3. For Counter-marches which is but the reducement of File-Leaders into the place of bringers up or one flank into the place of another which is more proper for the foot service than useful in the exercise of the Horse yet because some have used it in their exercise therefore I shall demonstrate one Counter-march by Figure in his place 4. For Wheelings They are of most excellent use in the service of the Horse and ought to be very carefully exercised by every Commander they serve in some respect to execute what is to be performed by Counter-marches which is to bring the Frontiers who are always supposed to consist of the ablest men thereby to be ready to receive the Charge of the Enemy in either Flank or Reer which by Counter-marches you cannot do Accordingly the Motions shall follow that the untutoured Souldier may the better apprehend them It shall be represented by the Letter h. All Motions are to be done intirely at one and the same time for in our Military Exercises they are the very life of an Army and the only means being truly performed that giveth Victory without which all preparations of Forces are in vain and avail nothing in the field to the end for which they were levied And this among experienced Souldiers is of inestimable reputation 1. To the Right Hand Note That in all Motions before a second be commanded I mean in all single Motions the body must be reduced to his first proper form To Reduce them command To the left or To your Leader or As you were 2. To the Left Hand To reduce them command To the Right or To your Leader or As you were 3. To the right hand about 4. To the left hand about This is by turning to the left hand until their Faces front the Reer The proper Front To reduce them To the right hand about 5. Ranks open forward to your double distance 6. Files to the right double 7. Files to the left double It is most convenient for the Horse to move from the right hand To reduce them Ranks to the right double or Files rank as you were 8. Files to the right hand Counter-march 9. Files to the left hand Counter-march Foot pa. 60. To perform this Direct That all the file Leaders move their Horses intirely a little forwards and so likewise turning off to the left hand they march even in rank down to the Reer and none of the rest to turn off until he come to his Leaders ground To Reduce them Counter-march to the left As this is for the maintaining of the same Ground so there may be a Counter-march for the gaining of Ground but I conceive them wholly useless but where you have not ground to make your Wheels Therefore not knowing what necessity may force us unto it is convenient the Souldier should be sometimes exercised therein Note That in your Counter-marches for gaining of ground the Souldier is to turn off the ground his Horse stands upon and so passing through each is to follow his Leader 10. Ranks close forwards 11. Files close to the left 12. Files close to the left to your close Order Observe in closing to the left the left File is to stand fixt the next are to move to the left 13. Ranks close forward to your close Order In performance of this Command the first Rank is to stand the second moving and taking its distance stands likewise and so the third It cannot be expected that any Wheeling of the Horse should be so exactly performed in so little a compass as is taken by the foot therefore every Commander ought discreetly to take larger room for the compass of his motion so that all his Wheelings may be performed intirely without distraction Note That Wheeling to the left for the Horse is the readiest way except you are prevented by some hinderances c. 14. Wheel to the left hand In this motion the whole body moveth to the left upon the left hand file-leader as the center And so you may keep wheeling until you have brought them to their proper front So if you wheel them to the left about the Reer then will be their accidental Front 15. Wheel to the right and left by Division The Wheelings of the accidental Fronts upon both Wings into the proper Front and close their Divisions will reduce them 16. Trot large and wheel to the left Wheeling to the right will Reduce them or by a circular Wheeling of them until they are brought into their proper form 17. Trot and wheel to the left about This bringeth the ablest men to be in the Reer for any speedy On-set and Wheeling to the right about will reduce them c. The word Alt doth signifie to make a stand and is derived from the Dutch word Halt which is as we say hold c. Observe that in all motions you make an Alt that the Souldery may settle themselves in their places both in Rank and File before you put any fresh Command upon them 18. Gallop and wheel to the left 19. Gallop and wheel to the left about To reduce both these is by wheeling to the contrary All these being performed to reduce them to their first form Open first your Ranks and then your Files and in opening of your Ranks the best way is to open them forwards CHAP. IX Of Firings I Had thoughts to have treated of Encampments and Embattelings but that being not my work at present I shall pass them by because it is my business to treat only of the exercise of a single Troop In the first place I shall set out one firing of Walhausens When your Enemy chargeth you in a full career Cruso fol. â9 you are suddainly to open to the right and left facing inwards and charge them in the flanks and when the Enemy is past your body you are to wheel to the right and left inward and so charge him with a full career in the Reer but here you must observe their files to be six and eight in depth and so his Figure is represented as followeth This he commends very much for whilst the Enemy is upon his Career you are but upon your Trot and then opening to the right and left This he speaks of Cuirasiers either he must run through and do but little execution or else Alt in his career and so disorders himself which is advantageous to you But I am of another opinion as to our Mode of fighting being but three in depth we must rather sink than suffer any Voluntary Breach The same Author would have our Harquebuziers to give fire by Files either right or left advancing before the Body in a full career towards the Enemy but many do wholly reject it as being dangerous in Field service But now for the private exercise of a single Troop which may be necessary to bring the Souldier to a more ready and complete use of his Arms I shall demonstrate of Files firing
been apapproved of by some of the ablest Souldiers in this Kingdom Vic. Wimbaldon Sir Tho. Genham If once the Countrey saw the practice of it and what a strong preservation it is against the incursion of the Horse and in all other respects rather an advantage to the Souldier than disadvantageous to him it would be not only esteemed good but carefully put into practice As the Musquetteer is secured by the gallant invention of the Half-Pike Bow and Pike any strange eye would think it very unjust that such Numbers of the Pike-men should be slain by the shot and not able to resist and offend again I could therefore say much for the Long Bow to be joyned with the Pike how their showers of Arrows will gaul and terrifie the Horse wound and hurt the Souldiers both on Horse and Foot So if this should be duly performed all hands would be fighting and all in a readiness for self preservation History is full of the great slaughters and Atchievements in those days when the Bow was most in use but because it is laid aside I shall be silent hoping the practice will never be forgotten CHAP. III. The Places of Dignities both of Files and Ranks IN this Military Age who would have thought that few or any could be so ignorant of the difference between a File and a Rank but finding in our Annual Exercises many Farmor like Souldiers to be much guilty thereof I shall speak a a little thereunto shewing what is required to the making up of a File and also of a Rank with the dignity of each as they stand both in File and Rank A File First Know that a File is a sequent Number of men standing one behind an other Front to the Reer Or from the first which is termed a file-File-Leader unto the last which is termed a bringer up which shall be demonstrated according to our mode of Discipline A Ranke Secondly A Rank is a Row of men be they more or less standing or marching shoulder to shoulder in a direct Line from the right hand to the left and from the left to the right even a breast And by the way observe that in all preparations to exercise Files must be made up first and being then drawn forth and the Files joyned together Ranks are made Both which are according to Barriffe Ward and others but in giving their Dignities to a file of eight deep there are various opinions yet all endeavouring after a Geometrical proportion and it is that which Commanders should chiefly follow as near as possibly they can And because the Sages of our Times do differ in their Judgments more in this particular than in any one thing that I know of I shall set down what Rules I have know or heard leaving it to the more experienced that can command better Here followeth the Rule of Barriffe Ward and others in placing the Dignities for six eight and ten both in File and Rank I shall here insert those various Opinions of the Dignities of Souldiers eight in File and so for eight Companies in a Regiment by all which you may dignifie each Officer in his due place of Honour either in March or in a Body The consideration that there is or ought to be an answerableness in the Reer to the Front in the left flank to the right by an equitable right in their true Dignity is that which giveth life and being to orderly Discipline for the worth of one must be answerable to the other in Skill Valour and in Number The equality in this opposition is thus As 1 and 4 makes five in the Colonels Division so 3 and 2 in the Lieutenant Colonels Division makes five also Then as in the first 5 and 8 makes thirteen so the second 7 and 6 is thirteen which is an equal opposition As inform'd Mr. Elton's Rule A Second Opinion for the Dignity of eight Companies is as followeth These oppose as the first and somewhat more in the equality of their Number as one and six is seven in the right Wing of the Colonels Division so two and five is equal to that in the right Wing of the Lieutenant Colonels Division and six and seven is equally thirteen in the first as five and eight in the second But according to the Rules for the Dignity of a File the second Captain hath lost his place of Honour For those of that Opinion who place the second Captain in the Lieutenant Colonels Division affirm that there may be a Geometrical equality in length and breadth in File and Rank yet in point of Honour according to first Rule in the Colonels Division the second Captain being placed loseth his Dignity for if the eldest Captain in priority is placed upon the Head or first Division Body or stand of Pikes leading the Colonels Colours then by the self same Rule of Equity the second Captain Numb 5 may and ought to be in the head of the Lieutenant Colonels Division Body or stand of Pikes To which I conclude that the second Captain hath as much Honour to bring up the Reer of the Colonels own Division of Pikes when so marched but if marched intire Regimentally there to bring up the Reer of the whole Body or stand of Pikes is a greater Honour and the second Captains Dignity A third Opinion for the Dignity of eight Companies This is the most received Opinion of the other two of late years and the Reasons may be as followeth First their opposement is more upon a direct equality than the former as for example 1 and 8 stands upon the right Wing of the Colonels Division which maketh 9 now equally to oppose this there is 3 and 6 on the left Wing of the Lieutenant Colonels Division that maketh 9 also then upon the Right Wing of the Colonels Division there is 4 and 5 that maketh 9 and to oppose that there is 2 and 7 which is 9 also all this makes out the justness of this opposement and in that particular exceeds both the former for what can be said for the second may be alleadg'd for this third also The differences in them as to their opposements may hereby be discerned and how that all three make equal in numbers as in half Files and half Ranks 18 is equal to 18 and in Rank and File making 36. Indeed when the Seignior Officers of a Regiment had more Souldiers in their respective Companies there was then great reason to stand upon an equal opposement or else one Wing might be too strong for the other All this being now laid aside and there being of Souldiers an equality of number in each company why then should our first rule for the dignity of a File be laid aside for the marching of a Regiment either intire or divisional In the second Opinion the second Captain is placed in the Lt. Colonel's divisions in the third he is placed in the Collonels although I conceive he ought to be in that
close your body by command to Distance to action let every Captain or chief Officer Command his Souldiers to streighten their Files and to even their Ranks In the next place to be silent that thereby they may be attentive to the words of Command Which for the several distances are as followeth Commands 1. Files to your close Order 2. Ranks to your close Order there might be abreviated into a shorter method but my intents is for plain capacities 1. Files open to the right 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 2. Ranks open forward 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your close Order 3. Files open to the Left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 4. Ranks open to the reer or backwards 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 5. Files open to the right and left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance 6. Ranks open to the right and left 1. To your Order 2. To your open Order 3. To your double distance Reducements 1. Files close to the right 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 2. Ranks open forward 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 3. Files close to the left 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 4. Ranks close to the reer c. 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 5. Files close to the right and left inward or to the midst 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order 6. Ranks close to the right and left inward 1. To your open Order 2. To your Order 3. To your close Order These are useful and may be used at the discretion of the Commander And for your better performance in the closing and opening of Files and Ranks take these following Observations 1. When Files open to the right the left hand File must stand fast every File taking his distance from the File next his left hand 2. When they open to the left the right hand File stands fast c. 3. When Ranks open forward the last rank stands every rank taking his distance from the rank next behind him 4. When they open backward or to the reer the first rank stands c. 5. When Files close to the right the right hand file stands the rest close to the right taking their distance from the right hand file 6. And if Files close to the left the left hand file stands the rest of the Files close to the left and take their distance c. 7. When Files close to the right and left then they close inward taking their distance from those Files within them nearest to the midst of the Body 8. When files close to the right and left by Division it must be outwards according to the fift and sixt observation 9. When Ranks close to the front and reer then the first and last Ranks stand the other taking their distance 10. If Ranks close to the midst then they close towards their two midlemost Ranks I have not used the word Center in any of these Commands because it is conceived that the word is more proper to a circle and not to a square or a broader fronted body It is not of absolute necessity that a Commander in the exercise of a private Company shall use all these openings and closings to those several distances mentioned but so many of them as may be thought fit for his present Exercise intended although it cannot be denied but that they may be useful at some time or other CHAP. VI. Of Marching and Drawing up of a Company THe Souldier being informed of the Dignity of Place together with the several Beats of the Drum and their respective distances I shall march a Company of Foot and draw them up which Company shall consist of twelve Files four Files of Pikes and eight Files of Musqueteers But the Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Sommerset have allotted some files more to each Company and it is a rare thing to have them compleat in the Field so that it hath been too apparent because there hath not been an equality in Files their Companies have been wholly unfit for Exercise but I hope these errors will be better looked into and amended hereafter A Company marching A Company drawing up Files are to be at their Order and Ranks at their open Order When the Company is drawing up the Drum is to beat a Troop the Pikes to be advanced the Musquets to be poised and being in a Body are ready for Command A Company drawn up A number of Men being thus drawn up and completed consisting of Pikes and Musquets there is in them according to the rules of Art a Front a Reer a right and left Flank Front half files Reer half files Right half ranks and left half ranks there is the length and depth of the Battel and these are extended in their number of men The front in this Figure is first of all to be taken notice of There are in all exercises a proper Front and an accidental Front the Company being drawn up and standing in a body with faces to their leader maketh a proper Front Vide Chap. of facings And the accidental front is as the Cheifetains shall command the face of the whole body In short the front is where the faces of the Company are directed one way The first Rank or row of men they are termed File leaders who have the command of their respective Files and are to Exercise them severally Observe that from and with the right hand file leader to and with the left hand file leader is the extent of the Front and is termed the length of the Battel And the Souldiers standing severally from and with their File leaders in a sequence to and with their Bringers up are termed Files or the depth of the Battel The Reer of the body is so termed where ever the back of the Company are turned Every File leader hath his bringer up that by death or other absence next in point of honour is to succeed them both in Place and power The extent and length of the Reer last rank or bringers up is the same with the Frontiers The right and left Flanks are the outmost Files upon either hand of the body from the Front to the bringers up There is in a body drawn up front half files and Reer half files the Front half files extend themselves three in depth to and with the third Rank and the Reer half files is the fourth Rank to and with the last both which have their extents divided in the whole length and depth of the body Half Ranks are from the midst of the Files so taking their length or bounds to the outmost man or file
