some most conuenient place together then and there to be instructed in the orders how to march how to encampe and how to fight deuiding them into so many parts or battaillions as vnto their chiefe Officer shall seeme good Gent. What course would you wish the Captaine of a single companie to obserue in the trayning of his souldiers Capt. First hauing his companie leauied and chosen of the better sort of people as is said let your rawe Captaine for so I terme those which neuer were in action prouide himselfe if possible he may of a good Lieutenant and a sufficient Sergeant and a skilfull Drummer Then let his people be suted with such sort of weapon as is appointed The which I would wish to be as I haue said before to euery hundred of men 25. muskets 25. Calliuers and 40. or more of pikes and corslets and the rest short weapon as halberds swordes and targets and such like Now hauing suted euery man with a conuenient weapon I would wish your Muster-maister if your Captaine haue not the skil for your Muster-master ought to be a man of experience first to declare vnto them the partes that ought to be in a souldier in generall as before is declared then to ensigne them the right carriage of their armes and weapon then to knowe the seuerall soundes of the Drumme next to learne to keepe his ranke and file orderly and so to march eyther swift or slowe step by step with the sound of the Drumme then how to keep their array being cast into a ring or any other forme with the comming out againe and returning into a counter-ring and out of the same into a march and counter-march then how to make their Alto or stand and how to double their rankes vntill they bring themselues into a iust square of men if their numbers will permit it and how to double their â—â—les eyther vpon the left or right hand and so to fall off againe both from file and ranke and being in squadron how to turne their faces on either or any part making front on any flank or traine as occasion shall be offered Then the perfect vse and managing of euerie weapon in his due nature and kind and so by a continuall vse they may by good instructers become soone to be ready souldiers Gent. Here be manie good parts vnder a few words but they are too briefe for me to vnderstand wherefore I pray dilate more at large thereof and first what meane you by the cariage of his weapon Cap. To discourse vpoÌ„ al these points particularly it wold be ouer long might better be shewed in act theÌ„ in words yet to satisfie you somewhat herein I will speak of the particulars here there as I shal be occasioned shal cal theÌ„ to memory First therfore the soldier that is appointed to cary a calliuer is first to be ensigned how to cary his peece vpon his left shoulder with his flaske at his girdle or haÌ„ging by at Port-flask or Flask-leather vpoÌ„ the right thigh vpoÌ„ the left side of his girdle to haue his touchboxe fastened by the string hanging downe somwhat long by the strings sufficient to be taken and to prime his peece with touch-powder and on his right side a Bullet bagge or purse of canuas or leather for bullets Also some three or foure yards of match in seuerall peeces hanging at his girdle with one peece of match of a yard long in his left hand holden fast by the third finger of the same hand hauing the one or both the endes of the same lighted or fired Also to be prouided of a priming iron or wyer of a steele and flint stone to strike fire vpon any suddaine occasion either to spare the burning of match or to fire their matches if the same do chance to go out Then how to charge his peece either with his flask or bandelier theÌ„ to let slip the bullet down into the barrell after the powder and to ramme the same with paper tow or such like thrusting the same downe with the scouring stick if time will permit or else a more readier way thus After that the bullet is slipped downe vnto the powder to put after the same some two or three cornes of powder which will wedge fast the bullet This being done let him hold his Calliuer with his left hand as in his charging hee ought to do the like griping the same by the stocke somewhat neare vnder the cock betwixt his thombe and foure fingers then holding the nose of his peece somwhat vpward for not to endaÌ„ger his fellows to take the one end of his lighted match with his forefinger midle finger thoÌ„be of his right haÌ„d so to cock the same hauing a regard that it may fall due within the pan finally if it be a crooked stock peece to set the same vnto the left side of his breast retiring his right foot some halfe step behind the left or aduancing the left foot some halfe pace before the right and so to take his due leuel holding the hindermost part of the stocke betwixt the thombe and fore-finger of his right hand with the other three fingers to draw to the serre so to discharge his peece with agility hauing done the which to retire souldier-like and charge againe giuing place to his next fellow or seconder But being a straight stocked peece the which I hold for the better he is to place the same vpon the right side of his breast fast against his shoulder leuelling and discharging as aforesaid And for other armes he is to be fitted with a short sword and meane dagger and a Spanish morion Now the musketier is to cary his musket vpon his left or right shoulder for it importeth not much on whether so they obserue the order of the first rancke with his Forke or rest in his left hand fastned about his hand wrest or little finger by a string hauing his flask and touchbox fitted as before is sayd or hauing a bandalier the same to be ouer the left shoulder and vnder the right arme Now to charge the same he must hold his musket with his left hand hauing his rest trayling by the string and put the but end of the stocke vpon the ground then with his flaske or bandalier to charge his peece with powder slipping downe the bullet into the barrell after the same and to fasten it with two or three cornes of powder as is aforesayd then to clappe the musket into his forke planting the lower end or pike of the rest into the ground neare vnto his left foote and resting the but ende of the stocke vpon his left thigh then to prime his pan with touch powder And hauing his match ready as before is sayd to take the peece of match that hangeth by the midle or third finger of his left hand betwixt the thombe
