into the field there causing them to run to leape to iumpe to wrastle to throw the sledge to pitch the barre and such like exercises and sometimes also to learne to swim as a qualitie very befitting a souldier Moreouer they did many times cause their souldiers as well foote as horse to march armed at all points euen as it were to serue against their enemie once or twise in a moneth euery man carrying his owne prouision and victuals and giuing and receiuing the charge euen as in hostile fight and this did they for the space of ten miles fiue out and fiue home Thus with these exercises they brought their people to be able quicke and ready to serue vpon all occasions and did more good seruice with twentie thousand of such so trained and practised then with thirtie or fortie thousand of raw and vntrained men But to haue a souldier to be very perfect and a good executioner indeede it is needfull to haue bin in some good peeces of seruice to haue seene men to fall on both sides which doth flesh harden a souldier very much Finally the good Picquier ought to learne to tosse his pike well with the due handling of the same and to be skilfull therein sith it is the weapon he professeth for 100 of ready pikemen are better then 200 that know not the vse of the weapon Now the halbarders ought to be fully armed with a corslet as is the Picquier but in marching he is alwayes to beare the same on the right shoulder holding the lower end thereof with his right hand almost close to his right thigh and knee Gent. You haue well discoursed touching the caryage and handling of the calliuer musket pike and halbard But now I pray what meane you by doubling your ranke and file Capt. By ranke I meane euery row or order of men standing shoulder by shoulder either in march or squadron reaching a long from the one side of the squadron vnto the other And by file I vnderstand all the line order or row of all the souldiers standing consequently one after another from front to the traine either in march or squadron Now the doubling of ranke or file is thus First suppose your company to be of 100 pikes as for the shot we will speake of hereafter and you would bring them into a iust square of men first search out the Cubike roote of your number and it is 10 then after the first order you shall cause them by the sound of the drum to embattell to march vp in single files at 10 men in euery file the head man of euery 10 to be a Caporal or Cabo de Camera and as the first 10 is come vp vnto the place where you meane to frame your squadrō cause them to make Alto then cal vp the second file at 10 per file causing them to march vp close pouldron to pouldron of the first tē and there to firme stand then the third file then the fourth and so consequently the rest vntill your squadron be formed your ensigne marching vp in the middle file as in this figure may appeare Here you see them drawne vp in single files at 10 men in euery file and so your squadron is framed 10 files and 10 rankes or 10 in flanke and 10 in front An other order is thus you may march them vp in 2 3 4 or 5 files at once and 10 rankes for the number euen or od importeth nothing if at 2 files at once then are they marched vp and framed at fiue commings vp if at 3 files at once then at three marchings vp at 3 files per Maniple which make 9 files and 1 single file at 10 men per file which maketh your iust square of men Now if you will march them vp by 4 files at once they are 2 marchings or Maniples at 4 files 10 rankes and one Maniple at 2 files per Maniple and so againe is your squadron formed And againe if you would march them vp by 5 files at once and 10 rankes they come vp in 2 Maniples and so is your squadron iustly framed Your squadron being thus framed set at 10 rankes 10 files thē to double the rankes you shall cause vpon an other sound of the drum those of the second ranke to step in betwixt them of the first ranke beginning either vpon the left or right hand first as you will and the 4 ranke to double the 3 and againe the 6 ranke to double the 5 and the 8 ranke to double the 7 and finally the 10 to double the 9 so shall your battell or squadron come to be 20 in breadth and 5 in length or depth or 20 files and 5 rankes which is in forme of a battell of double front as by these figures appeareth Here you see the rankes doubled into 20 files and 5 rankes Then cause them vpon another sound of the drumme to fall of or backe againe into their former places and so to double againe vpon the other hand and fall off againe Now to double the file cause the second file to double the first either vpon the left or right hand as it shall please you to begin and the fourth file to double the third and the sixt the fift and the eight the seuenth and the tenth file to double the ninth as in these figures following may appeare And here you may see the file doubled reduced into fiue files at 20 men per file vpon the right hand the like you shal cause them to do vpon the left hand hauing first caused them to fall off from their file bringing them into their former square againe Then shall you go vnto the traine of your battell or squadron and vpon another sound of the drumme you shall command all your souldiers to turne their faces vpon a sudden towards you then causing them to double both ranke file that way as you did the other way before thus with a litle paines taking and practise you shall soone bring your souldiers to be ready and skilfull in these alterations of formes and many more The like may be done with any other greater numbers either in battels or battallion or by making the front of any flanke Gent. But to what end serueth all this Capt. Marie to many good purposes For the first order of doubling the ranks besides the readinesse it breedeth in the souldiers doth serue to alter vpon a sudden your grand square of men into a square of ground or into a battell of double front and to many other purposes in framing of many small battallions one grand square And againe the second order in doubling of the files doth serue to many such other purposes as if vpon a sudden your foot enemy shall come to charge you vpon the flanke then by doubling their files and suddenly turning their faces vpon the enemie they shall make of flanke