leader either upon the right or left hand CHAP. VI. Of Facings SOme have thought that Facings are but of little use so that a commander might dispence with the Exercise thereof There being a mistake in such I must declare That facings are very necessary and of such excellent use as in no wise to be neglected for in service their executions are quicker than other motions and may be performed when other commands cannot be used both for time and place The Body being faced or the faces of the Body is termed an aspect and being particularly turned by command maketh an accidental front which is called a facing So that in short facing is the turning and altering of the aspect to either hand Front or Reer as may appear in the several commands following In which we must understand that facings are either Intire or Divisional There are Angular facings also 1. Intire Facing is when the aspect of the company is directed one way There are four intire facings besides Angular Command Face to the 1. Right Each man is to turn upon that foot to which hand the facing is commanded wheeling the Body to that Aspect When you face to any hand you may reduce them to the contrary 2. Left 3. Right about 4. Left about To reduce them Command As you were or To your Leader Angular facings are when directed to make their Aspects to the right or left corner men that is to the right or left Angle And so if you command to the four corners it is to face them to their four Angles which is Divisional Command Face to the Right Left Angle To reduce them Command As you were or To your leader These Angular facings are not so much in use as formerly Divisional facings are contrary to the Intire for they look divers wayes Which are Command Face to the 1. Right and left 2. Right and left inward 3. Four Angles To reduce them As you were or To your leader It is necessary that the half files doe many of these commands by themselves that they may the better understand it when the body shall come to be subdivided For Angular facings they are out of use or not so much in use as formerly By most Authors facings are to be performed at open order both in Rank and File But it is also necessary to exercise the Souldier in these facings at close Order for if a Souldier should be assaulted in a straight or narrow passage that he hath neither time nor ground to receive it either by doublings Counter-marches or wheelings they stand at their Order or close Order may then by their particular facings defend themselves against any such assault and with wore ease so charge their Enemy by some of these facings than by any other motion Facings are not to be slighted but carefully to be observed and practised they are the ground-work of Military discipline for all motions have relation in one respect or another to them There are two facings square as followeth set down in their platformes See Barrife Ward c. because they are not only useful but may serve as demonstrations of the former Command The two first Ranks stand the two last Ranks face about the rest of the body face to the right and left and march all To reduce them Command 1. Face about to the right march and close your Divisions 2. Face to your leader who standeth at his proper front Figure 2. Command 1. Musquetteers face to the right and left 2. Half Files of Pikes face about to the right 3. March all To reduce them Command 1. Face all about to the right march and close your divisions 2. Face all to your Leader By this little you may perceive much of the Nature of Facings and how useful they are towards the making of the Souldier apt and perfect in other motions I shall proceed to the Nature of doublings with the several branches or parts of them CHAP. VII Of Doublings IT is allowed by the Judicious that they are most necessary and completely useful for the strengthening any part of the Battle as occasion and discretion shall command All which consist in these two Generals 1. Doublings of Length 2. Doublings of Depth All times in quantity of Number sometimes in Number and place The several sorts of doublings are as followeth 1. Of ranks 2. Of half files 3. Of bringers up 4. Of the reer 5. Of files 6. Of half ranks 1. The doubling of Ranks is when every Rank double the odd 2. Half Files are said to be doubled when they shall double their Ranks into the Front 3. Bringers up are said to be doubled when they shall double their Ranks into the Front 4. The doubling of the Reer is when the Front half file doubles the Reer 5. The doubling of files is when even files double the odd 6. The doubling of half ranks is when one rank shall double the other And that is performed by Passing through Countermarches Intire or divisional doublings The doubling of Ranks half files or bringers up into the Front is a doubling of quantity or number and not of place But the doubling of ranks intire or for to double the front by half files intire either to the right or left or by Division It makes not only a doubling in quantity and of place but lengthens the battle also The doubling of files and half files or half ranks or doubling to either flank is a doubling in quantity and not of place But the doubling of files and right half ranks intire and the depth of the left flank intire is not only a doubling of number but of place and depth of the battle Observe that all divisional doublings are to be at open Order both in Rank and File Observe that in all motions they must be performed in three steps and first by stepping forth of that foot which is next to the place named And for reducement to return by the contrary hand Observe that in doubling of Ranks the doubling of Files reduceth them so in the doubling of Files to any hand the doubling of Ranks to the contrary hand reduceth them also Observe that in all motions of doublings that they who are to double before they move from their places are to Advance and Poyse their Arms and when they have performed their Commands they are immediately to conform to the same posture that those whom they double are in whether it be at shoulder or advance Observe that all intire doublings are to be performed at Order both in Rank and File And in all motions observe your right hand man I shall not only give you the words of command for most particular doublings that may be useful for service with directions for the performance of the same with their reducements And as I have been importuned by some of the Deputy Lieutenants to add to them their several platforms or Figures it is accordingly performed But my chief aim is to demonstrate
I have shewed you how the Front may be strengthened by intire doublings I shal briefly shew how it may be by divisional The Front is strengthened by divisional Doublings as followeth 12. Command Double your Ranks to the right and left by Division To perform this Command Even Ranks from the Front face to the right and left outwards march forth and double the odd To reduce this half ranks that doubled face to the right and left inwards and march into your places 13. Command Half files double your Front by Division To performe this Half files face to the right and left outwards and march until they be clear of the Front half files then face them to their Leader then move forward and double the Front To reduce this Command Half files face about to the Reer and march until they be clear of the Front half files then face to the right and left inward close your Divisions and face to your Leader OR The half files that moved double the depth of the Front half files 14. Command Double your Ranks to the right and left by Division every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man To perform this Command Every even Rank from the Front move forth to the right and left outward each man placing himself according as is commanded To reduce this Command The half Ranks that moved double your Files to the right and left inward every man placing himself on the inside of his right and left hand man I have hitherto shewed how the Front may be strengthened by divisional Doublings Now followeth how The Front may be strengthened by intire and Divisional Wheelings 15. Command Wheel off your reer half files to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire into the Front To perform this to the right Command Half files face about to the right and wheel them to the left about until they be even with the Front To reduce this Wheel off your half ranks and double your left flank intire to the left To perform this reducement let them face to the right then Command Right half ranks wheel about to the right until they be even a breast with the front half files To your Leader 16. Command Wheel your Flanks into the Front There are diversities of Commands for the production of this Figure and much according to the opinion of the Commander I shall insert them and leave the choice thereof to the judicious in this Art Wheel your Flanks into the front Wings into the front Front into the battle Front into the midst Reer into the flanks To reduce any one of them Command Wheel your flanks into the Reer 17. Command Reer half files wheel and double your Front by Division To perform this Command Half files face about to the right and so wheel off to the right and left about moving forwards until they be even with the Front To reduce this Command Half files that doubled wheel about to the right and left inward and march into your places OR Half ranks face to the right and left outward then wheel to the right and left inward and double the depth of your Front half files and face them to their Leader There is some other Wheelings but I shall not trouble you with them because they are more for curiosity than for service c. CHAP. VIII I Shall here insert the several preceding Commands for the strengthening of the Front wherein in the closing of some of the Ranks as may be seen by them severally the Figures are one and the same Battalia in quantity but not in quality in number but not in place Ranks to the right Double Command 1. Produceth one and the same Figure 1. Bringers up double your Front to the right Comm. 6. Half files double your Ranks forward to the right Comm. 8. Ranks to the right and left double first outward and then inward Comm. 2. Produceth one and the same Figure Bringes up double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward Comm. 7. Half Files double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward Comm. 9. 2. Double your Ranks to the right intire Comm. 3. Produceth one and the same Figure Double your Ranks to the right intire every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man Comm. 5. Half Files double the front to the right intire Com. 10. Wheel off your Reer half files intire into the Front Com. 15. 3. Double your Ranks inward intire Comm. 4. Produceth one and the same Figure Half files double your Front inward intire Com. 11. Double your Ranks to the right and left by division Com. 12. Half files double your Front by division Com. 13. Double your Ranks to the right and left by division every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man Com. 14. Produceth one and the same Figure Reer half files wheel and double your Front by division Com. 17. Vide Chap. 11. Chap. 14. CHAP. IX How Battalias may ve strengthened in the Reer HAving ended with most of those doublings that do strengthen the Front I proceed to some few that may strengthen the Reer I might be as large in them as the former but the labour and pains would be of no great necessity because all what hath been commanded in the Front may by counterchange of them be performed in the Reer Therefore I shall only for example sake set down four Commands and demonstrate them by their respective figures and they only shall be performed by the doubling of half Files leaving the rest for the delightful Artist in this pleasing exercise 1. Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left To perform this to the right Command Front half files face about to the left and march directly forwards to the left of the standing part in opposition even in each rank according to their several places If this be commanded for service then face the Reer half files also about to the left Then To reduce them Face them all to their proper Front and Command Double your files to the right intire advancing If it be for a private exercise Command Half files face about to the left and march forth into your places 2 Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left intire To perform this to the right intire Command Front half files face to the right march until they be clear of the Reer half files then face them all to the Reer and march them even in breast with the Reer To reduce this Command Front half files face about to the right and march into your places OR Face all to your leader then right half ranks double your left flank intire advancing 3. Command Front half files double your Reer by Division To perform this Command Front half files face to the right and left and march until they be clear of the Body then face them to the Reer and