and fore finger of his right hand and with his middle finger to measure at what length to cocke the same to fall with a proportioned length into the pan The which being done let him retire his right foote somwhat backe and stand firme vpon the same and holding fast both the musket and rest with his left hand to raise the but end of his musket from his thigh vnto his breast and to fasten the same firme and close vnto his right shoulder and brest holding fast the sayd hinder part of the stocke betwixt his right thombe and fore finger drawing downe the serre with the other three fingers and so taking due leuell to discharge Hauing performed the which let him vncocke his match clap his musket vpon his shoulder with a halfe turne and so retire trailing his rest or forke by the stringe and giuing place to others go charge again finally for other armes a reasonable short sword a meane dagger with no morion but a faire hat and feather Gent. Thus I perceiue your fiery shot haue many busie skils without knowledge of all the which it is hard to become a perfect shot Capt. True and therefore often to be practised But here let the muster-maister and trayning Captaine be well aduised not to suffer their shot to cary any bullet about them in time of their trainings and fained skirmishes for feare of danger that might thereby ensue among themselues But now and then after their training to take euery shot single and to see him charge his peece orderly with pouder and bullet as aforesaid and hauing a great but erected to that purpose the which ought to be in euery hundred or Baily-wicke to cause them to leuell and discharge at the blancke thereof orderly one after another encouraging those which do make the fairest shot Now for the Pike which the Spaniards do tearme SenÌ„ora y Reyna de las armas the Queene and mistresse of weapons The souldier which carieth the same is to bee well armed with a good corslet furnished with his gorget Morion tasses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets also to be armed as he ought to be whatsoeuer opinion other men may hold to the contrary supposing a bare payre of Cuyrasses onely sufficient but I am of opinion that the armed Picquier ought to bee armed in all points as I haue said for defence and then to offend to be weaponed with a good Pike of ground Ashe of seuenteen or eighteen foote long at the least well and strongly headed with the cheekes three foote long or there about and for other weapon to weare a good short sword and dagger for the dagger is a weapon of great aduantage in Pell mell And if it be replied that the souldier so heauie armed is not for any great march or speedy execution I say that among well ordered Regiments there are also yet some vnarmed pikes that is without any corslet or at the most the bare cuyrats onely and morion the which the Italians do call Picche secche Now these are reserued imployed in such peeces of light seruice And the Picquier either armed or vnarmed is to be shewed and taught the carriage and vse of his pike as first to tertiar or carry the same orderly vpon his shoulder holding the same with his foure fingers vpon the vpper part of the staffe his thombe vnder the staffe neare vnto his shoulder basing downe the blunt end thereof to aduaunce the point and poizing the pike with an equall poize vpon his thombe and shoulder alwayes in march keeping the lower end of his pike on the one side of his foremans legge still aduertising that in march the pike is to be carried vpon the right shoulder of euery souldier throughout euery file sauing the vtmost file on the left side of the arrayes or ordinances which are to carry their pikes vpon their left shoulders onely alwayes regarding how those of the foremost rankes doe carry their weapon the rest to do the same throughout euery ranke and file following for order and forme do require the same Next hee is to be taught how to plant his pike on the ground at any stand or Alto then how to arbolare or aduaunce his pike that is to reare his pike vpright against his right shoulder and with his right hand stretched downe vnto his thigh to hold the same neare vnto the but-end betwixt his foure fingers and his thombe stretching his forefinger downeward vnto the but-end of his pike and so aduaunce the same vpright high against his right shoulder resting and staying the same with his right hand against his right thigh and knee as before is sayd Now this is to be done at such times as being brought into a Ring and serreyng close shoulder to shoulder then to aduaunce their piks in this sort at the enclosing thereof so to continue vntill they fall out of the ring againe into a larger march Also the same is vsed by some at their arriuing vnto the corps de guard at the setting of the watch before their chief Commander or officer euen as the first ranke shall arriue into the corps de guard some ten or twelue pases from the place of their stand to arbolare their pikes and so rancke after ranck carrying them in the same order vntill they come vnto their place of station there to make Alto and to plant their pikes vpon the ground as the squadron is formed But principally the souldiers marching in squadron and vpon point to come to the push of the pike with their foote enemy then are they first to aduaunce their pikes as is said bearing the same orderly with the right hand against the right thigh and the left hand aboue neare about the shoulder and so to charge vpon the left hand and push standing firme and sure vpon the left foote But if the squadron be charged with any troupes of the enemies horse then must the Picquiers cowch their pikes fast vnder the right foote holding the same 〈…〉 the left hand and bow downe the point thereof against the breast of the horâ—e hauing his right hand ready to draw his sword if occasion shall be offered Now how necessary and auayleable this continuall vse and practise is may easily be gathered from the sundry victories of the auncient Romanes Who both in their Campes and Garrisons had their Tesserarios which were as our Sergeant Maiors to ensigne and teach their people of warre the vse and managing of their armes at all idle and vacant times The old souldier sometimes once in a day and the Tirones which we terme Bisognios or new souldiers twise in the day or as occasion serued so were their people alwayes ready and perfect And againe they did not onely practise them in the knowledge of their weapons but many times also did conduct their Companies for their recreation
the front and so bee ready with double hands either to receiue or giue the charge For those battels of square of ground or battels of double fronts do bring many hands to fight at once being verie aduantagious for footmen against footmen as reason and experience proueth and sheweth And againe if you draw or diuide your battell or battallions into maniples to march through straights or narrow passages this order of doubling the files is verie ready and auaileable as thus If your battel or squadron be of 5184 pikes whose square roote is 72 now your passage will permit but 8 men to march in front then must you diuide your square root 72 by 8 so commeth it to be 9 maniples of 8 men in rank or breadth And say yet againe that the straight or passage doth fall yet more narrow or straighten lesse then to containe 8 men in front thē cause euery maniple at the verie entring of the straight to double their files and so of 8 you shall make 4 files per maniple the which being shouldred vp close together will containe no more roome in breadth then the 8 did before And hauing passed the straight cause them to fall into their former proportion and so maniple after maniple in passing the straight Gen. But if the squadron or maniple were of od nūbers it wold not so fal out Capt. That importeth not for the od file or rank which resteth vndoubled may in passing of the straight close vp shoulder to shoulder vnto the rest obseruing their proper stations in files and if the passage will not permit that then to fall backe after the traine of their maniple hauing passed the straight to sleeue vp in file pouldron to pouldron of their fellowes and so to fall into their former proportion The like of any other od numbers may be done with very great facility Now for as much as I entend to frame both figures and