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-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
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
brings it advanceth towards him with one or two of his discreetest souldiers and receiveth his message in private Having heard his relation he must presently resolve either to retreat or to fight If he resolve to fight the enemie being so strong he must give such orders as shall be fitting especially commanding the troops to go serried close and if there be divers troops that they entermingle not but observe good order for it might so happen that the enemie might charge him c Qui dispersis suis inconsultè insequitur quam ipse acceperat adversario vult dare victoriam Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. so disorderly as he might make head and endamage the enemie especially if he have not one or more troops of reserve following him well united and in good order CHAP. VI. Of ordering the troops for combat by single companies BEfore we come to shew the severall forms of battell which may be used among the Cavallrie it will be fit to speak of their severall kindes of fighting which they are to be practised in apart by themselves before they be joyned with the grosse If a companie of Lances were to fight against foot they were not to give their charge in an united bodie neither upon this nor any occasion whatsoever because even the second rank of them hardly doth any certain execution but they were to charge them rank after rank wheeling off to the reare to that end keeping large distances between rank and rank The same order they were to observe if they fought against horse upon the offensive For the defensive the companie consisting of 64 as before Part. 1. Chap. 19. might order themselves in this manner Two ranks of 8 in rank should face to the front two to either flank and two to the reare leaving an open square space in the middle they all standing back towards back faced every way to receive the charge wheresoever the enemie shall give on The same manner might be used in greater bodies as should seem good to the skilfull Commander If the Lances were to fight against Cuirassiers a Par. 3. rangs de lances lui aller gaillardement donner par les flancs car par ce moyen ils l'entr ' ouuriront Monsieur de la Noüe Disc 18. they were by two ranks together to fetch their careers and so to charge them especially on the flanks and reare every second rank forbearing the shock till the first had done it and was wheeled off If one companie of Cuirassiers be to fight against another your enemie charging you in full career you are to make a b So Walhausen would have it Carracoll that is you divide your body by the half ranks and so suddenly open to the right and left so as the enemie passeth through you and you facing inward charge him on the flanks as is shewed in Fig. 6. Part. 4. Or if two companies fight against two other then they observe the same manner but keeping each companie entire as may be seen in the same figure It is also to be done by the Carracoll first and then the enemie being within you to wheel to the right and left inward and so to charge him on the reare in full career These forms in Walhausens opinion are of c So the said author conceiveth but it is very doubtfull For by this opening to the right left you must turn troop and then make a whole turn again so give advantage to your enemie It were better therefore to cause three or foure files of each of your wings to advance on the sudden and so to charge the adverse troop on either flank And to equall your enemies front you might cause the half files of your bodie to double your front to the right and left by division All which your troop must be acquainted with before-hand and are to do it in a moment of themselves with all possible dexteritie speciall advantage for the enemie having charged you in full carreere while you went on upon the trot onely on the sudden opening to the right and left either saith he must run through and effect little or nothing or staying himself in the career d The principall strength of Cuirassiers consisteth in keeping themselves close ferried together for this the Germanes are commended Il faut dire que les Allemans surpassent toutes les autres nations parce qu'il ne semble pas seulement qu' ils soient serrez ains qu' ils soient collez les uns auec les autres De la Noüe Discours 18. disorder his troop and loose the force of his charge as by Fig. 7. part 4. appeareth The Harquebusiers must be exercised to give fire by ranks The first rank having given fire is to wheel off to the left unlesse the ground will not permit it but that it must be to the right making readie and falling into the reare the second rank immediately gives fire upon the wheeling away of the first and so the rest successively Walhausen would have them also give fire by files the outward file towards the enemie whether right or left advancing before the bodie in full career and so firing the rest successively to do the same and in this manner to fight against Infanterie that might charge them on the flanks But others do utterly reject it as too much exposed to inevitable danger In their firing by ranks the first rank advanceth some 30 paces before the bodie first on the gallop then in career as some direct and so to give fire the second doth the same and so the rest The Dragoniers being a kinde of Infanterie and doing their chief services on foot as hath been shewed Part. 1. Chap. 31. it will be needlesse here to shew how they are to be exercised for skirmish partly in regard there is no want of books for the e So farre as concerneth the exercising of the foot in their postures and motions I suppose Pr. Maurice his booke Captain Binghams notes upon Alien with the appendix sufficient alone But