service they are to alight and to demean themselves as Infantery Whereof it shall be needlesse hereto enlarge seeing we have books in such abundance upon that subject as they are able rather to a By reason of the frivolous impertinences and manifest errours which abound in many of them distract then instruct the reader and in my opinion had need of an Index expurgatorius Being so alighted to do their service as abovesaid every of them is to cast his bridle over the neck of his side mans horse in the same order as they marched keeping them so together by the help of such as are thereunto especially appointed CHAP. XXXII Of exercising the Cavallrie in their motions HAving shewed how every horse-man is to be exercised in the managing of his horse as also in the use of his particular arms it followeth now that he be taught how to demean himself being joyned in a body And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Grecians and Romanes had the same order of exercise and that in the same words which we retain to this day A File the Romanes called Versus and Decuria A Rank Jugum A File-leader Decanus because their Decuria or File used to consist of ten among the foot with some 16. A bringer up Tergiductor A Leader being every odde man in the file Prastes A follower which is every even number Substes A side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their two cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our three foot Their four cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at six foot distance between file and file in march and three foot in sight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and rear and the like But for brevitie sake I passe them over referring the reader to the books of Infanterie To exercise the horse they are to be drawn up into a body not by ranks but by files and those of five deep as most affirm or of six as others would have it and that because the number of five is not divisible by two and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwayes an odde rank Some would have them especially the harquebusiers to be eight in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square body and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be two paces open order foure paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but two kinds of distances close order which is three foot and open order which is six foot But this must be understood cum grano salis as the Civilians speak for here we must observe a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavallrie and that of the Infantery for in the foot the distance is taken from the centre of the souldiers body which here cannot be so understood but onely of the space of ground between horse and horse Monsieur de Praissac is more plain who would have the distance between rank and rank both for the length of the horse as also for the space between horse and horse to be six paces and one pace between file and file Yet if we take every pace for five foot as that is the usuall dimention by this rule they should be at a very large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at their distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1. 9. Vt aequali leguimóque spatio miles distet a milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent Ibid. cap. 26. standing right in their ranks and files c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right hand ad hastam to the left ad scutum Facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi duo genera perjuga versus Their countermarches the same which we use Evolutio Chorica Macedonica Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us Conversio ad hastam vel scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kinds 1. Facings 2. Doublings 3. Countermarches 4. Wheelings The use of facings is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either flank or the rear Doubling of ranks or doubling by half files or bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the front Doubling of files or doubling by half ranks serveth to strengthen the flanks Countermarches serve either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an enemy in the rear or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and rear or either flank into the middle of the body The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the enemy on either flank or rear These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a company of harquebusiers of 64 men And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter as followeth The form of the first standing To face them to the right is done by commanding Left flank Front Right flank Rear To the left hand Which is performed by turning towards the left From hence they are to be reduced by commanding As you were Which they do by turning to the right Now to face them to the rear though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say To the right hand Which is done by turning all at one and the same time to the right hand Thus the front is where the right flank was To reduce them to their first form the word of command is As you were Which they perform by turning to the left hand From thence to face them to the left you command To the left hand about Which is done by turning towards the left hand untill their faces front to that place which was before the rear To reduce them to their first-form as that must be observed the word is To the right hand about as you were Ranks to the right double The use hereof hath been shewed before Every other rank that is every even number passeth into the odde upon the right hand of his leader The second rank into the first and so successively To reduce
