man falleth behind his right hand man the rest of the ranks follow all the ranks do the same falling behind their right hand man making one file of the whole company 27. Ranks file to the left Every left hand man stands fast the rest fall behind one another to the left hand and so are converted into one file The use Thus you give a strong charge upon the wing by facing to any hand this serveth also for a narrow passage to do this let the ranks be in open order and the files in close order 28. Ranks turn to the right The right hand man turneth in the same ground he stands not moving forth of the same the rest of the same rank turneth all together and become all above him the left hand man being uppermost all the ranks do this 29. Ranks turn to the left The left hand man turneth in the same ground he stands in the rest become all above him the right hand man being uppermost all the ranks do this The use By this you may give a charge by either Wing very easily Note To perform this easily and shortly let the Files be in their close order and the Ranks in such open order as shall be requisit according to the number of men in Rank 30 Ranks and Files turn to the right the great turn This word of command is spoken to the whole body know that the right hand man moveth not but a little and slowly the left wing somewhat faster but all the whole body together till such time as the left wing be brought about and then halt their faces being all one way 31. The great turn to the left Then the left hand man moveth but little and slowly all the rest of the body turn together the right wing being brought to the left 32 The great turn right about to the reare The right hand man moveth but little and slowly as it is said before untill his face be at the reare then standeth 33. The great turn left about to the reare The like doth the left hand man as the right did before untill all be turned The use Thus the Front is brought to either of the Wings or to the Reare being strongest and best Armed Note For turning of this great turn the whole body must be at their close order both in ranks and files 34. Reare division half files sixt rank or middle men double the front to the right These four words of command tend all to one purpose Therefore I say reare division double the front to the right the Leaders of this division are according to the deepness the just half of the number and they pass up every man of the rank by the right hand of his Leader untill they have all done and then stand in the Front or first rank the next rank followeth and standeth in the second rank and so the rest till all have done it 35. Reare division double the Front to the left The Leaders of this division or first rank of it passeth up upon the left hand of their Leaders unto the front or first rank of the front and so consequently all the rest untill all be doubled The Use There is a speciall use of this motion for by this the same order in distance of ranks is still observed which cannot be in doubling of ranks The second Use Again they bring sufficient men into the Front and Reare The third use Thirdly it maketh the Company to show fair upon a March thorow a City or place of note for faces to any hand being thus doubled and then March and you shall be bravely winged 36. Reare division double the front to the right and left by division The reare division divide themselves the one half of them face to the right hand the other half face to the left hand then march out both to the wing of the Company then face again to the right and left then march up to the Front and stand there The Use Thus the front is doubled on either wing and the same distance between files and ranks still observed 37. Reare division double the front to the right Enteare The reare division face to the right hand altogether then march forth then face to the left hand and march up to the Front joyning rank by rank and there stand 38. Reare division double the Front to the left Enteare The reare division face to the left and then pass out then face to the right and march up to the Front joyning rank by rank to the wing and stand The Use Thus the Front is enlarged by such wing as the Commander thinks fit and shall be most usefull 39. Bringers up double the Front to the right The last rank as formerly is shown are Bringers up who pass thorow the body by the right hand to the front and there stand the second to the reare follow the Bringers up and stand in the second rank to the Front and so they rest till they have all done it 40. Bringers up double the Front to the left The last rank passeth up by their leaders left hand to the first rank and there stand the second rank to the reare follow and stand in the second rank to the Front all the ranks do the like untill they have all done it The Use This is another manner of doubling the Front and not the worst for by this there is sufficient men brought to the Front to the strengthening of the same By this word of Command you may alter the Front and bring the reare to the front by causing the reare or last rank which are bringers up to pass thorow the Company the rest of the ranks following them 41. Ranks file by inversion After this manner the whole body standing in open order especiall in ranks one half of the ranks fall into the right file the other half into the left hand file becoming two files only wherein you must note that the two uttermost files which are called the right and left hand files they stand fast the rest of the files invert to them The Use This serves for the avoiding of Cannon-Shot upon the main body or for a guard for some great Commander to pass thorow it is used also at the lodging of the Handsign 42. To your first order or as you were These words are words which bring the Company to their first Station or Order after every motion foresaid we say either to your first order or else as you were which tends both to one use But because I use this first word in my own practise I would wish all those that useth this book to follow it so that there be no diversity To your first order This word of Command is often used to perfect the body after doubling of ranks or files when the reare division hath doubled the Front or Bringers up have doubled the Front after ranks turning the great turn ranks fileing either by conversion or inversion and at other
