above all things you are to command them to keepe silence not babling one to another neither in their motions to suffer their Armes to rattle one against another alwayes to take heede to their Leaders that goe before them and to follow them orderly without disturbance keeping and observing their due distance either of Ranckes or Files which may be easily done if they but duely follow their Leaders and have an eye on their right and left fellow Camerades for keeping their Ranckes even in a like Front Likewise they are to observe when they are commanded to turne any where whether it be by Rancks or Files that their faces may by turned to the hand they are commanded to before they sturre to march and then to march alike and when ever they â—ouble Rancks or Files or counter-march they must ever observe to retire to the contrary hand they were commanded to double on if they doubled to the right when they fall off they retire turning to the left hand et contra for avoiding of disorder or hinderance that their Armes would make if they retired to the same hand they were commanded to double or march to In their counter-marches it is also requisit in time of exercise that neither Officer nor Souldier doe presume to command direct or finde fault with the errour but he that commands in chiefe whether he be superiour or inferiour Officer for the time since it is said when many speake few heare Therefore he must command alone suffering no rivall for avoiding of disorder Order therefore of distance being a chiefe point observed in exercising is three fold to wit Open order of Rancks or Files is six foote of distance being betwixt Rancks and Files both alike only requisit to be observed in mustering or while as they stand in danger of Cannon not being in battaile where in battaile order the distance to be observed betwixt Rancks or Files should be three foote where Elbow to Elbow of the side Camerades may joyne where in the open order aforesaid hand to hand can but joyne But in close order used most in conversion or wheeling is shoulder to shoulder and foote to foote firme keeping themselves together for feare to be put asunder by the force of their enemies and then to disorder which is ever to be looked unto chiefely before an enemy Your speech thus ended for your generall directions you begin againe to command silence and to take heed what is commanded to be done saying Height your Musketiers dresse your Rancks and Files to your open order of six foote and take heede To the right hand turne as you were To the left hand turne as you were To the right hand about turne as you were To the left hand about turne as you were To the right hand double your Rancks as you were To the left hand double your Rancks as you were The even Rancks or Files double ever unto the odde and the fourth Rancke is the middle Rancke of six To the right hand double your Files as you were To the left hand double your Files as you were Middle-men or fourth Rancke to the right hand double your Front To the left hand retire as you were Middle-men to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were Nota. The sixth Rancke is called bringers up or reare or under Rot-masters Bringers up to the right hand double your Front To the left hand as you were Bringers up to the left hand double your Front To the right hand as you were All that doubled turne first about and then they retire falling behinde those were their Leaders before in the same place or distance This doubling of the bringers up or of middle-men is very requisit in giving a generall salve of Musket and as it is to be observed in rancks that the best men are placed in front reare and middle even so in files every Corporalship being foure files of Musketiers the likeliest are put ever in the right and left files of the foure being also of best experience The doubling of rancks being done and all remitted in good order and to their first distance of open order you are to command and exercise Souldiers in three severall wayes of counter-marching requisit in some respects but in my opinion to be used but seldome except it be in necessity in such parts as the ground will not permit otherwise therefore to avoide disorder Souldiers ought not to be ignorant of any of the three sorts of counter-marching First having commanded the Souldiers to dresse their rancks and files and to carry their Muskets handsomly keeping silence say To the right hand the counter-march without noise or losing of ground To the left hand retire againe to the former ground Then command againe to dresse rancks and files and to right their Armes keeping silence taking heede to what is to be commanded and say To the right hand turne Then the Flancke before being now the Front command To the right hand counter-march and lose no ground To the left hand as you were This is used ordinarily to change one wing of Battaile in place of the other then that the Front may be as it was first before they Countermarcht To the left hand turne dresse your Rankes and Files and be silent Another sort of Countermarch is the Slavonian countermarch