them the word is Ranks as you were Which is best done by causing those ranks which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance Files to the right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behind his sideman accounting from the right hand the fourth into the third and so the rest which must be done throughout the company at one instant all together But because the first rank of the company is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but five deep there seemeth no great necessity of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left as you were Ranks to the left double The difference of this motion from the former is nothing but that here they which double do it to the left hand of their leaders which before they did to their right hands as the figure maketh it plain This done they must be reduced by commanding Ranks as you were Files to the left double The difference between this and the former motion is the difference of hands And by this means those files that stood before now move and they which moved now stand as appeareth by the figure They are reduced by commanding Files as you were or Ranks to the right double Half files to the right hand double the front Thus the middle-men double the first rank on the right hand The other three ranks double the three following ranks as is manifest in the figure To reduce them the word is Half files as you were Unlesse it be better and so I conceive it to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance Bringers up to the right hand double the front In this motion the last rank passeth into the first and so successively as the figure sheweth it It is of good use yet because it is very troublesome for the horse to perform especially in reducing them it may be used or omitted as shall be thought fit They are reduced by saying Bringers up as you were Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the company they must be closed first the files and then the ranks And being to open them again the ranks are first to be opened and then the files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the body Half files to the left hand double the front This motion onely differeth from the former in the hand There be also doublings of ranks by the half files entire to the right or left or both by division But because the files especially of Cuirassiers are seldome above five deep the doubling of ranks half files c. is little used The reducing of them hath been shewed in the former motion Files to the left hand countermarch Though it were fit to begin with the right hand yet for the convenient turning of the horse to the left I think it not amisse to preferre the left The figure representeth the Chorean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevity sake Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the Commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the body moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the centre Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the Commander a Vox autem percâ—pi interdum non potest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorum transitum hinnitum multitudines strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35 but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usâ—s invenit c. Tria genera signorum Vocalia semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3 c 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kinds of militarie signes or directions 1. Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2. Semivocall by trumpet or other warlike instrument to the eare likewise 3. Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c. The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9. 82. distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the Cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the Commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64. horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8. in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8. in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5. in file though the companie consist of 100. horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors MelZo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first neâ—t after him two attendants with spare horses they beating his armour then the Trumpeters then the Cornet
give some allowance extraordinary Out of his company he is to choose his Lieutenants Cornets c. weighing onely every ones merit without any passion whereby he shall give content and encouragement to his souldiers and shall be sure not to be crossed by the Generall in the confirmation of the said officers The charge of the troops used to be given to the Captains of lances as having a prerogative above other Captains of horse or to the eldest Captain yet the Chief ought to have regard to their sufficiency for command and to give the charge to them that are ablest to perform it In absence of the Captains of lances when they were in use the Captains of cuirassiers commanded and in their absence the Captains of harquebusiers The Lieutenants observed the same rules CHAP. VII Of the Lieutenant IT is necessary that the Lieutenant of a troop of horse be a man of abilitie and experience nourished and educated in Cavallrie To this office such were usually raised which for their deserts had been Corporalls and Cornets a So much his name implieth for the French word Lieutenant signifieth one which supplieth the place of another In the Captains absence he commandeth the company upon whom usually all difficulties do rest because oft times the companies are given to young gentlemen