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
so nearer to him by degrees So may a pistoll be fired some distance off and so nearer in like manner a drumme or trumpet may be used The groom may sometime dresse him in armour and he may be used novv and then to eat his oats from the drumme head It vvill be very usefull sometime to cause a musketier to stand at a convenient distance and both of you to give fire upon each other and thereupon to ride up close to him also to ride him against a compleat armour so set upon a stake that he may overthrovv it and trample it under his feet that so and by such other means your horse finding that he receiveth no hurt may become bold to approach any object He may also be used to mountanous and uneven vvayes and be exercised to leap svvimme and the like But for further directions for the art of riding and managing the horse I referre the reader to a Besides many of our owne writers Pierre de la Noüe in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne also Instruction du Roy de France en l'exercice de monter a Cheval par Antoyne de Plubinel lately published and divers others them vvhich have vvritten of horse-manship ex professo vvhose books are every vvhere obvious CHAP. XXVIII Of managing arms extending to postures and motions Of exercising the lance HOvvsoever the use of the lance be novv left off in the Lovv-countreys either for the reasons alledged chap. 23 or by reason of the discommodity of the countrey for the lance is of no use but in a spacious hard and even ground yet will it not be altogether impertinent to shew the manner of exercising the same seeing that a I. Lips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Item de Milit. Rom. N. Machiavell G. du Bellay C. Bingham upon Alian Sr. Cl. Edmonds on Caes Com. Sr. Hen. Savilc c. many have taken pains to revive unto us the knowledge of those arms which sometime were in use among the Graecians Romanes and other nations which have been for many ages totally abolished The manner of carrying the lance is either advanced or couched that is when it is carried so abased as the enemie can hardly discover it untill he feel the shock The charging of the lance is twofold either by the right or left The right is when it is presented or charged along by the right side of the horse The left is when it is born acrosse the neck of the horse by the left eare The first is the manner used by the Turks and Hungarians and by some preferred before the other One reason which they give for it is because that in charging by the left the Lancier must incline his bodie to the left and so sitteth the lesse sure in his saddle Basta would have the second way to be best Howsoever all agree that a Lancier must ever strive to gain the left side of his enemie and charge him on the left Now there be three wayes of charging 1 By carrying the lance sloaped upwards 2 By charging it levell in a straight line 3 By charging it sloaping or inclining downwards Fig 2 Par 1 Cap 28 The second is by charging a horse-man about the middle to bear him out of the saddle or on the breast of the foot The third serveth to pierce the breast of the enemies horse or a kneeling musketier or pike charging at the foot against horse These three severall wayes must be diligently practised and require much dexteritie to which end a stake is to be set up having an arm as it were stretched out from it and thereunto a white either of paper or linen fastned at severall heights which the Lancier must exercise himself to hit in full careere also to take up a glove or the like from the ground with the point of his lance c. All which is shown figure 2. part 1. chap. 28. In his charging of the enemie he begins upon his pace or trot b Monsieur de la Noüe blameth the French for their errour in this point De 200 pas ils commencent à galloper et de 100 à courir à toute bride qui est faire erreur n' estant besoin de prendre tant d'espace Discours 18. then falls into a gallop but must not begin his careere untill he be within some 60. paces of his enemie presenting his lance from the advance at the half of that distance and charging it for the shock as occasion serveth Against an armed Lancier the best way of charging is judged to be not after the two first wayes but by the third that is at the breast of the horse and that towards the left side of him where his heart and vitals are and for this the charging by the right is held best Having given his charge with the lance so as it becometh unusefull to him he must betake himself to his pistoll in the use whereof he is to be very skilfull His last refuge is his sword which he must also be well practised in Of both which weapons shall be spoken in the next chapter CHAP. XXIX Of exercising the Cuirassier ALthough it be supposed and expected that no horse-man will presume to mount his horse to repaire to his cornet before his pistols harquebuse or carabine be spanned primed and laden his cases furnished with cartouches and all other equipage 1 To Horse 2 Vncapp your Pistolls 3 Draw your Pistoll 4 Order your Pistoll 5 Spann your Pistoll 6. Prime your Pistoll 7. Shutt your Pann 8. Cast about your Pistoll 9 Gage your Flasske 10 Lade your Pistoll 11 Draw your Rammer 12 Lade with Bullet and Ramhome 13. Returne your Rammer 14. Pull down your Cock 15. Recover your Pistoll 16. Present and giue Fire 17 Returne your Pistoll 18 Bend your Cock 19 Guard your Cock 20 Order your Hammer 21. Free your Cock 22. 23. 24. 3. Draw your pistoll He is to draw the pistoll out of the case with the right hand and alwayes the left pistoll first and to mount the muzzell of it as in posture 15. 4. Order your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and to reremove his right hand towards the muzzell and then to rest the but end upon his thigh 5. Span your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and taking the key or spanner into his right hand to put it upon the axletree and and to winde about the wheel till it stick and then to return the spanner to its place being usually fastned to the side of the case 6. Prime Holding the pistoll in the bridle-hand as before he is to take his priming box into his right hand and pressing the spring with his fore-finger to open the box to put powder into the pan 7. Shut your pan He is to presse in the pan-pin with his right thumbe and so to shut the panne 8. Cast about your pistoll With the bridle-hand he is to cast about the pistoll
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.
