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A89228 The Scotch military discipline learned from the valiant Swede, and collected for the use of all worthy commanders favouring the laudable profession of armes By Major Generall Monro, being novv generall of all the Scotch forces against the rebels in Ireland, communicates his abridgement of exercise, in divers practicall observations for the younger officers better instruction; ending with the souldiers meditations going on in service. Monro, Robert. 1644 (1644) Wing M2454A; ESTC R231118 380,127 374

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or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni modo though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to
having cast off his loose powder then to cast about his Musket to his left side drawing backe with his Musket his left foote and hand till the mouth of the musket come right to his hand to charge againe in the same place standing firme till his follower marched by him on his right hand standing at the same distance before him that he stood behinde and then to give fire blowing his pan priming casting off and retiring his musket with his left hand and foote and to charge againe as is said and so forth one after another discharging at a like distance till at last the Rot-master should be under-rot and the under-rot Leader and then his follower marching up by him while as he is charging giving fire on the enemy and having discharged standing still also charging till in th' end the Rot-master come to be Leader againe and so forth still advancing per vices till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and Buts of Muskets Thus having exercised the Rots apart for a weeke or two doubtlesse they will become expert Souldiers in using their Armes when they are joyned in a strong body lesse or more The Pike-men would be exercised also by Rots apart in the severall Postures thereof till they were acquainted also with their Leaders and were made expert in using their Pikes aright till thereafter the whole body of Pikes might be exercised apart with great ease to their Officers The Musketiers being drawne in a body being sixteene or thirty-two men in Front being but six Rancks deepe the first Rancke discharging at once casting about their muskets and charging all alike the second Rancke marches through every follower going by on the right hand of his Leader standing before him at the distance they were behinde and then being firme they give fire all alike on their enemies blowing priming casting about and charging all alike where they stand till per vices the whole Ranckes have discharged and so forth ut antea successively advancing and giving fire till the enemy turne backe or that they come to push of Pike and being thus well exercised in advancing to the enemy and winning ground if through necessity they be forced to retire from an enemy losing ground they must also keepe their faces to their enemies the Reare being still in fire and the last Rancke having given fire they march through the Rancks till they that were last are first comming off and so per vices till they have made a safe retreate the Reare which is ever the Front coming from an enemy is in fire The manner to exercise a body of Musketiers TO exercise a Squadron of Musketiers how strong soever they be the number of Rancks being no deeper than six the files being even may be so many as your voice can extend to ever observing that your Command be given in the Front otherwise may breede disorder and before you begin to command you would enter first with a Prologue as good Orators commonly doe to reconciliat their hearers attendance even so you ought with an exhortation of attendance entreate but by way of command your Souldiers not to be gazing in time of their exercise but with stedfastnesse to settle their mindes on their exercise that they may the better observe and obey the words of command and above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they double Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the rìght hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left han● double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place
thinke on the other part that service is nothing els but a free mans calling and comfort himselfe with the example of Kings that are but servants though more splendid for the common-weale and as this King our royall Master served for his country let us that are servants serving strangers serve truely where we serve for our countries credit our owne weale and our eternall fame which must live after us This magnanimous King through the experience he had of our former true service is desirous to have more of our countrimen to serve him as we may see by the new employment laid on our Colonell and his Officers Also on divers other Noblemen of our country to bring unto him three other Regiments as Nidesdale Spynie and Murckles Regiments we being the first that shewed them the way to be employed by his Majesty Here I will exhort all brave Cavaliers of minde to follow the laudable profession of Armes not to grudge though their advancement or preferment come not at first but with patience to awaite on Gods blessing since preferment comes