I wish some bodie would go on and fully handle that which belongeth to the Infanterie practising of the foot though I dare say they exceed rather in number then in weight and principally because I desire to confine my self to that which properly belongeth to the Cavallrie How they are to dispose of their horses in fight hath been shewed ibid. cap. 31. Fig 6. Cap 6. Par 4. Fig 7. Par 4. Cap 6. CHAP. VII How the Cavallrie are to fight against foot A Commander having intelligence of some grosse of the enemies Infanterie and resolving to set upon them he must principally aim to encounter them in a place of advantage for the Cavallrie that is in an a Si equitatu gaudemus campos debemus optare si pedite loca deligere angusta fossis paludibus vel arboribus impedita Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. open champain He must also use all possible diligence to
All the forces of the whole armie both horse and foot are usually distinguished and divided into h So did the Romanes the Vanguard they called Cornu dextrum the Battell Acies media and the Reare Cornu sinistrum as is shewed by Sr. Cl. Edmonds upon Caesars Com. lib. 1. cap. 7. Observ 1. out of Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 4. and is handled at large by Leo the Emperour Tact. cap. 18. three parts namely the Vanguard Battell and Reare as hath been shewed Part. 2. chap. 3. Each of which parts is governed by it's particular Officer or Chief yet so as the absolute command belongeth to the Generall These distinctions are alwayes so understood in the order of marching to avoid disputes about precedencie so as they which march foremost are said to have the Vanguard they which march in the middle the Battell and they which come last the Reare And these divisions alter their names according to the place they march in wherein they observe a diuinall change as hath been shewed in the chapter above mentioned But if we shall take the meaning of these words according to their proprietie and usuall acceptation in matter of fight or battell conceiving that that part of the armie which is called the Vanguard shall give the first charge and that which is called the Battell shall give the second charge the Reareward the last it will prove a meere mistake For we are to know that the first charge must be given by the first troop or foremost order of companies which are in front placed as in one rank extended from the one front-angle of the whole armie to the other and so it were impossible for them to be commanded or directed by one Commander or Chief of one particular squadron of the armie by reason of the large extent thereof for we see that the front of the armie embattelled before Dornick Fig. 14. which was farre inferiour to that of late employed at the siedge of the Bossch took up i Six foot make a fathom 100 fathoms a furlong seven furlongs and a half a mile Five foot make a pace 1000 paces make a mile 6380 foot of ground being in their close order prepared for fight which is above a mile and a quarter of our measure Besides if the Vanguard as it is called should give the first charge the Battell which then must second them may chance to be of a nation not onely differing from the Vanguard but at variance with them or else some grudge or disgust between the Chiefs And in that respect they might either neglect or slacken the seconding or relieving of those of the Vanguard and not use that diligence which is required In consideration therefore of these and other inconveniences it is best that every squadron of the armie be so ordered as each of them may have their first second and third troops by which means every division shall both be commanded by their own Chiefs and shall also be seconded by those of their own squadron or division which will give them the more courage and assurance The manner therefore for the ordering of an armie for battell is as followeth That squadron which is called the Battell is placed in the middle the Vanguard on the right hand of it and the Reare on the left and all these usually in one front and single order one regiment or sometimes one companie especially among the horse as in Fig. 10. flanking the other as in Fig. 12. From hence the first troop of every division is drawn up and placed in an even front or straight line from one angle of the bodie to the other At a convenient k Usually 300 foot distance behinde these the second troop of every squadron is placed in an even rank as the former but so as the l The Romanes also ordered their battells in three divisions or troops viz. their Hastati Principes and Triarii The first were called Acies prima and these were the Hastati which were to give the first charge At a distance behinde them were the Principes placed which were called Acies secunda these were so ordered with spaces or intervalles that the Hastati being put to retreat might fall back into these spaces and the Principes might advance to give the second charge without disturbing each other The third troop Acies tertia were the Triarii which were placed behinde the Principes observing therein such intervalles as before mentioned Vide Livium lib. 8. Lipsium de milit Rom. lib. 4. ubi etiam Aciei Iconismus first troop which are to give the first charge being to retreat and this second troop to advance they disturb not each other for which reason convenient spaces are left in the first order or troop for the second to come up into The third troop is placed just behinde the first but at twice as large a m 600 foot distance from the second as the second is from the first that so the first troop retreating behinde the second they may have convenient room to make their retreat in good order All this will appeare in the figures following among the rest in Fig. 9. If the Infanterie and Cavallrie be joyned together the manner