tables of sundry sorts of battels and battallions in our discourse following I will at this instant bee the more briefe supposing this at this present to suffice For he which conceiueth and vnderstandeth this well may do the like with any other numbers great or small Gent. And what course do you appoint the shot belonging to those numbers of pikes to obserue in these alterations of proportion Capt. The shot appertaining vnto euerie such number may be practised in the like or semblable sort either alone by themselues or placed in two grand sleeues along by the flanks of their squadron or battallions As for example If vnto the former number of 100 pikes there were proportioned suted 100 shot calliuer and musket these would I draw out into 5 per rank which would make 20 ranks Those 20 ranks would I cut off or deuide in the middest so should I haue 10 ranks for to sleeue the one flanke of the battallion and 10 ranks for the other flanke at 5 men per ranke or 5 files in euery ranke which is all one These 2 sleeues being placed may be doubled with the pikes by ranke or file for practise sake only But if you were engaged to fight with the enemie I would wish all great sleeues of shot to be deuided into many small troupes the one still to second another as hereafter shall be declared shewed And lo here another order the 2 grand sleeues being al musketiers as the battell or battalliō doth aduance march on toward the enemy comming once within reach of the musket then the first ranks of these sleeues of muskets many discharge in marching in this sort The first ranks stepping some two or three paces forward there those of the right sleeue to step one halfe pace toward the right hād those of the left sleeue one half pase toward the left hand hauing in the meane space made themselues ready and cocked their matches then with readinesse expedition all those of thē first ranks their muskets being vpon their rests or forks to discharge at once and keep their station charge againe permitting other rankes to proceed before them Then presently those of the second ranke to step vp iust before the first rank as the battell or battallion marcheth and so to discharge as their former fellowes had done before then the 3. rank before the 2. the 4. before the 3. and so all the other ranks consequently with this kind of double march and at the traine of the last rank those of the first to follow vp againe and so consequently the rest But if it chance their squadron of pikes to be distressed forced to retire they are to discharge at the enemy retiring backe vpon a countermarch as these figures following shal plainlie denote vnto you the maner and order The First Figure The second Figure with the Muskets discharging in marchings The third Figure vpon the retrait the shot discharging vpon a Counter-march There is yet another order of discharging of troupes of Muskets in vollie the which I haue seene vsed by the Italian and Spaniard thus Your Musketiers being deuided into sundrie troupes of 30 40 or 50 in a troupe the one to second the other then the two first troupes standing vpon the two angles of your squadron or battell may bee drawne vp by two officers by three foure or fiue at the most in a ranke and the said officers being at a sufficient distance to discharge shall cause the Musketiers to close somewhat neere shoulder to shoulder and so wheeling them about in figure of a halfe Moone shall at their due semi-circle or halfe compasse cause the Musketiers to make Alto and clapping their muskets on their rests close one by an others shoulder and each one hauing a care to his forefellowes they shall at one instant discharge altogether at one vollie vpon the enemy and so retire giuing place to other troupes the maner and forme whereof shall by these figures following appeare Troupes or squadras of muskets at 50. per troupe 5. in ranke Gent. Your calliuers or small shot would you haue them to discharge in these maners and orders before spoken of and figured Capt. No but I would with the calliuers or small shot to be deuided into sundry small troupes of 20 30 40 or 50 in a troupe and by their seuerall officers to be led vp and to skirmish in single file discharging readily one after another in file and so wheeling about vpon the left hand to retire giuing place vnto others to second them and to fall into their forme of troupe againe and then recharging aduisedly to be ready to come vp to second others as their turne commeth of which maner of small troupes shall often in our discourses following be denoted and shewed Now to conclude these orders of training I will set downe one point more to be obserued by one single company or two or three companies ioyntly comming into the Corps de
into the field there causing them to run to leape to iumpe to wrastle to throw the sledge to pitch the barre and such like exercises and sometimes also to learne to swim as a qualitie very befitting a souldier Moreouer they did many times cause their souldiers as well foote as horse to march armed at all points euen as it were to serue against their enemie once or twise in a moneth euery man carrying his owne prouision and victuals and giuing and receiuing the charge euen as in hostile fight and this did they for the space of ten miles fiue out and fiue home Thus with these exercises they brought their people to be able quicke and ready to serue vpon all occasions and did more good seruice with twentie thousand of such so trained and practised then with thirtie or fortie thousand of raw and vntrained men But to haue a souldier to be very perfect and a good executioner indeede it is needfull to haue bin in some good peeces of seruice to haue seene men to fall on both sides which doth flesh harden a souldier very much Finally the good Picquier ought to learne to tosse his pike well with the due handling of the same and to be skilfull therein sith it is the weapon he professeth for 100 of ready pikemen are better then 200 that know not the vse of the weapon Now the halbarders ought to be fully armed with a corslet as is the Picquier but in marching he is alwayes to beare the same on the right shoulder holding the lower end thereof with his right hand almost close to his right thigh and knee Gent. You haue well discoursed touching the caryage and handling of the calliuer musket pike and halbard But now I pray what meane you by doubling your ranke and file Capt. By ranke I meane euery row or order of men standing shoulder by shoulder either in march or squadron reaching a long from the one side of the squadron vnto the other And by file I vnderstand all the line order or row of all the souldiers standing consequently one after another from front to the traine either in march or squadron Now the doubling of ranke or file is thus First suppose your company to be of 100 pikes as for the shot we will speake of hereafter and you would bring them into a iust square of men first search out the Cubike roote of your number and it is 10 then after the first order you shall cause them by the sound of the drum to embattell to march vp in single files at 10 men in euery file the head man of euery 10 to be a Caporal or Cabo de Camera and as the first 10 is come vp vnto the place where you meane to frame your squadrō cause them to make Alto then cal vp the second file at 10 per file causing