continued by the Duke of Alva and confirmed by the Duke of Parma and so remained He must be vigilant and carefull to appease dissentions which grow among the souldiers as he which dealeth most with them He is to send and distribute the orders and keep a The Romanes were very exact in keeping records and lists of their forces watches duties payes c. Quotidianas etiam in pace vigilias item excubitum sive angarias de omnibus centuriis contuberniis quae vicissim milites faciunt ut nè quis contra justitiam praegravetur aut alicui praestetur immunitas nomina eorum qui vices suas fecerunt brevibus inseruntur Veg. lib. 2. cap. 19. record of the lists of the guards convoyes and other services He is to go every evening to receive the orders and the word and having given it to the Generall and Lieutenant Generall he is to give it to the Quartermaster Generall that he may distribute it Sometime he hath a company of harquebusiers given him in acknowledgement of his merit not as annexed to his place In all actions he is of singular use entrusted especially with the execution of the orders In appointing the lodgings or places in severall exploits he must be free from partialitie and such as at this time have cause of discontent he must make amends the next that so they may see it was of necessitie not of partialitie His place is of very great use and importance as will appeare throughout this discourse CHAP. V. Of the Quartermaster Generall THe Quartermaster Generall must be a man of great dexteritie and diligence and well experienced in Cavallrie a This officer among the Romanes was called Praefectus castrorum Ad quem castrorum positio valli fossae destinatio pertinebat Tabernacula vel casae militum cum impedimentis omnibus nutu ipsius curabantur Veg. lib. 2. cap. 11. It is his office to appoint the lodgings or quarterings wherefore he must well know the countrey the villages and places where to place the corps dugards and sentinells and what wayes must be scoured He is to keep a list of the guards convoyes cavalcadoes or exploits by horse c. He must visit the guards and sentinells by day and night and must shew the allarm-place to the particular Quartermasters when they go to him in the evening to receive the word He must by b Itineraria non tantùm adnotata sed etiam picta habent ut non solùm consilio mentis verùm aspectu oculorum viam profecturis locúmque castris idoneum eligat Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 6. maps or otherwise be well informed of the countrey knowing the qualitie and bignesse of every village and their distance one from another obtaining from the Marshall of the field some one of the countrey to inform him He must be true in his reports and if any order for haste be given him by word of mouth himself must go and deliver it and not trust it to others On the Spanish side in the Low-countrey warres the Quartermaster Generall hath two assistants allowed him to help to discharge the travells of his office but on the States side that service is performed by the particular Quartermasters CHAP. VI. Of the Captain SInce that the a So Melzo and Basta testifie and complain of it in their writings Captains places have been disposed of by the Prince as the Captains in Flanders are appointed at the court of Spain there are grown these two inconveniences upon it First young and unexperienced gentlemen are made Captains Secondly many good souldiers are lost which seeing their hopes of advancement by degrees and merit cut off abandon the service Whereas the charge of a Captain of horse is of so great importance and qualitie in the army as it should not be given to any but to men of singular valour and experience for often it falleth out that of themselves without orders or counsel of any other as occasion requireth they must execute services of great weight and consequence b Dux itaque vigiians sobrius prudens c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. Sit agilis magìs ad faciendum quà m ad loquendum paratus qui suos ad disciplinam retineat ad armorum exercitia cogat ut bene vestiti sint ut arma omnium defricentur ac splendeant Cum admiratione equum possint ascendere equitare fortissimè conto scienter uti ad omnia eruditi quae equestris pugna deposcit Veg. lib. 2. cap. 14. He must be vigilant sober continent modest in his apparell curious to have good horses and arms thereby to give example to his souldiers and to see them punctuall in their service and exactly observant of discipline for their excursions and extortions cannot be remedied unlesse the Captain keep them in order wherein if he be negligent he