they likewise get their distance commanded so that in this Motion as in the other openings the Battell shall possesse in length after it bee fully opened the double of the ground it had before the opening The words of Command for these Motions To your open oder or any order else Files open to the right hand Files open to the left hand Files open to the right and left Or as some say open both wayes and some onlie files open for when there is no nomination of any hand it is vnderstoode as before in closing an opening from the middle to both hands Our wordes of Command To your first distance or any distance else Open your Stringes to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes OPening of Rankes is an extension of the deapth of the Battell in place and is performed but one way to witte towardes the Reare which is thus done The File-leaders or the first Ranke standes still and the rest of the Rankes falles backwardes towards the Reare vntill the second Ranke haue gotten its distance which then standes the rest of the Rankes moues still backwardes vntill they all haue gotten their distance commanded IKLM IKLM is an Opening of Rankes where yee see the 2 and 3. Ranks hath moued backwards and hath alreadie taken their distance and ye must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to be mouing from the Front IK backwardes to the Reare LM vntill they all get their distance required The wordes of Command Rankes open to your open order or any order else Our wordes of Command Open your Rankes to your first distance or any distance else Some vse an opening of Rankes also forwards from the Reare to the Front if the ground permitt The action of these Motions of opening which I haue now showne both of Files and Rankes by making the Files presse vpon their Sydmen and the Ranks vpon their Followers is according to our common moderne exercise which differs much from the action of the Ancient (e) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greeks for they in opening Files and Rankes did performe the Motion by Facing but in my opinion our common forme is rather to bee followed for although it want not its owne inconvenients beeing subject to stumbling on stobbs stones or holes in the way Yet in respect the terminus ad quem is not certaine nor seene as it was in closing of Files and Rankes The last Ranke or the vttermost File which beginneth the Motion of opening shall never bee assured where to stand or in what part to set themselues to giue a due competent ground to all the Rankes or Files to take their distance commanded neither can the samine be discerned be the ey of the Commander and therefore the Motion must bee begun and the distance must first be takin from the terminus à quo which is seene and certaine to wit the Ranke or File that stands and so euerie one after other shall assuredly get their distance commanded which they could not do behind their backs if they used a Facing but in this I submit my selfe to the judgement of the more learned For I think also that Souldiers may bee taught to take their distance by pacing Obserue that closing and opening both of Files and Ranks are one anothers reducemēts as if ye closed Files to the right hand and would reduce them to their first station command them to open to the left if ye opened Files to the left hand to bring them as they were yee must close Files to the right hand if yee closed to the middle open to the right and left by division and so they are reduced è contra Againe if yee close ranks forwards open them backwards and so yee bring them as they were è contra (f) Aelian Tact. e. 28. Aelian calleth an opening of Files or Rankes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a doubling of the length or deapth in place which in my opinion is not fitly spokin for although Files and Rankes bee opened to a greater distance yet the Battell cannot bee said to bee doubled The use of opening and closing the Battell in length and deapth yee may finde (g) Supra Tit. 3. before when I spoke of distances to the which I remitt you for I will repeat nothing only this I adde that Battells are opened and closed when a Generall will make his Armie appeare strong or weake according as hee mindes to terrifie or allure the enemie Files are closed to the right or laft hand when a troupe of Horse or Foote or Waggones with bagadge are to passe betwixt either of your Flankes and some strait Files are closed to the right and left by division when yee will make a streete through your Battell for a Generall or some great Commander to passe Of Conversion or VVheeling Tit 10. COnversion or Wheeling is a Motion of the whole Battell towards the Flankes or Reare changing the ground And therefore Wheeling is two fold the one when the Battell makes a quarter turne to the right or left Flanke which the Greeks calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or conuersion the other when it makes an halfe turne to the Reare be the right or left hand and this they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or inflexion no other languadge except the Greeke doth expresse this Motion in two seuerall wordes Epistrophe is described clearely by (a) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c When closing the Battell bee the Sydemen and the followers we turne it whollie as the Body of an man either to the Picke or the Target it beeing carryed about the corner File-leader as about a center and changing the place of the Front transfer the countenance of the Souldiers to the right or left Flanke (b) Aelian Tact. c. 31. Aelian in an other place setteth it down more amplie it is thus to be performed Ye must commād the Files to close to the hand to which ye mean to Wheele the Rankes to close also forwardes Then yee cause the Corner File-leader on the samine hand to stand still as the fixed foote of a compasse but moueing in his owne place and all the rest keeping their Files and Rankes closed to turne to the samine hand joyntly about the corner File-leader vntill the Front of your Battell be towards the Flank to which yee Wheele so that the Front of the Battell beeing wheeled falles like a perpendicular line vpon the Front of the Battell before it Wheeled making a right angle of 90 degrees at the corner File-leader about whome they Wheele and the Flanke falles vpon the Front as a parallel which the figure following showeth ABCDEF GHIKLM The figure ABCDEF is An Epistrophe or whee ling to the right hand CDEF is the Battell before the Wheeling whereof CD is the Front DF the right hand File The Command beeing given the right hand File-leader D who is thus marked * stands in his place