them to march vp close pouldron to pouldron of the first tē and there to firme stand then the third file then the fourth and so consequently the rest vntill your squadron be formed your ensigne marching vp in the middle file as in this figure may appeare Here you see them drawne vp in single files at 10 men in euery file and so your squadron is framed 10 files and 10 rankes or 10 in flanke and 10 in front An other order is thus you may march them vp in 2 3 4 or 5 files at once and 10 rankes for the number euen or od importeth nothing if at 2 files at once then are they marched vp and framed at fiue commings vp if at 3 files at once then at three marchings vp at 3 files per Maniple which make 9 files and 1 single file at 10 men per file which maketh your iust square of men Now if you will march them vp by 4 files at once they are 2 marchings or Maniples at 4 files 10 rankes and one Maniple at 2 files per Maniple and so againe is your squadron formed And againe if you would march them vp by 5 files at once and 10 rankes they come vp in 2 Maniples and so is your squadron iustly framed Your squadron being thus framed set at 10 rankes 10 files thē to double the rankes you shall cause vpon an other sound of the drum those of the second ranke to step in betwixt them of the first ranke beginning either vpon the left or right hand first as you will and the 4 ranke to double the 3 and againe the 6 ranke to double the 5 and the 8 ranke to double the 7 and finally the 10 to double the 9 so shall your battell or squadron come to be 20 in breadth and 5 in length or depth or 20 files and 5 rankes which is in forme of a battell of double front as by these figures appeareth Here you see the rankes doubled into 20 files and 5 rankes Then cause them vpon another sound of the drumme to fall of or backe againe into their former places and so to double againe vpon the other hand and fall off againe Now to double the file cause the second file to double the first either vpon the left or right hand as it shall please you to begin and the fourth file to double the third and the sixt the fift and the eight the seuenth and the tenth file to double the ninth as in these figures following may appeare And here you may see the file doubled reduced into fiue files at 20 men per file vpon the right hand the like you shal cause them to do vpon the left hand hauing first caused them to fall off from their file bringing them into their former square againe Then shall you go vnto the traine of your battell or squadron and vpon another sound of the drumme you shall command all your souldiers to turne their faces vpon a sudden towards you then causing them to double both ranke file that way as you did the other way before thus with a litle paines taking and practise you shall soone bring your souldiers to be ready and skilfull in these alterations of formes and many more The like may be done with any other greater numbers either in battels or battallion or by making the front of any flanke Gent. But to what end serueth all this Capt. Marie to many good purposes For the first order of doubling the ranks besides the readinesse it breedeth in the souldiers doth serue to alter vpon a sudden your grand square of men into a square of ground or into a battell of double front and to many other purposes in framing of many small battallions one grand square And againe the second order in doubling of the files doth serue to many such other purposes as if vpon a sudden your foot enemy shall come to charge you vpon the flanke then by doubling their files and suddenly turning their faces vpon the enemie they shall make of flanke
renowne and fame Gent. If in fight the Ensigne be broken and the Enemie do carie away a part thereof doth the Ensigne-bearer lose thereby his reputation Capt. No not a iot so that hee keepeth the verie trunke of the staffe in his hand When the Companie doth march the Ensigne-bearer may carie his Colours resting vpon his shoulder eyther open or folded vp but making a stand or Alto he is bound by dutie to aduance the Ensigne and not to campear it or pitch it on the ground for that is the tricke of a Bisognio and doth repugne the authoritie and grauitie of his office In fights in encounters in musters and in presence of the Lord Generall he must cary his Colours displayed passing by him he must aduance it only bowing the point somewhat downward without any more ceremonies but if he passe by the king or Prince he shall withall bow somewhat one of his knees as a difference from the Generall In Ordinances or framed battels alwayes the Ensignes do march in one large or long ranke iointly in the middest of the Squadron the most place of honour is the left and right out-sides the Ensigne on the right hand carying the preheminence who giueth direction and order to the rest in this sort if hee beareth his Ensigne on his shoulder loose so are all the rest to carie theirs and if fardled vp all they are to do in the like order and so imitating him in all other maners and shewes and if he deliuereth his vnto his Abanderado and take the Halberd the rest are to do the like and the selfe same orders are to be obserued by the Auanderados for it is an vnseemly shew to see in a ranke of Ensignes different orders one from another The Abanderados are vsed to be souldiers and some do set their owne seruants to that office These ought to go well apparelled and well armed for I haue seene sometimes amongst the Spaniards the Alferes themselues to passe into other ranks to fight leauing the Ensigne with the Abanderado but I like it not for it is not lawfull for the Ensigne-bearer to leaue his Colours neither to fight but with the same in his hand and that vpon such occasions as before I haue declared no though it were to shew his valour and prowesse In the lodging the Ensigne shold be accompanied with a Corps de garde although it be in place of quiet and out of all suspition as well for the authoritie and reputation of the same as to auoyd manie inconueniences which happen to succeed through mutinies brawles and frayes It is also conuenient that the Ensigne-bearer haue alwayes with him a Drum to call his companie together and for such occasions as shall be offered for the Ensignes should be of such veneration and haue bene so respected of the Souldiers that there hath seldome bene seene any one flying to the sanctuarie thereof auoyding the Souldiers furie to bee pursued or hurt esteeming their Ensigne a thing inuiolable as it fell out in Brescia when the mutinous souldiers wold haue slain the Lord Lewes Yearts their Generall who flying to the Ensigne it was enough to cause them to leaue off so shamefull and so abhominable attempt When the Souldiers do enter into any Corps de gard either in Castle towne fortresse or campe they ought not to disarme themselues vntil they see their Alferes first vnarmed vpon whom they should haue their eyes fixed to imitate as they haue vpon the Ensigne he beareth to follow wherefore the Ensigne-bearer is not to disarme vntil the gates of the Fort or place of defence wherein they are be first shut if it be in campe or field when it seemeth that he may safely do it not otherwise to the end that the souldiers take not example from him of vnsoldiarie negligence and slouth but rather of all vigilancy care and paine Gent. You haue largely set