the viewing the subsequent Figure you shall the better understand the manner of performing this motion of Square Facing Face Square and March Proper Front Front accidentall Front accident all The Front of the Reere The Words of Command commonly used to produce this precedent Figure are these as followeth if they be 10 in depth and 20 in Ranke The first three Rankes stand The three last Rankes face about The rest of the Body face to the Right and Left then March all To reduce them to their first Order Face all about to the Right March and close your Divisions Face all to your Leader who then stands at his Front proper Another way of facing Square and Marching upon it The Front proper The Front of the left Flanke The Front of the right Flank The Front of the Reere The words of Command customarily used to produce this Figure are these as followeth Musquetiers face to the right and left Halfe-files of Pikes faces about to the right then March all To reduce them to their former order Face all about to the right March and close your Divisions Face all to your Leader In the next Chapter I shall shew the manner of Opening and Closing both of Files and Rankes and then some instructions of doubling them with their use and parts CHAP. LXXXI The manner of opening and closing both of Rankes and Files and how to double them with the use and parts thereunto belonging IN the opening and closing of Rankes and Files there are divers things considerable as first in the motion of Files you are to observe your Leader Secondly in your motion of Rankes you are to observe your right-hand 〈◊〉 Thirdly when Files open to the right the Left-hand-file must stand fast every 〈◊〉 taking 〈◊〉 distance from the File next his left hand Fourthly when they open to the Le then the right hand File stands every File taking his distance from the File next his Right hand Fiftly in closing of Files if it be to the right then contrary to the opening the Right-hand-file stands the rest closing to the right taking then Distance from their next right hand-file Sixthly if you close to the left then the Left-hand-file stands the rest of the Files closing to the left taking their distance in like manner Seventhly when Files close to the right and left then they close inwards taking their distance from the Files within them neerer to the middest of the body Eighthly note when Files are commanded to open to the right and left or by division it must be outward Likewise you must observe when Rankes open forwards then the last Ranke stands every Ranke taking his distance from the Ranke next behind him Secondly when they open backwards then the first Ranke is to stand and every Ranke is to take his distance from the Ranke next before him Thirdly if Rankes close to Front and Reare then the first and last Ranke stands the other taking their distances from them Fourthly if they close Rankes towards the Center or middest then they close towards their two middlemost rankes Lastly you are to observe that in opening of Files and Ranks you are in the acting of it either to face to the right or to the right about these things being considered and you hauing commanded them to even their Rankes and straighten their Files you are to use these words of Command following Rankes and Files to your close order Files open to the right Rankes open forwards to your Order Files open to the right Rankes open forwards to your open order Files open to the right Rankes open forwards to your double distance Files close to the Right Rankes close forwards to your open order Files close to the right Rankes close forwards to your order Files close to the Right Rankes close forwards to your close order Files open to the Left Rankes open backwards to your order Files open to the left Rankes open backwards to your open order Files open to the left Rankes open backwards to your double distance Files close to the left Rankes close backward to your open order Files close to the left Rankes close backward to your order Files close to the left Rankes close backward to your close order Files Rankes open to the right and left front and reare to your order Files Rankes open to the right and left front and reare to your open order Files Rankes open to the right and left front and reare to your double distance Files Rankes close to the right and left inward middest to your open order These motions being performed by the Souldiers fairly and with out mistakes you may proceed to exercise them in their doublings and shew them their use and parts as the following Chapter will direct CHAP. LXXXII How an Officer shall exercise his Company in doubling of their Rankes and Files with the use thereof and the severall parts and branches thereto belonging THe use of doublings were invented for the strengthening of any part of the Battell according to the discretion of the wise Commander and are distinguished into these two generalls viz. doublings of length and doublings of depth Doubling of Rankes doth make the number double so much as was before whereby the length of the Battell is extended to the double proportion of ground Doubling of Files or Flankes doth likewise double the number in depth as the former did in length and before wee proceed to particularize these doublings let us take notice of these observations following First that in this motion of doubling there is one part of the body stands firme and the other part moves viz. the standing part is to be doubled the part moving are those that double Secondly observe that the distance for particular and divisionall doublings is open Order in Ranke and File Thirdly observe that the ordinary doublings of Rankes and Files is or ought to be performed by three steps viz first stepping forth with that foote which is next unto the place named Fourthly in the reducement to your former station you must returne by the contrary hand Fifthly observe in doubling of Rankes and Files viz if you double Rankes either to the right or left hand if you double your Files to the contrary hand reduceth them into their former station or in doubling of Files to either hand doubling of your rankes to the contrary will reduce them Lastly observe the severall parts or branches of doublings which are Doublings of First Rankes Secondly Halfe-Files Thirdly Bringers up Fourthly The Reare Fifthly Files Sixthly Halfe-Rankes The first is doubling of Rankes which is performed when every Even-ranke is doubled into the Odde The second is when the halfe Files double their Rankes forwards into the Front The third is when the Bringers-up double their Rankes forwards into the Front The fourth is when the Front halfe Files doubleth the Reare these first foure being doublings of Rankes causeth the length of the Battell to be extended either simply in number
or Wings and those Troops of the Forlorn Hope that have given fire are to retrait betwixt the Wings of the Battell and the Troops of Horse that are plac'd along by the Wings So maintaining alwaies the Flanks furnished by this means they may maintain skirmish continually with fresh men and the Battell never the lesse impaled But after the enemies Battell begins to approach neer your own forces then the Forlorn Hope must withdraw themselves and the formost Battell must bear the brunt The six field-Peeces placed amongst the Shot after they have done their service are to be drawn back into the space betwixt the two Battalia's or may be drawn into the Wings and there may be guarded with those Troops of Shot where they may performe excellent Service But if the first main Battell should miscarry in the first encounter so that their Battalia's be broken by the enemy yet there are ample spaces betwixt the Battalia's of the second Battell to retrait into and there to make head and freshly to re-charge the enemy again betwixt each Battalia in the Rear there must retrait two Battalia's of the Front and upon each Flank one The Troops of Horse are thus disposed upon each side there are an hundred Horse to guard the Ordnance which with the assistance of the Pikes and Shot they are to secure themselves Now there remains five thousand and eight hundred Horse which are to bee divided into severall Battalia's upon each Wing are to bee placed two thousand and nine hundred and they are again to be divided into three Battalia's at the least View the Figure following being the eleventh Figure CHAP. XXIII The twelfth forme of imbattelling an Armie consisting of 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse partly imitating Monsieur Bellay in his militarie Discipline Pag. 75. THis forme of imbattelling which followeth in this Discourse was chiefly invented to deceive the enemy for whereas it seemeth of narrow Front at the first view yet the formost Battell being retraited within the second Battell and the Impalements upon each Flank with the Forlorn Hopes being doubled one Rank into another makes the Front of a farre larger extent so that the enemy having framed his Battell answerable as he may suppose to encounter with this forme hee shall find it otherwise for this Battell will over-Wing his and the Forlorn Hope being strengthned with Shot and fortified with a competencie of Pikes will soon hemm