any expresse mention to which hand they should open or close Then the whole Troupe is to edge indifferently and at an instant to both hands towards or from the middle space betweene the two middlemost Leaders The words of commandment are Fyles close Fyles open Fyles open There be two sorts of doubling The one by Ranks the other by Fyles and both these are performed diuers wayes as shall be shewed When an Enemie goeth about to disclose you with the ouer-breadth of his body it will bee necessary for you then to increase or double your Front which may be done either by Rankes when euery second ranke commeth betweene the distances of the Ranke before it and that either to the right or to the left hand Doubling of Ranks to the right or left hand The word of Directions are Ranks to the right or left hand double Middle-men to double their Ranks or Front to right or left hand Or by the Middle-man when the last fiue Rankes doe march vp through the spaces betweene the Fyles till the bringers vp middle-men be euen in front with the Leaders The words of command are Middle-men to the right or left hand Double your front Or by the bringers vp by Induction which is when the bringers vp doe aduance through the distances betweene the Fyles and next after them the next last Ranke and so the rest successiuely till the bringers vp bee in the ranke with the Leaders and their Middle-men with the Leaders middle-men and so the second third Bringers vp to double their Rankes on the Fronts and fourth ranks from the front The words of direction are Bringers vp to the right or left hand double the front Or by deuision when the last fiue Rankes doe turne their faces the one halfe in their fyles to the right hand and the other halfe to the left hand and so march forth from both the flancks till they haue gotten such a proportion of ground or distance as is answerable to the order the first fiue Ranks doe stand in and then presently without attending any further commandement they turne their faces againe towards the front and march vpon both flanckes till they come euen with the front Middle-men by Deuision double the Front The words of command Middle-men by deuision double the front Middle-men double the body This also may be performed to either hand without deuiding of the ranks by the marching forth onely of the whole fiue rankes together But in this case the Shott on both flanks or on either must edge outward till they haue giuen the Pikes a full distance to come vp betweene them and the formost fiue rankes of Pykes The words are Middle-men double the body Double the Front by the Hankes Or by ranke to either flanke which is when the second ranke is drawne out euen with the ranke before it The words are Double the front by the flanks Or by halfe rankes when euery second ranke diuideth it selfe and increaseth the former vpon each side Doubling of Fyles When you will haue the Body of greater depth then you must cause the one fyle to mingle with the fiue other either to the righ hand or to the left which is termed doubling of fyles and is performed after this manner Doubling of Fyles to the right or left hand If to the right hand then is the outermost fyle to the right hand to stand and the Leader of the second fyle shall side behinde the Leader of the first fyle and so of all the rest of the second fyle behinde those of the outmost fyle successiuely so as the bringer vp of the second fyle shall come to stand behinde the bringer vp of the first fyle and so likewise all the other fyles by euery second fyle So that the second fourth sixt eigth and tenth shall stand within or goe into the first third fifth seauenth and ninth all which in a knowne number of fyles may be done at once without confusion or disorder But because this manner of Doubling in the very orderliest best performance cannot but breake the Body by reason of the disioyning of Fyles I would rather put the one halfe of the Fyles behinde the other halfe which may bee speedily performed either by the aduancing of falling backe of the one halfe part of the Fyles the wordes of Direction are Fyle vpon fyle But if you desire to keepe the same ground then let the one halfe part of the fyle in the Body which is to Double close their Ranckes forwards towards the Leaders to halfe the Distance they were in before the Commandement was giuen And the other halfe part of the fyles in the Body to shorten their Distances toward the Reere or Bringers vp to halfe that they held backwards By which meanes it will fall out that the Leaders of the halfe which is to double will stand a little beyond the Bringers vp of the other halfe and by Edging of their fyles behind the other halfe may easily performe your Direction The wordes of Command are these Fyles double the Body to the right or left hand Counter-March COunter-Marches are two-fold for either wee Counter-march the Ranckes or the Fyles and these either by changing your ground or keeping still the same ground But though to shew the diuersitie of them the kindes are distinguished by Rankes and Fyles yet in the practice you are to nominate neither but