is to place half the horse on the right flank of the foot and the other half on the left as appeareth in Fig. 12 14 and 15. But upon occasion either of the enemie his ordering of horse within the bodie of foot whereby he might annoy your Infanterie or for other respects of moment some of the horse may be placed within the bodie of the armie as is shewed in Fig. 16. What distances be observable between Regiment and Regiment between Squadron and Squadron betwen each Troop the second from the first and the third from the second the figures will sufficiently shew and especially the Scales of measure in every figure For the more easie understanding of them observe that every bodie of pikes is single hatched thus and the musketiers crosse-hatched thus the horse are left white or void as in Fig. 12. by which the other forms may easily be understood THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS CAVALLRIE ORDERED FOR BATTAILE BEFORE GVLICK ANNO M.DC.X. Fig 9. Par 4. Cap 8. The forme of the Duke of Brunswycks horse Battaile in the plaine of Elton The 5th of September 1623. Fig 10 Par 4 Cap 8 The Embattailing of 37 Troopès of horsse before REees the 23 of September Ao. 1614. Fig 11. Par 4. Cap 8. THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS HORSE AND FOOT EMBATTAILED BEFORE REES THE XIX OF OCTOBER M.DC.XIIII Fig 12. Par 4. Cap 8. THE CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE REES IN OCTOBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 3895. foot of ground Fig 13 Par 4 Cap 8 THE FORME OF BATTAILE OF HORSE AND FOOT AS IT WAS ORDERED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE DORNICK THE XI OF SEPTEMBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 6380. foot Fig 14.
mistaken which think their e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit quanquam claris ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit Leo. Tract cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour without any qualification or merit there being other things more reall and essentiall f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro Scientiam virtutem providentiam autoritatem fortunam Lips polit lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer namely Knowledge experience valour dexteritie c. To be under command for a time depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth especially in young men which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander Moreover it accustometh a man to danger and g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. cap. 15. maketh him couragious so as being suddainly assailed he can recollect himself without astonishment a most necessary thing in a commander Adde to this that by using himself to travell and labour watching hunger thirst rain and frost and by h Mars is therefore called Gradivus as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinem militaria officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis deia centurio mox castris praefectus Tacit. lib. 2. c. an orderly ascent by degrees from a Corporall to a Quartermaster from thence to a Cornet and so to a Lieutenant he prepareth himself for a Captains charge He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies and accordingly entrusteth them with employments Honour must be his chief end to attain which he must be very vigilant not to loose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvare quà m virtus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy studying how to prevent him or endammage him alwayes bearing in minde this maxim That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k Quid fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sis cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse tecum Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour without acquainting his officers with his counsels And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers as to take particular notice of such as deserve well and to reward them accordingly and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards He must alwayes aspire in way of l For this Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Varenus lib. 5. cap. 19. vertuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversus pecuniam animo Plutarch in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie Gaming he must detest n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit deinde delicias luxum eorum optimè invertit Omnes inflammavit ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus gestirent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res roborat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good armes and horses wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth He must be continent and sober not given to luxurie nor o The States edict of Marshall law provideth that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence shall not therefore be any way excused but the more severely punished Art 67. drunkennesse but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of Above all let him set before his eyes as the originall and foundation of all perfection the feare of God carrying himself so farre as may be internally and externally inculpable For the horrour of a guiltie conscience and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together take away all courage and valour And thus having reformed himself he shall the more easily reform his souldiers and make them fit for every honourable enterprise CHAP. II. Of officers in particular Of the Generall of horse TOuching the particular officers the a Iphicrates resembled an army to a mans body calling the heavy armed the body the light armed the hands the horse the feet and the Generall the head Plutarch Generall of the horse as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour having in charge the nerve of the principall forces and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie especially in battells where the charging of the enemy in good order usually giveth victorie and contrariwise the b Witnesse the battell of Gembloers described by Meteren lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse So did the Burgundians Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers Phil. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 3. disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie The Generall of the horse was wont to supply the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie True it is that the Lord Marshall forasmuch as he giveth the orders used to have some superioritie of command according to the opinions of some whence it cometh that the Lord Generall absenting himself from the army used to take along with him either the Generall of horse or the Lord Marshall to avoid the occasions of competition It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service c Perscrutaberis qui se in bello stremè gesserint illisque idoneos honores habebis ignavos antem quo par est supplicio constringes Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and d Monsieur de la Noiie reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Collonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discours Polit. Milit. honouring them in publique when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side e Omnes culpas legibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours
by which means he shall be reverenced and loved of good men and feared of such as are bad It belongeth to his care that the Cavallrie be in good equipage and fitted with all necessaries requisite And that the companies being to march be provided of nags without which the souldiers can hardly preserve their horse of service by reason that with them they must go to forrage for want of bidets or nags after their march and presently enter into guard in the army or quarter without any rest to refresh their horses He is not to suffer the Captains either to make officers or to absent themselves from their companies without his leave and approbation He hath his officers apart and in that which concerneth the Cavallrie neither the Lord Marshall nor Lord Generall himself useth to dispose of any thing without his advice If he passe among the quarters of Cavallrie or Infanterie his trumpets are to sound but not where the Lord Generall lodgeth or where he is in person When he commandeth in the armie in absence of the Lord Generall upon occasion of fight his place is in the battell that he may be able to give order to all He hath usually a companie heretofore of lances to lodge with him and to serve him as his guard having usually six souldiers or more of his companie attending on him f Of Caesar it is said Dubium cautior an audentior Suet. A good Commander should rather look behinde him then before him said Sertorius Plutarch in Sertor He should not resolve upon any enterprise unlesse he first consider seriously of all that might happen that so propounding to himself greater difficulties in the action then in effect they be he may prepare remedies surpassing all the said difficulties it being a benefit not to be expressed to be able to g Temeritas praeterquam quòd stulta est etiam infelix Livius 22. foresee with good judgement those things which might succeed in the uncertain and variable accidents of warre Especially he must be h Intentus fis ut neque tua occasioni desis neque suum hosti des Ibid. ready in execution for suppose a determination never so well grounded yet it may prove vain and hurtfull if it be not executed with requisite promptitude CHAP. III. Of the Lieutenant Generall of horse THe charge of the Lieutenant Generall of the horse hath ever been held of very great importance and therefore must be supplyed by a person of great experience and valour one that must be very carefull and diligent because he usually marcheth and lodgeth with the Cavallrie For which cause he ought to be well versed in the opportunitie of the wayes upon occasion of meeting the enemy in marching a Erat Philopoemen praecipuae in ducendo agmine locÃsque capiendis solertiae atque usus Nec belli tantùm temporibus sed etiam in pace ad id maximè animum exercuerat Vbi iter quopiam faceret ad difficilem transitu saltum venisset contemplatus ab omni parte loci naturam cúm solus iret secum ipse agitabat animo cùm comites haberet ab iis quaerebat si hostis coloco apparuisset quid si à fronte quid si à latere hoc aut illo quid si à tergo adoriretur capiendum consilii foret T. Livius dec 4. lib. 5. He must alwayes have his thoughts busied about the motions of the enemie discoursing with himself from what part they might shew themselves with what number of men whether with Infanterie or not in how many houres they might come upon him from their armie or garrison and whether they might present themselves in a place of advantage that so it might be prevented as need should require He must also advisedly choose commodious places for the quarters or lodgings providing good guards causing the highwayes to be scoured or discovered placing men on those passages where the enemie might make head not neglecting to send out rounders and omitting no diligence to secure the quarter in which the Cavallrie findeth it self exposed to greater dangers then can befall it any other way especially being lodged without Infanterie He must also procure to have spies not onely in the enemies army but also upon their frontiers to penetrate their designes and intentions omitting no inventions which may stand him in stead to avoid inconveniences knowing that diligence is the mother of good fortune b Cui enim tanta potestatis insignia tribuuntur cujus fidei atque virtuti possessorum fortunae tutela virium salus militum rei publicae creditur gloria non tantùm pro universo exercitu sed etiam pro singulis contubernalibus debet esse solicitus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. His particular care is to see that the Captains wrong not their souldiers that they keep their companies in good state and well armed and that themselves and their officers do their endeavours and observe good order and discipline Towards the souldiers he must be no lesse affable and readie to heare them willingly in their just complaints and to help them in their necessities then rigorous in punishing He should also himself being free from covetousnesse give order to others to use no c Extortions of diverse kindes are punishable with death by the edict of Marshall law published by the States of the united provinces Artic. 