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 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 verie large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at ther distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed d standing right in their ranks and files b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1.9 Vt aquali legitimóque spatio miles distet à milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent ibid. cap. 26. c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right ad bastam and left ad scutum facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi due genera per juga versus Their countermarches the same which we use evolutio Chorica per decurias juga evolutio Macedonica per decurias juga evolutio Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us conversio ad hastam vel conversio ad scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kindes 1. facings 2. doublings 3. countermarches 4. wheelings The use of facings is to make the companie perfect to be suddainly prepared for a charge on either flank or the reere 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 readie to receive the charge of an enemie in the reere or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and reere or either flank into the middle of the bodie The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be readie to receive the charge of the enemie on either flank or reere These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a companie 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 Front Right flank Reere Left flank 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 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 reare though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say 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 reare 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 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 right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman accounting from the right hand the 4 into the 3 and so the rest which must be done throughout the companie at one instant all together But because the first rank of the companie is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but 5 deep there seemeth no great necessitie of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left 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 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 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 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 Choraean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevitie sake Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the companie 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 bodie 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 bodie moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the center 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 percipi interdum non petest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorun transitum himitum multitudinis 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 usus invenit c. Tria generasignorum Vocaliae semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3. cap. 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kindes 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 war like instrument to the eare 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 next after him two attendants with spare horses they bearing his armour then the trumpeters then the cornet in the first rank of horse But VValhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the reere Flamin de la Crore would have them march in 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 Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant Quartermaster are to come in the reare And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand 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 praeparati In itinere minùs armatus minùsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu vel fraude repente turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of suddain 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 Meteren 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 usuall wayes the use of mappes 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
cashere the contrary and it must be his care to have one or more of his souldiers well g Tuum hostilem exercitum locorum situm naturam regionis nosce Livius 22. skilled in the wayes of the countrey to serve him as guides because the boores are neither alwayes at hand nor alwayes to be trusted and to such he is to 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 sufficiencie 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 companie 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 Reare-commander and therefore the reare is fitly assigned him as his proper place He alwayes marcheth in the reare 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 reare 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 reare In the ordinarie marching of the companie 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 reare because the lances and cuirassiers have their Cornets to leade them at the head of the companie 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 duces Lips ad Polyb lib. 2. Cornets but these last warres having given them Cornets the rule holdeth for