Musquetteers into your right flank by Commanding Musquetteers of the right Flank open to the right and being opened to a convenient distance stand then Musquetteers of the left Flank pass through your Ranks of Pikes to the interval of the right Flank then stand and face to your Leader Your facings to the right or left is that by which the flanks become accidental fronts and then for the firings thereupon you may to your discretion use such as are most convenient being already shewn Chapter 18. I shall not here take up any room with the demonstrations thereof and shall shew but some few firings in the right flank as the Body shall be marching in all which you are to observe the Pikes are to be shouldered 1. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and wheel after your Bringers-up between your Divisions And this at the discretion of the Commander is done two wayes either by commanding to be lead into their places by their File-leader or by their Bringers-up and to place themselves before them c. Here by this Figure they in the first place as the Body is marching face to the right the outmost File presents and gives fire after their firing they face to the right and after their Bringer-up who leads them off in the Reer of the Musquetteers and up into the Interval between the Pikes and Musquets until the Bringer-up of the File hath placed himself even in breast with the Frontiers and so the marching Party as Command shall be given are to open that the Files of Musquetteers after they have fired may march up between the Divisions and so every File is successively to fire and wheel off and place it self This firing being performed twice over they are Reduced If but once you must countermarch your files of Musquetteers to reduce them 2. You may secondly after they have fired Command them to face to the right and to wheel off every man placing himself before his Bringer up or present Leader hereby the Bringer up will be in his due place and the file-leader in his proper place also 3. A Third way of firing upon this Figure is to fire in the right flank and to be lead off into their places by their respective File-leaders The Body marching the outmost File faceth to the right and fires and when the body is marched clear of the standing file then the next file presents to the right and fires and whilest he is firing the first file that is fired faceth to the left and marcheth up between the Musquetteers and Pikes Observing the former directions in their march that there may be space enough in the Interval for the several Files successively to march into these places 4. There is a fourth way of firing that is to give fire to the right and gather up your Files The Body marching the outmost file faceth to the right fires then stands and faceth to their Leader Then when the Body is clear of the standing file the second file faceth to the right and fires and stands also facing to their Leader then the first file is to advance up to the second and so when the first and second have fired they are to be lead up to the third Thus having fired they are to be lead up even in breast to the file that last fired and having all fired they are to be marcht up even with the Front Pikes To reduce this Command Left half Ranks of Musquetteers face to the left Pikes face to the right pass through interchanging of Ground Face to your Leader How beneficial this may be to the security of the Souldier they that will make use of it that are ingenious will better judge but I am of opinion it is more fit for a private Exercise
2. White signifieth Innocencie or purity of conscience Truth and upright integrity without blemish 3. Black signifieth Wisdome and sobriety together with a severe correction of too much Ambition being mixed with Yellow or with too much belief or lenity being mixed with White 4. Blew signifieth Faith Constancy or Truth in affection 5. Red signifieth Justice or Noble worthy Anger in defence of Religion or the oppressed 6. Green signifieth good hope or the accomplishment of holy and honourable actions 7. Purple signifieth fortitude with discretion or a most true discharge of any Trust reposed 8. Tunnis or Tuâây signifieth merit or desert and a foe to Ingratitude 9. Ermine which is only a rich Furr with curious spots signifieth Religion or holiness and that all aimes are not divine objects Now from these colours and their mixtures are derived many bastard and dishonourable colours as Carnation Orenge tawny Popengie c. which signifie Craft Pride and wantonness So that all Commanders are left at their own pleasure for their mixtures but with these considerations As 1. Not to put in his Ensign his full Coat-Armour 2. Not to bear one black spot and no more in his Ensign for it sheweth some blemish in the owner if the spot be round square or of equal proportion 3. If the spot be unequal it signifieth a Funeral or deadly revenge 4. Not to carry words in his Colours without a Device nor a Device without words but Device with words and the words not to exceed four in number for if there be more it sheweth imperfection 5. Not to carry more Colours than two except it be for some special note or the Ensign of several Kingdoms it is a Surcharge and esteemed folly 2. Having shewed the true Colours and the disgraces that may arise in the composure of them as mentioned by Mr. Markham I come to the next disgraces which proceed from Negligence in Government as in carrying his Colours furl'd or folded up when they should be flying or to let his Colours fly when they should be folded up or to display or flourish them when they should be carried without any hand motion or to carry them without motion when they should be displayed or to vaile them when they should be advanced or to advance them when they should be vailed To lodge or dislodge Colours without a Guard or to suffer any man to handle