downe the aduertisements touching this Officer wherein you haue notified many martiall points vnknowne to vs therfore I pray proceed to the Lieutenants office and dutie Capt. This Officer amongst the Spanish companies is not vsed but amongst vs the Italians French therfore I will touch somewhat of him by the way The Lieutenant his office and duty He therefore that is chosen to this office ought to be a man of great experience fidelity and valour who in the absence of his Captaine carieth his roome charge and command vnto whom the souldiers and vnder-officers are to obey for the time as vnto the Captaine himselfe notwithstanding he must vse it with such discretion and moderation that he arrogate not too much vnto himselfe but at his Captaines returne he shall with all loue truth and dutie enforme him of all things and matters passed If any questions and ciuill debates do arise amongst the souldiers of his band he is to pacifie iudge and determine the same with grauity and good speeches whereby he shall binde them more firmely vnto him in obedience and loue and when as he cannot concert and agree them he is to referre them ouer vnto his Captaine but the most faultie and offenders hee may cause to be apprehended and send them to the Colonell or Marshall It is his charge and office to see that the Company be prouided of all necessaries aduertising the Caporals to see well to their charges and aduising the Sergeant to be diligent carefull and ready in his office wherein he shall ayd help assist him both in ordering the company and in setting the watch the which he is precisely bound to perform himself in the Sergeāts absence or time of infirmity He is to passe with the Companie vnto the Corps de garde to see the watch and Sentinels set and often times to visite and reuisite the same and to perswade the souldiers to respect with obedience their Sergeant and Caporals wherefore it importeth him to be well spoken discreet and wise to moue perswade them with sound reasons to the obseruation and obedience of Militarie discipline disburdening thereby his Captaine of manie and sundrie toiles It toucheth him also to see the souldiers appointed to their lodgings giuing order for the same vnto the Harbenger and how he shall distribute the baggage and cariage amongst the particular souldiers and the sicke men carefullie to bee looked vnto not suffering these Harbengers or Furriers to rob purloine and filch as they are wont to do whereby great scandals do arise as at the rising of the Vlishingers and in sundrie other places hath appeared His place of march his Captaine being present is in the Rere-ward of all the company but after any fight or skirmish in retiring marching out of the field he is to passe before and the Captaine in the rere-ward Now for as much as by that as shall be declared in the ordinarie Captaines office may easily bee vnderstood the dutie of this officer hauing the whole
best abilitie and knowledge declare vnto you such matters as I haue found by mine owne experience eyther learned from the directions of braue Commaunders vnder whom I haue serued or gathered out of the best authors which haue written vpon this subiect VVarre Indeede at the beginning of these our speeches I did not then thinke to haue marched so farre into this Martiall field for my fiue or sixe yeares discontinuance from action had almost driuen all the courses order and methode thereof out of my mind and memorie but your curious demaundes and questions haue both drawen me on sharpened my wit and refresht my memorie wherein if I haue erred or may misse hereafter as no man but erreth some more some lesse I submit my selfe to the censure and correction of men more experimented and of better parts then my selfe Gent. Truely Captaine you say very well and I would we had many of no meaner partes nor of no worse meaning then your selfe in mine opinion then no doubt but our common souldiers should be better instructed and be better dealt withall then they now are by some of their Captains But letting these matters passe I pray what order would you wish to be obserued in the trayning of our souldiers here with vs in the countrie sith we are commanded to traine and as yet I see litle good order obserued in the same Capt. Touching the true and orderly trayning of your people in this our Moderne Militia I haue in generall roued ouer some part thereof alreadie but not so particularly as such an action would require wherein I could heartily wish that as neere as possible we might we should reduce ourselues with such armes as we now vse vnto the forme manner and course of the auncient Romanes in their Militia and discipline of warre although ages seasons and inuentions haue altered much and many weapons by them vsed Gent. I pray what order did the Romanes obserue in their warres and how were they armed Capt. The Romanes deuided their foot people of warre into men armed with heauie armour or as we may tearme it armor complete and into light armed men Those which were light armed they called by one common name Velites vnder which word they vnderstood all such as carried slinges darts bowes crosse-bowes and such like the greatest part of whom were armed with a skull or close Cellat for the head and had besides their other weapons a shield or Target vpon their left arme to defend and couer themselues and did fight or skirmish in straggling sort a good distance from those that were armed with heauie or complete armour in Squadron Vnto those may we well compare our shot especially them of the forlorne hope or Enfans Perdus as the French doe terme them Their people armed with heauie or complete armour had first a Cellat or Burgonet which couered their head and reached ouer their shoulders then for their bodie a Cuyrasse whose flappes or tasses couered their thighes euen down to the knees their legges and armes were armed with Greaues and Vambraces and for their defence they carried a shield of foure foote long and two foot and a halfe broad bound about with a band of yron and for weapon they had a sword not ouer long girt vnto their left side a short dagger vpon their right and in their hand a Iauelin or Dart which they called Pilum the which at the beginning of their fight they did lance or dart at the enemie vnto these may we compare our Corslets and Pykes whereof we frame our battels or battaillions and our armed halbards partizans and other short weapon Commonly a Romane army consisted of two Romane Legions which was a Consuls armie and of two Auxiliarie legions which were of their friends or confederates Their Legion consisted at the first but of three thousand footmen and three hundred horse but afterwards encreased vnto 5.6 or 8000. foote Their legion they deuided into Cohortes Maniples and Centuries Euery legion of 6000. foote was deuided into ten Cohorts at 600. to euery Cohort and euery Cohort into sixe Centuries after 100. men to euery Centurie and euery Centurie into foure Maniples after 25. souldiers vnto euery Maniple or into fiue Maniples at 20. souldiers to euery Maniple Moreouer euery legion was deuided into 3. partes or orders of battels into Hastati Principes and Triarij The Hastati were set in the front of their armie in order of Squadrons thicke and sure behinde them were placed the Principes but with the order of their Squadrons more rare and