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A39333 The compleat body of the art military in three books : I. The postures of the pike and musket ..., II. Twelve exercises ..., III. The drawing up and exercising of regiments after the manner of private companies ... : also, the duties of all souldiers and officers ... / by Richard Elton ... ; to which is added a supplement comprehending these particulars, I. the duties and qualifications of all officers belonging to an army .., formerly written by Capt. Tho. Rudd ... Elton, Richard, fl. 1650.; Rudd, Thomas, 1584?-1656. 1668 (1668) Wing E655 278,856 257

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wind it would be ready to blow him down Therefore as above that which is most commodious for the souldiers marching up a hill is to comport his pike The use of Trailing The Trailing of the Pike is seldom used but when the souldier shall march straight forward through a Wood the File-leader before he enters in trails his pike and consequently all the rest in his file then stooping down they take up the butt-end of their leaders pikes which they may easily gripe with their own in their right hands and after march forward through the busling leaves in a straight line every file single by himself but as neer each other as possible they can march for more security sake that when they are clear they may find each other and be in a condition to rally up again as occasion shall require The trailing of the Pike may also be of excellent use in a Trench that at such time when they shall have intelligence where the Enemy are preparing to make a breach they may then move forwards unto that place undiscovered and may defend the same The use of Cheeking The cheeking of the Pike is the proper sentinel-posture and then to be used CHAP. IX The use of the Postures of the Musket I Conceive it will not be material to go over every posture of the musket to describe the use of them in respect the greater part of them have conformity to the Pike Those that shall remain and of the chiefest consequence I shall not be wanting to satisfie the souldier in The ballancing the musket and rest on the right side The use of ballancing the Musket on the right side with the barrel upward is one of the chiefest postures belonging to the musket from thence he begins to make ready as to open clear and prime the pan all being motions to this posture To traile the rest and ballance the musket on the left side with the barrel downward is a posture likewise of as great consequence The use of ballancing the Musket on the left side for there are several motions belonging also to this posture as to find out the charge to open it to charge with powder to take bullet out of the bag and to charge with bullet with divers other motions before you can recover your musket and rest again How a Muskettier shall perform the Sentinel-posture THe Sentinel-posture is to be performed after this manner first the musket is to be laded with powder and bullet afterwards he is to cock his match and to stand with his pan guarded his musket being upon his rest until such time he is relieved but as concerning him I shall more fully set forth his duty treating upon the duty of the Sentinel CHAP. X. The manner and way to do the Funeral-posture NExt followeth to shew how to do the Funeral-posture the properest and the best way to begin this posture is when the musket is rested and is to be performed after this manner You must first slip up your musket upon the rest so high until the fork of the rest be within a handful of the cock after you must bring your right hand under the barrel of the musket close to the fork of the rest and then lift him off and after cast your Rest backward trailing him on the left side and bring your Musket under your left arm with the barrel downwards bearing the butt-end upward with your two fore-fore-fingers and your thumb holding off the pan and that with the left hand Now if you begin to be weary in the march by reason of the weight of the musket you may to ease your self bring your right hand backward and there take hold of the musket keeping still your left hand in its first place until you shall reduce him to the Rest again The reducement of the Musket from the Funeral-posture FIrst raise up your Musket a little with your two fingers and thumbs of the left hand as you formerly held him then turn the Musket until you perceive the barrel to be upward after lay your right hand upon the barrel much about the lazie pin and then taking him bring him up forward on the out-side of the Rest recover your Rest fall back with the right legge you may with ease bring your Musket again upon the Rest as at first This posture being so seldome used makes the Souldier much to seek in performance of the same but he that takes pleasure in handling of the Musket and shall exercise himself therein cannot chuse but find it very easie and much delightful to him And I know no posture more becoming a Muskettier then this if it be near and well performed by him And here I shall conclude and end discoursing of the postures CHAP. XI The Souldiers desire to know every particular place of Dignity as they stand in Rank and File THe Souldier now having obtained some pretty knowledge skill and ready aptness in the managing and performing the postures begins to look about himself what next is needful for to