your owne squadrons vpon their retrait as in folio 72 is described Gent. What quantitie of ground shall these battels and battallions require Capt. I haue sayd before that vnto euery picquier at the time of ioyning the charge is to be allowed for his station in front or breadth that is from shoulder to shoulder at the least 3 foote and for depth that is for before and after 7 foote at the least for his owne station and for the vse of this weapon And the voide spaces betwixt the battallions are to containe in breadth as much as do the battallions of the second front within the which they are to aduance and passe so is it easily to be calculated what quantity of ground such order of battels and battallions will require Moreouer it must be considered that there must be a conuenient space of ground remaine betweene the traine of the first order of battallions and the front of the second order and in like sort from the traine of the second order vnto the front of the third◠order as some 20 or 25 pases betwixt each or such as the ground will permit or occasion require Gent. What place is the generall and other chiefe commanders to keepe in these orders of fightes or are they to be on horsebacke or on foote Capt. The Lord generall is to be well mounted and the Campe-Maister Generall and Sergeant Maior Generall are to bee mounted on good geldings Andadoras and not Corradoras Whereby they may speedily passe from place to place especially the Campe-maister and Sergeant Maior generall to execute the Lord Generals commands to keepe the squadrons in order and to redresse the disordered as in such occurrants shall be requisite The Generall his place is commonly in the space vpon the front of the second order of the battallions from whence he may most conueniently send his directions and orders to do the which besides the Campe-maister and Sergeant Maior Generall his Trumpet and chiefe Drummer he is to haue attendant vpon him certaine expert gentlemen both on horsebacke and on foote The Colonels of euery foote regiment are with their companies to serue on foote being arraunged to fight their due place is the right angle of the first ranke of their squadrōs their Lieutenants in the left angle of the same ranks the Captaines and other inferiour officers in ranke also as their place requireth as more at large in their seuerall duties is declared But in case that a Colonell were in any peece of seruice with his regiment alone then is hee to employ the place and office of a Generall for the present seruice The Ensignes are to be placed in the centre or neare the center towards the formost rankes of euery battell or battallion and to stand in ranke also Finally of these 12000 pikes and short weapon there is reserued out about 1000 to serue to other purposes as to gard the artillery munition and impediments and such other peeces of seruice There is yet another order of deuiding an army into sundry small battallions or squadrons of one kind each squadron containing 100 pikes 10 in front and 10 deepe embattailed by single files of 10 men in euery file the order and manner whereof is in folio 38 42 43 particularly described Gent I pray how should a regiment or many or an army be martialled or embattailled after this maner Capt. If you wold haue all your army deuided into battallions or squadrons of that kind then are the Colonels of euery particular regiment to cause the companies of their regiment to embattel themselues vpon a sound of the drumme in such smal battallions or squadrons of 100 pikes in euery squadron 10 in front and 10 deepe as in folio 38 39 and 4 may appeare And suppose that the 24000 footmen were reparted into 20 regiments after 1200 into euery regiment of the which 1200 men there is 600 picquiers those 600 picquiers are to be embattailed into 6 small squadrons of 100 in each squadron at 10 in front and 10 deepe Being thus embattailed into sundry small squadrons of one kind they may with great facility be brought into any proportion you will as by these figures following may appeare Where you see embattailed the picquiers of three regiments seueral into their smal squadrons of 100 in each squadron at 10 in front and 10 deepe all in one front In the first figure you may behold 3 regiments embattailed into 18 small squadrons in the second figure behold the same reduced into a battell of double front or into a due square of ground which is twice so many men in front as in flanke and in the 3 figure you may see the said 3 regiments brought into a iust square of men that is as many men in breadth as in depth the order whereof is thus The first regiment being embattailed into 6 small squadrons and placed in one equall front the second regiment being embattailed in the like maner is to march vp vnto the traine of the first 6 squadrons there ioyning squadron with squadron and answering file with file After them againe is the other last 6 squadrons to march vp vnto the traine of those 6 middle squadrons and placed euen squadron with squadron and file with file so that of these three regiments there is made one body of a battell of broade front or due square of ground which is twice so many men in breadth as in depth as by the second figure may appeare Finally if you shold be occasioned to reduce the said three regiments into one grand battell of equall proportion or due square of men then place 4 of these small squadrons in one front on whose traine 4 other squadrons are to march vp and then againe 4 others and lastly the last foure squadrons so that squadron with squadron and file with file may equally answere one another as in the third figure may appeare Where of 16 of these small squadrons is framed a battell in proportion of equality which is so many men in depth as in front and there remaineth out two small squadrons the which are to serue to other purposes either for a supplie or to other seruices Thus haue you seene these three regiments embattailed and brought into sundry proportions Likewise in the same maner may a whole army be ranged and ordered by good conductors into sundry battallions and distinguished either into one two or three fronts as the iust occasions and the iudicious intendement of the good commander shall concurre and find conuenient Gent. By describing vnto vs these seuerall orders of reparting an army into sundry battallions squadrons ye haue contented vs wonderfull well it seemeth in mine opinion much aduantagious being discretly and orderly handled But how should the shot due vnto those regiments be placed and ordered Cap. The shot belonging vnto these regiments deuided into sundry battels battallions and squadrons should be reparted into
some most conuenient place together then and there to be instructed in the orders how to march how to encampe and how to fight deuiding them into so many parts or battaillions as vnto their chiefe Officer shall seeme good Gent. What course would you wish the Captaine of a single companie to obserue in the trayning of his souldiers Capt. First hauing his companie leauied and chosen of the better sort of people as is said let your rawe Captaine for so I terme those which neuer were in action prouide himselfe if possible he may of a good Lieutenant and a sufficient Sergeant and a skilfull Drummer Then let his people be suted with such sort of weapon as is appointed The which I would wish to be as I haue said before to euery hundred of men 25. muskets 25. Calliuers and 40. or more of pikes and corslets and the rest short weapon as halberds swordes and targets and such like Now hauing suted euery man with a conuenient weapon I would wish your Muster-maister if your Captaine haue not the skil for your Muster-master ought to be a man of experience first to declare vnto them the partes that ought to be in a souldier in generall as before is declared then to ensigne them the right carriage of their armes and weapon then to knowe the seuerall soundes of the Drumme next to learne to keepe his ranke and file orderly and so to march eyther swift or slowe step by step with the sound of the Drumme then how to keep their array being cast into a ring or any other forme with