41. extortion whereby the country is ruined and the souldier made odious to the prejudice of the Prince his service it being evident that too great a libertie of the souldiers produceth nothing but very bad effects Upon divers occasions of sending a good part of the Cavallrie to divers places the charge is given to the Lieutenant generall not onely of the horse but also of the foot which accompany them according to the occurrences for which cause he must also know how to command the Infanterie In absence of the Generall the whole weight resteth upon him and to him are the orders sent from the Lord Generall or Lord Marshall and to him as Chief reports are made of all the occurrences of the Cavallrie He may sequester a Captain from his companie upon just cause and demerit but cannot restore him without order from the Generall who first gives notice thereof to the Lord Generall He was wont to have a companie of lances which usually were lodged neare his person whereof foure souldiers alwayes attend him When he passeth by the quarters of Cavallrie the trumpets sound but not in the Generalls quarter or where he is When the Generall of horse commandeth the whole army and therefore takes his place in fight in the battell the Lieutenant Generall placeth himself in the vanguard of the Cavallrie where otherwise the Generall useth to be CHAP. IIII. Of the Commissarie Generall THe Commissarie Generall commandeth in the absence of the Lieutenant Generall and therefore must be a man of great experience This charge was first instituted by Don Ferrand de Gonzagua afterward
it he giveth occasion of mutinies CHAP. XV. How to reform the Cavallrie AS every Common-wealth is supported by reward and punishment so to reform the Cavalrie where there is need of reformation there must be good laws and good pay for a Disciplinam non potest servare jejunus exercitus Cassiod to suffer a souldier to fall into want by not giving him competent maintenance maketh him forget obedience and discipline It were therefore better to diminish their b La discipline manquante plus y a d' hommes plus y a de desordre et confusion De la Noüe disc milit polit 13. number then their profits That done they may easily be brought to a strict observation of discipline and obedience The laws and articles which ought to be propounded unto them should comprise all that is to be observed in militarie discipline for brevitie sake presupposing all good orders about the service of God the severe chastising of blasphemers the strict forbiding of gaming as the occasion of waste of money and begetting quarrels and such like morall institutions It shall here suffice to touch upon some few of the most necessarie for the Cavallrie 1 c The States edict intituled Crychs-recht c. in the 17. article Alle Capitetjuen c. punisheth every Captain with death that shall receive any souldier of another company without lawfull consent of his former Captain That no Captain receive any souldiers of another companie or make any officers without approbation of the Generall to the end he may take notice of the qualitie of the person And that such souldiers as are disabled to undergo the labour of the warre through age be removed to some castle c. and be provided of some competencie out of dead payes or otherwise 2 That to avoid the d The baggage the Romanes called impedimenta because of the hinderance which it bringeth to the armie marching trouble of much baggage which much slackeneth the motion of the Cavallrie no man carry a e Among the militarie institutions of the Emperour Frederick the first an̄o 1152 recorded by Guntherus this is one Non erit in nostris nobiscum foemina castris c. woman into the field That no souldier have above one horse of service for his baggage unlesse some person of qualitie with whom the Commissarie Generall may dispense And that no officer of a companie have a waggon but onely the Captain and he to have onely one 3 That rewards and honourable recompenses be established for souldiers of speciall desert and punishments for sluggards in particular about attending the Cornet and obedience to the sound of the trumpet f Die marcherende c. syn vaandel oft Cornette sal veriaeten sal sonder alle genade metter do ot gestraft worden Ibid. artic 24. And that such as forsake the standard or cornet whilest it is advanced be punished with death That in fight when the trumpet soundeth a retreat g Cyri miles hosti imminens repressit ensem simul receptui canere audierat Plutarch Lac. Inutilis miles qui signum receptui datum negligit Seneca de ira cap. 9. whosoever presently retireth not be punished with severitie And that the Captain as oft as the Cornet entereth the Corps-du-guard himself enter with it all excuses set aside 4 h So saith the said edict totidem verbis artic 38. And that on pain of death That the souldiers be kept from stragling here and there and have the companies readie upon all occasions the officers are bound not to absent themselves from their companies without leave of their superiours i To this agreeth the edict whether it be under pretence of forraging or any other colour whatsoever Artic. 