files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the bodie 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 bodie moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the center 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 percipi interdum non petest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorun transitum himitum multitudinis 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 usus invenit c. Tria generasignorum Vocaliae semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3. cap. 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kindes 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 war like instrument to the eare 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 next after him two attendants with spare horses they bearing his armour then the trumpeters then the cornet in the first rank of horse But VValhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the reere Flamin de la Crore would have them march in 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 Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant Quartermaster are to come in the reare And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand 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 praeparati In itinere minùs armatus minùsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu vel fraude repente turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of suddain 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 Meteren 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 usuall wayes the use of mappes 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
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 dextrum the Battell Acies media and the Reare Cornu sinistrum as is shewed by Sr. 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 Battell and Reare as hath been shewed Part. 2. chap. 3. Each of which parts is governed by it's 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 foremost are said to have the Vanguard they which march in the middle the Battell and they which come last the Reare And these divisions alter their names according to the place they march in wherein they observe a diuinall 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 battell conceiving that that part of the armie which is called the Vanguard shall give the first charge and that which is called the Battell shall give the second charge the Reareward the last it will prove a meere mistake For we are to know that the first charge must be given by the first troop or foremost order 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 Fig. 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 fathoms a furlong seven furlongs and a half a mile Five foot make a pace 1000 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 Battell 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 armie 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 armie for battell is as followeth That squadron which is called the Battell is placed in the middle the Vanguard on the right hand of it and the Reare on the left and all these usually in one front and single order one regiment or sometimes one companie especially among the horse as in Fig. 10. flanking the other as in Fig. 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 bodie to the other At a convenient k Usually 300 foot distance behinde 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 battells in three divisions or troops viz. their Hastati Principes and Triarii The first were called Acies prima and these were the Hastati which were to give the first charge At a distance behinde them were the Principes placed which 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 behinde the Principes observing therein such intervalles as before mentioned Vide Livium lib. 8. Lipsium de milit Rom. lib. 4. ubi etiam Aciei 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 just behinde the first but at twice as large a m 600 foot distance from the second as the second is from the first that so the first troop retreating behinde the second they may have convenient room to make their retreat in good order All this will appeare in the figures following among the rest in Fig. 9. If the Infanterie and Cavallrie be joyned together the manner is to place half the horse on the right flank of the foot and the other half on the left as appeareth in Fig. 12 14 and 15. But upon occasion either of the enemie his ordering of horse within the bodie of foot whereby he might annoy your Infanterie or for other respects of moment some of the horse may be placed within the bodie of the armie as is shewed in Fig. 16. What distances be observable between Regiment and Regiment between Squadron and Squadron betwen each Troop the second from the first and the third from the second the figures will sufficiently shew and especially the Scales of measure in every figure For the more easie understanding of them observe that every bodie of pikes is single hatched thus and the musketiers crosse-hatched thus the horse are left white or void as in Fig. 12. by which the other forms may easily be understood THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS CAVALLRIE ORDERED FOR BATTAILE BEFORE GVLICK ANNO M.DC.X. Fig 9. Par 4. Cap 8. The forme of the Duke of Brunswycks horse Battaile in the plaine of Elton The 5th of September 1623. Fig 10 Par 4 Cap 8 The Embattailing of 37 Troopès of horsse before REees the 23 of September Ao. 1614. Fig 11. Par 4. Cap 8. THE PRINCE OF ORANGE HIS HORSE AND FOOT EMBATTAILED BEFORE REES THE XIX OF OCTOBER M.DC.XIIII Fig 12. Par 4. Cap 8. THE CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE REES IN OCTOBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 3895. foot of ground Fig 13 Par 4 Cap 8 THE FORME OF BATTAILE OF HORSE AND FOOT AS IT WAS ORDERED BY HIS EXCELLENCE PRINCE MAVRICE BEFORE DORNICK THE XI OF SEPTEMBER M.DC.XXI The whole Front containeth 6380. foot Fig 14.