times to bring them to their first form The Use The use of this is so necessary that when the Company cannot understand by any other word of Command they can more easily fall to their first order There be divers other words of Command generally to be observed by the whole Company in time of service or upon any suddain assault to cause face to any hand or charge to any hand The company standing in battell orderly both in ranks and files and true distance in both the words of exercising are these viz. Faces to the right To your first order Faces to the left To your first order Faces right about to the Reare To your first order Faces left about to the Reare To your first order PRESENTING Present to the right To your first order Present to the left To your first order Present right about to the reare To your first order Present left about to the reare To your first order Faces to the right and left by division To your first order Faces to the front and reare by division To your first order PRESENTING Present to the right and left by division To your first order Present to the front and reare by division To your first order There is divers sorts of Exercising of Musquetiers by themselves apart which cannot well be set down but in action The first is to winn ground upon the Enemy The second is to lose ground or making a Retreat and yet offend the Enemy The third is in Marching by the Enemy and dischargeing upon them by Files as they March The fourth sort is by dividing the front and reare by divisions six foot distance and marching away by the Enemy and discharging upon them half Files the first half File marching through the division from the right to the left the second half File discharging upon the Enemy and falling by the Reare or last Rank unto the left half File The fift Sort is by dividing the right and left division six foot distance one from another the first half Ranks discharging upon the Enemy and falling off from the right hand to the Reare the one half rank falleth off by the right division to the Reare the left division falleth down through between the divisions upon the right hand unto the reare For brevities sake I will omit most kinds of frams and motions and also because many of them are hindrances to the young Souldiers mind I will only present you with some few which you shall find at the end of the Book We shall now discourse of the Heads and Officers in an Army The Generall The highest Office of all is that of a General who as he is above the rest in Authority and Power so ought he not only to know perfectly the Duties of every Officer but also to excell them all in Religion Wisdom Experience Pollicy Gravety Secrecy Councel Modesty Temperance Vallor Magnanimity Vigelancy rare Constance Liberality and Resolution with all other good parts infident to a perfect Man of War and how much all these good parts and many more ought to be in this Personage elected to this high and carefull Dignity you may easily conceive and gather because he is set over the rest to the end that he being their Chieftain and Head may not only know how to govern them both in actions but also in his virtuous Life and cariage be a Pattern Light and Lanthorn unto the whole number of the Companies to imatate for it is an old Proverb Like Master like Man like General like Officers and followers for commonly a wise valiant and virtuous Generall will choose wise valient and virtuous Captains and Officers good and virtuous Captains will as neer as they can choose good honest sober and virtuous Officers under them entertain their Souldiers with good and fair speeches to Command with all alurements to bring them to the due form of Martial Discipline The Crowner The Crowners place and Office is to be Commander over the Captains and all other inferior Officers of his Regiment having Jurisdiction and Dominion over them all whereby may be inferred and gathered the parts and qualities which ought to be in him and the great skill and experience in War as one who ought to exceed them all for to know how to Command Rule and Govern them with Prudence and Vallour and for as much as in many occurants and occasions growing and presented in War he should know to perform the parts and Office of a Generall being alone with the Companies of his own Regiment as when his Generall Commands him to the Battery or Seige of Port or City or to defend any Fort or Town or to War in any open Campania to give Battle to the Enemy to make Incursions to retire and withdraw Skirmishers to frame Briges over Rivers to fortify himself in Camp to conduct Artillery and many other peices of service to be performed in him he is greatly to respect and honour his Generall Obeying and Performing his commands and Orders with great care and diligence as he would be Obayed himself and Reverenced by his Captains and other Officers of his Regiment The Sergeant Major His Office is to be the generall Minister or Officer of a whole Regiment of Sundry Companies and super intendant of all the Serjeants of the same by whose hand and Industry the Crowner doth give the orders convenient to the due government of his Regiment as in Marching Incamping Inbattalleing and in such other matters concerning hereunto whereby may be gathered the parts the qualities the vallour the great skill experience and great diligence which ought to be in him who is chosen to this degree of Office being of such importance the Serjeant Majors Office is of much higher degree then any ordinary Captain for every Captain do receive his directions from the Serjent Major and the Serjeant Major from the Crowner or General if he be in place the ordinary place where the Crowner Marcheth is in the Van-Guard and so the Serjant Major being his Officer by whom he sendeth his Commands unto the Captains Lievtenants Handsigns and Serjeants and other Officers ought alwaies to be neer unto his Person for the Serjant Major is guide of the Battail A Captain A Captain should consider that he hath the charge of mens lives commited to his hands over the which he should watch least any of them be lost under his Conduct either by rashness or want of knowledge which should be more easily performed if skilfull and sufficient men were chosen to bare Rule and such as either had passed or at least did understand the degrees of all the inferior Officers whereby he may be able to discharge a place of such importance that he may presently redress any thing amiss and give Instructions and Orders upon every new accident either in Marching Encamping or Fighting what the said Officers have to do for no man is able to teach that which he hath not himself before learned for if he