22. And if any souldier depart without license he is to be punished with death 5 That good order be observed about distribution of bootie whereof shall be treated in the chapter following 6 k All Mutiners or accessaries thereunto all causers of unlawfull assemblies or such as are present at any such or that shall utter words rending to mutinie c. the said edict commandeth to be punished with death Art 6. 7. 10. 11. c. That mutinies be prevented and whosoever is found to have a hand in any is to be proclaimed infamous and perpetually banished 7 To the end that these and what other orders may be thought fitting be duly observed the authoritie of the Captain and other officers must be established and confirmed as also that of the Provost Marshall according to those rules before mentioned in the office of the Provost Marshall CHAP. XVI Of distributing bootie ALl a The Romanes had excellent laws for distributing of bootie It was all brought to the Questor and by him sold The Tribunes divided it equally among the souldiers At the taking of any town by assault none left their stations but such as were appointed to pillage because they were sure of their just share Spe enim lucri inter omnes certâ sive maneant sive pradas agant nemo locum ordinémque deserit Polyb. lib. 10. The States in their edict for Martiall law have established many excellent laws about the taking registring selling and distributing of bootie as may be seen Crychs-recht Artic. 41. 59 60 61 62 63 64. Also about taking and ransoming of prisoners ibid. bootie whether it be given by occasion of defeating the enemy or going out upon parties c. is free to them that take it whether they be prisoners or any thing else the Lord Generall being in the field But otherwise it is to be shared among them that were employed in the action One part is for the Infanterie and two for the Cavallrie and it is death to him that shall let go any prisoner or horse or other bootie or shall use any fraud whatsoever and they that shall not discover it knowing of any such deceit shall loose their shares The Captains being present at the taking of bootie use to have five shares and two for two pages The Lieutenants three and the Cornets two and either of them one for a page But of later times the Captains take ten parts the Lieutenants six the Cornets foure according to the places which they have in forage The bootie being reparted every company giveth 10 per centum to their Captain of what is gotten though he were not present to the chief of the troop though but a private souldier two parts and so to the guides All the bootie being brought together they choose two of the discreetest souldiers to cause the bootie to be sold these keep accompt of the money taken for it certifying the Chief thereof who ordereth to every man his due proportion The trumpets must have leave of the chief Commander of the place to sell the said bootie and the buyer is to give one of every twenty to the trumpeter for his pains in the sale which money is to be divided among the trumpeters
and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm possuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates per discat compendia diverticula montes stamina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hilly 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 approaches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgeings as forrage water c. In so much 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 a prudentioribus locorumque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them seperated 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 runÌ„ing away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodiae mancipare additâ poenae ostentatione vel praemii c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they doe 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 suddainly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsails and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consâ—lia aliâ viâ pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium raptúmque 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 travail and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitús prosecturus fidelissimos argutissimosque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressu a tergo dextrâ 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 carry 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 finde the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the reare or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approach the enemies armie assaying to take some Centinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses there about And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant b How abundant Antiquitie was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Roman and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Poliaenus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled d and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew them selves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for feare of some embuscado which gives leasure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have 2 or 3 houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out if the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Everie Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appeare at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar gli esserciti in tre squadrons cioè vanguardia Battaglia retroguardia che ogni giornato si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis diebus altera legio alterum cornu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battail and reare That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the reare and they which had the reare the battail So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting
of two troops as Melzo hath it or the Generalls regiment according to C. Bingham which hath alwayes the vanguard And if the enemie should change place and from your front become to be upon your reare whereby the reare as most dangerous becomes most honourable that Captain which to day hath led the battaillon to morrow in stead of the vanguard may challenge the reare The scouts alter their course also and attend the enemies proceedings on the reare If occasion be in time of march to send out one or more troops for some service they are to observe the same orders But the armie being come to their quarter and occasion being to send out b When all or a good part of the horse are employed in some exploit without Infanterie it is called a cavalcado Such was that when the States men surprised the castle of Crapoel in Limburg c. Meteren lib. 23. all or part of the Cavallrie upon some exploit that troop which first appeareth at the place of Rendez-vous shall be appointed by the Commissarie Generall who is to be there to the first place the second to the second place If two troops come together at the same instant they shall cast lots By this means every man desiring honour they will be the readier to appeare in due time The same course shall be taken when the troops are to be sent upon some embuscado convoy or the like If the march be but of one day he which commandeth shall appoint the best experienced and ablest to lead c Others hold it much better to observe the same order in the dismarch which was used in the march so that companie which went out first comes in first who is to be in the reare returning back to the quarter And these may have private order to be at the place of Rendez-vous sooner then the rest to avoid jealousies The vanguard battaillon and reare must be divided from each other 300 paces CHAP. IV. Of scouts or discoverers TO be secured from unexpected assaults of the enemie neither the armie nor the Cavallrie alone no not a companie must march without a These the Romanes called exploratores or speculatores See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noceant ducis praestat industria quem omnia prius convenit explorare Idem lib. 3. cap. 6. discoverers which must be sent out not onely by the direct way where the enemie is like to come or you are to march but to scoure all the by-wayes on either side And sometime the first discoverers are seconded by a second companie to secure the march They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men valiant vigilant and discreet such as neither feare nor misconceit can easilie distract They must see that with their own eyes which they inform the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie Those select men appointed for this service are to be b P. Considius qui rei militaris peritissimus habebatur in exercitu L. Syllae postea in M. Crassi fuerat cum exploratoribus praemittitur Caes com lib. 1. c. 5. led by an able officer it being a task so difficult that many have lost that reputation by it which they had been long in gaining of This officer shall send word of what he discovereth and what he seeth not himself he is to signifie it as so reported to him and having seen it then to certifie it as for certain CHAP. V. Of the order of marching by day THe a Omni curā omnique diligentiâ providere debet dux ne proficiscens patiatur incursum vel si non facilè at sine damno repellat illatum Veg. ibid. march must be so ordered as the companies may readily from that order be brought into a good form of battell upon occasion of a suddain charge The Cavallrie supposed to consist of 40 troops and the countrey spacious is to be divided into two bodies of 20 troops a piece Melzo would have 3 troops of Harquebusiers in front of the vanguard which Basta and VValhausen are against because they are for the most part but ill armed These two divisions are to march in even front 150 paces divided Coming to strait passages the right wing is to march before the left The officers must suffer none of the baggage nor any other to intermingle with their troops The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the vanguard or one of them in that division when the Cuirassiers have it b Praemittes etiam ad loca exploranda equites quosdam praesertim si sylvosa sint aut collibus aut montibus inclusa per quae transeundum est c. Leo cap. 9.38 must send out a Corporall with 15 horse and a good guide some league before whereof two shall be sent out directly before him two towards the right and other two towards the left c Caesar exercitum per insidiosa itinera duxit nunquam nisi praespeculatus locorum situs c. Sueton. Jul. to discover among the woods and valleys and to get intelligence at any dwelling houses or villages advising the Corporall of what they discover Who is from time to time to advise the chief which is to march at the head of the first troop After these 15 he is to send out 4 others led by a sufficient souldier to bring reports of what those 15 shall discover the rather because the enemie might come upon them upon the flanks after the first 15. were past The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the reare of the left wing must leave a Corporall with 15 horse a mile behinde him Of these 15 two are to be some 12 or 14 score behinde the rest to give notice if the enemie follow them in the reare d Illud vitandum nè aliis festinantibus aliis tardiùs incedentibus interrumpatur acies aut certè tenuetur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. The Captain which leads in front must march so as the other troops must keep foot with him and