are to say To the right or to the left hand Counter-march Counter-march and loose ground Counter-marching of Ranckes and altering of Ground are thus affected When the Command is deliuered the Leaders turne and passe through the Distances betweene thc fyles and when they are passed as farre beyond the next Ranke turnes after them and so successiuely the rest in due distance Marching out after their Leaders till they haue taken another like place from the Bringers vp equall to that they did possesse or otherwise passe on further at the discretion of the Commander The vse is when the Enemy shewes himselfe vpon your Reere and you desire to confront him with your best men the wordes of Direction are To the right or left hand Counter-march and passe if you will keepe the same Ground then thus The Leaders vpon the Word giuen must turne as before and March through the Distances of the fyles till they come betweene thc Distances where the Bringers vp stand and so the rest successiuely After them the Middle-men the ranckes of the second Middle-men standing firme till the fiue first Ranckes haue possessed the place betweene the last fiue and doe by that meanes double them Then the Middle-men to the Bringers vp without attending any further Command shall march till they haue gotten the distance of the Rancks which done they shall take their place right behind the Leaders Middle-men so the rest likewise successiuely Marching out after one another to the same distance shal turne take their places till the
Bringers vp get the places the Leaders marched from the Leaders the places where the Bringers vp stood The words of direction To the right or left hand Coūtermarch and stand The very same is done otherwise thus Assoone as you haue giuen the word Countermarch and the Leaders begin to turne at the same time and instant all the Body shall mooue forward and the Ranckes aduance successiuely one after another still turning after their Leaders as they come vp to the place from whence they mooued and following them till the Leaders haue taken the place of the Bringers vp and the Bringers vp bee come into the places of the Leaders The words are to the right or left hand Counter-march Counter-march by Fyles The Counter-marching of Fyles for the manner of it is nothing different from the former of Rankes Onely when you will Counter-march your Fyles you must first bid them to the right hand or left hand and when they are turned towards that flancke from whence you meant to Counter-march you must say To the right or left hand Counter-march The vse is when you will passe your Musquetiers all to one flancke or any Maniple or Maniples to any other Quarter of the Army either from the right hand to the left or to the middle Battell or any contrary When you will Wheele the body or Maniple to the right hand you must command the right hand Fyle to stand firme Wheeling the Body then Command them to the right hand and all of them shall turne their faces that way so as the whole Body will front towards the right flancke Then say Fyles to your order and all of them shall close forward toward the right fyle at the distance of 3. foot and this perforformed bid them Front as they were Then say Rankes to your Order and all the Rankes shall close forward to 3. foot And this being effected Command the right Leader to stand firme like the fixed foot of a Compasse and all the rest plumpe together to Wheele to the right hand about him as the Center which will bring the Front from the vsuall aspect to the right flanke Now as the body Wheeles so the right Leader must obserue to turne his body by Discretion in his place keeping his aspect euen with the aspect of the rest of the Leaders as they winde themselues and thus your Directions will bee accomplished The same thinges to the contrary must bee likewise obserued when you will wheele to the best Flancke If you will bring the aspect of the Front towards the Reere then you must giue them the halfe turne by wheeling one quarter turne more then you did before If you will returne the Body into his place againe you may wheele it round by giuing it one halfe turne more hauing once already had an halfe turne which will bring that Aspect backe againe that way from whence it was first mooued But if the Body haue made but a quarter turne to the right hand then before you wheele them backe you must say To the right hand And all of them will turne their faces that way then bid the Leader who was the right hand Leader and is now become the left to stand firme And the rest to wheele backe againe about him the quarter turne then let them Front as they were and so your first Ranke of Leaders hath gotten the place from whence at first it wheeled Then say Rankes open backward And when the Rankes haue taken their first places and Distances then say Fyles to the left hand open so all the Fyles turning their Aspect towards the left flanke march from the right hand Leader who hath his place already and therefore is to stand firme till they haue taken all the first places and Distances and then they must Front againe as they were And