the comming out againe and returning into a counter-ring and out of the same into a march and counter-march then how to make their Alto or stand and how to double their rankes vntill they bring themselues into a iust square of men if their numbers will permit it and how to double their â—â—les eyther vpon the left or right hand and so to fall off againe both from file and ranke and being in squadron how to turne their faces on either or any part making front on any flank or traine as occasion shall be offered Then the perfect vse and managing of euerie weapon in his due nature and kind and so by a continuall vse they may by good instructers become soone to be ready souldiers Gent. Here be manie good parts vnder a few words but they are too briefe for me to vnderstand wherefore I pray dilate more at large thereof and first what meane you by the cariage of his weapon Cap. To discourse vpoÌ„ al these points particularly it wold be ouer long might better be shewed in act theÌ„ in words yet to satisfie you somewhat herein I will speak of the particulars here there as I shal be occasioned shal cal theÌ„ to memory First therfore the soldier that is appointed to cary a calliuer is first to be ensigned how to cary his peece vpon his left shoulder with his flaske at his girdle or haÌ„ging by at Port-flask or Flask-leather vpoÌ„ the right thigh vpoÌ„ the left side of his girdle to haue his touchboxe fastened by the string hanging downe somwhat long by the strings sufficient to be taken and to prime his peece with touch-powder and on his right side a Bullet bagge or purse of canuas or leather for bullets Also some three or foure yards of match in seuerall peeces hanging at his girdle with one peece of match of a yard long in his left hand holden fast by the third finger of the same hand hauing the one or both the endes of the same lighted or fired Also to be prouided of a priming iron or wyer of a steele and flint stone to strike fire vpon any suddaine occasion either to spare the burning of match or to fire their matches if the same do chance to go out Then how to charge his peece either with his flask or bandelier theÌ„ to let slip the bullet down into the barrell after the powder and to ramme the same with paper tow or such like thrusting the same downe with the scouring stick if time will permit or else a more readier way thus After that the bullet is slipped downe vnto the powder to put after the same some two or three cornes of powder which will wedge fast the bullet This being done let him hold his Calliuer with his left hand as in his charging hee ought to do the like griping the same by the stocke somewhat neare vnder the cock betwixt his thombe and foure fingers then holding the nose of his peece somwhat vpward for not to endaÌ„ger his fellows to take the one end of his lighted match with his forefinger midle finger thoÌ„be of his right haÌ„d so to cock the same hauing a regard that it may fall due within the pan finally if it be a crooked stock peece to set the same vnto the left side of his breast retiring his right foot some halfe step behind the left or aduancing the left foot some halfe pace before the right and so to take his due leuel holding the hindermost part of the stocke betwixt the thombe and fore-finger of his right hand with the other three fingers to draw to the serre so to discharge his peece with agility hauing done the which to retire souldier-like and charge againe giuing place to his next fellow or seconder But being a straight stocked peece the which I hold for the better he is to place the same vpon the right side of his breast fast against his shoulder leuelling and discharging as aforesaid And for other armes he is to be fitted with a short sword and meane dagger and a Spanish morion Now the musketier is to cary his musket vpon his left or right shoulder for it importeth not much on whether so they obserue the order of the first rancke with his Forke or rest in his left hand fastned about his hand wrest or little finger by a string hauing his flask and touchbox fitted as before is sayd or hauing a bandalier the same to be ouer the left shoulder and vnder the right arme Now to charge the same he must hold his musket with his left hand hauing his rest trayling by the string and put the but end of the stocke vpon the ground then with his flaske or bandalier to charge his peece with powder slipping downe the bullet into the barrell after the same and to fasten it with two or three cornes of powder as is aforesayd then to clappe the musket into his forke planting the lower end or pike of the rest into the ground neare vnto his left foote and resting the but ende of the stocke vpon his left thigh then to prime his pan with touch powder And hauing his match ready as before is sayd to take the peece of match that hangeth by the midle or third finger of his left hand betwixt the thombe
and fore finger of his right hand and with his middle finger to measure at what length to cocke the same to fall with a proportioned length into the pan The which being done let him retire his right foote somwhat backe and stand firme vpon the same and holding fast both the musket and rest with his left hand to raise the but end of his musket from his thigh vnto his breast and to fasten the same firme and close vnto his right shoulder and brest holding fast the sayd hinder part of the stocke betwixt his right thombe and fore finger drawing downe the serre with the other three fingers and so taking due leuell to discharge Hauing performed the which let him vncocke his match clap his musket vpon his shoulder with a halfe turne and so retire trailing his rest or forke by the stringe and giuing place to others go charge again finally for other armes a reasonable short sword a meane dagger with no morion but a faire hat and feather Gent. Thus I perceiue your fiery shot haue many busie skils without knowledge of all the which it is hard to become a perfect shot Capt. True and therefore often to be practised But here let the muster-maister and trayning Captaine be well aduised not to suffer their shot to cary any bullet about them in time of their trainings and fained skirmishes for feare of danger that might thereby ensue among themselues But now and then after their training to take euery shot single and to see him charge his peece orderly with pouder and bullet as aforesaid and hauing a great but erected to that purpose the which ought to be in euery hundred or Baily-wicke to cause them to leuell and discharge at the blancke thereof orderly one after another encouraging those which do make the fairest shot Now for the Pike which the Spaniards do tearme SenÌ„ora y Reyna de las armas the Queene and mistresse of weapons The souldier which carieth the same is to bee well armed with a good corslet furnished with his gorget Morion tasses pouldrons vambraces and gauntlets also to be armed as he ought to be whatsoeuer opinion other men may hold to the contrary supposing a bare payre of Cuyrasses onely sufficient but I am of opinion that the armed Picquier ought to bee armed in all points as I haue said for defence and then to offend to be weaponed with a good Pike of ground Ashe of seuenteen