make his frunt of pointing or directing with his warder March to yonder ground there auaunce your piques and make a pause and make of your right flanke frunt and reforme your distances according to discipline both by frunt and flankes or if he hath determined to make his frunt of the left flanke he may then say Make of your left flanke frunte and reforme your distances both by frunte and flankes according as he hath before determined either the one waies or the other to make his frunt which making of frunt either of the right or of the left flanke is to be vnderstood that they should turne their faces and weapons one of those waies which being by them performed then if they were 55. rankes and. 5. in euerie ranke in their marching they are now by making of their flanke frunt become 55. in frunt that is so many in euery ranke and by flanke only 5. rankes which aduancing of their piques and pause and making of flanke frunt by the first company or compertiment performed then he is to say to another compertiment of the like number of rankes by flanke be they of euen or od numbers it is importeth not so as he faile not in his great and generall account of the number of the rankes of the whole squadron by flanke or flankes March and double your selues by the backe of yonder conpertiment or companie and there 〈◊〉 make of flanke frunt as that companie hath done Which being by them preformed then persentlie but rather at the first the Coronelles Trompetter is to sound the doubling of their Companies into squadroÌ„ by back which being by all the companies or compertiments performed and reduced into their conuenient distances both by frunt and flankes according to discipline either to march or to fight then the Sergeant Maior may giue order and reduce vpon the flanks and corners of the squadron all the different sortes of weapons of volee into as many formes as he listeth of sleeues winges hearses troups c and may backe as many of them with light armed piquers and halbarders or battleaxes as the number or remnante of those weapons will giue them leaue And yet there is another order of forming of a Squadron by doubling and redoubling of the compertiments vpon the backe of the first compertiment which with diuers others because I do not allowe them for so good as these before sett downe I omitt and therefore proceeding to the third order of forming of a squadron by doubling the compertiments only by one flanke that is only either vpon the right or vpon the lefte flanke with diuers and sundrie particularities concerning the same I say that incase I had a regiment of 4000. footmen of diuers sorts of weapons as abouesayd and that I were disposed to reduce 2100. piquers into squadron of 55. in frunt 38. by flanks and that I thought good to make my compertiments altogether of like od nuÌ„bers as of 5. soldiors in euerie ranke from frunt to backe and the same of 38. rankes by flankes I would then deuide them into 11. compertiments of 5. in euery ranke throughout euery compertiment which vnited are 55. piquers in euery ranke and in number of rankes by flanks 38. euery which compertiment of 5. from frunt to backe coÌ„teining 190. soldiors the whole squadron consisting of 11. compertiments as aforesaid doth come to consist of 2090. soldiors the ouerplus which lacketh nomber to make a ranke and therefore to be tearmed a broken ranke 10. soldiors who are either to march and place themselues with the ranke of Ensignes or otherwise readie to be emploied as the Sergeant Maior shall thinke most conuenient Now hauing all these 11. compertiments in the field seperated from all the rest of the weapons and being disposed to reduce them presently into forme the Coronell or Sergeant Maior either leading them himselfe or pointing with his warder in his hand to the ground to y â— which they shal march vnto is to vse these briefe speaches or the like to the Captain that dooth lead the first band or compertimeÌ„t March vp to that ground there aduaÌ„ce your piques make a pause then presently after he is to say to the second band or compertiment March vp and double your selues by the left flanke of the first compertiment and so subsequently he is to commauÌ„d his trumpettor to sound as also otherwise to giue direction to the rest of the compertiments that they shall double themselues euery one vpon the left flanke of the other but after that he hath vsed the briefe speaches aforesaid to the two first compertiments then besides the sounds of the trompettor for the forming of the squadroÌ„ if he be not disposed to gallop with his horse by y e flank of the rest of y e compertiments y t are furder off behind and to vse the like speaches of doubling by flanks as aforesaid he may by certen signes that hee may vse to accustome his Captaines and officers vnto either with his hand or with his warder direct them to the doubling of their rankes by flankes as aforesaid which squadron with all the Ensignes guarded with their halbardes or battleaxes placed in the Centre or betwixt the 2. middle rankes of the same beeing by the Coronell or Sergeant Maior with so great facilitie perfourmed and by him and his officers straightlie lookt into that all their rankes as well in frunt as by flanke doo obserue their most conuenient and proportionate distaunces either to march or to fight he then may forme his sleeues wings squares hearsses and troups of harquebuziers Archers and mosquetiers and backe as many of them with the rest of the piques and battleaxes as the ground and the sayde remnant of those weapons wil giue them leaue or as the approching and coÌ„ming of the enemies shall giue them occasion Now as this squadron is formed altogether of compertiments of like od numbers so may the Sergeant Maior forme the very same squadron with compertiments of different odde numbers as with compertiments of â— and 7. or with compertiments of different euen and odde numbers as of 4. 5. and 6. so as they all vnited in frunt doo come to make 55. souldiors and by flanâ—e 38. ranks as is before declared which different particularities with many others concerning aswell the ordering of horsmen as footmen I haue set down by demonstration in a booke which I mean shortly to put in print entituled Certen military discourses and Arithmetical tables with diuers formes and demonstrations for a Lord Martiall or for a sergeant Maior to form squadrons and to reduce both horsmen and footmen into diuers and many forms of battles by me Composed 1585. or rather 1580. But now this foresaid squadron being reduced into the forme of 55. by frunt and 38. by flankes ouerplus a broken ranke of 10. souldiors as aforesaid if the Sergeant Maior vpon the comming of the enemie or vpon any other occasion shall thinke
piquers of a single band or squadron ought to carie their piques vpon their left shoulders How a single band coÌ„sisting of 5 different sortes of weapons should be formed to march in the plaine and open fields A great aduauntage and readines for bands marching in this sort to be reduced into other forâ—es How Captains marching with their bandes in their simple and single order of rankes should double all their rankes by right line How Captains should double the ir rankes by flankes How Captains should triple their rankes by right line How Captains should triple their rankes by flanks It is to be noted that in all reducements of squadrons into forme with the compertiments of bands that the middle most part of the frunte is the highest place in estimation and that the right hand of the same frunt is the second in degree and that the left hand same frunt 〈◊〉 the lowest place in degree And that the first second and thirde rankes but chiefely the first are the places of greatest estimation for the gentlemen of the bands if there be any to bee placed in the presence of their Captains to shewe their valours How where any ouerplus of broken rankes of piquers should place themselues It is contrary to discipline that any ranke of disequall number to the rest of the rankes should march either in frunt oâ— backe How Captains hauingâ—by tripling their rankes brought their bandes into disproportion may and ought to remedie the same Another speciall point to be lookt vnto by Captaines in doubling oâ— tripling their rankes by right line or encreasing them by flankes The causes and reasons why in reducing this band into their simple single order of ranks euery sort of weapon is placed in the order aforesaid Harquebuziers emplâ—ied in skirmish or for ambushes or som other like causes ought to be backt with halâ—ards Archers and musquetiers are not to depart from the bodie of the squadron Where the Drommers Phifers of a sin gle bande marching in their single order of â—ankes ought to be placed Where the En signebearer is alwaies placed The pique the most honourable weapon for soldiors on foote How Ensigne-bearers ought to cariâ— their Ensignes marching through a great Citie or Towne How Ensigne-bearers should be armed Euerie Ensign-bearer is to haue a deputie Ensignebearer What manner of men I would wish the Ensignebearers and their deputies to be The deputie Ensignebearer how he should be armed and what weapon he should caâ—y The deputie Ensignebearer is to take the like oathe for the guard of the Ensigne that the Ensignebearer hath taken Prehâ—minences of right due to the deputie Ensigne-bearer How Sergeants of baÌ„ds should be armed The office of Sergeants in marching with their bands How a Captain leading his band through any Citie or great Towne ought to marche A great shame for any Captaine or Lieutennant to lead his band in the field vpon a swift running horse No priuate band neither of horsemen nor footmen being reduced into their single order of rankes or into any square ought to disorder and breake their rankes vntill the Captaine hath geuen coÌ„maund ment or licence to the Ensignebearer to lodge c. No squadron consisting of diuers bands ought to disorder and breake their rankes vntill the Coronell or Coronells or Sergeants Maiors do come to the ranke of Ensignes and licence them to departe and lodge The Ensigne-bearers of euery Regiment must at the time of their lodging fixe their Ensignes vpright in the ground in the place of assembly in the frunt of their quarters Brief speaches to be vsed by Captains to their soldiors when they would haue them to vpright their piques Brief speaches to be vsed by Sergeant Maiors or Captaiâ—es to their soldiors when they would haue them to charge or receaue a charge of another squadron of piquers How piquers should charge or receaue a charge of an other squadron of piquers Piquers when they approch their enemies ar not to shake clatter their piques but are to carry them firme steady The opinion of such as do vain ly hold that piquers in squadron should lie at the push of â—y pique thereby with thrusts and foines to annoy their enemies answered Briefe speaches to be vsed by a Sergeant Maior or a Captaine to their soldiours piquers when they are readie to be charged by a squadron of Launces How piquers should resist a charge of Launces How piquers should receiue a charge of Launces in case the Sergeant Maior or Captains should thinke good to place any weapons of volee before them The formost ranks of a squadroÌ„ of piquers cannot conâ—eniently and aptly encouer guard aboue 3 rankes of Harquebuziers nor aboue 2 rankes of musqueâ—â—â—rs against the charge of Launces a Euerie Geometricall pace doth consist of 5 foot euerie foot doth consist of 12 Geometrical inches or inches as we terme them by the Rule so it is to be vnderstoode by the Reader in all my writinges where I speake of paces How and in what distances harquâ—buziers or mosquetiers are to discharg their peeces from vnder a squadron of piques b The order that mosquetiers should obserue in charging their peeces in the foresaid action The oppinion of Mounsieur de la Noue The opinion of the author fortified with reasons coÌ„trary to the opinion of Mounsieur de la Noue An obiection answered Weapons of fire are no waies to be placed nor yer to be suffred to enter within the bodie of a squadron of piques Brief speaches to be vsed by Captains to their soldiors when they should make of flanke 〈◊〉 How a Sargâ—ant Maior or Captain in making of flankâ— frunt is to reduce their piquers into their due proportion are distances How to make of backe frunt How Captains or Coronells of horsemen aâ— to make of flanke frunt â— doth behoue the Generall and the â—ord Marshal of an Armie as also the â—ergeante Maior generall alwaies to â—aue about them a â—erfite roll of all the Coronells and Capâ—ains names with the â—umber of euery â—ne of their Regiâ—ents and what â—umber of soldiors also doe appertaine â—o euerie â—nsigne â—and aswell of horse men as of footmen â—hroughout the whole armie that â—hereby vpon all occasions they may giue present orders and directions The waie and order â—ow a squadron â—hould bere duced â—nto forme in the oâ—en fields either to marche or fight All Coronells and Sergeants Maiors of Regiments aswell of â—orâ—emen as of footâ—en ought to haue â—ontinually about them a Roll of all â—he Captains and â—heir Lieutenants names that are in â—heir Regimentes â—ith the nomber of soldiors and diffeâ—ent armors and â—eapons that do beâ—ong to euery band â—r companie therby â—o giue present diâ—ections Three different formings of squadrons The firste The second waie to forme squadrones The third order of forming of squadron Squadrons may be formed of compeâ—timents of like odd numbers or of diffeâ—ent odd numbers or oâ— diâ—â—eâ—ent euen and