passing over a bridge or narrow passage must make Alto so soon as he is over or in the plain leaving a souldier at the bridge or strait which shall give him knowledge so soon as the reare be past over or through g Quando per angustias aliquas aut per arduos aviósque montes profecturus es praemitte ex tuis qui juga montium loca ibi editissima occupent qui aditus angustos minùs patentes anticipent c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.26 And if in these strait passages there be any advenues by which the enemie might charge you those must be prepossessed by Harquebusiers or Dragons alighting and keeping themselves upon some height or in some valley or behinde some hedge or ditch to secure their flanks Every troop is to leave 100 paces distance between each other and are to suffer no baggage nor others to trouble them as abovesaid CHAP. VI. The order of marching by night
too neare the enemies approach 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 Sr. 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 enemie 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 qualitie of the countrey must be considered Some villages may be backed with rivers 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-de-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 enemie 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 whither being forced by the enemie they shall retreat by little and little the other advancing to relieve them If the countrey be open so as the enemie 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 Commissarie Generall or Quarter-master Generall overnight appointeth a certain place for every troop where they shall stand which way faced c. CHAP. VI. Of the guards THe Commissarie 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-de-guard must be in the middle of the village The guards being disposed in their places must be every night visited by the Commissarie Generall which often the Lieutenant Generall and sometime the Generall himself ought to do to keep the souldiers in the greater awe The Generalls companie is exempt from the ordinarie guards and convoyes because they must be a guard to the Generall unlesse the Generall go in person and so is the Lieutenant Generalls companie 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 scower the high wayes also of the convoye and other duties If the Cavallrie lodge in severall villages which ever must not be farre distant from each other in everie village a companie 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 readie 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 companie which hath the guard shall send out a Corporall with 12 or 15 horse which shall hide himself in some covert place neare the entrance of the said champain There he shall place double Sentinels in some eminent place who seing some Cavallrie one shall go to descrie them the other shall go and tell the Corporall who sending word to the Corps-du-guard shall advance at large sending out 2 horses to take knowledge of the said Cavallrie If there be some high tree neare the place where the said Corporall stood he may thereon place a Sentinell and save the sending out of the said 2 Sentinels These horse shall be changed or relieved twice a day by those which have the guard If the enemie charge them they are to retreat to the said entrance and there to entertain the enemie till they of the guard can be readie upon the former notice given them and come to second them If all the Cavallrie go to oppose the enemie the Captain of the guard shall have the vanguard If more companies then one be employed for guard that companie shall have it neare which the alarm was given Sometime it so happeneth as that the troops come to their quarter in the night and in ill weather so as the advenues cannot be observed nor fitting places for the guards nor Sentinels Then the Commissarie Generall or the Generall himself is to go and appoint them as he shall judge most convenient appointing to every companie 10 souldiers of guard more or lesse as need shall require and commanding all to be in readinesse giving order to the Corps-du-guard as the onely remedie that if the enemie assail the quarter they go resolutely charge him which besides the honour and reputation so gotten oftentimes proveth c Andaces fortuna juvat fortunate Some use to keep their souldiers awake to sound the boute-selle at midnight as if the enemie were at hand but that might prove more dangerous then profitable For after the first time it maketh the souldiers secure and carelesse Better it is that after 2 or 3 houres refreshing in such cases the companies be caused to go out into the champain every d Si fiut ista cattelae nihil nosturni aut diurni superventus hostium nocere possunt Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. souldier taking with him some oats and other refreshments placing the Corps-de-guards as shall be thought fit and not giving eare to the murmuring of the souldiers But if the weather be rainie and tempestuous such as that they must be under shelter every officer by certain houres shall divide the night and go from house to house knocking and calling to the souldiers causing them to saddle their horses A while after him another is to enter the houses and see every souldier armed and ready to mount punishing those that are sluggish The Quartermasters shall also by turns visit the quarters and guards The Chief himself is also to visit the souldiers calling to one and to another with a loud voice to make them the more attentive CHAP. VII Of the Sentinells SEeing a The Romanes manner of setting out of Sentinels and all that belongeth to the watch Vegetius sheweth lib. 3. cap. 8. that they of the guard cannot be alwayes on horse-back nor discover the enemie a farre off to prevent a suddain