so by raising the vizures of his casque with the point of the sword to runne him into the head But this seemeth not so likely to take effect as that of aiming at the throat and sometimes as some casques are made it would be of no use In these and the like exercises the Cuirassier is frequently and diligently to practise himself at some mark which will render him fit for service when need shall require Some authors for the disposing of the Cuirassiers for fight hold that they ought to be ordered in grosse bodies that so g The Cuirassiers among the horse are like the gravis armatura of foot among the Romanes quae tanquam murus ferreus stabat si hostes fugâsset non sequebatur quia ejus jus est facilè nec fugere nec sequi Veg. lib. 2. cap. 17. Or like the Equites Cataphracti among the Graecians Aelian cap. 2. by their soliditie and weight they may entertain and sustain the shock of the enemie They are also fit for troops of reserve to give courage to the other Cavallrie and to give them opportunitie to re-assemble themselves behinde them c. CHAP. XXX Of exercising the Harquebusier and Carabine ALthough there be some difference between the Harquebusier and the Carabine in regard of their horse their arming and their piece howsoever most authors take them for one and the same yet in regard the harquebuse differeth nothing from the carabine in length but onely in the bore their manner of using their severall pieces is one and the same and so one instruction may serve for both In march he is either to carry his carabine hanging at his belt by the right side See fig. 3. posture 23 and 24. as is shewed chap 24. or else to order it upon his right thigh as the Cuirassier in posture 4. In fight he is to strive to gain the left side of his enemie contrarie to the Cuirassier because that in presenting he is to rest his carabine on his bridle-hand placing the but end on the right side of his breast neare his shoulder He must be taught to use his carabine with all exactnesse and dexteritie and to be an exquisit marks man For the h Walhausen would have the Harquebusier to give fire not onely to the front and flanks but to the reere also by turning his bodie onely the horse running the contrarie way in full careere But how possible this is to be done I leave to the judgement of any man that knows what belongs to Cavallrie manner of handling of the harquebuse or carabine the directions for the pistoll in the foregoing chapter mutatis mutandis may serve for sufficient instruction Yet in regard the carabines with us are for the most part snap-hanes and so something differing from the firelock I will set down the order of handling it in the words of command holding it needlesse here to dilate them Postures for the Snap-hane carabine 1 Order your carabine 2 Sink your carabine into your bridle-hand 3 Bend your cock 4 Guard your cock 5 Prime 6 Shut your pan 7 Cast about your carabine 8 Gage your flasque 9 Lade your Carabine 10 Draw your rammer 11 Shorten your rammer 12 Lade with bullet and ramme home 13 Withdraw your rammer 14 Shorten your rammer 15 Return your rammer 16 Recover your carabine 17 Order your hammer 18 Free your cock 19 Present 20 Give fire For the use of his sword he is to demean himself as the Cuirasier CHAP. XXXI Of exercising the Dragon THe Dragon was invented for speciall services to assist the Cavallrie as Infanterie considering there be many exploits which cannot be effected by the Cavallrie alone The musketier must exercise himself to give fire on horse-back as the Harquebusier Being come to guard a passage or to do any other the like service they are to allight and to demean themselves as Infanterie Whereof it shall be needlesse here to 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 allighted 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 bodie And here before we enter into the motions it were fit to explain the terms of a The Graecians 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 10 among the foot with some 16. a bringer up Tergiductor a leader being every odde man in the file Prostes a follower which is every even number Substes a side-man Astes Their distances were the same with us Their 2 cubits every cubit being a foot and an half of our measure agreed with our 3 foot Their 4 cubits our 6 foot and so increasing upon occasion They ordered their horse-troops at 6 foot distance between file and file in march and 3 foot in fight art therein used and to shew what is meant by a file a rank half files and half ranks the front flanks and reere 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 bodie not by ranks but by files and those of 5 deep as most affirm or of 6 as others would have it and that because the number of 5 is not divisible by 2 and so in doubling of ranks or half files or the like there is alwaies an odde rank Some would have them especially the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia that is ordered into a square bodie and silence strictly commanded the first thing to be taught them is distance And herein authors disagree Some make close order to be 2 paces open order 4 paces and so for double triple and quadruple distance proportionable Others make but 2 kindes of distances Close order which is 3 foot and open order which is 6 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 Infanterie for in the foot the distance is taken from the center of the souldiers bodie 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 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 verie large distance In my opinion the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions should be at ther distance of six foot or open order taking it as hath been shewed d standing right in their ranks and files b Omnes milites incedendi ordinem servent Veg. 1.9 Vt aquali legitimóque spatio miles distet à milite nec ultrà quà m expedit aut conglobent agmen aut laxent ibid. cap. 26. c In all the motions we also retain the same words of command which they used Facing they called declinatio to the right ad bastam and left ad scutum facing about immutatio Doubling by ranks and files Duplicandi due genera per juga versus Their countermarches the same which we use evolutio Chorica per decurias juga evolutio Macedonica per decurias juga evolutio Laconica per decurias juga Wheelings the same with us conversio ad hastam vel conversio ad scutum Reversio est conversionis restitutio Inflexio wheeling about c. Now the motions are of foure kindes 1. facings 2. doublings 3. countermarches 4. wheelings The use of facings is to make the companie perfect to be suddainly prepared for a charge on either flank or the reere 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 readie to receive the charge of an enemie in the reere or to bring one flank into the place of the other or front and reere or either flank into the middle of the bodie The use of wheelings is to bring the front which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men to be readie to receive the charge of the enemie on either flank or reere These motions for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier are represented in figures by a companie 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 Front Right flank Reere Left flank 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 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 reare though it be proper first to do it by the right hand yet for the more ready way I would say 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 reare 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 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 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 right double To do this the second file passeth into the first every man behinde his sideman accounting from the right hand the 4 into the 3 and so the rest which must be done throughout the companie at one instant all together But because the first rank of the companie is as the edge and the files are for the most part appointed but 5 deep there seemeth no great necessitie of doubling of files They are reduced by commanding Files to the left 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 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 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 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 Choraean manner There be also countermarches after the Macedonian and Lacedemonian wayes and those in ranks as well as files which are here omitted for brevitie sake Files close to the right and left to your close order Being about to wheel the companie 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