them as for the lances and cuirassiers d The Romanes required it in their private souldiers and to cast account also In quibusdam notarum peritia calculandi computandÃque 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 surnames 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 companie going to the guard in any place and approaching neare it the Lieutenant goeth before to take notice of the Corps-du-guard and speaking with the Lieutenant of the companie 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 companie being lodged in some village he must cause the billets to be signed by the Quartermaster of his companie 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 sort 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 companie is to march and the trumpets sound to horse e The good example of a Leader hath ever been observed to be of marvellous efficacie according to that of the Poet Componitur orbis Regis ad exemplum c. Ipse manu sua pila gerens praecedit anheli Militis ora pedes monstrat tolerare labores Non jubet Lucan 9. de Catone he must be first ready and mounted having care that all the souldiers immediatly do the same And if he finde any lingering either of lazinesse or with a purpose to stay behinde to pillage the houses he must chastise them with all severitie for example to others He must have knowledge of the countrey and wayes being often sent upon exploits where the guides are not alwayes readie If the company be charged by the enemy the Lieutenant with some of the best mounted souldiers is to remain behinde CHAP. VIII Of the Cornet THe Cornet of horse must be couragious In absence of the Captain and Lieutenant he commandeth the companie 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 Infanterie among which the preserving of the colours hath ever been prized above life as appeared among others by one Jaques Martaeus 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
and to hold it on the left side with the muzzell upwards 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 pistoll 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 pistoll 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 bullet bag at the pistoll case being in fight with the thumb and forefinger and to put it into the muzzell of the pistoll 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-hand he is to bring the pistoll towards his right side and placing the but end upon his thigh to pull down the cock 15. Recover your pistoll He is to take the pistoll into his right hand mounting the muzzell 16. Present and give fire Having the pistoll in his right hand as in posture 15 with his forefinger upon the tricker he is to incline the muzzell with a fixed eye towards his mark not suddainly but by degrees quicker or slower according to the space 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 pistoll may be upward and having gotten his mark he is to draw the tricker and give fire 17. Return your pistoll He is to return his pistoll into the case and then to draw his other pistoll as occasion may serve and to do as before Now concerning the snap-hane pistoll those postures wherein it differeth from the fire-lock pistoll are these as in figure 18. Bend your cock Holding the pistoll in the 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 libertie 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 rowled upon a stick or the rammer if it be not too little fit according to the bore of the barrell to contain a due quantitie of powder 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 tyed 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 pistoll with the bullet upward and then ramme it home By b For the more speedy lading of the pistoll and avoiding the trouble of carrying either flasque or touchbox 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 for the cartouches wherewith the pistoll cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will finde to be of very good use when he is used thereunto this means he shall much expedite the lading of his pistoll 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 Campo Martio Ad palum quoque vel sudes juniores exerceri percommodum est cùm latera vel pedes aut caput petere punctim caesÃmque condiscant Veg. lib. 2. cap. 23. But their manner of fighting with their swords was not caesim but all upon the thrust or point because that manner sooner pierced the vitalls and laid not open the bodie in fetching of a blow Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 2. marks to be set up at some tree or stake of severall heights Now because the Cuirassier is armed pistoll proof he must not give fire but at a very d La pistolle ne fait quasi nul effect si elle n'est tirée de trois pas Monsieur de la Noüe discours 18. neare distance being carefull to bestow his bullets so as they may take effect The principall place of advantage to aime at is the lower part of the bellie 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 cuisses ou aux visages Ibid. fire untill he have placed his pistoll under his enemies armour or on some unarmed parts If he fail of an opportunitie to hurt the man he may aime 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 bellie of the adverse horse-man about the pummell 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 bodie where a man is very weak and having a sword of a very stiffe blade as afore-said 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 fight and