where you lose ground the Front being changed also then you command the first Ranke to turne about to the right hand then you say to the rest Countermarch and through to your former distance after your Leaders Then say Leaders as you were and to the rest To the left hand countermarch as you were to your first ground The third sort of countermarch I esteeme most of to be practised being rather a conversion very requisit to be well knowne to all Souldiers in all Armies chiefly to be used before an enemy for as it is most sudden so in my opinion it breeds least disorder and disturbance the Souldiers once used to it of themselves they will willingly doe it on any occasion the body being before in open order or Battaile order say Close the Ranks and Files to your closse order without encumbering one of another every man following right his owne Leader keeping closse to his side man then say To the right hand the quarter turne halfe or whole as the occasion and the ground doth permit and then say Dresse your Armes and follow your Leaders and open againe to your Battaile order Lastly the body of your Musketiers exercised perfectly after this manner for the better bringing of them in exercise and breath that in case any disorder may happen amongst them they may the better afterward be acquainted one with another say to your open order of six foote distances Open both Rankes and Files and set downe your Armes handsomely where you stand then command your Sergeant to goe an hundred paces from the body of your Musketiers and sticke in his Holbert in the ground then
bee commanded so that they may live but not live so as they are commanded to live well The fourth Duty discharged of our March to New-Brandenburg and of the In-taking of it HIs Majesty after overcomming his Enemies at Garts and Girffin-Hagan having retired to Statin and made preparation for a happie new-yeares march in the beginning of Ianuary 1631. Wee brake up from Statin taking our march towards New-Brandenburg the earth clad over with a great storme of Snow being hard frost wee carried along great Canons of Batterie and a number of small Canon being well provided of all thinges belonging to Artillery our little Army consisting then of eight Thousand Horse and Foot having left the rest of the Army under Command of the Felt-Marshall Horne before Lundâ—berg in the Marke our march the first Night went no further then beyond the passe of Lackness where wee quartered over night breaking up the next morning wee continue our march for three dayes towards Brandenburg where there lay in Garrison as Commandant Colonell Marizane with Five hundred Horse and twelve hundred Foot being as complete to looke on as you could wish His Majesty being come by Three a clocke in the after-noone within shot of Canon to the Towne drew us in Battaile and then divided out the Poasts where the Briggads should lye commanded out the Horse watches to lye without the Foot other Troupes were also commanded forth for battering the Streets and the rest of the Horsemen being directed to Quarters The Foot battaile ordered Drums beating Colours advanced and flying every Briggad by divisions marched to their Poastes where being arrived their Watches duely set the rest were setled in their Quarters being Commanded both Officers and Souldiers not to stirre out of Quarters from their Armes but to attend on Orders In our by-going being within distance of Cannon to the Towne we were saluted with Cannon Hagbuts of Crocke and with Musket where within a short time wee rendered unto them their exchange with the interest the service continuing so long as they did the night bringing silence over all till day begun to breake againe and then at our Poast there lay before the Port a little Tri-Angle with a Water-graffe about it and a Draw-bridge wee passing through the Graffe that was not deepe stormed the Tri-Angle and made the Enemy retire within the Towne walles who fearing a generall storme did presently cause to beate a Drum desiring a Parlee which was granted pledges delivered hinc inde the Treatie went on and the Accord was made and subscribed they should march out with bagge and baggage Horse and Foot with full Armes which should have a Convoy to Hagelberg and so accordingly they marched out and then his Majestie to refresh the Armie caused to make Quarters for the whole Foot within the Towne where wee lay two nights well entertayned His Majesty having a greater enterprise in hand hee commanded out a Thousand choise Musketiers towards Trepto two miles from Brandenburg and the enemy being acquainted with their comming hee did retyre to Dameine the Leader of the party leaving two Companies in Trepto marched forwards with the partie to take in a Castle on a passe lying in his way betwixt Trepto and Dameine whereon were fifty commanded musketiers who after a little defence made for their credit did capitulate for quarters being afraid of the Armies comming they gave over both Castle and passe His Majesty leaving a few number of commanded men in Brandenburg with a Commissary for ingathering of Contribution