them the word is Ranks as you were Which is best done by causing those ranks which doubled to stand and those which stood to advance Files to the right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behind his sideman accounting from the right hand the fourth into the third and so the rest which must be done throughout the company at one instant all together But because the first rank of the company is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but five deep there seemeth no great necessity of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left as you were Ranks to the left double The difference of this motion from the former is nothing but that here they which double do it to the left hand of their leaders which before they did to their right hands as the figure maketh it plain This done they must be reduced by commanding Ranks as you were Files to the left double The difference between this and the former motion is the difference of hands And by this means those files that stood before now move and they which moved now stand as appeareth by the figure They are reduced by commanding Files as you were or Ranks to the right double Half files to the right hand double the front Thus the middle-men double the first rank on the right hand The other three ranks double the three following ranks as is manifest in the figure To reduce them the word is Half files as you were Unlesse it be better and so I conceive it to cause them that double to stand and the first division to advance Bringers up to the right hand double the front In this motion the last rank passeth into the first and so successively as the figure sheweth it It is of good use yet because it is very troublesome for the horse to perform especially in reducing them it may be used or omitted as shall be thought fit They are reduced by saying Bringers up as you were Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the company they must be closed first the files and then the ranks And being to open them again the ranks are first to be opened and then the files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the body Half files to the left hand double the front This motion onely differeth from the former in the hand There be also doublings of ranks by the half files entire to the right or left or both by division But because the files especially of Cuirassiers are seldome above five deep the doubling of ranks half files c. is little used The reducing of them hath been shewed in the former motion Files to the left hand countermarch Though it were fit to begin with the right hand yet for the convenient turning of the horse to the left I think it not amisse to preferre the left The figure representeth the Chorean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevity sake Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the Commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the body moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the centre Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the Commander a Vox autem percâ—pi interdum non potest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorum transitum hinnitum multitudines strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35 but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usâ—s invenit c. Tria genera signorum Vocalia semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3 c 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kinds of militarie signes or directions 1. Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2. Semivocall by trumpet or other warlike instrument to the eare likewise 3. Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c. The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9. 82. distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the Cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the Commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64. horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8. in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8. in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5. in file though the companie consist of 100. horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors MelZo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first neâ—t after him two attendants with spare horses they beating his armour then the Trumpeters then the Cornet
will not permit it but that it must be to the right making readie and falling into the rear the second rank immediately gives fire upon the wheeling away of the first and so the rest successively Walhausen would have them also give fire by files the outward file towards the enemie whether right or left advancing before the bodie in full career and so firing the rest successively to do the same and in this manner to fight against Infanterie that might charge them on the flanks But others do utterly reject it as too much exposed to inevitable danger In their firing by ranks the first rank advanceth some thirtie paces before the bodie first on the gallop then in career as some direct and so to give fire the second doth the same and so the rest The Dragoniers being a kind of Infanterie and doing their chief services on foot as hath been shewed Part. 1. Chap. 31. it will be needlesse here to shew how they are to be exercised for skirmish partly in regard there is no want of books for the e So farre as concerneth the exercising of the foot in their postures and motions I suppose Pr. Maurice his book and Captain Binghams notes upon Aelian with the appendix sufficient alone But I wish some bodie would go on and fully handle that which belongeth to the Infanterie practising of the foot though I dare say they exceed rather in number then in weight and principally because I desire to confine my self to that which properly belongeth to the Cavallrie How they are to dispose of their horses in fight hath been shewed ibid. cap. 31. Fig 6. Cap 6. Par 4. Fig 7. Par 4. Cap 6. CHAP. VII How the Cavallrie are to fight against foot A Commander having intelligence of some grosse of the enemies Infanterie and resolving to set upon them he must principally aim to encounter them in a place of advantage for the Cavallrie that is in an a Si equitatu gaudemus campos debemus optare si