fasten upon to make a further progress in this Art and straight he meets with some that whispers to him That it were a gallant thing to know the Dignity of a File true and rightly stated To which he answers But where can it be found the opinions of souldiers are so various and differing therein that none knows where for to attain it My Captains eye saith he is upon me because I do the postures well which causeth the Serjeants to make me a File-leader and that I know to be the chiefest and first place of Honour in the File the second place to be the bringer-up the third the half-file-leader the fourth the bringer-up of the Front half-files Thus far no souldier of any known judgment can deny but now a-dayes our Files being drawn up six deep makes me altogether ignorant of the honour of the rest neither know I the Dignity of a File eight or ten deep which still in some places they do retain drawing them up so deep If my ambition were but now fully satisfied herein I should in time come for to know the Dignity of the Captains as they are drawn up all in a Regiment by which Rule I am informed they walk And in my judgment there cannot be a truer stating the Dignity of a Rank and File then that which shall conform to the Dignities of the Captains as they are drawn up abrest all in a Regiment Now for as much as many Regiments consist of several numbers of Captains and Companies in them as some six Companies others eight some greater as ten and twelve Companies It is expedient therefore not only for my self but for every souldier that will be truly knowing to be resolved herein concerning those several numbers and as occasion shall alter to any other they may inform themselves by these how to fit their purpose And therefore not to keep the apt and forward souldier longer in suspence but that
with us the Horse and Foot have but one Auditor-General who passeth no sentence himself but it is done by a Council of War in which every Captain hath a Vote XII Of the Provost-Marshal THe Provost-Marshal ought to be an honest man for that he is to look to the Weights and Measures and to protect the Victuallers and Sutlers from the insolencies of the Souldiers Himself or one of his men must always be in the Market-place and is to inform himself at what rates the Sutlers buy their Victual that the Commissary and Auditor may rate them accordingly He must see the Orders published in the Horse-quarter strictly observed and he must cleer those Quarters of vagrants and idle fellows He must always carry his Truncheon in his hand and having the same it is death for any Souldier to lay hands on him If he be to take a prisoner he is not to enter the Quarter without leave of the Chief who is to cause the Delinquent to be delivered up to him but if the Delinquent offer to make escape he may then enter the Quarter by his own Authority In marching he is to cleer the Ways and to prevent the stragling Souldiers of Pillaging CONCERNING The Enrolling Arming and Exercising OF THE CAVALRY ALl things must be presupposed in a Souldier to be enrolled into the the Cavalry which are common to him with the Infantry as soundness of Body vigour of Members of fitting Age between 20 and 40. a Resolution to addict himself to that Profession and a Desire to learn it a vertuous emulation of Advancement by Merit due Obedience to his Superiours and a strict observation of Military Discipline above all the fear of God which will direct him to follow Virtue and abhor Vices with these general Qualifications he ought to be endowed and as to the Profession he hath now undertaken these particular Faculties are necessary He ought to be active nimble and to know well what belongs to a Horse he must be curious and careful to keep his Horse and Arms in good order He must wear a Scarf of his Princes or Generals Colours and not put it off though he go out of his Quarter whether alone or in Company by which means besides the Ornament they will by the thoughts of whose Badge it is forbear many unfitting Words and Actions they being subject by that to be discovered I. Of the Arming of the Cuirassier THe Cuirassier is to be armed in this manner His Horse being about 15 hand high strong swift and well managed His Arms a close Casque or Head-piece Gorget Brest Pistol and Caliver-proof the Back Poldrons Vanbraces two Gauntlets Tassers Cuissets Culets or Guard de vain all fitting to his Body A good Sword very stiffe and sharp pointed with Girdle and Hangers so fastned upon his Cuirass as he may readily draw it a Buff-Coat with long skirts to wear between his Armour and his Cloaths He must have two Cases with good Fire-lock-Pistols hanging at his Saddle the Barrel being 18 Inches long and the bore fitting for Bullets of 20 or 24 in the pound to rowl in He is to have a Boy and a spare Nag to carry his spare Arms and Oat-sack and to get him Forrage His Saddle and Bit must be strong made after the best manner he must wear his Scarf and must have his Bridle made with a Chain to prevent cutting II. Of managing of the Horse and Arms. COncerning the Horse supposing him to be of sufficient stature and strength nimble of joynts and sure of foot he must of necessity be made fit for service so that you may have him to be ready at command to pace trot gallop to run in full carreer also to advance stop retire and turn readily to either hand and all with alacrity and obedience Now to