and Proviant for the Armie he did breake up and marched towards a little Towne lying on the passe below Dameine called Letts where in the Castle there lay above sixe hundred men of the Imperialists that might have foughten for good quarters but being carelesse of their Watch our commanded Musketiers having past the Bridge were suffered to enter within the Castle before the Garrison could get to their Armes and being thus surprized they got worse quarters then if they had fought The Soldiers and Officers that first entred made good booty and having got gold chaines and mony in aboundance by reason the Emperialists had lyen long there who though they gathered the whole money of the Country yet they had not the wit to transport it away being silly simple Italians and without courage the poorest Officers that ever I looked on and unworthy the name of Souldiers for though they knew of our march they suffered themselves pittifully to be surprized The Fourth Observation NOtwithstanding of the extremitie of cold we see his Majesties diligence neglecting no time making use of Winter as of Summer being an expert Generall who in his judgement was nothing inferiour to the greatest Generall we read of as doe witnesse his valorous actions He seeing at our comming to Brandâ—nburge what advantage the ground yeelded to the enemy to have hindered our comming unto it As also perceiving what hurt the enemy was able to have done us before our down-lying having known their strength that were within both of horse and foot if hee had beene a resolute and a couragious Commander as hee was not hee had tried our fore-troopes before our comming so neere which made his Majesty judge they would not hold out long Here at this time a young Cavaliere desirous of honour and greedy of good instruction could have learned froÌ„ this King the way to command well as likewise with order to direct all things fitting how to pursue any place or strength he came before as his Majestie did there being the first part wherein I did observe his Majesties dexteritie in Command diâ—charging the dueties of severall Officers being but one man he never doubted to put in execution what he once commanded and it was well done and no alteration was to be found in his Orders neither did he like well of an Officer that was not as capable to understand his directions as he was ready in giving them Neverthelesse hee would not suffer an Officer to part from him till hee found he was understood by the receiver of the Order Such a Generall would I gladly serve but such a Generall I shall hardly see whose custome was to bee the first and last in danger himselfe gayning his Officers love in being the companion both of their labours and dangers for hee knew well how his souldiers should bee taught to behave themselves according to the circumstances both of time and place before they were led to fight and being carefull of their credits hee would not suffer their weakenesse or defects to be discerned being ready to foresee all things which did belong to the health of his souldiers and his owne credit Hee knew also the devices and Engines of his enemie their Counsell their Armies their art their discipline As also the nature and situation of the places they commanded so that he could not bee neglective in any thing belonging to his charge and he understood well that an Army being brickle like
then halted againe till his Majestie had commanded out some commanded Horsemen on the wings of the Armie a large distance from the body to scoure the fields of the Crabbats we marched againe in order of Battaile with Trumpets sounding Drummes beating and Colours advanced and flying till we came within reach of Cannon to our enemies Armie then the magnifick and magnanimous Gustavus the Invincible leads up the Briggads of horse one after another to their ground with their Plottons of shot to attend them As also he led up the Briggads of foote one after another to their ground during which time we were drawne up according to our former plot the enemy was thundering amongst us with the noise and roaring whisling and flying of Cannon-Bullets where you may imagine the hurt was great the sound of such musick being scarce worth the hearing though martiall I confesse yet if you can have so much patience with farre lesse danger to reade this dutie to an end you shall finde the musicke well paide but with such Coyne that the players would not stay for a world to receive the last of it being over-joyed in their flying By twelve of the Clock on wednesday the seventh of September in despight of the fury of the enemies Cannon and of his advantages taken they were drawne up in even front with the enemy and then our Cannon begun to roare great and small paying the enemy with the like coyne which thundering continued alike on both sides for two houres and an halfe during which time our Battailes of horse and foote stood firme like a wall the Cannon now and then making great breaches amongst us which was diligently looked unto on all hands by the diligence of Officers in filling up the voide parts and in