been shewed cap. 20. He is to have his bridle made with a chain to prevent cutting and he must be very carefull to have all his furniture strong and usefull CHAP. XXIIII Of the Arming of the Harquebusier and Carabine THe Harquebusier was first invented in France at the time of the warres of Piedmont whom Melzo and Basta would have either not armed though they confesse themselves contradicted therein by others or but slightly onely with a head-piece breast and those but some few of the formost But the printed edict of the States of the united provinces expresly commandeth that every Harquebusier be a Which condemneth the late practice of our trained Harquebusiers to be erroneous which have wholly left off their arms and think themselves safe enough in a calfs skin coat It was otherwise with the Romanes for which Vegetius giveth this reason Necesse enim est ut dimicandi acriorem sumat audaciam qui munito capite pectore non timet vulnus lib. 1. cap. 20. armed with an open cask gorget back and breast of the horse-mans furniture and Captain Bingham in his Low-countrie exercise appointeth him a cuirasse pistoll proof Moreover by the late orders resolved on by the councel of warre the Harquebusier besides a good buffe coat is to have the back and breast of the Cuirassiers arming more then pistoll proof the head-piece c. For offensive arms he must have the harquebuse of two foot and a half long the bore of 17 bullets in the pound rowling in hanging on a belt by a swivell a flask and touch-box and pistols like the Guirassiers as some writers have it His horse according to the said edict of the States should not be under 15 hand high being swift and well managed The Carabine is to be mounted on a midling gelding and to have a good buffe coat a carbine or petronell the barrell 2½ foot long the bullet 24 in the pound rowling in hanging as the harquebuse a sword girdle and hangers flask and touch-box as the Harquebusier CHAP. XXV Of the arming of the Dragon THe a One De Renol hath not long since published a book which he calleth Milice Royale or Infanterie voiante wherein he is earnest to have the Carabines or Harquebusiers put down and Dragoniers used in their stead their muskets having the barrell of 2 foot 9 inches long but wider bore then the musket their pikes but 13 foot c. He is very confident in his conceits for the ordering of them for fight but such as can judge hold him frivolous Dragon is of two kindes Pike and musket The pike is to have a thong of leather about the middle of the pike for the more commodious carrying of it The musketier is to have a strap or belt fastned to the stock thereof almost from the one end to the other by which being on horse-back he hangeth it at his back keeping his burning match and the bridle in the left hand His horse is of the least price the use thereof being but to expedite his march allighting to do his service CHAP. XXVI Of exercising the Cavallrie in Generall and Particular Of exercise in generall and the necessitie of it THe Romanes called an army exercitus a Exercitus ex re ipsa atque opere exercitii nomen accepit ut ei nunquam liceret oblivisci quod vocabatur Veg. lib 2. cap. 1. Legio ab eligendo ib. a word derived ab exercendo of exercising and not without reason for in every battell not so much the multitude and untutored strength of men as art and exercise use to give victorie as b Lib. 1. cap. 1. Exercitus dicitur quòd melior fiat exercitando Varro Vegetius testifieth for which he giveth this reason among the rest that the knowledge of that which belongeth to warre giveth courage Nema facere metuit saith he quod se bene didicisse confidit No man feareth to do that which he hath well learned how to do The benefit of this exercise is such as the same author doubteth not to affirm that nothing is more firm nor more happie or commendable then that common-wealth in qua abundant milites eruditi in which skilfull souldiers abound To this end antiquitie maintained their campi doctores teachers for the field by whom the young and new-entertained souldiers were c Manè post meridiem Nam pro tyronibus habendi sunt qui pugnare longo tempore desierunt Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. Neque enim longitudo atatis aut annorum numerus artem bellicam tradit sed continua exercitationis meditatio post quanta volueris stipendia inexercitatus miles semper est tyro Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 23. exercised twice every day ad omne genus armorum at all kindes of weapons and arms and the old practised souldiers sine intermissione semel in die once a day without intermission To which purpose they had very spacious buildings within which in winter or upon occasion of unseasonable weather they could exercise both horse and foot The Graecians were they which gave a pattern to the Romanes in the practice of this art for so saith d Lib. 3. cap. 10. Discat miles in otio quod proficere possit in bello Animos subitò ad arma non erigunt nisi qui se ad ipsa idoneos praemissâ exercitatione confidunt Theod. apud Cassiod The Imperatores themselves as Valerius Pompey Trajan c. continually exercised among their souldiers Omnia inter infimos militum munia haud gravatè abeundo saith Livie of Valerius And of Pompey Plutarch reporteth thus in Pompeio in bello civili jam senem