in the enemies Battalia's on the Flanks before they bee aware of it which by the help of those Troops of Curassiers and seconded by the Carbines will endanger to rout them The order observed in Marshalling this Battell is in this manner first there is on each Wing before the Front of the main Battell two Battalia's of Horse each consisting of 252 which makes forty two Files being ranged six deep so that in the four Battels are contained 1008 Horse The next is the main Battell of Foot consisting of five Divisions which hath in each five hundred and ten Pikes and Shot in all the five Battalia's are contained 2550 men The distance betwixt each Battalia or Division is 5 paces in breadth and they have 51 in Rank or Brest and 10 deep in File the breadth of the whole Front from side to side of either impalement the distances being added betwixt each Division is 1560 paces broad Next are three Battalia's plac'd 25 paces behind the first main Battell these have contained in each of them 510 as the former had so that the three Battalia's have 1530 souldiers in them You may delude the enemy in making him beleeve your Forces are more than they are by causing your second Battalia's to open their Files to their open order and then they will seem as many men in the second Battell as is in the first The Rear-Battel is likewise ordered 25 paces behind the second Battell and that consists only of 2 Battalia's and are plac'd upon the Flank as by the Figure you may see having a broad space to receive the two former Battels if they should be constrained to retrait these two last consist of 1020 viz 510 souldiers in each these two Rear-Battels may open their Files to their double distance to make them seem farre more than they are but when they are ready to charge the enemy they must fall into their order of three foot The Impalements of each Flank of the Battell marked with the figures of 1 and 2 consist of 5 in Brest 153 in depth so that each Wing of Impalement hath 665 Pikes Likewise by the outside of the Pikes are the same quantity of Muskets ordered 5 in Brest and 153 in depth which amounts likewise to 665 Shot it is marked with the figure 2. This Division of Shot is to be plac'd 5 paces from the Pikes they must likewise open their Files very wide that they may seem to equall the Front of the Battell these must double one within another as the main Battell shall retrait Next this impalement the Forlorn Hope is plac'd along by the side of it marked with the figures 3 and 4 and these are to consist of Shot and Pikes as the figures 1 2 did and first the Shot hath 8 in Rank and 153 in depth so that each Wing takes up 1224 Shot the Pikes you are to suppose are ranked next the Shot the outside 5 paces from the Shot they are 5 in Front or Brest and 153 in depth which amounts to in each 665 these are to dilate their Files as the former Beyond the Forlorn Hope are plac'd 700 Curassiers ten paces from the former as you may see at the figure 5. These are to order themselves in convenient Troops down by the â—lanks of the former And 5 paces beyond these Curassiers are 300 Carbines which must orderly range themselves in convenient Troops as at the figure 6. In the Rear are foure strong Redouts well Pallizado'd with field-Peeces in them in each severall Redout there are one hundred and fiftie souldiers The Shot belonging to the main Battell are placed before the Pikes to shelter them and to hide the Ordnance amongst them When the enemy are within distance then those Files of Shot which stand before the Ordnance are to divide themselves upon either hand so that the Ordnance may suddenly give a volley upon the enemies Troops and when they have done their best they are to be drawn into the Rear of the Battell View the Figure following CHAP. XXIIII A forme of imbattelling containing 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse with twenty field-Peeces the Pikes girdled with two Ranks of Musketires round about the residue of the Shot are ordered in 188 Maniples IN this forme of imbattelling you may perceive the Pikes to be drawn into twentie four Divisions each Division or Battalia containing three hundred souldiers with convenient distances betwixt them They are first impaled or girdled round under the Pikes with one hundred and eighty Shot which makes two Ranks these are to give fire
that take their places in the reducements the doubling of Halfe Rankes being thus reduced You are next to reduce the Halfe Files by commanding them to face about to the Left and to March forth into their places Note these kind of divisionall doublings requires open order in Ranke and File And for your Intire doublings there is onely the distance of order in Ranke and File required halfe-Halfe-files double your front to the left intire All doublings aer either Intire or divisionall Intire doublings are to bee understood when as Files or halfe-files Rankes or halfe-rankes according as the Command is given doe March forth jointly together without division or dissipation to double the part Commanded Divisionall doublings are such as formerly is shewed viz. when the Files or halfe-files Rankes or halfe-rankes are disranked and divided into more parts or places then one This doubling of halfe-files to the Left intire is thus to be performed first the halfe-files to the Reere face to the Left and March forwards untill they are quite cleare of that part of the body which stands then they face to their Leader and so March up untill they are become even in Ranke with those that stand upon the Right Flanke and then the forme is perfect the word of Command which produceth it is placed in the Margent For the Reducement the halfe-files that doubled having faced about they March straight forth untill they be cleare of the Front halfe-files then they face to the Left and March straight forth untill every man hath his right place and then they are to face right after their Leaders the words of Command and direction for this Reducement is Halfe-files face about to the Right March forth into your places This kind of doubling of halfe-files hath beene held a better doubling then eyther the ordinary doubling of Rankes or the usuall way of doubling by halfe-files or bringers up the reasons are these first it makes no disturbance to the other part of the Battalia but that it may eyther be executed in time of Motion Exercise or Skirmish Secondly it appeares another solid body to the great disheartning of an Enemy Thirdly it is very apt for over Fronting it being a doubling both of number and place Halfe-files double your front inward intire This Motion of doubling the Front inward intire hath beene of great request and is most commonly used by great Bodies as when a Regiment Division or Maniple Moveth forwards betweene two others thereby seconding or releeving them Whereby the Front of all the three Divisions become ranged in an even Line the words of Command direction that produceth this Motion is placed in the Margent The Motion of this doubling is thus to be performed The halfe-files of the Front faceth to the Right and Left and eyther Division Marcheth right forth untill they have left a distance betweene them sufficient to receive the halfe-files of the Reere and then they are to stand and face to their Leader Then the halfe-files March up and even their Front For the Reducement of this figure Let the halfe-files face to the Reere and March untill they are cleare of the Front Halfe-files then stand and face about to their Leader or Commander then the other halfe-files of the Front are to close their Division and they are reduced The Words of Command used for this reducement are Halfe-files face about and march Front halfe-files close your Divisions face all to your Leader Halfe-files double your front by Division This kinde of doubling as before is shewed is of singular good use because it may be performed in time of fight without disturbance to the other part of the Battell The way to performe this motion is as followeth first the halfe-files of the Reere are to face to the right and left and then to march right-forth untill they are cleare of the Reare part of the Front-division then they are to face to their Leader and march untill they become even in ranke with the Front and so stand which perfects this doubling The way to reduce them is as followeth viz. the halfe-files are to face about to the Reere and to march forth-right untill they are cleare of the Front halfe-files and then they are to face to the right and left inwards and so to march and close their Divisions then being faced to their Leader they are reduced The Words of Command for reducement are Halfe-files face about inwards March forth into your places Front halfe-files double your Reare by Division This doubling of the Reare by the Front halfe-files will worke the same effect to the Reare as the last doubling by division did to the Front It may be usefull in the passing of a River when the Enemy chargeth or pursueth in the Reare the Front-division eyther opening and suffering the Reare halfe-files to passe through them they maintaining the skirmish untill the other have attained the further Banke of the River Or else the Front halfe-files