setting aside of the wounded towards Chirurgians every Officer standing firme over-seeing their Commands in their owne stations succeeding one another as occasion offered By halfe three our Cannon a little ceasing the Horsemen on both wings charged furiously one another our Horsemen with a resolution abiding unloosing a Pistoll till the enemy had discharged first and then at a neere distance our Musketiers meeting them with a Salve then our horsemen discharged their Pistolls and then charged through them with swords and at their returne the Musketiers were ready againe to give the second Salve of Musket amongst them the enemy thus valiantly resisted by our Horsemen and cruelly plagued by our Plottons of Musketiers you may imagine how soone he would be discouraged after charging twice in this manner and repulsed Our Horsemen of the right wing of Finnes and Haggapells led by the valourous Feltmarshall Horne finding the enemies Horsemen out of Order with resolution he charged the enemies left wing forcing them to retire disorderly on their battailes of foote which caused disorder among the foote who were forced then to fall to the right hand our Horsemen retiring his Majestie seeing the enemy in disorder played with Ordnance amongst them during which time the force of the enemies Battailes falls on the Duke of Saxon charging with Horse first in the middest of the Battailes and then the foote giving two Salves of Musket amongst them they were put to the Rout horse and foote and the enemy following them cryed Victoria as if the day had beene wonne triumphing before the victory But our Horsemen charging the remnant of their horse and foote where their Generall stood they were made to retire in disorder to the other hand towards Leipsigh our Armie of foote standing firme not having loosed one Musket the smoake being great by the rising of the dust for a long time we were not able to see about us but being cleared up we did see on the left hand of our reserve two great Battailes of foote which we imagined to have beene Saxons that were forced to give ground having heard the service though not seene it we found they were enemies being a great deale neerer than the Saxons were His Majestie having sent Baron Tyvell to know the certaintie coming before our Briggad I certified him they were enemies and he returning towards his Majestie was shot dead his Majestie coming by gave direction to Colonell Hepburne to cause the Briggads on his right and left wing to wheele and then to charge the enemy the Orders given his Majestie retired promising to bring succours unto us The enemies Battaile standing firme looking on us at a neere distance and seeing the other Briggads and ours wheeleing about making front unto them they were prepared with a firme resolution to receive us with a salve of Cannon and Muskets but our small Ordinance being twice discharged amongst them and before we stirred we charged them with a salve of muskets which was repaied and incontinent our Briggad advancing unto them with push of pike putting one of their battailes in disorder fell on the execution so that they were put to the route I having commanded the right wing of our musketiers being my Lord of Rhees and Lumsdells we advanced on the other body of the enemies which defended their Cannon and beating them from their Cannon we were masters of their Cannon and consequently of the field but the smoake being great the dust being raised we were as in a darke cloude not seeing the halfe of our actions much lesse discerning either the way of our enemies or yet the rest of our Briggads whereupon having a drummer by me I caused him beate the Scots march till it cleered up which recollected our friends unto us and dispersed our enemies being overcome so that the Briggad coming together such as were alive missed their dead and hurt Camerades Colonell Lumsdell was hurt at the first and Lievetenant Colonell Musten also with divers oâ—her Ensignes were hurt and killed and sundry Colours were missing for that night which were found the next day The enemy thus fled our horsemen were pursuing hard till it was darke and the blew Briggad and the commanded musketiers were sent by his Majesty to helpe us but before their coming the victory and the credit of the day as being last ingaged was ascribed to our Briggad being the reserve were thanked by his Majesty for their service in publique audience and in view of the whole Army we were promised to be rewarded The Battaile thus happily wonne his Majesty did principally under God ascribe the glory of the victory to the Sweds and Fynnes horsemen who were led by the valorous Felt-marshall Gustavus Horne For though the Dutch horsemen did behave themselves valorously divers times that day yet it was not their fortune to have done the charge which did put the enemy to flight and though there were brave Briggads of Sweds and Dutch in the field yet it was the Scots Briggads fortune to have gotten the praise for the foote service and not without cause having behaved themselves well being led and conducted by an expert Cavalier and fortunat the valiant Hepburne being followed by Colonell Lumsdell Lievetenant
