their Rankes at six foot distance and commanded silence that so euery one may heare the words of Command and to be ready to execute the same c. Front Reare To the right hand double your files BEcause there may be occasion of strengthning the Flankes as also for other purposes these words of Command are vsed To the right hand double your Files which is thus performed All the second file from the right hand march euery one behinde his side-man into the first or right hand File and so the fourth File into the third and the sixt into the fift c. which is done of all at one instant after the command is giuen The order whereof is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 177. In which you may perceiue by the Starres from and to what place each man marcheth The Stars are onely set downe in the first and second Files but you are to vnderstand the same order in the third and fourth Files and so of all the rest c. Files as you were HAuing performed the former Motion the Captaine commands them Files as you were and then all those which doubled returne vnto their owne proper places the which is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 179. by the Starres in the first and second Files the which order you must conceiue in the third and fourth fift and sixt c. To the left hand double your files THis Motion differeth little from that marked with 177. but that here the Motion is to the left hand as there it was to the right hand so that those Files which moued then stand still now and those which stood still then moue now all which is so plainly demonstrated by the Starres in the figure marked with 181. that it needs no further explanation Files as you were THe former Motion orderly performed the Captaine commands Files as you were and then those which doubled returne into their proper places according as you may plainely vnderstand by the figure pag 183. in which the Starres demonstrate both from what place they come and whither they march HAuing performed the doubling of Files in all points and orders demonstrated in my figures before this which was done with the shot in the right hand flanke of the pikes hereafter followeth the exercise in the very same forme and station of the Company where with I began the exercise of training the which Musketiers are diuided and placed in both the flankes of the pikes according to the figure in the next side pag. 185. Halfe Files to the right hand double your Ranckes IN the figure pag. 166. was shewed one way how that vpon occasion the Front might be strengthned here is another forme of strengthning the same which requireth two demonstrations or Figures for explanation In the first marked with D. is shewed the manner of acting this Motion and in the second marked with E. is demonstrated the action performed wherein you may perceiue how the sixt Rancke or as some improperly call them middle men doubleth the first Rancke the seuenth the second Rancke the eight the third Rancke the ninth the fourth Rancke and the tenth the fift Rancke Note that in performing this motion the halfe files of Pikes that doubled aduance their Pikes till they haue doubled and then order them D E Halfe Files as you were WHen they haue performed the former Motion according to the direction the Captaine commands Halfe Files as you were and then the halfe Files aduance their Pikes and fall backe with their right legge and so march into their proper places and then they are againe ten deepe at six foote distance according to the demonstration pag. 189. Note that in turning into their places euery one ought to turne to the right hand which is both easier and more pleasing to the eye then turning to the left hand Halfe Files to the left hand double your Ranckes THis Motion differeth nothing in effect from that before demonstrated in the 187. Figure the difference onely is that here the halfe Files which moue march vp to the left hand of the halfe Files that stand whereas according to those Figures they marched vp to the right hand of them The Figures marked pag. 191. make this very plaine Halfe Files as you were HAuing performed the former Motion the Captaine commands Halfe Files as you were and then the Halfe Files which doubled aduance their Pikes and fall backe with their right leg to be cleare of their Side-men and so march into their proper places turning into the same towards the left hand which done they will be in the forme marked with 193. Files to the Right hand Countermarch WHen a charge is expected in the Reare and it being thought conuenient to haue the Leaders of files to be in the places of the bringers vp because they are men best able to receiue the enemie it may be performed in this manner The Captaine commands Files to the right hand Counter-march and then the Leaders of Files aduancing with their right legge turne to the right hand and march downe towards the Reare all the body of the company mouing together and so the second rancke turning as the Front or Leaders of the files did when they haue marched vp to the place where the front was and so doth the third fourth and fift rankes c. The manner whereof is plainely demonstrated in the figure marked with B. and the figure marked with C. sheweth the motion performed B C Files to the left hand Counter-march THis Motion differeth nothing in vse from the former the difference of acting it is onely that there they aduance with the right legge and turne to the right hand and here they aduance with the left legge and turne to the left hand The manner of doing this is demonstrated in the next page marked with G. And the thing done in that marked with H. And therefore needs no further explanation G H The Postures of the Pike HAndle your Pike Aduance your Pike Shoulder your Pike To the right hand charge As you were To the left hand charge As you were To the Front charge As you were To the Reare charge As you were Aduance your Pike Porte your Pike Comport your Pike Traile your Pike Cheeke your Pike Aduance your Pike To your funerall posture traile your Pike Recouer your Pike Order your Pike Your open order at foote Your close order at foote To the Front charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge Order your Pike Aduance your Pike Lay downe your Pike Take vp your Pike Shoulder your Pike Slope your Pike Leuell your Pike Traile your Pike Recouer your Pike Charge your Pike and aduance your ground Retreat charging Aduance your Pike Lay downe your Pike The Postures of the Musket HAndle your Musket Lay downe your Musket Lay downe your bandeleers Hold your Rest in your left hand Take vp your bandeleers with