a thing of so great facilitie for all good and diligent Captaines and officers aswell of horsemen as of footmen only by sight of eye and ordinarie practise to instruct and reduce their souldiors vpon any different occasions into all sorts of distances either in Towne Campe or field according to the Art and scyence Militarie as that there is not any Captaine Lieutenant nor Sergeants of band that are any waies worthie to haue the charge or mannaging of a band of footemen nor any Captaine Lieutenant Conductor nor Decurion of horsmen that are any waies worthy to haue the ordering managing of any sorts of horsemen vnder their charges if they doo not very well know all different sortes of distances according to discipline that they are to reduce their soldiors into And if the Captaine or officers aforesaid would haue their souldiors to stay their march and make a stand then the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeant is to say to the first ranke of piquers Auance your piques which words being pronounced al the soldiors piquers of the first rank must in an instant lay their left hands vpon the forpart of their piques about a foot or more before their right handes auancing themselues forward two steps the first with their left feet and the laste steppe with their right feet and therewithall raising their piques vpright with both their hands they must set the butends of them vpon the grouÌ„d with the pointes towards the Element which being by the first rank performed with a comly soldiorlik grace then the second ranke the third fourth so subsequently all the rest of the ranks one after another must after the same sort auance their piques And whereas it hath beene of long time vsed and stil is by many Italian Walloun and French Captains and so likewise by some other Captaines of other Nations that they doo instruct their soldiors marching in their simple or single order of rankes of 5. or 6. or 7. or other such numbers as also when they are reduced into squadron that all the piquers that doo march of the left flank or side of the band or squadron should carrie all their piques vpon their left shoulders as â—y piquers marching vpon the right flanke doo carry theirs vpon their right shoulders and this to the intent as they say that the piquers of the left flanke or side of the band or squadron carrying their piques vpon their left shoulders doo in the same carrying of their piques greatly beautifie the band or squadron in the eies of the beholders whereas if otherwise all the piquers of the left flank should carrie their piques vpon their right shoulders as those of the right flanke doo that it would not make so good a shew as by carrying their piques vpon their left shoulders Thervnto I say that I haue knowne diuers Italians and namelie Marco Antonio ColoÌ„na Ascanio de la Corna Chapin Vitelli all which three were very notable gentlemen and great Captains that did greatlie mislike that the piquers of the left flanke of a band or squadron should carry their piques vpon their left shoulders vtterly condemning the cause before alledged saying that the left flank or side of piquers marching in their simple or single order of ranks or in squadron could not be more bewtified then by the wearing of their swords vpon their left sides and their piques vpon their right shoulders in soldiorlike manner besides that for right handed soldiors to carrie their piques vpon their left shoulders when they are to aduance or vpright or shoulder their piques it dooth giue a greater disequalitie and disgrace in the performance of those and diuers other effects and therewithal is a great deale more vnready for right handed souldiors for diuers other purposes to performe and vse then if they carried al their piques after one sorâ— vpon their right shoulders And as the opinions of diuers Captaines are as aforesaid that the carrying of their piques vpon their left shoulders doth bewtifie the left flanke because it dooth resemble the right So contrariwise I say that such as doo behold either the frunt or the backe of such a band or squadron shall see a disproportion and disequalitie in the partition where the piquers of the left flank do carry their piques in a different sort from al the rest of the piquers of the right flanke For all which causes before alledged with others which for breuities sake I omit I would wish that all piquers should aswell in squadrons as in their single order of rankes carry all their piques vpon their right shoulders not vpon their left except some times when they are in march in the field to ease themselues they may change their piques to their left shoulders Also if there were any piquers that were left handed from their youth I wold wish them to carrie their piques vpon their right shoulders and to practise and vse their piques with their right hands in couching and making head with them against either horsmen or footmen and in all other militarie exercises and actions And because such left handed soldiors doo weare their swordes vpon their right sides I would wish that they should not be placed neither in single bandes nor in squadrons vpon the vttermost flankes or sides of them but in some other of the inner ranks And here it is to be noted that in reducing of a single band or companie of soldiors into their simple or single order the Captain Lieutenant or Sergeants of the band must haue great consideration in forming of their bands and chiefely consisting as our English bands doe of 5. different weapons that is of piques batleaxes musquetiers harquebuziers and archers and that they ought to performe in this sort following First that they should place the one halfe of the harquebuziers in frunt and immediatlie after them should march the one halfe of the archers and after the archers the one halfe of the musquetiers and after the musquetiers al the ranks of the piquers with the Ensigne in the midst or centre of them guarded with halbarders or battleaxers and after the piquers the other halfe of the musquetiers and after the musquetiers the other half of the archers and after them last of al the other halfe of the harquebuziers which band marching in this sort the one half of the different sorts of weapons of volee marching before the piques and the other halfe behind both in like numbers of ranks in one order they are by that means alwaies ready vpon all occasions to be reduced into any forme or different forms to arme aswell the back of the piquers by some called Rereward as also the frunt flanks al four corners of the said piques as for example If the Captain of the band be disposed to arme and draw two sleeues of any one sort of those weapons of volee by the flanks of the armed men he may then with great celerity
Ensignebearer with his Ensigne doth stand and there shall ranke and place themselues on the right hand of the Ensignebearer At which present time likewise the last ranke of the other 5. piquers shall march vp by the lefte flanke of the armed men vntill they come to the foresaid midle place where the Ensignebearer with his Ensigne doth stand and there shall ranke and place themselues on the left flanke of the Ensignebearer And this is to be performed by reason that it is not sufferable according to discipline that any broken ranke of a squadron of piquers or of any other weapon of disequall nomber to the rest of the rankes should so march either in frunt or backe How beit the Captaine before he commandeth the trypling of the rankes as aforesaid ought well to consider of the nomber of the ranks that he hath or meaneth to triple to the intent to bring them into a conuenient and proportionate forme aswell by flankes as frunte which proportionate forme is not only intended in respect of the distances by frunt and flankes as aforesaid but that there be not more rankes by flankes then there be soldiors in euerie ranke which would cause being piquers the square or squadron to be a great deale longer by flanke considering their different distances then broade in frunt which in all discipline in forming of squares or squadrons is a great disproportion vnlesse that the Captaine vpon some occasion or accident were disposed to make of flanke frunt that is to make all the soldiors to turne their faces and weapons that waies Howbeit if the Captaine by the tripling of his rankes as aforesaid should find that he had not brought them into that proportion and forme that he ought according to discipline to do that is to make the frunt full as broad as the flankes are long or broader to any conuenient proportion then the flankes are longe then he may easely remedie the same by increasing all the rankes by flankes sauing the hindermost ranke which by such encraesment of ranks commeth to lacke nomber to as conuenient bredth and length by frunt and flankes as he thinketh meete which order of increasing of rankes by flankes I haue alreadie before sette downe And as the Captaine may double or triple the rankes as aforesaid so he may likewise vpon good consideration and cause quadruple them that is to make euerie 3. rankes to enter into the fourth ranke obseruing and proceeding in performance thereof in the like sort and order as is before declared But in the performance of this before set downe the Captaine and his officers are furder to consider that in that doubling of rankes by right line or encresing them by flankes they must take heed that they do not confuse or confound their rankes by making two sorts of weapons to enter into any one rancke as to make any piquer to enter into any rank of halbarders or any harquebuzier into any rank of archers or any archers to enter into any ranke of musquetiers nor yet any harquebuziers at any time to enter into any rank of musquetiers although they be both weapons of fire because that to mingle two sorts of weapoâ—s of different force and qualitie in one rank it is a great scorne and contrarie to al true discipline But now if any man will aske the causes wherfore in reducing this band of 5. sorts of weapons into their simple single order of 4. 5. or 6. in a rank I placed the harquebuziers formost and the archers betwixt them and the mosquetiers and the musquetiers next vnto the piquers Therevnto I answer and say that the causes and reasons that haue moued me so to doe are that harquebuziers in respect of the lightnesse of their weapon and furniture are of al other weapons of volee most readie and apt to bee imploied in skirmish or vpon any aduantage of ground to bee placed vpon the sudden in ambush where they may lie close ready vppon diuers opportunities to giue a sudden volee or diuers volees deuided either at horsemen or footmen But I would alwaies vpon the employing of them in such actions that they should be bacâ—t with some number of halbarders lightlie armed as also vppon some occasions with some piques for diuers causes reasons that heerafshal appeare And as for the archers I haue placed them betwixt the harquebuziers and musquetiers partlie to make a separation distinction of those weapons of fire the one of greater length heueth and in effect of greater violence in further distance and the other I meane harquebuzes shorter and lighter and to be emploid most commonlie in the first seruices but chieâ—â—e in consideration that neither the archers nor the musquetiers are to depart from the bodie of the piques but are to bee reduced into hearses or into greater or smaller formed troups as also for such other effectes and purposes as in certen places of this booke heereafter shall appeare and so likewise the reasons wherefore I haue placed the harquebuziers archers and musquetiers in the same number and order aswell behind the body of the piques as before in frunt are aswell in respect of the ready drawing of them vppe into sleeues and other formes by the flankes of the piques as aforesaid as also that vpon some accidents or comming of the enemie it somtime hapneth that the bodie of the piques reduced into square may happen to bee forced to make of backe frunt vppon which and diuers other occasions and accidentes the body of the piquers haue alwaies in a readinesse as many of all sortes of weapons of volee behinde them to bee any waies emploied with al celeritie as in frunt before And heere it is furder to be noted that a single band marching in their simple and single order ought to place their drummers and phifers one drumme and phifer betwixt the second and third ranke in frunt and the other drummer and phifer incase they haue two phifers which few bands haue in the midst of the band directly before the Ensigne bearer and in case that the band bee so great that there are three drummers which is but seldome seene then the third drummer is to bee placed betwixt the second and third of the hindermost rankes But because most great bands haue but two drummers and one phifer those two drummers are to be placed the one betwixt the second and third ranke in frunt as aforesaid and the other drummer with the phifer in the midst of the band before the Ensignebearer But in case there bee but one drummer and one phifer then they are to be placed in the midst of the band before the Ensignebearer as aforesaid and not betwixt the fore rankes of the band although I haue seene when there hath been but one drum and one phifer that they haue not marched before the Ensignebearer but in the frunt as aforesaid And this I haue seene vsed by some Italians