command a party I was sent with him as his second being ever much obliged unto him not onely for his love on those occasions but also for his good counsell he being long before me in the Swedens service And as we were oft Camerades of danger together so being long acquainted we were Camerades in love first at Colledge next in our travells in France at Paris and Poictiers Anno 1615. till we met againe in Spruce at Elben in August 1630. Nothing therefore in my opinion more worthy to be kept next unto Faith then this kinde of friendship growne up with education confirmed by familiarity in frequenting the dangers of warre and who is more worthy to be chosen for a friend then one who hath showne himselfe both valiant and constant against his enemies as the worthy Hepburne hath done who is generally so well knowne in Armies that he needes no testimony of a friend having credit and reputation enough amongst his enemies To conclude then this observation as I begunne it I cannot but commend his Majesties wisdome and fore-sight in bringing the Rex-chancellor Oxensterne on the Dutch bottome to be second to his Majesty and to free him of a part of his buthens by placeing him at Hall as Legate being Centrum Germaniâ— The ninteenth Duty discharged of our March from Hall towards Erfort in Duringland HIS Majesty having left Colonell Winckle at Hall as Governour with a strong Garrison to command the Towne he ordained and left the Duke of Anhalt as Stat-houlder not only over the Towne but also over the whole Stifft of Madeburg having taken leave of the Duke of Saxon after many protestations and promises of mutuall friendship our march did continue towards Erfort and before our up-breaking the Castle of Leipsigh was given over by accord unto the Duke of Saxon and the Dukes Army was also marching towards Silesia and Bohemia The seventeenth of September our first nights quarter was taken at a Dorpe two miles from Hall where those of Erfort being so displeased at our coming as unwilling to entertaine such Guests they being all Catholiques Iesuits and Monkes being mightily afraid they did send their Commissioners before them to treate with his Majesty but his Majesty did give them their answers by Duke William of Wymar that they should quit the Catholique faction and give their oath of fidelity to his Majesty of Sweden and that they should take in his Garrisons within their Towne and render up to his Majesty the Castle of Eryackburg with the Colleges to come in his Majesties will who should suffer them to be untroubled in their Religion paying their contribution to the warres like the other Burgers and country The Commissioners thinking their conditions to be hard they tooke leave of his Majesty promising to referre the businesse to the Towne and Clergie and they being departed the Duke of Wymar with a Regiment of horse was directed after them having charge to ride as hard as they could and entering the Portes with a few horse at the first commanded the Guard to lay downe their Armes which hardly they could refuse the rest being so neere they entred the Towne and marched peaceably unto the market place which caused an extraordinary feare amongst the Burgers and yet a greater terrour amongst the Clergy The Councell being called to come on the market place they were commanded to render the Towne keyes unto the Duke who getting the keyes the Towne was taken without bloud The twenty two of September his Majesty having quartered the greatest part of the Army without the Towne he entred the Towne with eight thousand men foote and horse which were all quartered within the Towne and Cloisters having all free entertainment in abundance some of the Clergy removed themselves those who pleased to stay were not troubled but in their meanes and his Majesty promised unto the Towne and Councell the free enjoyment of their former liberties His Majesty having rested the Army some few dayes Duke William of Wymar was made Stat-houlder who had absolute command over three thousand horse and foote getting also full power to take in the contribution and to give out Patents for leavying of horse and foote Regiments for his Majesties service My cozen the Baron of Fowles with his Regiment of foote being left there in Garrison tooke afterwards Patent of the Duke of Wymar for leavying a Regiment of horse which he after brought to passe His Majesty giving direction for repairing the fortifications of the Towne there were Orders given to the Armie to be in readinesse for to march over Durengerwalt unto Franconia and the Regiment had orders to provide their Souldiers sufficiently of Pikes and Muskets being desired to send unto Erfort for such as they stood in need of The nineteenth Observation HIs Majestie as he was valourous and diligent in conquering so hee was carefull to maintaine his Conquest the one being as necessarie as the other Likewise we see his Majesties wisedome in appointing the Duke of Anhalt in respect of his power in those quarters to be Stat-holder at Hall and over the