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 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 verie large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at ther distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed d standing right in their ranks and files b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1.9 Vt aquali legitimóque spatio miles distet à milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent ibid. cap. 26. c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right ad bastam and left ad scutum facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi due genera per juga versus Their countermarches the same which we use evolutio Chorica per decurias juga evolutio Macedonica per decurias juga evolutio Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us conversio ad hastam vel conversio ad scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kindes 1. facings 2. doublings 3. countermarches 4. wheelings The use of facings is to make the companie perfect to be suddainly prepared for a charge on either flank or the reere 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 readie to receive the charge of an enemie in the reere or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and reere or either flank into the middle of the bodie The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be readie to receive the charge of the enemie on either flank or reere These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a companie 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 Front Right flank Reere Left flank 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 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 reare though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say 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 reare 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 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 right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman accounting from the right hand the 4 into the 3 and so the rest which must be done throughout the companie at one instant all together But because the first rank of the companie is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but 5 deep there seemeth no great necessitie of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left 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 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 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 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 Choraean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevitie sake Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the companie 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
Par 4. Cap 8. THE INFANTRIE AND CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY THE PRINCE OF ORANGE NEERE VORSTENBVRGH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Fig 15 Par 4 Cap 8 FORME OF BATTAILE ORDERED NEERE VORSTENBVRGH IN THE MARCH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Differing from figure 15. in that some of the Horse are here placed within the body Fig 16 Par 4 Cap 8 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 nifi pugna quae jam manuum est non verberum Lips de milit Rom. lib. 4. now remaineth seemeth rather to require action then words Indeed with antiquitie when the armie was embattelled and readie 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 kinde of b Caesars armie being so dismaid through feare as they were almost brought to desperation tantus subitò timor omnem exercitum occupavit c. was by an elegant oration of his suddenly revived Hac oratione habitâ mirum in modum conversae sunt omnium mentes summáque alacritas cupiditas belli gererdi iunata est Caesar de bello Gal. lib. 1. cap 9. allocutions the ancient Sages use to ascribe a marvellous efficacie not onely amongst the Grecians or Romanes but also those whom they then accounted barbarous as the Britons Gaules Germans 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 Tunicarussa punicea vel caccinea Some resemblance hereof there is in the bloody flagge at sea scarlet red or 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. cap. 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 affoard but few set battells 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 pithie short speech to his souldiers adding to his publike Oratorie 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 Barritus the originall of which words is shewed by Lips ubi supra yet afterwards when the Empire was become Christian they used when they were readie for conflict to crie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the victorie of the crosse as appeareth by Leo the Emperour who reigned in the East from the yeare of our Lord 886 to 903 Tact. cap. 12 69. Cùm 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. Conflictationis tempore post vocem Victoriae crucis magna atqui altos clamores edere oportet c. loud and dreadfull kinde 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 crie Bre Bre Bre the Irish Pharro Pharro the French Sa Sa Sa the Dutch Vallaen Vallaen 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 easilie 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 Cavallrie 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. Reusnerus de arte stratagem who have writ in this kinde led me unto it and the respect unto my reader in common civilitie 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 victorie propounding to himself the goodnesse of the cause the authoritie 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 eies and heart unto Almightie God from whose hands victorie and the means to obtain it is especially to be expected h Psalm 18. vers 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 Psalm 144. vers 1. Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth mine hands to warre and my fingers to fight k Psalm 44 vers 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 and puttest them to confusion that hate us And to this purpose we may not unfitly apply that which Hezekias spake to his Captains and souldiers by way of encouragement after that he had fortified himself against the power of the Assyrians l 2 Chron. cap. 32. vers 7 8. Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismaid for the King of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for