ranke either by right line or oblique And incase they march 2. in a ranke by right line then euerie 2. horsemen are of equal frunt throughout from frunt to back as all other sortes of horsemen in their rankes are But if they march in ranks oblique then euerie second light horsman doth march retyred and a good distance wide from the first in such sort as he may march and haue in flanke the midst of the voide ground that is betwixt his fellow formost horseman of his owne ranke and the formost horseman of the second ranke that followeth the first and so likewise the second souldior of the second ranâ—e is to follow him in the like sort but marching and hauing on his flanke likewise the midst of the distance or voide ground that is betwixt his formost fellow of his owne ranke and the formost light horsman of the third ranke And so subsequentlie all the rest of the light horsemen must march in rankes oblique the one to the other Now all this band of 200. light horsemen reduced into 100. rankes marching by right line straight forward are to be reduced into a semicircle in this sort following that is that one Conductor ought to march before all the rankes And another last of all behinde all the rankes Then after two other Conductors are to be placed in the verie midst the one to take care and to see order obserued by the one halfe of the semicircle that is of his right hand and the other to see order obserued by the other halfe of the semicircle that is of his left hand which conductors being so placed and the Cornet either in the midst of the rankes of the light horsemen or else in one of the formost rankes then to reduce these 100. rankes into a semicircle either the Captaine or formost Conductor must march with his band fetch a great and a large compasse and circuite of ground either vpon the right or left hand according as he intendeth to make the frunt of his semicircle And thus he must leade his band in compasse and halfe circle vntill he seeth the hindermost ranke right ouer and against in semicircle to the formost ranke of all the bande which he himselfe leadeth which he perceiuing then he must commaund his trompettor to sound a stay or pause which done the trumpettor must gallop towards the midst of the semicircle I meane of the inner or compasse side and there must againe sound to make of flanke frunt which being performed then of 100. ranks of 2. in a ranke that they were before they are now becomne to be only 2. rankes of 100. in each ranke which being performed then may they march in this forme of semicircle in their rankes either by right line or oblique if the fields be large and open as they are most commonly in Fraunce and many other Countries with great facilitie And incase there were a squadron of 150. Launces that would thinke to breake that semicircle by a charge giuen in the midst of the same semicircle then the aduauntage of the semicircle is vpon the instant and verie beginning of the charge of the launces to open themselues in the midst the formost Conductor of the Corner of the right hand galloping large and something in compasse and leading the one halfe of the semicircle of light horsemen vpon the one flanke of the squadron of Launces and the other Conductor of the other ende or corner of the semicircle to galloppe likewise somewhat large in compasse and lead the other halfe of the semicircle to charge vppon the other flanke of the squadron of Launces and with terrible noises and shoutes to charge both the flankes as also the backe of the squadron with their speares al at one time Or if the Semicircle bee all of stradiots with their zagaias which are double headed Launces then that they beeing lead by their Conductors and opening in the midste as aforesaid doo charge both the flanks and backe of the squadron with their zagaias striking both forwarde and backeward killing and wounding both horses and men By which new extraordinarie and vnexpected kinde of charge the squadron of Launces that thought by right line to haue charged and broken the semicircle in the midst finding nothing there before them to charge but onely the ayre are forced to make a stay or stand and to defend them selues with great disaduantage of Weapon and are compelled to make frunt of both their flankes and backe all at one time which they can no waies performe without disordering themselues out of all forme whereof and by the neernesse of the light horsmen bee they speares or zagaias that haue charged them as aforesaid it commeth to passe that they haue not any ground nor roome to put their horses into any Carrire nor to charge their launces into their restes thereby to giue the greater blow and shocke or anie other waies to annoy the light horsmen that haue charged do with their zagaias or speares vsed as punching staues wounde and kill them and their horses both in flanks and backe as aforesaid by meanes whereof they haue not onelie vtterlie lost the vse of their Launces but are driuen with many wounds alreadie receiued to disorder all their ranks squadron in tumultuarie and disordred sort to fight with their swords and other such short weapons against the said light horsemen with their punching staues to the g 〈◊〉 disaduantage and vtter ruine of the Launces And whereas I haue shewed this order of marching of a semicircle of two rankes oblique according to the Hongarian and Turkie manner I say that it hath beene and is in respect that if any other such light horsemen in rankes by right line should charge them that the hindermost light horsemen of the second ranke that are oblique in ranke to their fellowes before them may at the same instant haue more open and conueniencie of ground to succour their fellowes in the formost ranke and to charge their enemies then they otherwise could haue if they were by right line directly behind the first ranke The great effects that Stradiots Archers on horsbacke and Crosbowers on horsback are to performe in the field both against horsmen and footmen with also the great adâ—antage that they haue against Carabins and against Reistres and all other weapons of fire on horsebacke in seruices of the field STradiots before mentioned are a kinde of light horsemen that haue beene vsed of many yeares both in Italie Fraunce Spaine and Germanie although in their weapons manner of arming euery Nation hath differd one from another more or lesse Amongst the Pagans the Arabians and Persians the Turks and the Tartars in such ages as they conquered the greatest part of Europe Affricke and Asia vsed almost no other souldiors and weapons on horsebacke but light horsemen Launciers with long launces Stradiots with Launcezagaias headed with two steeled heades Archers with their bowes and
feet And so in like maner the second third and fourth ranks so subsequentlie al the rest of the ranks must in al points perform the like shoulder their pikes one after another carry the butends of their piques 3. foot or more from the ground straight in discent towardes the right hams of the souldiors piquers marching before them euerie ranke beeing so euen in frunt that the butend of no piquers pique may preceed the one the other in the same ranke and so euen and straight by flanks that the butend of euerie piquers pique may be iust point and blanke towards the right hamme of the piquer preceding in the ranke before him And so they must al with great silence and with a graue and soldiorlike grace march But whereas in this place I doe instruct that all the soldiors of the first ranke and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another should first fall back with their right feet almost a foot behind their left to the intent that their piques should fall the more leisurely to their shoulders and that then all the soldiors of the first ranke at one instant should raise and lift vp their left feet about a handfull from the ground and letting them fall againe to the ground should march forward first with their right feet that instruction I doe giue partlie in respect that the same being orderlie performed as aforsaid it dooth giue a very comelie grace vnto the soldiors in their first beginning to march but chiefelie because that the leisurely falling backe of all the soldiors of the first ranke with their right feet to shoulder their piques and so subsequentlie of all the rest of the rankes one after another with the lifting vp also of their left feet about a hand full from the ground is a warning to euery hinder ranke presently to prepare themselues to march whereas by not performing the same or the like leisurely and soldiorlike warning vpon the stroke of the drum or briefe speeches pronounced as aforesaid it often commeth to passe that the soldiors of the second ranke are suddenlie and disorderly cast too great a distance behind the first ranke and so consequentlie all the rest of the rankes by the sudden shouldering of their piques and stepping forward of the first ranke And I doe further aduertise that the soldiors piquers of any priuate band marching in their single order of rankes doe in any wise obserue the distances of 16. or else 18. feet betwixt euerie rank ranke by flankes and 6. or else 7. feet betwixt euery soldior and soldior in frunt that is betwixt soldior and soldior in euery ranke And this in case the ground will permit them or otherwise that they do march in conuenient distances in frunt and by flanks according to the ground and occasion And in this place because I haue mentioned and touched the distances that ought to be obserued by a single band of piquers and other weapons marching in their simple and single order of ranks I thought it were a conuenient place also to handle and write at large of the many and different distances that ought to be obserued as well in frunt that is in euery ranke from frunt to backe as by flanks that is betwixt euery ranke and ranke not only by single bands but also by squadrons and battels for many purposes and that not onelie by footmen but also by horsmen of diuers different sortes of armour and weapons Howbeit considering that the same hath been briefelie touched although to no great purpose by some other writers of forreigne Nations And that if I should enter to write and discourse of those matters effectuallie it would require manie sheetes of paper and therefore would be very long and tedious to the Reader I thought good to ouerpasse those particularities as thinges very well knowne to all skilfull men of warre of all warlike nations and to proceed to other matters that doe require more particular instruction And that the rather because the many and different distances that are vppon diuers different causes and occasions to be obserued by horsemen as also by footmen are such and so many as they cannot bee expressed by writing but with verie great difficultie for that the same cannot bee particularlye set downe but by the measures of paces and halfe paces and by the measures of more and fewer feet of halfe feet and quarters of feet and other such measures which I thinke no man of any experience can possibly by writing rightlie expresse without failing or erring more or lesse And that by reason that sometimes single bandes are to march in open places where they haue roome inough to inlarge their ranks both in frunt and by flankes thereby to beautifie and giue grace vnto such companies And at other times they are to march thorow Citties and Townes where the narrownesse of the streats doe not giue them roome to inlarge themselues in their distances thereby to make the greater show at other times also bands are to march in the field readie to be reduced incorporated with other bands at which time they are to march more close in neerer distances both in frunt and by flanks And so likewise being incorporated into squadrons they are for diuers different purposes as somtimes for their greater ease to march to giue the greater show and to bewtifie the squadron they are to march in the rankes inlarged and at other times vpon the expecting of the enimie being not yet in sight or beeing in sight they are to straighten their rankes more or lesse or that vpon the neare approch of the Enemies squadrons of both horsmen and footmen they expect and doubt a charge of horsmen in frunt or flankes or both or that they themselues are with their piques to charge a contrarie squadron of footmen For al which and diuers other occasions and purposes they are to reforme themselues into diuers different distances And as piquers and short weapons either in single bands or reduced into squadrons are for diuers purposes to reforme themselues into such varietie of distances Euen so weapons of volee reduced into sleeues wings and other formes are to vse some of the like and other sorts of distances And as footmen are for such different causes and occasions to obserue such varietie of distances as aforesaid Euen so horsmen of diuers armors and weapons as men at Armes Dimilaunces Stradiots Reistres and other sorts of light horsemen are to reduce themselues into diuers different distances according to the effects and nature of their armors and weapons and are again to reforme themselues into other distances according to new occasions and directions sometimes for one purpose and sometimes for others All which variety different sorts of distances and many others are of very great difficulty to bee by writing rightly expressed in their iust and proportionate measures and yet y â— notwithstanding it is