which want experience He must be strict in seeing the souldiers do their service with all fitting punctualitie and to have a care of their horses and arms b The Lieutenant with antiquity was called Tergidux that is Rear-commander and therefore the rear is fitly assigned him as his proper place He alwayes marcheth in the rear of the companie causing the souldiers to follow the Captain and Standard or Cornet in good order well closed together and to suffer none to depart from the troop Upon occasion of fight he is still to be on the rear with his sword drawn encouraging the souldiers and killing any that shall offer to flie or disband but in case of the Captains absence he shall take the Captains place appointing an officer to be in the rear In the ordinary marching of the company or passing by some place or going to the allarm-place or to the parado the Lieutenant must not take the Captains place but march in the rear because the lances and cuirassiers have their Cornets to lead them at the head of the company Among the harquebusiers the Lieutenant was wont to take the Captains place according to Melzo and Basta because then they had no c As the Velites among the Romanes qui nec signa propria habuere nec duceâ— Lips ad Polyb. lib. 2. Cornets but these last warres having given them Cornets the rule holdeth for them as for the lances and cuitassiers d The Romanes required it in their private souldiers and to cast account also In quibusdam notorum peritia calculandi computandique usus exigitur Veg. lib. 2. cap. 19. He must of necessitie be able to write and reade because he keepeth the list of the names and sirnames of the souldiers of the companie and by reason of orders or letters sent to him from his superiours which he must not shew to others He must know the sufficiencie of every souldier and upon occasion make use of them accordingly The company going to the guard in any place and approching near it the Lieutenant goeth before to take notice of the Corps-du-guard and speaking with the Lieutenant of the company which is to change informeth himself by him of the place of the sentinells for day and night what wayes he must scoure and of all other things requisite He must himself go and place the sentinells visiting them often and using all diligence keeping himself alwayes armed at least with the breast and cask and his horse bridled when he hath the guard The company being lodged in some village he must cause the billets to be signed by the Quartermaster of his company to be distributed to the souldiers before the Cornets lodging where the Alto is made to attend the said billets that so in case of an allarm the souldiers may know where to assemble together at their Cornet If they stay longer then a day in one place the Lieutenant is to visit the houses to see good rule kept by the souldiers and being to march away to command them carefully to put out their fires Going to be lodged in a town or fort there to keep their garrison the Lieutenant must accommodate their lodgings according to their degrees and deserts And wheresoever they lodge longer then a day he must write the names of the souldiers on the said billets and keep a register of them that so upon any complaint of their hostes it may be easily remedied by the ready finding and punishing of the delinquents When the company is to march and the trumpets sound to horse he e The good example of a Leader hath ever been observed to be of marvellous efficacy according to that of the Poet Componitur orbis Regis ad exiemplum c. Ipse manu sua pila gerens praecedit anheli Militis ora pedes monstrat tolerare labores Non jubet Lucan 9. de Catone must be first ready and mounted having care that all the souldiers immediately do the same And if he find any lingering either of lazinesse or with a purpose to stay behind to pillage the houses he must chastise them with all severity for example to others He must have knowledge of the countrey and wayes being often sent upon exploits where the guides are not alwayes ready If the company be charged by the enemy the Lieutenant with some of the best mounted souldiers is to remain behind CHAP. VIII Of the Cornet THe Cornet of horse must be couragious In absence of the Captain and Lieutenant he commandeth the company His place of march is in the front before the first rank yet behinde the Captain In fight the Cornet of lances used to march even with the Captain upon his left hand and charging with him strove to break the standard upon his enemy which being so broken and falling to the ground a This is contrary to the use of Infantery among which the preserving of the colours hath ever been prized above life as appeared among others by one Jaques Marteus who finding himself forsaken by most of the souldiers fought so long as he could then wound himself in his colours and died Meteren lib. 4. But if the enemy should get the cornet unbroken then it were a great disgrace Basta lib. 4 he was not to regard to get it up again especially not to alight for it If he were to charge a flying enemy whether horse or foot he was also to assay to break his standard The Cornet of cuirassiers in march hath his place at the head of the company and also presenteth himself in the allarm-place but in fight he is to be in the middle of the troop leaving â…” parts of