two souldiers of every companie are to go with him which then go back again to conduct their respective companies to their assigned quarters especially in the night The Provost or rather the Waggon-master sendeth one of his men to take notice of the place for the lodging of the baggage who afterward conducteth him thither Where he then assigneth the Sutlers or victuallers their quarter and causeth all carts or waggons to be removed out of the streets lest an alarm be given CHAP. II. Of distributing the quarters GReat discretion must be used in appointing to everie one such quarter as is a Pro gradu legionibus auxiliis equitibus peditibus loca deputantur in castris Veg. 3.8 fitting conformable to the qualitie of his person and convenience of the place The best way to avoid suspicion of partialitie is that such as be ill lodged now be better accommodated the next time The market-place for the conveniencie of all and for safetie is to be in the middle but so as no streets runne through it leading to the Rendezvous or place of arms Fig 4 Par 3 Cap 2 THis Regiment consisteth of 4 Troopes of Horse viz. two of Cuirassiers and two of Harquebusiers which Regiment containeth in bredth or front from A. to B. 700 foot and in depth or length from B. to C. 300 foot from A. to D. is 205 foot in bredth for one Company of Cuirassiers which consisteth of 80 horse together with 80 Nags which have 5 files of huts and 5 files of horse which Cuirassiers are quartered or lodged on the right hand of the Regiment From E. to Z. is 115 foot in bredth for a Company of Harquebusiers which consisteth of 100 horse and it hath 3 files of huts and horses From A. to G. is the space of ground where the Collonell of the Regiment is lodged on the right hand of these 4 Companies and the said enclosure for the Collonell is 70 foot broad from A. to G. From G. to H. is 40 foot in depth or length for the said enclosure for the Collonell and so are all the other enclosures of the Officers From H. to I. is 20 foot in bredth for the streete betweene the Collonels Enclosure and the Enclosure for the Lieutenant and Cornet of the said Collonels Company which are both lodged in one Enclosure marked I. K. which hath also 70 foot in bredth as that of the Collonell which Enclosure is divided into 2 parts The Lieutenant being lodged on the right hand and hath 40 foot in bredth for his Enclosure And the Cornet on the left hand with one of the Trumpetters having the other 30 foot in bredth of the said Enclosure which maketh 70 foot for them both Frō K. to L. is another street of 20 foot broad to the enclosure marked L. M. L. M. is the Enclosure where the Quartermaster is lodged with two other horsemen which he pleaseth to admit of which is 25 foot broad and 40 foot long as the rest Their hut within the said Enclosure being 12 foot square for them three and their Stable is 25 foot broad for their six horses From M. to N. is 30 foot for the street betweene the Quartermasters Enclosure and the first huts for the horsemen marked N. Frō N. to O. is 180 foot for the quartering of the files of huts for the horsmen viz. for 16 huts and their 32 horses in a file agreeable to the Regiments of Infantery That so where the Regiments of Cavalry are to be lodged in the Champaine ground among the Infantery they might all make one and the same ligne before and behinde the Regiments And through the said two Troopes of Cuirassiers there bee 2. streets marked P. which streets are of 13 foot broad and the huts of the horsemen are 10 foote broade and 8 foote long for one horseman and his Boy And betweene 2 huts there is 2 foote of space for the drayne of rayne water dropping from the thatch or covers of the huttes These huts have their chiefe dores or passages towards the heads of their horses and a small one opening into the street where they lay their hay and straw every one behinde his owne hut Q. are two streets of 12 foot broad which passe through the Troopes of Harquebusiers R. is a street of 5 foot broad betweene the horsemens huts and the mangers for their horses S is 10 foote for the Stables for their horses which horses are placed with their heads toward their huts and every horse hath 4 foot in bredth for his Litter and 8 foot for the 2 horses according to the length of their huts And more ground than 8 foot they must not take for otherwise it would cause a great disorder and confusion not observing the said precise measures T. is a street of 20 foot broad betweene the heeles of their horses in which streete they mount and alight off their horses which streete they are bound to keepe cleane and to carry away the dung every two or three dayes V. is 30 foot in bredth for the street called the Victuallers or Suttlers street W. are the Suttlers huts being 〈◊〉 foote square and more roome they they must not take unlesse when they have many Pensioners the Quartermaster give them a foot or two more in bredth but not in depth to observe the measure of 300 foot in the depth of the Regiment as the Infantery X. is 10 foot of ground behinde the Suttlers huts for a place for the Suttlers the hors-men and their wives to dresse their victuals And in no other place of the Quarter must any fire bee made Neither are they to cast any filth c. within the Quarter but to carry it to the place appointed thereunto upon payne of a fine which the Provost taketh E. F. is the Enclosure of the Captaine of a troope of Harquebusiers being of the same bredth and depth as those of the Capt. of Cuirassiers viz. 70. foot broad and 40 foot deepe And the ancientest Captaine of Harquebùsiers or Cuirassiers closeth the battalion of the Regiment on the left hand at the corner marked B. F. Y. is a street of 20 foot broad to the Lieutenant of the Troop of Harquebusiers his enclosure Y. Y. Z. is 25 foot in bredth for the enclosure of the said Lieutenant where also are placed his 4 horses having in depth 40 foot And the Cornets of the Troops of Harquebusiers are lodged on the right hand in the 2 first huts of the horsemen and that to place his 3 horses and the 4th horse is the Trumpeters who alwayes lodgeth with the Cornet These Companies of Harquebusiers have also 180 foot depth for the quartering of their 3 files of huts marked in the Cuirassiers N.O. but these have but 15 huts in every file for 30 horse having also two streets as the Cuirassiers through them marked Q. being of 12 foot broad as above said leaving 3 foot of space betweene their huttes for the draine