your right hand Put on your bandeleers Take vp your Musket Bring your Rest to your Musket Open your pann Prime your pann Shut your pann Cast off your loose powder Beare ouer your Musket into your left hand Traile your Rest Charge your Musket Draw forth your skowring stick Short your scowring flick against your right side Ram downe your powder Draw forth your skowring stick Short your skowring sticke Returne your skowring sticke Bring forward your Musket into your right hand Recouer your Rest Poyse your Musket Bring your Rest to the right side of your Musket Beare your Rest and Musket in your left hand Draw your match Blow your match Cock your match Try your match Guard your pann Blow your match Present to the Front Giue fire Take downe your Musket Vncock your match Returne your match Blow your pann Prime your pann Shut your pann Shoulder your Musket carrying your Rest in your left hand Slope your Musket Vnshoulder your Musket Rest your Musket Stand to your saluting Posture Lay downe your Musket The first order of exercising Musketiers FIrst vnderstand that they are three foote in File and three foote in Rancke hauing a diuision in the middest of six foote then the Captaine bids the two first Ranckes Make ready and marcheth with them some fiue or six paces before the rest of the Company and bids the first Rancke Giue fire which it doth and then marcheth away turning to the right hand the one halfe marching by the right hand Flancke and the other halfe through the middest of the body and so fall euery one into his owne File in the Reare and then the Captaine commands the second Rancke to giue fire which performes all as aforesaid and then two Ranckes more aduance in the former order and so they may continue discharging with ten Ranckes a long time The Demonstration pag. 201. makes this very plaine to which I refer you for speculation This order is of great vse to winne ground vpon an enemie The second Order of Exercising Musketiers IN the former Demonstration was shewed an Order of winning ground vpon an enemy in this the contrary of loosing ground or retraiting is shewed and yet to offend the enemy The distances and diuision being obserued as in the former Figure the Captaine in the Reare commands To the right hand about and giue fire and then the Rancke in the Reare performes the same and presently after they march into the Front euery man into his owne File the one halfe march on the left hand File and the other halfe through the middest of the body Then the Captaine commands againe To the right hand about and giue fire which the Rancke then in the Reare performes as aforesaid and so forth infinitely all which in the Demonstration pag. 203. is made plaine and easie The thrid Order of exercising Musketiers THe whole Company being three foote distant in Files and Ranckes without any diuision as aforesaid the Captaine marching in the Front commands Right Flanck to the right hand giue fire then the right hand File turneth towards the right hand and performes the same and the rest of the body continues marching till they be cleare of that File which gaue fire and then the Captaine commands againe as before which the then right File performes the rest of the body marching and so in like manner till all the Files haue discharged The order hereof is demonstrated pag. 205. If there be occasion to discharge on the left hand Flancke the same order is to be obserued as on the right hand Flancke Note that when the second File hath discharged that then the first File marcheth vp to Front with it and both those with the third File when it hath discharged and so forth till all front with the last File and then they are ready to discharge againe if occasion require The fourth Order of Exercising Muskettieres THis fourth way in vse is all one with the third order the difference is onely in the manner of performing the same for according to this order the depth of the Company is diuided by making the fift and sixt Ranckes sixe foote distance each from other The Captaine marching in the Front commands Right Flancke to the right hand and giue fire which the right File doth and then halfe thereof march through the Diuision and the other halfe in the Reare and so march on the left hand of the left hand Flancke euery man into his owne Rancke the order whereof is plainly demonstrated in the Figure marked pag. 207. The fift Order of Exercising Muskettieres THis Order is another kinde of loosing ground the Captaine in the Front commands Make ready altogether and then saith to the first Rancke giue fire which done the one halfe of that Rancke marcheth downe into the Reare on the right hand of the right hand Flancke and the other halfe through the midst of the body which for that end is diuided euery man falling into his owne File Then the Captaine saith likewise to the second Rancke Giue fire which it doth and fals into the Reare as the first did and so the third fourth fift c. The manner whereof is demonstrated