bring him to this ready turning he is to be ridden the Ring and Figure of 8. first in a large then in a narrower compass First upon his pace then upon the trot and so to the gallop and carreer He may be taught these things by using the Hand Leg and Voyce for the Hand observing not to move the Arm only the Wrist if you would have him to face to the Left a little motion of the little Finger on that Rein and a touch of the left Leg without using the Spur doth it If to face or turn to the Left about then a little harder If you would have him to Trot move both your Legs a little forward for the gallop more forward and for the carreer to yerk them most forward and to move the Body a little forward also with it After every motion performed it were good to keep him some small time in that motion As when you bid him stand to stand a while c. Also it were not amiss after every thing well performed to give him some Bread or Grass for a reward For the Voyce you may use the Words Advance Hold Run or the like but because the Voyce cannot always be heard it were therefore best to use him most to the motion of the Hand and Leg. It is also very necessary that you teach him to go side-ways this he may be brought unto by laying his Provender somwhat far from him in the Manger and keeping him from turning his head towards it You must use him to the smell of Gun-powder the sight of Fire and Armor the hearing of Shots Drums and Trumpets all by degrees and with discretion When he is at his Oats you may fire a little Gun-powder at a good distance from him and so neerer by degrees Afterwards a Pistol at a distance and so neerer by degrees and in like manner may a Drum or Trumpet be used He may sometimes be dressed in Armor and eat his Oats upon a Drum-head It will be useful sometimes to cause two Muskettiers at convenient distance from you to fire at each other and thereupon to ride up close to him Also to ride him upon a compleat Armor upon a stake and overthrow it and trample upon it by which means he will grow bold not fearing to attempt any Object You may use him to mountanous and uneven Ways and teach him to Leap Swim c. Of Exercising the Cuirassier BEfore I speak of the particular Postures belonging to the exercising of the Cuirassier I will begin with this necessary preparative to Posture viz. Command 1. To Horse Direction Both Reins hanging in a loose posture over the Horse-neck and upon the Pummel of the Saddle the Horsman is first to take the end of the Reins above the Button in his right Hand and with the Thumb and two first Fingers of that Hand to draw them to an even length Then putting the little finger of his left Hand between both Reins under the Button with the other three fingers of the same Hand on the farther Rein and the Thumb on the nether side of the Button to grasp both Reins that so before he endeavour to mount he may
the pains to be a good Muskettier certainly cannot be idle but hath gained something more to make him capable of such praise To conclude I shall desire the Gentlemen of the Pikes and the Gentlemen of the Muskettiers to go hand in hand in love like dear Brothers and neither of them to envy each other and in so doing God will give a blessing to their undertakings But now fearing I have dwelt too long upon this discourse of the Arms I shall next proceed to set down first the postures of the Pike then the postures of the Musket with all the words of command tending to their Motions after collect them in order in a brief way and then set forth unto you the equality of number that the one Arms hath with the other in the postures as followeth CHAP. III. The Postures of the Pike THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of Command will be Stand to your Arms. Handle your Pike to your Open Order Handle your Pike to your Order Raise up your Pike to your Close Order Charge with the But-end of the Pike at the inside of the right foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over your left arm Charge to the Front Right Flank Left Flank Reer Order your Pikes and put up your Swords This way of charging to the Horse I have set down as being practised sometimes amongst us in our private Meetings but I conceive it to be of little use to receive a desperate charge of the Horse for by these charges the Souldiers are in so lame and weak a posture that the Horse cannot choose if they come on with a full career but beat the Pikes and Pike-men down to the ground Therefore in my opinion the best way of opposing the Horse-charge is that which we learned of our ever-honoured Captain Major Henry Tillier in the Military Garden which was Files closing to the midst to their closest Order insomuch that there was not above half a foot interval of ground between File and File the Pikes Porting and after closing their Ranks forwards so close that they locked themselves one within another and then charged on Which in my judgment is so secure a way from routing that it is impossible for any Body of Horse to enter therein and farther to my best remembrance I never could meet with any Souldier that hath been a broad upon any service that ever saw any charging of the Pikes at the Foot therefore I will further proceed From Order Advance Shoulder Port Comport Cheek Trail Your Pike Order as you were From your Order charge to the Front Right Left Reer Order as you were Advance your Pike Shoulder Port