thinner After these againe were ranged the Triarij but with the order of their Squadrons much more thinner then the Principes Now their slingers darters archers or crosse-bowes and such light armed were placed without these Battels or Squadrons on the flanks and front between the horsemen and their armed battell as we do or ought to do in mine opinion our shot some filâ—ers of Pykes Halberds and such other short weapon Gent. What sort of men thinke you fittest to be chosen for souldiers and to be trayned and what order in their trayning Capt. I suppose men of the better sort from the age of eighteene yeares vnto thirtie yeares are fittest to be chosen Now the signes whereby to coniecture the persons most apt for warres by the Phisiognomie and proportion of bodie are these The eyes quicke liuely piercing the head and countenance vpright the breast broad and strong the shoulders large the armes long the fingers strong and synowie the belly thinne the ribbes large the thigh bigge the legge full and the foote leane and drie for whosoeuer is of this disposition and with these conditions cannot chuse but be nimble and strong which are two qualities chiefly to be required in a souldier I could wish that those Bandes which are appointed to be trayned for of the Officers I haue spoken before should be by their Captaine Muster-maister and other Officers trayned at the least once euery moneth or oftener as the weather and season will permit and euery Caporall with his Cabos de Camera to traine and instruct their Esquadra especially of shot once euery weeke or once euery fortnight at the least ensigning them the vse of their weapon and order of sleight skirmish For often practise maketh men readie especially and shot the which without readinesse and skill is a weapon of litle aduantage and in the hands of perfect souldiers is a weapon of great aduantage and of wonderfull execution Now the seuerall companies hauing bene well applyed and taught for a time by their Captaine and other officers I would wish should once euery three monethes meete and ioine some foure or fiue companies together in some conuenient place then and there to bring them into such formes as should be needfull for so many companies And once a yeare at the least all the companies of the whole shire to meete in
the battell in the angles flankes of the sayd battell as by their seuerall figures may be seene yet notwithstanding the aforesayd examples they may be placed where most neede and occasion shall serue to strengthen the battell either in front in traine or in any flanke So may you also as occasion shall require set more armed pikes vpon any part for the more strength and securitie of the battell And this much may suffice touching the body of a formed battell Next ensueth the fierie weapons Muskets and Caliuers how they should be placed Gent. I pray let vs vnderstand the order of them also Capt. As the armed pike is the strēgth of the battell so without question is the shot the furie of the field but the one without the other is weakened the better halfe of their strength Therefore of necessitie according to the course of warres in these dayes the one is to be coupled matched with the other in such conuenient proportion that the aduantage of the one may helpe the disauantage of the other For a stand of pikes though neuer so well armed being charged assailed with the like or a lesse number of shot by euery mans iudgement would haue the worse not able to abide the field vnlesse they had shot to answer their enemies shot In like sort any troupe of shot though neuer so braue expert being in open field hauing no stand of pikes or such other weapō nor hedge ditch trench or rampier to relieue and succour them could not long endure the force of horse especially Launciers Now the due sortement and matching of these weapons to offend and defend and to aide one another as aboue is sayd of the best experimented is accounted thus Vnto euery 100 men to haue one third pikes with some few short weapon and two thirds Calliuers But were the one halfe or more of your shot Muskets as the Spanyardes most commonly now vse and so to be wished with vs also then lesse number of shot would serue and more of pikes as I sayd at the beginning of our discourses For euery Musket considering the wonderfull execution of that weapon may be valued for two Caliuers Touching the placing of these fierie weapons about the body of the battell there hath bene and yet is sundry opinions Of some of them I haue already spoken in these discourses namely of lyning of battels with shot or short weapon by me disliked hauing there declared my reasons for the same But before I come to the placing and ordering of shot for being a weapon not skilfully and warily vsed is of more daunger to our selues then to the enemy sometimes I will put you in minde of one notable ouersight in our shot especially of the crooked stockt Calliuer For many souldiers ouer-curiously carrying and conueying their peece with the nose downeward and striuing to be seene nymble and quicke in discharging not considering that one shot well bestowed auayleth many vnaduisedly spent haue let slipt the bullet out of their peeces barrell vpon the ground before the discharging thereof Whereby it commeth to passe many times that an hundred shot hauing in skirmish discharged their peece three or foure times a peece against two hundred of the enemies and scarce slaine two of them A great indiscretion to be better regarded and amended the which may easily be done thus either after hauing charged and slipt the bullet out of his mouth into the barrell of the peece by mounting the nose thereof somewhat vpward holding his peece firmely with his left hand or else by stopping after the bullet which is easily done onely by putting two or three cornes of powder into the peece after the bullet In placing the shot about the battell some do vse to flanke the two sides of the battell with sleeues of shot by 11 13 15 or 17 in a ranke or more or lesse as they shall thinke good and place the sayd sleeues of shot 10 or 12 foote distant from the armed pikes and the rest of their shot in 4 great troupes at the angles of the battell without the sayd sleeues seruing for hornes or wings vnto the battell and the horsemen to be placed without them againe as in these figures following appeareth But in mine opinion this order is not so good as if the shot were deuided into sundry small troupes trouping round about the battell the one to second the other placed in forme as hereafter shall follow thus First your graund square or more battailions if you will being set then impale or girdle the same round about with shot by 3 5 or 7 or more in a rank according to the proportiō of the battell neare adioyning vnto the armed pikes to be by them guarded from the horse if neede were The rest of the shot deuide into many small troupes by 30 40 or 50 in a troupe to troupe round about the battell with some reasonable distance from the same to maintaine skirmish or fight which way soeuer the enemie approch Prouided that the same troupes be still maintained one to second another that the battell may be by them shadowed to the end that the skirmishes or troupes of the enemies may not haue that aduantage to play with their shot vpon your battell for hee is but a foolish shot that