done in Figure 3. Part 1. Chap. 29. and for this the word of command is 1. To Horse a The horse-man being to mount must be carefull that his horse be very well girt Such was the admirable industrie of the Romanes as that all their horse-men were continually practised to mount on wooden horses and that on either side first unarmed afterwards compleatly armed also with drawn swords or lances in their hands without the help of stirrops which were not known in those times Hoc enim continuâ meditatione faciebant scilicet ut in tumultu praelii sine mora asscenderent qui â—am studiosé exercebantio in paco Veg. lib. 1. cap. 18. Both reins hanging in a loose position over the horse neck and upon the pummel of the saddle the horseman is First to take the ends of the reins above the button in his right hand and with the thumbe and two first fingers of that hand to draw them to an even length Then putting the little finger of his left hand betwixt both reins under the button with the other three fingers of the same hand on the further rein and the thumbe on the near side of the button to grasp both reins that so before he endeavour to mount he may have his horse head in ballance and at command Then grasping the pummel of the saddle with his left hand and standing with his full body close to the horse-side and just between the bolster and cantle of the saddle alwayes on the near side of the horse with the help of his right hand he shall put the left foot into the left stirrop and with his right hand taking fast hold on the highest part of the cantle behinde he shall with the help of both hands gently yet strongly and in a right-up posture without inclining his body to either hand raise himself untill he may stand perpendicular upon his left foot and then putting over his right legge place himself in the saddle 2. Uncap your pistols With the right hand he is to turn down the caps of the pistol-cases 3. Draw your pistol He is to draw the pistol out of the case with the right hand and alwayes the left pistol first and to mount the muzzel of it as in posture 15. 4. Order your pistol He is to sink the pistol into his bridle-bridle-hand and to remove his right hand towards the muzzel and then to rest the but end upon his thigh 5. Span your pistol He is to sink the pistol into his bridle hand and taking the key or spanner into his right hand to put it upon the axletree and to winde about the wheel till it stick and then to return the spanner to his place being usually fastened to the side of the case 6. Prime Holding the pistol in the bridle-bridle-hand as before he is to take his priming box into his right hand and pressing the spring with his fore-finger to open the box to put powder into the pan 7. Shut your pan He is to presse in the pan-pin with his right thumbe and so to shut the pan 8. Cast about your pistol With the bridle-bridle-hand he is to cast about the pistol and to hold it on the left side with the muzzel upward 9. Gage your flasque He is to take the flasque into the right hand and with his forefinger to pull back the spring and turning the mouth of the flasque downward to let go the spring 10. Lade your pistol Having gaged his flasque as in the former posture he is to presse down the spring which openeth the flasque with his forefinger and so to lade his pistol 11. Draw your rammer He is to draw his rammer with the right hand turned and to hold it with the head downward 12. Lade with bullet and ramme home Holding the rammer-head in his right hand as before he is to take the bullet out of his mouth or out of the bulletbag at the pistolcase being in fight with the thumbe and forefinger and to put it into the muzzel of the pistol and the rammer immediately after it and so to ramme home 13. Return your rammer He is to draw forth his rammer with the right hand turned and to return it to its place 14. Pull down your cock With the bridle-bridle-hand he is to bring the pistol towards his right side and placing the but end upon his thigh to pull down the cock 15. Recover your pistol He is to take the pistol into his right hand mounting the muzzel 16. Present and give fire Having the pistol in his right hand as in posture 15. with his forefinger upon the tricker he is to incline the muzzel with a fixed eye towards his mark not suddenly but by degrees quicker or slower according to the pace he rideth and that not directly forward toward the horse head but towards the right turning his right hand so as the lock of the pistol may be upward and having gotten his mark he is to draw the tricker and give fire 17. Return your pistol He is to return his pistol into the case and then to draw his other pistol as occasion may serve and to do as before Now concerning the snap-haue pistol those postures wherein it differeth from the fire-lock pistol are these as in figure 18. Bend your cock Holding the pistol in the bridle-bridle-hand as before hath been shewed with the right hand he is to bend the cock 19. Guard your cock With the right hand he is to pull down the back-lock so to secure the cock from going off 20. Order your hammer With the right hand he is to draw down the hammer upon the pan 21. Free your cock With the right thumbe he is to thrust back the back-lock and so to give the cock liberty But the more compendious way of lading for the gaining of time which in the instant of skirmish is chiefly to be regarded is by using cartouches Now the cartouch is to be made of white paper cut out of convenient breadth and length and rolled upon a stick or the rammer if it be not too little fit according to the bore of the barrell to contain a due quantity of powder and the bullet The proportion of powder usually required is half the weight of the bullet but that is held too much by such as can judge Having moulded the paper the one end of it is to be turned in to keep in the powder and the due charge of powder to be put into it at the other end which powder is to be closed in by tying a little thred about the paper then the bullet is to be put in and that also tied in with a little thred When the Cuirassier is to use his cartouch he must bite off the paper at the head of it and so put it into the barrell of his pistol with the bullet upward and then ramme it home By b For the more speedy lading of the pistol and avoiding the trouble of carrying either flasque or