and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm possuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates per discat compendia diverticula montes stamina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hilly 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 approaches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgeings as forrage water c. In so much 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 a prudentioribus locorumque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them seperated 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 runÌ„ing away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodiae mancipare additâ poenae ostentatione vel praemii c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they doe 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 suddainly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsails and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consâ—lia aliâ viâ pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium raptúmque 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 travail and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitús prosecturus fidelissimos argutissimosque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressu a tergo dextrâ 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 carry 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 finde the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the reare or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approach the enemies armie assaying to take some Centinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses there about 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 b How abundant Antiquitie 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 Roman and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Poliaenus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled d 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 them selves 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 feare of some embuscado which gives leasure 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 2 or 3 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 Everie Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appeare at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar gli esserciti in tre squadrons cioè vanguardia Battaglia retroguardia che ogni giornato si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis diebus altera legio alterum cornu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battail and reare 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 reare and they which had the reare the battail So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting
their dispatch Other waies and means may be used for discovering and preventing of spies wherewith the ready f Solertia enim imperatoria ubi occasionem rerum gerendarum ceperit non in iis solùm quae inventa sunt consistit sed etiam multò plura ac saepe meliora excogitat Leo Tact. cap. 18. invention of a quick spirited Commander will abundantly furnish him upon every occasion CHAP. XII Of dislodging FOr the manner of dislodging or removing of the Cavallrie out of the quarter there are also necessary advertisements to be given All the Cavallrie lodging together and order being given for their remove the Commissarie Generall is to take notice of the precise houre and at the distributing of the word to the Quartermasters he is to warne them to give notice thereof to their Captains which must be carefull to cause the a With antiquitie it was usuall to remove or dislodge by sounding the trumpet three times Leo cap. 11. boutez-selle to be sounded when they heare the Generalls trumpets do it This useth to be sounded 2 houres before the time of departing and the a chevall when it is time to march Upon sudden occasions or for privacie no other warning is given but onely the b Tubicen unus insonuit mox alii pariter responderunt Dio. lib. 47. Generalls trumpets sound and the rest take it from them If the Cavallrie be quartered in severall places the Quartermasters coming for the word c Scipio tesseram vesperi per castra dedit ut ante lucem viri equÃque curati pransi essent armatus eques froenatos teneret equos T. Livius lib. 28. the evening before carrie the orders to the Captains acquainting them with the just houre for their assembling at the generall Rendez-vous If the remove be sudden word is carried by one of the two souldiers which attend the Generall as is before shewed In suspected places they are to remove with all possible silence The Rendez-vous where the troops must assemble to be readie to march must be out of the village and free from hedges c. though it be somewhat the further of towards the place to which they are to march The companie which hath the vanguard is to be first on their march towards the Rendez-vous the souldiers of every companie assemble at their Cornets lodging who is to be first on horse-back and the c John Duke of Calabria is said upon all occasions to have been le premier homme armé et de toutes pieces Ph. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 11. Captain by his readinesse is to give a good example to his souldiers The greater part of the companie being met the Captain is to advance towards the Rendez-vous The companie which that day hath the guard must not stirre untill all be gone their Lieutenant going to the contrarie side of the village remotest from the Rendez-vous to draw in his Sentinells All the troops and baggage being marched away the said companie shall also march But if the said companie be to march in the van or battaillon to save the travell of the horses to hasten to their place of march and the trouble of passing before the other troops it is best to commit that dutie to the companie of Harquebusiers which is to march in the reare of all Every Lieutenant when his companie marcheth is to stay to reprehend or d How severe the ancients were in punishing of abuses may be seen in that example of Lucillius the Centurion who having broken a staffe about the bones of one of his souldiers called for a second and a third after that for which he was called Cedo alteram among the factious souldiers Tacit. 