pedite loca deligere angusta fossis paludibus vel arboribus impedita Veg. lib. 3 cap. 9. open champain He must also use all possible diligence to charge them before they can be ordered for battel though they exceed him much for number But if the said Infanterie be put in good order at his approch if the ground be champain and the number equall yet may they be charged by the horse First by some troops of Harquebusiers or rather Dragons because they do execution at a larger distance which shall give on on their front flanks and rear These were to be seconded by the Lances in small divisions when they were in use but now by the Cuirassiers who shall make their benefit of such overtures or disorders as shall be caused by the said Dragons and Harquebusiers If the Infanterie exceed in number and so be serried in a grosse bodie it will be hard for the Cavallrie to rout them as hath been found by experience by the Swisses which still had the better of the horse by the reason of their grosse bodies of pikes If the Infanterie be ordered into severall battaillons the horse are to charge them where they perceive them most open and naked But if the foot have possessed themselves of some place of advantage as some wood trench or covert way then the horse are not to charge them though equall or somewhat superiour to them in number in respect of such advantage CHAP. VIII Of ordering the Cavallrie in battel THe forms of battel used among the horse presupposing such as are made by election in a free and spacious champain and not such as are forced through discommoditie of place or other respects a Ordinaturus aciem solem ventum antè prospictat Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. Una aciei bellicae forma non est sed multa diversa pro varutate armorum militum hostium locorum temporum Leo Tact. c. 20. 182. are many and do varie according to the ground and strength both of your own side and the enemies accidents and occasions In all forms a principall care must be had that the troops be drawn up from an even front that so they may be free from disturbing each other in the retreat Basta reduceth these forms to foure sorts and Melzo to three making the second and third to be as one and the same which are these The first is when the troops are ordered as in one file every troop following each other in a single order which form is utterly disallowed because it bringeth but few hands to fight and the disordering of the first troop must needs endanger all the rest The second is when all the troops are placed as in b Si nimiùm fuerit acies attenuata cuò ab adversariis factâ impressione perrumpitur nullum postea potest esse remedium Veg. lib. 3. cap. 16. one rank or one front the one troop being placed on the flank of the other in a single order or straight line Which form is also disapproved because in it all the Cavallrie is engaged at once the one not being able to succour the other and having no troops of c The Grecians had their troops of reserve and herein the Carthaginians imitated them and these the Romanes also followed Veg. ibid. cap. 17. reserve The third is when the troops are ordered checquer-wise in squadrous enterchangeaby placed one behind another so as three or foure squadrons being in front such distances are left between each as others behind them may come up to the front without hindering the former d Exercitus contractus quadratus aut non ità multùm oblongus ad omnem occasionem atque eventum firmus utilis atque tutus est Leo Tact. cap. 9. 34. The Grecians had three kinds of horse-battels The Square the Wedge and the Rhombe which is as the diamond battel The Square was held the best for the defensive the other two for the offensive Of these the Wedge is preferred because it bringeth most hands to fight the rear division of the Rhombe being of little use Aelian cap 18. This form may well be allowed of and is retained by the best Commanders in the present warres of Christendome yet the forenamed authours have this exception to it because the Harquebusiers having taken up the said distances would hinder the Lances then in use And if they should be drawn from those intervalles and placed on the wings they must be exposed to the first assaults of the enemie The fourth kind of forms they make the Lunarie resembling a half moon but in this they differ from each other in the manner That which they call single must needs be weak their double form is better But both these last forms the Checquer and the Lunarie form shall be more fully represented in figure Walhausen maketh six sorts of battels namely 1. The Lunarie 2. The checquer 3. The Broad-fronted 4. The Embowed 5. The Sharp-pointed
service they are to alight and to demean themselves as Infantery Whereof it shall be needlesse hereto enlarge seeing we have books in such abundance upon that subject as they are able rather to a By reason of the frivolous impertinences and manifest errours which abound in many of them distract then instruct the reader and in my opinion had need of an Index expurgatorius Being so alighted to do their service as abovesaid every of them is to cast his bridle over the neck of his side mans horse in the same order as they marched keeping them so together by the help of such as are thereunto especially appointed CHAP. XXXII Of exercising the Cavallrie in their motions HAving shewed how every horse-man is to be exercised in the managing of his horse as also in the use of his particular arms it followeth now that he be taught how to demean himself being joyned in a body And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Grecians and Romanes had the same order of exercise and that in the same words which we retain to this day A File the Romanes called Versus and Decuria A Rank Jugum A File-leader Decanus because their Decuria or File used to consist of ten among the foot with some 16. A bringer up Tergiductor A Leader being every odde man in the file Prastes A follower which is every even number Substes A side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their two cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our three foot Their four cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at six foot distance between file and file in march and three foot in