shooteth at or among light skirmishers where he may discharge vpon the body of his enemies battell which standes thick together and is a fayre marke to shoot at for the armed pikes once ouerthrowen which is the strength of the field the victorie by all likelyhood is like to ensue The empalement especially in the front I would wish to be Muskets some 3 or 5 in a ranke according to the greatnesse of the battell and those not to discharge vntill the battels approch within 20 pases distant and then throughly to discharge in vollie vpon the face of the enemy the which cannot chuse but must slay many and wound a number in the enemies front the effect whereof shall breede great encouragement vnto you and disencouragement and weakening to the enemy You may also if you please place at euery corner of your battel a squadron of Muskets neare vnto the girdling shot at 50 Muskets in each squadron or as occasion shall require who vpon the enemies battell approching wheeling a litle about in forme of a halfe Moone shall discharge their volly all at once vpon the body of the enemies battell What execution the Musket performeth such as haue bene in good actions doe know very well and scarcely to be beleeued of those which neuer saw any seruice The figure of this battell empaled with shot cornered with Muskets and trouped round about with the rest of their shot winged with horse as men at armes if they haue any and Launciers and light horse with the place of the field ordinance and forlorne skirmishers shall hereafter ensue on the other side
vpon our ioyning with the enemie quite altered and chaunged and so changing dayly as occasions were offered And in land seruice more occurrantes do befall hourely which hereafter we will speake of But now partly to answere your demaund First the enemie discouered approching and engaging vs to fight happely some skirmishes may be begun by the hargoletiers and light horse but the battels approching and comming within shot the field ordinance on both sides if there be any begin to go off at which artillerie the first puzzelling doth commonly begin each part attempting to surprise the others ordinance then the loose shot in the forelorne hope on both sides begin to disband and fall to flat skirmish their office performed hauing bene well bearded they retire to the flankes and reareward of the battell from whence they are supplied and continually seconded with other fresh troupes so still maintaining fight till the horse do offer to charge the which are commonly encountred with horse againe if not then the shot retire behind their stand of pikes and are then also aided with their halberdes and short weapon and some halfe pikes mingled among them vpon whose charging the Muskets of impaling and the squadrons at the angles doe roundly bestow their vollie in the face of the enemie then the pikes are couched fast vnder the right foote guarding the girdling shot vnder their succour the which girdling shot are to kneele vpon their right knee vnder the couched pikes closing close together do stād with resolute hart hand and body holding the pike at a reasonable distance in the left hand their swordes ready drawen in their right hand of the first 3 or 4 rankes being sure to stand firme and couching their pikes point to the breast of the horse for that is the place of most aduantage A squadron of pikes thus couched and handled by resolute and honest men I cannot see how any troupe of horse dare venture vpon them and if they do yet not able to breake farre in if men stand resolute so of force must they retire with losse and disaduantage But if they be encountred with equall numbers proportions and force of pikemen then if they will they aduance their pikes vntill they come to the push then with charging ouer hand to thrust and push couragious and valiantly at which time valour and skill is shewed as second meanes of victorie but God the first cause and giuer of all Gent. In few wordes you haue finished a battell But your leaders and Commanders how are they this while employed Capt. Euery one according to his office place to encourage animate the souldiers to redresse with speed any disorders happening in their own troupes to espie the disorders or negligence of the enemy taking aduantage vpō such occasion with sundry other points which in their seuerall duties shall be declared The second Dialogue wherein is declared the order of many ancient formes of imbattailing Gentleman YOu spake of more sortes of battels I pray therefore declare vnto vs their orders how many in what formes and to what vses Capt. Although I haue before somwhat touched the same not minding to medle farther then with our fights now most accustomed yet neuerthelesse drawen on by your good and curious demaundes I will the best I can particularly describe them Therefore as I haue before declared of all formes of battels now in our age most in vse best approued and best allowed of is the iust square of men as equally strong on euery side and most fit and best assured for the open field and out of which quadrate all other formes may easily be reduced Next vnto that and most aduantagious indeede to fight is the quadrate of ground by good regard had wherein many hands are brought at one time to fight Of both the which formes I haue before largely discoursed as well the manner how to frame them as their due sortement with weapons and shot to the same I will now speake somewhat of the rest of the which there are many sorts seruing in old time vnto many purposes but now with vs quite out of vse as the Diamant battell the VVedge battell or Triangle the Sheers battell the Saw battell the Moone battell the SDG battels and the Crosse battell with such like and chiefly the battell compounded of sundrie battallions the which last recited of all others I thinke to be the most strong and aduantagious were men expert skilfull and ready but raw as in our dayes they be very difficult and dangerous to be handled The nearest therefore vnto the square of men is the Diamant battell vnto the framing whereof out of the said square there needeth no more but whereas the leader stood before on the square of the battell let him appoint another to go to the next corner or angle thereof and willing the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall straight out of the square march into a Diamant proportion which forme when you are disposed to alter do no more but appoint the leader to the square where he first stood commaunding the pikes to turne their faces vpon him and they shall forthwith march into a square battell againe The facilitie is great both herein and in all others and that without any confusion as by their seuerall figures following shall appeare the which I haue framed of 25 letters the better to giue you to vnderstand And againe out of the Diamant forme may be reduced two triangles by cutting or diuiding the same in the middest at the two flat angles as in this figure of a Diamant forme may appeare by the prickes running along of 2 triangles may be framed a Sheeres battell and of 3 or 4 triangles may in like sort be framed the Saw battell by ioyning the angles together as in their figures following shall appeare Here you see the square reduced into a Diamant forme with onely turning their faces vnto the right angle E as aboue appeareth so marching on do fall into a perfect Diamant forme with two sharpe angles and two flat But in their march they will stretch ouer-long each man from his leadesman so will it be of no force to fight by reason of their raritie thin standing as in the former figure may appeare by F.B. by L.G.C. by G.M.H.D. by VV. R.N.N.E the two sharp angles and so of the rest To reforme the which fault First commaund your men to stand in the forme they are then causing the two sides of the first angle E to stand yet firme and commaund euery one of the rest except the said two sides to march on one after another vntill he come to finde himselfe in a due distance each after his leadsman thus F. shall march vp towardes B. vntill he finde A. to be his left-side fellow thē there to rest thē againe G. shall proceede towards C. vntill B. be his side