thus they are restored to their first Ground and Order When you intend to wheele a single Company you must Double their Rankes before they wheele in regard the Body is but small but in a Diuision or greater Body you close both Ranke and Fyle to the Order of three foot omitting to Double The same Precepts are to bee vsed to the contrary hand if you bee wheeled to the left flanke Now wee will say somewhat of Exercising the Pyke before we come to the Musquetier The punctuall handling of the Pyke which euery man is to bee practised in because it is common wee will omit and proceed to the tearmes of Direction which are these viz. Aduance your Pykes Order your Pykes Shoulder your Pykes and slope them Charge your Pykes Order your Pykes Trayle your Pykes Cheeke your Pykes These following Motions are to bee performed both Standing and Marching When you Charge and March your Body must stand still a while till you see your Pykes are all couched ouer their Leaders shoulders then March forwards CHarge your Pykes Shoulder your Pykes To the right hand Charge Shoulder your Pykes To the left hand Charge Shoulder your Pykes To the Reere Charge Shoulder your Pykes Stand. Order your Pykes They must obserue when they Charge standing to fall backe with the right leg and Marching to set forward the left When you Charge to the left hand stand firme with the right leg only turne a litle on your left heele Now for the Musquetiers because some Motions there are proper and belonging to them onely For the handling the Musquet and the Postures wee will omit them and onely tye you in the Exercise to these three tearmes of Directions which include all the other particularities Make ready Present Giue Fire Your Musquetiers must obserue in all their Actions to turne to the Right hand and that they carry the mouthes of their Musquets high as well when they are Shouldered as in Priming as also when they hold their Pannes guarded and come vp to giue fire All Skirmishes and Fights are performed one of these three wayes either by Aduancing or Retiring or by the Flanke In Aduancing towards an Enemy if they Skirmish not disbanded they giue fire by Ranke after this manner Two Rankes must alwayes make ready together and aduance tenne paces before the Body at which distance a Sergeant or when the body is great some better quallified Officer is to stand euen with whom the Musquetiers are to come vp which they are to performe one Ranke still one after another the second Ranke obseruing still to keepe their Musquets vpon their Rests and to guard their Pannes till the first haue discharged and be fallen away then presently after them the second Ranke is to giue fire and fall away after the first Ranke falling euen behind the other Rankes in the Reere and falling vp after them whilest the first two Rankes come vp and giue Fire the two next are to make ready and to aduance forwards as farre as the afore mentioned Officer and no further assoone as euer the two first are falne away and they are to doe all thinges in
the same manner they did before them and so all the other Rankes by twoes one after another When they haue presented no man must be suffered to Discharge his Musquet till the word Giue Fire bee giuen and then the whole Ranke must be taught to Discharge hansomely and altogether no man being permitted to take his ayme higher then the Girdle or the Middle of a man When you will acquaint them to giue Fire retyring from an Enemy you must do it in this manner As the Troupe marcheth the last Ranke makes ready and beeing ready turneth at an instant to the right hand Presents and giues Fire which being performed they March one after another a good round pace towards the Front and there place themselues together before the Souldiers as soone as the aforesaid first Ranke is turned to Discharge the Ranke next it makes ready and when the formost is Marched away the second comes vp after the same manner the former did Presenting giuing Fire falling away and performing all thinges in the same sort the former did so successiuely the rest one after another We giue fire by Flankes thus The outmost Fyle next you must be Cōmanded to make ready Marching still along with the body till such time as they be ready then they are to turne at the Signall giuen vpon the Enemy giue Fire altogether at one time when they haue Discharged they stirre not but stand firme keeping their Ground and Charging their Musquets againe Now assoone as the foresaid Fyle turnes to giue Fire the outmost next it must make ready alwayes Marching along with the Body till the Bringer vp bee past a little beyond the Leader of the Fyle that gaue fire last and then the second outmost Fyle must turne altogether and giue fire doing as the first did and so all the rest of the Fyles successiuely one after another A Sergeant or if the Troupe bee great some better qualified Officer shall stand at the head of the first fyle and as soone as the second fyle hath giuen fire he is to lead forwards the first fyle and so the rest one after another till he hath gathered vp the whole wing of Shotte and then hee shall ioyne