them that hath not a lawful authority Now the avoydance hereof is sufficient to keep any man from gross errors 3. The last disgrace as to the dignity of the Ensign is 1. From the rashness and unadvisedness of Actions when he is in safety out of a phantastical bravado to thrust himself into danger as to charge the Enemy when he should stand still It is not only a disgrace but the offence hath been adjudged worthy of death although he may obtain victory by that forward action 2. If in a March Battalia or setting of the Parade or upon any other Military imployments he shall misplace himself it is a disgrace 3. If in a battel skirmish or fight where the Ensign is put to retreit his Colours shall be surled or folded up or shouldred and not flying and held forth and extended with the left arm and his Sword advanced in his right hand his Colours are disgraced and such retreit is base and unworthy 4. If the Ensign-Bearer shall happen either in battel or skirmish to be slain and so the Colours fall to the ground if those or some of them next adjoyning threreunto do not recover and advance them up it is not only a disgrace to the Ensign but an utter dishonour to the whole Company as I have declared that if the Colours be lost there must be a severe accompt given for them And indeed a greater act of Cowardice cannot be found than to suffer the Colours to be lost There is an antient president but fresh in memory that in great defeats when Armies have been overthrown scattered and dispersed so that particular safety hath made men forget general observations even then the Ensign being wounded to death and desperate of all relief hath stript his Ensign from the staff and wrapt or folded it about his body and so perished with it This Ensign cannot be said to be lost because the honour thereof was carried with his freed Soul into Heaven to the possession of the eternal fort for ever Now in this particular the Enemy cannot boast of any Triumph if then purchased more than every Sexton may do when he robs the dead of his winding sheet Thus it hath been reported that Sebastian King of Portugal dyed at the battel of Alcazar And I have read of many of our brave English that thus dyed at the renowned Battel at Newport and have heard that many have so done in the Army of our late Soveraign of ever blessed memory 5. And lastly If any man shall recover the lost Ensign and bring it away flying c. no matter how low in condition the man is if the Captain upon any after considerations bestow those Colours upon some other man it is a disgrace both to the Captain and his Ensign for he doth injury to Vertue and discourage Valour Obj. But some may object that upon composition with the party deserving the Captain may dispose of his Colours where he pleaseth I confess it true but if this composition be forced it is injurious And if it come by a voluntary consent of the party it is base and most unworthy in him also CHAP. VI. Of the right use and ordering of the Ensign or Colours with the Postures and Flourishes thereunto belonging AS to my best Remembrance I have given you a Catalogue of the Disgraces so I shall here insert as to my knowledge the true use of the Ensign whereby those injuries may be avoyded 1. And first you shall understand that in all extended Marches and not drawn into a Body as when they march either into a Friends or Enemies Country or otherwise are conducted to some remote Randesvouz here the Ensign or Colours ought to be half furl'd or folded up and half flying shall be shouldred and born a little cross the Ensign-bearers neck with his hand extended a good distance from his body and his left hand upon his side or hilt of his sword this is termed a marching in State 2. If he shall enter into any City or great Town then he shall unfold or open his Colours and let them fly at full length and carry them in his right hand close under the hose with a lofty hand and extended arm This is a marching in Triumph but if the wind blow stiff or there is a weakness or wearisomness in the Ensign-bearer then he may set the butt end against his waste and not otherwise and is to have but one hand upon his staff in any march whatever 3. In all Troopings the Ensign shall ever be furl'd and carried in the same Postures as the Pikes ought
to be 4. When the Company is drawn up into a Body the Colours must be flying and by the Way in case the General or supreme of the Wars or any Noble Stranger worthy of respect do come immediately upon his or their approach the Ensign-bearer in all humility is to bow the head of his Colours waving them with the bow of his body and to raise both it and himself up again And as the said person shall pass away the Drum shall beat and the Colours shall be displayed This also the Ensign shall do in all Marchings or other motions of Civil Exercises where your Superiours pass by you or you by them Nay it is expedient and fit so to be done to any Gentleman that is your familiar for it is no more but as the vailing of your hat or giving your friend a courtesie 5. Now when the Body is drawn up into Battalia and the Enemy within view thereof then every man being in his place is to express all the Gallantry he can and especially the Ensign-bearer either in displaying his Colours standing marching charging and retreiting or retiring and all these ought not to be done at one time but when the bodies are joyning and they must be done with great respect for to use the Postures directly to the motion or standing of the Body and not to do as I have seen some in ordinary Militia Discipline that have but one or two motions of their Colours upon and for all occasions as if true Honour had such weak inventions this without doubt is most base and unworthy To proceed to the Postures of the Ensign They are in general as followeth so well as I can express them for they are better in execution and to