move down to the Reer even in breast with the last Rank If this be for service you may face them all to the Reer If only for Exercise you may reduce them as they now stand by Commanding Front half files face about to the right and advance forwards until they are clear of the standing part then face them to the right and left inwards and close your Divisions 4. Command Front half files double your Reer to the 1. Right 2. Left by Countermarch To performe this If the Command given for the left face the standing half files to the Reer and the rest Countermarch to the left and lose ground But if it be only for Exercise you need not face the standing part to the Reer at all To reduce this as being only for Exercise Command Front half files face about to the left and march forth into your places But if it be upon service that they are all faced to the Reer then all upon the Reducement are to face about to the left and the front half files to march into their places Object But Some may object here and say that this is a countermarch and no doubling and so ought not to be demonstrated in this place Answ To which I answer that what is done by the Front half files in short is a Lacedemonian Countermarch of losing ground but if it were a direct countermarch they ought not to stand mixed with any other part of the body by passing through to the Reer but only to Countermarch into the midst and there remain so that now passing through into the Reer makes it an absolute doubling What I have mentioned in the beginning of this Chapter may be sufficient to the ingenious Artist having concluded what I intended for the strengthening of the Reer I thought to have inserted here a strengthening of the Front and Reer but being in the Chapter of Wheelings Command the tenth the inquisitive may be better satisfied CHAP. VI. Which is the last in order to shew how a Battalia may be strengthened in both Flanks THe Flanks are doubled by 1. Files 2. Half ranks 3. Division 4. Wheelings 1. First by Files 1. Command Files to the Right or Left double If to the left to perform this Command Every even ranks from the left move with three steps into the odd To reduce this Command Ranks to the right double OR Files as you were In all motions observe to move that leg first to which the Command guideth 2. Command Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left double advancing To perform this if to the right Command Every even file from the right advance three steps forward and double the odd To reduce this Command Ranks to the left double OR Files as you were 3. Command Files to the right and left double outward In doubling outward the outmost File of each Flank stands and the even File each flank doubles the odd To reduce this Command Double your Ranks to the right and left inwards OR Ranks as you were 4. Command Files to the right and left double Inward To reduce this Command Double your Ranks to the right and left outwards OR Ranks as you were 5. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left 1. Outwards advancing 2. Inwards This will be performed as in the third and fourth Command only instead of falling behind their right or left hand men here they are to advance before them as in the second Command 6. Command Double your Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left intire advancing To performe this to the right The even files from the right advance so far until they be clear and double the odd files to the right To reduce this Command Files that doubled face about to the left and march forth into your places OR Front half Files double your Reer to the left OR Half Files double your Front to the right 7. Command Double your files to the 1. Right or 2. Left Intire advancing every man placing himself before his leader To perfom this to the right The reducement Command Front half Files face about to the left and march forth into your places OR Front half files turn off by countermarch and double your Re ex to the right Face all to your leader 8. Command Files double your depth to the right intire To perform this Command Even files from the right face about to the right and march until they are clear of the Reer placing themselves after their bringers up then face them to their leader To reduce this Command Half files double your Front to the left OR Front half files double your Reer to the right 9. Command Files double your depth to the right placing your selves behind your bringers up To perform this Command Every even File from the right face about to the right and double the remaining files behind their bringers up To reduce this Command Bringers up double your Front to the left OR Half files double your Front to the left each placing themselves before their half file Leaders There is but a small difference between the Figures of some of the precedent Commands as some may at first sight guess them to be yet if you would but well observe them the words of Command are several and in the Battalia there is difference in the Dignity of place but not in quantity or number Secondly How the flanks are doubled by half ranks 10. Comand Half ranks of the left double your right flank to the 1. Right or 2. Left To perform this to the right Left half ranks face to the right and move to the right forward and double your right flank To reduce this Command Face to the left and march forth into your places OR Double your Ranks to the left intire You may face them at discretion I shall demonstrate another Figure to the left shewing how it may be performed without mixture of Arms c. 11. Command Half Ranks of the right double your left flank to the right To perform this Command Half ranks of the right face to the right turn off to the right and double your left flank To reduce the 11. Command Ranks double to the right intire every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man 12. Command Half ranks double your right flank to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward 1. To perform this Outward Face all to the right then the left half ranks move to the right and left outwards doubling your right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command 1. Front and Reer half files double your ranks intire to the left flank OR Half ranks that doubled face about to the right and march forth into your places OR Half ranks face about to the right and the even ranks from the midst move forth and double your left ranks intire to the left flank face to your Leader 2. To perform the 12. Command inward Face all to the right then the left
half ranks move forwards to the right and left inwards and double the right flank face all to your Leader To reduce the 12. Command inward Front and reer half files double your Ranks intire to the left By direction you may Command Half files face about and every even rank from the front and reer move forth and double your ranks intire to the left flank then face to your Leader 13. Command Half ranks double your right flank to the 1. Right or 2. Left by Countermarch OR Half ranks to the right by Countermarch double your left flank To perform this Half ranks of the right T is produceth the same Figure as the 11. Command face to the right and Countermarch into the left flank losing ground To reduce this Double your Ranks to the left intire every man placing himself on the outside of your right hand men and face to your Leader OR Ranks that doubled face to the right and march forth into your places In like manner if you would double the right flank by countermarch the right flank is then to stand and you are to insert the left into the right flank as before the right will be by this Command inserted into the left And by the reducement of the one by the contrary hand you may reduce the other also 14. Command Left half ranks double your right flank to the right and left 1. Outwards 2. Inwards by countermarch These insertions I shall not demonstrate by Figure because the three last being but well observed will give you a light to the execution of these only I shall briefly give you the performances and reducements thereof If Outward Command Half ranks of the right face to the right and left half ranks face to the left then move forward and double your right and left flank to the right and left outwards face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front and Reer half files double your Ranks intire to the left flank every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man By direction you may Command The Front half files to face about and the even ranks from the midst move forth to the left flank and double the odd placing your selves on the outside of your right hand men And every even rank from the reer half files move forth and double the odd placing yourself on the outside of your left hand men face to your Leader If Inwards Command Ranks face to the right and left outwards and the left half ranks turn off to the right and left inward moving forward until you have doubled the right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front and reer half files double your ranks intire to the left flank every man placing himself on the outside of his right and left hand man For direction you may Command Half files face about and every even rank from the reer move forward and place your selves on the outside of your right hand men and every even rank from the front move forth and double the odd placing your selves on the outside of your left hand men face to your Leader 15. Command Left half ranks double your right flank intire advancing To perform this Command The left flank or the left half ranks march forth until they be clear of the remaining party then face them to the right and double the right flank and face them to their Leader To reduce this The left flank that doubled face to the left and march into your places OR Front half files double your Reer to the right 16. Command Left half Ranks double intire the depth of your right Flank To perform this Command The left half ranks to face about to the right until they are clear of the standing part then face to the left and double the right flank face to your Leader To reduce this Command Half files double your Front to the left intire OR Half files that doubled face about to the left and march forth into your places 3. How the Flanks may be strengthened by divisional Doublings 17. Command Double your Files to the right and left by Division To perform this Command Half files of the even files from the right face to the Reer then even files march clear of the standing part then move to the right and left and double the odd files To reduce them Command Face to the right and left inward march forth and take your places and face to your Leader 18. Command Half Ranks of the left double your right flank by Division To perform this Command Half files of the left half ranks face about to the right then Front and Reer half ranks of the left flank move clear of the standing body face all to the right flank and move even in breast with the right flank To reduce them Front and Reer half files that doubled face about inwards and march into your places OR The half files that doubled may double the depth of their right flank Obs You may in the Command when they are marched clear of the standing party Countermarch them with this Command Vide Com. 13. Front and Reer half files of the left flank countermarch to the right and left losing of ground into the right flank which will produce the same Figure Com. 18. only in place 4. The Flanks are strengthened by Wheelings 18. Command Left half ranks wheel off and double your right flank to the Right or Left Intire To perform this Command Right half ranks face outwards left half ranks wheel about to the left and keep wheeling until you have doubled the right flank face the moveants to their Leader To reduce them Face them to their proper Front then Command Reer half files double your Front to the left intire But if you countermarch them then the reducement of the 13. Command will give you light to it also 19. Command Wheel Front and Reer into the 1. Right or 2. Left Flank OR Front and reer half files wheel off into the right Flank by Division To perform this Command Face all to the right Wheel off to the right and lest and so keep moving until the Bringer up of the right hand file meet with the right hand file leader To reduce them if faced to the right Flank Wheel both Flanks into the Reer and face them to their Leader But if faced to their proper Front then Command Wheel Front and Reer into their left Flank and face them to their Leader 20. Command Left half Ranks wheel off to the right and left and double your right Flank by Division To perform this Command Half ranks of the right face to the right then the half files of the left half rank face to the Reer Front and Reer half files wheel off to the right and left about and more forwards until you are even a breast then double your right flank and face them to their accidental Front To reduce them Command Files that doubled double
to the left and the Reer half files file three to the right Face all to your leader and close your divisions 4. Command Files file to the right and left by Division To perform this Command The file leaders of each flank march away with your files until they are clear of the Body then the next file leaders from the right and left are to fall in after the bringers up of the first moveants until the Body become two files upon each wing To reduce them Command File leaders lead up your files to the right and left OR Files file six to the right and left 5. Command Files file inward into the right and left flank by Division Figure 5. You may the better understand this by the directions for the third Command But To perform this Command Half files face about then file leaders and bringers up of each file both from the right and left and fall successively into the reer of each other until they have made two intire files on each flank Face to your leader To reduce this Command Reer half files face about to the right Front and Reer half files file three to the right and left inwards Face to your leader and close your Divisions 6. Command Files by countermarch file to the right every man placing himself in the reer of the right hand file Figure 6. To perform this Command The right hand file stand the rest of the Body face about to the left then every particular file march forward to the left and place themselves behind the bringers up of the right hand file To reduce this Command Files file fix to the left each placeing themselves before their leader 7. Command Files by countermarch file to the right by division each placing himself before his leader and bringer up To perform this Command Reer half files face about the right hand file is to keep his ground the rest moving forwards to the right placing themselves before their File leaders and Bringers up To reduce this Command Front half file ââce about and file three to the right every man placing himself before his bringer up And the Reer half files file three to the left placing your selves before your leaders I have with as much brevity as conveniently I could set forth by demonstration the first part of Inversion which is of Files filing I proceed to the second part of Inversion which is of Ranks siling For the performance of which observe that in all these motions your files are to be at their Order or otherwise as may be thought most convenient and their Ranks to be opened either forwards or backwards at the discretion of the Commander but at twice double distance or more as may be required to his number of men The distances being set let every rank move according to Command 8. Command Ranks file to the right placing your selves before your right hand man To perform this Command The right hand man of each rank is to stand the rest are to move forwards with their right leg and so place themselves before their right hand men 8. Figure Te reduce them Command Files rank twelve to the left OR Ranks as you were Observe Ranks filing are sooner executed in the commands and reducements than files filing For they will sooner be in readiness to receive any opposition with a suteable resistance in the Front for in files filing it will be some long time before the file leaders will be able to do it 9. Command Ranks file to the right placing your selves behind your right hand men To perform this Direct If they be upon a stand they may open backwards to their distance for the work as by example But if they be upon a march then the right hand man marcheth first and all his rank so facing as to march to the right file-wise after their leader The right hand man of the second rank is so to do and fall in the reer of the left hand man of the first Rank To reduce this Command Files rank twelve to the left OR Ranks as you were Aelian Tact. Ch. 30. p. 6. 10. Command Ranks file to the right and left by Division The two former are directions enough for this And may also be performed with the two former either before their right hand men or otherwise To reduce this Command Files convert into Ranks as you were OR Files Rank to the right and left inward as you were OR Files rank twelve to the right and left inward This Figure as by the Notes of Captain Bingham hath been of great use amongst the Graecians and judged by our ingenious Artists not to be slighted by us for the avoydance of the great Ordinance or showers of small shot In Cities I have seen it often used for lodging of the Colours It is also a large Interval for the reception of any Honourable Person Some may dislike in this last Inversion of Ranks filing because there is a promiscuous mixture of Arms This may be easily prevented by bringing both Divisions of Musquetteers into the Front of Pikes or otherwise upon a march at the discretion of the Commander There yet remain divers words of Command of Ranks filing Vide Conversion By wheeling your Ranks into the right Flank or into both Flanks c. But the prolixity of them have made me to abbreviate and being more out of curiosity than of necessity I have shewed what is meant by Inversion both in Files and Ranks and have demonstrated them by their Figures so many as I conceive may be sufficient for the knowledge thereof Many I have heard to use the word Inversion to some of the precedent Commands but I think it very convenient to be left out in the Exercisings of our Rural Militia's It is a word not suitable to a Rustick capacity and a word that may be spared CHAP. XIII Of Conversion and the several Parts thereof COnversion I have declared to consist of a Rank or Ranks And that is performed either by 1. Increase of Files ranking by Even or Vneven Parts 2. Increase or decrease of Files ranking by uneven Parts 3. Files ranking intire into the Front and wheeling into the same 4. Ranks ranking to the right or left 5. Wheeling into both Flanks And of these I shall declare unto you as briefly as I may that your delight in the true understanding of them may not be neglected by the least obscurity Now the reason that I have demonstrated most with Figures is that the young Souldier may see how many Commands produce one and the same Figure their difference being only in quality and not in quantity 1. I shall begin with Files ranking by even parts that is when they rank two three or four keeping the same number in Rank all being in an equal proportion and if more what is wanting to make up the Ranks in the Command must be made good by the next Rank 1. Command Files rank three to the right Observe