neither from the East nor from the west But it is the blessing of the Lord given by man as the reward of vertue Who ever then would be famous by preferment let him first study to be diligent and vertuous in his calling and then doubtlesse God will dispose of him as he thinketh best for his owne Glory Here we see that the Barron of Fowles of worthy memory thought it no disparagement at first to follow my Lord of Rhey and his Regiment as a voluntier till he had seene some service and attained unto some experience and then beginning with a company coming at last with credit to be Colonell over horse and foote and that to animate others of his name and kindred to follow his example rather to live honourably abroade and with credit then to encroach as many do on their friends at home as we say in Scotland leaping at the halfe loafe while as others through vertue live nobly abroade served with silver plate and attendance Officers of one Regiment ought to live as brethren together not envying one anothers advancement entertaining no other emulation then the emulation of vertue every one serving truely in their Stations till such time occasion may be offered for their advancement by degrees for though their patience may be the longer their credits will be the more and their contentments at last will make them forgo and forget their former toyle and disturbances having come to their proposed marke though not altogether to their wished end Here also we see that good discipline is requisite for keeping good order that as vertue is rewarded so vice may be punished as we may see by the institution of the Emperiall lawes whereof one we reade constitute by the Emperor Frederick the second in the code of Iustinian bearing that the labourers of the ground might live peaceably with assurance over all staying in their villages labouring the ground so that no man should be so bold as to presume to take any such men prisoners or to offer them any violence in destroying their Beasty all or in takeing their goods from them condemning them to death that did contemne or violate his ordinance And Cyrus going to warre commanded no man should trouble the labourers Xerxes commanded the like saying the warres were against those that caried Armes not against Shepheards Bellisarius that brave Commander under the Emperour Iustinian was so strict against souldiers that troubled the Boores that the souldiers going by the fruityards durst not throw downe one Apple and for his good order kept victualls were cheaper in the Campe then in Townes Procopius in his third booke of the Gothes warres in Italy reports that Totilas King of the Gothes observed the same strict discipline in Italy suffring the Boores untroubled for paying the contribution Nicephor Gregorius affirmed that while as in the front of an Army marched insolency and violence orderly came in the reare defeate and ruine And now a dayes the Turkes do observe stricter discipline in their Armies then Christians do in so much that their Captaines must not suffer their Souldiers to goe into Orchards or Vineyards as they march by And as order is necessary in an Army so it is in a Regiment requisit to be kept and punishment also to be used for banishing all villany from a Regiment as Gluttony Drunkenesse Whoredome Opression Playing Diceing Roaring Swaggering for it is not seemely that those who should overcome others should suffer themselves to be overcome with any such notorious vices neither ought a brave fellow to vaunt of his valour since it is not tolerable to kill men with words without coming unto blowes But he that comports himselfe modestly is to be commended Here also we see that the Emulation and strife begunne amongst Superiours and Officers of quality brings at last the same amongst their inferiours and followers as was seene in the disorders and quarrelling betwixt our Souldiers and the Rhinegraves horsemen which was wisely prevented and taken away by the wisdome of their Commanders that carried mutuall love and respect to each others for the mutuall good deserving of both Officers which was the chiefe instrument of their reconcilement and taking away of their jarres and idle quarrelling arising of ostentation an unworthy fruit growing out of Dunghills withering faster then it groweth their jarres thus once removed thereafter our love waxed so great that where we chanced both to be on one service as at Wolgast where we stood in neede of helpe the Rhinegraves Regiment especially Rutmaster Hoomes under God made our Retreate safe as you shall heare in its owne place Here also I cannot passe over with silence the love that ordinarily is seene betwixt Officers and their followers being once put under good discipline they will undergo any thing for love of their Commanders and Leaders who have taken paines and diligence in excercising them in the perfect use of their Armes and in leading them bravely on occasions before their enemies in making with exercise their bodies strong and their hearts valiant then I say what will they not undertake for the love of their Leaders Truely I must confesse they will stand a thousand times more in awe to incurre their Officers wrath whom once they loved through love than in any wise thorough feare of any punishment that may be enjoyned unto them by Lawes and if they love and respect their Officers for feare to offend even in their Marches for their Officers credits they will march so orderly with Armes in their Rancks and Files that you would thinke a whole Regiment well disciplined as this was were all but one body and of one motion their eares obeying the command all as one their eyes turning all alike at the first signe given their hands going to execution as one hand giving one stroake yea many stroakes all alike ever readie to strike or hold up as their Commander