or eighteen foote long at the least well and strongly headed with the cheekes three foote long or there about and for other weapon to weare a good short sword and dagger for the dagger is a weapon of great aduantage in Pell mell And if it be replied that the souldier so heauie armed is not for any great march or speedy execution I say that among well ordered Regiments there are also yet some vnarmed pikes that is without any corslet or at the most the bare cuyrats onely and morion the which the Italians do call Picche secche Now these are reserued imployed in such peeces of light seruice And the Picquier either armed or vnarmed is to be shewed and taught the carriage and vse of his pike as first to tertiar or carry the same orderly vpon his shoulder holding the same with his foure fingers vpon the vpper part of the staffe his thombe vnder the staffe neare vnto his shoulder basing downe the blunt end thereof to aduaunce the point and poizing the pike with an equall poize vpon his thombe and shoulder alwayes in march keeping the lower end of his pike on the one side of his foremans legge still aduertising that in march the pike is to be carried vpon the right shoulder of euery souldier throughout euery file sauing the vtmost file on the left side of the arrayes or ordinances which are to carry their pikes vpon their left shoulders onely alwayes regarding how those of the foremost rankes doe carry their weapon the rest to do the same throughout euery ranke and file following for order and forme do require the same Next hee is to be taught how to plant his pike on the ground at any stand or Alto then how to arbolare or aduaunce his pike that is to reare his pike vpright against his right shoulder and with his right hand stretched downe vnto his thigh to hold the same neare vnto the but-end betwixt his foure fingers and his thombe stretching his forefinger downeward vnto the but-end of his pike and so aduaunce the same vpright high against his right shoulder resting and staying the same with his right hand against his right thigh and knee as before is sayd Now this is to be done at such times as being brought into a Ring and serreyng close shoulder to shoulder then to aduaunce their piks in this sort at the enclosing thereof so to continue vntill they fall out of the ring againe into a larger march Also the same is vsed by some at their arriuing vnto the corps de guard at the setting of the watch before their chief Commander or officer euen as the first ranke shall arriue into the corps de guard some ten or twelue pases from the place of their stand to arbolare their pikes and so rancke after ranck carrying them in the same order vntill they come vnto their place of station there to make Alto and to plant their pikes vpon the ground as the squadron is formed But principally the souldiers marching in squadron and vpon point to come to the push of the pike with their foote enemy then are they first to aduaunce their pikes as is said bearing the same orderly with the right hand against the right thigh and the left hand aboue neare about the shoulder and so to charge vpon the left hand and push standing firme and sure vpon the left foote But if the squadron be charged with any troupes of the enemies horse then must the Picquiers cowch their pikes fast vnder the right foote holding the same 〈…〉 the left hand and bow downe the point thereof against the breast of the horâ—e hauing his right hand ready to draw his sword if occasion shall be offered Now how necessary and auayleable this continuall vse and practise is may easily be gathered from the sundry victories of the auncient Romanes Who both in their Campes and Garrisons had their Tesserarios which were as our Sergeant Maiors to ensigne and teach their people of warre the vse and managing of their armes at all idle and vacant times The old souldier sometimes once in a day and the Tirones which we terme Bisognios or new souldiers twise in the day or as occasion serued so were their people alwayes ready and perfect And againe they did not onely practise them in the knowledge of their weapons but many times also did conduct their Companies for their recreation
the front and so bee ready with double hands either to receiue or giue the charge For those battels of square of ground or battels of double fronts do bring many hands to fight at once being verie aduantagious for footmen against footmen as reason and experience proueth and sheweth And againe if you draw or diuide your battell or battallions into maniples to march through straights or narrow passages this order of doubling the files is verie ready and auaileable as thus If your battel or squadron be of 5184 pikes whose square roote is 72 now your passage will permit but 8 men to march in front then must you diuide your square root 72 by 8 so commeth it to be 9 maniples of 8 men in rank or breadth And say yet againe that the straight or passage doth fall yet more narrow or straighten lesse then to containe 8 men in front thē cause euery maniple at the verie entring of the straight to double their files and so of 8 you shall make 4 files per maniple the which being shouldred vp close together will containe no more roome in breadth then the 8 did before And hauing passed the straight cause them to fall into their former proportion and so maniple after maniple in passing the straight Gen. But if the squadron or maniple were of od nūbers it wold not so fal out Capt. That importeth not for the od file or rank which resteth vndoubled may in passing of the straight close vp shoulder to shoulder vnto the rest obseruing their proper stations in files and if the passage will not permit that then to fall backe after the traine of their maniple hauing passed the straight to sleeue vp in file pouldron to pouldron of their fellowes and so to fall into their former proportion The like of any other od numbers may be done with very great facility Now for as much as I entend to frame both figures and tables of sundry sorts of battels and battallions in our discourse following I will at this instant bee the more briefe supposing this at this present to suffice For he which conceiueth and vnderstandeth this well may do the like with any other numbers great or small Gent. And what course do you appoint the shot belonging to those numbers of pikes to obserue in these alterations of proportion Capt. The shot appertaining vnto euerie such number may be practised in the like or semblable sort either alone by themselues or placed in two grand sleeues along by the flanks of their squadron or battallions As for example If vnto the former number of 100 pikes there were proportioned suted 100 shot calliuer and musket these would I draw out into 5 per rank which would make 20 ranks Those 20 ranks would I cut off or deuide in the middest so should I haue 10 ranks for to sleeue the one flanke of the battallion and 10 ranks for the other flanke at 5 men per ranke or 5 files in euery ranke which is all one These 2 sleeues being placed may be doubled with the pikes by ranke or file for practise sake only But if you were engaged to fight with the enemie I would wish all great sleeues of shot to be deuided into many