sight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and rear and the like But for brevitie sake I passe them over referring the reader to the books of Infanterie To exercise the horse they are to be drawn up into a body not by ranks but by files and those of five deep as most affirm or of six as others would have it and that because the number of five is not divisible by two and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwayes an odde rank Some would have them especially the harquebusiers to be eight in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square body and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be two paces open order foure paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but two kinds of distances close order which is three foot and open order which is six foot But this must be understood cum grano salis as the Civilians speak for here we must observe a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavallrie and that of the Infantery for in the foot the distance is taken from the centre of the souldiers body which here cannot be so understood but onely of the space of ground between horse and horse Monsieur de Praissac is more plain who would have the distance between rank and rank both for the length of the horse as also for the space between horse and horse to be six paces and one pace between file and file Yet if we take every pace for five foot as that is the usuall dimention by this rule they should be at a very large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at their distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1. 9. Vt aequali leguimóque spatio miles distet a milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent Ibid. cap. 26. standing right in their ranks and files c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right hand ad hastam to the left ad scutum Facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi duo genera perjuga versus Their countermarches the same which we use Evolutio Chorica Macedonica Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us Conversio ad hastam vel scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kinds 1. Facings 2. Doublings 3. Countermarches 4. Wheelings The use of facings is to make the company perfect to be suddenly prepared for a charge on either flank or the rear Doubling of ranks or doubling by half files or bringers up is used upon occasion of strengthening the front Doubling of files or doubling by half ranks serveth to strengthen the flanks Countermarches serve either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an enemy in the rear or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and rear or either flank into the middle of the body The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be ready to receive the charge of the enemy on either flank or rear These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a company of harquebusiers of 64 men And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter as followeth The form of the first standing To face them to the right is done by commanding Left flank Front Right flank Rear To the left hand Which is performed by turning towards the left From hence they are to be reduced by commanding As you were Which they do by turning to the right Now to face them to the rear though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say To the right hand Which is done by turning all at one and the same time to the right hand Thus the front is where the right flank was To reduce them to their first form the word of command is As you were Which they perform by turning to the left hand From thence to face them to the left you command To the left hand about Which is done by turning towards the left hand untill their faces front to that place which was before the rear To reduce them to their first-form as that must be observed the word is To the right hand about as you were Ranks to the right double The use hereof hath been shewed before Every other rank that is every even number passeth into the odde upon the right hand of his leader The second rank into the first and so successively To reduce
his scouts also retreating but by differing wayes For suppose the enemie hath received tidings of his contrarie partie it is likely that having discovered the said scouts he will follow them perswading himself that they flie to their grosse by which means the grosse shall have time to save themselves while the enemie is pursuing the said Corporall and his fellows When the enemie is much stronger and the other partie have neither time nor convenience to put themselves into good order the Chief shall call with a loud voice and command every man to a Quintus Sertorius pulsus acie à Quinto Metello pio nè fugam quidem sibi tutam arbitratus milites dispersos abire jussit admonitos in quem locum vellet convenire Frontin Strat. lib. 2. cap. 13. save himself whereupon the souldiers disband into many parts so as the enemie cannot charge them all and so especially in the night many may escape But this course is dangerous and must be commanded with great judgement howsoever in all retreats some of the best mounted must be left behind under a good Commander to make the retreat If passing by or through some village or wood the first discoverers descrie the enemie not being able to discern of what number he is one of them shall presently come and certifie the Corporall which followeth with the other scouts whereof the Corporall instantly certifieth the Chief of the troops who thereupon puts his men in order causing them to put their casks on their heads which otherwise in march they carrie at their saddle or hanging on their left arm and in some convenient place he maketh Alto and resolveth according to the more certain news which the Corporall shall send him Which since it may be such as may b Prince Maurice at the battel of Newport sent the messenger which brought him the news of Count Ernests overthrow away to sea and kept it from the knowledge of his souldiers commanding away all the ships to take away all hope of escape by flight and caused his forces to march through the haven to meet the enemie Meteren lib. 22. discourage the souldiers the Chief perceiving him coming that