in this motion the File leader is first to move unto that hand the Command is given And if six deep the half file leader is to advance the same way To reduce this Command Ranks file or invert to the right Then every File-leader lead up his File and rank to the right OR As you were 2. The uneven parts of Files ranking is when there is such an increase either of two three or more in each Rank so exceeding the Rank before it and these exceedings are termed in Arithmetick A Progressional Increase Or else by the decrease of each Rank following after 2. Command Files rank three first then by increase to the right two in each Division of Musquetteers and Pikes These are termed half Rombes or Wedges For Exercise sake you may make a Wedge or half Rombe of all twelve by 3. Command Files rank first two and by increase two from the whole Body You may alter the mixture of Armes at your discretion 4. Command is in the nature of a Rombe Files rank first two and by increase and decrease two in each Rank Divisionally both of Musquetteers and Pikes The reducement of these three last Commands is Ranks file as you were These Rombes and half Rombes or Wedges were much of use in the Graecian Wars Read the Tact. of Aelian pag. 108. But being not now so much in use I shall not spend much time in them but leave the desirous to the view of Captain Ward 5. Command Files rank to the Right or Left into the Front 6. Command Files rank to the Right or Left by wheeling into the Front I shall demonstrate both in this by Wheeling only observe there must be so much distance between each file as will contain each in rank To perform them Command Files open to the left to your double distance Ranks close forward to your close Order face to the right wheel all to the left until the whole Body be brought into one intire Rank 5. 6. Figure To reduce this Command Face to the Reer then the first six to the right wheel to the right When all have wheeled by sixes to the right then face them to their Leader and close their Files at discretion 7. Command Files rank into the Front and Reer by Division To perform this Command Files open to the left to your order Ranks close forward to your close order Half files face about to the right and face to the left then move all into the Front and Reer and make two intire Ranks When the distance is set Observe that those in motion are to face to the right flank To reduce this Command Front half files face about to the left reer half files face about to the right then wheel all into their respective Files then face them to their Leader and close their files at discretion Here might be inserted for variety and curiosity some more words of Command of Conversion of files ranking into the midst by Countermarches and by Wheelings But by what is demonstrated already you 'l find enough in them and I must look to be censured by some for what is done and conceiving the remainder to be useless I shall omit them to avoid a further censure and proceed to the Conversion of Ranks ranking in equal Parts 1. Conversion of Ranks ranking in equal Parts Observe that in Ranks ranking you may perform it with any number more or less as place and occasion may serve containing in every Rank an equality in Number And it is to be understood after this manner When there is twelve more or less marching a breast and by reason of some narrowness of passage or some other intent the Commander causeth his Souldiers to rank either two three five or seven c. according to the place or occasion 8. Command Ranks rank two to the right To perform this Command The two first in Rank to the right advance forwards the next two of the same Rank in the Reer of them until the first Rank have made six Ranks and in all 36 Ranks To reduce this Command Ranks rank twelve to the left Observe that the first rank stands the rest are to advance two and two until the whole rank of twelve be complete in one rank 9. Command Rank two to the right and left 1. Outward then 2. Inward To perform this outward Command The two outmost men upon the right and left hand advance forwards the next in the same Rank are to follow dividing themselves two to the right hand and two to the left hand so when the Work is finished there will be eighteen Ranks in each Division To reduce this Ranks as you were OR Rank twelve to the right and left inward 2. To perform it Inward Ranks rank two to the right and left inwards Command The two inmost men of the right and left hand in the midst of the Battail advance forwards the next in the same Rank are to follow two from the right hand and two from the left until the Work be finished making eighteen Ranks To reduce this Command Ranks as you were OR Ranks twelve to the right and left outwards I shall demonstrate one Figure of Ranks ranking in unequal parts which is rather to satisfie the curious than of any absolute necessity Vnequal Parts 10. Command Ranks rank 1 3 5 7 9 11. by increase and decrease as they stand in a Body To perform this The right hand man of the first rank march forth then the three next of the same rank follow in the reer of him then five more out of the same rank to make the third and what is wanting in the first rank of the Body to make good the fourth in Figure must be taken out of the second in body and so to proceed in the remainder both for its increase and decrease until your Command be produced To reduce this Command Right hand men rank twelve as you were 11. Command Ranks rank intire to the Right or Left into the Front To perform this Let the first rank stand every rank else face to the right and move away to the right successively placing themselves on the right hand of each rank until they all stand in one intire rank in the Front Figure 11. To reduce this Command Ranks rank as you were OR Ranks rank twelve to the left the second falls into the reer of the first the third into the reer of the second and so all successively until they be reduced 12. Command Ranks rank intire into the Front every man placing himself on the outside of his Right or Left hand man by Countermarch To perform this to the right hand man The first rank stands the rest moves away to the right on the outside of the right hand man The precedent reducement will reduce this OR Ranks rank twelve to the left each placing himself on the outside of his left hand man 13. Command Ranks rank 1. Outward 2. Inward into the Front 1. To
perform it outwards Command The first rank to stand the rest to face to the right and left outwards the second rank to advance clear of the first and then to move forth even with the Front in breast and all the rest successively do the same until they be all even with the Front in one intire rank To reduce this Ranks as you were OR The first 12 or 12 middlemost stand the rest face to the right and left inwards the second to move into the reer of the first rank the third into the reer of the second and successively the rest into the reer of the remainder and being faced to their Leader and even in their ranks they are reduced 2. To perform it Inwards Command Ranks rank inward into the Front To produce it the first rank to move to the right and left outwards and so to keep moving or opening then the second rank is to advance into the ground of the first and the second is then to move with the first to the right and left outwards then the third is to advance into the place of the second rank so all are to do until the last rank is advanced intire into the Front To reduce this The first six upon the right and left hand stand then Command Ranks rank six to the right and left outwards And close your Divisions Lastly the Conversion of Ranks by wheeling into the Flanks 14. Command Ranks wheel to the Right or Left into the right Flank To perform this Command Every particular rank to be at double Distance in rank and at close Order in file Then Wheel them to their right hand until they have brought their Faces or Aspects unto the right Flank After you may face them to the Front To reduce this Command Files rank twelve to the right The first man is to stand the rest is to move forward to the right successively twelve in rank But if you wheel them to the left hand into the right flank you must command them to face about and wheel your ranks to the left hand until their Faces or Aspects be brought to the right Flank 15. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half files wheel outwards to your right Flank I shall put in execution but two Ranks one in the Front half files and the other of the Reer half files which is sufficient for Demonstration To perform this Command Ranks open all to your twice double distance then Front half files wheel to the right and Reer half files wheel to the left And face to your Leader To reduce them Command Front half files rank twelve to the right Reer half files rank twelve to the left Face to your Leader march up and close forwards to your due distance 16. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half Files wheel inwards into your right Flank To perform this Command Front and Reer half files march clear to your twice double distance Front and Reer half files face about Front half files wheel your Ranks to the left and Reer half files wheel your Ranks to the right Face to your Leader To reduce this Command Front half files rank twelve to the left Reer half files face about and rank twelve to the right Face to your Leader and close your Divisions 17. Command Ranks rank to each Flank by wheeling to the right and left into the same by Division OR Ranks wheel to the right and left by Division into both Flanks advancing or placing themselves before their right and left hand men Observe they are to be at double distance in Rank and at Order in File Figure 17. To reduce them Command them to face to the Reer and wheel into their places OR Files rank twelve to the right and left inward into the Reer and close them to their order then face them to their Leader But if you would avoid mixture of Arms you may place all your Musquetteers either in Front and Reer Or else wheel only the Musquetteers first and leave the Pikes standing Or else it may be performed in marching and then the Reducement is Ranks as you were 18. Command Ranks of your Front and Reer half files wheel outwards to your right and left Flank by Division They are to observe the same distance as in the former To perform this Command Half files face about Ranks open to your double distance then Front and Reer half files wheel to the right and left outwards into both Flanks Figure 18. To reduce this Command Who being faced to their Leader Front half files face to the Reer rank twelve to the right and left inwards And Reer half files face about and rank twelve to the right and left inward Files close to the midst to your order Face to your Leader CHAP. XIV Of making File-Leaders successively both of Number and Place in a File and so for a whole Body The Sweedish Mode also AS I have stinted my self to a set Number of Files so I have also to a set Number in a File not exceeding six being according to our present Mode of Discipline for if I had gone to a various Number in Files and added two to each File my Figures had been more delightful to some Spectators others I hope will find enough in this to qualifie or make them fit to do their King and Country service c. And now the Souldery having marched sometimes together and so loving being Souldiers indeed by reason of such experiences as they have attained unto in the exercise of this Military Art that each Leader is willing his follower should take his place which is a great incouragement to an ingenious Souldier This ought not to be slighted because it is profitable to a Commander to bring what Ranks he pleaseth to lead in the Front and to exchange them again and at last to bring the proper File-Leaders into their places Besides the incouragement it hath in private exercises it makes men studious whereby they may be able to Command in their respective Files when they are become Leaders In the first place take these short Commands to produce them as followeth Command 1. A File-Leader 2. Rank two to the left and Files to the left double 3. Countermarch Front and Reer into the midst and face to that part which was the Reer 4. Face about to the right 5. Countermarch from the Reer into the midst and face to that which was the Reer 6. Files rank two to the right and Files to the right double This being performed they are reduc'd I shall demonstrate by Tables the succession of each man's Leading and give you some or several Words of Command according to my own and others severally that shall produce such Leader into his place as they shall stand in sequence and as they shall also stand in their respective Dignities The Front and standings of each File as they come to be Leaders according to various Commands A File       Â
termed a Macedonian Countermarch In all which there is Countermarchings of Files Ranks The Front The Reer half files Half Ranks And these may all be performed by intire or divisional Countermarches 1. The Countermarchings of Files is when every Souldier followeth his leader 2. The Countermarchings of Ranks is when every Souldier followeth his side man 3. The Front and Reer half Files Countermarchings is when the Souldier shall follow their File leaders or Bringers up 4. The Countermarchings of half Ranks is when the Souldier shall follow their outside men I shall in the first place shew how Intire and Divisional Countermarches are performed by files and Ranks 1. Observe That in the execution hereof your distance is to be at six foot in rank and file 2. When you are to Countermarch to the right the file leaders are to step forward with their right legs and face about to the right passing down to the Reer with their respective File following them keeping even a breast with their right handmen and to be sure not to turn before they be advanced to the ground of their File leaders 3. All Intire Countermarches of Files or ranks may be reduced by contrary Countermarches If the Command be to the right reduce them to the left And so for Contermarchings of the Front Reer or flanks into the midst reduce them back from the midst It shall be my endeavour to demonstrate how all Intire and divisional Countermarches shall lye under these three heads Of Mantaining Losing and Gaining of ground First of Countermarches maintaining Ground In the second precedent rule it will not be amiss to cast your eye back for your better direction by which you 'l be able to pass these Countermarches with greater delight and Order 1. Command Files to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch To perform this Let the file leaders step forward with their right legs and march even in Rank to the Reer and none to turn off until he come to his File leaders Ground To reduce this Command Files to the left hand Countermarch 2. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch To perform this Face them to the Right and the right hand file is to turn off to the right and to march even to the Ground of the left hand file You may reduce this by Ranks Countermarching to the left 3. Command Countermarch your Front and Reer into the midst To perform this Command Half files face about and turn to off the left Front half files turn off to the right and face to your leader You may reduce this figure by doing the same over again Or else by any other divisional Countermarch 4. Command Front and Reer half files countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left You may reduce this Figure by doing the same over again OR By Countermarching Front and Reer into the midst 5. Command Countermarch your Front and Reer half files to right and left from the midst To perform this Command Front half files face about and turn off to the right and Reer half files turn off to your left then face to your leader To reduce this Command To Countermarch from the midst into the Front and Reer The three last figures by command are several but the figures are still one and the same in quantity but not in quality or motion as you may perceive c. 6. Command Countermarch your flanks into the midst To perform this Command them to face to the right and left outwards the right flank turn off to the right and left flank turn off to the left until they meet in the midst To reduce them Command Countermarch from the midst to the right and left into both flanks 7. Command Right and left half Ranks interchange your ground To perform this Face to the right and left inward and march all and interchange your ground This is of no great use except it be when the right or left flank hath fought that then the reserved flank may come into service also You may reduce them by interchanging of them back again OR Divisionally to Countermarch their flanks into the midst of the Battel Secondly Countermarches lofing ground 1. Command Files to the Right or Left hand Countermarch placing your selves before your bringers up To performe this Command The bringers up to face about to the right then the file leaders with the rest successively to turn off upon the same ground he stands And on the same hand the Command is given so to place themselves accordingly You may easily reduce them by any other Countermarch of files 2. Command The last Rank stand the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left placing your selves behind your bringers up To perform this As the last Rank is to stand and keep their first aspect let all the rest face about to the right and march all turning successively behind their bringers up To reduce them you may pass them through or else Countermarch by file into their places 3. Command Front and Reer half files Countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left From the midst every man placing himself before his leader and bringer up To perform this Command The first rank of the front half files to stand the rest to face about and turn off to the right half file leaders face about and turn off to the left and both to march clear of the Front and Reer following their half file leaders and bringers up of the front half files To reduce this by an other Countermarch 4. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand Countermarch losing ground To perform this to the right As in maintaining ground upon their turning off the rest march into the same place or ground and turn off also as in figure 2. Now this of losing ground altereth only in this the outmost file is to face to the right about until he hath directly faced the left flank and so to gain so much ground upon the left flank as they have lost upon the right OR That they have placed themselves on the outside or before of their left hand men 5. Command Ranks to the right hand Countermarch each following his right hand man and place himself on the outside of his left hand man To perform this Command The left hand file to stand the out most file to the right turn about to the right as to make his aspect or face to the left then move forward until he be clear of the second file losing the ground he stood upon and gain it again on the outside of the left flank To reduce this figure may be done by a contrary Countermarch 6. Command The right and left hand file upon each flank face to the right and left outwards the rest pass through placing your selves before your outmost files Observe files become ranks by their faceing To performe this Command The right hand file to face to the right and the left hand file to
the left and then the rest of the body to turn their aspects accordingly place themseves before their right left hand men To reduce them Command them to Countermarch to the right and left into the midst of the Battel OR Command If they be faced to the proper Front The two inmost files to stand the rest pass through to the right and left inward and close their divisions 8. Command The two outmost files of each flank face to the right and left inward the rest pass through to the right and left and place yourselves behind your outside men To perform this Command The right and left hand file of each flank face inward and the rest of the Body are to face to the right and left outwards then all are to move forwards and to place themselves behind their right and left hand men Else the motion is the same as the former To reduce this Command The two innermost files face to the right and left outwards and the rest pass through to the right and left inwards placing themselves behind their right and left hand men Then face them to their leaders Now if it be the Commanders pleasure to reduce them by any other word of Command it may be done by the precedent words of Command or of the next following or of any other divisional Countermarch except interchanging of ground 8. Command The outmost file of each flank stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves on the outside of your right and left hand men The ninth figure is the same as this if faced to their leader To perform this The outmost files of each flank stands the rest of the body faceth to the right and left outward and so passing forwards through the intervalls into each flank place themselves on the outside of their right and left hand men To reduce this may be performed by any of the foregoing Countermarches of ranks Or else being faced to any of the flanks then the Ranks become files and by divisional Countermarches of files you may reduce divisional Countermarches of Ranks OR By Ranks files only some facings must be observed For the proper Reducement Command The two inmost Ranks to stand the rest to face to the right and left inward and so march into their places 9. Command The right and lelft hand files upon each flank stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves on the outside of your right and left hand men following your inmost files Observe in the performance of this the two inmost-files are to be first in motion But first Command The two outmost files of each flank to stand and the rest of the Body to face to their right and left outwards so moving away first from the midst until they have successively placed themselves on the outside of their right and left hand men you may close their files into the midst to open Order The reducement of the eight figure will reduce this also 10. Command Front and Reer half files Countermarch to the 1. Right or 2. Left hand interchanging ground To perform this Command Half files to face about and turn off to the right front half files doing the like move forwards until they be clear one of an other six foot then face to their leader if you please and close their divisions A Countermarch interchanging of ground will reduce them and then close c. 11. Command Front and Reer half files to the right hand interchange ground You may reduce this interchanging of ground as they were or by some other word of Command Thirdly Countermarches to gain ground 1. Command The file leaders stand the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left and place your selves before your leaders The Command is so plain that there needeth no directions Only if your command be to place your selves behind your leaders then the file leaders are to face about and the rest are to execute it as the former only in placing themselves they are to turn their aspect behind their leaders And then Commanding them to place themselves before their leaders will reduce them 2. Command File leaders face about to the right and stand Bringers up with the rest following them pass through to the right and place your selves behind your leaders Face to your leaders To reduce this you may do it by the same Command or by the first Command 3. Command File leaders stand and the rest pass through to the 1. Right or 2. Left placing your selves before your file leaders following your Bringers up This is the same with the second figure only in their work they are to keep their aspect to the Front And the reducement the same also 4. Command File leaders and half file leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and place your selves before your file leaders and half file leaders You may reduce this by the same Countermarch or any other Divisional Countermarch 5. Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and place your selves behind your Leaders and half file-leaders following your Bringers-up The file-leaders and half file-leaders are only to face about to the right and to stand the motion is the same with the fourth Figure but in taking their places they are to face to the Reer The Reducement as the former 6. Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest pass through to the right and left and place your selves behind your Leaders and half file-leaders c. I need not demonstrate this it being the same with the fifth and sixth only in the motion they are to pass to the right and left outwards And is reduced as the former 7. Command File-leaders to face about the rest pass through to the right and place your selves behind your Leaders and Bringers up To perform this Command The first Rank is to face about and stand then the two last Ranks from the Reer i. e. the fourth and fifth Ranks are to face to the Reer and move all c. The former Directions upon any Divisional Countermarch will reduce this 8. Command The outmost File of the right face to the right the rest pass through to the Right or Left and place your selves Before or Behind your right hand men If your Command be behind your right hand men then the right hand file is but to face to the left I shall not trouble you with them conceiving them of no great use You may reduce these by a contrary Countermarch 9. Command The outmost File of the right hand stand and the right hand File of the left half Rank stand and the rest pass through and place your selves on the outside of your right hand men Face to your Leader The same is done on the left hand And if you place them before their left hand men then face them all to the right and so let them pass through observing the
than for publick Service 5. Command Give fire to the right and place your selves even in Front with the Pikes marching up between the midst of the Pikes Observe in the performance hereof the Pikes as they march are to open to the right and left and the fired Musquetteers are to be lead up according to Command To reduce this Command 1. Pikes to face inwards 2. Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards 3. Pass all through and interchange Ground 4. Face to your Leader 6. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right placing your selves on the outside of the left Flank of Pikes If you will reduce this without any firing you may Command the right half Ranks to pass through your Ranks of Pikes The Ingenious may find many ways for the Reducement Or when all the Musquetteers are on the left flank you may fire them over again and they are reduced 7. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and to the Reer placing your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions Having placed your left flank of Musquetteers in the Reer A useful firing then Command The outmost file upon the right flank are to face to the right and the last rank of Musquetteers in the Reer are to face about and both are to present and give fire together and having fired the outermost file upon the right hand faceth to the left and marcheth after their Leader in the interval between the Musquets and the Pikes They are to march a reasonable pace and the rank fired in the Reer is to wheel to the right placing it self in the Reer of Pikes c. This is easily reduced by commanding the Musquetteers to draw off into the left flank again Observe that flank that is farthest from the Enemy ought to be drawn into the Reer 8. Command Musquetteers give fire to both Flanks marching and place your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions To perform this the outermost file of each flank presents outward 9. Command The Body standing Advance your Pikes Musquetteers and Pikes face to the right and left Musquetteers present and give fire to both flanks and flank your Pikes The outermost file upon the right and left flank presents and fires wheeling off by Division ranking or flanking the Pikes as they stand faced leaving such a distance as the rest may securely follow them every rank is to fire upon the same Ground and wheel off by Division after the same manner From this Figure as they will stand after firing there may be produced a great many brave Figures but now I must leave them to the skilful Artist To reduce this Command The Musquetteers to march all until they are clear of the Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and close their Divisions and face them to their Leader 10. Command Because it may easily be produced from the precedent Figure it shall be from the first Figure of firing in the Front and Reer Chap. 19. the Body being faced to the right and left will be a firing to both Flanks 11. Command Shall be a firing to right Flank and to the Front and Reer Left half Ranks double your right Flank by Division You may face the Divisions any way which you intend for their firing After firing they are to wheel off into their own Divisions every Rank moving into his Leaders Ground To reduce them face them to their proper Front then Command half Ranks that doubled face to the left and so march into your places See the doubling of Flanks Figure 17. CHAP. XXI Of several Divisional Firings I Might here make mention of a great many Figures for firings some serviceable and others not but all left to the judicious for censure and to make use of the best yet none useless for delight or Garden Exercises The Figures cannot be perfect because I am tied to the exercise but of twelve Files four of them Pikes and eight Musquetteers it being a Number that our Western Commanders can make use of and no more yet any who may be capable to perform them will be able to invent others and command the production of such like in geater Numbers and with better delight 1. Command The two outmost Files upon each Flank stand the two inmost half Ranks of the Reer face about to the right the two inmost half Ranks both of Front and Reer march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then half Files rank to the right and left inwards by wheeling into the Front For the Pikes open them to the right and left from the midst then Command the right and left hand File of Pikes to stand the Reer half Files of the remainder face about to the right then both half Files rank to the right and left inward into the Front and Reer This Figure in great Bodies must be performed otherways and may be very serviceable against the Horse the Pikes may advance into the Front of Musquetteers to secure them against the Horses fury if occasion shall serve After their first firing and wheeling off to the right and left in the Reer of their own Divisions then when the Pikes are defending them from the Horse let them fire over the Pikes This being done pass through the Musquetteers before the several Fronts of Pikes as they were before any firing To reduce them Command Face the Front and Reer to the right and left inwards The Front and Reer Ranks of Pikes file to the right and left inwards the right and left hand files of Pikes close to the right and left inwards and close all to the midst Then Command the Front and Reer Ranks of Musquetteers file to the right and left inward face in opposition and march into your places closing the whole Body to their close Order and open them again to their Order Evening of their Ranks and streightning of their Files they are reduced 2. Command and Direction Musquetteers open six foot to the right and left Front half Files of the right Flank of Musquetteers Advance intire into the Front of Pikes The Reer Division of the left Flank of Musquetteers face about to the right and double intire the Reer of the Pikes The Front Division of Musquetteers of the left face about to the right and march even in breast with the Reer half Files of Pikes The Front half Files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march until you are clear c. Face them to their Leader To reduce them The Front Division of Musquetteers face to the right and march into your places Reer Division of Musquetteers face to the left and march forth into your places Front half Files of Pikes face in opposition and close your Divisions The left flank of Musquetteers advance even with the Front of Pikes Musquetteers close to the right and left inward and face them to their Leader And they are reduced 3. Command Front half Files face to the right and left