be taught by example than any pen can describe them 1. To change them with a plain wave from hand to hand 2. To change them with lofty turns from hand to hand each hand performing their turns before you deliver them as from the right to the left and from the left to the right as at first 3. From the right hand with a wave and lofty turn jutting the Colours upon the left shoulder and raising up with the same hand again and with lofty turns to deliver it into the left hand that so thereby you may execute the same upon the right shoulder and after the turns to deliver it into the right hand as at first 4. With and from the right hand with lofty turns throw your Colours under the left arm recovering them speedily back with conceived Florishes you deliver them into the left hand you may execute the same with the left hand 5. With turns or flourishes you bring the butt end of the staff to your left hand turning the palm of your left hand outwards but not for the reception of it and with the same hand only throw it off upon its turn with a flourish to deliver it into the left hand and to perform the same with the left hand and deliver the Colours into the right hand as at first 6. With lofty turns bring the Colours over the head down right but not too low before and raising it again with the fore-turn and back-turn over the head changing of hands and delivering as before 7. From the right hand deliver into your left hand with the palm of your hand uppermost the butt end of your staff turning it backwards upon the left shoulder and turning it over the head with the same hand you deliver it into the right hand after the same manner which being performed with the right hand you proceed to the next 8. From the right hand with lofty turns fore-turns and back-turns you deliver your staff into your left hind and wheel it with the same hand on the same side and after your recovery to deliver it into the right hand performing of the same and proceed 9. From the right hand upon the left shoulder raising it and turning with its back-turn into the neck with its returns and lofty florishes over the head you deliver the Colours into the left and with the left hand upon the right shoulder you execute the same delivering them into your right hand as at first 10. 'T is by some termed the Figure of eighth that is with the right hand the half wheel on the left side and so back on the right side and then delivering it into the left hand to perform the same 11. To turn it round the head oftentimes upon the palm with your fingers of your right hand so recovering it with lofty florishes you deliver it into your left hand to perform the same and so delivering of them into the right hand And if it be your pleasure to be compleat in the Exercise of them you go back to the tenth and so conclude with the first And in your conclusion I have seen some to furl them up as they display them and so to open them again But to furl them up in the field it is most ridiculous Others there are that I have seen to round them oftentimes about their middles but I cannot justifie it upon any Military account Others I have seen that thinking to display their Colours bravely delivered them from hand to hand under leg I must boldly inform such as use it that 't is a debasement to the Captains Colours and an unworthy Act in the performers of it I told you of some particular Postures and proper for the Ensign-bearer to observe 1. Standing when the Body stands you are to display the Colours to and fro in a direct circle and changing from hand to hand and no more without you are commanded to shew the excellency of your parts but be sure to be well guarded when you shall be so commanded 2. In marching the Posture is to display the Colours with the right hand only casting the Ensign still forwards waving it close over and by the right shoulder never crossing the Body but still keeping it flying on the out-side of the right shoulder 3. The charging Posture is to carry the staff extended streight forward before your body waving it to and fro as high as your bosome being ready to give the assistance or aid with the left hand for the preservation of your Colours or to offend the Enemy if occasion require The retiring or retreiting posture is a mixture compounded of the three former for in the first retreit or drawing away of the Company he shall use the posture of marching but if the Enemy press near upon him he shall stand upon his guard and use the posture of charging and in fine having quit himself of danger he shall use the standing posture a little and then march or troop away according to the directions of the commander And lastly when the Ensign returns from the field and is to be lodged in former times the Lieutenant had the Vanguard but that I shall not insist upon because I have observed it to be left off by able
they may not touch each other but that the Match in its turning or Coyles have its sides equally distant one from the other then throw again upon that a good quantity of Sand and coyl in the Cord again as before Continue thus your work until your pot be full then cover the pot with a cover of the same earth and close well the joynts with Lute made of fat Earth that no Air may enter This being well and surely done put lighted coals round about the pot and let it stand in this posture some time then take it away and let it stand until it be quite cold before you open it When 't is perfectly cold take off the Cover pour out the Sand and draw out the match for 't is prepared and will burn as we have said CHAP. XXIV Of the Square and Cube Roots VVE have already in the Second Chapter of this Book shewn the way of molding and casting peices of Ordnance if well understood you cannot be ignorant in the way of Casting Shot Therefore to avoyd any thing that might be tedious or unnecessary to the Students of this art we will come to the most necessary things concerning Shot that is such as every Gunner ought to know But because most of the propositions depend upon the knowledg of the Square and Cube Roots which many though otherwise knowing in most common Arithmetick do not understand I thought it good therefore to shew the Extraction of the Square and Cube Roots after a very easie way with the necessary propositions in Gunnery thereunto belonging A Table of Squares and Cubes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Roots 1. 