may vnderstand if the Enemie appeare vpon your left wing for then the left hand File is to turne about to the left and to giue fyre vpon the Enemie and to doe all as the right hand File hath done and so the rest of the Files in the left wing doe after the like manner as those of the right observing only the diversitie of the hand Or if the Enemie bee on both your Flankes yee may make both your Flankes doe as one hath done Although this forme of Gathering together of the Files which I haue showne bee most usuall yet there is many good Commanders who dislike it and thinkes it better that the File which hath giuen fire doe not stand longer than they be free of the body but turning a little to the left marche immediately vp to the other side betweene the Picks and the wing of Musquetiers where there is a distance left for that effect QRSTV Heere yee see the first File V. hauing given fire and beeing free of the body is marching up the division Q. S. to joyne with the rest on the left side betweene the Picks and the Musquetiers the second File doth the like and so all the rest one after another but in this the whole wing in marching is to edge a litle to the right that it may keepe the diuision cleare and free to receiue the Files as they giue fyre This they thinke doth not so much dismember the body as the other nor yet oppose the Files so muche to the Enemies shotte for when three Files stands one before another they make a great proppe to the Enemie But I leaue euerie one to their owne opinion for Martiall Commanders differs amongst themselues in points of exercise euerie one following the custome of his owne Countrey If yee would Giue more fyre vpon the Enemy yee may make the second File to double the first and both to giue fire together and so through the rest of the Files as I shew before in giuing fire by doubling of Rankes in the Front or the Reare The use of Giuing fyre in the Flankes is when the Enemy appeareth on either of your Flankes to charge you and ye not able to sustaine his charge yee marche away by him in good order and giues fyre vpon him and if hee would continue his march with youres thinking to hasten and cut off your passage or come betwixt you and your retreete yee may make as much haste as he and yet sustaine skirmish with him A Collection of the VVords of Command which are most necessare in exercise and seruice Tit. 12. IN this treatise I haue set downe sundrie Motions with their wordes of Command more to show the varietie of exercise than to approue them as steadable in Service Therefore I haue made heere a collection of the words of Command which are most necessarie in the exercise of Motiones and usefull in Service Our Scotts words I haue set downe in the right hand Columne the English in the left But the wordes of Command for the Postures of the Picke and the Musquet I shew you (a) Supra Tit. 5. before Your Company then beeing orderlie drawne vp and standing at a due distance both in Rankes and Files which is open order The Captaine or other Officer after he hath commanded Silence hee begins Stand right in your Rankes and your Files As yee were To the right hand To the left hand To the right and left hand by division To the right hand about To the left hand about Half Files to the right or left hand about Ranks as yee were Rankes to the right hand double Rankes to the left hand double Bringers vp as yee were Bringers vp double your Front to the right hand Bringers vp double your Front to the left hand Halfe Files as ye were Middlemen or Half Files to the right hand double your Front Middlemen or Half Files to the left hand double your Front Halfe Files to the right double your Frōt enteare Halfe Files to the left double your Front enteare Halfe Files double your Front to the right and left by diuision Files as ye were Files to the right hand double Files to the left hand double File rāk as yee were Rankes file to the right hand Ranks file to the left hād Rankes file to the right and left by division Files Countermarch to the right hand Files Countermarch to the left hand Rankes Countermarch to the right Flanke Rankes Countermarch to the left Flanke To your order or close order Files close to the right hand Files close to the left hand Files close Close your Rankes to your order or close order To your open order or any order else Files Open to the right hand Files Open to the left hand Files Open Rankes Open to your open order or anie order else Wheele your Battell to the right hand VVheele your Battell to the left hād VVheele your Battell to the right hand about VVheele your Battell to the left hand about Stand right in your Ranks and your Stringes To your first order Right about Left about Right and left about Right round about Left round about Sixt Ranke right or left round about Rankes to your first order Double your Rankes to the right hand Double your Rankes to the left hand Tenth Rank to your first order Tenth ranke to the right hād aduance to the frōt Tenth ranke to the left hād advance to the Frōt Sixt rāk to your first order Sixt Ranke to the right hād advance to the Frōt Sixt Rank to the left hād advance to the Front Strings to your first order Double your Stringes to the right hand Double your Stringes to the left hand Strings to the right hand Countermarh Stringes to the left hand Countermarch Rankes to the right hand Countermarch Rankes to the left hand Countermarch To your second or third distance Close your Stringes to the right hand Close your Stringes to the left hand Close your Stringes Rankes close to your second or third distance To your first distance or any distance else Open your Strings to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes Open your Ranks to your first distance or any distance else The great turne to the right about The great turne to the left about The great turne to the right round about The great turne to the left round about The wordes of Command for the exercise of Musquetiers The wordes for Giuing fire in the Front First Ranke make ready Advance before the Front sixe paces Present and giue fire Fall away orderly to the right or to the left hand or to both by division Next Ranke doe the like All the rest follow For Giuing Fire in the Reare Last Ranke make ready To the right about present and giue fire Fall off to the right or left hand or to both by diuision March vp to the Front Next last Ranke doe the like At the rest follow For Giuing fire in the Flanks Right or left hand File make ready To the right or left hand present giue fire Keepe your ground and charge your Musquets againe Next File to the right or left hand present and giue fire Keepe your ground and charge your Musquets againe The rest of the Files doe the like First File marche vp and ioyne with the second Marche vp both and ioyne with the third and so foorth AND this much for exercising of foote Companyes in their Postures and Motions I intended to haue spoken of the Duetie and Charge of euerie Officer of foot and of the Embattelling and Encamping of Foot-men if I had not beene pressed with shortnesse of time and diverted by sundrie distractiones besides the leevying of my Company and chiefly by a little praeparation which I haue made for the plantation of New Scotland in America A Worke so Noble so Glorious so conducible to the honour and commodity of this Kingdome that the like hitherto was neuer intended The Author wherof although his rare Vertues bee not now according to their hight acknowledged by vs yet ensueing times will approue them and proue him to haue beene the Glorie of his Age. If in this treatise I haue committed any errour I submitt my selfe to the judement and censure of the Learned and experimented Souldier whose amendation I craue As for the envious Thrasonicall Critick who will still be carping that which hee vnderstands not I disdaine him I defy him If in this I bring any profite to my Countrie men it shall encourage mee with the first opportunity God willing to proceed and set foorth somewhat of the exercise of Cavalerie and also of the forme of erecting any regular or irregular figure of Fortification with the manner of assayling and defending a Fort and that more to allure others of better vnderstanding to employ their pen and publish more perfectly in this subject then that I esteeme any thing of mine worthy of light avouching only this that in a true affection to my KING and my Country and in a firme resolution to spend the last drop of my Blood in their seruice I shall bee Inferiour to no Man liuing FINIS Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of Andro Hart ANNO DOM. 1627.