touch-box there is a late invented fashion of spanner or key which I have represented in figure 1. which contains six charges of powder at the least and priming powder sufficient for those charges and for the cartouches wherewith the pistol cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will find to be of very good use when he is used thereunto this means he shall much expedite the lading of his pistol The Cuirassier being become ready in his postures his next and chiefest study is to be an exact marks-man And to this end he must frequently be practised at some c The Romanes exercised their souldiers at severall heights at stakes set up in Câ—â—â—â— Naâ—â—io Ad palum quoque vel sudes juniores exerceri percommodum est cùm latera vel pedes aut caput petere punctim cacÃmque condiscant Veg. lib. 2 cap. 23. But their manner of fighting with their swords was not casim but all upon the thrust or point because that manner sooner pierced the malis and laid not open the body in fetching of a blow Ibid lib. 1. cap. 12. marks to be set up at some tree or stake of severall heights Now because the Cuirassier is armed pistol-proof he must not give fire but at a very d La pistolle ne fait quasi nul effect si elle n'est tirec de trois pas Monsieur de la Noue discours 18. near distance being carefull to bestow his bullets so as they may take effect The principall place of advantage to aim at is the lower part of the belly of the adverse Cuirassier also his arm-pits or his neck Some would not have a Cuirassier to give e Les Reitres bien instruits ne deschargent point leurs pistolles qu'en heurtant qu'ils addressent tousiours aux cuiffes ou aux visages Ibid. fire until he have placed his pistol under his enemies armour or on some unarmed parts If he fail of an opportunity to hurt the man he may aim at the breast of the horse or his head as he shall see occasion He usually giveth his charge upon the trot and seldome gallopeth unlesse it be in pursuit of a flying enemie or such like occasion Having spent both his pistols and wanting time to lade again his next refuge is his sword whereof the best manner of using is to place the pummell of it upon his right f As is shewed in the posture 22. thigh and so with his right hand to direct or raise the point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth either at the belly of the adverse horse-man about the pummel of the saddle or at his arm-pits or his throat where if it pierce not as it is very like it will not fail by slipping under the casque yet meeting with a stay in that part of the body where a man is very weak and having a sword of a very stiff blade as aforesaid it will doubtlesse unhorse him Being past his enemie he is to make a back-blow at him aiming to cut the buckle of his pouldron whereby he disarmeth one of his arms c. Basta highly commendeth the aiming at the enemies sight and so by raising the vizures of his casque with the point of the sword to run him into the head But this seemeth not so likely to take effect as that of aiming at the throat and sometimes as some casques are made it would be of no use In these and the like exercises the Cuirassier is frequently and diligently to practise himself at some mark which will render him fit for service when need shall require Some authors for the disposing of the Cuirassiers for fight hold that they ought to be ordered in grosse bodies that so g The Cuirassiers among the horse are like the gravis armatura of foot among the Romanes quae tanquam murus ferreus stabat si hostes fugasset non sequebatur quia ejus jus est facilè nec fugere nec sequi Veg. lib. 2. cap. 17. Or like the Equites Cataphracti among the Grecians Aelian cap. 2. by their solidity and weight they may entertain and sustain the shock of the enemie They are also fit for troops of reserve to give courage to the other Cavallrie and to give them opportunity to re-assemble themselves behind them c. CHAP. XXX Of exercising the Harquebusier and Carabine ALthough there be some difference between the Harquebusier and the Carabine in regard of their horse their arming and their piece howsoever most authors take them for one and the same yet in regard the harquebuse differeth nothing from the carabine in length but onely in the bore their manner of using their severall pieces is one and the same and so one instruction may serve for both See figure 3. posture 23 and 24. In march he is either to carry his carabine hanging at his belt by the right side as is shewed chap. 24. or else to order it upon his right thigh as the Cuirassier in posture 4. In fight he is to strive to gain the left side of his enemy contrary to the Cuirassier because that in presenting he is to rest his carabine on his bridle-bridle-hand placing the but end on the right side of his breast near his shoulder He must be taught to use his carabine with all exactnesse and dexterity and to be an exquisite marks-man a Walhausen would have the Harquebusier to give fire not onely to the front and flanks but to the rear also by turning his body onely the horse running the contrary way in full careere But how possible this is to be done I leave to the judgement of any man that knows what belongs to Cavallrie For the manner of handling of the harquebuse or carabine the directions for the pistol in the foregoing chapter mutatis mutandis may serve for sufficient instruction