being opened to the right and left and faced upon the Enemy march valiantly up and receive the charge whil'st the other provide for themselves for the manner and way of this motion it may be thus performed After the Command is given the Front halfe-files are to face to the right and left and march right forth until they are cleere of the other halfe-files of the Reare then they face to the Reare and march on untill they have attained to be even in rank with them whom they had command to double which perfects the doubling The way to reduce them followeth if you keep your place of the first Front then let your half-files face about and march until they are cleare of the Reare halfe-files which stand then face to the right and left inwards and close their Division and being againe faced to their Leader they are reduced to their first forme The words of Command properly used for this reducement is Front halfe-files face about to the right and left inward March forth into your places Front halfe-files double your Reare to the right intire This doubling of the Reare to the Right intire by the Front halfe-Files is thus to be performed after the Word of Command is given the halfe Files of the Front are to face to the Left and march straight out untill they are cleare of that part of the Body which stands then they are to face againe to the Left which is the Reare and march out-right untill they ranke even with the last Ranke of the Reere-division which gives conclusion to the doubling For reducement thereof your Front halfe-Files face about to the left and march right forth untill they are cleare of the Reere halfe-Files then face them to the Right and let them march into their places then if the Commander goe to his first Front and face them all to him they are reduced as at first To double the Reare to the Left intire may bee done after the same manner
to one of the flankes which being done you must Command them againe to wheele Front and Reere into both flankes then facing them to their first Front and closing their division they are reduced or you may wheele both flankes into the Front and Reere and then face them to their Leader and close their division Thus having shewed the wayes and properties of wheelings in their severall kindes wishing every Commander at least to make use of the Intire wheelings and to make their Souldiers perfect in them so that they may wheele to the Right to the Left and to the Reere and as for the rest you may use your pleasure if time will not permit you to exercise your Souldiers in them The next thing that a Commander is to teach his Souldiers is the severall wayes of giving fire and the fitting and preparing them for Skirmish which in the next Chapter shall be discours'd of CHAP. LXXXVII How a Commauder shall prepare his Souldiers for Skirmish with the maner and use of firing by forlorne Files in the Front WHen a Commander hath exercised his Company in their Postures Doublings Counter-marches and Wheelings the next thing requisite to be taught the Souldiers is how they should skirmish with the maner and use of firing wherefore your Company being first drawne in Battallia every man observing his order both in ranke and file The Officers in their due places viz the Captaine and Ensigne in the Front of Pikes the Lieutenant in the Reere the Serjants on the flankes the Drummes on the Front and reere Angle of the Pikes Every man thus standing in his right equipage the Captaine shall command the Drums to beate a march the colours flying at the head of the pikes the pikes and Musquets shouldred marching at their distance of order in file and at their open order in ranke the Commander is to give a signe to the Drume to beare a preparative at which time the Ensigne is to furle-up his colours and to retire into the midst of the Pikes every man is to advance his Pike and to close all their Rankes forwards to their order the Musquetiers art to make ready every one preparing himselfe for skirmish But before we proceede any further it will be very convenient to shew the maner and use of firings that the Souldiers may be the better able to performe them when they come to the proofe and tryall wherefore observe that all firings are either direct or oblique The maner of firings are sometimes advancing against an Enemie sometimes receiving the Enemies charge upon a stand or else retiring for we may be constrained to give fire in the Reere marching from the Enemie or in flanke marching by an Enemie or it may fall out that the Enemy may charge in severall places at once as in Front and Flanke or in Front Reere and Flanke these particulars shall be more fully discust in the following discourses And first to begin with the firings in Front both advancing and standing I will follow Master Barrifes directions who hath excellently well described them both by discourse and figure Wherefore first take notice of giving fire by forlorne files which most commonly is used two maner of wayes in the exercising of companies The first is for the two outermost files of each flanke of shot to march forth being led on by the two yongest Serjants a convenient distance beyond the Front of the battell who being there arived ought to make there stand the foremost Rankes are to give fire wheeling off both to the right or to the right and left if it be commanded and to place themselves in the Reere of their owne Files the rest of the Rankes firing and doing of the like untill they have fired once or twice over according as they shall be directed this being performed the next two out most files of each flanke are to march forwards unto the place assigned and are there to doe the like Those files which formerly faced are in the meane time to troope backe and place themselves next the flankes of the Pikes upon the inside of the division of Musquetiers The rest of the shot after the former manner are to march up and give fire placing themselves as before is shewed when they have fired all over and placed themselves according to these directions they are reduced into their first stations The second way of firing by forlorne Files is thus to be performed The outmost files of each Flanke are led forth by the Serjeants unto the place assigned and then they command their Files to ranke inwards and to present and give fire all at one instant as by the subsequent figure you may perceive Serjeant Serjeant Captaine Ensigne Serjeant Serjeant Lievetenant The first two files having ranked inwards and joyned together making one brest as you may perceive at the figure 4. and having presented and given fire they are to wheele off to the right and left each man following his Leader in single file and performing their postures of priming and charging c. as they troope downe to place themselves on the inside of their division of shot alongst by the Flankes of the Pikes The next outmost File which followed the first in the Reere in the meane time are to ranke themselves inwards and are to give fire and wheele off as the former did placing themselves alongst by the Flankes of the Pikes after the same manner all the rest of the Files are to performe their indeavours Note the odde Files may eyther march up and give fire single or else the next outermost File may sequent them CHAP. LXXXVIII How a Commander shall exercise his Souldiers to give fire by two Rankes advancing them ten or twenty paces before the Front of the Battalia then even with the Front and lastly even with the halfe-Files THis manner of advancing two Rankes a certaine distance before the Front of the Battell is commonly used when two Battells make their approaches one against the other whereby they are brought within distance to doe certaine execution a Serjeant from each Flanke is to leade these two formost rankes up to the place assigned The first Ranke of each wing of shot is to present and to give fire wheeling off eyther to the right or to the right and left the second Ranke stands ready with their Musquets rested their Match-cocked and pans guarded mounting the muzells of their Peeces cleere of their Leaders and standing the distance of three foote behind the first Ranke are ready to Levell and give fire so soone as their Leaders are wheeled off from before them The first Rankes having presented and given fire as aforesayd in their wheeling off they are to march downe in single File close by the outside of the wings of shot untill they come to the Reere of their owne divisions where every man is to place himselfe in the Reere of his owne file The second Ranke having discharged are after the same manner
