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
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
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
a fresh reliefe coming to us led by Lievetenant Andrew Stewart a valorous gentleman and of good conduct Brother to the noble Earle of Traquare I did exhort them en passant to carry themselves well they answered me cheerefully as became resolute Souldiers who were desirous to vindicate their camerades bloud against their enemies the reliefe being come the service went on a fresh on both sides the enemy storming againe with the third reliefe which continued so long till a number of our Officers more were killed and hurt as Lievetenant Stewart Ensigne Seaton Ensigne Ennis Captaine Armes Andrew Monro and divers more were hurt During this time our Lievetenant Colonell was busied within the Towne in commanding the reliefes and in sending orders to the other Poasts to looke unto themselves who would not misse one man to succour or helpe us in our greatest neede Notwithstanding that the whole force of the enemies was imployed against us alone The second reliefe that came to our Poast was led by Colonell Frettz newly come to Towne with some Swedens who though not admitted to Command out of his generositie being accompanied with his Lievetenant Colonell Mac-Dougall and his Major called Semple with fourescore Musketiers voluntarily did come to succour and helpe our Nation who at his first coming received deaths wounds whereof he died shortly after His Lievetenant Colonell also was taken prisoner and was missing for six moneths we not knowing whither he was dead or alive The Major also was killed instantly at his first coming to service so that the last time and on the last storme by the breake of day the enemy was once entred our workes and was beate backe againe with great losse with swords and pikes and butts of Muskets so that the day cleering the enemy was forced to retire having lost above a thousand men and we neare two hundred besides those who were hurt He that was on this nights service from the beginning to the ending being in action might avouch he did escape danger The enemy forsaking our workes unconquered the graffe filled with their dead bodies equall to the bancks the workes ruin'd in the day time could not be repair'd which caused the next nights watch to be the more dangerous The seventeenth Observation THE Emperour Alexander Severe had reason to say that Military Discipline did conserve and maintaine the Estate And so might the magnanimous King of Denmarke say of this service and the Towne of Trailsound the Citizens of it before this time being sluggish dissolute cowards spend-thrifts and voluptuous are now by this Discipline made active menagers valiant sparing and honest the thankes whereof they owe unto our Nation whose bones lie in their ground and to our Country-man who since hath beene their Governour for the reward of his vertue was appointed by his Majestie of Sweden of worthy memory and set to Command over them and their Citie And it is most sure that the observance of good discipline is the maintaining of Kingdomes Cities and Common-wealths making them to flourish where discipline is well kept as it was here during our beleagering for then we had no thought of gathering of money but of gaining of credit here were no Novices but expert Souldiers to resist both the craft and valour of their enemies who did feele the smart of their valourous resistance in heaping their dead bodies one upon another in the graffe During the time of this hot conflict none that was whole went off at the coming of the reliefe but continued in the fight assisting their Camerades so long as their strength served ever esteeming more of their credit than of their safetie through the desire they had to be revenged of the losses sustained by their Camerades On the other part it was reported of Walestine that he was so eager to get in the Towne that his Officers retiring off servce being hurt he caused to shoot them dead calling them Cowards for retiring with so small hurt Here also I purpose to speake somewhat of the Emperialists custome entring on service shouting like Turkes as if crying would terrifie resolute Souldiers No truely we were more encouraged having long expected for their coming being all of us well resolved for the Combat we were greedie of honour and therefore we longed to try our enemies valour Seeing we were more overjoyed of their coming than any wise terrified and we received them with Volees of Cannon and Musket in their teeth which faire and well come was hard of digestion unto some of them and it might be well said of them as the Proverbe is amongst the Bactrians that the dogges did barke more than they did bite especially the Fleete Curres for true courage consists not in words neither ought we to looke for much courage where we heare many boysterous words But on the contrary true valour doth consist in the greatnesse of courage and in the strength of the valiant Arme and not in the Tongue and the first people that did practise this lowde crying of martiall resolution and of rejoycing in battell were the Israelites who in the most part of their fighting used those cryes as testimonies of their faith and of their earnest calling for the helpe of the Almightie And a Lord of Africke being to fight against the Portugalls his Troopes ready to fight he said unto them they should not cry but strike hard for saith he those men whom you see are not accustomed to be afraide with words nor voyce for it is not in cryes but in valour that men should establish the hope of Victory Neverthelesse we reade in Histories that the Romanes and other warlike Nations were wont in Battells as to this day in approaches even as in fields to cry alowd and therefore we say among our selves at home that he is to be pittied that is surprized with the cry of his Enemies We reade also of the Savages whom the French doe call Tokniambous that before they come within halfe a mile they cry like Devills at the first sight of their enemies redoubling their cryes coming neare hand sounding their hornes lifting their Armes here and there in a boasting manner fighting so long as they are able to move hand or foote never giving ground or turning backe till they die Tacitus reports that the Germanes of old did sing going to fight and wee reade of Cate the Censor that he taught young men to fight standing in one place and he used to say often that words were more powerfull to terrifie and to chase an enemy than the stroaks of the hand And the same Cato said he loved not the Souldier that did shake his hands marching that staggred with his feet in fighting snorted lowder in sleeping than he did cry coming to fight And Caesar said that in every man was seene a certaine moving and naturall readinesse and promptitude that kindled them with a desire to fight which Generalls and Commanders of Armies ought diligently to intertaine and not extinguish Wherefore