in the Front and Reer and then of firing by Ranks And first of Files firing in the Front 1. Files firing in the Front The right hand File and the left hand File March some distance before the head of the Troop and Rank themselves to the right and left inward and so Present and Give fire which being performed let them wheel off to the right and left outwards into the Reer of their first Station and so set themselves in their respective places even with the remainder of the Body leaving distance for every Rank to march into his proper place after they have once fired over 2. Files firing in the Reer When they have thus fired they are immediately to fall off to the right and left and March forth into their places As you observe in each firing both the Files do rank themselves and then fire Now a further exercise you may Command for each File to face in opposition and fire each to the other Firing in the Front firing in the Reer I shall now demonstrate one platforme of firing by Rank But in firing by Rank observe the first Rank may advance upon a larg Trot Gallop or Carrere as Command is given between thirty or fourty paces from the Body The first Rank having fired wheels off to the left if occasion will permit and falls into the Reer and immediatly upon the wheeling off of the first Rank the second advanceth according to Command and fireth and so the third You may fire also by divisions which is of singular use in the exercise of Horse either by firing by single divisions both in Front and Reer or in opposition both in Front and Reer also as in firing of the Files before mentioned so that I need not trouble you with any platformes of them After that these firings have been performed and the Souldier is grown expert in the handling of his Arms and well managing of his Horse there is one thing that ought not to be forgot by any Commander which is of most excellent use That is for the Souldier to be well exercised both with his Carabine and Pistol to shoote with Bullet at Marks which if it be not well exercised and taught it will be to little purpose as to the Executive part of this Art So it ought to be the care of every Chief Officer to exercise those Troops under his Command sometimes as occasion may serve in a Regimental way leaving sufficient distances betwen each Troop that each other may be relieved orderly and so to retreat in due order to avoid Confusion CHAP. X. The Conclusion BEfore I conclude these few spent hours about the Exercise of the Horse and that my demonstrating of them but three in depth I hear many brave Souldiers but old ones to make some objections against me As first in medling with that which is of too high a concern for me My answer to that is breifly That those that have writ Books of this Art although they have been gallant Souldiers if they had been in Command now and of late years to have seen what have been performed in the Executive part of the Horse service they would correct their Judgements and amend their Mode of Exercise finding in it much error and serviceable for nought but to prolong Execution as if all experienced genus's in this Art should be tyed up to the Low Country services And what I have done is but my duty if accepted else for my own private use also for my friends and relations that come after me And because there ought to be a great deal of care had in a work of this nature I leave the correction hereof to the better Learned and more Experienced in this Military Art And for the drawing of the Horse but three in File I say If the Grecian Writers were alive and some of our Modern Writers that have Commented upon them and made Collectives out of them which they have published for authentick Maximes in this Art would now much admire to see our Mode of Exercise so changed for the better 64 in a Troop When as our late Cruso in his Military instructions in his platformes of Exercise demonstrates then Eight in depth and Eight in rank And Captain Ward in his Drilling and exercise of Horse is six in File and twenty in Rank Leo Ch. 7. Sect. 81. Ch. 14. Sect. 78. 108 109. and alleadgeth it for the best and is taken out of Polibius General of the Achaeans Horse Leo writeth almost the same That if there be many horse to be exercised they are to be ordered ten in File and if but few no more but five giving this reason That if the Body be but shallow the Body will be so weak that it is subject it self to fraction Then Livie verifieth that of Leo and saith the Souldiers had then Speares of four and twenty foot in Length which was to match the Pikes of the Infantry But in some process of time as History makes it appear the Macedonians found great inconveniency in the length of those Spears and made some of them to be fifteen foot in length and being then at that length determined that five Horse in depth was too many as to be offensive to their Enemies but notwithstanding these results endeavoured to make their Battalias seem to be square and for their better advantage in shew order ten in Rank and five in File to every Troop of Horse And these depths were only in those dayes used when the Horse fought only with Spears and Guns not at all used Now if they had the use of Guns so much as we and should fire in Ranks five six eight or ten in depth and our mode of fighting being but three in File their exercise would be so long in the performance thereof that it would not only be tedious but hazzardous to us for of late years it hath been experienced and seldome known any Troops to stand it out as may be thought that time in competition for victory for we know that the ordering of our Horse in making a large Front as occasion and ground will give leave and thereby over-winging our Enemies Battalia hath proved Victorious And whereas they alleadge when they are six and eight in File they can make their body to shew powerful against their Enemy by commanding them to double their Fronts by their Middle-men or half-file-leaders and can if occasion serve take away a party in the reer and file the Enemy in their Flank or Flanks c. But this I conceive to be dangerous and of ill consequence for when we are settled in Battalia three deep we are then fixed for service and need not be troubled in doubling of the Front thereby we are free from distraction and other disturbances which are most incident by suddain motions to the breaking of Ranks and the like which contrarywise is with us for our fighting is not by wheeling off as formerly but by charging at Pistols
how a Battalia may be strengthned by doublings And that is either in the 1. Front 2. Reer or 3. Both Flanks The Front may be strengthned by Intire Doublings Divisional Doublings Intire Wheelings Divisional Wheelings Of these I shall proceed in their several Orders shewing how intire Doublings do strengthen the Front And that is by 1. Ranks 2. Bringers up 3. Half Files 1. The Front is strengthned by intire Doublings of Ranks 1. Command Ranks to the 1. Right or 2. Left Doubles Directions for doubling to the Right from the left the even Ranks from the Front move forward to the Right into the odd Ranks To reduce them Command Files to the left double or Ranks as you were The doubling of this Figure to the right doth easily make appear what is meant by doubling to the left that I need not demonstrate it 2. Command Ranks to the right and left double 1. Outward or 2. Inward 1. Directions Outward Even Ranks move outward from the Flanks with three steps forward into the odd Ranks To reduce them Ranks as you were Or Files to the right and left double inward 2. Directions inward The even Ranks move inward from the Flanks with three steps forward into the odd Ranks To reduce them Ranks as you were Or Files to the right and left double outward 3. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Directions to the right Even Ranks from the Front face to the right and march forth until they be clear of the standing Ranks then face them to their Leader and double the odd Ranks that are standing If you command them to close their Ranks forward it will be the same Figure as may be produced by commanding half files to double the front to the right the difference being only in quality not in quantity vide Fig. 3. To reduce them Command Ranks that doubled face to the left and march forth into your places Or Half Ranks of the right face to the left and double your left Flank Or Ranks as you were 4. Command Double your Ranks inward intire Directions Every even Rank from the Reer face to the right and left out wards and march until they be clear of the standing part then let every even Rank from the Front which is the standing part move forwards into the Front 5. Command Double your Ranks to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Every man placing himself on the outside of his right hand man This doubling is the same in Figure with the third they differ only in place the quantity being the same Directions Every even Rank from the Front face to the right and march placing your selves on the outside of your right hand men To reduce them Command Right half ranks double your left flank each placing your selves on the inside of his left hand man 2. Intire doublings for the strengthening of the Front by Bringers-up 6. Command Bringers-up double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Directions for doubling to the right Bringers up move forwards with your right legs and pass through ranking themselves even with the Front the rest following successively and placing themselves even with the standing ranks To reduce them Command Bringers up or Reer half files face about to the left and march into your places OR Even files from the left double your depth to the left each fall behind his accidental bringer-up or half file-leader When they march into their places the half file-leaders who were the last that took their places now in this reducement must be the first to take their places 7. Command Bringers-up double your Front to the right and left 1. Outward 2. Inward This I never saw but once in a private Exercise but I conceive it more out of curiosity than of necessity And because it is suitable to the second Command of Ranks I need not demonstrate them in Figures as the even ranks move and take their respective places in the second Figure in this the bringers-up are to be the first movers to the right and left either outwards or inwards If outwards then it is to be performed from the midst of the Reer from the right and left into the Front To reduce them Command The odd files from the right and left flank double your depth to the right and left inwards every man falling behind his accidental bringer-up If inwards then it ought to be performed from the flanks to the right and left inwards even into the Front To reduce them Command The even files from each flank double your depth to the right and left inwards all falling behind his accidental bringer-up 3. Intire doublings for the strengthening of the Front by half-files 8. Command Half files double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Directions If to the right the half file-leaders must pass through or move forwards to the right into the Front and the succeeding ranks are to follow them To reduce them Command Even files from the left double your depth to the left Or Half files face about to the left and march forth into your places Or Half files as you were 9. Command Half files double your Front to the right and left 1. Outwards 2. Inwards What I have declared in the seventh Command I do the same here However I shall demonstrate the Command by doubling outwards 1. Directions It is to be performed from the midst of the half files to the right and left into the Front To reduce this Command The odd files from the right and left flank double your depth to the right and left inward OR Halfe files face about to the right and march forth into your places 2. Directions If the command be inward then it is to be performed from the flanks of the half files marching even into the Front To reduce them Command Even files from each flank double your depth to the right and left outwards OR Half files as you were 10. Command Half files double your Front to the 1. Right 2. Left Intire Directions to the right Half files face to the right and march until they be clear of the front half files then face them to their Leader and march them up even with the Front To reduce this Command Half files face about to the right and march forth into your places OR Half ranks of the right double the depth of your left flank intire 11. Command Half files double your Front inward intire Directions Front half files face to the right and left outwards and march until they be clear of the Reer half files then face them to their Leader and stand Then let the reer half files march up even into the Front To reduce them Half files upon the intire motion face about and march Front half files face to the right and left inward and close your Divisions OR Reer half files double the depth of your Front half files intire face all to the right and left inward and close your Divisions
the depth of the standing files intire to the right and left inwards 2. If you face them to their proper Front then to reduce them Command The three first and the three last Ranks double your left flank intire That is The three last Ranks face about and wheel to the right and the three first Ranks wheel about to the left all moving and meet in opposition in the midst of the left flank then face them to their Leader I have ended those Doublings whose Battalia's are strengthened in the Front Reer and both Flanks Although they may not be useful at all times in the field service yet it is not amiss for every Commander to be well grounded in the knowledge of them that by his experience therein he may not be silent when occasion serveth nor the Souldier seeking what to do when he may be commanded They are so necessary that some are delightful in private Exercises and most of them profitable in Field or Garrison I am sure the Ingenious if once experienced herein will confess them to be of such absolute necessity as not in the least to be slighted by any And further it is adjudged to be most convenient for all the Chief Officers to bend their thoughts before the time of Service to make their Commands as short as possible may be in order to which see Chapt. 8. and 11. I do declare that I have heard some of our late young Eltonists to be too tedious in their Commands and Reducements I shall advise the young Souldier to follow the Rules of Barriffe Ward Bingham and Hexham for there is in them enough to direct for most Services and then they may peruse Elton at last whose worth as I have been informed is not to be laid in the dust without the due respects belonging to a Souldier and I hope now a Loyal Subject CHAP. XI YOu may perceive in those several Commands for the strengthening of the Flanks and their Figures being produced and have closed some of their Files as occasion may offer it self they are one and the same in Number but not in Place As in the 8. Chapter I have also in this set down the several Commands that produce one and the same Figure yet the Commands are distinct and several all which if the Officer please to endeavour the remembring of How that such and such Commands will produce such a Figure he may in the hottest disputes take the shortest Commands to expedite his motions having respect to his Ground for the execution of them 1. Files to the right double Command 1. Produceth one and the same Figure Files to the right double advancing Comm. 2. Files to the right and left double 1. Outward 2. Inward Comm. 3. and 4. Double your Ranks to the right and left 1. Outward advancing 2. Inward advancing Comm. 5. Double your Files to the right intire advancing Comm. 6. Double your Files to the right intire advancing every man placing himself before his Leader Comm. 7. Files double your depth to the right intire Comm. 8. Files double your depth to the right placing your selves behind your Bringers-up Comm. 9. Double your Files to the right and left by Division Com. 17. 2. Half Ranks of the left double your right flank to the right Com. 11. Produceth one and the same Figure Half Ranks double your right flank to the right and left outwards  3. Half Ranks double your right flank by turning off to the right Com. 11. Produceth one and the same Figure Pag. Command 16. Half Ranks to the right by countermarch double your left flank Com. 13. Left half flanks double your right flank to the right and left by countermarch 1. Outward 2. Inward Com. 14. Left half Ranks wheel and double your right flank to the right intire Com. 18. Left half Ranks wheel off to the right and left and double your right flank by Division Com. 20. Left half Ranks double your right flank intire advancing Com. 15. These Figures are much alike only the change of Ground Left half Ranks double intire the depth of your right flank Com. 16. A very good Figure is produced by the. Com. 17.  Wheeling Front and Reer into the right flank Com. 19. This being an accidental Front is the same Figure with the 5.10 and 15. Command for the strengthening of the proper Front by the doubling of Ranks CHAP. XII I Shall now treat of that which is called in a more particular manner Inversion and Conversion shewing you what is meant by them And the nature and use of those several Commands most in practice belonging to each of them 1. Inversion produceth a File or Files That is either by Files filing or Ranks filing 2. Conversion produceth a Rank or Ranks That is either By increase of File ranking by Even or Vneven Parts Of Ranks ranking to the Right or Left Of Ranks wheeling to the Right or Left Flank Observe That in the performance of most of these Works there must be either a double or twice double distance of Ground But it must be the Commanders care so to open his Ranks or Files at such distances as the quantity of Ground will give leave I shall not demonstrate the Commands in the same method as I have the Doublings for the strengthening of the Front but shall insist in that method already set down because I find the reception hereof to be somewhat of difficulty with some of our Rural Officers First Inversion of files or tiles filing in sequence Secondly Files filing by countermarch 1. Command Files file to the 1. Right 2. Left To perform this to the right Command The right hand file to march away single clear of the body then the File leader of the next File is to fall in after the bringer up of the first File and so all the rest until the whole Body become one single file To reduce this Command File leaders lead up you Files to to the left OR Files file six to the left 2. Command Files file to the Right or Left intire advancing To perform this to the right The right hand file stand the second from the right advanceth into the Front of the first the third into the Front of the second and the rest successively into the Front of each other until they may be made one direct file To reduce this Command Face all about to the right Files file six to the right into the Reer OR As they stand without facing Command File six to the right gathering towards the Front 3. Command Files file inward into the right Flank To perform this Command Half files face about then file leader and bringer up of the left flank advance forward and each file of the half files from the left are to fall successively into the Reer of each file until they have made one intire then face them to their leader To reduce them Command Reer half files face about to the left Front half files file three