farre forth in a straight line untill they have ranked even with the first ranke of Pikes not forgetting to leave there a distance betwixt the Inermost Musquet of each Flanke and the outermost File-Leader of the Pikes So soone as the first Ranke hath given fire and wheeled away the second Ranke is to give fire wheeling off as before and passing down betweene the Intervalls of the Flankes placing themselves after their Leaders The same is every Ranke successively to doe untill all the shot be drawne from before the Front placed on the Flankes of their Pikes But when all the shot in the front hath discharged unto the two last rankes then the Pikes are to porte and when they have all fired and wheeled away then they are to charge their Pikes then advancing their Pikes again the Battallia stands reduced as in its first forme Musquetiers make ready to give fire by Introduction to the right Files of Musquetires open by division to your open order You shall finde in the Margent the words of Command that produceth this forme of giving fire by way of Introduction it being a kinde of advancing against the Enemie and of gayning ground although not used in these our Moderne warres but in way of exercise It is to be performed two wayes The first when the motion is begun by the second Ranke from the Front The other when it is begun by the bringers up wherefore observe before the firing begin you must open your Files of Musquetiers to their open order so that the shot may passe betweene the Intervalls of each File to give fire in the Front The maner and forme of this kind of firing by Introduction may be thus performed The Pikes being flanked with the Musquetiers the first ranke of each flanke is to present and give fire and having fired they stand and make ready againe in the same place The second Ranke passing forwards before the first doe there also fire and stand The third Ranke then passing forwards after the second and standing even in Ranke with them that first fired that so soone as the second Ranke hath fired they may presently step before them and fire in like maner In this firing still the ranke which is next to fire stands even in ranke with them which last fired untill those which stand presented have first given fire after which they then passe before them the Ranke which was their next followers passing forwarde Ranking with those which last fired every man following his Leader successively untill the bringers up give fire and stand in the Front of all and then this forme will be like the figure of a Horne battell All the while that this firing by Introduction is continued the Pikes may be shouldred if there be no feare of the Enemies Horse If you continue this firing twice over the Musquetiers will have their right place which being done march up your Pikes and Ranke them even in Front with the shot and they are reduced The second way of firing by introduction The first Ranke or File Leaders are to give fire as before and to stand The last Ranke or bringers up in the interim of their firing marching up and ranking even with the second Ranke the rest follow their bringers up as they doe when bringers up double their Front the first Ranke having fired the bringers up step imediatly before them present and give fire the rest still successively doing the like untill every ranke have given fire once over observe with all that the File Leaders are to give fire twice over being the first and the last and then to stand the Pikes marching up even with their Front of Musquetiers And thus they are reduced as at first If the two first rankes of Pikes in every Battallia should have bowes fastned to their Pikes they might do good service against the enemie whilst the shot performes their duties in giving fire The words of Command which produceth this forme of a Diamand Battell is in the Margent Amongst the Ancients it hath bin of great account but in these late ages Musquetiers Ranke 1 3 5 7 9 c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranked by decrease after your Musquetiers not used in the warres The manner of forming it is thus first you must cause your Musquetiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for the receiving the shot of the left flanke Then you must Command the left flanke of Musquetiers to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to frame this battell you must command your Files of Musquetires to ranke 1 3 5 7 c. by increase to the left then you must command the Files of Pikes to ranke by decrease after the Musquetiers The Musquitiers may give fire from this forme of Battell two wayes principally the first is the giving fire in Ranke viz. the first man or point of the diamond is first to give fire then he is to wheele off to the right and place himselfe just behind the single Pikemen in the Reere then the next Ranke consisting of three men are to give fire and to wheele off by division and are to place themselves in Ranke behind the single Musquetiere as they were before the firing began next the Ranke of five Musquitiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde and they commanded to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwayes goes to the right And after this manner every Ranke gives fire successively and place themselves after their Leaders as before is shewed when all the shot have given fire and are wheeled off then let the Pikes charge which will be fiveteene in the first Rank the rest decreasing having advanced your forme will stand like two wedges with their points joyned If you would reduce your men from this forme without giving fire then let the Musquitiers stand and the Pikes face to the Reere and then the wedge will stand faced in opposition Next you may command them to interchange ground the Musquetiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Musquetiers and then by facing the Pikes to the former front the body will stand in forme of a diamond againe If you would give fire from this forme in regard all the Musquetiers are placed in the Reere the body must face about so the firing will bee contrary to the former But if you wheele them about then they may give fire the same way However after fire is given they must wheele off by division and place themselves in the Reere of the Pikes even in Rank againe as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired over wheeled away the Pikes may charge being againe advanced the body wil stand in form of a diamond The second way of firing on this Diamond forme is
their horses so that to everytroope of 120. there is 132. men allowed CHAP. CX How a single Troope of horse ought to be drawne into Ranke and File NOw it remaynes wee should make entrance into the discourse of Exercising a single Troope Therefore supposing our Troope to consist of one hundred and twenty horse wee must first order them into Rankes and Files Rankes are a number uncertaine and hapens according to the quantitie of souldiers be they more or lesse A File is a number certaine consisting of sixe persons viz a Leader two Middle men a Bringer up a Follower betweene the Leader and the Middleman to the Reare and a Follower betweene the Middleman to the Front and the Bringer up which is the last man in the File called the Reare A File differs from a Ranke because they stand face to backe and never above sixe deepe A Ranke differs from a File in regard they stand even a breast shoulder to shoulder and have no certaine extent The order of a File you shall see in this discription following 0 Leader 1 Follower 0 Middleman to the Reare 0 Middleman to the Front 1 Follower 0 Bringer up The description of a Ranke you shall understand by this demonstation following where you shall suppose twenty in Ranke and sixe deepe in File Sixe in File Reare CHAP. CXI What Orders and distances a horse Troope should observe in exercise NOw let us take notice what Orders or Distances these Files and Rankes are to observe in exercising where note that in horse Troopes there are but two sorts of distances or orders either in Ranke or File viz. close order and open order Close Order in Files is knee to knee Open Order in Files is sixe foote which is accounted a horses length Likewise close Order in Rankes is to the Horses crooper so that little or no distance remaines betweene the head of the Follower and the crooper of the Leader Likewise open order in Rankes is sixe foote above which they must never open CAAP. CXII The motions which the Cavalrie are to observe in their exercise THe Motions of the Cavallrie are of foure kindes as namely first Facings secondly Doublings thirdly Counter-Marches fourthly Wheelings The use of Facing is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either of the Flankes or the Reare Doubling of Rankes or doubling by halfe Files or Bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the Front Doubling of Files or Doubling by halfe Rankes serveth to strengthen the Flankes Counter-Marches serve either to reduce the File-leaders into the place of the Bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an Enemy in the Reare or to bring one Flanke into the place of the other or Front and Reere or either Flanke into the middle of the body The use of Wheeling is to bring the Front which is all wayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the Enemy on either Flanke or Reere CHAP. CXIII The Manner how a Commander over 120. Horse besides Officers should Troope with them into the Field to be exercised NOw wee are to suppose this Troope of 120. horsemen are to be ordered in Ranke and File fit to draw into the Field for exercise where note they are five in Ranke and sixe deepe in File and every Officer marching in his due place as appeares by this subsequent demonstration Captaine Trumpet Cornet Eld. Corporall Second Corporall Yongest Corporall