or Contubernium the Leader of it Decanus Decurio or Caput Contubernii The deipth of a File according to our moderne Discipline is 10. howsouer the Spanyards and the Italians maketh it incertaine for the deipth of 10. is thought a sufficient thicknesse to receiue all charges Euerie man in his File is placed according to his worth and dignitie The first man in dignitie is first in place and is called by (k) Leo Tac. cap. 4. § 71. Leo and (l) Aelian Tac. cap. 5. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Leader or Forestander Hee hath commmandement ouer his File seeth that euerie one of them doe their duety both in March and Fight and in exercease as he moueth and turneth so must the rest of his File doe The second man in dignitie is last in place and is called (m) Leo and Aelian ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bringer-up or Reare-commander Hee hath command ouer the File next vnto the Leader and seeth that those before him keepe a right Line The third and fourth dignitie is in the 5. and 6. place and they are called middle-men the one middle-man to the Front the other middle-man to the Reare The fist sixt and seuenth Dignitie are in the 2.9 4. places The eight ninth and tenth Dignitie in the 7.3 and 8. places as this Table sheweth Number of place  Number of dignitie 1. 0. Leader 1. 2  5. 3.  6 4  7. 5. 0. Middleman 3. To the Front 6. 0. Middleman 4. To the Reare 7.  8. 8  10. 9  6. 10. 0. Bringer-vp 2. Ioyning of Files produceth Rankes which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for if ye jone 6. Files or 8. Files together yee make 6. men or 8. men in a Ranke and the more Files ye joyne the more ye extend the length of your Battell for as the File measureth the deipth or thicknesse so doth the Ranke the length of the Battell Those who are in one File are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leaders and followers Those of one Ranke are called Of Rāks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Sidemen A Ranke then is A row of men standing one by another in a right Line shoulder to shoulder or as Aelian describeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the side-men beareth straight foorth in length The length is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the dimension of the Battell from the one winge or Flanke to the other The deipth is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is the dimension of the Battell from the Front to the Reare The first Ranke is A row of File Leaders and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Frons Acies The Front The last Ranke is A row of Bringers-vp and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cauda the Reare As men in their Files are placed according to their worth so are the Files ranked in the Battell according to their dignitie The first place of dignitie hath the File on the right hand which is the right Flanke The second place hath the File on the left hand which is the left Flanke being the tenth if there bee onelie 10. in Ranke The third and fourth dignitic hath the 5. and 6. Files which are in the midst of the Rankes The fift sixt and seuenth dignitie hath the 2.9 and 4. Files The eight nynth and tenth dignitie hath the 7.3 and 8. Files Lefe Flanke Number of place Right Flanke 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2 1. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 2. 6. 10. 8. 4. 3. 7. 9. 5. 1. Number of dignitie Count Mansfeilde his discourse in this varieth from his Table C. Mans in his Direct of war Pag. 31. 32. Euerie man in the first Ranke is Leader of a File euerie man in the first File is Leader of a Ranke ABCD This Figure A B C D sheweth you the distinction and disposition of Rankes and Files A. B is the Front C. D. the Reare B. D. the right Flanke A C the left Flanke The Lines A. B. and C D. with the others betweene them are Rankes consisting euerie one of 10 men The Lines B. D. and A C with the others betweene them are Files consisting euerie one of 10. men also The number of Files is from B to A which is the length of the Battell The number of Ranks from B. to D. which is the deipth of the Battell From B. to D. are Leaders and Followers from B. to A. Side-men In placeing our best mē in the Frōt of the Battel putting our brauest Souldiers in the Auantgarde of the Armie we follow the custome of the Grecians who put alwayes their choisest Souldiers in the Front of the Phalanx contrare to the custome of the Romans who placed the Maniples of their Hastati Souldiers of least experience in the Frōt of the Legion their principes Souldiers of better worth in the middle their Triarii the oldest Souldiers and of greatest vallour in the Reare who were not to joyne with the Enemie till the former had beene beatten or retired Of Distances Tit. 3. SOuldiers being armed and put in a Bodie they must then know their distances for all Ranks ought to bee parallel one to another as also Files and therefore a Souldiers chiefe care should bee to haue an eye to his Leader his Sideman that hee may keepe an equall distance both in his Ranke and File for not keeping of distance breedes confusion and oft-times is the cause of the ouerthrow of a Battell and too much thronging together maketh a Souldier vnable to use his Armes too much standing remoued weakneth the Battell and maketh way to the Enemie to breake it as (a) Veget. de re Militari lib. 1. cap. 26. Vegetius pertinentlie admonisheth Nec ultra magis quam expeditant conglobent agmen aut laxent nam constipati perdunt spatia pugnandi sibi in vicē impedimento sunt rariores atque interlucentes aditum perrumpendi hostibus praestant Wherefore due distances are the midst betwixt those extremities Distances than in our moderne Discipline by the opinion of the most learned Commāaders are three First second and third distance or open Order Order and close Order Open Order or first Distance is when your men both in Ranke and File stand remoued sixe foote from another This distance containes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 4. cubits in square at this distance yee are to exercise your Companie Order or second distance is when they stand remoued 3. foote both in Ranke and File one from anothere this distance is used when ye embattell your Troupes and lead them against the Enemie or when yee come to stand or meanes to wheale the Bodie This distance is called of the (b) Aelian Tact. c. 11. Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Densatio and taketh vp 2. cubites that is three foote as the former did 4. cubites for a cubite is a
first order Double your Rankes to the right hand Double your Rankes to the left hand SEcondlie Rankes are doubled by the Bringers-vp when the last Ranke aduanceth through the distances betweene the Files and after it the nixt last Ranke and so the rest successiuelie till the Bringers-vp bee in Ranke with the Leaders The 9 Ranke with the 2. the 8 with the 3. the 7 with the 4. The Bringers-vp middlemen with the Leaders middle-men so your Front is doubled with your best men and this is done as the former either to the right or left hand If the Command bee to the right the Bringers-vp with those that follow goe vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders if to the left they goe vp vpon their left hand as in these figures folowing appeareth IKLM NOPQ The figure I. K. L. M. is a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the right hand where ye see the 10 Ranke with the 9. and 8. following it are marching through the distances of the Files and going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders vntill the 10 Ranke come to the Front I. K. And as the Ranks marcheth vp to the Front they leaue as many voide places towards the Reare L M. as in the figure yee may see marked by these points ... The figure N O P Q showeth a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the left hand where the 10. Ranke with the rest following it are marching vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders towards the Front N. O. and leaues the voyde spaces towards the Reare P. Q. as did the former Let the Pickemen obserue when they begin to double that they Aduance or mount their Pickes and when they haue doubled that they order or ouer-end them and in reducement that they turne to the contrarie hand as I shew before in the first doubling (c) Count Mansfield in his directions of Warre Count Mansfield calles this Motion A doubling by induction The wordes of Command are Bringers-vp as yee were Bringers-vp double your Front to the Right Bringers-vp double your Front to the Left Our Scots words of Command are Tenth Ranke to your first Order Tenth Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Tenth Ranke to the Left hand advance to the