4. 9. 16. 25. 36. 49. 64. 81. Squares 1. 8. 27. 64. 125. 216. 343. 512. 729. Cubes The Extraction of the Square Root Set down any number of figures as you shall think good as 2735716 then begin at your first right hand figure that is at 6 and make a prick under it and so along every other figure as you may see here already done and seeing the first prick to the left hand falls to be under 2 therefore seek in the Table above in the ranck of Squares for this number 2 or the nearest number less which here we find to be 1 and over it we find the Root to be 1 which must be placed in the quotient and likewise under the first prick to the left hand then having 1 for a Divisor and 1 for the quotient say but the common Rule of Division 1 times 1 is one 1 from 2 and there remains 1 which sent over the 2 then double the quotient and it makes 2 which place between the two first pricks to the left hand that is under 7 then say how many times 2 in 17 here you must be very cautious not to take too many which here may be six times place the 6 in the quotient as before and under the second prick that is under 3 and divide as before then double the quotient which is now 16 and it makes 32 place the 2 between the second and third prick viz. under 5 and the 3 before it under the 6 so the 32 will stand under the 175 which is above then say how many times 3 in 17 which you will find to be 5 place it in the quotient and under the third prick and divide as before always setting the Remainder over the head of its proper figures then double the quotient again which is now 165 and it makes 330 place the 0 between the two pricks as before and place the figures before it to the left hand as you see above and the first figure to the left will be 3 which stands under 13 then say how many times 3 in 13 which will be 4 which place in the quotient and under the fourth or last prick and divide as before so you will find no Remainder which assures the number given to be a square number The proof of these is known by multiplying the square Root found in it self taking in the remains if any be and it must produce that given number otherwise it is false Note how many pricks you have and so many numbers must the quotient consist of If the number given be not a true Square then a fraction will remain which fraction you may find out the value thereof to a tenth hundredth or a thousandth part c. Doing thus set next to the right hand after the Sum proposed two four or six cyphers or more for the more cyphers you put the less is your Error and every two cyphers will produce a fractional figure more than the Integers belonging to the proper quotient which are tenths hundredths or thousand parts of a Unite according to the number of cyphers added that is if you add two cyphers then you find the tenths of a Unite c. But the Square Root being not of so much use in Gunnery as the Cube Root we shall proceed no farther to Exemplifie the same supposing it to be done already in the Treatise of Military Discipline The Extraction of the Cube Root Begin at your right hand as you did in Extracting the Square Root and set pricks under every fourth figure that is leave two figures unprickt or between the pricks and so proceed to the left until you have done as here you see 7 5 6 7 8 7 3 2 the number of pricks shew the number of figures that will be in the quotient Then see by the Table before in this Chapter the nearest Cube to the numbers standing over the first prick to the right hand which is 75 I search in the Table of Cubes and find the nearest number to it in the Table of Cubes to be 64 and its Root 4 which must be set down in the quotient and likewise its Cube 64 under the prick and if that number doth not amount to so much as the number standing over the prick then substract it from the same and set the Remainder overhead Then triple the quotient and that triple you must set under the next number to the right hand before that prick where you did last end Multiply that tripled number by the quotient and set it down under the first triple and that number let be your Divisor Then as in common Division must you look how many times the Divisor in the figures is standing over them and place that in the quotient This done Multiply your quotient by your Divisor and set it under your Divisor with a Line between Then multiply the last figure in the quotient by it self and then in the triple and set that figure under the former one figure more to the right hand Lastly Multiply the last figure cubically and set that Sum also one figure to the Right hand then add all these three multiplications together and substract it out of figures standing over the first and second prick and the Remainder set over them This done again triple the quotient and proceed exactly as