small troupes the one still to second another as hereafter shall be declared shewed And lo here another order the 2 grand sleeues being al musketiers as the battell or battalliō doth aduance march on toward the enemy comming once within reach of the musket then the first ranks of these sleeues of muskets many discharge in marching in this sort The first ranks stepping some two or three paces forward there those of the right sleeue to step one halfe pace toward the right hād those of the left sleeue one half pase toward the left hand hauing in the meane space made themselues ready and cocked their matches then with readinesse expedition all those of thē first ranks their muskets being vpon their rests or forks to discharge at once and keep their station charge againe permitting other rankes to proceed before them Then presently those of the second ranke to step vp iust before the first rank as the battell or battallion marcheth and so to discharge as their former fellowes had done before then the 3. rank before the 2. the 4. before the 3. and so all the other ranks consequently with this kind of double march and at the traine of the last rank those of the first to follow vp againe and so consequently the rest But if it chance their squadron of pikes to be distressed forced to retire they are to discharge at the enemy retiring backe vpon a countermarch as these figures following shal plainlie denote vnto you the maner and order The First Figure The second Figure with the Muskets discharging in marchings The third Figure vpon the retrait the shot discharging vpon a Counter-march There is yet another order of discharging of troupes of Muskets in vollie the which I haue seene vsed by the Italian and Spaniard thus Your Musketiers being deuided into sundrie troupes of 30 40 or 50 in a troupe the one to second the other then the two first troupes standing vpon the two angles of your squadron or battell may bee drawne vp by two officers by three foure or fiue at the most in a ranke and the said officers being at a sufficient distance to discharge shall cause the Musketiers to close somewhat neere shoulder to shoulder and so wheeling them about in figure of a halfe Moone shall at their due semi-circle or halfe compasse cause the Musketiers to make Alto and clapping their muskets on their rests close one by an others shoulder and each one hauing a care to his forefellowes they shall at one instant discharge altogether at one vollie vpon the enemy and so retire giuing place to other troupes the maner and forme whereof shall by these figures following appeare Troupes or squadras of muskets at 50. per troupe 5. in ranke Gent. Your calliuers or small shot would you haue them to discharge in these maners and orders before spoken of and figured Capt. No but I would with the calliuers or small shot to be deuided into sundry small troupes of 20 30 40 or 50 in a troupe and by their seuerall officers to be led vp and to skirmish in single file discharging readily one after another in file and so wheeling about vpon the left hand to retire giuing place vnto others to second them and to fall into their forme of troupe againe and then recharging aduisedly to be ready to come vp to second others as their turne commeth of which maner of small troupes shall often in our discourses following be denoted and shewed Now to conclude these orders of training I will set downe one point more to be obserued by one single company or two or three companies ioyntly comming into the Corps de
gard to their watch reseruing many other particular matters vntil I come to treat of the office of the Sergeant Maior where many Militarie points shall be at large discoursed You must note that euery single company marching training alone their pikes are first ranked by 3 4 5 6 or 7 or more in a rancke according to their number the number of euen or od in ranke importeth nothing as I sayd before hauing their ensigne and halbards contained within the center or middle ranke of their pikes Then the shot is to be ranked altogether with the like number of men in a ranke and then to cut them off or deuide them at the middle ranke leading the one halfe of them vnto the forefront of the pikes and there to place them in euen files with the pikes and the other halfe is to be brought vnto the traine of the pikes and there filed in like maner alwayes regarding to place the muskets of the first halfe of your shot in the formost rankes and those of the other halfe in the hindermost ranke Now thus marching on and comming to the place of Corps de gard the shot of the vantgard are to make Alto or stand then the pikes to march vp by them and the first ranke of pikes comming vnto the formost ranke of the shot to make Alto also and then the pikes to double their rankes as before is declared to bring themselues into squadron euen ranke for ranke with the shot This being done then the other shot of the rereward is to march vp vpō the other hand of the pikes ranke for ranke with the said square of pikes and so is your squadron or battallion formed as by these figures following may appeare where I suppose one or two companies together in march containing in all 100 pikes and halberds 100 shot they march on 5 per ranke the shot of the vantgard makes their stand then do the pikes march vp by them comming vnto their formost ranke of the shot do stand also and there double their rankes so are they 10 rankes and ten files lastly commeth vp the shot of the arereward garnisheth the other flanke euen ranke with ranke and so is the squadron framed and garnished with shot Thus me thinks that I haue sufficiently intreated of this order of training as for other sortes of imbattailing we will hereafter speake of as occasion shall be offered THE SECOND DIALOGVE VVherein is declared of quadrat battels both of men and ground opinions tocuhing the mingling of short weapons with the pikes and lyning of battells with the same confuted the framing of battels of pikes in three sorts the placing of shot about the batell with the places of the horse and artillery Gentleman TThen I pray passe to your other officers of warre Capt. There be many petie officers vsed amongst vs as Clarke of the band Drummer Forrage maister Scout maister Trench maister Quarter maister Caporals of the field such like of whom I will speake particularly nothing but including them vnder the charge of other superior officers of the which I will begin with the duty of a Sergeant Maior whose office is of such importance care industry and skill especially in day of battell that I must be constrained before I enter into the parts of his office to describe the orders of fights and battels most vsed in these our moderne wars as a thing most pertinent vnto the aforesaid officer touching the sundry formes of battels vsed by antiquity wherein in mine opinion the Romaines did most excell I will speake at this instant litle more then what is sayd before considering that ages times occurrents inuentions and customes haue altred and dayly doth what antiquity thought best and best assured The formes of battels in our time are not many yet euery man almost hath a seuerall opinion thereof but common reason and