Stifft of Madeburg till the Chancellor of Swedens comming where we see that His Majestie for his owne Aimes did make no difference betwixt Protestants and Lutherans but made a like use of them both For though the Duke of Anhalt was a Protestant he being powerfull in those Quarters to doe His Majestie service being Father in law to Duke William of Wymar this Commaund was imposed upon him Here also at Erfort being the first part in Dutchland belonging unto the Catholique League as appertaining to the Bishopricke of Mentz notwithstanding we see His Majestie clemencie towards the Papists in using no violence against them save onely Iure Belli as those who were conquer'd by the sword His Majestie did exacte of them contribution to the warres and their fidelitie in giving their Oathes to be true unto His Majestie in doing no harme unto his person or Armie by entertaining correspondence with his enemies and on those termes His Majestie was pleased to let them remaine untroubled in their consciences and those that were scrupulous to give this Oath were suffered to depart in peace and those who were contented to give it could not say they were injured Here then we see that Princes Charters are no others over their conquered lands than their sworde and the Oath of fidelitie It is reported of Peter Counâ— of Savoyâ— that he coming to give his Oath of fidelitie to the Emperour Otto the fourth he came presenting himselfe before the Emperour the one halfe of his body clad over with cloth of gold and his left side clad over with glittering Armour the one to testifie the honour and respect he carryed to the Emperour the other how ready he was to fight against his enemies or those that durst speake evill of His Majestie and being asked for his Charters which he had of lands given him in time of warres he drew his sworde saying here they
themselves which made his Majesty contrary to his custome ingage his Army and once being ingaged upon slight intelligence the reliefes went on so fast the service being so hot for a time that it was long before the losse was perceived where it is to be pittied that the errour and fault of another should be made to posterity as his Majesties over-sight by those that know no better for though a King leading an Army had Argos eyes yet it is impossible he should looke unto all things himselfe The fault of one here we see with the losse of many was irrecoverable and he that before this day was the terrour of the Empire by his former successe being deceived with false intelligence is thought to have overseene himselfe the errour of another being imputed unto his Majesty in losing so many brave fellowes which shou'd teach others to be the more circumspect in recognoscing before they should ingage men in bringing them upon the shamble bankes Here also we see that his Majesty was was ever enâ—my to idlenesse for he had no sooner brought off his Army from pursuing his enemies but incontinent he sets them againe to worke for their owne safeties and that within reach of his enemies Cannon to the end it might not be said but he attended their out-comming lest his Army might be discouraged at a present Retreate after such a great losse for if the service had continued the whole Armie had beene indangered yet a valourous Captaine as our Leader was as he feares nothing entering on service so he ought to set light by nothing he sees tending to his prejudice but ought timely to retire with as little losse as he may for it were a grosse errour to despise our enemies through too much confidence in our selves for some times by despising our enemies as here we make them the more valiant and if they be ambitious the more respect we give them the lesse we neede to feare them And it is necessarie when an Armie doth get a clappe as we did here then incontinent and with all diligence we should presse to trie our enemie againe wheresoever we can have any advantage lest our enemy might judge us altogether to have yeelded and given over which were very dangerous The bouldnesse of one bould fellow at first being a Leader may ingage a whole Armie for want of judgement as was done here going before this hill of Nurenberg where as many were brought in danger as did tread in the first Leaders paths through lacke of judgement having beene all of them more heady than wise yet to dare being annexed unto vertue is the beginning of victory neverthelesse a hasty man in an Armie without judgement and discretion is to be disallowed of aswell as a coward On my Poste under the Hill after I was shot a sudden feare came amongst the Souldiers some thirtie horse having suddenly come through the wood as if they had beene chased the most part both Officers and Souldiers ranne away leaving mee with a few number on the Poste so that if the enemie had fallen out I could not have escaped from being kill'd or taken but as soone as they perceived that I with the Souldiers remained by me had unhorsed and taken some of the horsemen who were found to bee friends they being ashamed of their miscarriage retired having accidentally rencountred with Hepburs