service they are to alight and to demean themselves as Infantery Whereof it shall be needlesse hereto enlarge seeing we have books in such abundance upon that subject as they are able rather to a By reason of the frivolous impertinences and manifest errours which abound in many of them distract then instruct the reader and in my opinion had need of an Index expurgatorius Being so alighted to do their service as abovesaid every of them is to cast his bridle over the neck of his side mans horse in the same order as they marched keeping them so together by the help of such as are thereunto especially appointed CHAP. XXXII Of exercising the Cavallrie in their motions HAving shewed how every horse-man is to be exercised in the managing of his horse as also in the use of his particular arms it followeth now that he be taught how to demean himself being joyned in a body And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Grecians and Romanes had the same order of exercise and that in the same words which we retain to this day A File the Romanes called Versus and Decuria A Rank Jugum A File-leader Decanus because their Decuria or File used to consist of ten among the foot with some 16. A bringer up Tergiductor A Leader being every odde man in the file Prastes A follower which is every even number Substes A side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their two cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our three foot Their four cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at six foot distance between file and file in march and three foot in sight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and rear and the like But for brevitie sake I passe them over referring the reader to the books of Infanterie To exercise the horse they are to be drawn up into a body not by ranks but by files and those of five deep as most affirm or of six as others would have it and that because the number of five is not divisible by two and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwayes an odde rank Some would have them especially the harquebusiers to be eight in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square body and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be two paces open order foure paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but two kinds of distances close order which is three foot and open order which is six foot But this must be understood cum grano salis as the Civilians speak for here we must observe a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavallrie and that of the Infantery for in the foot the distance is taken from the centre of the souldiers body which here cannot be so understood but onely of the space of ground between horse and horse Monsieur de Praissac is more plain who would have the distance between rank and rank both for the length of the horse as also for the space between horse and horse to be six paces and one pace between file and file Yet if we take every pace for five foot as that is the usuall dimention by this rule they should be at a very large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at their distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1. 9. Vt aequali leguimóque spatio miles distet a milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent Ibid. cap. 26. standing right in their ranks and files c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right hand ad hastam to the left ad scutum Facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi duo genera perjuga versus Their countermarches the same which we use Evolutio Chorica Macedonica Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us Conversio ad hastam vel scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kinds 1. Facings 2. Doublings 3. Countermarches 4. Wheelings The use of facings is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either flank or the rear Doubling of ranks or doubling by half files or bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the front Doubling of files or doubling by half ranks serveth to strengthen the flanks Countermarches serve either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an enemy in the rear or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and rear or either flank into the middle of the body The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the enemy on either flank or rear These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a company of harquebusiers of 64 men And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter as followeth The form of the first standing To face them to the right is done by commanding Left flank Front Right flank Rear To the left hand Which is performed by turning towards the left From hence they are to be reduced by commanding As you were Which they do by turning to the right Now to face them to the rear though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say To the right hand Which is done by turning all at one and the same time to the right hand Thus the front is where the right flank was To reduce them to their first form the word of command is As you were Which they perform by turning to the left hand From thence to face them to the left you command To the left hand about Which is done by turning towards the left hand untill their faces front to that place which was before the rear To reduce them to their first-form as that must be observed the word is To the right hand about as you were Ranks to the right double The use hereof hath been shewed before Every other rank that is every even number passeth into the odde upon the right hand of his leader The second rank into the first and so successively To reduce
them the word is Ranks as you were Which is best done by causing those ranks which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance Files to the right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behind his sideman accounting from the right hand the fourth into the third and so the rest which must be done throughout the company at one instant all together But because the first rank of the company is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but five deep there seemeth no great necessity of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left as you were Ranks to the left double The difference of this motion from the former is nothing but that here they which double do it to the left hand of their leaders which before they did to their right hands as the figure maketh it plain This done they must be reduced by commanding Ranks as you were Files to the left double The difference between this and the former motion is the difference of hands And by this means those files that stood before now move and they which moved now stand as appeareth by the figure They are reduced by commanding Files as you were or Ranks to the right double Half files to the right hand double the front Thus the middle-men double the first rank on the right hand The other three ranks double the three following ranks as is manifest in the figure To reduce them the word is Half files as you were Unlesse it be better and so I conceive it to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance Bringers up to the right hand double the front In this motion the last rank passeth into the first and so successively as the figure sheweth it It is of good use yet because it is very troublesome for the horse to perform especially in reducing them it may be used or omitted as shall be thought fit They are reduced by saying Bringers up as you were Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the company they must be closed first the files and then the ranks And being to open them again the ranks are first to be opened and then the files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the body Half files to the left hand double the front This motion onely differeth from the former in the hand There be also doublings of ranks by the half files entire to the right or left or both by division But because the files especially of Cuirassiers are seldome above five deep the doubling of ranks half files c. is little used The reducing of them hath been shewed in the former motion Files to the left hand countermarch Though it were fit to begin with the right hand yet for the convenient turning of the horse to the left I think it not amisse to preferre the left The figure representeth the Chorean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevity sake Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the Commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the body moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the centre Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the Commander a Vox autem percâ—pi interdum non potest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorum transitum hinnitum multitudines strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35 but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usâ—s invenit c. Tria genera signorum Vocalia semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3 c 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kinds of militarie signes or directions 1. Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2. Semivocall by trumpet or other warlike instrument to the eare likewise 3. Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c. The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9. 82. distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the Cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the Commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64. horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8. in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8. in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5. in file though the companie consist of 100. horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors MelZo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first neâ—t after him two attendants with spare horses they beating his armour then the Trumpeters then the Cornet
just behind the first but at twice as large a m 600 foot distance from the second as the second is from the first that so the first troop retreating behind the second they may have convenient room to make their retreat in good order All this will appear in the figures following among the rest in Figure 9. If the Infantery and Cavallry be joyned together the manner is to place half the horse on the right flank of the foot and the other half on the left as appeareth in Figure 12. 14 and 15. But upon occasion either of the enemy his ordering of horse within the body of foot whereby he might annoy your Infantery or for other respects of moment some of the horse may be placed within the body of the army as is shewed in Figure 16. Figu 8 Cap 8 Par 4 CHAP. IX Of certain ceremonies before fight HAving shewed by these former rules and examples how the horse are to be ordered for fight not onely by themselves but also when they shall be joyned with foot that which a Quid superest nisi pugnaâ— quae jam manuum est non verborum Lips de milit Rom lib. 4. now remaineth seemeth rather to require action then words Indeed with antiquity when the army was embattelled and ready for combat it was usuall for the Generall to deliver some set speech either from some higher place of turf or stone or at the head of the troops and riding amongst the Maniples to encourage his souldiers And they either with an acclamation lifting up of their hands or clashing of their arms used to manifest their assenting resolution Unto which kind of b Cesars army being so dismaid through fear as they were almost brought to desperation tantus subitò rimor omnem exercitum occupavit c. was by a elegant oration of his suddenly revived Hac oratione habitâ mirum in modum conversa sunt omnium mentes summáque alacritas cupiditas belli gerendi innata est Caesar de bello Gal. lib. 1. cap. 9. allocutions the ancient Sages use to ascribe a marvellous efficacy not onely amongst the Grecians or Romanes but also those whom they then accounted barbarous as the Britons Gauls Germanes c. as the histories of those times sufficiently testifie Next to this they sounded the Classicum that is a generall charge and this was seconded by a generall shout of the souldiers or a concussion of their arms Moreover a c Tunâ—â—a â—ussa punicea vel coccinea Some resemblance hereof there is in the bloody flagge at sea scarlet red or a carnation coloured coat or cassock was hung out upon the top of the Generalls tent and a countersigne or a word of distinction was given to the souldiers as d Veg. lib. 3. c. 5. Victoria palma virtus or the like to know each other by The Grecians used also to sing the Poean before the fight to Mars and after battell to Apollo c. Of all which ceremonies which they duly observed as found to be of very good use and which were much graced by the solemne and stately manner of performing them our times have retained very few For as the actions of the modern warres consist chiefly in sieges assaults sallies skirmishes c. and so afford but few set battels so the practise of delivering publike speeches is almost grown out of use and esteem amongst our chief Commanders Yet the late e Meteren lib. 12 J. Petit. lib. 15. Prince of Orange at the battell of Newport before the conflict delivered a pithy short speech to his souldiers adding to his publick Oratory publike Orisons and riding up and down gave courage to his souldiers The Classicum is still retained that is to sound a generall charge namely amongst those troops which are to give on And sometimes the Clamor militaris or shout of the souldiers which was not onely an acclamation or assent unto the Generalls speech but also a f This by the Grecians was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines Barriâ—us the original of which words is shewed by Lip ubi suprá yet afterwards when the Empire was become Christian they used when they were ready for conflict to cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the victorie of the Crosse as appeareth by Leo the Emperour who reigned in the Fast from the year of our Lord 886. to 903. Tact. cap. 12. 69. Cum ad conflictationem movet exercitus consueta Christianis vox usurpanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And after this in the very charge they were to make their shout as it followeth there 106. Conflictâ—tionis tempore post vocem Victoriae crucis mignos atque altos clamores â—dere oportet loud and dreadfull kind of noise which they used to make when they gave the charge thereby to encourage one another and to strike a terrour into the enemies as the Turks cry Bre Bre Bre the Irish Pharro Pharro the French Sa Sa Sa the Dutch Vall aen Vall aen c. But as for the countersigne or word of distinction that is seldome used now adayes unlesse upon occasion of some Camisado or other exploits in the night when the souldiers may easily misse those means to know each other by which in the day time the light the sight of the ensigne or cornet their skarfs required among the Cavallry or long acquaintance may afford them But these being but ceremonies as I called them in the title of this chapter I willingly withdraw my self from them Neither should I have been desirous to have meddled with them at all but that the example of others g Lips de milit Rom. Reusner de arte stratagem who have writ in this kind led me unto it and the respect unto my Reader in common civility required it at my hands whom I could not well leave after the sight of so many dumbe figures without a word or two at the parting There remaineth onely now that every one according to his office rank and abilitie strive for honour and victory propounding to himself the goodnesse of the cause and authority of the Prince the command of the Leaders the vertue of the souldiers the honour of the conquest and the disgrace and damage of the defeat Above all lifting up his eyes and heart unto Almighty God from whose hands victory and the means to obtain it is especially to be expected h Psal 18.32.34 It is God that girdeth me with strength of warre and maketh my way perfect He teacheth my hands to fight c. i Psal 144.1 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth mine hands to warre and my fingers to fight k Psal 44.5 6 7. Through thee will we overthrow our enemies and in thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us For I will not trust in my bow it is not my sword that shall help me But it is thou that savest us from our enemies