Livetenant Trumpet CHAP. CXIV How a Commander should draw this Troope of Horse into a body in manner of Battalia standing at their open Order or Distance of sixe foote YOur Troope of horse being drawne into the Field before you can exercise them you must draw up the dimissions into an even body in manner of Battallia viz. the first devision led by the Captaine being come to a convenient place of Exercise is to stand firme Then the Cornet is to leade up the second Division upon the left side of the former fronting even and keeping even destances both in Ranke and File Thirdly the Eldest Corporall is to leade up his Devision upon the left side of the Cornets fronting them even with the former Lastly the second Corporall brings up his last Division upon the left hand of the eldest corporall observing their due orders and proportions both in Rankes and Files And being thus drawne in Battallia there shall be consequently be in the Front the Captaine whose place is to stand upon the right hand before the Front of the first Division The eldest Trumpet and Cornet before the Front of the second Devisions The eldest Corporall before the Front of the third Division The second Corporall before the Front of the fourth Division And in the Reare the Lievetenant the youngest Corporall and youngest Trumpet Trumpet Second Corporall Eldest Corporall Cornet Captaine Front Reare Livetenant Trumpet Corporall CHAP. CXV How Souldiers are to be made to understand their Commanders intention in time of skirmish BEfore wee can proceede to the Exercising of this Troope of Horse wee must take notice how and by what meanes the souldiers should understand their Commanders 〈◊〉 that accordingly they may immediatly act and put in execution such things as are commanded And this is to be performed by the Commander three severall wayes First by the immediate command of the Captaine either so that every souldier heares the word of Command distinctly himselfe or by Tradition from inferiour Officers whose office is to eccho such commands throughout the Troope and this is termed vocall Secondly when the Captaine commands the Trumpet to sound such points of warre as are generally knowne to every particular souldier this is termed Semivocall The first point of warre the Trumpet sounds is Butte Sella this is the warning to clappe on the Saddles The second is Mountè Cavallo that is the warning for the souldiers to mount upon horse backe The third is Tucquet that is the warning for a March. The fourth is Carga Carga that is a command for to charge the Enemy The fift is Alâ— Standâ—rdo that is a command for to retreate to the Colours The sixt and last is Auquet that is a command for the souldiers to repaire to their Watch or Guards or for the discharging of the Watch or Guards In the third place when the Commander shall make such perfect signes pregnant to the sight as by charging with his Trunâ—ion or Pistoll or by holding up the colours whereby the souldiers take notice by the first to charge on and by the second to make a stand and this is termed Mute wherefore you may perceive it is a thing of great consequence to accustome your souldiers to these things without which a world of inconveniences and confusion must of necessitie betide you in times of skirmishing Further in regard the exercising a Troope of Horse is tedious and painefull for a
Captaine of the Watch or to bee commanded our with some Troopes for the guarding of some passage to prevent the Enemies approches Hee is to exercise his Company in all their postures he ought to bee gallantly apparelled with a faire Sword and Brigandine if hee be commanded to passe upon any Service with part of the Company he is not to carry his Colours also if the 〈◊〉 Company are to guard some dangerous Out-workes as a halfe Moone or a Redouâ— the Company is to troope thither and he is to leave his Colours in the quarters with a sufficient guard over them and hee is to take for his weapon a good Pike Also every Souldiers honour is highly ingaged to defend and preserve their Ensigne and if occasion of necessity should happen they must not spare to runne upon the Pikes to releeve him as divers valiant Souldiers formerly have done Histories have eternized to their immortall fame the honourable exploits of Captaine Morerula and his two Brothers one of them being his Ensigne at the siege of the Citie of Africa in Barbary in Charles the fifts time when Iohn de Vega Vice-Roy of Sicilia scaled the Walls of it this Ensigne being sore wounded and overthrowne his Brother being Serjeant seconded him and recovered the Colours who advancing forwards like a valiant Souldier was slaine the Captaine Brother to them both tooke up the Colours and performed the Ensignes office who in the scaling of the Wall was sore hurt and died thereof thus three valiant brethren died honourably in defending their Colours if an Ensigne should lose all his Colours from the staffe and hose it is no dishonour When an Army is drawne into Batalia the Ensigne ought to stand out before the front of it some five paces and if the Generall or some other chiefe Officer of the Field passe by he is gently to vaile his Colours holding the butte end of his staffe at his girdlested Also a maxime that no Souldier moves Hat or Helmet to the greatest Commander that is but only to bow his body to him Likewise in time of Battell the Ensigne is to withdraw himselfe for his safety into the middle-most Ranke of the Pikes Likewise in a March the Ensigne is to march before the first division of Pikes with his flying Colours If a King or great Prince passeth by the Ensigne is to vaile his Colours close to the ground with his knee bending in token of Alegiance and submission every Ensigne of private Companies ought to observe how the Ensigne of the Right hand of the Battell orders his Colours after the same manner hee is to order his every Souldier upon an Allarme is speedily to repaire to his Colours likewise not to forsake them untill they be lodged when any Company shall march either into Campâ— Guard Fortresse or Castle no Souldier ought to disarme himselfe untill they see first the Colours placed and the Ensigne disarmed Likewise no sooner shall a Souldier see the Ensigne take up his Colours but they should arme and ranke themselves immediately No Ensigne ought to disarme himselfe upon any Guard Campe or Field untill hee sees that with safety hee may doe it Likewise an Ensigne should shew himselfe forwardest with his Colours in assaulting a Fort or entring a Breach to incourage the Souldiers manfully to fall on to defend and make way for them he ought to behave himselfe so that he may gaine the love of all the Souldiers whereby his owne person shall be in the more safetie when he shall attempt any perrillous exploits for love will command a Souldier to fight when all things in the world else 〈…〉 him forwards and let him know that the vertue of the Ensigne 〈…〉 the vertue and valour of the Captaine and his whole band I could wish 〈…〉 Captaines would be pleased to be more circumspect in their election of 〈◊〉 and not to put undeserving fellowes of base birth and qualitie into place of 〈◊〉 which deserves Gentlemen of quality to officiate the Office of 〈…〉 place of repute and honour doth not sâ—te with every Yeoman Taylor or Fidler as I have knowne to one Company in Essex all these oâ— the like Mechanick fellowes have had the honour to beare the Colours before a generous Captaine of Noble birth whose name I forbeare to relate but let it be an 〈◊〉 to all generous Captaines to make choyce of Officers that are well bred and deserving otherwise they doe but disgrace themselves and abuse his Majesties service and the reputation of our Countrey CHAP. LXV The Office of a Lieuâ—tenant to a private Company and his duty both in Garrison and in Field declared A Lieuetenant is an Office of high credit and reputation and he ought in all respects to bee well indoctrinated and qualified in the Arts Millitary and ought not to bee inferiour in knowledge to any Officer of higher authority for an unskilfull Captaine may better demean himselfe with an experienst Lieuetenant then an unskilfull Lieuetenant can â—adge with a skilfull Captain because all businesse belonging to a Company is for the most part ordered by the Lieuetenant the Captaine having other imployments of greate importance hee is to see the company fitted in all respects for service hee is the right hand to his Captaine in ayding and assisting him as well in the brunt of Battell as in Peace hee is to see to the fitting and furnishing of all things necessary belonging to the Company hee is to keepe a perfect roule of all the Souldiers in the Company and to observe that every Squadron bee compleate hee is to view the sufficiency and â—â—â—enesse of the Armes and to give order for the repayring of such as shall bee found defective hee is to order and ranke the Company fit for his Captaine to March with hee is to divide his Company into foure divisions making two divisions of the Pikes and two of the Musquetieres hee is to ranke the first division of Musquets in the Front and the second division of Musquets in the Reare of the Pikes hee is to March in the Reare of the Company into the Field and in Marching out of the Field the Captaine is to March in the Reare and the Lieuetenant in the Front he is carefully to passe upon his duty to see the squadrons drawne to the Guards for to Watch hee is to bee very carefull and diligent in exercising his Company either by squadrons uppon the Guards or the whole Company in the Field assuming fit and convenient times hee is to leade on the left Wing of shot in time of service in time of exercising hee is to helpe order the Company so that his Captaine may have the more ease and freedome hee ought to bee silent and to cause silence in the Company during the time of his Captaines exercise he ought to bee in the Reare of the Company to instruct the Souldiers how to act and observe the Captaines commands he ought to call over the Company and take a particular survey