brings it advanceth towards him with one or two or his discreetest souldiers and receiveth his message in private Having heard his relation he must presently resolve either to retreat or to fight If he resolve to fight the enemie being so strong he must give such orders as shall be fitting especially commanding the troops to go serried close and if there be divers troops that they intermingle not but observe good order for it might so happen that the enemie might charge him c Qui dispersis sui◠inconsuliè insequitur quam ipse acceperat adversario vult dare victoriam Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. so disorderly as he might make head and endamage the enemie especially if he have not one or more troops of reserve following him well united and in good order CHAP. VI. Of ordering the troops for combat by single companies BEfore we come to shew the severall forms of battel which may be used among the Cavallrie it will be fit to speak of their severall kinds of fighting which they are to be practised in apart by themselves before they be joyned with the grosse If a companie of Lances were to fight against foot they were not to give their charge in an united bodie neither upon this nor any occasion whatsoever because even the second rank of them hardly doth any certain execution but they were to charge them rank after rank wheeling off to the rear to that end keeping large distances between rank and rank The same order they were to observe if they fought against horse upon the offensive For the defensive the companie consisting of 64 as before Part. 1. Chap. 19. might order themselves in this manner Two ranks of eight in rank should face to the front two to either flank and two to the rear leaving an open square space in the middle they all standing back towards back faced every way to receive the charge wheresoever the enemie shall give on The same manner might be used in greater bodies as should seem good to the skilfull Commander If the Lances were to fight against Cuirassiers a Par. 3. rangs de lances luialler gaillardement donner par les stances car par ce moyen ils l'entr ' ouuriront Monsieur de la Noüe Disc 18. they were by two ranks together to setch their careers and so to charge them especially on the flanks and rear every second rank forbearing the shock till the first had done it and was wheeled off If one companie of Cuirassiers be to fight against another your enemie charging you in full career you are to make a b So Walhausen would have it Carracoll that is you divide your bodie by the half ranks and so suddenly open to the right and left so as the enemie passeth through you and you facing inward charge him on the flanks as is shewed in Figure 6. Part. 4. Or if two companies fight against two other then they observe the same manner but keeping each companie entire as may be seen in the same figure It is also to be done by the Carracoll first and then the enemie being within you to wheel to the right and left inward and so to charge him on the rear in full career These forms in Walhausens opinion are of c So the said authour conceiveth but it is very doubtfull For by this opening to the right and left you must turn croop and then make a whole turn again and so give advantage to your enemie It were better therefore to cause three or foure files of each of your wings to advance on the sudden and so to charge the adverse troop on either flank And to equall your enemies front you might cause the half files of your bodie to double your front to the right and left by division All which your troop must be acquainted with beforehand and are to do it in a moment of themselves with all possible dexteritie speciall advantage for the enemie having charged you in full career while you went on upon the trot onely on the sudden opening to the right and left either saith he must run through and effect little or nothing or staying himself in the career d The principall strength of Cuirassiers consisteth in keeping themselves close sertied together for this the Germanes are commended Il faut dire que les Allemans surpassent toutes les autres nations parce qu'il ne semble pas seulement qu'ils soient setrez ains qu'ils soient collez les uns auec les autres De La Noüe Discours 18. disorder his troop and loose the force of his charge as by Figure 7. Part. 4. appeareth The Harquebusiers must be exercised to give fire by ranks The first rank having given fire is to wheel off to the left unlesse the ground
6. The Divided The Lunarie as he makes it and the figure Fig. 8. Part 4. cap. 8. sheweth it is good and indeed better then that of Basta but is improperly called the Lunarie form for it is rather a Hollow or Open-fronted wedge like Aelians e De instruend acieb cap. 36 Coelembolos His Checquer is as the forementioned and allowable His Broad-fronted is also not to be rejected His Embowed which by the name should be a Convex half moon like f Which the Latine translation termeth Acies incurva Aelian cap. 47. Aelians Cyrte he maketh a meer wedge The form is not the worse though the name be not so proper The Sharp-pointed in regard there is but one troop in front and that seconded but by two troops on the rear angles then but one troop again seconded as the first seemeth not to be so good as the former because it bringeth few hands to fight and is very subject to be g Whereof Aelian sheweth the inconveniences cap. 50. overwinged or overfronted by the enemie and so to be charged on the flanks The Divided especially at so large a distance I hold to be dangerous True it is that here the Dragons are used as foot but whether so single and so extended an order be the best for them to be placed in I referre to the judicious Now concerning these six kinds of battels they are in deed and in effect but two that is the Checquer and the Lunarie as he calleth them and from these grounds the rest be formed But these forms being onely imaginarie and withall wanting that perfection in many respects which is required in reall battels I shall now to give fuller satisfaction to such as are lovers of militarie knowledge communicate some forms of embattelings which never yet were published by any These are true delineations of divers battels really ordered and performed