Front THirdlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files that is to say The last fiue Rāks marcheth vp through the distances betwixt the Files till the Bringers-vp Middle-men bee in evin Front with the File-Leaders so that the sixt Rank of 10 deipth doubleth the first the 7. the 2. the 8. the 3. the 9. the 4. the Bringers-vp the Leaders Middle-men And this is done either to the right or left hand as the former whē the Middle-men goeth vp either to the right or left hand of the Leaderes according to the worde of Command as the figures following showeth RSTV XYZA Those two figures are battells of Pickes onelie which I haue set downe for breafe perspicuities cause for yee may imagine the like Motions to be done by Musquetiers on the Flankes The Battell then R. S. T. V. is a doubling of Rankes by Middle-men to the right hand where ye see the sixt Rank with the 7.8.9 10. following it is going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders to the Front R.S. and leauing the voyde spaces where they stood towards the Reare T. V. so that the deapth which was before from S. to V. is now diminished to the half X. Y. Z. A. is a doubling by Middle-men to the left where the samine rankes marcheth vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders to the Front X. Y. leauing their voyde spaces toward the Reare Z. A. and diminishing the deapth as the former The wordes of Command Halfe Files as yee were Middle-men or halfe Files to the right hand double your Front Middle-men or halfe Files to the left hand double your Front Our Scotes wordes of Command are Sixt Ranke to your first order Sixt Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Sixt Ranke to the left hand aduance to the Front Obserue that those doublinges are to bee done at open order FOurthlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files enteare or by diuision enteare when the halfe Files or last fiue Rankes faceth about to the hand to which they are commanded to double marcheth out altogether from the Body till they bee cleare of it and then face to the Front and march vp to joyne themselues in evin Front with the File Leaders By diuision when those halfe Files doe face the one halfe to the right hand the other to the left and so going out from the Bodie they march vp vpon both Flankes vntill they come and Front with the File-Leaders as may bee seene by these figures following ABC DEF GHIK The figure A. B. C. is a doubling of the Front by the halfe Files to the right hand enteare where yee see the last fiue Rankes C. are passed out together from the Bodie and are marching vp vpon the right Flank B. to joyne in evin Front with the first 5. rākes The figure D. E. F. is a doubling to the left hand where the last fiue Rankes F. are gone out from the Bodie to the left and are marching vp the left Flanke D. to front with the rest as the former did vpon the right G. H. I. K. is a doubling to the right and left by diuision where yee see the last 5. Rankes I.K. hath diuided themselues and gone out from the Bodie the one halfe K. marching vp the right Flanke H. the other halfe I. marching vp the left Flanke G. to joyne all in evin Front with the rest The wordes of Command are Halfe Files as ye were Halfe Files to the right double your Front Enteare Halfe Files to the left double your Front Enteare Halfe Files double your Front to the right and left by diuision I haue not seene our Scots Commanders use this Motion in their exercease and therfore I cannot set downe their wordes of Command In this Motion if you would keepe your shot and your pickes together yee must cause your shot on the Flankes to edge out-ward and leaue a distance for the Pickes to come vp and joyne with the rest and your Shot that doubleth marcheth out and joyneth with rest of the Shot I haue heard many Commanders slight this Motion as vnprofitable but I doe not approue their opinion for I hold it the most usefull Motion that can bee practised in doubling of Ranks and more seruiceable thā any other doubling whatsoeuer because all other doublings must be done at open order therefore cannot bee used when the enemie commeth to charge or in time of fight because that distance is not fit to receiue the charge of the Enemie but these doublinges are done at close order therfore may be used in time of fight and at all other times without any trouble Againe other doublings disturbes the Battell maketh a confusion by marching through the
(q) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And is performed sundrie wayes FIrst when the one halfe of the Files fall in into the other the evin Files into the odde when the command of Doubling is to the right hand the odde Files into the evin when the command is to the left so that of 10. deepe they are made 20. and therefore 20. Rankes and if they were 10. in Ranke they become but 5. and therefore 5. Files The first is this way done The right hand File which is the first stands still the second Filenext it steppes about and moues in into it euerie one going behind his right hand Sydeman so doth the 4. into the 3. the 6. into the 5. the 8. into the 7. the 10. into the 9. so foorth if there be moe Files in your Battell Doubling to the left is when the left hand File together with the rest of the evin Files standes still and the odde Files turnes about to the left and steppes in behind their Sydemen on the left hand so that the first File is inserted in the second the 3 in the 4 the 5. in the 6 and so foorth of the rest of the Files of your Battell as the figures following showeth PQRS LMNO The figure L. M. N O. showeth you a doubling of Files to the right hand where yee see the evin Files 2. 4 6. 8. 10. inserted in the odde Files 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. P. Q. R. S. showeth a doubling to the left hand where yee see the odde Files 1. 3. 5. 7. 9. moueth into the evin 2 4. 6. 8. 10. These points · letteth you see the place where the Files stoode · before the Doubling Those markes \ shew· eth the way of the Motion which in the first figure is towards the right hand M. O. and in the other towardes the left hand P. R. How to doe the Motion For the right action of this Motion your Souldiers must obserue that if the command bee to double to the right hand then they who double first turnes about and setteth foreward the right Legge next steppeth foreward with the left legge behind their Sidemen on the right hand and then brings on the right Legge and place their Bodie even in a right line behind their Sideman now their Leader and in reducement to come againe to their former Posture they must first moue their left Legge and in three steppes recouer their first Station If the command bee to double to the left hand they who double first turneth about and setteth foreward their left Legge then steppeth foreward with the right behind their Sydemen on the left hand and then bringeth on their left Legge and placeth their Bodie in an evin line with their Side men In reducement they first moue their right Legge and in three steppes returnes to the Posture they were in The wordes of Command Files as yee were Files to the right hand double Files to the left hand double Our wordes of Command Stringes to your first order Double your Stringes to the right hand Double your Stringes to the left hand Obserue that this Doubling must bee done at open order I haue seene some Commanders in exerceasing command a Doubling of Files to the right and left by diuision which was done by inserting the evin Files of the right Flanke in the odde and the odde Files of the left Flanke in the evin But in this Motion the Files must consist of a number diuisible in evin numbers as 8. 12. 16. And this I thinke more curious then profitable Obserue that Doubling of Ranks Files are one anothers reducements but to the contrarie hand as if there be a doubling of Ranks to the right hand ye may command Files double to the left and so the Rankes are reduced to their first Posture If the Rankes bee doubled to the left then command Files to double to the right and so yee bring the Rankes as they were Againe if there bee a doubling of Files to the right command Rankes to double to the left and so yee restore Files to their first Station If the Files bee doubled to the left command Rankes to double to the right and so the Files are reduced SEcondlie Files are doubled by Countermarch sayth (r) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian when the evin Files countermarch to the Reare and place themselues behind the bringers vp of the odde Files And this is if the Command bee to the right hand But if it bee to the left the odde Files Countermarcheth and placeth themselues in the Reare of the evin Or it is done when the Files diuideth themselnes sayeth s Aelian that it to say (ſ) Aelian dict cap. 28 The Files vpon the one Flanke separates themselues from the Files on the other Flanke for yee must conceiue the Bodie to be diuided into two Flankes and countermarcheth to the Reare there placeth themselues behind the standing Files of the other Flanke according as the word is giuen to the right or left hand for if the command bee to the right hand the Files of the left Flanke countermarches to the Reare and placeth themselues behind the Files of the right Flanke if the Command bee to the left the Files of the right Flanke doth the like behinde the Files of the left Flanke as in the figurs following ABCD TVXY IKLM EFGH This figure T. V. X Y. is a doubling by countermarch to the right hand X. Y was the Reare of the Battell before the Doubling but after the Doubling yee see the 2. 