dolet sed quod tu facies as one would say the wound I gave my selfe hurts me not but the wound which you shall give grieves me We read also of Portia Cate his daughter and wife to Brutus who hearing of her husbands death in despight of all that were about her filled her mouth with hot burning coales and was suffocated for griefe We reade also a memorable story of the wives of the Menyans recorded by Plutarch in his fourth booke of Illustrious women their husbands being in prison and condemned to death for having enterprized against the King of Sparta the Lacedemonian custome being to execute their malefactors in the night these noble women under pretence to speake with their husbands being appointed to die got license of the Guards to goe within the prison and having put themselves in place of their husbands whom they made to put on their Cownes taught them to cover their faces with vailes as being extreamely sorry carrying their heads downward they escaped out of their hands Having inferred this discourse on a Queene yet wife to the best Souldier in our dayes lest Souldiers wives should be worse thought of than others having seene more love more indurance better obedience and by appearance more chastity in them to their husbands than ever I did see in any other profession I will here yet inferre a rare example of a Souldiers wife to encourage others to follow and imitate her vertues The story we reade written by Barnard Scardeon in his third booke of Padua that Blanch Rubea of Padua being retired with her Baptist de la Porte within the fortresse of Bassean pertaining to the Venetians Acctolen banished out of Padua with all his forces assailed the said place being valorously defended it was impossible to get it but by Treason Baptist not losing courage though surprised running unto the Port with his Armes in his hand but suppressed by the multitude of his enemies having gotten entry he was killed by the hand of Acciolen his wife Blanch did fight valiantly in the conflict being armed with steele and with courage farre beyond her sex The enemy being victorious she was taken perforce and brought before the Tyrant who being ravished with her beauty at first making much of her then desireth to ravish and bereave her of her honour shee defending her selfe by words and prayers of entreaty escaped his hands and finding the window open skips downe where she was found sore hurt and halfe dead but by the diligence of good Chirurgians she was made whole as before and was solicited by the Tyrant againe which she refusing to yeeld unto being bound was forced by the Tyrant shee keeping her griefe within herselfe gets liberty to goe see the dead body of her husband Baptist and pretending to doe some ceremonies about his Corps and having opened the Grave she crying streached herselfe in the Grave and violently with her hands pulls the stone that covered the grave over her and her head being bruised she died presently above her husband in the yeare 1253. The Ancient Germans did marry their wives on the condition they should be their companions in travells and dangers and as Cornelius Tacitus reports one husband married but one wife being but one body and one life And Theogene the wife of Agathocles said she was companion of his troubles and adversity as she was of his prosperity and being in love my selfe with the vertue of such women rare to be found I will yet enrich this observation with a notable example that happened in the yeare 1466 betwixt Bonne Lumbard or Greeson and Peter Br●nore of ●arme as the Italian story records which I here represent in favour of vertuous women to incourage that sex more and more to the like vertue being so pleasant where ever it is found to be seene Bonne borne in the Woalkie of Talhine in the country of Greeson in which place Peter Brunore Parmesan one day walking alone a brave Cavalier and a Knight well experimented in warres leading his Army in passing by he sees this young Damsell feeding her sheepe in the fields being little of stature of browne colour not pleasant or faire to see to but very merry playing then with her fellowes wherein she shewed a certaine quicknesse of spirit that the Knight Brunore looking on her attentively observing all her gestures and hoping of some great good of her caused to take her and leade her away with him against her will that in time being accustomed with him he made her divers times change clothes and clad her at last like a boy by way of pleasure and recreation of spirit leading her oft a hunting and using her to ride and spurre horses and other exercises wherein shee shewed her quicknesse and dexterity and though the Cavalier did keepe her