experience hath made most men confesse and agree that of all formes the square battell be it either of square of men or square of ground is the most assured most strong and most apt to bee reduced into any other forme Gent. What meane you by this word Battell Cap. By the word Battell I vnderstand in this place a whole vnited body of souldiers well disciplined all armed with pikes to fight in day of battell an act of armes with good hope of victory the which for more security hath the front the traine and the two flankes of complet corslets to the end that being assayled or charged they may make the face or front of any or euery side or part and valiantly receiue the charge and may also charge and breake the enemy and attaine the victory Now in this body I vnderstand neither the shot nor cauallery the which are to haue an other order to another end Gent. Are these battels framed in one sort onely or in more or in many or in how many or what maner I pray are they made Capt Your curious demand deserueth answer I tolde you before that many sorts of battels haue beene framed by valiant and expert Captaines but the best approued and most vsed now is the square battell be it either of men or ground Gent. I would gladly know the reason why they make their battels square and what is meant by square of men and square of ground Capt. Battels are made square so vsed for that they are apt to frame the Front of euery side or part which could not be if they were Triangles or of any other forme vsed by antiquitie And it doth much import that the Front be gaillard and strong for the front once broken the battell stands in hazard And againe to serrie or close Pouldron to Pouldron the square forme is best for that they close equallie together strengthen the front to the victorie And this shall suffice touching the Quadrat Now concerning the difference of square of men and square of ground I say that the square of men is when there be so many men in front as in flanke or so many in length as in breadth and this sort of battell commeth to bee in ground two times and one third more long then broade and a Quadrat of ground will bee of men two times and one third more broade then long Gent. In how many maners may these square battels be made Capt. Were the Companies all of pikes with corslets complet and not mixt with bare pikes which is not lightly to bee found the framing of any of these sorts of battels would be very ready and easie and might be soone brought into any proportion without confusion the which being of pikes armed and vnarmed will require more care labour and paines to the framing thereof Now therefore I say in three sorts or maners most auaileable and most commodiously are battels framed in these dayes consisting of armed and vnarmed pikes 1 The first manner is when an army doth march with the
moores meddowes fields open or enclosed forests woods thickets or whether the countrey be stony plaine field or ditched and all difference of situations of grounds as well of the hils and high mountaines as of the plaine and champain to the end that he may consider foresee preuent and prepare for euery place where the enemy may annoy him For many times one regiment is to march alone and then doth it touch the Sergeant Maior to haue the care and speculation hereof as it doth the Campe-Maister Generall when the whole army marcheth for that it befall him not as it did vnto the Romaines in the Furcas Caudinas and vnto many other through the like misregard And for more security hereof they are to procure faithful and trusty guides and skilful way leaders to the end not to be beguiled and abused as Hannibal was when he warred in Italy against the Romaines who willing to leade his army vnto Cassinum was led and guided vnto Casilinum to be put into the hands of Quintus Fabius Maximus Generall of the Romaines his enemies Now the order being knowne and the way reknowledged and the houre of remouing at hand he is to commaunde the drumme maior to sound the call Recoia or assembling and euery Captaine of infantery to cause their baggage to be trussed vp and laden and shall straight wayes draw foorth his ensignes out of their quarter into the place of armes and there shall frame his battell or squadron reparting their Captaines into such places as concerneth them that day and shall dispose and appoint the Sergeants of ordinary bandes in such sort that euery one may know what part he hath to gouerne and set in order And for as much as it is seldome seene that the wayes fieldes and passages be so large that the whole battell may march all in front he is to frame his ordinances arraies or Maniples no greater then that the same may march commodiously and at ease thorough the same the order whereof I haue at large declared in folio 62 67 68 and 92 alwayes prouided that he quarter or deuide not his battell if the passage will so permit into no lesse then the third part of the front thereof as thus if the front be of 27 pikes the Maniples or ordinance shall be of 9 and if 21 in front then the deuision or quartering shall be of 7 in front and so of other numbers for he is to conduct his companies so well disciplined and ordered that occasion being offered hee may with speede and readinesse frame and set his battell or battallions reparting the Captaines and officers in places most conuenient as before is sayd Gent. But tell vs how is he to repart them and who shall go in the vantgard which in the battell and who in the reareward and in what part shall the Colours be placed that this readinesse and quicke dispatch might be performed in setting the battell as you speake of Capt. The order I haue partly spoken of before but to giue you content I will repeate it againe therefore me thinkes that the order to be obserued therein is thus That the shot of the forlorne hope and the shot of the right flanke being deuided into many small troupes as I said should march before then next the girdling shot of the said right side after them should follow the ordinances and Maniples of pikes in such sort order as before is declared to the end that the ensignes go not crossed either in one sort or other he is to place them alone after another within so many rankes of pikes so that when soeuer he brings his Maniples vp together pouldron to pouldron to the framing of his battell they may still remaine in their conuenient places which is in the center Then after the pikes shall follow the girdling shot of the left flanke and last of all in the reareward shall follow the troupes of shot belonging to the left flanke and reareward and hauing passed the straight and the squadron formed then may they repaire each girdling shot and troupes to their due and conuenient roomes as before of which orders of Maniples and quartering of battels I haue before declared at large Gent. Is there any meaning or misterie in marching the left or right side shot before in the vantgard Capt. None truly that I know of more then that in all our actions we ought to incline what we can vnto perfection and as the right hand is the more perfect and noble from thence it is reason that wee begin to frame our battels and in that place also to begin to disseuer them