after the one sort and by other Italians of other parts and dominions of Italie after the other sort But because the Ensignebearer doth alwaies march in the midst of the piques accompanied with halbarders and that the piques being the most honorable weapon in respect that they are for the bodie of the square do march in the midst betwixt the weapons of volee I would in consideration thereof as also to the intent that the different directions of the strokes of the drumme may be the more easilie heard throughout the whole band place the drummer and phifer if there were no more but one in the band in the midst before the Ensigne bearer and not amongst the shot in frunt Also it is furder to be noted that the Ensignebearer marching in the midst of his band or companie through any Cittie or great Towne ought to carry his Ensigne open and vpright and not wound vp about his Ensigne staffe nor yet the lowest part of the Taffata of his ensigne gathered into his hand and leaned vppon his shoulder but vpright as aforesaid Howbeit hauing marcht thorough the Citty or Towne into the fields and being out of the fight of the multitude of the people he may then either winde vp his Ensigne or gather the lower part of the taffeâ—a into his hand and leane the same to his shoulder if it pleaseth him Also I would wish that all Ensignebearers should bee armed in this sort following viz a light vpright sharp crowned Spanish burgonet a Coller a Cuyrasse with short tasses or without tasses and a backe with a paire of sleeues and gloues of fine maile or without gloues of maile to the intent that they may carry their Ensignes with the more ease and his said armour I would wish to bee of a good and a hard temper to resist the point of a pique or halbard and no waies at the proofe of harquebuze nor pistoll shot because that such armors at the proofe are too heauie for Ensignebearers to march withall and to carry and mannage their Ensignes Besides that Ensignebearers being most commonly in the mid partes or Centers of squadrons are verie seldom hurt by the bullets of any peeces of fire maniable but rather with piques swords or halbards vpon a battle well â—ought Also I would wish that the Ensignebearer should haue a Deputy Ensignebearer who should be of his owne societie or Camerada and this deputy Ensignebearer as also the Ensignebearer himselfe I would wish should bee men of good force and strength and therewithall that they should be men verie valiant and verie sober and of good discretion and able to speake well and deliuer their mindes to the encouraging of all souldiors about them and this deputy Ensignebearer being in all points armed like vnto the Ensignebearer should carrie a faire and a good halbard which halbard should be in common betwixt him and the Ensignebearer to the intent that when the Ensignebearer is disposed to deliuer his Ensigne to his Deputie to ease himselfe that then deliuering his Ensigne hee should take his halbard of his Deputie Also I would that the same Deputie Ensignebearer should take the like oath for the guard and defence of the Ensigne that the Ensignebearer himselfe hath taken I meane hee as a deputie and the other as Ensignebearer himselfe And therefore I would wish that the Deputie Ensignebearer either vpon the aduancement to higher place or death of the Ensignebearer should succeed him in his place of Ensignebearer and that during the time of his being deputie he should haue an aduantage of pay according to his place Also I would wish the Seargeants of the band and of all bands to be armed in all points like to the Ensignebearer as is before set downe as also weaponed like him with his halbard sworde and dagger Howbeit I would not that the sergeants should weare any long or short tasses because that their office in marching with their band is to performe the Captains directions with celeritie as also to march and sometimes to trot by the flanks of the band to see that the souldiors doe march straight in their ranks both by frunt flanks and that they do with great silence obserue their proportionate and equall distances aswell betwixt euery soldior and soldior in ranke as also betwixt euerie ranke and ranke with all other orders and obseruatâ—ions militarie Also a Captaine leading his band through any Cittie or great Towne ought to march in his Corslet compleat and to march before his band with his pique vppon his shoulder Howbeit his page may weare his burgonet and carry his target either before him or by him And so likewise the Lieutenant of the band being armed weaponed in the same sort ought to march at the backe or Rereward as they call it of the band howbeit this is alwaies intended by such Captains as haue disposition of bodie to performe the same But incase that the Captaine be very olde or haue any other corporall impediment whereby he is not well able to performe the same then he is to march before his band more lightlie armed as he thinketh most conuenient with his sword and dagger and his leading staffe in his hand Also it is a great shame for any Captaine â—or Lieutenant of a band of footmen to ride in the fielde before or with his band vpon any liuely or swift running horse or Gelding but vpon a simple hackney beeing sure of foote that will gallop a Caunterburie pace by the frunt flankes and backe of his band to see order obserued and to ease himselfe vpon by reason that when Captaines doe in the field vpon swift running horses or geldings lead their bands it dooth giue the soldiors occasion to doubt whether the Captains will tarrie with them or not vpon any accident or occasion of extremitie And here it is further to be noted that after all these aforesaid reducements of a single band into diuers orders and formes as aforesaid that neyther in Camp field nor town they must break their ranks to go into their quarter to lodge vntil their Captain Lieutenant or sergeant doo come and giue licence to the Ensignebearer to depart out of his place and lodge which Ensignebearer departing with his Ensigne in his hand out of his place wheras he before marched and himselfe pronouncing to â—y soldiors next about him that they may lodge they all then may some conuenient number acompanying guarding the Ensignebearer with his Ensigne orderlie and with silence breake their rankes and lodge and goe into their quarter or may in the Campe or Towne make prouision of victuall and other things as they think most requisite And the like is to be performed aswel by squadrons composed of diuers Ensignes as by one priuate band that is that a squadron being reduced into forme within â—y market place of a Towne or in the place of
assembly within their Campe they must neuer breake their rankes to go to lodge vntill by the commandment of the Coronell or Sergeant Maior to the Ensignbearers giuen they vnderstand or see that the Ensignebearers with their Ensignes in their hands pronouncing licence to lodge are departed or departing out of the Centre of the squadron And therewithall it is further to be noted that all the Ensigne-bearers of euery regiment must fixe their Ensignes vpright in the ground all in one rank a conuenient distance from and before their quarters euery Ensigne directlie before the band that it doth belong vnto I meane in the frunt of euery one of their quarters and bands towardes the place of armes and assembly And thus farre concerning the aforesaid different particularities And now againe I reuert to other briefe speaches and wordes and other orders proceedinges and particularities militarie to be performed by Captaines and officers in the field And if a Captain or diuers Captains or their officers would haue their piquers staÌ„ding at their piques auanced as is before written to take their piques into the boultes of their armes as soldiors do vse when they approach verie neare the place of their watch or as piquers ought to do when they are to charge another square of piques or to make head and resist a charge of horsemen then are they to saie to the first ranke Vpright your piques which is asmuch to say take the butends of your piques into the palmes of your right hands carry them in the boultes of your armes with the pointes vpright towards the heauens which being performed by the first ranke then the second third fourth and fift rankes and so consequentlie all the rest of the rankes one after another ought to vpright their piques as aforesaid And if all the piquers of a band or diuers bandes being reduced into any forme of squadron in the field hauing vprighted their piques in the boultes of their armes as aforesaid and that the Sergeant Maior or Captaines would haue their piquers to charge or to receaue a charge of another square of piquers their Enemies then are they to say to the first rankes of piquers Straighten and close your rankes couch your piques and charge which being pronounced all the piquers of the first ranke must ioine and close themselues close in frunt letting fall the points of their piques and carying them close breasthigh with both their hands steadilie and firmely the points full in the faces of their Enemies And the second ranke likewise straightning and closing themselues by flanke and frunt and ioyning themselues to the backe of the first ranke and following them steppe with steppe carrying their piques abouehand ouer the shoulders of the first ranke the points of their piques likewise towards the faces of their Enemies And the third ranke closing and straightning themselues in flanke and frunt and ioyning themselues to the backe of the second ranke And the fourth ranke likewise straightning closing themselues to the backes and shoulders of the third ranâ—e and carrying their piques firmelie with both their hands ouer â—y shoulders of all the ranks before them the points of their piques likewise towards the faces of their enemies approching And all the rest of the ranks of piquers following step with step each one at the heeles of the other must carry their piques still vpright in the palmes of their handes and in the boults of their armes as abouesaid but yet bending the poinâ—es of them somewhat towards their enemies that they may be seen ready in an instant to let fal the points of their piques towards their enemies and to succor the ranke before them vpon any necessitie or heard incounter of their Enemies Aduising therwithall that no Captaines nor officers of bandes do in any wise teach nor suffer their piquers when they shall approch their Enemies to charge them to shake and clatter their piques as some newe phantastical Captaines and officers of this time do teach their soldiors to do as though they would make their enemies afraid before they come at them which is more like vnto such as do plaie the Soldans and Sarazins vpon a Stage then like soldiors piquers in the field who should at an approach and charge carie their piques as steadie and firme as they can possiblie the points full in the faces of their enemies as is aforesaid But in this place I thinke good further to notefie vnto the Readers of these mine instructions that in the yeare 1588. I did heare some two or three of our Nation of principall offices and charge Militarie hold an opinion that when two squadrons of Enemies all piquers should come to incounter and confrunt the one with the other that then the â—ormost ranks of them should lie at the push of the pique and so should annoie the one the other with thrusts and foines as they terme it at all the length of their Armes and piques according to the vse of single Combattes either in sport or earnest betwixt piquer and piquer By which kinde of fighting of squadrons at the push of the pique I say that none of the rankes can fight but only the first ranke because that if they obserue their proportionate distances according to order and discipline the piques of the second rank are too short to reach with their points the first rank of their enemies squadron likewise standing still foining at all the length of their Armes and piques as they vainelie imagine Yea although to the trouble and disorder of the first ranke before them they do thrust and foine ouer their shoulders During which time of the pushing and foyning of the two first rankes of the two squadrons of enemies all the rest of the rankes of both the squadrons must by such an vnskilfull kind of fighting stand still and lookeâ— on and crâ— aime vntill the first ranke of each squadron hath fought their bellies full or vntill they can fight no longer which is a very scorne and mockerie mylitarie to be either spoken or thought of by any men of warre that doo pretend to haue â—eene any action effectuallie performed betwixt any great numbers of piquers reduced into form of squadrons in the field For in troth according to all reason and true experience such a squadron as should thinke it their greatest aduantage to fight in that sort must contrarie to discipline inlarge themselues in their ranks and distaunces both in frunt and by flankes to the intent that they may haue elbow roome enough without any impediment by the nearnesse of the ranks behind them to pul backe their armes and to thrust at their enemies approching them at all the length they can of their armes and piques and againe with dexteritie to pull backe retire them to giue new thrusts which opening enlargment of ranks being perceiued by the contrarie squadron who if they be skilful men of warre doe come closed