motion And if you place them behind their right hand men then let the right hand men face about to the left and the rest pass through and fall behind them Figure 9. A Counter word of Command will reduce them c. There are many Countermarches that produce one and the same Figure provided you close your Divisions and face them to their proper Front only they differ in place First therefore you may briefly observe that in those Countermarches that Maintain their Ground the first second third fourth and fifth Commands then in losing of ground the first second third fourth fifth tenth and eleventh Commands and in gaining of Ground the first second third fourth fifth sixth and seventh do and will produce one and the same Figure Secondly Also for maintaining of Ground the sixth and seventh and in losing of Ground the sixth seventh and eighth and also in gaining of Ground the ninth Commands produce one and the same Figures Oserve For the Countermarchings of half Ranks see in the doublings of the Flanks thirteenth and fourteenth Commands they producing the same Figures as the eleventh and twelfth Figures by all which you will the better understand the one for the other Although Countermarches are of great Antiquity and used amongst the Graecians yet it is not much of use in our present Mode of Discipline Therefore to conclude though knowledge of them be no burthen yet to be exercised in the face of an Enemy may prove prejudicial and the best expert in this Art allow that they may be best spared of any motions whatever CHAP. XVI Of Wheelings I Am to treat of Wheelings and the several uses of them as to the strengthening of the Front Reer and both Flanks Before you enter upon them take these four Observations 1. That you close your Ranks and Files to your Order 3. Foot 2. That in all your Wheelings you keep a due distance to your Leader 3. That in all Commands for Wheelings such moderation is to be used in their motions that they on the contrary flank be not forced by running to disorder themselves 4. That your Arms be at such Postures as may be equivalent to each other This is If the Musquets be poysed the Pikes are to be advanced which are the Postures best to be used in these Motions There are two sorts of Wheelings First Angular Wheelings Secondly Wheelings on the midst or Center I shall not use the word Center for it is more proper to a Circular body than to a square These in their Motions or Actions are termed either Intire or Divisional 1. Intire Wheelings are for the gaining of ground upon the Enemy or to fight him with your best men as occasion serveth turning the first Aspect wholly to the Command given 2. Divisional Wheelings being performed extend the Battle either in length or depth And may for the most part of them be called Doublings I have in the exercise of Doublings demonstrated some of them by Figures and shall not recite them here again but quote them by their several numbers of Commands First I shall begin with Angular Wheelings And they so called because the corner man to which the Aspect is commanded is the main hinge of the motion Observe the Wheelings to the right and to the left To the right and left about are termed Angular And for the Wheelings to the right and left and to the right and left about on the same Ground are Wheelings on the midst of the Front all which are Intire the other Divisional Center 1. Command Wheel your Body all or your Battle to the 1. Right Intire Angular Wheelings or 2. Left This Wheeling moves the main Body from the Ground whereon it first stood and placeth it on the right Flank causing the Aspects of the proper Front to be upon the same Observe that the right hand man is to move to the right hand with a very small Motion and every man else to remember that the farther off he is from the Right Angle the swifter must his motion be To reduce them Wheel to the left But this will not transfer them to the same Ground But to reduce them to their first Aspect on the same Ground you must face them all to the right then wheel them to the left and facing them to the left it is compleâted 2. Command Wheel your Body all or your Battle to the 1. Right or 2. Left about This turneth the Aspect towards the Reer Now by reason the motion is twice as much as the former there ought to be the greater care had in the performance of it observing so much the motion of the right hand man that they fail not of being even in Rank with him To reduce them to their first Ground face to the right wheel to the left about then face them to the left Although to the left about may reduce them but not on the same Ground You may observe that Wheelings are the most facil for their Reducements as for Example Wheel your Flanks into the Front is reduced by wheeling your Flanks into the Reer OR To wheel your Front and Reer into both Flanks is reduced by Wheeling both Flanks into your Front and Reer c. Secondly I proceed to Wheelings on the midst or Center of the Front which are Intire and Divisional and are quicker in their motions and performed on less Ground 1. Command Wheel your battle to the 1. Right 2. Left on the same ground Intire This is termed Grove Van Nawsaw's Wheeling But it is a wonder to me why our Antient and Modern Writers call these Commands Wheelings on the same Ground when I am sure there will be ground lost in the motion from the first they stood upon In a direct square this may be better performed and less loss of Ground To perform this Command The left Flank advance forward still wheeling to the right and the right flank contrarywise facing to the left and keep falling backwards even in Reer with the left half ranks and so still moving unto the place commanded face all to the right flank You may wheel to the left also To reduce this Wheel your Battle to the left on the same Ground 2. Command Wheel your Body to the 1. Right or 2. Left about on the same Ground The direction to the former will serve for the performance of this only the motion is double as much and their faces are turned from the first Front toward the Reer To reduce this wheel your Battle to the left about on the same Ground Divisional Wheelings Bingham 2. part Tactic pag. 92. 3. Command Wheel to the right and left from the Front OR Wheel off your Front by Division Or if you will not go so far then wheel your Front into the Flanks by Division This wheeling your Front into the Flanks by Division produceth the same Figure with Figure â If upon occasion Musquetteers be on the Front of the Pikes by
present incumbrance This experience hath discovered and that firing upon motion to be the most speediest and safest way for firing in the Reer Now for a Publick Exercise when you have fired over once you may then face them to their Leader and fire in the Front But if you be upon a march and should be pursued by an Enemies Horse then Wheel your Flanks into the Front and face to the Reer your Pikes will defend your Body so your Musquetteers may fire over them as in the 17. Figure by extraduction and reduced accordingly Secondly In firing to the Reer the Musquetteers may be in the Reer of the Pikes And first having fired they are to wheel off and place themselves between the Front of Musquetteers and Reer of Pikes And secondly having fired in the Reer they may wheel off by Division and march into the Front of Pikes the Body still marching Or if both flanks be in the Reer they may fire wheel off by Division and double both flanks This last hath reduced it self and for the second you may for exercise fire them in the Front and in their wheeling off to flank their Pikes or for expedition for the Musquetteers to open to the right and left and march the Pikes up in the interval and they are reduced as at first You may perceive the use of firings in the Reer and that the Souldier ought to be very well exercised in them For a true experience herein doth not only add to the perfection of the Souldier but his safety also Before I conclude this Chapter I shall add two Figures of firing in Front and Reer marching 3. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until you be clear of the Front of Pikes Face in opposition and close your Divisions So for the reer half files face about to the right and march until you be clear of the Reer of Pikes face them in opposition and close their Divisions Having fired their first and last Ranks they wheel off to the right and left by Division the Front Division are to place themselves even in Rank with the Front of Pikes and the Reer Division of Musquetteers are to place themselves even in Rank with the Bringers-up and so each Rank successively after each other will reduce this Figure 4. Command Half Files of Musquetteers fire to your Front and Reer placing your selves between your Divisions This firing is plain without direction and the firing being ended they are reduced CHAP. XX. Of Firings in the Flanks THere are reasons to be given and Experience hath found it necessary for firing in the Flanks When you are upon a March an Enemy may endeavour an assault to molest you in your passages that your disadvantages may be the greater either by ambushments laid against you or to frustrate your designs Now in the performance hereof there are several circumstances that are to be taken notice of as the strength of your Enemy the time number and place all for your own security or advantages against him I shall begin with some Exercises upon the right flank and what is performed there by Figure may also be performed upon the left hand In order hereunto pass all your Musquetteers into your right flank by Commanding Musquetteers of the right Flank open to the right and being opened to a convenient distance stand then Musquetteers of the left Flank pass through your Ranks of Pikes to the interval of the right Flank then stand and face to your Leader Your facings to the right or left is that by which the flanks become accidental fronts and then for the firings thereupon you may to your discretion use such as are most convenient being already shewn Chapter 18. I shall not here take up any room with the demonstrations thereof and shall shew but some few firings in the right flank as the Body shall be marching in all which you are to observe the Pikes are to be shouldered 1. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and wheel after your Bringers-up between your Divisions And this at the discretion of the Commander is done two wayes either by commanding to be lead into their places by their File-leader or by their Bringers-up and to place themselves before them c. Here by this Figure they in the first place as the Body is marching face to the right the outmost File presents and gives fire after their firing they face to the right and after their Bringer-up who leads them off in the Reer of the Musquetteers and up into the Interval between the Pikes and Musquets until the Bringer-up of the File hath placed himself even in breast with the Frontiers and so the marching Party as Command shall be given are to open that the Files of Musquetteers after they have fired may march up between the Divisions and so every File is successively to fire and wheel off and place it self This firing being performed twice over they are Reduced If but once you must countermarch your files of Musquetteers to reduce them 2. You may secondly after they have fired Command them to face to the right and to wheel off every man placing himself before his Bringer up or present Leader hereby the Bringer up will be in his due place and the file-leader in his proper place also 3. A Third way of firing upon this Figure is to fire in the right flank and to be lead off into their places by their respective File-leaders The Body marching the outmost File faceth to the right and fires and when the body is marched clear of the standing file then the next file presents to the right and fires and whilest he is firing the first file that is fired faceth to the left and marcheth up between the Musquetteers and Pikes Observing the former directions in their march that there may be space enough in the Interval for the several Files successively to march into these places 4. There is a fourth way of firing that is to give fire to the right and gather up your Files The Body marching the outmost file faceth to the right fires then stands and faceth to their Leader Then when the Body is clear of the standing file the second file faceth to the right and fires and stands also facing to their Leader then the first file is to advance up to the second and so when the first and second have fired they are to be lead up to the third Thus having fired they are to be lead up even in breast to the file that last fired and having all fired they are to be marcht up even with the Front Pikes To reduce this Command Left half Ranks of Musquetteers face to the left Pikes face to the right pass through interchanging of Ground Face to your Leader How beneficial this may be to the security of the Souldier they that will make use of it that are ingenious will better judge but I am of opinion it is more fit for a private Exercise