of five in rank they are doubled and become ten in rank 4. Ranks double to the left Doubling of ranks to the left every second rank moveth passing up by their leaders left hand and so stand in the rank with them beginning at the front first and so take it one from another Note that in doubling to any hand in going to your first order that you fall out with the contrary foot The use Thus you strengthen your Front 5. Files close Being in open order the word is Files close without naming to any hand which is thus performed the two middle leaders close first the one to the right the other to the left till they are in the distance commanded the rest of the company to take their distance from them on either Wing closing to the middle leaders 6. Files close to the right The right hand file moveth not but standeth fast all the rest close to the right file taking their distance one from another from the right hand 7. Files close to the left Files closing to the left then the left file stands fast the rest of the files close and take their distance from the left hand There is great use in closing of Files for many causes 8. Files close to the right and left by division Files closing to the right and left by division the one half of the Files close to the right files the other half to the left files leaving a space between which is done upon some special use best known to the Commander 9. Files open Being in close order the word is files open not naming to whether hand and is thus to be done the middle leaders press upon their wingers first taking the distance commanded having then opened both wayes the rest of the Company on both wings take their distance from them 10. Files open to the right The left is not to move but standeth fast the next to the left first taketh the distance pressing upon the right untill the distance commanded be obtained the rest of the files do the like pressing upon their right still opening by the right untill they have all done it 11. Files open to the left The right standeth fast the rest open to the left still pressing upon their left untill they are all in distance commanded This word of command is ever given to that hand where there is most ground or fittest ground for conveniency 12. Ranks close from the Front to the Reare After this manner the reare or last rank moveth not but standeth fast the rest of the ranks fall back to the reare 13. Ranks close from the Reare to the Front To do this the first rank moveth not but standeth fast all the rest of the ranks close up taking their distance commanded rank after rank from the Front or first rank the second rank to the Front beginning first the rest consequently one after another till all have done it 14. Ranks open from the Front to the Reare The first rank moveth not the rest of the ranks fall back till they have gained the ground to the distance commanded then stand the second rank taketh the distance first the rest in like manner one from another untill they have all effected it 15. Ranks open from the Reare to the Front Which is thus done all the body advanceth foreward the last rank only standeth fast the second to the last taketh the distance first then the rest advancing foreward till they have done it 16. Files and ranks close The whole body being at open order the word is files and ranks close to do the which your middle leaders of files close first the rest of the files close to them the ranks close all up to the Front or the first rank to such distance as is commanded 17. Files and Ranks open The whole body being close in rank and file the word is files and ranks open after this mannet the middle leaders of files open and take the distance first the rest of the files on either wing from them the ranks fal back the second to the front taketh the distance first the rest in like manner from the front to the reare backwards 18. Files countermarch and maintain ground To countermarch and maintain ground the leaders of every file having turned to the hand directed which is specially to be observed pass thorow the company their followers match up to the leaders ground making the same good then turn and pass thorow the company after their leaders till they have all done the same 19. Countermarch and lose ground To countermarch and lose ground the leaders of every file turn to the hand directed passing thorow the company the followers move not till their leaders are passed by them then they turn and pass after their leaders the ranks do the same one after another not moving till their leaders are passed by them then they turn in the same ground By countermatch the reare may become the front in the same ground that the front stood in having brought them up and face about Note The files must be in their open order when they countermarch 20. Ranks countermarch from the right to the left The right hand man passeth between the first and second rank all the rest of the same rank follow the right hand man of the second rank passeth between the second and third ranks passing to the left wing the rest of the rank follow him all the rest of the ranks do the like bringing the right to the left 21. Ranks countermarch from the left to the right The left hand man of every rank turneth first passing to the right all the rank followeth him the rest of the ranks do the like so bringing the left wing to the right This is done upon some politick respect of the Commander to change the wing doubting the courage of the one by the other or otherwayes best known to the Commander 22. Files rank 3.5.7 or 9. The right hand first executes the same advancing foreward and fall in rank to such number as shall bee joyned the next doth the like advancing foreward fall in ranke after the former file the rest of the files keep the same form and order untill they are all ranked 23. Files rank 3.5 or 7. The left file first advanceth falling in rank the rest of the files observe the like form till the words of command be fully executed 24. Ranks rank 4.6 or 8. The first rank executeth the same beginning at the right hand man the first rank having ended the right hand man of the second rank beginneth the rest of the ranks do the like till all have done it 25. Ranks rank 2.4 or 6. The left hand man first beginneth here the rest of the ranks joyn with him making so many in rank as shall be commanded every rank passing up till they have all done it 26. Ranks file to the right The right hand man of every rank stirreth not but the next to the right hand