Yet in regard the carabines with us are for the most part snap-hanes and so something differing from the fire-lock I will set down the order of handling it in the words of command holding it need lesse here to dilate them Postures for the snap-hane carabine 1 Order your carabine 2 Sink your carabine into your bridle-hand 3 Bend your cock 4 Guard your cock 5 Prime 6 Shut your pan 7 Cast about your carabine 8 Gage your flasque 9 Lade your carabine 10 Draw your rammer 11 Shorten your rammer 12 Lade with bullet and ramme home 13 Withdraw your rammer 14 Shorten your rammer 15 Return your rammer 16 Recover your carabine 17 Order your hammer 18 Free your cock 19 Present 20 Give fire For the use of his sword he is to demean himself as the Cuirassier CHAP. XXXI Of exercising the Dragon THe Dragon was invented for speciall services to assist the Cavallrie as Infantery considering there be many exploits which cannot be effected by the Cavallrie alone The musketier must exercise himself to give fire on horseback as the Harquebusier Being come to guard a passage or to do any other the like
hardly tell where to find bridle or saddle or light so as the enemy is upon their jacks before they can mount or at least unite themselves together These things oftentimes happen but are justly derided by good souldiers b Castrorum munitio curanta mihil enâ—â—â—equae tam salutare neque tam nâ—cessarium in venitur in bello Idem lib. 1. c. 21. and therefore all diligence must be used at all times as if the enemy were at hand ready to set upon the quarters every moment CHAP. IIII. Of the manner of securing the quarters ALl the diligences used about securing of the quarters seem onely to serve for the gaining of time a Subita conterrent hostes usitata vilescunt and that the enemy may not charge you on the sudden so as the souldiers have not convenient time to arm themselves mount their horses and assemble at the place of arms To effect this there is no better way then to b The Romanes manner of fortifications about their camps for security are fully described by Veget. lib. 1. c. 24. If the enemie were near all the army stood ready for battell to guard them which behind them wrought about the trenches And this was done by every century by turns every souldier becoming a pioner for the time Ibid. cap. 25. make sure the enemies approches If the quarter be in a suspected place the companies of Harquebusiers are to be quartered in the advenues of the village the Lances if any be and Cuirassiers in the middle At the entrances of all the streets either trees or c For a sudden defence of the quarter if being in a champain countrey destitute of any other it hath been usuall to enclose the quarter with waggons and carts So did the Helvetians now called Swissers as Cesar recordeth it Communt cap. 10. And to this purpose vide Veget. lib. 3. cap. 10. Persae imitantes Romanos ductis fossis castra constituunt quia arenosa sunt propt omnia saccos quos iâ—â—es pertavâ—rant 〈◊〉 pulverulenta quae effoditur terra complent â—orúmque câ—â—nulo aggerem faciunt Ibid. waggons are to be placed acrosse giving order to the Harquebusiers to guard those passages and that none of them mount on horseback without speciall order that so the rest may have time to assemble at the place of arms if the enemy come THis Regiment consisteth of foure troops of horse viz. two of Cuirassiers and two of Harquebusiers which Regiment containeth in breadth or front from A. to B. 700. foot and in depth or length from B. to C. 300. foot from A. to D. is 205 foot in breadth for one company of Cuirassiers which consisteth of 80 horse together with 80 nags which have five files of huts and five files of horse which Curassiers are quartered or lodged on the right hand of the Regiment From E to Z is 115 foot in breadth for a company of Harquebusiers which consisteth of 100 horse and it hath three files of huts and horses From A to G is the space of ground where the Collonell of the Regiment is lodged on the right hand of these foure companies and the said enclosure for the Collonel is 70 foot broad from A to G. From G to H is 40 foot in depth or length for the said enclosure for the Collonell and so are all the other enclosures of the Officers From H to I is 20 foot in breadth for the street between the Collonells Enclosure and the Enclosure for the Lieutenant and Cornet of the said Collonells company which are both lodged in one Enclosure marked I K which hath also 70 foot in breadth as that of the Collonel which Enclosure is divided into two parts The Lieutenant being lodged on the right hand and hath 40 foot in breadth for his Enclosure And the Cornet on the left hand with one of the Trumpeters having the other 30 foot in breadth of the said Enclosure which maketh 70 foot for them both From K to L is another street of twenty foot broad to the enclosure marked L M. L M is the enclosure where the Quartermaster is lodged with two other horsemen which he pleaseth to admit of which is 25 foot broad and 40 foot long as the rest Their hut within the said Enclosure being 12 foot square for them three and their stable is 25 foot broad for their six horses From M to N is 30 foot for the street between the Quartermasters enclosure and the first hutts for the horsemen marked N. From N to O is 180 foot for the quartering of the files of huts for the horsmen viz. for 16 huts and their 32 horses in a file agreeable to the Regiments of Infantery That so where the Regiments of Cavallry are to be lodged in the champaine ground among the Infanterie they might all make one and the same line before and behind the Regiments And through the said two Troops of Cuirassiers there be two