in their rankes both in frunt and by flankes as close as they can possiblie march pace with pace and step with step as if they were one entire body carrying their piques with both their hands breasthigh all the points of the piques of the first rank of one euennesse equality not any one preceeding the other And so likewise the points of al the piques of the second third and fourth ranks carrying the like equalitie and euennesse but yet the points of euerie ranke of piques shorter and further distant almost by a yard from their enemies faces then the pointes of the ranke that doo preceed them And all those fower ranks marching or moouing forward together pace with pace and step with step carrying their piques firmly with both their hands brest high as aforsaid their points full in their enemies faces they doe altogether giue a puissant thrush the points of the first ranke of piques first lighting vpon the faces of the first ranke or rankes of their enemies and the points of the second third and fourth rankes subsequently in a manner all in an instant doe all one after another in such terrible sort light vpon the faces breasts and bodies of the formost rankes of the enimies that do stand still pushing and foining with their piques in their rankes opened and inlarged that they neuer giue them any leysure any waies to pull backe and recouer the vse of their piques to giue any new thrustes nor yet to close their ranks inlarged but doo ouerthrow disorder and breake them with as great facilitie as if they were but a flocke of geese as all men of right consideration and iudgement may easilie consider and see But after all this it may be that some very curious and not skilfull in actions of Armes may demand what the formost rankes of this well ordered and practised squadron before mentioned shall doo after they haue giuen their aforesaid puissant blows thrusts with their piques incase that they doo not at the first incountry ouerthrow and breake the contrary squadron of their enemies thervnto I say that the foremost rankes of the squadron hauing with the points of their piques lighted vppon the bare faces of the formost ranks of their enemies or vpon their Collers pouldrons quirasses tasses or disarmed parts of their thighes by which blowes giuen they haue either slaine ouerthrown or wounded those that they haue lighted vpon or that the points of their piques lighting vppon their armours haue glanced off and beyond them in such sort as by the nearnes of the formost ranks of their enemies before them they haue not spaceenough againe to thrust nor that by the nearnes of their fellowes ranks next behind them they haue any conuenient elbowe roome to pull backe their piques to giue a new thrust by meanes whereof they haue vtterly loste the vse of their piques they therfore must either presentlie let them fall to the ground as vnprofitable or else may with both their hands dart and throw them as farre forward into amongst the ranks of their enemies as they can to the intent by the length of them to trouble their ranks and presently in the twinkling of an eie or instant must draw their short arming swordes and daggers and giue a blow and thrust tearmed a halfe reuerse thrust all at and in one time at their faces And therewithall must presentlie in an instant with their daggers in their left hands thrust at the bottome of their enemies bellies vnder the lammes of their Cuyrasses or at any other disarmed parts In such sort as then al the ranks of the whol squadron one at the heeles of the other pressing in order forward doo with short weapons and with the force of their ranks closed seeke to wound open or beare ouer the rankes of their enemies to their vtter ruine At which time and action all the inner rankes of piques sauing the first 4. or 5. ranks can with their piques worke no effect by reason that the said 4. or 5. rankes before them being next to their enemies are so neare and close together that they cannot with any thrust vse the pointes of their piques against their said enemies without endangering or disordering their fellowes before them For which causes by al reason and experience militarie short staued long edged and short and strong pointed battleaxes or halbards of the length of 5. foot or 5. foot and a halfe in all their lengths at the vttermost in the hands of lustie and well armed soldiors that doo follow the first 5. rankes of piquers at the heeles doo both with blow at the head and thrust at the face worke wonderfull effects and doo carrie all to the ground By all which particularities before alleaged and declared I thinke it may be apparant to all such as are not obstinatelie ignorant that Battles and squadrons of piquers in the field when they doo incounter and charge one another are not by any reason or experience mylitarie to stand al day thrusting pushing and foining one at another as some doo most vainelie imagine but ought according to all experience with one puissant charge and thrush to enter and disorder wound open and break the one the other as is before at large declared And if all the piquers of a band or of diuers bands beeing reduced into any forme of squadron should be charged with a square or troupe of horsemen hauing their piques vprighted in the palâ—â—s of their hands and boults of their arms as abouesaid and the sergeant Maiors and Captains seeing the Launces ready to charge them they shuld then say vnto their piquers Straighten and close your ranks close couch your piques and make head which beeing by them pronounced al the soldiors in the first rank shuld close themselues in an instant in frunt and setting the but-ends of their piques vnder their right feet firmely to stay the endes of them from sliding they should hold their piques with their left hands about a yard and a quarter from the butends leaning their right knees strongly vpon their piques to keepe them the more firme should direct the points verie lowe towards the breasts of their enemies horses hauing all their short arming swords redie drawne in their right hands the points forward readie to kill or hogh any barbed horse or horses that by chance may breake the piques and enter And then the second ranke of piquers straightning and closing themselues in frunt should let fall the pointes of their piques towards their enemies and should ioine themselues close to the backe of the first ranke bearing their piques firmely with both their hands almost close to the vpper part of their breasts ouer the shoulders of the first ranke at all the conuenient length they may with the pointes towardes the faces of the enemies horses And the thirde fourth and fift rankes of piquers in the same sort should close and ioyne themselues close each one to the
backe and shoulders of the rankes before them And each one of those rankes should carrie their piques firmelie with both their handes ouer the shoulders of the ranks before them with the pointes of their piques full in the eies and faces of the horses and bodies of the horsemen And the sixth seuenth and all the rest of the backer rankes straightning and closing themselues as aforesaid should carry their piques vpright in the boultes of their armes but yet the pointes somewhat bending forward towards the enemie readie alwaies to fauour and succour the rankes before them And thus all the ranks of the whole squadron being vnited closed and in corporated as it were into one entire bodie should with mightie hand resist repulse any furious charge of horsemen But it is to be noted that in case the Sergeant Maior be disposed to reduce three rankes of Harquebâ—ziers or else two rankes of mosquetiers and those not too thicke before the frunt of the squadron of piques to the intent to giue a volee of shorte at the Launces approching then the piquers of the first ranke must not sette their piques vnder their right feet with their swords drawne as aforesaid but the saide two rankes of mosquetiers or the three rankes of harquebuziers seeing the Launces ready to charge them must very orderlie retire themselues almost close to the forefeete of the firste ranke of piquers and there falling vpon their right knees they must set their left elbowes vpon their left knees the more firmelie and steadilie to beare and discharge their mosquets or harguebuzes as from very steadie restes at the horses or horsemen comming in their Carrire within 10. or 12. or 15. paces And then the first ranke of piquers as also the second third and fourth must beare all their piques firmly abouehand close to the vpper parts of their breasts the pointes of their piques full in the breasts and faces of the horses and so must encouer and guard the shot vnder their piques and brauely repulse disorder the Launces Aduising all Conductors and leaders of mosquet shot that in this or the like action of arms before declared they do instruct giue order to al their mosquetiers to charge their mosquets with 5. or 6. round hailshot of war of the heigth of Reistres pistoll bullets which are called by the Spaniards Perdigones de guerra and that they do thrust betweene the powder and the hailshot some conuenient quantitie of browne or soft paper or something else to restraine and keepe the powder close together and then to put in the round haileshot of warre againe to thrust after the same a conuenient quantity of browne paper or something else to keepe the haileshot close together and to restraine both powder and shot in such sort as therby the powder may carry the haileshot the further and giue the greater blow which within 10. 15. or 20. paces is of great effect But in this case the mosquetiers must take great heed that they do not ouercharge their peeces with powder nor with aboue the nomber of .5 or .6 haileshott of warre at the most as aforesaid least that their peeces should break or recoile and so ouerthrow them to the trouble of the piquers from vnder whose piques they are to discharge their peeces And this manner of discharging of haileshot of warre by mosquetiers is for diuers times and places of seruice of great effect so as they giue no volee at the enemie aboue .20 paces at the furthest And I do furder aduertise that no musquetiers nor harquebuziers reduced vnder the guarde of a sqadron of piquers should giue any volee or volees of shot neither with full bullets nor with any haileshot of warre at anysquadron or troupe of Launces charging or approaching to charge neither .300 .200 nor yet .100 paces with intent to recharge againe and to giue a new volee Because that both by reason and experience the first volee either of mosquets or harquebuezes being charged as they ought to be either with haileshott of warre or full bullets and being giuen within .10 15. or 20. paces at the Launces comming in their Carrire to charge doth terrefie wound and kill more horses and men then 10. volees of musquets or harquebuzes giuen 300. 200. or 100 paces distant can do And this encouering of shot with piques abouesayd at my trayning of Maister Barringtons Maister Westons and Maister Maxeies bandes at Chelmesford this last sommer 1588. I did shewe vnto them and to their officers both by actuall demonstrations and reasons with diuers other perticularities appertaining both to horsemen and footmen But now whereas there be diuers that haue conceiued an opinion from the discourse of Mounser de la Noüe that incase there be any great ouerplus of harquebuze or mosquet shott more then a squadron of piquers that is without horsmen can encouer and guarde vnder their piques from the charge of a squadron or diuers squadroÌ„s of Launces that vpon that occasion they should be reduced into square and enuironed or empaâ—ed in frunt flanks and back with 6. or 7. rankes of piquers and that y â— Launces coÌ„ming in their squadrons to charge them in frunt in flanks or back y â— piquers closing themselues close in frunt flanks and backe and bending themselues forward with their piques to encouer and guarde certen musquetiers and harquebuziers placed before them as also to resist repulse a charge of horsemen that then the rankes of the aforsaid harquebuziers placed within the ranks of piques may giue a volee of shot ouer the piquers heads before them at so much of the bodies of the horsmen as do appeare aboue the heads of the piquers greatly to the danger and mischiefe of the Launces charging Certenlie I doo thinke that the opinionâ— of so sufficient a man of war and old soldior is no waies to be contemned but greatly to be regarded Howbeit when I come to consider that the same was neuer yet put in practise in any seruice of the field and therefore dooth rest but only in imagination I will with the helpe of almightie God to the intent that the true effect and effects of the same may be y â— more apparant alâ—edge diuers reasons wherefore in mine opinion the same can be no waies profitable but very dangerous to the whole squadron and of verie small or no annoiance to the Launces and my reasons are these First when a squadron of piques are to make head and resist a squadron of Launces comming in their Carrire to charge them they are to straighten and close themselues by frunt and flankes as close as they can making themselues as it were one entire body to y â— intent that they may the more fiâ—mely and strongly stand together with their piques bent to the encouering and guarding of the mosquetiers before them and to the resisting and repulsing of the horsmen which when the formost 7. rankes haue performed