Comport Cheek Trail Your Pike Advance as you were From your Advance charge to the Front Right Left Reer Advance as you were Shoulder your Pike Port Comport Cheek Trail Your Pike Shoulder as you were From the Shoulder charge to the Front Right Left Reer Shoulder as you were Port your Pikes Comport your Pikes Cheek Trail your pikes Comp. as you were From the Comport charge to the Front Right Left Reer comport as you were Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes Cheek as you were From the Cheek charge to the Front Right Left Reer Cheek as you were Trail your Pikes from your Trail charge to the Front Right Left Reer Trail as you were Order your Pikes Lay down your Pikes Here is to be observed by this Method an endeavouring to perform all the postures of the Pike from each particular posture only shortning it by degrees leaving out what was before commanded until we come unto the Trial. Yet notwithstanding I spared not the charges but have shewn them from every posture in their due order Next followeth the postures of the Musket wherein in answerableness to the Pike I shall lay them down in full and afterwards contract them in a shorter way CHAP. IV. The Postures of the Musket THE Musket lying on the ground the first word of Command will be as to the Pike Stand to your Arms Take up your Bandiliers Put on your Bandiliers Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Rest Put the string of your Rest about your left wrist Take up your Musket Rest your Musket Here the Souldier may perform the saluting posture if he shall find any occasion so to do for the honouring of a friend or any Gentleman of worth Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Un-shoulder your Musket and Poyse Joyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your pan Cleer your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose corns Blow off your loose corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Trail your Rest Ballance your Musket in your left hand Find out your charge Open your charge Charge with powder Draw forth your Scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to an Inch Charge with Bullet Put your scouring-stick into your musket Ram home your charge With-draw your scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to a handful Return your scouring-stick Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket recover your Rest Joyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Coal Cock Your Match Fit Your Match Guard your Pan Blow the ashes from your Coal Open your Pan Present upon your Rest Give fire brest-high Dismount your Musket joyning the Rest to the outside of your Musket Vn-cock and return your Match Cleer Your Pan Shut Your Pan Poyse Your Musket Rest Your Musket Take your Musket off the Rest and set the Butt-end to the ground Lay down your Musket Lay down your Match Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Lay down your Rest Take off Your Bandiliers Lay down Your Bandiliers Here endeth the postures of the Musket from the taking of them up from the ground to make ready and the proceeding in them to the laying of them down again Now if the Souldier will take his Rest into his right hand for to be a support and help to him in his march he must observe the following words of command Lay your right hand upon the Butt-end of your musket The Musket being shouldered you may proceed in these words of command to recover the Rest into the right hand Lay your left arm over your musket Shift your match between the fingers of your right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Return your match and take your Rest into your right hand 't will cause you to be in a fit capacity for to march CHAP. V. The Postures and Charges of the Pike to be performed in a shorter way all things acted in order and nothing done twice THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of Command will be Stand to your Arms Handle your Arms Raise up your Pikes to your Open Order Order Close Order From your close Order charge to the Horse Front Right
have his Horse-head in ballance and at command then grasping the Pummel of the Saddle with his left hand and standing with his full body close to the Horse-side and just between the Bolster and Cantle of the Saddle always on the nere side of the Horse with the help of his right Hand he shall put the left Foot into the left Stirrup and with his right Hand taking fast hold on the highest part of the Cantle behind he shall by the help of both Hands gently but strongly and in an upright posture without inclining his body to either hand raise himself until he may stand perpendicular upon his left Foot and then casting over his right-leg place himself in the Saddle He being now mounted his Postures are as follow Command 2. Vncap your Pistols Direction Turn down the Caps of your Pistol-cases or Holsters with your right-hand Command 3. Draw your Pistol Direction Draw your Pistol out of the Case with your right-hand always the left Pistol first mounting the Muzzle of it Command 4. Order your Pistol Direction Sink your Pistol into your Bridle-hand and remove your right-hand towards the Muzzle and rest the But-end upon the right Thigh Command 5. Span your Pistol Direction Sink your Pistol into your bridle-hand and take your Spanner in your right-hand and put it upon the Axle-tree winding it about till it stick and return your