Commander being at his front accidentall may command them to wheele their wings into the reere and so passing through to that part where his proper file-leaders areâ— and then face them to him and they are in their first forme Or else when the Commander hath past through to the Reere and faced his company to him then his pikes being foremost let him wheele his flankes into the Front who being faced to their leader are reduced Wheele front and Reere into the right flanke This divisionall wheeling of the Front and Reere into the right flanke doth quadruple the depth as for example if the body of your Battallia be but ten in depth this wheeling to the right flanke makes them forty deepe in file and but five in ranke or brest you may observe how the Musqueteires of the left flanke are devided viz the one halfe of them wheeling to the front and the other halfe to the reere Likewise the Musqueteirs of the right flanke are to wheele together into the midst The Pikes are likewise divided those that were the front halfe files are to wheele into the midst of the front division of Musquetiers And those that were the Reere division of Pikes are to wheele into the reere division of shott After the word of Command is given to wheele front and reere into the right flanke you must cause your Souldiers for to face to the right that being done they are to wheele together about the fifth and sixth men in the right hand file which is the halfe file leader to the front and halfe file leader to the reere this motion being performed right the two halfe files to the right will be converted into the two midle rankes of the Battallia and the file-leaders to the front and the bringers of the reere will be the right hand file For the reducement there may be many wayes according as the body of the Battallia may be faced but suppose they stand faced in the same forme that this Battallia did before the Motion began and then the wheeling of front and reere into the left flanke will reduce them to their first station they being faced to their Leader Or if you please to face them that way which they wheeled in the Motion which was to the right then wheele your flankes into the reere and then facing them to their proper front they are reduced Wheele front and Reere into the left flanke This divisionall wheeling of the front and reere into the left flanke is a doubling of the depth as the former was and the nature of the Motion is the same with the precedent the difference is onely in the flankes wherefore first you must cause the Battallia to face to the left and then you must wheele them as before you did wheele the flankes into the front But suppose that all the shott are placed upon the right flanke before you begin this motion then this wheeling will bring the one halfe of them into the front and the other halfe into the reere and the motion being performed and they faced towards their Commander they will be 40 deepe in file and five in ranke as the precedent motion was For reducement the usuall way is to wheele the front and reere into the Right flanke or if upon occasion you have faced your Battallia to the same way they have wheeled which was to the left flanke and would give your Command from thence then you must cause them to wheele their flankes into the reere this being done you must passe to your first front then causing them to face towards you they are in the same forme they were at first Then cause the five files of shott to face to the left and then to passe through their places Lastly you must close their rankes and files to their due distance and all is performed Wheele both flankes into the Front and Reere This divisionall wheeling of both flankes into the front and reere doth double the depth making them from ten deepe to be twenty It doth also transferre the Musquetiers from both the flankes into the front and reere making a division betweene the front halfe files and the reere halfe-files So that of one Body flankte with shott it maketh two each having their shot in the front To performe this wheeling you must take these following directions The word of Command being given as in the Margent is exprest the first thing the Souldiers have to doe is for the halfe files to face about to the reere and then the front halfe files and the reere halfe Files are to wheele at one and the same instant The front division are to wheele about their two innermost file Leaders untill the file Leaders of the right flanke meete together in the midst with the file Leaders of the left flanke the residue of their divisions orderly following of them The halfe files in like maner being faced about the bringers up in the same order as the former did are to wheele together being now the leaders of the motion in the reere This being performed and the Commander standing at the place of his first front he is to cause them to face towards him then he is to Command them to close their division which being done all your file Leaders are in the two innermost files of the front division file wise and all the bringers up in the reere division of the same files For reducement you may face them to either of the flankes and then Command them to wheele both flankes into the front and reere then facing them againe to their proper front and closing their divisions they will be as at first or if you please the Subsequent motion of wheeling will reduce it Wheele front and reere into both flankes This wheeling of front and Reere into both flankes is also a doubling of depth So that from ten deepe it makes them twenty And by this motion the shot which in the precedent wheeling was placed upon the flankes by this motion of wheeling are transferd into the midst betweene the front and the reere of the Pikes and whereas in this former motion their wheeling was about the two midlemost file leaders and Bringers up This wheeling contrariwise is about the two halfe file leaders of the outmost files of each flanke In the other wheeling the file Leaders and bringers up made the Inmost file but in this they make the outermost file of each flanke This motion being performed it leaves a large Intervall or division from front to reere betweene the flankes which if the Commander passe into the midst betweene each division and face them all to him causing them to close their divisions and then he being marcht forth into his first place causing the souldiers to direct their aspects to him then will the Pikes be in the Front and Reere For the reducement of this Motion of wheeling to its first forme and station you must cause the Battallia to face
beene a powerfull Armie in the heart of the Kingdome to have kept them in obedience that they might have strengthned their dejected conceits upon their hope of victory which might possibly have beene gained by this Armie the Lords Spirituall and Temperall would never have yeelded themselves with the Citty of London to the mercy of the Conquerour but this is onely by the way Now these Troopes of Dragoones being well exercised and practised as they ought let any sensible man judge if they shall not prove in time of neede most usefull in regard of their speedy March CHAP. CXIX The Order of Exercising a Horse Troope in their Motions being drawne in Battalia TO pretermit all further circumstances presupposing that every Souldier is perfect in his postures it is now high time to draw out in Battalia as before is demonstrated that they may the better be exercised in Grose and the more commodiously taught their Motions which every Souldier using silence is to performe according as he shal be commanded as this following figure doth demonstrate where note there are â—20 horse drawne in Battalia ready to be exercised and standing at their open order of sixe foote being the space of ground allowed betweene horse and horse Front H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h Right Flanke Reare As you were To the left hand As you were Front H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H h h h h h H Reare To the left hand a-bout To the Right hand about as you were h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H Rankes to the Right hand double Rankes as you were HhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Rankes to the left hand double Rankes as you were hHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhH o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Files to the right hand double Files to the left hand as you were 29 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H ó H H o H o H o H o H o H o H o H o H o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h Files to the left hand double Files as you were or Rankes to the right hand double 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H â— H o H o H o H o H o H o H o H o H o H o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o h o Halfe Files to the right hand double your Front Halfe Files as you were HhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