them againe in equall front with the Pykes Another way of skirmishing is this all the whole wing of Musketiers makes ready altogether and the first ranke without aduancing giues fire in the place it stands in and speedily as it may yet orderly falls away all the ranks doing the same one after another successiuely Now last of all we will repeate the termes of directions which are these Motions standing and Marching Fyles right your Selues Ranks right your Selues Silence To the right hand As you were To the left hand As you were By the right hand to the Reere As you were By the left hand to the Reere As you were Rankes to the right hand Double As you were Ranks to the left hand Double As you were Middle-men to the right hand Double the Front As you were Middle-men to the Left hand double the Front As you were Bringers vp to the Right hand Double your Front As you were Bringers vp to the Left hand Double your Front As you were Middle-men by Deuision Double your Front to the right hand As you were Middle-men by Deuision Double the Front to the left hand As you were Middle-men to the Pyke or to the Sword Double the Body As you were Ranks by the Flankes Double the Body to the right hand to the left hand As you were Halfe Ranks by the Flanks Double the Front As you were To the right or left hand Counter-march As you were This is for the Ranks but when you will Counter-march your Flanks or Fyles you must first bid them to the right or left hand vpon which directions they will turne their faces to the flanke you desire to haue them turned and then say as you did before in the Countermarching the Ranks To the right or to the left hand Counter-march The same also is to be losed in the other Counter-marches which are these viz. To the right hand Countermarch and stand As you were Before you wheele the Body you shall vse these words Fyles close to your meane order or to 3. foot Ranks close to your meane order or to 3. foot Aduance your Pykes Slope your Musquets To the right hand Whele To the left hand Whele To the Reere Whele After you haue wheeled to the right hand to wheele backe againe must be euer to the contrary hand you wheeled first Front as you were Ranks open backward Fyles open If before the first wheeling they closed co the right hand then they must open to the left hand and so the contrary Front as you were FJNIS
charge is giuen then the rankes must close to the Swords point but this closing of the Swordes point is to bee vnderstood of the fiue first rankes which makes vp halfe the depth of the body for though the whole body doc aduance their Pikes and close their rankes to the distance three foot yet vpon the signall of charge the fiue last rankes shall neither couch or charge their Pikes nor cloase to their close order vnlesse there be an expresse command for it which command as I said before is neuer to be deliuered but when a great Shocke is giuen or sustained and then it is of vse for the holding and sholdring forward of the formost fiue rankes and as I take it will be performed with ease and strength whilst their Pikes are aduanced for it were bootlesse for those to bend that are without reach of an Enemy besides the aduantage in the vse of these fiue rankes if you should be charged in the Reere or vpon any other occasion and therefore in this sort would I haue the last fiue rankes with their Pikes aduanced to attend the opportunity of fighting Both the heauy Armed and the light Armed are to bee made acquainted with these distances there are also other Distances which I would haue the light Armed accustomed to and those likewise are of three sorts as the former which I would haue distinguished by the great the meane and the lesse of your open orders the great thirtie foot betweene Fyle and Fyle the meane twentie foot and the lesse fifteene foot but though the rankes alwayes obserue three foot onely the men in the Fyles are to side or stand stooping either to the right or left hand Diaginall to the distance the Fyles are ranged in either 3. feet 2. feet or 1 ½ feet to the hand required or shall be demonstrated in his place where I purpose to declare the vse of these Distances and my meaning herein your Musketiers are neuer to be closer then your meane order of three foot in square because they are to haue a free vse of their Armes The Generall motions which the Company or Troupes are to obserue NOw that I haue framed the Body in manner as you haue seene particularly inlarged euery part thereof with the distances to be vsed and obserued in all occasions I may boldly proceed to the orderly mouing of the same which I would gladly so effect that the whole Body or Troupe should moue as nimbly and with as small confusion as the body of man which by the due execution of that which followes may be in many performed But before I proceed to deliuer the Motions themselues I finde it requisite to giue these three rules which you are euer to obserue 1. All commands are to bee deliuered in the Front wheresoeuer it be 2. Whensoeuer the Flanck is made the Front the shott that are now in the Front and the Reere shall remoue and