Spanner to its place Command 6. Prime your Pistol Direction Holding your Pistol in your bridle-bridle-hand as when you Span'd it take your Priming-box in your right-hand pressing the Spring with your fore-finger to open the Box put Powder into the Pan. Command 7. Shut your Pan. Direction Press in the Pan-pin with your Thumb and shut it Command 8. Cast about your Pistol Direction With your bridle-hand cast about your Pistol and hold it on your left side with the Muzzle upwards Command 9. Gage your Flasque Direction Take your Flasque in your right-hand and with your fore-finger pull back the Spring then turn the mouth of the Flasque downwards and let go the Spring Command 10. Lade your Pistol Direction Press down the Spring which openeth the Flasque with your fore-finger and bringing the mouth thereof to the Muzzle of the Pistol turn the Powder into the Barrel Command 11. Draw your Rammer Direction Draw your Rammer with your right-hand turned and hold it with the head downwards Command 12. Lade with Bullet and ram home Direction Hold the Rammer-head in your right-hand and take the Bullet out of your mouth with your thumb and fore-finger and put it into the Muzzle of your Pistol and your Rammer after it and so ram home Command 13. Return your Rammer Direction Draw forth your Rammer with your right-hand and return it to its place Command 14. Pull down your Cock Direction Bring your Pistol towards your rightside with your bridle-hand and resting the But-end upon your thigh with your right-hand pull down the Cock. Command 15. Recover your Pistol Direction Take your Pistol into your right-hand and mount the Muzzle Command 16. Present and give Fire Direction Your Pistol being in your right-hand with your fore-finger upon the Tricker incline the Muzzle thereof towards your Mark with a fixed eye and by degrees on the right side of your Horse-head turning your right-hand so that the Pistols Lock may be upwards having obtained your Mark draw the Tricker and give Fire Command 17. Return your Pistol Direction Return your Pistol and with your right-hand put it into your Case Concerning the Snap-hans Pistol those Postures wherein it differeth from the Fire-lock Pistol are these Command 18. Bend your Cock Direction Hold your Pistol in your Bridle-hand and with your right hand bend your Cock Command 19. Guard your Cock Direction Pull down the Back-lock with your right hand it will secure the Cock from going off Command 20. Order your Hammer Direction Draw down the Hammer upon the Pan with your right hand Command 21. Free your Cock Direction Thrust back the Back-lock with your right thumb thereby to give the Cock liberty For the more easie and speeding lading of the Pistol for the gaining of time and avoiding the carrying of either Flask or Touch-box there is an invention of a Spanner or Key which contains six Charges of Powder at the least and priming-Powder sufficient for those Charges and for the Cartouches wherewith the Pistol-cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will find to be of very good use The Cartouches are made of white Paper cut into convenient breadth and length and rowled upon the Rammer or other small round stick the edge being passed down and the Rammer drawn out one end of the Paper is to be doubled in to keep the Powder from falling out these Cartouches are to be made so big as to fill neerly the bore of the Pistol and of length to contain as much Powder as the Pistol requires for a Charge When the Powder is in tie it with thred and then put in the Bullet also tying that also these the Souldier may make at spare hours and have them always by him When he uses his Cartouches he must bite off the Paper at the head of it and so put it into the Barrel of the Pistol with the Bullet upwards and then ram it home these being beforehand prepared it will much expedite the work of lading his Pistol The Cuirassier being well mounted and throughly exercised in his Postures the next thing he should apply himself unto is to be a good Marksman to attain which he must be frequently shooting at Marks on Horsback having such set upon a Tree some higher and some lower The Cuirassier being armed Pistol-proof he must not give fire but at a very neer distance being careful to make his Bullet do execution the principal place of advantage to aim at is the lower part of the belly of his Enemy his arm-pits or his neck Some are of opinion that it is not fitting for a Cuirassier to give fire till he have his Pistol under his Adversaries Armor or against some unarmed place and if he miss of an opportunity of hitting the man he may aim at the head or brest of his Horse He is commonly to give the charge upon a Trot and seldome galloppeth but upon a pursuit Having spent both his Pistols and having no opportunity to load again he must then betake himself to the last refuge his Sword placing the Pummel of it upon his right thigh and with his right hand to direct the point thereof by his eye raising it higher or lower as ocsion serveth aiming at his Enemies Neck Arm-pits Eye or about the Pummel of the Saddle at his Belly c. but being past his Enemy he is to make a back-blow at him aiming to cut the buckle of his Poldron thereby disarming one of his Arms c. Of Exercising the Harquebusier and Carbine NOtwithstanding there be some difference between the Harquebusier and Carbine in their Horse their Arming and their Piece