then if the harquebuziers that are within the piques in the centre of the battle as also the piquers of the flankes and backe to the intent that the squadron may keepe proportion and forme do likewise straighten and close themselues in their rankes by frunt and flankes as the piquers before them haue done it commeth to passe that they are so close together that hauing no elbowe rome to discharge their peeces at some kinde of point and blanke the discharging of their shott vpon diuers accidents doth become more daungerous to their fellowes piquers in the rankes before them then any waies to the Launces because that being so neare together euerie each one do so trouble the armes peeces and handes of their companions that when they thinke to shoote ouer their fellowes piquers heads at the Launces they are more likely to shoote too lowe and to kill some of their fellow piquers in the rankes before them to the daunger of the disordering of the whole squadron Besides that it is wonderfull daungerous if any flaske or tuchboxe by any accident should fall on fire by so many matches light being so neare together which if it should happen by one flaske or touchboxe taking fire there is no doubt but that the same would set on fire a great sort of other flaskes and touchboxes burning and scorching many soldiors in such sorte as that one accident alone would cause so great disorder and feare that it were enough to discorder and ouerthrow a whole squadron if it were of ten thousâ—â—â— men although they were the most practised soldiors 〈◊〉 are in Christendome But peraduenture som body not experienced in y t straight ning closing of a squadron of armed footmen by frunt and flanks will say y â— althogh al the ranks of piquers both by frunt flanks back do straighten close themselues to make head against y e launces as aforsaid yet that y e harquebuziers that are within the squadroÌ„ may remain so inlarged in their ranks as y t they shal haue so much elbowe room without any waies troubling or touching one another that they may with great facility discharg their peeces ouer y e heads of the piquers before them without any waies troubling them or endangering the firing of their flasks touchboxes to the great mischiefe of the Launces Whervnto it is to be answered that if euery rank of the whol squadron be of one number of soldiors as al wel formed squadrons are that by flanks y e number of ranks be of the like number to the frunt back wherby it commeth to passe that the squadron is a iust square in frunt in flanks back or that the squadron be double as broad that is as broad again in frunt and back as it is by flanks or else that the squadron be triple as many that is three times as many in frunt as by flanks or more or fewer according to the nature and aduantage of the ground or of other occasions and aduantages that may seeme best to the Sergeant Maior or to the Sergeant Maior generall that hath the ordering of y e said squadron then in which of those formes soeuer or any other that the squadron of footmen should be reduced into the formost 7. ranks of piquers in frunt straightning and closing themselues in their ranks to make head against y â— horsmen charging as aforesaid likewise the 7. ranks of piquers at the back of y â— squadron straightning closing themselues turning their faces and piques backeward to the intent to make frunt and head against a charge of Launces that would charge them in back the harquebuziers y t do remaine within the squadron empaled on euery side with 7. ranks of piquers as aforesaid still remaining enlarged in their rankes to haue the more commoditie to discharge their peeces ouer the piquers heads of diuers disproportions and disorders that must by the forming of this foresaide squadron of necessitie succeed by the harquebuziers remaining still enlarged in their rankes and the piquers straightned and closed in their rankes This one chiefe and most notorious deformed disorder that doth include all the rest must needs ensue to the present ruine and ouerthrowe of the whole squadron that is by 2. or 3. charges of the Launces giuen at one time vpon the open and vnguarded places of the squadron and that by reason that y e harquebuziers remaining stil enlarged in their rankes in frunt and by flankes the more orderlie to discharge their peeces doo occupie so great a quantitie of ground that all the rankes of the piquers that doo empale the harquebuziers of the right and left flanks straightning and closing themselues by frunt and flanks as the ranks of the piquers of the frunt and backe haue doone cannot possiblie performe the same in any such sort but that the said piquers of both the flankes must remain a great deale too short to close themselues and ioine with the 7 ranks of piquers in frunt and the 7. rankes of piquers in back wherby of necessititie it would come to passe that there would be 4. open places betwixt the 4. or rather 8. corners of the squadron vnguarded with piques where the Launces without receiuing any resistance nor so much as one blow of the point of a pique might charge and giue in amongst the harquebuziers within the bodie of the squadron to the disordering and vtter ouerthrow of the whole squadron with great facilitie as any man well practised and of good experience and iudgement in matters militarie may easily consider conceaue For which causes dangerous accidents and reasons before alleaged mine opinion is that I would neuer place nor yet suffer any weapons of fire to enter within the body of my squadron of piques But now furthermore if any number of souldiors of what weapon soeuer they bee beeing reduced into any forme of square and that the Sergeant Maior or Captaines would make of flanke frunt then are they to go to that flanke and side that they would make frunt and beeing right against the midst somewhat distant from the flanke they should say to their soldiors aloud Frunt to me souldiors which being by them pronounced the first rank next vnto them is to turn their faces towards them so subsequentlie al the rest of the rankes one after another But because that by making the flanke frunt the squadron commeth to be in disproportion by reason that the distances of the ranks of a squadron being reduced into any forme of square to march or to fight are greater by flankes that is betwixt ranke and ranke then they are by frunt that is betwixt soldior and soldior in frunt The Sergeant Maior and Captains in making the flank frunt must straighten all the rankes in frunt and inlarge them by flanks and so reduce them into their due and proportionate distances And incase the sergeant Maior or Captains will make of the
again reduce themselues into the like formes of sleeues winges and troupes that they were vpon the forepart of the left flanke before they marched through the straight But it is to be noted that presently vpon the entring of the last compertiments of the forepart of the weapons of volee of the left flanke into the straight that the Sergeant Maior is to come to the frunt of the right flanke of the squadron if the same flanke be next vnto the passage and he is in briefe words to say Single 5. in a ranke throughout from frunt to backe and march after the last compertiment of shot through the straight and being marched thorough into the plaine Auaunce your piques and make a pause Vppon which his direction the Captaine with his whole compertiment of 5. in a ranke from frunt to backe is to single the same from the rest of the squadron and to followe the shot and march into the straight vppon the separation and marching of which compertiment then the Sergeant Maior is to say to the Captain of the next compertiment Single your compertiments of 5. throughout and follow and march straight after the first compertiment through the straight and being marched thorough into the plaine double your compertiment by the left flanke of the formost compertiment of piquers which compertiment being something separated and marching into the straight then vppon the same direction receaued by all the Captaines that are before the frunt of the rest of the compertiments as well by such briefe speaches as aforesaid as by the sound of the trompettor and drummes they are all subsequentlie and orderlie with their compertimentes to separate them and to followe one another by right line and as euerie one of those Captaines with their compertimentes haue marched one after another thorough the straight into the plaine so they are with all celeritie to reduce themselues by the left flanke the one of the other into the same form of squadron that they were before they entred into the straight and that is that the Captaine of the thirde compertiment of 5. in a ranke throughout as aforesaid seeing the seconde compertiment reduced and doubled by the lefte flanke of the firste Compertiment hee likewise is to reduce his compertiment by the lefte flanke of the seconde and so consequentlie the fourth fifth and all the reste of the compertiments are by their Captaines to bee lead and reduced by the left flanks the one of the other which being by them performed and the squadron reduced into the same forme of number of ranks of soldiors in euery ranke that it was before they entered into the straight then all the shot of the different weapons of volee that did march through the straight before the first compertiment of piquers I meane the one halfe of those that before they came to the straight did arme the forepartes of the right and left flankes of the squadron and now againe already before the squadron is altogether againe formed by their Captaines and officers reduced into the same formes vpon the foreparts of the right and left flankes of the squadron that they were before that they first separated themselues from the squadron and entred into the straight And euen as those different compertiments of shot did one after another orderly march through the straight and are now againe reduced and come into their first order as aforesaid So the different compertimentes of sleeues winges troups and other such like of different sorts of weapons of volee that did arme the right and left hinder flanks and corners of the squadron in the like order immediatly following the last compertiments of piquers through the straight are presentlie againe by their officers to be reduced into the like compertimentes and formes for the guard of both the hinder flanks and backe of the squadron that they were before the squadron did enter into the passage All which being performed and al the harquebuziers mosquetiers and halbarders that were sent to possesse the tops of both the sides of the passage being come downe into the plaine and reduced into such formes or otherwise employed as the Coronell and Sergeant Maior shall thinke most meet they may then begin againe to march forward Howbeit in this place it is further to be noted that the squadron marching forwarde in the enemies countrie the one halfe of the drummers are to bee placed vpon the frunt and the other halfe vpon the backe of the squadron and that during the time they march the enemie being not in sight but vpon the sight and approch of the enemy and doubt of battle then vpon that occasion all the drummers phifers y ◠did march in the frunt back of the squadrō must presently reduce themselues the one halfe vpon the forpart hinder part of the right flank of y ◠squadron the other halfe vpon the forpart hinder part of y ◠left flank of the squadron I meane more towards al the 4. corners of the squadrō vpon both flanks then towards the midst of those flankes because that all their different strokes of direction may bee the better heard and vnderstood aswell in frunt and backe as flanks And the cause wherefore I woulde haue no drummers placed in the frunt of a squadron vppon the occasion of battle is that they should bee no impediment to the piquers through the greatnesse of those instruments to vse their piques nor vnto mosquetiers nor harguebuziers in case that any vpon any occasion should be reduced vnder the guard of the frunt of the piques to vse their mosquets or harquebuzes Besides that I would neuer permit vpon any occasion that any drummes or at the most aboue one drummer and a phifer should march in the midst of the squadron with the rank of Ensignes because that the greatnesse of them would be an impediment to the ranks to close themselues by frunt and flankes as vppon some occasions they ought to doo But heere it is furder to be noted that the squadron being againe reduced into forme and marching forward in the enemies Countrie and finding the ground in diuers partes as they march of that nature y t they cannot march in squadron formed and hauing great intelligence by discouerers and espialles that the enemie is not so neere hand as that by reason and discipline military they ought to keepe themselues in squadron then they ought according to the bredth or frunt of their squadron to deuide the whole squadron into as few and as great compertiments of number of soldiors in euery ranke from frunt to backe as the grounds or passages will giue them leaue that by the greatnesse of their compertiments they may a great deale the sooner reduce and forme their squadron againe vpon any sudden or great Alarum As for example If the squadron were double as broad in frunt as by flankes as of 60. in frunt and 30. by flankes then the Coronell