Cylinder for Culverin three Diameters for the Saker three and a half Diameters and for lesser Pieces four Diameters of the Cylinder which length will also serve for the Cartredge SECT II. By the weight of Powder for any one Piece to find the weight of Powder proper to any other Piece of Ordnance To perform this work you must find by the foregoing Table the Cube of the Diameter of the bore of the Piece whose allowance of Powder you know also the Cube of the Diameter of the bore of the Piece whose allowance of Powder you desire to know Then say as the Cube of the known Piece is the quantity of Powder known so is the Cube of the Diameter of the unknown Piece to the quantity of Powder proper to the unknown Piece SECT III. Practical Experiments concerning the Allowance of Powder necessary to any Piece in time of Service It is always necessary to take care in time of Service of over-loading a Piece which Error many run into only minding the bore of a Piece and not minding whether the Metal will bear it and so endanger themselves and other standers by To avoid such errors observe these experienced Rules To a Demy-Cannon fortified of Brass about 4400 or a little more there is allowed by the Tower 5 ounces and a half of Powder to every hundred weight of Metal yet in time of Service Gunners do allow but 3 ounces ¾ to every hundred weight of Metal which doth amount to 10 l. ¼ Demy-Cannon Drake of Iron about 3800 l. is allowed by the Tower 3 ounces and a half of Powder to every hundred weight of Metal which will be durable in time of Service but there are Drakes of 4400 l. which must be allowed more according to the proportion of their weight Culverin fortified Brass of 4600 l. is allowed by the Tower 3 ounces and a half of powder compleat to every hundred weight of Metal which may be burnt in time of Service with very little abatement Culverin Drakes of 40000 l. or thereabouts of Iron for these Pieces may be allowed in time of Service 3 ounces to every hundred weight of metal but proportionably must be allowed for Pieces of greater or lesser weight The 12 Pounders fortified of Brass of 3200 l. for Guns of this weight and nature is usually allowed 3 ounces and a half for every hundred weight of Metal Demy-Culverin Brass of 3300 l. there is allowed by the Tower for Pieces of Ordnance of this nature 3 ounces and a half and somthing more to every hundred weight of Metal the which is approved a very sufficient Allowance Demy-Culverin Drakes of 2900 l. is allowed by most two ounces three quarters to each hundred weight of metal which will be durable in time of Service Saker fortified Brass of 2000 l. is allowed 3 ounces and somthing more for every hundred weight of Metal but there may be a small abatement in time of Service CHAP. XXVII To know whether a Piece of Ordnante be truly bored or no. YOu must provide a Pike-staff about a foot longer than the bore of the Piece and at the end thereof fasten a Rammer head that will just fill all the bore to the touch hole and at the other end of the staff you must bore a hole big enough to put through a Rod of Iron which must hang from the same and at the other end of the Rod must be made a weight about the bigness of a Saker Shot this is done to make the Pike-staff and Rammer head to lie with the same side upward when they are taken out of the Piece as they did when they were within the Piece then you must put your Instrument thus prepared into the Piece letting the Iron Ball that is at the end of the Rod which is put through the hole bored a cross the Pike-staff hang perpendicular then take your priming Iron or some other bodkin and put it down the touch hole to the Rammer head making a mark therewith this done draw out your Instrument and lay the same on a long Table with the Iron Ball hanging off the end perpendicular as it did when the Instrument was in the Piece then observe whether the mark you made upon the Rammer head when it was in the Piece be just upon the uppermost part of the same if it be the bore of the Piece lies neither to the right hand nor to the left but if you find it any thing to the right or left hand so much lyeth the bore either to the right or left and the Piece in Shooting must be ordered and charged accordingly But if you would know whether the bore lie more upwards or downwards then bend a Wire at the very end so that it being put in at the very touch hole may ketch at the metal when it is drawn out then put the Wire down the touch hole till it touch the bottom of the metal in the Chamber then holding it in that place make a mark upon the wire just even with the touch hole after draw up the wire until it ketch at the metal on the top of the Chamber and holding it there make a mark as before the difference between the two marks is the just wideness of the Chamber and the distance between the first mark and the end of the Wire having half the Diameter of the Chamber of the Piece substracted from it will leave half the Diameter of the Piece if the Piece be true bored but if the Piece's number be more than half the Diameter of the Piece the bore lieth too far from the touch hole and the upper part of the metal is thickest but if lesser the lower part of the metal is thickest or hath most metal CHAP. XXVIII Of the necessary Instruments for a Gunner with several other necessary things A Master Gunner intending upon service ought most chiefly to be prepared with these Instruments as Calabers Compasses height board Sight Rule Gunners Scale and a Gunners quadrant to divide as well into 12 as 90 equal parts with a Geometrical Square to make Montures Levels heights Breadths Distances and Profundities of which you shall read more in the Second Part also with a little brass Level Scales Weights Priming-Irons Moulds to make Cross-bar Shot for Musquets a Book of Accompts and an Iron wire or Spring and a Transome to dispart a Piece of Ordnance that the Transome may go up and down according to the Diameter and thickness of the Piece let the Transom be long enough to reach the base Ring from the touch hole In the next place he ought to be very expert in the knowledg of cutting out making up and finishing all sorts of Ladles Spunges Rammers Cartredges c. For which purpose you may have Recourse to the foregoing Table And because it may somtimes happen by reason of the steepness badness and unevenness of the way you may be driven to dismount and remount your Piece e're you get up to the top