duo de sexaginta annos natum peditem atque equitem se inter suos assiduè exercuisse Vegetius Artem bellicam quondam relictis doctrinis omnibus Lacedaemonii pòst coluere Romani Among other examples tending to this purpose wherein all histories abound that is worthy of observation which is testified of the inhabitants of the Balearie islands now called Majorca and Minorca where the women would not suffer their children to eat any meat but that which they could hit at an appointed distance with a stone cast out of a sling by which means they grew so expert at it as that people are said to be the inventers of that weapon and therein to have excelled all others Every mean trade requireth exercise for the obtaining of it how much more the art militarie which is rebus omnibus potior per quam libertas retinetur dignitas provinciae propagatur conservatur imperium that is by which libertie is continued the dignitie of the province is propagatd and the empire preserved And this is confirmed by Josephus Exid. lib. 3. to be true that not fortune but the good orders of the Romanes in their Militia made them masters of the world whose forces even in times of peace and as it were to keep their hands in ure were 32000 foot 2400 horse but
so nearer to him by degrees So may a pistoll be fired some distance off and so nearer in like manner a drumme or trumpet may be used The groom may sometime dresse him in armour and he may be used novv and then to eat his oats from the drumme head It vvill be very usefull sometime to cause a musketier to stand at a convenient distance and both of you to give fire upon each other and thereupon to ride up close to him also to ride him against a compleat armour so set upon a stake that he may overthrovv it and trample it under his feet that so and by such other means your horse finding that he receiveth no hurt may become bold to approach any object He may also be used to mountanous and uneven vvayes and be exercised to leap svvimme and the like But for further directions for the art of riding and managing the horse I referre the reader to a Besides many of our owne writers Pierre de la Noüe in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne also Instruction du Roy de France en l'exercice de monter a Cheval par Antoyne de Plubinel lately published and divers others them vvhich have vvritten of horse-manship ex professo vvhose books are every vvhere obvious CHAP. XXVIII Of managing arms extending to postures and motions Of exercising the lance HOvvsoever the use of the lance be novv left off in the Lovv-countreys either for the reasons alledged chap. 23 or by reason of the discommodity of the countrey for the lance is of no use but in a spacious hard and even ground yet will it not be altogether impertinent to shew the manner of exercising the same seeing that a I. Lips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Item de Milit. Rom. N. Machiavell G. du Bellay C. Bingham upon Alian Sr. Cl. Edmonds on Caes Com. Sr. Hen. Savilc c. many have taken pains to revive unto us the knowledge of those arms which sometime were in use among the Graecians Romanes and other nations which have been for many ages totally abolished The manner of carrying the lance is either advanced or couched that is when it is carried so abased as the enemie can hardly discover it untill he feel the shock The charging of the lance is twofold either by the right or left The right is when it is presented or charged along by the right side of the horse The left is when it is born acrosse the neck of the horse by the left eare The first is the manner used by the Turks and Hungarians and by some preferred before the other One reason which they give for it is because that in charging by the left the Lancier must incline his bodie to the left and so sitteth the lesse sure in his saddle Basta would have the second way to be best Howsoever all agree that a Lancier must ever strive to gain the left side of his enemie and charge him on the left Now there be three wayes of charging 1 By carrying the lance sloaped upwards 2 By charging it levell in a straight line 3 By charging it sloaping or inclining downwards Fig 2 Par 1 Cap 28 The second is by charging a horse-man about the middle to bear him out of the saddle or on the breast of the foot The third serveth to pierce the breast of the enemies horse or a kneeling musketier or pike charging at the foot against horse These three severall wayes must be diligently practised and require much dexteritie to which end a stake is to be set up having an arm as it were stretched out from it and thereunto a white either of paper or linen fastned at severall heights which the Lancier must exercise himself to hit in full careere also to take up a glove or the like from the ground with the point of his lance c. All which is shown figure 2. part 1. chap. 28. In his charging of the enemie he begins upon his pace or trot b Monsieur de la Noüe blameth the French for their errour in this point De 200 pas ils commencent à galloper et de 100 à courir à toute bride qui est faire erreur n' estant besoin de prendre tant d'espace Discours 18. then falls into a gallop but must not begin his careere untill he be within some 60. paces of his enemie presenting his lance from the advance at the half of that distance and charging it for the shock as occasion serveth Against an armed Lancier