but for pleasure recreation and pastime neverthelesse she did set her selfe to serve him with a love and diligence incredible in such sort that willingly she could endure all manner of labour trouble or toyle of body or of minde that Brunore could not undergoe and went ever with him as with her Master in all his journies assisting him in all dangers following him on foote and on horsebacke through dales and mountaines by water and by land with an intire and faithfull obedience without over-leaving of him or without grudging in any sort she went also with him towards Alphonse King of Naples for at that time this Cavalier and Knight Peter Brunore did serve under Francis Sforce which party he after quit but having afterwards changed his minde he resolved to quit Alphonse King of Naples and to retire to serve his former Master the Count of Sforce and while as he was making preparation for his flight the businesse not being so privily carried but that the King perceiving it secretly caused to apprehend Brunore and cast him into prison where he was kept long without hope of reliefe Wherefore Bonne being restlesse till she should see the day when the Knight Brunore were at liberty she went to all the Princes and Potentates of Italy and to the King of France to Philip Duke of Burgoigne to the Venetians and to many more of whom she attained letters in favour of her deare and wellbeloved master so that Alphonse wonne by such requests and the intreaty of so great men was as it were constrained to set Brunore at liberty and gave him unto that valorous warrier that did for him who having gotten him loose to doe yet greater service to her Master did obtaine so much by her meanes at the Venetians hands that they accepted of Brunore unto their service and was made Leader to the Army of so great a Republique and there was a great pension ordained for his entertainment by which deeds of friendship the Knight did know the faith the vertue and the valour of his Bonne he esteemed it not honest to keepe her longer as a servant as he had done till then but married her keeping her
all the Briggads to be in readinesse with their Armes against the next orders this command given some of the commanded men that were under Sinclaire suspecting a storme provided themselves of some ladders By five of the clocke in the afternoone his Majestie comming towards our Briggade called for a Dutch Captaine under Hepburnes Regiment named Guntter and desired him to put on a light corseles with his sword drawne in his hand and to take a Sergeant and twelve other good fellowes with him and to wade through the graffe and then to ascend to the top of the wall and to see if men could be commodiously lodged betwixt the mud-wall of the towne and the stone-wall and then to retire so suddenly as they might which being done his Majestie getting resolution that there was roome betwixt the two walles to lodge men the Briggads being alreadie in battaile they fall on at a call the Captaine being retired without hurt whervpon his Majestie directed Bannier and Hepburne with our Briggad to passe the graffe and to storme And if they repulsed the enemy from the outward wall to lodge under the stone wall betwixt both the walles and if the enemy fortuned to retire to presse in with him the like orders given to the rest of the Briggads all being in readinesse his Majestie having a number of Cannon great and small charged on the batteries caused to give notice at all postes that when the Cannon had discharged the first Salve in the midst of the smoake they should advance to the storme as they did where in passing the graffe we were over the middle in water and mud and ascending to storme the walles there were strong pallessades so well fastened and fixt in the wall that if the enemy had not retired from the walles in great feare we could not but with great hazard have entred The enemy feebely retiring our Commanders and Leaders following their orders received from his Majestie we presse to follow in after the enemy at a great sallying port that was betwixt both the walles that opened with two great leaves where they entred after their Retreate they planted a flake of small shot that shot a dozen of shot at once besides which there were set two peeces of small Ordinance that guarded also the entrie and musketiers besides which made cruell and pittifull execution on our musketiers and pikemen the valorous Hepburne leading on the battaile of pikes of his owne Briggad being advanced within halfe a pikes length to the doore at the entry he was shot above the knee that he was lame of before which dazling his senses with great paine forced him to retire who said to me bully Monro I am shot whereat I was wondrous sorry his Major then a resolute Cavalier advancing to enter was shot dead before the doore whereupon the Pikes falling backe and standing still Generall Banier being by and exhorting all Cavaliers to enter Colonell Lumsdell and I being both alike on the head of our owne Colours he having a Partizan in his hand and I a halfe Pike with a head-piece that covered my head commanding our Pikes to advance we lead on shoulder to shoulder Colonell Lumsdell and I fortunately without hurt enter the Port where at our entry some I know