Captaine Lievetenant who brought them up againe whom I threatned to shew his Majestie of their behaviours neverthelesse being loath to incurre the hatred of a brave Nation for the misbehaviour of some unworthy fellowes their blemishes I pressed to cover notwithstanding afterwards some of the Officers amongst themselves came to a publique hearing having blamed one another till the question and disgrace was taken away by shewing their particular courage in fighting one against another whereof I kept my self free suffering them to deale amongst them being Country-men This kinde of Panicke feare without cause doth betray many brave men and divers good enterprizes And therfore all good Commanders ought most carefully to looke unto it to avoyde the inconveniences incident unto the like while as they leade either partie or Armie Wee once marching through a woode towards Franckfurt on the Oder the white Regiment marching in the Van having a naturall foole that marched alwayes before them going within a bush throwing off his clothes returning naked and crying he had seene the enemie the whole Souldiers of that Briggad throwing downe their Armes they ranne backe on the next Briggad being Swedens and they running also away till they were holden up with pikes by our Briggad being the third who having stood and asked the reason of their running away in end being found a false and a foolish Alarum the poore foole was pittifully cut and carved by the Officers for the Souldiers phantasticke feare being a poore revenge for their cowardize so that we see by the example of the third Briggad that the best remedie against such Panicke feares is not to feare at all and none should leade Armies but those that are both wise and stout The thirty-seventh Duty discharged of our up-breaking from Nurenberg towards Newstat AFTER this last dayes service his Majestie having intrenched his Armie before the Emperiall Leaguer and finding them unwilling to hazard the Combate as also the scarcitie of victuals growing so great on both sides his Majestie resolved to beset Nurenberg with foure Regiments Fowles his Regiment being one Generall Major Kâ—iphowsen had the Command over the Swedens and Generall Major Salammers-dorfâ—e had Command over the Burgers and the Rex-chancellor Oxesterne was appointed by his Majestie to have the direction of all His Majestie leaving Nurenberg in this manner in the night he sent away his great Cannon with a Convoy towards Newstat and before day the whole Drummes had orders to beate first afore troope gathering and then a march so that we were in readinesse standing in Battaile before the enemies Leaguer by day where we stood till mid-day and then the whole Armie was commanded to make a quarter Toure to the right hand making our front before to be our left Flancke whereon our Coulours and small Ordinance did march and our right wing being our Van we marched off in view of the enemie Duke Bernard of Wymare with a thousand horse and five hundred musketiers commanded by my Lievenant Colonell Iohn Sinclaire who was appointed to march in the Reare for making our Retreate good which in a manner was needlesse seeing our enemie lacked courage to follow us but suffered us to depart in peace At night we drew up in Battaile a mile from the enemies Leaguer where we incamped setting forth strong watches of horse and musketiers on the passes betwixt us and the enemie and our Reare-Guarde betwixt us and them and our owne Guardes without our Briggads so having quietly past over the night the next morning we marched to Newstad being the fifteenth of September where we resolved to stay a few
admonish your Souldiers that at the tucke of your Drumme they runne from their Armes about the Holbert and to stay there till the Drumme recall them againe to their Armes which being done it makes the Souldiers able in breath to know one anothers place in case they should be brought at any time in disorder to recover themselves the better Thus much for the training of Souldiers in changing of place as you will have them without giving of fire When you have gotten your Souldiers thus experimented in their motions then are you to acquaint them with shot in giving of fire to make them fix against their enemies which is easily done having once apart and singularly used their Muskets after the order of the severall postures belonging thereto as was commanded their inferiour Officers and Leaders to teach them before they were exercised Therefore before you come to the particular formes of giving fire you shall first give some generall directions to be observed by all for avoiding the hurting of themselves or of their Camerades as also how they can best offend their enemies and to this effect you shall admonish in love all brave Musketiers first to have their Muskets cleere and hansome and above all fix in the worke especially every Souldier would be well knowne with his owne Musket and cocke to cocke aright then to hold the mouth or Cannon of his Musket ever high up either being on his shoulder or in priming or guarding of his panne but in giving fire