streets marked P. which streets are of 13 foot broad and the huts of the horsemen are ten fort broad and 8 foot long for one horseman and his boy And between two huts there is two foot of space for the drain of rain water dropping from the thatch or covers of the huts These huts have their chief doores or passages towards the heads of their horses and a small one opening into the street where they lay their hay and straw every one behind his own hut Q are two streets of twelve foot broad which passe through the troops of Harquebusiers R is a street of five foot broad between the horsmens huts and the mangers for their horses S is ten foot for the Stables for their horses which horses are placed with their heads toward their huts and every horse hath 4 foot in breadth for his litter and 8 foot for the two horses according to the length of their huts And more ground then eight foot they must not take for otherwise it would cause a great disorder and confusion not observing the said precise measures T is a street of 20 foot broad between the heels of their horses in which street they mount and alight off their horses which street they are bound to keep clean and to carry away the dung every two or three dayes V is 30 foot in breadth for the street called the Victuallers or Sutlers street W are the Sutlers huts being ten foot square and more room they must not take unlesse when they have many Pensioners the Quartermaster give them a foot or two more in breadth but not in depth to observe the measure of 300 foot in the depth of the Regiment as the Infantery X is ten foot of ground behind the Sutlers huts for a place for the Sutlers the horsmen and their wives to dresse their victuals And in no other place of the Quarter must any fire be made Neither are they to cast any filth c. within the Quarter but to carry it to the place appointed thereunto
in the first rank of horse But Walhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the rear Flamin de la Crote would have them march in foure divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the Corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants and Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant and Quartermaster are to come in the rear And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands and the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand and so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part The second Part. Of Marching THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparatâ— In itinere minùs armatus minúsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu velfraude repentè turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of sudden charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3 heads 1 the knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2 The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3 The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of Guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Mereren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by unusuall wayes the use of maps may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the Waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm passuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates perdiscat compendia diverticula montes flumina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hillie or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgings as forrage water c Insomuch as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc à prudentioribus locorúmque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them separated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their running away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodia mancipare additá poena ostentatione vel praenni c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they do their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. the knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddenly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsels and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consilia aliâ vià pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium rapiúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travell and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitûs profeâ—turus fidelissimos argutissimòsque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressa à tergo dextra leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carrie with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they find the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the rear or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approch the enemies armie assaying
upon pain of a fine which the Provost taketh E F is the enclosure of the Captain of a troop of Harquebusiers being of the same breadth and depth as those of the Capt. of Cuirassiers viz. 70. foot broad and 40 foot deep And the ancientest Captain of Harquebusiers or Cuirassiers closeth the battalion of the Regiment on the left hand at the corner marked B. F Y is a street of twenty foot broad to the Lieutenant of the troop of Harquebusiers his enclosure Y. Y Z is 25 foot in breadth for the enclosure of the said Lieutenant where also are placed his foure horses having in depth 40 foot And the Cornets of the troops of Harquebusiers are lodged on the right hand in the two first huts of the horsmen and that to place his three horses and the fourth horse is the Trumpeters who alwayes lodgeth with the Cornet These companies of Harquebusiers have also 180 foot depth for the quartering of their three files of huts marked in the Cuirassiers N O. but these have but 15 huts in every file for 30 