by the absolutest Commanders of our times according to the exactest rules of art and such as experience hath approved to be fittest for the modern warres For the better understanding whereof I have thought fit first to put down these directions following All the forces of the whole armie both horse and foot are usually distinguished and divided into h So did the Romanes the Vanguard they called Cornu dexirum the Battel Acies media and the Rear Cornu sinistrum as is shewed by Sir Cl. Edmonds upon Caesars Com. lib 1. cap 7. Observ 1. out of Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 4. and is handled at large by Leo the Emperour Tact. cap. 18. three parts namely the Vanguard Battel and Rear as hath been shewed Part 2. Chap. 3. Each of which parts is governed by its particular Officer or Chief yet so as the absolute command belongeth to the Generall These distinctions are alwayes so understood in the order of marching to avoid disputes about precedencie so as they which march formost are said to have the Vanguard they which march in the middle the Battel and they which come last the rear And these divisions alter their names according to the place they march in wherein they observe a diurnall change as hath been shewed in the chapter above mentioned But if we shall take the meaning of these words according to their proprietie and usuall acceptation in matter of fight or battel conceiving that that part of the armie which is called the Vanguard shall give the first charge and that which is called the Battel shall give the second charge and the Rearward the last it will prove a meer mistake For we are to know that the first charge must be given by the first troop or foremost orders of companies which are in front placed as in one rank extended from the one front-angle of the whole armie to the other and so it were impossible for them to be commanded or directed by one Commander or Chief of one particular squadron of the armie by reason of the large extent thereof for we see that the front of the armie embattelled before Dornick Figure 14. which was farre inferiour to that of late employed at the siedge of the Bossch took up i Six foot make a fathom 100 fathomes a furlong seven furlongs and a half a mile Five foot make a pace 10â—0 paces make a mile 6380 foot of ground being in their close order prepared for fight which is above a mile and a quarter of our measure Besides if the Vanguard as it is called should give the first charge the Battel which then must second them may chance to be of a nation not onely differing from the Vanguard but at variance with them or else some grudge or disgust between the Chiefs And in that respect they might either neglect or slacken the seconding or relieving of those of the Vanguard and not use that diligence which is required In consideration therefore of these and other inconveniences it is best that every squadron of the army be so ordered as each of them may have their first second and third troops by which means every division shall both be commanded by their own Chiefs and shall also be seconded by those of their own squadron or division which will give them the more courage and assurance The manner therefore for the ordering of an army for battel is as followeth That squadron which is called the Battel is placed in the middle the Vanguard on the right hand of it and the Rear on the left and all these usually in one front and single order one regiment or sometimes one company especially among the horse as Figure 10. flanking the other as in Figure 12. From hence the first troop of every division is drawn up and placed in an even front or straight line from one angle of the body to the other At a convenient k Usually 300 foot distance behind these the second troop of every squadron is placed in an even rank as the former but so as the l The Romanes also ordered their battels in three divisions or troops viZ. their Hastati Principâ—s and Tâ—â—tarit The first were called Acus prima and these were the Hastati which were to give the first charge At a distance behind them were the Principes placed whâ—ch were called Acies secunda these were so ordered with spaces or intervalles that the Hastati being put to retreat might fall back into these spaces and the Principes might advance to give the second charge without disturbing each other The third troop Acies tertia were the Triarii which were placed behind the Principes observing therein such intervalles as before mentioned Vide Livium lib. 8. Lipsium de milit Rom. lib. 4. ubi etiam Aciâ—i Iconismus first troop which are to give the first charge being to retreat and this second troop to advance they disturb not each other for which reason convenient spaces are left in the first order or troop for the second to come up into The third troop is placed
in the first rank of horse But Walhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the rear Flamin de la Crote would have them march in foure divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the Corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants and Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant and Quartermaster are to come in the rear And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands and the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand and so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part The second Part. Of Marching THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparatâ— In itinere minùs armatus minúsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu velfraude repentè turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of sudden charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3 heads 1 the knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2 The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3 The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of Guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Mereren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by unusuall wayes the use of maps may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the Waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm passuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates perdiscat compendia diverticula montes