never higher or lower than levell with the enemies middle then your Musketiers being in readinesse your Muskets charged they may be commanded to give fire in skirmish disbandoned as their Officers doe direct them to advance or retire as the occasion offers also to give fire by Ranckes Files Divisions or in Salves as the Officer pleaseth to command to the effect they may be fixed Omni modâ— though in my opinion one way is the best yet there are severall wayes of giving fire in advancing to an enemy as retiring from an enemy or in standing firme before an enemy either by Rancks or by Files made to Rancks Advancing to an enemy not being disbandoned but in one bodie they give fire by Rancks to Rancks having made readie alike they advance ten paces before the bodie being led up by an Officer that stands in even Front with them the Cannon or mouth of their Muskets of both Rancks being past his bodie The second Rancke being close to the backe of the foremost both gives fire alike priming and casting about their Muskets they charge againe where they stand till the other two Rancks advance before them and give fire after the same manner till the whole Troope hath discharged and so to beginne againe as before after the order of the through-countermarch ever advancing to an enemie never turning backe without death or victorie And this is the forme that I esteeme to be the best as for the rest they are not to be much used but this order can be used winning ground advancing or losing ground in a Retreate When you would command the body of your Musketiers to give fire in a Salve as is ordinarie in Battell before an enemy joyne or against Horsemen then you command the bringers up or Reare to double the Front to the right hand and to make readie having the match cocked and their pannes well guarded having closed the three Rancks though not the Files the Officers standing in equall Front with the foremost Rancke betwixt two Divisions he commands to give fire one Salve two or three and having charged againe and shouldered their Armes they retire to the left hand againe every man falling behinde his owne Leader Being on retiring from the enemie the whole bodie having made readie as they march off in order a qualified Officer being in the Reare and qualified Officers in the Van to order them that fall up the last two Rancks in the Reare turne faces about and the whole body with them and the two Rancks having given fire they march through the body to the Van and order themselves as they were before and so successively the whole bodie gives fire ever by two Rancks and falls off till such time as they have made their Retreate sure Thus much of fire-giving by Rancks on two or three as you please at once and no more Now a little for the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes in generall for the generall motion certaine directions are to be observed concerning Pikes that the Souldiers keepe their Pikes cleane and cleere and never to be suffered to cut off the lengths of their Pikes as often is seene upon marches being very uncomely to see a Squadron of Pikes not of one length likewise in all motions with the Pike the hand and foote ought to goe alike and the Souldier would be expert in giving the right pousse with the Pike backwards and forwards Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope a Charge a Call a Retreate As also to traile their Pikes to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke your Files may be so many as can well heare your voyce in Command providing there be no odde File and thus well ordered at their open order of six foote distance command to mount their Pikes then calling for a Drumme beside you let him beate a march then they are to shoulder their Pikes flat or slaunt carried and then to march a little let your Drumme againe beate a Troope then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow as your passe leades them stopping or advancing as you doe then let your Drumme beate a Charge then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow as you lead them and retire also backwards their Pikes charged as you will have them then troope againe and they mount their Pikes march and shoulder and haulting let the Drumme beate againe and they order their Pikes on the ground as first being at their distance and trooping againe they mount their Pikes so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure In repayring to their Colours or comming from watch they should ever walke with their Pikes mounted as also they may use this posture on Centrie and your Pikes mounted and at your open order you can use all doublings that your Musketiers used as also to present to Front Reare right or left hand the curiositie of the turnes to the right or left hand in Van or Reare the Pike being shouldred you can also teach them as you will though not much to be used in exercise and the Pikes thus well exercised having seene frequent danger can doe good service against Horsemen and against foote to foote either in battell entering a Towne or breach or retiring or advancing to choake an