o o o o o o o o o o o o o Halfe files to the left hand double your Front hHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhH hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Bringers up to the right hand double your Front Bringers up as you were HhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Files to the left hand Counter-march HhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHhHh h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Files close to the right and left to your close Order oooooHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHooooo ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooo ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooo ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooo ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooo ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooo Rankes close forwards to your close order H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o To the left hand wheele H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h CHAP. CXX The Fashion of Horse Battels discourst of and first of the Rhombe the Wedge and the Square IN regard we shall not have the opportunitie to discourse and demonstrate every kinde of Battell that at this time is in use when wee shall come to intreate of the embattelling of the Infantry with the Cavalry therefore I thinke it most convenient to discourse of some formes of Embattelling the Cavalry which are of greatest use And the rather because the Cavalry for the most part are employed upon peculiar services in the absence of the Infantry Those that have formerly written of this subject have not fully exprest their owne conceits Therefore to make all things cleere I shall indeavour to set downe the severall figures of each severall kinde The Thessalians were the first inventers of the Rhombe and conceived it to be an absolute forme in regard they were ready to turne their faces every way with speede and not easily to be surprised in Flanke or in the Reare because the best men are plac'd in the Fanke and the commanders in the Angles viz. the Captaine in the Front and in the right and left Angles of the Flankes the two ablest Corporalls and the Livetenant in the reare Angle Of these kinde of battells called the Rhombes there are foure sorts severally distinguished the first kinde Files and Rankes The second forme neither File nor ranke the third forme Files but ranke not the fourth ranke but file not The first kind of Rhombe that doth both file and ranke is ordered as followeth viz. you are to make the greatest ranke being the middle most of an uneven number as of a 11. or 13. or 15. or 17. to which you are to joyne other rankes before and behind every one containing two lesse than the former as if the greatest ranke consisted of 17. the next rankes on either side are to have but 15. the next on either side of those but 13 and so every one two lesse untill at last you come to one as you may perceive by the next Figure following the longest ranke consists of 15. the next of 13 c. and so the whole Rhombe hath 113 horse in Battalia of these I intend to shew you the order of framing them although not much used in these late warres afterwards I shall discourse of sundry formes of Embattelling in a discourse by it selfe The Rhombe of Horse The Front Left Flanke Right Flanke The Reare CHAP. CXXI The manner and forme how the second kinde of Rhombe is ordered in Battalia THe next kind of Rhombe which neither Files nor Ranks was by the antient Generalls thought very proper for service in regard the turnings and other motions were to be performed very easily having nothing to hinder them before behinde or in Flancke For the ordering of this forme of Battell you must first place the Leader then one aâ— his right and an other at his left hand and in such a distance that their horses heads reach up to his horses shoulders as in the formall battell The first row you must also make of an uneven number as 21. the Leader of the Troope standing in the midst and 19. other being laid to him backwards on either side so that this ranke containeth two sides of the Rhombe like to this A. Then the Reare Commander is placed directly behinde the Leader and to him are other joyned forwardly on either side like to this Figure V. and the number of the following rankes after the first there are to be two lesse than the former and therefore nine must be added on either side of the Reare Commander so that the number of
are best horst or those that are nimblest of foote so that they may the safer retire upon all occasions moreover they must not stay over long behind the Army but so as they may soone recover it for otherwise they will be cut off by the enemy If a retreat be wisely carried the enemy that shall follow may receive more dammage then they that retreat But on the contrary side if you perceive the enemy doth provide to steale from you it is wisedome to anticipate such passages as they must passe thorow sending secretly certaine troopes to fortifie at the entrance of them likewise to barricado up the way with trees and to have your Army alwayes in a readinesse to set out after them following them at the heeles but in this case the Army must keepe a very strict order in their Battallia's and march up close together commanding your horse to charge the enemy in the Reare which will bee a meanes to stay the hindermost part of the Army and then the Vantguard of your enemies Army being come to the passages that are blockt up it will so discourage the enemy that your Army marching up to them in Battell aray they will bee easily overthrowne as there hath beene divers examples to verifie this The lightest Ordnance are the best to pursue the enemy withall for which purpose Grave Maurice the Prince Van Nasaw had fifty or sixty small field peeces cast which hee used to place between his Battallions which were of great service in the time of fight for two or three men could weild one of them as they pleased both in advancing it forwards and drawing backe as occasion served and it were very fit and of excellent use to have such small peeces cast here in England for his Majesties service which may bee imployed many waies I have observed the Hollanders how they made use of these small Ordnances to place them in little vessels which they provided to safeguard their great rivers as the river Issel and the Rhine one of these had thirty or forty souldiers to man her and eight or tenne of these peeces whereby they prevented the enemy from marching over the said rivers likewise they were safeguards to the Army when they were convayed by Boates up those rivers or when they lay intrencht neere any great river they safeguarded the Reare of the qnarters from treachery also they safe conducted such Boates as brought Victuals and Ammunition to the Army If occasion should bee in our land which God forbid it should be they could not doe us lesse service than by experience they have done them besides such small vessels being made for service were of more worth to offend an enemy that should dare saile up in any of our great rivers than the greatest Ship of burden for it were impossible for our great Ships to make a fight in the river Thames but they will be more ready to hurt themselves than the enemy whereas these small vessels will lye under the shot and glide up and downe by the great vessels sides and gall them In the next place it remaines how an Army should March neere an enemies Battery to secure themselves from the shot in this you must observe the situation of their Batteries how they are flancked by which you may come to perceive in what direct liâ—e eâ—ch peece of Ordnance shall make her true shot and so accordingly either to open the files and ranckes for the passage of the shot or else to fetch a circumference in your March so as the shot shall not touch the files but only a ranke but the securest way is to March secretly by the most obscurest places so as the Ordnance may not discover you Lastly for conclusion if the enemy should assault your troopes in in some narrow passages or high wayes you are to demeane your selfe as followeth First you are to fill the passage or high way with your pikes if the breadth of your troopes be not sufficient to performe it then double your rancks whereby the Wings will extend themselves to the filling up of the passage these then charging your enemies hande or foote your Musketiers being in the Reare the Battell being thus ordered let the first ranke of Musketiers which are those next the pikes face to the