4. 6. 8. and 10. Files are counter-marched to the Reare and placed behind the odde Files so that the deapth which streatched before from V. to Y. is now augmented to the double A. B. C. D. is a Doubling by Counter-march to the left hand where the Reare before the Doubling was C. D. and the deapth of the Battell which was onelie from B. to D. is now extended so far as the odde Files are countermarched and placed behind the evin Files The figure E. F. G. H. is the second manner of Doubling by Counter-march where the halfe of the Files that was vpon the left Flanke E. G. to wit the 10. 9. 8. 7. and 6. hath diuided themselues from the Files of the right Flanke and are Countermarched to the Reare and enlarged the deapth F. H. to the Double In. I. K. L. M. the first fiue Files of the right Flanke K. M. are diuided from the rest and countermarched to the Reare of the left Flanke and hath augmented the deapth I. L. as did the former The wordes of Command may bee those Files as yee were Double your Files by Counter-march to the right hand Double your Files by Counter-march to the left hand Diuid your Files and double them by Counter-march to the right or left hand This Motion was oft used amongst the Grecians but I haue not seene it practised in our moderne exercease THirdlie Files are
haue gotten the place of the corner Files and the Corner Files the place of the middle Files By this meanes P. Scipio making warre in Spaine against Asdrubal brought the Romans into the wings and the Confederates into the midst of his Battell whereby he overthrew Asdrubal as (n) Polyb. Hist lib. 11 Sect. 7. Polybius and (o) Livius decad 3. lib. 8. 204. Livius at more length reportes This is of excellent use in our discipline to bring the picks to the winges the Musquetiers to the midst of the Battell incase there were ane charge of Horse vpon both your Flanks for by this the Pickemen would receiue the charge of Horse and the Musquetiers giue fire vpon them Ye may also by this Motion double one wing with another to mak the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is done as before except that the Flanks doe not march through but when the Corner-File of the one Flanke is come in evin line and joyned with the Corner file of the other Flanke then yee command an halt and a faceing of them all to the Front Obserue that the Countermarch of Files of Rāks taks not the denomination à movente as would appeare but à loco in quo fit motus evolutionis for in a Countermarch of Files it is the Ranks that countermarches and moues downe through the distances betweene the Files the first Ranke beginning the second with the rest continuing the Motion till it bee ended In a Countermarch of Rankes the Files Countermarches and moues through the distances betwixt the Rankes the Corner-File which hath the command to Countermarch beginning the Motion and the rest of the Files continuing it vntill it bee finished And therefore in the Countermarch of Files the Motion is in the deapth of the Battell in the Countermarch of Rankes the Motion is in the length of the Battell Hence it is that the illustrious Count (p) Count Mansfield in his Direct of war Mansfield calleth a Coūtermarch of Rankes when the Front is brought in place of the Reare and a Countermarch of Files when one Flanke is brought in place of the other which is contrarie to the common appellation both of the Auncients and moderns or else I cannot see how hee can bee reconcealled vnto them Of Closiing and Opening the Battell Tit. 9. Closing is a drawing of the Battell to a lesse distance Opening an extending of it to a greater distance then it had before and both are either in length or in deapth And therefore two folde of Files and of Rankes Closing of Files is a contracting of the length of the Battell maintaining the samine deapth and it is threefolde for Files are either closed to the right hand or to the left or to the midle of the Battell The (a) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greekes calleth these Motions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To thicken to the right wing or the left wing or the midst of the Phalanx (b) Leo. Tact. c. 7. §. 33. Leo calleth the closing to the right and left 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bee thickned towardes the sides Aelian (c) Aelian d. cap. 32. sheweth how the closing to the right hād is to be done in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ye must command the right hand corner File to stand still and the rest turning their faces to the Picke to advance forwards towardes the right hand vntill they haue gotten the distance commanded the second File first taking his distance and the rest their distance from him and then all to face as they were ABCD The figure A B C D is the boundes where the Battell stood at open order imagine then the right hand File B D to haue stood still and the rest of the Files to haue marched from the left Flanke A C. towardes the right B D so that they are contracted to halfe the boundes they possessed before the closing and therefore standes at order or the distance of three foote from A C to the left hand File is the boundes which is left after the closing wherein the halfe of the Battell did stand before the closing to wit the 10. 9. 8. 7. and 6. Files so that the 10. File doeth now stand in the place where the 6. stood before the closing If yee close Files to the left hand yee must make the left hand corner File stand still and the rest facing to the Target advance forward to the left hand as the former did to the right vntill they haue all gotten their distance requyred and then they face as they were EFGH E F G H is a closing to the left hand where yee must conceiue the left hand File E G to haue stood still and the rest of the Files to haue advanced from the right Flanke F H vntill they haue contracted themselves as yee see so that they possesse only the halfe of the boundes they had before they closed From F H to the right hand File is the boundes wherein the halfe of the Battell stoode before the closing to wit the 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5 Files so that the first File possesseth now the place which the fyft had If yee would close your Battell to the middle Aelian d. c. 32. saith Aelian yee command the two middle Files to stand still and then the diphalanx that is the halfe Battell on the right wing to face to the Target and the diphalanx on the left wing to face to the Picke and then to moue forwards to the middle of the phalanx the two middle files also close and so after they haue gotten their true distance they face as they were IKLMNO This figure is a closing of the Battell to the middle The middle Files in K N that is the 5 6 files stands still The halfe Battell K L N O moues from the right Flanke L O towards the midle K N The halfe Battell I K M N moues from the left Flanke I M towards the middle K N so that the whole Battell I L M O is closed to halfe the distance it had before leauing the boundes voyde on the right Flanke L O where the first and second File and on the left Flanke I M where the 9. and 10. did stand The wordes of Command To your order or clo order Files close to the right hand Files close to the left hand Files close to the middle or as some say Files close for when the Command is onelie for Files to close without nameing any hand it is to bee vnderstood a closing to the middle Our Scotes words of Command To your first or second distance Close your Stringes to the right hand Close your Stringes to the left hand Close your Stringes Some will Close Files to the right and left by division making the halfe Battell on the right hand moue from the middle to the right hand File and the other halfe on the left hand