received their rest and the enemy forced to retire in confusion being astonished at our entry they had neither wit nor courage as to let downe the Portcullis of the great Port behinde them so that we entering the streets at their heeles we made a stand till the body of our Pikes were drawne up orderly and flancked with Musketiers and then wee advanced our Pikes charged and our Musketiers giving fire on the flancks till the enemy was put in disorder After us entred Generall Banier with a fresh body of Musketiers he following the enemy in one street and Lumsdell and I in another having rancountred the enemy againe they being well beaten our Officers tooke nine Colours of theirs which were to be presented to his Majestic and the most part of the Souldiers were cut off in revenge of their crueltie used at New Brandenburg but some of their Officers got quarters such as they had given to ours This Regiment defeated wee directed an Officer with a strong partie to possesse the bridge and that to hinder their escape their passage being cut off they were also cut downe themselves till the streets were full of dead bodies and that the most part of our Souldiers and Officers disbanded to make bootie leaving me and a few number of honest Souldiers to guard my Colours which disorder I confesse stood not in my power to remedie Thus farre for Lumsdells part and mine which I dare maintaine to be truth And as I have spoken truth of our owne Actions without ostentation which no man can controlle that is friend to vertue I will now relate other mens Actions so farre as I know to be truth by relation of my honest Camerades Lievetenant Colonell Musten being appointed to command the Musketiers of Lumsdells Regiment and of my Colonells then under my command he seeing us entred did follow after us and commanded those he led on execution apart giving no better Quarters than we did The Dutch also remembring the enemies crueltie used at Brandenburg they gave but slight Quarters Major Iohn Sinclaire as I was credibly informed being accompanied with Lievenant George Heatly being both resolute and stout were the first that came over the walles with ladders who at their first entry having but a few Musketiers with them they were charged on the streets by the enemies Curassiers or best horsemen where they were forced to stand close their backs to the wall where they entred and to give severall Salves of Muskets upon the enemy till they were made to retire Likewise after we were entred the yellow and the blew Briggads being esteemed of all the Army both resolute and couragious in all their exploits they were to enter on the Irish quarter where they were twice with great losse furiously beaten off and were cruelly spoyled with fire-workes throwne by the Irish amongst them But at last they having entred notwithstanding the inequality of their strength the Irish though weake stood to it and fought with sword and pikes within workes a long time till the most part of the Souldiers fell to ground where they stoode fighting so that in the end Lievetenant Colonell Walter Butler who commanded the Irish being shot in the arme and pierced with a pike through the thigh was taken prisoner so that the next day it was to be seene on the poast where the best service was done and truely had all the rest stood so well to it as the Irish did we had returned with great losse and without victory The fury past the whole streete being full of Coaches and rusty waggons richly furnished withall sorts of riches as Plate Iewells Gold Money Clothes Mulets and horses for saddle coach and waggons whereof all men that
and the word was given God with us a little short speech made by His Majestie being in order of Battaile we marched towards the enemie who had taken the advantage of the ground having placed his Armie on a place called Gods Acre where their Generall did make choice of the ground most advantagious for his foote Artillerie and horses he also did beset the Dorpes that invironed the ground which was left for us with Dragoniers and Crabbats to incomber our wings by their evill Neighbourhood yet notwithstanding of all the advantages hee had of Ground Wind and Sunne our magnanimous King and Leader under God inferiour to no Generall we ever reade of for wisedome courage dexteritie and good Conduct he was not dejected but with magnanimitie and Christian resolution having recommended himselfe his Armie and successe to God the Director of men and Angells able to give victory with few against many He ordered his Armie and directed every supreame Officer of the Field on their particular charge and stations committed unto them for that day As also he acquainted them severally of the forme he was to fight unto and he appointed Plottons of Musketiers by fifties which were commanded by sufficient Officers to attend on severall Regiments of horse and he instructed the Officers how to behave themselves in discharging their duties on service Likewise he directed the Officers belonging to the Artillery how to carry themselves which orderly done the commanded Musketiers were directed to their stand where to fight his Majestie then led up the foure Briggads of foote which were appointed to be the Battaile of the Armie with a distance betwixt