the best way of charging is judged to be not after the two first wayes but by the third that is at the breast of the horse and that towards the left side of him where his heart and vitals are and for this the charging by the right is held best Having given his charge with the lance so as it becometh unusefull to him he must betake himself to his pistoll in the use whereof he is to be very skilfull His last refuge is his sword which he must also be well practised in Of both which weapons shall be spoken in the next chapter CHAP. XXIX Of exercising the Cuirassier ALthough it be supposed and expected that no horse-man will presume to mount his horse to repaire to his cornet before his pistols harquebuse or carabine be spanned primed and laden his cases furnished with cartouches and all other equipage 1 To Horse 2 Vncapp your Pistolls 3 Draw your Pistoll 4 Order your Pistoll 5 Spann your Pistoll 6. Prime your Pistoll 7. Shutt your Pann 8. Cast about your Pistoll 9 Gage your Flasske 10 Lade your Pistoll 11 Draw your Rammer 12 Lade with Bullet and Ramhome 13. Returne your Rammer 14. Pull down your Cock 15. Recover your Pistoll 16. Present and giue Fire 17 Returne your Pistoll 18 Bend your Cock 19 Guard your Cock 20 Order your Hammer 21. Free your Cock 22. 23. 24. 3. Draw your pistoll He is to draw the pistoll out of the case with the right hand and alwayes the left pistoll first and to mount the muzzell of it as in posture 15. 4. Order your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-bridle-hand and to reremove his right hand towards the muzzell and then to rest the but end upon his thigh 5. Span your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and taking the key or spanner into his right hand to put it upon the axletree and and to winde about the wheel till it stick and then to return the spanner to its place being usually fastned to the side of the case 6. Prime Holding the pistoll in the 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 panne 8. Cast about your pistoll With the bridle-hand he is to cast about the pistoll
so by raising the vizures of his casque with the point of the sword to runne 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 fugâsset non sequebatur quia ejus jus est facilè nec fugere nec sequi Veg. lib. 2. cap. 17. Or like the Equites Cataphracti among the Graecians Aelian cap. 2. by their soliditie 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 opportunitie to re-assemble themselves behinde 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 In march he is either to carry his carabine hanging at his belt by the right side See fig. 3. posture 23 and 24. 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 enemie contrarie 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 neare his shoulder He must be taught to use his carabine with all exactnesse and dexteritie and to be an exquisit marks man For the h Walhausen would have the Harquebusier to give fire not onely to the front and flanks but to the reere also by turning his bodie onely the horse running the contrarie 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 manner of handling of the harquebuse or carabine the directions for the pistoll 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 firelock I will set down the order of handling it in the words of command holding it needlesse 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 Cuirasier CHAP. XXXI Of exercising the Dragon THe Dragon was invented for speciall services to assist the Cavallrie as Infanterie considering there be many exploits which cannot be effected by the Cavallrie alone The musketier must exercise himself to give fire on horse-back as the Harquebusier Being come to guard a passage or to do any other the like service they are to allight and to demean themselves as Infanterie Whereof it shall be needlesse here to 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 allighted 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 bodie And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Graecians 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 10 among the foot with some 16. a bringer up Tergiductor a leader being every odde man in the file Prostes a follower which is every even number Substes a side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their 2 cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our 3 foot Their 4 cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at 6 foot distance between file and file in march and 3 foot in fight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and reere 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 bodie not by ranks but by files and those of 5 deep as most affirm or of 6 as others would have it and that because the number of 5 is not divisible by 2 and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwaies an odde rank Some would have them especially the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square bodie and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be 2 paces open order 4 paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but 2 kindes of distances Close order which is 3 foot and open order which is 6 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 Infanterie for in the foot the distance is taken from the center of the souldiers bodie which