to the left hand File leauing the voide distāce in the middle which other closings leaues vpon the wings as if the halfe Battell should moue from K N to L O and the other halfe from K N to I M with this word of Command Files close to the right or left by division to your order or close order To reduce your Files after closing to their first posture or station is to open Files to the distance they had before their closing of which I shall shortly speake (c) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Aelian saith that closing of Files is to bee done by facing as indeed it is the most fitte action How the Motion is to bee performed but I haue seene many Commanders in exercise use this Motion without any Facing only mouing sydelings to the hand to which the command is to close and forsooth they will defend this to bee good because say they Facing in so small a bounds as a private company taketh vp is needlesse but I say they maintaine ane errour for laying aside the authoritie of the Grecian practise which justly may bee tearmed the touchstone of martiall discipline they are easily convinced by reasone because Facing performes the Motion more assuredly and more gracefully then going asydwayes seeing their steps are not sure being subject to stumbling neither the actiō comly and although the first or second file next the hand to which they close haue but a litle ground to goe Yet the ground doth accresse according as the Files are remoued from the standing File which our blunt Commanders doth not consider so that the vttermost File must marche the halfe of the boundes wherein the battell stoode before the closing as for example Say yee had a single company of 200 men making you 20 in Front and standing at open order sixe foote betwixt Files The bounds that the length of your Battell takes vp is 120 foote this is found by multiplying the number of your men in Front by the distance they stand in as 20 multiplied be 6 the factum is 120 if then yee command Files to close to the right hand to their order or distance of 3 foot the left hand File shall haue 60 foote of ground to march before he close to his distance requyred which if hee march sydelings yee may easily consider what a stedfast and gracefull Motion it will bee The Argument then is evident The most assured and most gracefull Motion is the best Motion But so it is that closing of Files by facing according to the Grecian forme is the most assured and most gracefull Motion Ergo Closing of Files by Facing is the best The major I hope no man vvill deny The minor I haue alreadie proven This I thought good to aduertise you whom I would wish to learne the Arte Militare scientifice and not according to the vulgare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there are manie men who pertinaciously will maintaine their badde customes and will obtrude them for precepts and good Laws vpon men as also I haue knowne manie Commanders more fraught with a Thrasonicall ostentation then any skill to performe their charge Closing of Rankes is a contracting of the deapth of the Battell Of Closing of Rankes and it is performed one way only to wit towards the Front which is thus done The File-leaders or first Ranke stands still the second Ranke comes vp and closes to the distance commanded the rest of the Rankes moue vp and close to the samine distance euerie man taking his distance from his Leader PQRS This figure P Q R S is the boundes wherein your Battell stood at open order or distance of 6. foote betwixt Rankes Now the deapth is contracted and the Ranks hath marched vp from the Reare R.S. and closed towards the Front P Q. to their order or distance of 3 foote so that your Rankes possesses only the halfe of the boundes they had before the closing from R S to the 10 Ranke is the voyd ground wherein the halfe of your Rankes did stand before your closing to wit the 10.9.8.7 6. so that the 10 Ranke stands now in the place where the 6 stoode before the closing The wordes of Command Close your Rankes to your order or close order Our wordes of Command Rankes close to your second or third distance The Emperour (d) Leo Tact. c. 7. §. 84. Leo speakes of a closing of Rankes backwards to the Reare which he calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Motion because it is not commodious nor yet aggreeable to our moderne practise I will not touche OPening OF opening of Files is an extension of the length or deapth of the Battell and therefore is twofolde of Files or of Rankes Opening of Files is an extension of the length of the Battell in place and it is threefolde as was the closing For Files are opened to the right hand or to the left hand or to both Opening of Files to the right hand is thus performed The left hand File stands still the next File vnto it first taketh its distance pressing vpon the next File on the right hand and so the rest of the Files successivelie still presseth upon the right hand till they haue all obtained the distance commanded TVXY TVXY is an opening of Files to the right hand where yee must conceiue the left hand File TX which is the 10 to stand still so ye see the 9 and 8 to haue already taken their distance and the rest of the Files to be moueing towards the right hand VY till they haue all gotten their distance required In opening of Files to the left hand ye must doe the contrare way for yee make the right hand File stands still and the rest to open towardes the left stil pressing vpon the left hand as the former did vpon the right hand till they haue all gotten the distance commanded and so both of them taketh vp the double of the boundes they stood in before ABCD ABCD is an opening of Files to the left hand where the right hand File BD stands still The 2 and 3 haue already gottē their distance the rest are moving towards the left hand AC till they also get their distance required Opening of Files to both hands is performed thus The two middlemost Files presse vpon the Flāks the one vpon the right the other vpon the left and take their distances and standes the rest of the Files on both Flanks takes their distance from them moving the one halfe to the right and the other to the left hand till they haue all gotten their distance commanded EFGH EFGH is an opening of Files to both hands where yee see the two middlemost Files to haue gotte their distance the fyft hauing pressed vpon the right Flanke FH The sixt vpon the left EG the files next vnto them the 4 vpon the right Flanke and the 7. vpon the left hath also taken their distance The rest are mouing vpon both Flankes till
halfe turne the Files K O and K N shall come to bee the Flankes of the Battell and I M and L P shall joyne in the middle This is of good use against troupes of horse comming to charge both your Flankes for the Pickes may withstand the charge of the horse and the Musquetiers play vpon them from the middle The wordes of Command Whele your Battell to the right and left hand about by division If ye wold reduce any of those to their first station ye haue nothing to doe but to face to the contrarie hand and to wheele your Battell back the contrary way quarter turne or halfe turne as they wheeled first and then they face as they were (g) Aelian Tact. c. 24. cap. 31. Aelian describeth an triple wheeling which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I thinke it is an superfluous and foolish Motion neither can I belieue that ever the Greeks did use it for to what effect shall ye make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or triple wheeling of your Battell to the Picke or the Target when a single wheeling or quarter turne to the contrary hand will effect the samine with greater readinesse and thrise alse little paines and time as for example if you make an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Target that is if yee wheeled your Battell thrise to the left hand yee bring the Front of it to the right Flanke against the enemie now if you make but one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or single wheeling to the right hand yee doe the same thing and I think there is no man of sense but will accorde that it is superfluitie to use three turnes when one turne will doe the businesse and chiefly in affaires of warre where the lest moment of time doth carrie with it a great weight This I thought good to advertise anie who shall read this Motion in Aelian that hee may eschew it for it is not only against our moderne excercise but contrarie tosense and reason Of the particular exercising of Picke-men and Musquetiers Tit. 11. OVr Pickemen as I shew before represents the heauie armed our Musquetiers the light armed both of the Grecian Phalanges and the Roman Legions Their heauie armed did carie for defence a Target besides the compleat arming of the bodie but whether the Discipline of our time hath done well or not in laying aside the Target from our Pickemen I will not disput because it is thought heauie and