fall vpon the Flancks the right to the right and the left to the left 3. Whensoeuer these words of direction as you were are propounded it is meant thereby that you are to returne by the contrary hand to the place from whence you came as for example if you did turne to the right hand you are to returne as you were to the left hand and so in all other motions The motions of Troupes are two-fold of the whole or of part of the person of a Souldier in his station or of the limmes of the body constituted into Rankes or Fyles and these either of keeping or leauing the place they stand in In that of keeping their places the men only turne their bodyes the way which is commanded them in that of leauing their places the whole body moueth into an other place or a part thereof which motions for the better vnderstanding wee will distinguish the Rankes and Fyles By Ranks the body changing his place but so as the Leader of the corner Fyle of that hand to which the body wheeleth turnes his body only that way the Manaple moueth vnlesse in doubling of Rankes wherein it is changed but in part or by countermarching which may be done and the place kept This is mouing by ranckes which is to be vsed when we desire to keepe neere to our first station By Fyles howsoeuer each man in his owne place may alter or the men in their Fyles may change their places the Body or maine keepeth the proportion still vnlesse you make of the Flanke the Front wherein though the Maniple retayneth his order and so much ground yet not the same ground The motions of the person in his proper place are commanded by these termes of direction to wit to the right hand to the left hand and to the right or left hand about or to the Reere The motions of the lymbes is properly so termed when only some of them doe moue and the rest doe stand as in these words of commaund Rankes to the right or left hand double Fyles to the right or left hand double Ranks close forward Ranks open backwards Fyles to the right or left hand close or open to the distance you will haue them To the Right hand If you will make the right Flanke the Front then are you to say To the right hand at the deliuery of which words the Souldiers are presently to turne their faces that way and so your command will be performed To the Left hand In like sort if you will haue your left Flanke the Front you must say To the left hand and presently they will all turne their faces towards the left flancke When you will restore them backe againe to their first aspect you must say As you were By the right or left hand to the Reere When you will make the Reere the Front then are you to say By the right hand about or by the left hand about or to the Reere at which words euery Souldier is to turne his face to his backside Ranks close When you will close your Rankes you must say Ranks close which is alwayes to be vnderstood that all the Rankes moue at one instant close forwards to the first ranke of Leaders which is to stand firme Ranks open When you will open your ranks you must say Ranks open by which is alwaies vnderstood they are to open backward vnlesse an expresse commandement to the contrary Fyles to the right or left hand close So likewise if you will close the Fyles to any distance you must say Fyles to the right or left hand close to what order you please and then all of them turning their faces to that hand giuen moue ioyntly and wholly togeather sauing the outmost Fyle to that hand you close which is to stand firme till the Troupe haue gotten his distance and if you will restore them then you are to say As you were When the commandement is giuen for the altering any of the Distances by Fyles Fyles close without
with the Motions themselues bee duly obserued which is easily performed when these soure keepe euen for the right Leader and his middle Leader may see that the three Leaders betwixt them doe their duties and the left hand Leader with his middle Leader the other three betwixt them Now resteth to teach what bee the other particuler Duties of the Leaders Bringers vp and Middle-men of the Fyles as also what the Duties of those Leaders who in the Body of the tenne Fyles are to doe their Office to the Body as the others are to euery fyle apart The Leaders of the fyle ought to be as followeth As he is the Chiefe of the ten so is he to be respected and obeyed by them in these thinges they are to shew themselues in their Armes when bee requireth it aswell because it is his Office to see them kept cleane as to teach them the true vse of their Armes to acquaint them how euery one is to take his place in the fyle to make them perfect in all manner of Duties as March Motions Fight Workes Distances and Measures as also to instruct them in the vnderstanding of all Commandements by Drum or by voyce or by any other Signall appointed as also how to behaue themselues in making their Quarter and making their Cabbins wherein hee himselfe when he is joyned with other fyles is by his owne due obseruance of the Directions giuen to shew them the way and make himselfe their example The Bringer vp as hee is the second in worth