horse having also two streets as the Cuirassiers through them marked Q. being 12 foot broad as abovesaid leaving three foot of space between their huts for the drain whereas the Cuirassiers have but two foot their huts are also often foot broad and 8 foot deep for two Harquebusiers and 8 foot for the litter of their two horses and ten foot for their stable And five foot for a street between their huts and the mangers of their horses their Sutlers streets and Sutlers huts c. are as the Cuirassiers Tâ—e maner of Quartering the Pr. of Orange his Army both horsse and foote upon them unto which a new passage must be cut for the more privacie and security If there be Dragons then they are to guard the said approches If Infantery then it is their task to do it If the situation of the place be such as that the enemy may environ it round the usuall entrances or approches to the village are to be stopped up and new ones cut in some secret places as gardens or the like distant from the usuall wayes that so the enemy may be afraid to charge home a Centinell or Corps-du-guard thereby to enter with them as they retreat The quarters are to be well barricadoed about except the new cut passages leading to the Rendezvous CHAP. V. Of the Rendez-vous or alarm place THe alarm place is that place without the village where the souldiers are to assemble to withstand an assailing enemy being a place of great consequence In the election of this place consideration must be had of the situation of the villages and countrey whether it be large or strait also of the time whether it be by day or night again whether the Cavallrie be lodged together or in severall villages If together in one village and in the night when the enemy may come upon them the more at unaware as not being discoverable very farre then this place must not be in the front of the village as being too near the enemies approch whereby it might be seised on by him and so your men cut off one after another as they come thither to assemble themselves but it must be on the sides or flanks of the village though the baggage be hazarded which a This all ages have verified The States men by a stratagem had surprised S. Hertogen-Bosh anno 1585. but by reason of the covetousnesse of the souldiers neglecting their charges to fall to pillaging were beaten out again with losse Meteren lib. 12. inviting the enemy to pillaging often giveth him occasion of disorder But in the day time it were best to be in front shewing the more courage If the Cavallrie be quartered in diverse villages which often happeneth especially in places little suspected the quality of the countrey must be considered Some villages may be backed with rivers and so give but one entrance to the enemie then the generall place of arms or rendez-vous shall be in the center And those villages which are exposed to the first brunt shall be as Corps-du-guards to assure the rest These upon alarm given must assemble in their particular alarm places from thence they shall advance united to receive the charge though the enemy farre exceed them in number and must sustain him so long till they may be assured that the rest are all met at the generall Rendez-vous whether being forced by the enemy they shall retreat by little and little the other advancing to relieve them If the countrey be open so as the enemy may assail which he please then they must use those diligences as when the Cavallrie is lodged altogether in one village They which are first assaulted must make resistance untill the other be met at the generall Rendez-vous Touching the order of their assembling together in the alarm place the Commissary Generall or Quartermaster Generall overnight appointeth a certain place for every troop where they shall stand which way faced c. CHAP. VI. Of the Guards THe Commissary Generall is to keep account of the a Of the guards and means of securing the quarters used among the Romanes Vegetius handleth at large lib. 3. cap. 8. Guards and to give orders requisite to those that are to have the guard wherein he may employ one or more companies according to occasions The Corps-du-guard must be in the middle of the village The guards being disposed in their places must be every night visited by the Commissary Generall which often the Lieutenant Generall and sometime the Generall himself ought to do to keep the souldiers in the greater aw The Generalls company is exempt from the ordinary guards and convoyes because they must be a guard to the Generall unlesse the Generall go in person and so is the Lieutenant Generalls company The companies entring the guard must be compleatly armed and sound their trumpets their Lieutenant taking information of all things from the Lieutenant which goeth from the guard and then certifying his Captain who is to acquaint his superiour officers with all occurrences and with the reports of such as went to discover and scowre the high-wayes also of the convoyes and other duties If the Cavallrie lodge in severall villages which ever must not be farre distant from each other in every village a company must have the guard and Sentinells b Edict for Martiall law art 58. The Captains officers and souldiers which have the guard must be armed all night and have their horses at hand ready bridled observing all possible silence In the day time if there be any open champain within half a league or thereabout of the quarter the company which hath the guard shall send out a Corporall with twelve or fifteen horse which shall hide himself in some covert place near the entrance of the said champain There he shall place double Sentinells in some eminent place who seeing some Cavallry one shall go to