every Briggad that a Regiment of horse might march out in grosse betwixt the Briggads all foure being in one front having their Ordnance planted before every Briggad being foure pieces of great Cannon and eight small whereof foure stood before the Colours that were the Battaile of the Briggad with Amunition and Constables to attend them on the right hand Pikes before the Colours were the other foure pieces of Cannon with Amunition and Constables conforme and on the left wing of Pikes and Colours were placed the other foure pieces of Cannon as we said before Behinde these foure Briggads were drawne up the three Briggads of Reserve with their Artillery before them standing at a proportionable distance behinde the other foure Briggads with the like distance betwixt them as was betwixt the Briggads of the Battaile The Briggads of horse which had Plottons of Musketiers to attend them were placed on the right and left wings of the foote and some were placed betwixt the Battaile of foote and the Reserve to second the foote as neede were other Briggads of horse were drawne up behinde the Reserve of the foote Briggads The Felt-marshall Horne Generall Banier and Lievetenant Generall Bawtish were commanded to over-see the Horsemen his Majestie the Baron Tyvell and Grave Neles were to command the Battaile of foote Sir Iames Ramsey as eldest Colonell had the command of the fore-Troopes or commanded Musketiers and Sir Iohn Hepburne as eldest Colonell commanded the three Briggads of Reserve Our Armie thus ordered the Duke of Saxon and his Feltmarshall Arnhem having ordered their Armie whereof I was not particularly inquisitive of the manner they were ordained to draw up on our left hand and being both in one front thus ordered we marched in Battaile a little and then halted againe till his Majestie had commanded out some commanded Horsemen on the wings of the Armie a large distance from the body to scoure the fields of the Crabbats we marched againe in order of Battaile with Trumpets sounding Drummes beating and Colours advanced and flying till we came within reach of Cannon to our enemies Armie then the magnifick and magnanimous Gustavus the Invincible leads up the Briggads of horse one after another to their ground with their Plottons of shot to attend them As also he led up the Briggads of foote one after another to their ground during which time we were drawne up according to our former plot the enemy was thundering amongst us with the noise and roaring whisling and flying of Cannon-Bullets where you may imagine the hurt was great the sound of such musick being scarce worth the hearing though martiall I confesse yet if you can have so much patience with farre lesse danger to reade this dutie to an end you shall finde the musicke well paide but with such Coyne that the players would not stay for a world to receive the last of it being over-joyed in their flying By twelve of the Clock on wednesday the seventh of September in despight of the fury of the enemies Cannon and of his advantages taken they were drawne up in even front with the enemy and then our Cannon begun to roare great and small paying the enemy with the like coyne which thundering continued alike on both sides for two houres and an halfe during which time our Battailes of horse and foote stood firme like a wall the Cannon now and then making great breaches amongst us which was diligently looked unto on all hands by the diligence of Officers in filling up the voide parts and in setting aside of the wounded towards Chirurgians every Officer standing firme over-seeing their Commands in their owne stations succeeding one another as occasion offered By halfe three our Cannon a little ceasing the Horsemen on both wings charged furiously one another our Horsemen with a resolution abiding unloosing a Pistoll till the enemy had discharged first and then at a neere distance our Musketiers meeting them with a Salve then our horsemen discharged their Pistolls and then charged through them with swords and at their returne the Musketiers were ready againe to give the second Salve of Musket amongst them the enemy thus valiantly resisted by our Horsemen and cruelly plagued by our Plottons of Musketiers you may imagine how soone he would be discouraged after charging twice in this manner and repulsed Our Horsemen of the right wing of Finnes and Haggapells led by the valourous Feltmarshall Horne finding the enemies Horsemen out of Order with resolution he charged the enemies left wing forcing them to retire disorderly on their battailes of foote which caused disorder among the foote who were forced then to fall to the right hand our Horsemen retiring his Majestie seeing the enemy in disorder played with Ordnance amongst them during which time the force of the enemies Battailes falls on the Duke of Saxon charging with Horse first in the middest of the Battailes and then the foote giving two Salves of Musket amongst them they were put to the Rout horse and foote and the enemy following them cryed Victoria as if the day had beene wonne triumphing before the victory But our Horsemen charging the remnant of their horse and foote where their Generall stood they were made to retire in disorder to the other hand towards Leipsigh our Armie of foote standing firme not having loosed one Musket the smoake