looseth his reputation with his superiours If he be covetous or given to gaming he is ready to be drawn to lay hands oftentimes on the pay due to the souldiers whereby he also overthroweth his reputation and credit A covetous desire of riches should not enter into a generous heart He must diligently and punctually observe the orders which shall be given or sent him from his superiours and be at the place at the appointed houre with his companie and others under his charge On all occasions he must be first on horseback and keep his company full and compleat He must alwayes strive by desert to advance himself to higher places alwayes studying how to endammage his enemy to this end he ought often to c Praecipua res utilitas ducis est ut adhibitis ex universo exercitu scientibus viris de suis hostium copiis saepius tractet c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. consult with his best experienced souldiers He must endeavour to know every one of his souldiers by their d Sciat etiam si potest fieri nominatim quis comes quis tribunus quis domesticus quis contubernalis c. Ibid. cap. 10. names that so he may distinctly name them upon occasion of employment it being an encouragement to them to be known by name of their Captain Whatsoever should befall he must e Nam necesse est ad fugam parati sint qui ducem suum sentiant desperare Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. take heed of discovering any feare on whose courage and countenance the souldiers depend and must alwayes shew a good resolution in the orders which he shall give without confounding himself knowing that there is no place for counsel in him who hath his discourse of reason seazed by feare He must f Strenuos viros muneribus honorabis c. Ità enim fiet ut majori fortiorÃque animo sint qui dimicabunt Vbi enim honores praemia habentur bonis supplicia poenae afferuntur malis ibi bonam spem habebit exercitus Leo Tact. cap. 16. cherish his well deserving souldiers and
it he giveth occasion of mutinies CHAP. XV. How to reform the Cavallrie AS every Common-wealth is supported by reward and punishment so to reform the Cavalrie where there is need of reformation there must be good laws and good pay for a Disciplinam non potest servare jejunus exercitus Cassiod to suffer a souldier to fall into want by not giving him competent maintenance maketh him forget obedience and discipline It were therefore better to diminish their b La discipline manquante plus y a d' hommes plus y a de desordre et confusion De la Noüe disc milit polit 13. number then their profits That done they may easily be brought to a strict observation of discipline and obedience The laws and articles which ought to be propounded unto them should comprise all that is to be observed in militarie discipline for brevitie sake presupposing all good orders about the service of God the severe chastising of blasphemers the strict forbiding of gaming as the occasion of waste of money and begetting quarrels and such like morall institutions It shall here suffice to touch upon some few of the most necessarie for the Cavallrie 1 c The States edict intituled Crychs-recht c. in the 17. article Alle Capitetjuen c. punisheth every Captain with death that shall receive any souldier of another company without lawfull consent of his former Captain That no Captain receive any souldiers of another companie or make any officers without approbation of the Generall to the end he may take notice of the qualitie of the person And that such souldiers as are disabled to undergo the labour of the warre through age be removed to some castle c. and be provided of some competencie out of dead payes or otherwise 2 That to avoid the d The baggage the Romanes called impedimenta because of the hinderance which it bringeth to the armie marching trouble of much baggage which much slackeneth the motion of the Cavallrie no man carry a e Among the militarie institutions of the Emperour Frederick the first an̄o 1152 recorded by Guntherus this is one Non erit in nostris nobiscum foemina castris c. woman into the field That no souldier have above one horse of service for his baggage unlesse some person of qualitie with whom the Commissarie Generall may dispense And that no officer of a companie have a waggon but onely the Captain and he to have onely one 3 That rewards and honourable recompenses be established for souldiers of speciall desert and punishments for sluggards in particular about attending the Cornet and obedience to the sound of the trumpet f Die marcherende c. syn vaandel oft Cornette sal veriaeten sal sonder alle genade metter do