in the Figure marked with 209. Note that here the whole body stands still and are onely in motion by particular Ranckes when they haue discharged till they come againe into their proper Files in the Reare and then stand still againe till they haue redischarged Close your Files both waies at a foote and halfe IF a charge of Horse be expected then the foote are to be in the closest order which is one foote and a halfe in Rancke and three foote in File The words of command for closing Files are diuers as Close your Files to the right hand or Close your Files to the left hand or Close your Files both waies the last whereof is most commonly vsed and therefore I haue demonstrated that order as you may perceiue in the Figure marked pag. 211. Note also that because I desired to obserue the distances precisely in all the Figures that therefore the Printer was forced to change the Letters in this and some other Figures and in steed of M. for Muskettiere hath placed S. for Shot which I thought good to giue notice of for thy better vnderstanding Close your Ranckes at three foote THe Files being closed at a foote and halfe demonstrated in the Figure marked in pag. 211 the Captaine then commands Close your Ranckes at three foote or at Swords point which is the closest order for Ranckes the which is plainly demonstrated in the Figure marked in pag. 213. To the right hand wheele VPon occasion of the Enemies charge on the right hand Flancke to receiue him with the most able men which are vsually in the Front it may be performed by commanding them To the right hand wheele and then the Leader of the right hand File standeth fixed onely turning his body and all the rest moue vpon him as the centre according to the Demonstration pag. 215. Note that the Officers must be very carefull to command and see them to keepe their distances in Rancke and File without which this Motion will not bee gracefully acted To the left hand wheele THis Motion differeth from the former pag. 215 only in this that here the Leader of the left hand File standeth fixed as there the Leader of the right hand File did which by the forme of the Demonstration marked with A. you may easily vnderstand THere is another way which I haue seene Graue Maurice his guard to wheele viz. to moue vpon the middle of the Front and then if they wheele to the right hand All to the right hand of the middle of the Front go backwards and the rest forward and if they wheele to the left hand then all to the left hand of the middle of the Front goe backwards and the rest forwards All which is most plainely vnderstood by obseruing the Demonstration marked with B. In which and the two former Figures is a Starre placed neere the centre on which the Company moues A B Open your Ranckes backwards TO open the Ranckes vnderstand that the Front or first Rancke standeth still and the other nine Rancks fall backwards altogither till the second Rancke be six foote distant from the Front and then it stands still and the rest of the body moues till the third Rancke be six foote distant from the second Rancke and so till the fourth Rancke be distant six foote from the third and all the rest of the Ranckes in order The manner whereof I haue demonstrated in the Figure marked M. and the thing done in the Figure marked N. M N Open your Files both wayes IN opening the Files halfe the body moues towards the right hand and the other halfe towards the left hand in grosse and then the two middle-most Files when they are 6 foote distant stand still the rest of the body continues mouing both wayes till the next two Files are distant six foote from the former which stood still and so the Motion continues in this order till all the Files haue taken their distance of six foote each from other The manner whereof is demonstrated in the Figure marked with E. and the thing done in the Figure marked with F. Thus much for the manner of exercising footemen fully performed after the right order and moderne vse of Theoricke Rules accustomed in these dayes Now lastly you are to lead forth your souldiers by fiue and fiue in Rancke in like order as is set downe in the Figure of the order how a Company should march Note that the Captaine marching out of the field most commonly doth march in the Reare of his Company and his Lieutenant in the Front the rest of the Officers are to march in like order as is demonstrated in the order of march except you do troope out of the Field for then you are to alter c. howsoeuer you are to conduct the Colours to the place where they are to be laid vp where hauing made a guard the Captaine and his Officers repairing to the Colours being within the said guard and towards the Front he saith to the Drum or Drums Beat vp a discharge which being done with sometimes a volley of shot giuen and the Colours wrapped and folded vp euery man departs to his home c. E F FINIS
order that is kept then any of the other Which order of carrying armes is not onely ready and commodious to vse at all occasions but also doth make a gallant shew and a generall forme of good proportion and true prospect a thing most necessarie for a man of valour to vse in all his doings He ought likewise euer to haue good regard to weare his weapon of like length the other Souldiers vse which in marching doth make the rankes to be of one iust line and in shew of a seemely and streight proportion causing the whole band to carry a braue and singular grace A Souldier ought euer to retaine and keepe his armes in saftie and forth comming for he is more to be detested then a Coward that will loose or play away any part thereof or refuse it for his ease or to auoide paines Wherefore such a one is to be dismissed with punishment or made some abiect Pioner Therefore during his seruice and after his returne home let