of Pikes goes to bring out the Colours to be placed in Front of the Company before they march As also the Colours are to be conveyed againe in this manner at all lodging and dislodging The Company marching to Parad or watch with complete Officers the Captaine leads off six Rots of Musketiers his Drumme beating betwixt the second and the third Ranke then followes up after that division the oldest Sergeant leading up the first five Rots of Pikemen the Ensigne leading up the other Division of Pikes his Furer furing his Colours after him and the second Drummer beating betwixt the two Divisions then the Lievetenant leads up the last Division of Musketiers being six Rots also and coming in equall Front with the rest the Captaine making a signe for the Drumme beating they order their Armes the Captaine standing in Front on the Right hand the Ensigne on his left and the Lievetenant on the left hand of both with a Sergeant on each Flancke and the under-Beifells with halfe Pikes stand in the Reare of the Company Twelve Companies thus complete would make up three Squadrons every Squadron of Pikes and Muskets being drawne up severall apart after the former example of the lesse body Pikes and Colours on the right hand and the Musketiers on the left which three Squadrons thus drawne up and complete would make a complete Briggad of Foote to be divided as followes viz. eight Corporall-ships of Musketiers being thirty-two Rots divided in foure Plottons every Plotton being eight in front led off by a Captaine and every Division after him led up by a sufficient Officer till at a haulte all were drawne in even front after this Division should follow the thirty-six Rots of Pikes being twelve Corporall-ships with their Colours a Captaine leading off the first five Rots before the foure Colours should stirre where betwixt the second and third Ranke of the first Division of Pikes the Drummer should beate then the Ensignes should leade off the other Division their Furers with their Colours following them till they drew up in even Front with the first Division of Pikes which ought to be in one Front with the thirty-two Rots of Musketiers that make the right wing of the Briggad keeping their Armes orderly shouldered till they were commanded otherwise and their Sergeants ought to looke unto the Flanks till such time that the whole Squadron of Pikes being thirty-six Rots were drawne up in even Front with the Musketiers after this manner the other Squadron of Pikes being thirty-six Rots also which should make the Battaile of the Briggad ought to march by Divisions being led up in all respects and order after the manner of the former Squadron of Pikes till they were in even Front with the rest then the other thirty-two Rots of Musketiers belonging to that Squadron which are appointed to be the Battaile of the Briggad ought to be led up as the first Division of Musketiers were in all points which ought to draw up at a reasonable distance behinde their owne Squadron of Pikes appointed for the Battaile of the Briggad where their Sergeants on the Flancks ought to looke to their order and not to suffer them to stirre their Armes till they were commanded And after them should march up the last Squadron of Pikes in all respects observing the order of the former Squadrons in their marching till they were led up in equall Front with the other Pikes and then march up the last thirty-two Rots of Musketiers in foure Divisions observing the order of the former Divisions till they were in equall Front with the whole Pikes and then they making up the left wing of the Briggad the Colonell of the Briggad ordaines the battell of Pikes being the middle Squadron of Pikes to advance in one body before the rest till they are free of the Musketiers and Pikes which makes the wings of the Briggad and then the battaile of Pikes standing firme the thirty-two Rot of Musketiers which were drawne up behinde them march up till they fill up the voide betwixt the Squadrons of pikes standing right behinde their owne pikes that is the battaile of the Briggad and then the Colonell making a signe to the Drummers they beate all alike till the Briggad in one instant doth order their Armes all Officers of the Briggad standing on their stations according as they were directed then the superplus of the three Squadrons of musketiers being fourty-eight Rot are drawne up behinde the Briggad having also Officers to command them they attend orders which they are to obey being commanded out as pleaseth their Officers either to guard Cannon or Baggage or to be Convoyes to bring Amunition or victualls to the rest A direction to Traine single Souldiers apart HAving thus formed a Company and showne the manner to draw up a complete Briggad for the younger Officer his better understanding being a Novice to this Discipline I will set downe briefely the best way suddenly to bring a young Company to be exercised which in my opinion would be thus First since every Rot of the twenty-one whereof the Company doth consist hath allowed a Corporall or a Rot-master as the Leader of the other five which Leader is supposed to be more expert in handling of Pike or Musket then the other five who