Gent. The munition and baggage belonging to the Companies where are they to goe to cause least hinderance and to passe in most security Capt. The consideration that is to bee had when an army doth march is that if the enemy be knowne to be on head the vantgard vpon the way you are to passe then let the munition and baggage be placed in the reareward and per contra if the enemy be found to be in the reareward then passe your baggage to the forward and if on the right side then conuay it to the left and if on the left side then transport it vnto the right with the like consideration and in this sort shall the campe be alwayes a wall and defence vnto the munition and baggage And if in marching the enemy do offer to fight the munition by this meanes shall be no let or hinderance at all And besides all this there ought to be sent abroade certaine Hargulutiers or light horse to scoute before the munition and carriage to preuent the suddain incursions of the enemies stragling horse The same order ought also to be obserued in the marching of one regiment alone But in case that there were no enemy and they might march through places plaine safe and secure the munition and cariage ought alwayes to passe in the foreward with a sufficiēt gard of pikes shot and short weapons that for good respect because it is very commodious for the souldiers that when they come well wearied to their quarter they may find their tents ready pitched and many times their forrage prouided and not to stay attending and expecting the same comming many times wet dirtie ouer tired and halfe dead with hunger and again if by hap any of the cariages do fal the owners of the baggage may help to redresse wherby to saue their baggage and furniture which could not be done if it marched in the reareward Gent. But if it should happen that in none of these sayd parts the baggage might march in safety as in Barbarie or other Champaine countrey where the enemies number consisteth most of horse we not hauing sufficient numbers to answer them what is then to be done where the enemy may charge on euery side Cap. Then in the center of the battell or betwixt the squadrons with
Battallions reduced out of the battels of g. and squares of men vpon the right side of euery leafe The Table of Battels in proportion of equalitie 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 36 6 3 12 0 2 0 0 0   6 5 7 1 1 1 6 1   25 5 3 8 1 1      5 5 5 0 0      16 4 3 5 1 0      4 5 3 1 1 1 4 1   9 3 3 3 0       3 5 1 4 36 4     4 2 3 1 1       2 5 0 0       2 1 0         1 0         The whole number of armed pikes The quadrate or square roote Per ranke to march by Rankes how many Remaines of rankes Maniples or partes Remaines of pikes by ranke The whole ouer plus of remaines How many to march in rankes of remaine The rankes to impale by The number of shot that impale Here endeth the Tables of Battels in proportion of equalitie or the Battels of due square of men that is how many rankes so many men by ranke or how many rankes so many files Hereafter ensueth the Tables and figures of two fold Battels called broad squares or hearst Battels with the Battallions of that kinde IN these Tables ensuing I haue set downe the order and setting of sundry Battels in proportioÌ„ of inequalitie as 2 vnto 1 that is twise so many men in front as in flanke the which sort of Battels do come to coÌ„taine neare a iust square or quadrate of ground which the battels of proportioÌ„ of equalitie that is so many meÌ„ in flank as in front doe not for they containe in ground twise and more the quantitie of ground in flanke or length that they doe in front or breadth the reason and order thereof I haue in my 3. booke in fol. 45 46 c. 50 at large declared so coÌ„tinuing shewing therein rules Arithmeticall to set all such sortes of Battels their impalement with armed pikes and diuisions into Maniples here onely contenting my selfe with setting forth the figures and Tables of the sayd Battels in proportion of inequalitie and how they are to be ordered into ranks for marching into Maniples and girdling with shot as before in the Tables of squares of meÌ„ or Battels in proportion of equalitie is at large set downe and declared And also on the left side of euery leafe is set downe the said Battels or broad squares deuided into sundry battallions of that kinde as into 3 or 5 battallions the number of which battallions in each of them contained you shall finde euermore in the first Columne of euery leafe on the right side where you find the number of your battallions there shall you see betwixt two long rules in that distinction placed in the 2 Columne how euery battallion shall be set in front flanke which is the iust square roote of euery battallion Finally I haue here before you set downe first the figure of the sayd broad square of men or Battell in proportion of inequalitie as 2 vnto 1 which commeth to containe neare the iust quadrat of ground girdled round about with 7 rankes of shot and the rest of the shot and short weapon due to this number and proportion of pikes are deuided into sundry troupes of 50 in euery troupe trouping round about the maine Battell as I haue done before in the figure of the iust square of men I haue here also desseigned in figure the said broad square or hearst Battell deuided into sundry battallions of that kinde as first into 3 battallions then into 5 battallions as in page 212 may appeare each battallion is girdled with 3 rankes of shot the rest of the shot and short weapon belonging vnto the sayd numbers may bee placed in sundry small troupes as is in the broad square trouping round about the same or as the Sergeant Maior shall otherwise thinke good or as the ground will permit or occasions offered to fight The figure of a Broad square Battell trouped round about with shot The figure of 3 Battallions reduced out of the Broade square The figure of fiue Battallions reduced out of the Broade square The Table of Broad square or twyfold Battels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 10082 71 3 3360 2 47 1 71 1 3 1314 5 2016 3 28 2 142 2 5 2230 142 7 1440 3 20 2 142 2 7 3178 9 1120 3 15 7 497 7 9 4158 11 916 7 12 10 710 10   9800 70 3 3266 2 46 2 140 2 3 1296 5 1980 0 28 0 0 0 5 2200 140 7 1400 0 20 0 0 0 7 3136 9 1088 8 15 5 350 5 9 4104 11 890 10 12 8 560 12   9522 69 3 3174 0 46 0 0 0 3 1278 5 1904 2 27 3 207 3 5 2170 138 7 1360 2 19 5 345 5 7 3094 9 1058 0 15 3 207 3 9 4050 11 865 7 12 6 414 6 11 5038 9248 68 3 3082 2 45 1 68 1 3 12â—0 5 1849 3 27 1 68 1 5 2140 136 7 1321 1 19 3 204 3 7 3052 9 1027 0 15 1 68 1 9 3996 11 840 8 12 4 272 4   8978 67 3 2992 2 44 2 134 2 3 1242 5 1795 3 26 4 268 4 5 2110 134 7 1282 4 19 1 67 1 7 3010 9 977 5 14 8 546 8 9 3942 11 816 2 12 2 134 2   8712 66 3 2904 0 44 0 0 0 3 1224 5 1742 2 26 2 132 2 5 2080 132 7 1230 2 1â— 6 396 6 7 2968 9 968 0 14 6 396 6 9 3088 11 792 0 12 0 0 0   8450 65 3 2815 2 43 1 65 1 3 1206 5 1690 0 26 0 0 0 5 2050 130 7 1207 1 18 4 260 4 7 2926 9 938 8 14 4 260 4 9 3834 11 768 2 11 9 585 9   8192 64 3 2730 2 42 2 128 2 3 1188 5 1638 2 25 3 192 3 5 2020 128 7 1170 2 18 2 128 2 7 2884 9 910 2 14 2 128 2 9 3780 11 744 8 11 7 449 7   7938 63 3 2646 0 42 0 0 0 3 1170 5 1580 3 25 1 63 1 5 1990 126 7 1134 0 18 0 0 0 7 2842 9 882 0 14 0 0 0 9 2726 11 721 7 11 5 315 5   7688 62 3 2562 2 41 1 62 1 3 1152 5 1537 3 24 4 248 4 5 1960 124 7 1098 2 17 5 310 5 7 2800 9 854 2 13 7 434 7 9 3670 11 698 10 11 3 186 3   The Tables of Battallions reduced out of the Broad squares 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 10082 3 3362 3362 3362 3 5 1922 1922 1922 1922 2312 83 9800