him still bee wedded to his weapons and armour that when he is called vpon againe to serue his Prince he be not enforced to furnish himselfe againe with new Armes sometimes old of little value and lesse goodnesse as some souldiers now adaies to their great discommendation doe vse A custome altogether different from the true exercise of armes and varying from the rule of other warlike-nations which make true profession of armes amongst the which the Spaniards and Zuitzers at this day are to bee commended the one for obseruing an apt sumptuous and warlike choise therein and the other for that they beare all sorts of armes with great aduantage both in length and strength the which vnto them becomes very familiar through the abilitie of body they possesse Those Souldiers which cannot endure the toile and trauell to beare armes of defence namely the Pikeman and Halberdier are made subiect to receiue both blowes and death by the hands of their enemies or through their disaduantage to take a shamefull flight or at the first encounter to remaine their prisoners Therefore it is very necessarie for a Souldier to take paines in daily practise to acquaint himselfe throughly in the exercise and carriage of armes whereof hee ought to vse practise specially of those that be offensiue and in those which ordinarily we are accustomed to carrie as the Rapier and Dagger Pike and Halberd and such like without making open and apparent profession of the practise thereof but secret and seuerall from the wide sight of the world that afterwards he may put the same in practise to his greater aduantage and commendation Finally the Halberdier who is armed either with brigandine or corslet ought of duty to attend with his halberd when his turne comes about his Ensigne in marching and set squares in the Captaines lodging and tent for his guard and at the entrance of a house c. to be the foremost person to force the passage But in a day of battaile the old Romane shield and a short sharpe-pointed sword to execute in a throng of men exceedes the Halberd and browne-bill Besides the Pikeman which is armed all ouer with a corslet and is to performe his duty in a maine square stand or battaile to receiue the shocke of horsemen or charge of the enemies infantery There be yet another sort of light-armed Pikes which onely haue the fore-part of a corslet and a head-peece as is the Almaine riuet or good light-iacke or plate-coate these sometimes may be sent amongst the forlorne-hope of Hargabusiers to defend them from the inuasions of Horse-men But touching shot I would wish our Nation being men of strong constitution of body to beare a Peece betwixt the boare of a Caliuer and a Musket the which with small vse they would be able to weeld very well at the armes end which would cary a great aduantage in skirmish the which like vnto the Hargabuse they might as I said before exercise and with a gallant and assured raising-vp the crooked end of the stocke to his breast hauing before-hand fitted the coale of his match to giue quicke and iust fire whereof euer he must take the certaine measure must then discharge amidst his modest trauerse to his greatest aduantage and to endomage his enemies Which done he must first fold-vp againe the falne match in a ready and conuenient sort betwixt his fingers hauing both the ends of his match light at once that whilst the one is spent and in kindling againe the other may serue his turne Besides these foresaid weapons I would not thinke it inconuenient to haue in a Band certain targets of proofe to march in the front which were very necessarie to defend a ranke of men in a streight-lane passage breach or other place from the enemies shot they all closely and in a low order marching vnder the fauour and shade of them as in a skirmish I saw put in practise when Cassimire did march with the STATES armie vnder Louaine 1578. The Captaine is to set downe by the Generals appointment the summe of all their paies and the difference therein according to euery mans weapon and qualitie But to speake of other directions and militarie obseruations A foot-man that is a Souldier ought aboue all things to be obedient to his Captaine and officers and neuer abandon his Ensigne nor be absent from his companie without leaue or speciall let In his march hee ought to be modest ready in his ranke obserue a long distance in his Laumband and keepe an equall stay in his Alta. If words of aduertisement doe passe ouer from ranke to ranke alongst the marching band let him deliuer those words plainely and with diligence which the Captaine giues ouer to be pronounced from mouth to mouth as to passe Parole appertaines If the enemie cause sodaine Arme let his bale en bouche and his match in the cocke shew his ready good-will either to receiue repulse or giue charge If either for pleasure in a muster or in any other shew in sport or earnest his Company be commanded to discharge certaine volies of shot or a Salua he must either hold his peece sidelong the rankes whilst he doth prepare the same or with the end higher then their heades and discharge ouer the toppes of the formost rankes for feare of hurting his Companions which rule they ought to obserue and thereunto be constrained vpon paine of seuere punishment If any enterprise be made in the night let him not only keepe his match close from open shew or falling sparkes but be vigilant and keepe silence to the intent that through his negligence and noise their actions be not discouered If he keepe Sentinell and haue the watch-word let him giue eare diligently to all rumours noises and view warily all suspected places to the intent if he heare any trampling neying of horses or approaching enemie which he may the more easily heare by making a hole in the ground and laying his eare to