charge them before they can be ordered for battell though they exceed him much for number But if the said Infanterie be put in good order at his approach if the ground be champain and the number equall yet may they be charged by the horse First by some troops of Harquebusiers or rather Dragons because they do execution at a larger distance which shall give on on their front flanks and reare These were to be seconded by the Lances in small divisions when they were in use but now by the Cuirassiers who shall make their benefit of such overtures or disorders as shall be caused by the said Dragons and Harquebusiers If the Infanterie exceed in number and so be serried in a grosse body it will be hard for the Cavallrie to rout them as hath been found by experience by the Swisses which still had the better of the horse by reason of their grosse bodies of pikes If the Infanterie be ordered into severall battallions the horse are to charge them where they perceive them most open and naked But if the foot have possessed themselves of some place of advantage as some wood trench or covert way then the horse are not to charge them though equall or somewhat superiour to them in number in respect of such advantage CHAP. VIII Of ordering the Cavallrie in battell THe forms of battell used among the horse presupposing such as are made by election in a free and spacious champain and not such as are forced through discommoditie of place or other respects a Vna aciei bellicae forma non est sed muitae diversae pro varietate armorum militum hostium locorum temporum Leo Tact. cap. 20. 182. are many Ordinaturus acient solem ventum antè prospiciat Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. and do varie according to the ground and strength both of your own side and the enemies accidents and occasions In all forms a principall care must be had that the troops be drawn up from an even front that so they may be free from disturbing each other in the retreat Basta reduceth these forms to foure sorts and Melzo to three making the second and third to be as one and the same which are these The first is when the troops are ordered as in one file every troop following each other in a single order which form is utterly disallowed because it bringeth but few hands to fight and the disordering of the first troop must needs endanger all the rest c The Grecians had their troops of reserve and herein the Carthaginians imitated them and these the Romans also followed Veg. ibid. cap. 17. The second is when all the troops are placed as in b Si nimiùm fuerit acies attenuata citò ab adversariis factá impressione perrumpitur nullum postea potest esse remedium Veg. lib. 3. cap. 16. one rank or one front the one troop being placed on the flank of the other in a single order or straight line Which form is also disapproved because in it all the Cavallrie is engaged at once the one not being able to succour the other and having no troops of reserve The third is when the troops are ordered chequer-wise in squadrons enterchangeably placed one behinde another so as three or foure squadrons being in front such distances are left between each as others behinde them may come up to the front without hindring the former d Exercitus contractus quadratus aut non ità multùm oblongus ad omnem occasionem atque eventum firmus utilis atque tutus est Leo Tact. cap. 9.34 The Grecians had three kindes of horse-battells The Square the Wedge and the Rhombe which is as the diamond battell The Square was held the best for the defensive the other two for the offensive Of these the Wedge is preferred because it bringeth most hands to fight the reare division of the Rhombe being of little use Aelian cap. 18. This form may well be allowed of and is retained by the best Commanders in the present wars of Christendome yet the forenamed authors have this exception to it because the Harquebusiers having taken up the said distances would hinder the Lances then in use And if they should be drawn from those intervalles and placed on the wings they must be exposed to the first assaults of the enemie Figu 8 Cap 8 Par 4 The fourth kinde of forma they make the Lunarie resembling a half moon but in this they differ from each other in the manner That which they call single must needs be weak their double form is better But both these last forms the Checquer and the Lunarie form shall be more fully represented in figure Walhausen maketh six sorts of battells namely 1. The Lunarie 2. The Checquer 3. The Broad-fronted 4. The Embowed 5. The Sharp pointed 6. The Divided The Lunarie as he makes it and the figure Fig. 8. Part. 4. cap. 8. sheweth it is good and indeed better then that of Basta but is improperly called the Lunarie form for it is rather a Hollow or Open-fronted wedge like Aelians e De instruend acicb cap. 36. Coelembolos His Checquer is as the forementioned and allowable His Broad-fronted is also not to be rejected His Embowed which by the name should be a Convex halfmoon like f Which the Latine translation tearmeth Acies incurva Aelian cap. 47. Aelians Cyrte he maketh a meere wedge The form is not the worse though the name be not so proper The Sharp pointed in regard there is but one troop in front and that seconded but by two troops on the reare angles then but one troop again seconded as the first seemeth not to be so good as the former because it bringeth few hands to fight and is very subject to be g Whereof Aelian sheweth the inconveniences cap. 50. overwinged or overfronted by the enemie and so to be charged on the flanks The Divided especially at so large a distance I hold to be dangerous True it is that here the Dragons are used as foot but whether so single and so extended an order be the best for them to be placed in I referre to the judicious Now concerning these six kindes of battells they are in deed and in effect but two that is the Checquer and the Lunarie as he calleth them and from these grounds the rest be formed But these forms being onely imaginarie and withall wanting that perfection in many respects which is required in reall battells I shall now to give fuller satisfaction to such as are lovers of militarie knowledge communicate some forms of embattellings which never yet were published by any These are true delineations of divers battells really ordered and performed by the absolutest Commanders of our times according to the exactest rules of art and such as experience hath approved to be fittest for the modern warres For the better understanding whereof I have thought fit first to put down these directions following