To grudge at a good action signe of a beastly mind A miserable minde Good courses Pike and musket the most weapon in the field Bowes and billes yet seruiceable in some sort An order for powder match for training dayes A great care to be had for the generall store Want of necessaries in time of seruice hath hindred greâ—t actions Whom to bee chosen for a Captain of footbands The parts to be desired in a Captaine Disorderly shall he gouerne in warres who was neuer skilful in the arte The captains care in the election of his officers Similis similem sibi quaerit The due sorting of weapons The aduantage of musket Skill obedieÌ„ce Practise maketh perfect Necessary officers to a band of three hundred men The Ensigne to be incommended to the Ensigne-bearer The Captains Squadron No blemish vnto any Gentleman to serue as a common souldier in the Captaines squadron Aduantaged in Payes To instruct and procure his soldiers to the feare of God To appease debates To reprehend punâ—sh dish nest liuers Few bâ—d do corrupt a number of good To exercise them often to their Armes Different nations different nâ—tures To practise all military exercises The Captaine equall with his soldiers in all perill and paine To muster and traine often The order to be obserued in trayning Men ready for action to great importance Great care to keep aray in marching Disorderly behauior of â—ad souldiers breedeth many mischiefes Disorders to be punished The tolleratioÌ„ of euils breedes many inconuenieÌ„ces What weapon the Captaine is to vse Vnsoldiarly trick of a training captaine The captaine being set to defende any place what he is to do Commanded to any peece of seruice what he is to do To attempt nothing inconsiderate and rash To obserue the orders giuen by his commander To be a good Oratour and to what purpose A captaine not to be ouer couetous but carefull for his souldiers To take the word Carefull to visite the Sentinels To be prouided of lights for the night time To be obedient diligent about his superâ—our commandâ—rs Necessarie cariage and baggage in marching But not ouer pestersome Few horses to be permitted in footbands The Captaine is most ordinarily to lodge among his souldiers Not to be ouer curious in his diet and fare Examples To entreat his souldiers with gentle words good works A good Captaine is as a father to his souldiers and they as children vnto him Souldiers louing their captains wil aduenture their liues for their common honor Discontinuance breedeth forgetfulnesse The militarie discipline of the Romanes to be followed Grauis armatura of the Romanes Velites of the Romanes and their armings The arming of those of grauis armatura A Romane armie Romane legion Cohoâ—t Centurie Maniple A legion distinguished into 3. Hastati Principes Triarij Their order of placing Velitat their places to fight Whom fittest to be chosen for souldiers Signes by the phisiognomie New souldiers to be often trained Practise breedeth readinesse Sundry companies to ioyne together 1. To march 2. To encampe 3. To fight Rules to be obserued by a carefull Captaine Militarie points to be ensigned new souldiers A good Captaine will soone make ready souldiers The art of warre better deliuered by act theÌ„ words The Harquebuzier his armings and weapons To charge To cocke the match To leuell To discharge To retire To recharge The musketier his arming and his forke weapon To charge To cocke his match To leuell To discharge To retire To recharge Aduise How to bring the bisognios fir sâ— to the bullet The piker his armings and weapon The pike of 17. or 18. foote The dagger Obiection Answer Picha seâ—cha The carrying and handling of the pike To make Alto to arbolare or aduaunce To reare When to aduaunce To present To charge To push To cowch To Couch The Romains Tesserarios their training Vertuous exercisâ—â— To march out fained skirmish Ready men aduantagious To be a good executioner must haue seene seruice To tosse the pike The halberd Ranke what it is File what it is The doubling of ranke and file By single file By maniple or many files How to double the rankâ— To fall off To double the file To turne their faces and make front of any part Doubling of ranks and files serueth to sundry purposes To passe straights Od files or ranks Shot how to be practised Example Musketiers how to discharge vpon a march How to discharge vpon a countermarch Musketiers wheeled into a halfe moone to discharge in vollie Calliuers deuided into small troupes to discharge by file The arraunging of a small company to march Order to be obserued entring into the Corps de gard The march The caâ—allery shot not contained within the body of the battell The reason why battells are framed in quadrat proportion Square of men square of ground what it is Battells consisting of armed and vnarmed pikes framed in three maner of wayes Maniple what it is Shot in troupeâ— Halberds and short weapon noâ— liked of in the body of the battell The reasons why Halberds not liked of about the colours The reasons why Daggers auailâ—able in pell mell Short weapon in a stand of pikes vnseemeliâ— Short weapon their places of best seruice Lyning of battels with shot or bowes disliked Lyning of shot in single ranke The reasons Lyning with shot in another sort more tollerable Lyning with bowes a combersome tying weapon Tables to be framed and to what end Proportinall numbers â—eâ—uinâ— to the setting of battels Proportions of equality Proportions of inequality These proportions of men and not of ground The rule to frame a square battell of men A more exquisit way to frame any square battell of men Geometricall scale foote To empale the battell with your armed pikes the rule The Romaines The proofe A rule to know what quaÌ„titie of ground any battell will require each armed mans station 3 foote in breadth 7 foote for length A rule to frame these battels with speed What to do with the remaines Rules to frame all battels in proportion of inequality or two fold battels The Rule The order how to empale with armed pikes the battels in proportioÌ„s of inequalitie The proofes The rule to know the quantitie of ground this battell conteineth The rule to accommodate this calculation with speed Where to place the remaines Repetitions of the former Out of 3 maner of marchings to frame a battell with speed The first maner The third order by marching maniple by maniple Aduertisement Fierie weapons The armed pike is the strength of the battell so is the shot the furie of the field Shot and pikes of necessitie to be coupled The one without the other of no great force The sortement of these weapons offensiue and defensiue The aduantage of musket notable ouersight of our shot in charging and discharging their peeces A redresse and easie way how to fasten the bullet How some do vse to place their shot about the