1. Annal. Which severitie of theirs wrought so good effects as Frontine reporteth that the Romane armie being to encamp where a tree laden with fruit grew within the quarter it remained so laden and untouched when the armie was dislodged Front lib. 4. cap. 3. severely punish such as stay behinde especially doing it to pillage or for the like bad intent The Provost or his assistants are also to stay to see the fires put out and good order kept As the troops enter the Rendez-vous the Quartermaster Generall or some of the particular Quartermasters are to place them one after another in their due places according to the written orders leaving spaces for every companie that is to come which after 2 or 3 dayes they can observe of themselves The companies entring the Rendez-vous must fit themselves as for fight The Captains must put on their casques so must the Cornets c. The Harquebusiers must place their Carabines on their thighs The Cuirassiers must hold their pistolls in their hands the trumpets sounding untill all be come to their places If they be there to make some stay they may put off their casques and alight a while with leave but must not omit to place Sentinells on some high places THE FOURTH PART OF EMBATTELLING THE ARGUMENT OF all other militarie actions the a Acies si suplenter disponitur plurimùm juvat si imperitè quamvis optimi bellatores sint malâ ordinatione franguntur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. chiefest is that of embattelling or ordering an armie for combat which now in the last place I am to treat of The occasions of combat for the Cavallrie are many and frequent sometime by a sole companie sometime by more troops otherwhile by all the horse together of divers kindes upon differing accidents and those for the most part sudden and unexpected Since therefore no b Nulla ars mittùs habet stabilia pracepta quà m militaris ars adeò subita in bellis ingruunt pericula fortunae varietas dominátur Scipio Amiratus Dissert Politic. lib. 21. discours 2. rules nor directions can be so full and ample as to meet with all sorts of accidents my purpose is to aim at the cheifest to shew 1 How to assail a quarter to give the charge in fight and to order embuscadoes by way of offence 2 How to do meeting with the enemie in marching and how to receive the charge by way of defence 3 How to order the troops in battell 1. by single companies apart 2 by all the Cavallrie united in a grosse bodie CHAP. I. How to assail a quarter A Captain which is desirous to gain honour by some enterprice upon the enemie though much his superiour in strength hath a In mansione dormientibus opportunum praelium semper infertur cum hostis priùs interimatur quà m praeparare se possit Veg. Ibid. cap. 19. no better way then to assail him in his quarter To effect this he must have good knowledge of the village and the countrey thereabout and if he can by taking a little compasse charge him on the reare or on the flanks if there be any negligence in the quarter it is like to be on those parts If he cannot by other means get knowledge
brings it advanceth towards him with one or two of 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 entermingle not but observe good order for it might so happen that the enemie might charge him c Qui dispersis suis inconsultè 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 battell which may be used among the Cavallrie it will be fit to speak of their severall kindes 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 reare 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 8 in rank should face to the front two to either flank and two to the reare 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 lui aller gaillardement donner par les flancs car par ce moyen ils l'entr ' ouuriront Monsieur de la Noüe Disc 18. they were by two ranks together to fetch their careers and so to charge them especially on the flanks and reare 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 body 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 Fig. 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 reare in full career These forms in Walhausens opinion are of c So the said author conceiveth but it is very doubtfull For by this opening to the right left you must turn troop and then make a whole turn again 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 before-hand and are to do it in a moment of themselves with all possible dexteritie speciall advantage for the enemie having charged you in full carreere 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 ferried 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 serrez 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 Fig. 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 will not permit it but that it must be to the right making readie and falling into the reare 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 30 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 kinde 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 booke Captain Binghams notes upon Alien 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 battell though they exceed him much for number But if the said Infanterie be put in good order at his approach 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 reare 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 body 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 reason of their grosse bodies of pikes If the Infanterie be ordered into severall battallions 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 battell THe forms of battell 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 Vna aciei bellicae forma non est sed muitae diversae pro varietate armorum militum hostium locorum temporum Leo Tact. cap. 20. 182. are many Ordinaturus acient solem ventum antè prospiciat Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. 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 c The Grecians had their troops of reserve and herein the Carthaginians imitated them and these the Romans also followed Veg. ibid. cap. 17. The second is when all the troops are placed as in b Si nimiùm fuerit acies attenuata citò ab adversariis factá 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 reserve The third is when the troops are ordered chequer-wise in squadrons enterchangeably placed one behinde another so as three or foure squadrons being in front such distances are left between each as others behinde them may come up to the front without hindring 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 kindes of horse-battells The Square the Wedge and the Rhombe which is as the diamond battell 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 reare 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 wars of Christendome yet the forenamed authors 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 Figu 8 Cap 8 Par 4 The fourth kinde of forma 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 battells namely 1. The Lunarie 2. The Checquer 3. The Broad-fronted 4. The Embowed 5. The Sharp pointed 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 acicb 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 halfmoon like f Which the Latine translation tearmeth Acies incurva Aelian cap. 47. Aelians Cyrte he maketh a meere 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 reare 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 kindes of battells 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 battells I shall now to give fuller satisfaction to such as are lovers of militarie knowledge communicate some forms of embattellings which never yet were published by any These are true delineations of divers battells 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