they may not touch each other but that the Match in its turning or Coyles have its sides equally distant one from the other then throw again upon that a good quantity of Sand and coyl in the Cord again as before Continue thus your work until your pot be full then cover the pot with a cover of the same earth and close well the joynts with Lute made of fat Earth that no Air may enter This being well and surely done put lighted coals round about the pot and let it stand in this posture some time then take it away and let it stand until it be quite cold before you open it When 't is perfectly cold take off the Cover pour out the Sand and draw out the match for 't is prepared and will burn as we have said CHAP. XXIV Of the Square and Cube Roots VVE have already in the Second Chapter of this Book shewn the way of molding and casting peices of Ordnance if well understood you cannot be ignorant in the way of Casting Shot Therefore to avoyd any thing that might be tedious or unnecessary to the Students of this art we will come to the most necessary things concerning Shot that is such as every Gunner ought to know But because most of the propositions depend upon the knowledg of the Square and Cube Roots which many though otherwise knowing in most common Arithmetick do not understand I thought it good therefore to shew the Extraction of the Square and Cube Roots after a very easie way with the necessary propositions in Gunnery thereunto belonging A Table of Squares and Cubes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Roots 1. 4. 9. 16. 25. 36. 49. 64. 81. Squares 1. 8. 27. 64. 125. 216. 343. 512. 729. Cubes The Extraction of the Square Root Set down any number of figures as you shall think good as 2735716 then begin at your first right hand figure that is at 6 and make a prick under it and so along every other figure as you may see here already done and seeing the first prick to the left hand falls to be under 2 therefore seek in the Table above in the ranck of Squares for this number 2 or the nearest number less which here we find to be 1 and over it we find the Root to be 1 which must be placed in the quotient and likewise under the first prick to the left hand then having 1 for a Divisor and 1 for the quotient say but the common Rule of Division 1 times 1 is one 1 from 2 and there remains 1 which sent over the 2 then double the quotient and it makes 2 which place between the two first pricks to the left hand that is under 7 then say how many times 2 in 17 here you must be very cautious not to take too many which here may be six times place the 6 in the quotient as before and under the second prick that is under 3 and divide as before then double the quotient which is now 16 and it makes 32 place the 2 between the second and third prick viz. under 5 and the 3 before it under the 6 so the 32 will stand under the 175 which is above then say how many times 3 in 17 which you will find to be 5 place it in the quotient and under the third prick and divide as before always setting the Remainder over the head of its proper figures then double the quotient again which is now 165 and it makes 330 place the 0 between the two pricks as before and place the figures before it to the left hand as you see above and the first figure to the left will be 3 which stands under 13 then say how many times 3 in 13 which will be 4 which place in the quotient and under the fourth or last prick and divide as before so you will find no Remainder which assures the number given to be a square number The proof of these is known by multiplying the square Root found in it self taking in the remains if any be and it must produce that given number otherwise it is false Note how many pricks you have and so many numbers must the quotient consist of If the number given be not a true Square then a fraction will remain which fraction you may find out the value thereof to a tenth hundredth or a thousandth part c. Doing thus set next to the right hand after the Sum proposed two four or six cyphers or more for the more cyphers you put the less is your Error and every two cyphers will produce a fractional figure more than the Integers belonging to the proper quotient which are tenths hundredths or thousand parts of a Unite according to the number of cyphers added that is if you add two cyphers then you find the tenths of a Unite c. But the Square Root being not of so much use in Gunnery as the Cube Root we shall proceed no farther to Exemplifie the same supposing it to be done already in the Treatise of Military Discipline The Extraction of the Cube Root Begin at your right hand as you did in Extracting the Square Root and set pricks under every fourth figure that is leave two figures unprickt or between the pricks and so proceed to the left until you have done as here you see 7 5 6 7 8 7 3 2 the number of pricks shew the number of figures that will be in the quotient Then see by the Table before in this Chapter the nearest Cube to the numbers standing over the first prick to the right hand which is 75 I search in the Table of Cubes and find the nearest number to it in the Table of Cubes to be 64 and its Root 4 which must be set down in the quotient and likewise its Cube 64 under the prick and if that number doth not amount to so much as the number standing over the prick then substract it from the same and set the Remainder overhead Then triple the quotient and that triple you must set under the next number to the right hand before that prick where you did last end Multiply that tripled number by the quotient and set it down under the first triple and that number let be your Divisor Then as in common Division must you look how many times the Divisor in the figures is standing over them and place that in the quotient This done Multiply your quotient by your Divisor and set it under your Divisor with a Line between Then multiply the last figure in the quotient by it self and then in the triple and set that figure under the former one figure more to the right hand Lastly Multiply the last figure cubically and set that Sum also one figure to the Right hand then add all these three multiplications together and substract it out of figures standing over the first and second prick and the Remainder set over them This done again triple the quotient and proceed exactly as
may at one and the same time charge either in the Front or Reer in Front and Reer also in Front Reer and Flank and of these I shall demonstrate some that I at first learnt and some amongst others that are most convenient to be learnt Now that the Souldier might be expert in his firings against the Enemy let him be often exercised with firings only in the pan falling off and on as shall be Commanded All which being well performed by the Musquetteers is a full accomplishment of what hath been before taught him by which the Commander shall be credited and the Souldier preferred to his merit Of firing by forlorne files 1. That which is to be used in our modern exercise is two manner of wayes the two outmost files of each flank of Musquetteers to march with two Serjeants so far as shall be commanded and there to stand and the foremost ranks are to give fire and to fall into the Reer of themselves either by wheeling off to the right or to the right and left Then let the remaining do the like and fall into their places Those that have fired are to fall off on the inside of the Musquetteers between them and the Pikes and as they are thus trooping back after firing to their places the rest are in like manner to move away and fire and fall in next the Pikes 2. Accordingly as you draw out two files so you may draw out more files to the number of Musquetteers and so to fire and fall into the Reer of themselves and places c. 3. You may move them all clear of the Pikes and let them open from the midst leaving sufficient Intervals for their wheelings in the Reer of themselves and then to place themselves even with their Pikes the second having fired as before place themselves in the Reer of the first division c. 4. Advance the two outmost files by the Serjeants who are to lead them to the place for execution as by order received Commanding 1. Files to rank inward to present and give fire all together 2. You may rank inward two Files or more and fire as before And having fired are to wheel off to the right and left by their respective file leaders placing themselves next the Pikes I proceed to a second way of firing and that is by Ranks First By advancing before the Front Secondly firing even with the Front Thirdly firing even with the half files Advancing before the Front may be performed by advancing of single ranks and so firing in the Front or by advancing of both flanks into the Front before the Pikes and so to fire by single ranks Which is performed by Commanding Demyhearse 5. Pikes stand Musquetteers move forward and place your selves before in the Front of your Pikes and close your Divisions I mention nothing to tye up the hand of the ingenious to any stinted form whose ablities may command his figures at pleasure Observe that when the forlorn files or Ranks march out they are to give fire as upon a retreit that is to stand and fire and wheel off that their followers may do the like unless the Enemy give ground And when the two last ranks were presented the next two ranks must be ready to march forward being fixed to present and give fire also Thus having fired in the Front by one single Rank or more they are by wheeling off to place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions before the Pikes the rest doing the like until they have all fired round A second way of firing by this figure shall be a reducement to it First The Frontiers having performed their firing are to wheel off by division until they come down so low as to be even to the first ranks of Pikes and so to rank even a breast All the Musquetteers are so to do successively and flank themselves even with the Pikes 6. Ranks advancing from the Front of a standing Battalia A Serjeant from each Flank leading up the two formost Ranks according to order the first Rank is to give fire wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions the second in order is to execute the same with speed being not above three foot distance from the first being ready with his Musquett palm'd his Cock bent and Muzzel mounted so to Present and give fire and so to wheel off and place themselves as their Leaders had done before them 7. Ranks firing even with the Front The first Rank having fired and wheeled off placing themselves in the Reer of their Divisions the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places making good their leaders ground and there to present and give fire wheeling off and placing themselves as by the former directions By the way you must observe if the body be upon a march the Pikes must be shouldered and when they come to charge they are to close forward at their close order It is presupposed ere one firing or two be performed or past over the bodies are almost close Then the Pikes are to be at their Port and at length to be at their absolute Charge and push home and being so near they may do great execution with their Musquets firing upon the half files of Pikes as if they were even with the Front Which brings me to 8. Ranks firing even with the half files When the Pikes are charging then the musquetteers may perform this who are to advance no further than the half files of Pikes and there you may either fire one Rank or more at the discretion of the Commander and as soon as every Rank hath fired successively they are to wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own leaders When the firing is ended and each Souldier in his proper place the Musquetteers marching up even in breast with the Front of Pikes they are reduced But in this firing the Musquetteers are to make good their leaders ground except it be upon a retreit then they are to fire upon the same ground and to wheel off that their followers may doe the like unless the Enemy give ground Horn. Bat. 9. Command Pikes stand Musquetteers march until the bringers up rank even with the Front You may in this as with some of the former fire two Ranks ten paces advanced before the Front and so whel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own files OR Secondly let the first Rank of Musquetteers present and give fire and wheel off to the right and left placing themselves in the Reer of their own files then the second Rank firing are to advance into their leaders place firing and wheeling off in the same manner and so they are all successively to do the like Then Thirdly when they have all given fire let them begin again and the file leaders having fired they are to wheel off to the right and left flank themselves even with the Pikes the second Rank
accident should fall out that all the superiour Officers of a Company should be absent then the Command doth belong to him 2. To his place belongeth properly the charge of one division or squadron of the Company he is to see them well exercised in their Armes and that his deportment with them may be Souldier like he is to deliver them Munition of Victuals or Armes he is to govern the Watch and to divide the labour of his Souldiers equally either in watch work or service and to take care in every respect to do the duties of a good Souldier 3. When the Drum beateth to gather the Company together the Corporals are immediatly to be in a readiness themselves and to call together their Divisions and with them he shall repair to their Ensign and if any of them be wanting without leave they shall give notice thereof to the Captain and shall prosecute their said absence to the puishment of them 4. He shall have a third part or a fourth in his division which being divided into files he shall himself be leader of the chief file and is with the same alwayes to take place on the right hand of his division 5. He shall in any case of default either of leaders or bringers up see that they be supplied by the next 6. In marching or fighting the Corporals of a Company have no Command but of the file that each of them leadeth they are to see the opening of their files or ranks or to double the same to follow the sound of the Drum and to observe every other motion that shall be commanded by the chief Officer Alwayes provided that he start not out of his place nor use any Command of himself 7. He is to observe the beat or sound of the Drum and shall see them fully furnished of their Arms Powder Bullets Match or Flints and all things else that shall be necessary for the Armes they carry whereof the Serjeant is to supply them 8. He is to be lead by a Serjeant to the place of his watch and from him to receive the word and directions in what manner and where he shall place his Sentinels as well by day as in the night which he is to see performed 9. His Sentinel being placed he is to let none to pass his Guard without the Word unless it be to the Captain of the watch or the Serjeant-major to whom after he knoweth them he is to deliver the word to the first Round He shall direct the Sentinels that every one do the like he shall see them changed at due time and shall now and then visit them unlook'd for 10. He must warn his Sentinel to give no false Alarms but with as small a noyse as is possible to advertise his said Corporal who upon an extraordinary occasion shall put his division in Armes and give notice of the danger discovered to the next Guards and to the Captain of the watch 11. He shall make good the place of his guard until he be called from thence and not to suffer any of the Corporalships to leave the same till he be relieved And he shall fullfil all commandements for the entring or going forth of any Souldiers 12. At the coming of his relief he shall put all the Souldiers in his division into Arms and stand ready to receive them and when his Sentinels are relieved march to his quarter 13. If during the time of Watch any of the Souldiers under his Corporalship shall offend he is to commit him or to acquaint his chief officer therewith 14. If by any occasion the Company remove and he be drawn from the guard before the twenty four hours be expired and that the same Companies lodge again within the same time then shall the said Corporal with his Souldiers be in readiness to watch out the residue of the time and in such place as shall be appointed 15. As a Corporal is next in degree to a Serjeant so in behaving himself well he may pretend to the place of a Serjeant when by any accident it may be void The Office of Lansprizado 1. Next to the Corporal is the Lansprizado who is in the absence of the Corporal to do his office 2. His own proper place is to lead the left hand file of the same division and to have his own and the files adjoyning to the same in care observing their orders as is specified in the Corporals office The Office of a Drum There ought to be two Drummers at least in a Company both of them perfect in every necessary beat or sound thereof which by turns are to do all the service belonging to their place and therefore in the field or Garrison one of them is to give attendance to the Quarter though the Company were at that time free from any duty 2. The Drum having warning to beat for the gathering of the company shall go beating from one end of the quarter to the other twice and then he shall repair to the Ensigns lodgings 3. While the Company march the one must beat constantly and by turns ease each other 4. When the Company shall be joyned with others the Drums shall take place by the appointment of the Drum-major and shall beat the same point of War and observe the same time that Drum doth that is next to the Colonel or Chief Officer 5. It is the Office of a Drum when any of the Company are taken prisoners to inquire after them and carry their Ransom which he may do boldly after he hath received a Passport from the General or Commander in Chief of the Army where the Company is And when he shall come near any place of the Enemies he must beat or sound thrice and not approach too near till he be by some of the Enemy fetched in 6. He is only to make his errand known and not to discover any thing of the estate of the place from whence he was sent which may be prejudicial to him A Military discourse Whether it be better for ENGLAND To give an Invader present battel or to temporise and defer the same AS it is familiar and common amongst men to be diverse and contrarie in opinion especially in every doubtful and questionable matter according to the old saying so many men so many minds every man must therefore prepare himself with a good and equal contentedness to endure what others do censure and judge of his position as either their reason shall lead them or their sense and humour carry them Neither ought any man challenge greater prerogative to his opinion than he bringeth with him authority of reason for the same And seeing that reason joyned with experience is the only guide to direct us in all affaires of Action whereunto all our opinions and judgments must be restrained we must submit our private conceipts to be ruled by reason and experience In things of great importance and weight as it behoveth us to be very considerate before we resolve