in our passage Where we see that as victorie is from God so the helpe judgment and dexterity of good Commanders is furthersome to the victory as the lawfull meanes ordained by God Moreover we see here how easie it is for a victorious Armie that is once master of the Field to take in Frontier Garrisons while as they are possessed instantly with a Panicke feare especially being taken at the Stot or rebound before they have time to disgest their feare But had Generall Tilly drawne up his Army out of reach of his Majesties Cannon and resolved to suffer his Majesty to have set over his Army the passe being so narrow that scarce three men could march in Front Tillies advantage had bin the greater to receive them as they came who might have cut them off by divisions which had bin more to his credit yet we see as the Prophet saies Except the LORD watch the watch-man watchethin vaine And we see God would have these people punished for their former cruelties and therefore he tooke away their judgment and confounded their Counsell making them erre till they ranne to their owne ruine As his Majesties Iudgment in command was great so his Example was good and commendable in giving God thankes in his Church for his victories and for the preservation of his life from danger wherein his Majesty chiefely shewed the example of his Piety and religious exercise for he knew well that Religion and Iustice were the fundaments of all good society and being much inclined unto both he would winne the people by his owne example since of all men it becomes Kings and Princes worst to be irreligious and ungodly for on earth we have nothing more worthy than Religion to be respected and honoured it being unto Heaven our guide on earth the fountaine of our Iustice whereby we governe our affaires well or ill expelling and putting away unjustice or unrighteousnesse for where there is most Religion or piety there also is most happinesse and without her no Crowne can be established and as his Majesty was religious himselfe so he maintained good lawes and good discipline grounded on religion and holinesse of life which made the happy events and fortunate end of his warlike expeditions to follow Blessed therefore shall they be who follow his Majesties example in this as in all other his warlike enterprizes for I dare affirme on my conscience never man served this Master truly whom his Majesty our Master did serve with his heart without a reward The thirtieth Duty discharged of our expedition toward Engolstat THE sixteenth of Aprill his Majesty did breake up with the Army from Ausburg taking his march towards Engolstat of intention to start the Duke of Bavier from thence having left so many of our Army behinde us as tooke in Launceberg Mindelhaim Fussen Showngow and divers other parts in Schwabland by accord where Generall Major Ruthven then Governour of Vlme had brought with his Forces that were also behinde us all the Papists Townes that were betwixt Vlme and Lindow under his Majesty of Swedens contribution and most part of Schwabland also for which service his Majesty gifted unto him under his hand and seale the Graveshaft or Earldome of Kirkberg lying next adjacent to the City of Vlme which belonged to the Fuckers of Ausburg that were made Earles by the Emperour from Marchants having turn'd Souldiers to serve his Emperiall Majestie which Graveshaft or Earledome could pay yearely beside Contribution to the warres ten thousand Rex-Dollers being a good augmentation of pay for an old servant who had served long and valourously without the least blot of discredit and retired bravely with meanes and credit to his Country carrying the markes of his valour in his body being above the waste full of tokens of valour credibly gotten in his Masters service for as he was couragious before his enemy he was also fortunate in his Conduct in obtaining victory beyond his fellowes and being often singled out man to man to make his courage the more undoubted he alwayes gave testimony in this kinde of his valour answerable to the externall shew and hansome frame of his body being in personage inferiour to no man for strength and comely stature His Majesty continuing his March towards Engolstat coming within sight of the Towne he drew his Armie in Battaile horse foote and Artillery where we stood the whole night at Armes The next day drawing neerer to the enemies Armie being incamped before us Ex opposito on the other side of the Danube ready to second the Towne on all occasions which his Majestie considering gave order to draw out our Leaguer and to set men to worke after we were quartered where for our welcome the enemy from the Towne did salute us furiously with Cannon so that at first the head was shot from the young Markgrave of Baden and his Majestie recognosceing the legge was shot from his Horse divers others were also here lamed by the Cannon The night drawing on his Majestie expecting a strong out-fall from the Towne their Armie being so neere our Briggad according to custome was commanded to march and to stand the whole night in Armes on a razed Champaigne under mercie of Cannon and musket being ordained in case of the enemies out-fall by fighting to hold them up till our Armie might be in readinesse to relieve us being in Aprill though the aire was cold the service being hot sundrie were taken away in full rancks with the Cannon being in no action our selves but standing ready to maintaine our ground in case the enemie should pursue us which to my minde was the longest night in the yeare though in Aprill for at one shot I lost twelvemen of my owne Companie not knowing what became of them being all taken alike with the Cannon and he that was not this night in this stand afraid of a Cannon bullet might in my opinion the next night be made gunpowder of without paine and who would sweare he was not afrighted for a shot I would not trust him againe though he spake truth His Majestie in the beginning of the night commanded a thousand Swedens being Musketiers led by sufficient Officers in his Majesties owne presence to fall on the Skonce before the bridge which was beset with fifteene hundred foote and five hundred horse lying open on the side that lay next the Towne that if the enemie should storme and enter he might be clensed outagaine with Cannon and musket from the Towne wall notwithstanding whereof the Swedens bravely advanced even to the graffe being ready to storme they were plagued with the musket and with fire-workes that leaving three hundred men killed about the Skonce they were forced to retire the enemy continuing a thunder-clap of Muskets for one halfe houre till they were fully retired His Majestic finding nothing could be effectuate in this manner retired with the Musketiers leaving us and our Briggad in the former stand to attend the enemies out-coming
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