so ought hee to be the second in estimation and to be held as the Lieutenant of the Fyle not onely to assist the Leader in euery thing of his Dutie and in his sicknesse or absence to execute his Office but to take care also his fyle being ranged with a Body of Fyles that his fyle keepe his order duely especially that halfe that is next him for the Bringers vp are of speciall vse in March Motion and Fight as also the Middle-men in part because they stand aptly for the gouerning of the Fyle hauing euery disorder in their eye And if by the turning the Front to the Reere there be occasion to resist in the Reere or by Deuiding the one halfe as it falls out many times both in Front and Reere then is hee in all thinges to demeane himselfe as is before mentioned in the Dutie of Leaders As for the Middle-men they are not onely for Distinction sake though it bee the chiefe end but are vpon the Deuiding of the body sometimes to doe the dutie of Leaders more often of Bringers vp because they close the Reere of each Deuision and are to see those of their fyles before them doe their Duties But if the Body bee to bend all his force forwards then is the Middle-man of the fist place to Discharge himselfe as is before mentioned and to see that the three Souldiers before him doe their Duties by keeping their Orders filling and supplying the places of the slaine Souldiers before them and the Enemy being broken it is their Duties to stirre them vp to follow the chase sharply The Middle-man of the sixt place is vpon the time of a Charge to leaue a little space betwixt the other Middle man and himselfe vnlesse it bee thought necessary to support the first Shocke of the Enemy by standing closely joyned In Fight both Leaders Bringers vp Middle-men and all the rest in generall are to keepe their Distances in Fyle and Rancke diligently to bee silent and attentiue to the voyce of the Commander to obserue the measures of March and Skirmish duly not to bend their Weapons or offer Fight before they may well do it as also not to forbeare it or performe it lazily when time serueth not to leaue his place through Cowardise or sence of slight hurts to succeed willingly and readily in the emptie place before him the Souldier that possessed it being slaine or grieuosly hurt and no longer able to resist not to leaue their places for the carrying away of their fellowes that are hurt not to step vntimely or presse ouer hastily to the Fight either exceeding the measure of the March or before the Souldier before him by giuing backe shew that hee cannot make his place good any longer This shall satisfie at this time for the Duties of the Leaders Bringers vp and Middle-men with the rest of the Fyles in a Company wee will now goe forwards to the Distances and Motions with which they are to be acquainted Of Distances The distances are all to be reckned from the Centinels of the souldiers that is from the midst of the space betweene the one mans feet to the midst betweene the other mans feet that orders with him FOr auoyding of confusion it shall be good to set downe before we goe any further what Distances you are to obserue betweene the Ranks the Fyles which I would haue only three to wit open order order close order your first Distance is your open order when your men both in Ranke and Fyle stand remoued sixe foot in square from one another which Distance you are alwaies to range your Troupe when you will exercise your Motions Your second distances is your order which is when the Souldiers in their rankes and Fyles stand three foot remoued asunder which is vsed when you will imbattaile your Troups and lead them against the Enemie or when you come to stand or meane to wheele the Body For when you march you are to obserue three foot betweene the Fyles and sixe betweene the Ranks vnlesse you march with your Pikes aduanced in which case you may keepe your meaner order of fixe foot in square Because the measure of this Distance cannot be taken so iustly by the Eye we take the distance of sixe foot betweene Fyle and Fyle by commanding the Souldiers to stretch forth their armes and stand so remoued one from another that their hands may touch and for the Rankes we make account we take the same Distance of sixe foot when the butt end of the Pikes doe almost reach the heeles of those that march before them Your third and last distance is your close order when the Fyles ioyne shoulder to shoulder and the rancks come vp to the Swords point which is of vse in some kindes of motion but chiefly when you will make the Troups seeme lesse or in the passage of some straight or when of neces forced to breake through an Enemy or when you receaue a charge of Horse or of Foot that purposeth to breake through you We take the second order or distance of 3. foote from Fyle to Fyle by bidding the Souldiers to set their armes akenbowe and ioyne themselues so close that their Elbows meet together and the Ranks when they come vp almost to the swords point When you meane to charge you must aduance your Pikes and close your rankes to the distance of three foot and when the signall or word to