flumina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hillie or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgings as forrage water c Insomuch as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc à prudentioribus locorúmque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them separated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their running away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodia mancipare additá poena ostentatione vel praenni c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they do their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. the knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddenly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsels and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consilia aliâ vià pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium rapiúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travell and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitûs profeâ—turus fidelissimos argutissimòsque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressa à tergo dextra leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carrie with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they find the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the rear or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approch the enemies armie assaying
to take some Sentinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses thereabout And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant d How abundant Antiquitâ—e was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Romane and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Polianus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew themselves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for fear of some embuscado which gives leisure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have two or three houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out If the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of Marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Every Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appear at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar â—li esserciti in tâ—e squadroni cioè vanguardia Battoglia retroguardia che ogni gioâ—ngto si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis dichus altera legio alterum coâ—nu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battel and rear That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the rear and they which had the rear the battel So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting of two troops as Melzo hath it or the Generalls regiment according to C. Bingham which hath alwayes the vanguard And if the enemie should change place and from your front become to be upon your rear whereby the rear as most dangerous becomes most honourable that Captain which to day hath led the battaillon to morrow in stead of the vanguard may challenge the rear The scouts alter their course also and attend the enemies proceedings on the rear If occasion be in time of march to send out one or more troops for some service they are to observe the same orders But the armie being come to their quarter and occasion being to send out b When all or a good part of the horse are employed in some exploit without Infanterie it is called a Cavalcado Such was that when the States men surprised the castle of Crapoel in Limburg c. Meteren lib. 23. all or part of the Cavallrie upon some exploit that troop which first appeareth at the place of Rendez-vous shall be appointed by the Commissarie Generall who is to be there to the first place the second to the second place If two troops come together at the same instant they shall cast lots By this means every man desiring honour they will be the readier to appear in due time The same course shall be taken when the troops are to be sent upon some embuscado convoy or the like If the march be but of one day he which commandeth shall appoint the best experienced and ablest to lead c Others hold it much better to observe the same order in the dismarch which was used in the march so that companie which went out first comes in first who is to be in the rear returning back to the quarter And these may have private order to be at the place of Rendezvous sooner then the rest to avoid jealousies The vanguard battaillon and rear must be divided from each other 300 paces CHAP. IIII. Of Scouts or Discoverers TO be secured from unexpected assaults of the enemie neither the armie nor the Cavallrie alone no not a companie must march without a These the Romanes called exploratores or speculatores See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noceant ducis praestat industria quem â—mnia prâ—â—s convenit explorare Idem lib. 3. c. 6. discoverers which must be sent out not onely by the direct way where the enemie is like to come or you are to march but to scoure all the by-wayes on either side And sometime the first discoverers are seconded by a second companie to secure the march They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men valiant vigilant and discreet such as neither fear nor misconceit can easily distract They must see that with their own eyes which they inform the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie Those select men appointed for this service are to be b P. Considiâ—â— qui rei miliaâ—â— peritissimus habebatur in exerciui L. Sylla postea in M. Crassi fuerat cum exploratoribus praiâ—tâ—itur Câ—es Comment lib. 1. cap. 5. led by an able officer it being a task so difficult that many have lost that reputation by it which they had been long in gaining of This officer shall send word of what he discovereth and what he seeth not himself he is to signifie it as so reported to him and having seen it then to certifie it as for certain CHAP. V. Of the order of marching by day THe a Omni curâ omnÃque diligentiâ providere debei dux nè proficiscens pâ—â—tiatur meursum vel si non facilè at sine damno â—â—pellâ—t illâ—um Veg. ibid. march must be so ordered as the companies may readily from that order be brought into a good form of battel upon occasion of a sudden charge The Cavallrie supposed to consist of 40 troops and the