right hand and march forth file-wise close up by the right flanke of the pikes untill he that is leader of the said file be even with the Front of the Pikes then he is to face to the right hand and lead them quite crosse the Front of the Pikes untill he hath attained the further part of the Front to the left hand which being performed they are to make a stand and couch under the Pikes and give fire upon their knees so as the Pikes may not be hindred to charge then are they to march downe by the left flancke and place themselves in the Reare of the shot and the next files in order are to advance into the Front after the same manner and performe the same service by this meanes continuall fire shall be given upon the enemy whilst this skirmish is in action Let there be drawne out certaine Pikes and Musketiers into the best inclosed fields either on one or both sides of the way where they may secure themselves from the enemies horse and there charge the enemy on the flancks or at least keepe them from charging your owne troopes that are in skirmish to maintaine the passage view the figure following in the next page The figure of the Battell Front Left flancke Right flanke Reare In this figure the Character p shewes how the Pikes are plac't their Fronts being doubled the other represents the Musketiers as you may perceive them marching up the right flancke and so plac't under the Pikes in the Front ready to give fire upon the enemy you may likewise perceive certaine shot drawne out into two closes upon each side of the high way whose duty is to give fire upon the enemies flancks as they are charching the Front of the Battell or if the enemy should draw out any forces to charge your Flancks then these shot having Pikes to joyne with them shall be able to encounter with them and prevent them Thus I hope I have collected sufficient instructions which may give any reasonable man satisfaction concerning the ordering of their March only if you please I will referre you to divers Modernâ— Authors which have write of this subject viz. Ierosme Cattamo pag. 133. Machiavill pag. 67. Bellay pag. 151. Barrit pag. 132. Edmonds pag. 39. Garrits Arte of Warre pag. 245. In the next place we are to discourse of the incamping of an Army and how to order the Guards and the Intrenchments Thus ends the sixteenth Section RVLES TO BE OBSERVED IN QVARTERING OR INCAMPING AN ARMY SECT XVII CHAP. IIII. How a Generall is to quarter his Army with the election of places of greatest security what Redoubts are to be raised
Divers Rules and Observations to be used after a Battell is either wonne or lost HAving in the precedent Chapter discourst of such things as are requisite to be done in the time of Skirmish in this Chapter I shal demonstrate what is to be done after a Conquest either gained or lost Wherefore the first thing to bee considered is how a General shal demean himself so that the Forces which are left may not be quite destroyed and so the overthrow to redound to his utter confusion Wherfore a General must order his affaires so that his enemies should not follow his men to overtake them in their flight from the Battell and for this purpose he must use some policy to hinder them as Sertorius practised Metellus having vanquisht his Army and knowing it was to no purpose for him to flie commanded his Officers to retire unto divers places as scatteringly and disperst as possibly they could knowing that the enemy would not make pursuit after such disbanded persons but rather such as went by Troops and having first advertised them where every man should come to his Rendevous and meet again this was the means of saving most of his men but if they should be pursued then every man must cast such treasure as he hath in the way as they flie that the enemy may stay to get it up King Mithridates made use of this policy to escape from Lucullus Likewise Frotho King of the Danes being landed in England deceived the Natives that pursued him they being laded with the Danish goods and jewels and scattered about here and there to gather them up were set upon again by the Danes with some of their forces they had rallyed together and vanquisht the English at their pleasure Many that have been overthrown in Battell by reason of Woods and other secure places have saved themselves and being come together have secretly returned in the night and charged the enemy who hath thought himselfe secure and have taken them so disorderly that they have routed them If the Conquerour have taken many prisoners and the vanquished should rally his forces againe thinking to have an advantage to assault the Conquerour then there is no way but every souldier must kill his prisoner lest they should take an opportunity to resist If a Battell should be fought and neither side be utterly vanquisht but the darknesse of the night cause them to give over the best way for him that hath lost most men in the fight to cause some of his Souldiers to steale away the bodies of their owne slaine men and privately bury them so that the enemy shall conceive that he had the worst of the fight in regard he sees most of his men slaine this will make him loth to encounter againe The victour after he hath discomfited his enemies army and scattered them about ought to send a sufficient number of Horse and Foot to lye upon some passages secretly in the night-time which leads to some Town or Fort of theirs of greatest strength and neerest at hand where they shall bee sure to entrap all such as shall seek by flight to save themselves Likewise when a Generall sees there is no way but to be routed let him send speedily certain Troops of Horse and Foot to the next straight passage which may so provide for themselves that they may defend the passage so as divers of their own souldiers may safely escape for an enemy will not divide his Army to weaken it to follow the chase of the subdued enemy much lesse to seek to gain a passage which is fortified to hinder their escapes for he that with disorder followeth the enemy after he is broken will doe no other than to become of a Conquerour a Loser Many things more you may expect should have been here inserted but I have been plentifull in setting down divers observations most proper to these Discourses in the Office of a Generall and in the Discourse of Marching and Retraiting from an enemy In the next place I shall endeavour to portray to your view sundry forms of Imbattellings which have been and now are in use and some newly invented with a demonstration of the manner of framing them and the true use of them THE MANNER OF FRAMING OF BATTELS SECT XXII CHAP. XI An excellent strong forme of imbattelling an Army consisting of twenty six thousand Foot and foure thousand Horse THE following Figure hath before the Front of the Battell foure Divisions marked A. which are termed Forlorn Hopes viz. one Division before the Front of the right Wing and the other before the Front of the left Wing of the main Battell In each of these Divisions of Forlorn Hopes are foure hundred and fiftie Souldiers Pikes and Musketires There are also two other Divisions of Forlorn Hopes plac'd in the midst before the Front of the main Battell containing likewise four hundred and fifty in each of them these Forlorn Hopes are advanc'd before the main Battell an hundred paces or as much more as the Generall pleaseth These are first to make loose skirmishes with the enemy to draw them within distance of the Ordnance they are gently and orderly to retrait the two Divisions of Forlorn Hopes next each Flank are to fall back and joyn with the same The two Forlorn Hopes in the midst are to fall back into the space in the midst of the main Battell But first the Ordnance after they have performed their duties are to bee drawn back through this broad distance or space and are to be plac'd before the Front of the Battell of succour The Forlorn Hopes are to have certain Troops of Carbines to be flankered twenty two paces or more side-waies from them viz. on either Wing two hundred and fiftie marked B. these are to make light skirmishes with the enemies Horse and likewise to view what advantages may be taken by the ill ordering of the enemies Array Before the Front of the main Battell are planted divers Field-Peeces marked C. there are two others on each side of the Forlorn Hopes marked D. these are to scowre the distances betwixt the Divisions A A. Likewise wide upon each Flank are planted divers Ordnance marked E. these are to have a sufficient Guard both of Horse and Foot and are to command and scowre the Plaines within distance of their Shot These are likewise to be drawn back upon the enemies approaching and to be plac'd at the point of the Flank of each Wing of the main Battell ten or twelve paces wide The main Battell consists often Maniples or Battalia's marked F. viz. five towards the right Flank and five towards the left In the midst is a broad space or distance of ground containing forty two paces for the Artilery to bee drawn to and fro as also for the two middle Divisions of the Forlorne Hopes to retrait through for their safety behind the main Battell Likewise through this distance or space divers loose Shot may sally out and give