vnwealdie for an armed man and verie noysome in a March yet I thinke that custome and exercise would alleviat those difficulties and I belieue no good Commander will deny but it were expedient that stronge able men beeing File leaders of euerie Battaillon were appointed to carie large Targets of proofe after the Macedonian fashion that vnder the shaddow of them the rest of the Battaillion might be sheltered from the shot of the Enimie and also the Battaillion might be kept strong against the charge of the Enemie minding to breake it as the Greckes did when they made their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which did mightilie astonish the Romans themselues when they had adoe with them for (a) Plutar. in Emilio Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consul Lucius Aemilius saepe apud Romanos confitebatur se nihil unquam vidisse terrililius Phalange Macedonicâ Now as for the particular exercise of the Pickemen alone there is no other but that they ought exactlie to doe their Postures shown (b) Supra Tit. 5. before the Motions which I haue hitherto described beeing alike competent to them the Musquetiers for ordinarlie the pickemen in time of fight or skirmish doeth nothing vntill the Battells come neare to push of picke and then onelie they charge their pickes against the Enemie for the burding of sustaining the fight before that lyes vpon the Musquetiers of both sides during which time the Pickemen stands as idle spectators seruing onelie as a prop for the Enemies shot and neuer beeing able to offend them which is a pitifull consideration To remead this inconvenient the Gentlemen Souldiers of the trained bandes of the Artillerie Garding of London doe practise a shooting with the Bow they who are Pickemen without anie disturbance or hinderance of the use of their picke which is thus done They haue a Bow tyed to the picke in that place where they shoulder by a little engine or vice about which it turneth as they list so that plāting the But-end of the picke on the ground against the right foote and holding the Bow with their left arme the picke sloped and beeing as it were a rest vnto the Bow they shoote off their volie of Arrowes which hang in a Cace at their Girdle behind their backe with great ease dexterity if they be exercised therwith therafter they may fasten their Bow to a little pinne and recouer their picke order advance shoulder or doe anie other posture commanded as well with the Bow as without it When the whole Battell shoottes the followers must shoote throw their owne File ouer their Leaders heade they must stand in order at the least But when the Enemie commeth neare hand to charge the first fiue rankes must close to their close order and if it bee against horse while they foote their Pickes to receiue the charge and haue their swords drawne the last fiue Rankes may shoote their volies of arroues and doe great execution against them whereas without their Bowes they can doe nothing but stand with their pickes ported The wordes of Command for the use of the Bow with the Picke are those Order your picke Slope your picke Vnfasten your Bow Draw out your Arrow Noke your Arrow Shoote whollie together Recover your picke Fasten your Bow Advance your Picke This weapen is of excellent use both against the Enemies foote and his horse as for the foote it ouerthroweth cleane the Musquetiers seeing they are vnarmed the pickmens face armes and legges are also subject to the wounds of the Arrow which partes being hurt maketh them vnable for seruice but it doth especiallie gall the horse for a horse beeing wounded and hauing an hooked Arrowe fixed in his flesh hee will so rampage and runne to and fro that hee shall disorder the whole Battell They serue also to shoote fireworks into the Enemies Trench or Fort and also are steadable for convoyes who oft-times are assallied by horse But yee will say that those onelie of the first Rankes can use this Bow and that it cannot bee handled by them of the middle and Reare of the Battell for they will harme their owne Leaders To cleare this I would ask you How did the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or light armed of the Grecians anie seruice beeing placed in the Reare of their phalanx or the Roman Velites in the Reare of their Maniples for they were sundrie times so ordered as yee may see in (c) Aelian Tact. c. 7. 15. Aelian and (d) Leo.
foote and an halfe Obserue that when your Companie marcheth they must keepe 3. foote betweene Files and 6 foote between Rankes Close Order or third distance is when your Souldiers stand a foote and an halfe remoued from File to File and 3. foote from Ranke to Ranke and this distance is onely for Picke-men when they charge or receiue the charge of the Enemie For the Musquetiers are neuer to bee closer than three foote in square because they must haue a free use of their Armes (c) Aelian Tact. c. 11. Aelian calleth this distance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constipatio or a joyning of Targets together and taketh vp a cubitt There is also a double Distance or open open Order which containeth 12. foote betwixt Rankes and Files and is used when ye march toward a Forte to let the shotte goe through the Files and when ye double your Files by conuersiō Now the measure of those Distances cannot be taken justlie by the eye but the Souldier to learne them must acompt the distance of sixe foote to bee betwixt File and File when the Souldiers streatching out their airmes toucheth one anothers hands and betwixt Rankes when the endes of their Pickes come well neare to the heelles of them that march before As for the Musquetiers they must keepe levell with the Pickes And the measure of the 3. foote betwixt the Files is whē their Elbowes toucheth one another betwixt Rankes when they come vp to touch one anothers Swords The measure of a foote and an halfe betwixt Files is when they joyne shoulder to shoulder Manie Commanders holdes that open Order is not sixe foote in square but is 12 foote in Ranke and 6. in File Order 6. foote in Ranke and 3. in File but I leaue euerie man to his owne opinion For it is in Militarie Discipline as in all others Sciences Certant doctores adhuc sub judice lis est Alwayes the former opinion is most receiued What Distance and intervall the Romans used betwixt the Maniples and Cohortes of their Legions (d) Veget. de re Militari lib. 3. cap. 15. see Vegetius Of Marching Tit. 4. AFter that a confused Bodie of men is orderlie digested into Files and Rankes and that euerie one of them knoweth their Distance the next thing of consideration is how to make them March in due order All Marches are either in Battell array or by diuisions I will not here touch the Grecian Marches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the knowledge wherof I remitte the Reader to find in (a) Aelian Tactic cap. 35. cap. 36.37 38. sequent Aelians Tactikes but will onelie speake of the ordinarie Marches used now a-dayes Suppose then that yee haue a Companie of men consisting of 200. whereof the one halfe are Pickes and the other Musquetiers and yee would draw them vp in Battel You must first know what should bee the length of your Battell that is How many men ye should put in Ranke the deipth alreadie knowne 10. which is speedilie done thus Diuide your whole number 200. by the deipth 10. the quotus beeing 20. sheweth you the length of your Battell so that you haue 20 in Ranke and therefore your Battell consisteth of 20. Files 10. deepe Of those 20. Files 10. are Pickes 10. Musquetiers which you shall dispose after this manner Set your 10 Files of Pickes altogether diuide your 10. Files of Musquetiers and draw them vp fiue of them vpon the right hand of the Pickes and the other fiue vpon the left hand of the pickes all fronting equally so that the Bodie of your Pickes shall bee flanked with your Musquetiers vpon the right and left as you see in the Figurs following where P. signifieth the Picke-men and M. the Musquetiers for lacke of better figurs to expresse them ABCDEF Heere then yee see your 10. Files or bodie of Pickes are B. E. your fiue Files of Musquetiers on the right Flanke of your pickes C. F. the other 5. Files of Musquetiers on the left Flanke A. D. frō C. to A. is the whole number of your Files as well Musquetiers as Pickes from C. to F. the number of your Rankes Now if yee would march by diuisions as being forced by the straitnesse of the ground yee are to command the Bodie to make an halt or stand then yee command the fiue Files of Musquetiers which are on the right Flanke of the Pickes to march out from the Bodie till their Bringers vp bee before the File-Leaders of the Pickes And this shall bee your first diuision of Musquetiers Next yee are to command the fiue Files of