different and effectuall seruices to worke great effectes then any great diuisions of shot can bee Which if it be so as most certen it is by all experience Militarie then the 3. battles of 5000. to euery battle hauing 10000. weapons of volee of diuers sortes to be reduced vnder their safeguard must diuide those 10000. into so many compertimentes and diuisions of sleeues winges and troupes as are requisite to guard 3. such battles As also the diuisions of weapons of volee themselues to bee protected and defended vnder the safeguard of those 3. squadrons and so likewise the 15000. armed men beeing reduced into 6. little battles as aforesaid hauing the like number of weapons of volee of diuers sorts to aide them and to be by them protected must by all order militarie diuide those 10000. weapons of volee into double as many or more diuisions of sleeues wings and troups then the 3. great battles haue diuided theirs for their aide From all which experienced reasons and examples I come to conclude that as 15000. armed footemen reduced but onely into 3. great battles cannot by any reason militarie haue so manie sleeues winge troupes other diuisions of diuers sorts of shot vnder their safegard as 15000. armed men reduced into 6. smaller battles may haue Euen so that the 3. great squadrons of armed men with their few great diuisioÌ„s of shot cannot possibly by any reason or experience worke so great effects as the 6. smaller battles their Enemies with their many and more conuenient diuisions of diuers sorts of weapons of volee may worke And now whereas I haue before fourmed a squadron and diuers squadrons all of halbardiers or battleaxes enuironed or empaled about with 5. rankes of piquers in frunt flankes and backe and that the short weapons are in greater number then y e piques therfore by some in these daies that doo more regard the new fashions and fancies of the disordered and corrupted Militia that of very late yeares in diuers ciuill warres haue crept into Christendome then the true discipline art and science militarie which hath beene practised and vsed from age to age of all antiquitie in the warres betwixt Emperors Kinges and puissant Common wealthes it may peraduenture be thought that such a squadron is no waies coÌ„parable for all great effects and purposes to a squadron of the like number al of piquers without any short weapons sauing onely a very fewe for the guard of the Ensignes Thervnto I say that I doo thinke this squadron of short weapons enuironed with 5. ranks of piques as aforesaid to be of a great deale more aduantage strength and effect aswell against horsmen as footmen then any squadron of the like number all of piquers can be And because it shall be apparant that I am not carried with new fashions and fancies but with the obseruation of that which I haue read hath been in vse and obserued by diuers braue Nations in many ages as also by mine owne hearing the opinions of diuers great Captaines Coronels and Sergeants Maiors of diuers warrelike Nations some of late yeares dead and some yet aliue And therwithall by that which I haue seene and obserued my selfe in the squadrons of diuers Nations some of the which haue vsed squadrons all of piquers as aforesaid and other Nations squadrons of piquers with some rankes of halbards with in their piques which different vses of Nations haue giuen me occasion not onely to enter into imagination of the different or contrarie causes of the forming of such squadrons but also the more curiouslie to aske inquire of diuers men of great sufficiencie of those Nations the different reasons and causes of the forming of such squadrons some all of piques and others of piques and short weapons as aforesaid I therfore will set down that which I haue gathered and obserued by the diuersitie of their opinions concerning the same as also by mine own sight and consideration and will here by the helpe of Almightie God giue sufficient causes and reasons to proue that my foresaid squadron formed with short weapons enuironed about with 5. rankes of piquers as aforesaid is of farre greater force and effect then if the squadron were all of piquers And the reasons are these First when a squadron of men at armes or dimilaunces or diuers squadrons seconding one another shoulde charge the squadron of footemen all of piquers in frunt all men of consideration may consider and know that all the whole squadron consisting only of piquers according as I haue before formed diuers squadrons in this discourse that not aboue 5. rankes of the foremost piques at the most beeing closed in frunt flankes and backe or rather but 4. rankes can make head with the pointes of their piques to hurt or reach the horses or men of the formost ranks of the Launces charging that because the longest piques that are in these daies vsed by any Nation are not aboue 18. foot long of which length of 18. foot the formost ranke of piquers either clapping the butendes of their piques vnder their right feete or carrying them breast high to resist and repulse the Launces both which waies are in the beginning of this booke very particularlie declared I say that from their right handes that they hold the butendes of their piques withall to theirleft and forehands that doo beare their piques incase they carry them abouehand breast high doo occupie and therefore shorten 3. foot at least of the length of their piques towards the foremost ranke of their Enemies then there doo remaine 15. foot beyond their left and forehandes more for them to reach and annoy their enemies withall then the second ranke closing themselues to y â— first rank and carying their piques breast high ouer the shoulders of the first rank do leese 3. foot more of â—y length of their piques by that which they hold betwixt their hinder and forehands as aforsaid so as there remaineth but 12. foot of the length of their piques beyond the foremost rankes towardes the annoiance of their Enemies then the third ranke closing themselues to the shoulders of the second ranke doo come likewise to loose three foote more by so much of their piques as they hold betwixt both their handes as aforesaid which with the thicknesse and distance of the two rankes before them dooth come to make them to leese 9. foote of the length of their piques so as there remaineth only 9. foot of the length of their piques at the most beyond the foremost ranke towards the annoiance of the Enemie then the fourth ranke by the like cause and reason commeth to leese 3. foot more of the length of their piques so as there remaineth only 6. foot of the length of their piques with the pointes of them before the formost ranke to annoy the Enemie then the fifth ranke of the squadron of piquers commeth by the like causes and reasons as aforesaide to leese 3. foote
them and their Enemies to their trouble or mischiefe in their heads necks or backs And for aunswer to the other obiection that the ynner rankes of piquers letting fall and couching their piques may pul and retire them so farre backe as that they may againe recouer the vse of the points of them against their Enemies entered I say that if the enemies be they either horsemen or footmen be entered but only .7 6. 5. 4. or 3. feete within and vnder the length of any of the piques of the inner ranks that it is not possible for such piquers in respect of the ranke and rankes that are so neare and close behind them to pull their piques with their armes so farre backe as any waies to recouer y ◠vse of the pyonts of them against such Enemies as are comne within and vnder their piques as aforsaid whereof insueth that those inner rankes haue vtterly lost the vse of their piques and therefore must let them fall to the great trouble of the leggs and feete of the rankes of their fellowes aduauncing forward and betake themselues to their swords and daggars which are not weapons any waies able to repulse or resist armed men with battleaxes or halbards By all which before alleaged I thinke it is most apparant that the 5. rankes of piquers that do empale enuiron my squadron of battleaxes by frunt flanks and backe are ranks enough to restist any Charge or Charges of Launces aswell and a great deale better then if the same squadron were all of piques because that the 4. or 5. first rankes only are those that do worke al the effects to the resisting repulsing of Launces charging or that are with their thrush to resist and repulse any charge of a squadron of footmen piquers their Enemies and if any Launces by chaunce should breake through those 5. rankes then the battleaxes and short staued and long edged and short and strong pointed halbards in the handes of well armed men are readie at the heeles of the 5. rankes of their piquers and do wonderfully both with blow and thrust at the heads and faces of horses or men kill wound ouerthrow or repulse either horsemen Launces or footmen piquers whose first charges and furies haue bene before greatly staied and weakened by y ◠resistance of the first 5. ranks of piquers as aforsaid For it is to all men of vnderstanding in matters Militarie most euident that short staued battleaxes or halbards of not aboue 6. foot long in their whole length do no waies in their blowes nor thrusts either against horsmen or footmen trouble entermingle nor intricate one with another by reason of their shortnesse as the rankes of piques do through their great lengthes which piques doo no waies kill nor hurt but only with their pointes as is before at large declared By all which I come to conclude that 4. or 5. of the first rankes be it in frunt flanks or backe I meane which of them soeuer vpon the comming of the enemie be made frunt doo worke far greater effectes then all the rest of the inner rankes of piquers can possibly do for in troth all y ◠inner ranks of piquers besides the 5. first ranks doo neither against horsemen and chieflie against footemen halbarders or battleaxes well armed no nor yet against armed men with swordes and targets vsing their targets only to defend their faces from the points of the piques worke any important effect as it is most manifest by the reasons causes and accidents by me before alledged And thus hauing at large shewed by diuers reasons the imperfections of squadrons that doo consist onelie of piques with the great perfections and effects of squadrons of battleaxes enuironed onely with 5. rankes of piquers as also howe all sortes of squadrons that are commonlie in vse in the open fieldes in these daies and also in al former ages ought to be reduced into form with many other different particularities I will omit diuers other sorts forms of little battles that are conteined in som printed books of diuers languages as of Crossebattles of battles in triangle battles in form of stars with many other such battles of diuers shapes fashiōs extraordinary y ◠are rather set forth to fill vp books to please y ◠curious then for any great vse of them by reason y ◠such phantastical battles are no waies able in the open fields to march encoūter with such squadrons as I haue before described and set down And yet somtimes armies may march vpon such strange extraordinary grounds as in marching ouer mountains or high hils y ◠haue varietie of forms of rising descending grounds y ◠it is not possible to form such great squadrons in such forms as I haue before declared and described but that vpon the comming of the enemie they must bee forced to deuide their three battles of vauntguard battle and Rereward that they marched withall in the plaine and open fieldes into as many varieties of little battles and formes as the aduantages and formes of the varietie of groundes where they presently find themselues doo present vnto them and therewithall to flank their armed men on euery side with weapons of volee All which a Lord Marshall or sergeant Maior may with a great deale more facilitie perform then to forme such great squadrons as I haue before described reduced and formed But heere I thinke it good to aduertise the Reader that I haue heard verie crediblie reported that there is another kind of forming of a battle amongst some of the Sergeants Maiors of our Nation in these daies greatly in vse and that is That they place foure piquers with their piques aduaunced in square according to the greatnesse of the squadron that they meane by guesse to form with the number of piquers that they haue for that purpose And somtimes they place in the middest of the frunt betwixt the two formost piquers a third piquer and so likewise they place two other piquers vpon the midst of ech flanke one betwixt the said piquers that are in flanke with a fourth piquer also in the midst betwixt the two hindermost piquers which 8. piquers when they haue placed in as iust square in their distaunces as they can then they command al the piquers that they meane by guesse to reduce into squadron beeing all behind and in Rereward of the 8. piquers in square presentlie to run into the void place within the square of the 8. piquers and there to fall into their rankes with hubbledeshuf as well as they can vntill they haue filled vp all the distances and empty place within y ◠square of the said 8 piquers which being performed they hold this way not only for a verie ready forming of a squadron but also for a most excellent waie of reducement because that there is not any Sergeant Maior so vnskilfull although hee be vtterly ignorant in Arithmetique nor that he