moores meddowes fields open or enclosed forests woods thickets or whether the countrey be stony plaine field or ditched and all difference of situations of grounds as well of the hils and high mountaines as of the plaine and champain to the end that he may consider foresee preuent and prepare for euery place where the enemy may annoy him For many times one regiment is to march alone and then doth it touch the Sergeant Maior to haue the care and speculation hereof as it doth the Campe-Maister Generall when the whole army marcheth for that it befall him not as it did vnto the Romaines in the Furcas Caudinas and vnto many other through the like misregard And for more security hereof they are to procure faithful and trusty guides and skilful way leaders to the end not to be beguiled and abused as Hannibal was when he warred in Italy against the Romaines who willing to leade his army vnto Cassinum was led and guided vnto Casilinum to be put into the hands of Quintus Fabius Maximus Generall of the Romaines his enemies Now the order being knowne and the way reknowledged and the houre of remouing at hand he is to commaunde the drumme maior to sound the call Recoia or assembling and euery Captaine of infantery to cause their baggage to be trussed vp and laden and shall straight wayes draw foorth his ensignes out of their quarter into the place of armes and there shall frame his battell or squadron reparting their Captaines into such places as concerneth them that day and shall dispose and appoint the Sergeants of ordinary bandes in such sort that euery one may know what part he hath to gouerne and set in order And for as much as it is seldome seene that the wayes fieldes and passages be so large that the whole battell may march all in front he is to frame his ordinances arraies or Maniples no greater then that the same may march commodiously and at ease thorough the same the order whereof I haue at large declared in folio 62 67 68 and 92 alwayes prouided that he quarter or deuide not his battell if the passage will so permit into no lesse then the third part of the front thereof as thus if the front be of 27 pikes the Maniples or ordinance shall be of 9 and if 21 in front then the deuision or quartering shall be of 7 in front and so of other numbers for he is to conduct his companies so well disciplined and ordered that occasion being offered hee may with speede and readinesse frame and set his battell or battallions reparting the Captaines and officers in places most conuenient as before is sayd Gent. But tell vs how is he to repart them and who shall go in the vantgard which in the battell and who in the reareward and in what part shall the Colours be placed that this readinesse and quicke dispatch might be performed in setting the battell as you speake of Capt. The order I haue partly spoken of before but to giue you content I will repeate it againe therefore me thinkes that the order to be obserued therein is thus That the shot of the forlorne hope and the shot of the right flanke being deuided into many small troupes as I said should march before then next the girdling shot of the said right side after them should follow the ordinances and Maniples of pikes in such sort order as before is declared to the end that the ensignes go not crossed either in one sort or other he is to place them alone after another within so many rankes of pikes so that when soeuer he brings his Maniples vp together pouldron to pouldron to the framing of his battell they may still remaine in their conuenient places which is in the center Then after the pikes shall follow the girdling shot of the left flanke and last of all in the reareward shall follow the troupes of shot belonging to the left flanke and reareward and hauing passed the straight and the squadron formed then may they repaire each girdling shot and troupes to their due and conuenient roomes as before of which orders of Maniples and quartering of battels I haue before declared at large Gent. Is there any meaning or misterie in marching the left or right side shot before in the vantgard Capt. None truly that I know of more then that in all our actions we ought to incline what we can vnto perfection and as the right hand is the more perfect and noble from thence it is reason that wee begin to frame our battels and in that place also to begin to disseuer them Gent. The munition and baggage belonging to the Companies where are they to goe to cause least hinderance and to passe in most security Capt. The consideration that is to bee had when an army doth march is that if the enemy be knowne to be on head the vantgard vpon the way you are to passe then let the munition and baggage be placed in the reareward and per contra if the enemy be found to be in the reareward then passe your baggage to the forward and if on the right side then conuay it to the left and if on the left side then transport it vnto the right with the like consideration and in this sort shall the campe be alwayes a wall and defence vnto the munition and baggage And if in marching the enemy do offer to fight the munition by this meanes shall be no let or hinderance at all And besides all this there ought to be sent abroade certaine Hargulutiers or light horse to scoute before the munition and carriage to preuent the suddain incursions of the enemies stragling horse The same order ought also to be obserued in the marching of one regiment alone But in case that there were no enemy and they might march through places plaine safe and secure the munition and cariage ought alwayes to passe in the foreward with a sufficiēt gard of pikes shot and short weapons that for good respect because it is very commodious for the souldiers that when they come well wearied to their quarter they may find their tents ready pitched and many times their forrage prouided and not to stay attending and expecting the same comming many times wet dirtie ouer tired and halfe dead with hunger and again if by hap any of the cariages do fal the owners of the baggage may help to redresse wherby to saue their baggage and furniture which could not be done if it marched in the reareward Gent. But if it should happen that in none of these sayd parts the baggage might march in safety as in Barbarie or other Champaine countrey where the enemies number consisteth most of horse we not hauing sufficient numbers to answer them what is then to be done where the enemy may charge on euery side Cap. Then in the center of the battell or betwixt the squadrons with