Pickes on the right hand to march out from the rest and to follow the Musquetiers Fileing euin with them but keeping a distance of 12 foote betwixt the diuisions where the Enseigne must march and this shall bee your first diuision of Pickes After them shall follow therest of the Pickes which shall bee your second diuision of Pickes keeping also a distance as the former Last of all shall follow the 5. Files of Musquetiers which was on the left Flancke of the Pickes and this shall bee your second diuision of Musquetiers The Officers of the Companie must bee thus placed The Captaine marcheth in the Front before the first diuision of Musquetiers The Enseigne with the Colours is to march before the first diuision of pickes The oldest Sergeant is to leade the second diuision of pickes The second Sergeant leads the second diuision of Musquetiers The Leiuetenant marcheth after the second diuisiō of Musquetiers bringeth vp the Reare The chiefest Drumme beats in the first diuision of Pickes betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke The second Drumme beats in the first diuision of Musquetiers betwixt the 3. and 4 Ranke but some by the contrare maketh the chiefest Drumme to beate in the first diuision of Musqueties because say they the Captaine ought to haue the chiefe Drum with him Some also I haue seene make the Drum who marcheth with the Pickes to beate in the Front beside the Enseigne but those differences are not of great moment if the Companie haue a third Drum he shall beate in the last diuision of Musquetiers The figure following expresseth this march clearclie In this figure then A. B. C. is the first diuision of Musquetiers before which the Captaine marcheth In D. the second Drum beates betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke D. E. F. is the first diuision of Picks C. D. is the interuall or distance betwixt the first diuision of Musquetiers and the first diuision of Pickes where the Enseigne marcheth In E. the first Drumme beateth betwixt the 3. and 4. Ranke of Pickes G. H. is the second diuision of Pickes F. G. the distance betwixt the two diuisions of Pickes which is the oldest Sergeants place I. K. is the last diuision of Musquetiers H. I. the interuall where the second Sergeant marcheth K. is the place of the Leiuetenant in the Reare Now when ye come againe to a faire Campaigne desireth to
the enemie or receiuing his charge by the second reteiring from the enemie by the third marching by an enemie First then they are taught to Giue fire in the Front advancing vpon the enemie after this manner How to Giue fire in the Front A Sergeāt or some higher Officer if the body be great stands some 7 or 8 pace before the body commāds the first two Rankes of both winges to make readie and to come vp to him which when they haue done hee commands the first Ranke to present and giue fire and thereafter to fall away those of the right Flanke to the right hand those of the left Flanke to the left hand that is to marche away one after another in a File downe by the Flankes of the Battallion and joyne in the Reare euerie man behinde his owne File When the first Rank is fallen away the second presentes and giues fire and falles away as the first Immediatly as the first two Ranks doth moue to goe up and giue fire the next two Rankes must make ready and as soone as the first two Rankes are fallen away they goe vp to their place and giues fire and falles away in the like maner as they did So all the other Ranks by twoes are to doe the samine one after another vntill they haue all giuen fire when the first two Rankes are advanced the body moues vp to their place and the rest successively till the whole Rankes haue giuen fire and made way for the first Ranke to renew the volie ABCD Yee see in this Battell A B C D the first two Rankes of each wing are advanced before the body to giue fire and the first Ranke of both winges hath alreadie giuen fire and fallen away That of the right wing B D to the right hand that of the left wing A C to the left hand and both of them falleth downe to the Reare euerie man behinde his owne File The second Ranke of both winges hath presented to giue fire and thereafter falles away as the first did and so all the rest But if your Battallion cosist of any greater number as of 400 or 600 men so that ye haue 10 or 15 Musquetiers in Ranke on each wing then yee must observe to mak them fall away by diuisions that is they must divide themselues and fall away downe by the divisions or streetes which the Sergeant causes make to that purpose through the bodie of the Musquetiers those of the right wing falling to the right hand those of the lest wing falling to the left hand EFGHIKLMNO Yee see heere a Battallion of 400 men consisting of halfe Picks halfe Musquetiers hauing 10 Musquetiers in Ranke on each wing The right wing is G H M O The left wing E F I L The first Rank of both wings hath given fyre fallen away That of the right wing to the right hand the one halfe without the right Flanke H O the other halfe through the division N That of the left wing to the left hand the one halfe without the left Flanke E I the other through the diuision K. Or else ye may mak them fall away as I haue seene many doe on each wing to the right or left hand making those who fell away to the right hand through the division N to fall away to the left hand through the diuision G M betwixt the right wing of the Musquetiers and the body of the Pickes and those who fell away to the left hand through the division K to fall away to the right hand through the division F L betwixt the left wing of the Musquetiers and the body of the Pickes and by this meanes yee shall keep the body of your shotte whole and vndisioyned which many Commanders studie to doe But if your Battaillion be greater as consisting of 600 or 800 men so that yee haue 15 or 20 Musquetiers in Ranke on each VVinge then of necessitie yee muste make streetes or diuisiones through the body of your Musquetiers to them to fall away fiue fiue For good Commanders holds a maxime that more than fyue Musquetiers to make readie seruice ought not to fall away together and if the Front bee long then to make so many diuisiones as there is fiues to fall away because when the whole Ranke of Musquetiers if they bee many falles away together one after another they take a long time before they can all fall away and so hinders the next Ranke to come vp and giue fire whereas falling away by diuisions they doe it in an instant and makes present way for the next Ranke to giue fire as yee see in the figure following OPQRSTV O P Q V is the right wing of a Battell of 800. men containing 200. Musquetiers making 20 in Front yee see then the first Ranke O P hath giuen fire and divided it selfe in foure partes containing euerie one fyue falling all away to the right hand whereof the one is falling away by the right Flanke P V the next through the division T the third through the division S the fourth through the division R So that the whole twentie Musquetiers falleth away in as short time as fiue onelie would haue done whereas if they had fallen away altogether to either hand they would haue taken foure times as much time or had fallen away to the right and left they would haue taken twise so much time as they haue now takē in falling away by diuisions therfore makes ready way to the following Rankes to come vp giue fyre against the Enemie The like ye may vnderstand of the left wing of Musquetiers where they will all fall to the left hand as these hath done to the right This forme of falling away I haue found approued and haue seene practised by the most judicious and best experimented Commanders of our dayes Notwithstanding I know many Commanders who not considering this make all their Musquetiers fall off together or at the most to the right and left by division how manie so euer they bee For there are manie more curious to make vnlawfull gaines by their company then carefull to performe a duetie belonging to their charge I haue seene another maner of falling away used by the English which is by Counter march thus when the first Ranke hath giuen fyre all those of the ranke turneth together to the right hand and marcheth downe through the distances betweene the Files while they come to the Reare and likewise the second Ranke all the rest one after another And it is chiefelie used in a Phalanx amphistomus where the halfe of the Ranks of the Musquetiers giues fyre in the Front and the other halfe in the Reare when they Countermarch to the division which is made through the middle of the Rankes But to performe this the Files must bee at open order and they must bee verie expert Musquetiers They use another forme of giuing fyre in the Front without anie falling away thus when