compertiment of piquers as they may leaue ground enough betwixt them and their piquers to forme all the rest of the squadron which whilst the first band of 500. is a performing then the one halfe of the weapons of volee of the second band that dooth follow the first band being by their Conductors drawn from before their compertiment of piques and marching vppe by the right flanke of the compertiment of the first bande of piquers that haue alreadie made their stand vntill they come to the formost compertiment of the weapons of volee y ◠second compertiment of 30. ranks of piquers 10. in a rank of y ◠said secōd band marching vp by y ◠left flank of the first cōpertiment of that weapon vntill they find their first and last ranks equall in frunt and backe with the first and last ranks of the first compertiment and then the other halfe of the weapons of volee that marched behind the second compertiment of piquers being by their Conductors drawne so farre to the left hand vntill they come to find the hindermost rankes of the other compertiment of weapons of volee that was marched thither before And so subsequently the formost compertiments of the weapons of volee of the third band of 500. marching vp by the right flanke of the piquers that they find alreadie reduced as the other two foremost compertimentes of the former bands haue doone And the third compertiment of piquers marching vppe by the left flanke of the other two Compertiments before reduced vntill they finde themselues of equal frunt with them And then the other that is the last compertiment of weapons of volee of the same band being drawne from behind their piquers to the other two compertiments that are already of the left hand And so subsequentlie the three formost compertiments of weapons of volee of the three last bands marching vp by the right flanke of the piquers before them to the intent to arme aswell the hinder part of the right flanke as the backe or Rereward of the squadron And the three compertimentes of piquers of the said three last bands marching vp by the left flanke of the other 3. compertiments already reduced as also by the left flanks orderlie the one of the other vntill they find themselues all of one equal frunt the whole squadron by this means is now reduced in a very short time into forme of battle hauing in frunt 60. piquers and by flankes 30. rankes which whole squadron being reduced thus into forme of 60. piquers in frunt and 30. rankes by flankes doth conteine 1800. piquers as aforesaid the hindermost last three compertiments of weapons of volee marching to the left flanke of the squadron readie to arme the same according to the direction of the Coronell or Sergeant Maior Or otherwise if the same said Regiment of 3000. beeing ready to dislodge and march out of their quarter will vse a more short waie of reducement into squadron and to arme the same with weapons of volee Then the Sergeant Maior may giue order that euerie one of the 6. bands of 500. to euery Ensign be reduced into their simple and single order of rankes in this sort following that is that the Captains and officers of the 3. first bands that he will reduce into forme and begin his squadron withal doo reduce all their weapons of volee that are to 〈◊〉 the frunt and right flanke of the squadron into compertiments of 10. in a ranke or fewer as he shall think most meet And that the said seuerall compertiments of euerie one of those three bands being led by their Conductors shall march and follow one another And that al the piquers of the 6. whole bandes be reduced into 6. compertiments of 10. in euery ranke from frunt to back readie vpon the sound of the drums to follow the compertiments of weapons of volee As also beeing distinctlie led by their Captaines to march and follow one another And then that the three compertiments of weapons of volee that do belong to the three last compertiments of piquers y ◠are to arme the left flank and back of the squadron shall reduce themselues into 10. in a rank throughout or any smaller number in like sort as he hath before giuen direction to the three first compertiments of weapons of volee Al which reducementes into their simple or single order beeing performed then vppon the strokes and sounds of the drummes or of the Coronels trompettor they are presentlie to march out at that Sallie turnpique or barriers of the camp that it hath before pleased y ◠General or L. Marshal to giue direction And the three formost compertiments of weapons of volee being comne neere to the place where the squadron is to bee formed they are presently to march to the right flanke and side of the same place there to reduce themselues into as many different forms as the sergeant Maior hath before giuen direction At which instant the first compertiment of 30. ranks of piquers 10. in a rank doo march vp to the place of reducement whither being comn vpon y ◠sound of the drums for that purpose they are presently to aduance their piques and make a pause At which time instant the second compertiment and the third compertiment both of like numbers of 10. piquers in euery one ranke from frunt to back do march vp the second by the right flanke of the first compertiment that hath alreadie made a pause or stand and the thirde by the left flanke of the said first compertiment At which time and instant also the fourth compertiment dooth march vppe by the right flanke of the second compertiment and the fifth by the left flanke of the third compertiment And the sixt or last compertiment by the right flanke of the fourth compertiment vntill all those 5. compertiments doo finde their first rankes equall in frunt and their last rankes equall in backe or rereward with the first and last rankes of the said first compertiment During which time and instant of the reducement of the said 6. compertiments of piquers into squadron the three last compertimentes of weapons of volee doo march vp by the left flanke of the squadron of piquers now alreadie fourmed and there are to reduce themselues into the like formes that the foremost 3. compertiments of weapons of volee haue doone vpon the right flanke of the squadron Or otherwise as it shall please the Coronell or Sergeant Maior to giue direction for the arming of the said left flanke and back of the aforesaid piquers And now this squadron being by this kind of reducement reduced into forme with sleeues winges troups and other formes of weapons of volee with great readiness and celeritie al men of consideration may euidentlie see with what great facilitie and dexteritie a few great compertiments of piquers and halbardiers for the guard of the Ensignes out of great bands of 500. are reduced into squadron of 60. souldiors in
neither in frunt nor by flankes whereas otherwise by entring and doubling their rankes one into another by right line they come to disorder their proportionate distaunces which they must again with all speed reforme Aduertising furder that as this squadron hath beene formed by the aforesaid two waies so may the same or any other euen at the first be as well reduced by any of those 2. waies into form in vaungard and frunt without making of flank frunt so as the Coronell Sergeant Maior or Captain that hath the forming of the said squadron haue good regard aswel to the ground and number that he wil make his frunt of as to the number of y e ranks by flanks and therwithal to place and accomodat the broken rank or ranks if there be any with the standard ensigne or Guidon Now because in these daies new opinions and fancies in matters of armes grounded vpon very weake or rather no reasons at all do beare a very great swaie and that amongst other errors militarie there be some that doo hold allow that launces should be rather reduced into troup to charge or receiue a charge then into squadron formed I for diuers reasons of the which some I will after alledge would that when any Coronell or Captaines of men at armes or dimilaunces shal haue occasion to reduce their bands into form either to march or fight that then they doo in any wise reduce them into forme of squadron according to the ancient-vse and not into troupe according to the newe fancies incase that time and leisure wil serue And therwithall that they do form them with a triple frunt that is three times as many in frunt as by flanks and somtimes more As for example if the frunt be of 24. or 25. Launces then the flanke should be of 8. launces And somtimes also with a quatriple frunt that is 4. times more in frunt then by flankes as also at other times and vpon other occasions into farre broader frunts then quadruple although by flankes not aboue 10. or 12. rankes at the most as aforesaide and that the Standardes or Ensignes if they bee men at Armes or the Guidons if they bee dimilaunces bee placed in the midst of the squadron And y e those horsmen be instructed how to inlarge themselues in their rankes when they march in squadron and how presentlie vpon the sight of the enemie approching to straighten themselues by frunt and flankes with their iust proportionate distances in such sort as they may charge or receiue a charge of the enemie without disordering their horses or Launces or confounding their ranks But incase that vpon a sudden Alarm giuen vppon the approch of the Enemie the Launces being in Campe Towne or Village be not reduced into their single order vnder their Ensignes or Guidons but that they are then assembling themselues and the enemie neere at hand then they must make of necessitie vertue that is to reduce themselues into troupe making as neere as they can a triple or quatriple frunt or more that they may somewhat resemble a squadron hauing regard to their distances that they may vse their Launces without disordering the one the other as neere as they may And whereas there be some professing armes in this time that doo holde an opinion that Launces haue a greater aduantage to charge or receiue a charge in troupe then in squadron as aforesaid they therein doo shew that for lacke of vnderstanding and consideration they doo greatlie erre in the ordering of horsemen Launces For the Almaines Italians English and diuers other Nations haue of great antiquitie vsed both squadron of men at Armes and dimilaunces and also troupes But it was neuer heard of before these disordered ciuill wars of France and the Lowcountries that Launces in troupes confused should be preferred and iudged to be of greater aduantage then launces in squadron formed considering that the reducing of Launces into troupe dooth amongest men of war proceed of nothing else but of lacke of time to reduce them into squadron vpon some sudden Alarme and approch of the Enemie So as such as doo hold that opinion might aswell say that two or three thousand piquers and short weapons haue more aduantage to fight in a battle of necessitie then in a Squadron formed which battle of necessitie or extreamitie terme it as you list is neuer vsed but vpon some great and sudden accident as when a puissant enemie dooth make a sudden approch vpon your Campe most commonlie by night or at the breake of day with a Canuesada killing both scoutes Centinels and watches through their negligent watching or discouering and therevpon an alarme giuen for lacke of time to reduce your piquers into squadron formed you are faine in the place of assemblie to make them to runne togither into rankes confused closing themselues as close as they can to defende the Ring or entrie of the Campe. By the which comparisons reasons and examples of footmen piquers before alledged such new fancies and lacke of vnderstanding in the ordering or rather disordering of launces may be easilie discerned by men of reason and iudgement And now to the intent that your men at Armes or dimilances may be the better able to charge or receiue a charge of their enemies it is verie meete and conuenient that their Captaines and officers should reduce them some time into squadron with a triple or quatriple frunt And being so reduced that they should be taught how to straighten and close themselues in frunt and flankes and how presently vpon the sound of a charge they should almost all at one instant put spurres to their horses galloping vpon the hand about 8. or 10. paces and then charge their Launces from their tasses or long Cuisses and thighes presentlie into their restes and not to carrie their Launces at the Armes ende as they do commonlie vse at Tilt to make the fairer shew and then imagining the squadron of the enemies Launces to be within 15. or 20 paces directly before them they should altogither put their horses into their Carrires to the intent to giue the greater blowe and shocke to the ouerthrowing or breaking of their enemies Then I would wish them to be taught how they should receiue a charge if another squadron of launces should charge them and that they should doo in this sort First when they shall see the squadron of their enemies comming to charge them either galloping vpon the hand or in their full Carrire then they being straightned closed in their rankes by frunt and flankes should stand firme all the Launces of the three formost rankes ready charged in their restes but yet the pointes of their launces something high vntil they do see the enemies squadron within 15. or 20. paces of them at which time they should with a terrible shout altogither in an instant as if they were one entire bodie put spurres to their horses and fall into their