two souldiers of every companie are to go with him which then go back again to conduct their respective companies to their assigned quarters especially in the night The Provost or rather the Waggon-master sendeth one of his men to take notice of the place for the lodging of the baggage who afterward conducteth him thither Where he then assigneth the Sutlers or victuallers their quarter and causeth all carts or waggons to be removed out of the streets lest an alarm be given CHAP. II. Of distributing the quarters GReat discretion must be used in appointing to everie one such quarter as is a Pro gradu legionibus auxiliis equitibus peditibus loca deputantur in castris Veg. 3.8 fitting conformable to the qualitie of his person and convenience of the place The best way to avoid suspicion of partialitie is that such as be ill lodged now be better accommodated the next time The market-place for the conveniencie of all and for safetie is to be in the middle but so as no streets runne through it leading to the Rendezvous or place of arms Fig 4 Par 3 Cap 2 THis Regiment consisteth of 4 Troopes of Horse viz. two of Cuirassiers and two of Harquebusiers which Regiment containeth in bredth 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 bredth for one Company of Cuirassiers which consisteth of 80 horse together with 80 Nags which have 5 files of huts and 5 files of horse which Cuirassiers are quartered or lodged on the right hand of the Regiment From E. to Z. is 115 foot in bredth for a Company of Harquebusiers which consisteth of 100 horse and it hath 3 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 4 Companies and the said enclosure for the Collonell 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 bredth for the streete betweene the Collonels Enclosure and the Enclosure for the Lieutenant and Cornet of the said Collonels Company which are both lodged in one Enclosure marked I. K. which hath also 70 foot in bredth as that of the Collonell which Enclosure is divided into 2 parts The Lieutenant being lodged on the right hand and hath 40 foot in bredth for his Enclosure And the Cornet on the left hand with one of the Trumpetters having the other 30 foot in bredth of the said Enclosure which maketh 70 foot for them both Frō K. to L. is another street of 20 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 betweene the Quartermasters Enclosure and the first huts for the horsemen marked N. Frō 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 Cavalry are to be lodged in the Champaine ground among the Infantery they might all make one and the same ligne before and behinde the Regiments And through the said two Troopes of Cuirassiers there bee 2. streets marked P. which streets are of 13 foot broad and the huts of the horsemen are 10 foote broade and 8 foote long for one horseman and his Boy And betweene 2 huts there is 2 foote of space for the drayne of rayne water dropping from the thatch or covers of the huttes These huts have their chiefe dores 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 behinde his owne hut Q. are two streets of 12 foot broad which passe through the Troopes of Harquebusiers R. is a street of 5 foot broad betweene the horsemens huts and the mangers for their horses S is 10 foote for the Stables for their horses which horses are placed with their heads toward their huts and every horse hath 4 foot in bredth for his Litter and 8 foot for the 2 horses according to the length of their huts And more ground than 8 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 betweene the heeles of their horses in which streete they mount and alight off their horses which streete they are bound to keepe cleane and to carry away the dung every two or three dayes V. is 30 foot in bredth for the street called the Victuallers or Suttlers street W. are the Suttlers huts being 〈◊〉 foote square and more roome they they must not take unlesse when they have many Pensioners the Quartermaster give them a foot or two more in bredth but not in depth to observe the measure of 300 foot in the depth of the Regiment as the Infantery X. is 10 foot of ground behinde the Suttlers huts for a place for the Suttlers the hors-men and their wives to dresse their victuals And in no other place of the Quarter must any fire bee made Neither are they to cast any filth c. within the Quarter but to carry it to the place appointed thereunto upon payne of a fine which the Provost taketh E. F. is the Enclosure of the Captaine of a troope of Harquebusiers being of the same bredth and depth as those of the Capt. of Cuirassiers viz. 70. foot broad and 40 foot deepe And the ancientest Captaine of Harquebùsiers or Cuirassiers closeth the battalion of the Regiment on the left hand at the corner marked B. F. Y. is a street of 20 foot broad to the Lieutenant of the Troop of Harquebusiers his enclosure Y. Y. Z. is 25 foot in bredth for the enclosure of the said Lieutenant where also are placed his 4 horses having in depth 40 foot And the Cornets of the Troops of Harquebusiers are lodged on the right hand in the 2 first huts of the horsemen and that to place his 3 horses and the 4th horse is the Trumpeters who alwayes lodgeth with the Cornet These Companies of Harquebusiers have also 180 foot depth for the quartering of their 3 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 of 12 foot broad as above said leaving 3 foot of space betweene their huttes for the draine