make up the Rot and the under Rot-master is supposed to be more expert in handling his Armes than the other foure so that he is appointed as a second to the Leader being sometimes a Leader himselfe then after the company is made up for the first weeke I would have every Corporall of the six and the fifteene Rot-masters being Leaders with the helpe of their under Rot-masters in a weekes time to make the other foure as expert in handling of Pike and Musket as themselves or to be punished with Irons in case of their neglect which the Sergeants should see done as they should answer to the Lievetenant the Lievetenant to the Captaine and the Captaine to the Major the Major to the Lievetenant Colonell and they all to the Colonell which they ought to practise in the fields apart till the Rot were acquainted every one with his Leader from the first to the last and while as the under Rot-master should turne Leader then all the followers before were then Leaders also and then the Rot being apart the middle man of the Rot should be taught to double to the Front till their deepe were three that was six before and in falling off againe the middle man should turne to the contrary side or hand he came up upon carrying their Armes handsomly free from others without making noise in their retiring to their former station and orders Likewise I would have the Corporall Rot-master or Leader being a Musketier having his Rot once expert in handling severally the Musket well then to discharge their Muskets in winning ground advancing to an enemy the Leader having discharged his musket standing still to blow his panne and prime againe
the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Contrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an enemie on walls within Townes or Forts they are very commodious for service providing they resolve to fight well and to abide by their Officers and in my opinion being well led they may beate Musketiers accidently off the Feild and being well lined with shot they are a safeguard against Horsemen having the least advantage of ground Thus much in briefe for the use of the Pike the most honourable of all weapons and my choice in day of battell and leaping a storme or entering a breach with a light brest-plate and a good head-piece being seconded with good fellowes I would choose a good halfe-Pike to enter with CERTAINE OBSERVATIONS VVORTHY THE YOVNGER Officer his consideration being short and practicall for his Highnesse speciall use I. THIS life is a Comedy or a Play wherein every one doth his part we should presse to passe it over with moderate affections that the end be not cruell or dolefull as in Tragedies but full of mirth like a Comedy II. Vnto the Victor the life is sweete and happy but to those that are overcome nothing is more bitter then to put their hopes in their Enemies mercy III. As unto Champions of old lots gave fellowes and not election with whom they should fight so every one of us hath destines in our times where with to strive IIII. As he who goeth a journy doth reckon the miles so he that hath entred the way of this life shall not determine of his yeares For as from the spring flow the Rivers from the roote the branch so from the first education cometh the rest of mans life And if thou wouldst live truely thou must presse to profit thy country to defend the Common-wealth and to live well without liberty thou must preferre death before ignominious shame or slavery For as this life is Rosie so it hath flowers mixed with thornes the one to be plucked up the other to be eschewed so farre as we may V. It is a part of victory to trouble the enemy before we fight and as it is laudable to overcome an enemy it is no lesse praise worthy to have pitty on the miserable For as courage doth merit infinite glory so the love of all and the good will of all merits mercy and meekenesse VI. The feeble and weake minded man is ever pridfull in prosperity for he thinkes his vertues are such as can maintaine the Fortunes which he hath gotten and thinks still he is able to attaine and acquire more and more but when the tempest of adversity doth arise then is he so farre afraid that he becomes voide of all hopes and this oftentimes is the cause of the suddaine change of his fortunes VII Nothing doth diminish more the publishing of praise then when one continually casteth up his owne successe in actions of warre and oftimes striving to get abundance of honour men show their riches of swelling pride for disdaining his former friends he misk nowes his acquaintance pressing to goe before he is greevous or displeasing to all his familiars Our care then should be to want this arrogancy ostentation or pride and pray for humility being more acceptable unto God then detestable pride which is an unprofitable evill a secret poyson a hidden pest the ingenier of deceipt the mother of hypocrisie the parent of envy the beginner of vice the moth of holinesse the blinder of hearts breeding sicknesse out of remedies and begetting langour out of medicine VIII There is ever some fatality incident unto those that desire vaine-glory or ostentation and those that are proud rejecting the prayers of the humble with disdaine they often incurre the indignation of God and fall