ot gestraft worden Ibid. artic 24. And that such as forsake the standard or cornet whilest it is advanced be punished with death That in fight when the trumpet soundeth a retreat g Cyri miles hosti imminens repressit ensem simul receptui canere audierat Plutarch Lac. Inutilis miles qui signum receptui datum negligit Seneca de ira cap. 9. whosoever presently retireth not be punished with severitie And that the Captain as oft as the Cornet entereth the Corps-du-guard himself enter with it all excuses set aside 4 h So saith the said edict totidem verbis artic 38. And that on pain of death That the souldiers be kept from stragling here and there and have the companies readie upon all occasions the officers are bound not to absent themselves from their companies without leave of their superiours i To this agreeth the edict whether it be under pretence of forraging or any other colour whatsoever Artic. 22. And if any souldier depart without license he is to be punished with death 5 That good order be observed about distribution of bootie whereof shall be treated in the chapter following 6 k All Mutiners or accessaries thereunto all causers of unlawfull assemblies or such as are present at any such or that shall utter words rending to mutinie c. the said edict commandeth to be punished with death Art 6. 7. 10. 11. c. That mutinies be prevented and whosoever is found to have a hand in any is to be proclaimed infamous and perpetually banished 7 To the end that these and what other orders may be thought fitting be duly observed the authoritie of the Captain and other officers must be established and confirmed as also that of the Provost Marshall according to those rules before mentioned in the office of the Provost Marshall CHAP. XVI Of distributing bootie ALl a The Romanes had excellent laws for distributing of bootie It was all brought to the Questor and by him sold The Tribunes divided it equally among the souldiers At the taking of any town by assault none left their stations but such as were appointed to pillage because they were sure of their just share Spe enim lucri inter omnes certâ sive maneant sive pradas agant nemo locum ordinémque deserit Polyb. lib. 10. The States in their edict for Martiall law have established many excellent laws about the taking registring selling and distributing of bootie as may be seen Crychs-recht Artic. 41. 59 60 61 62 63 64. Also about taking and ransoming of prisoners ibid. bootie whether it be given by occasion of defeating the enemy or going out upon parties c. is free to them that take it whether they be prisoners or any thing else the Lord Generall being in the field But otherwise it is to be shared among them that were employed in the action One part is for the Infanterie and two for the Cavallrie and it is death to him that shall let go any prisoner or horse or other bootie or shall use any fraud whatsoever and they that shall not discover it knowing of any such deceit shall loose their shares The Captains being present at the taking of bootie use to have five shares and two for two pages The Lieutenants three and the Cornets two and either of them one for a page But of later times the Captains take ten parts the Lieutenants six the Cornets foure according to the places which they have in forage The bootie being reparted every company giveth 10 per centum to their Captain of what is gotten though he were not present to the chief of the troop though but a private souldier two parts and so to the guides All the bootie being brought together they choose two of the discreetest souldiers to cause the bootie to be sold these keep accompt of the money taken for it certifying the Chief thereof who ordereth to every man his due proportion The trumpets must have leave of the chief Commander of the place to sell the said bootie and the buyer is to give one of every twenty to the trumpeter for his pains in the sale which money is to be divided among the trumpeters
and to hold it on the left side with the muzzell upwards 9. Gage your flasque He is to take the flasque into the right hand and with his forefinger to pull back the spring and turning the mouth of the flasque downward to let go the spring 10. Lade your pistoll Having gaged his flasque as in the former posture he is to presse down the spring which openeth the flasque with his forefinger and so to lade his pistoll 11. Draw your rammer He is to draw his rammer with the right hand turned and to hold it with the head downward 12. Lade with bullet and ramme home Holding the rammer-head in his right hand as before he is to take the bullet out of his mouth or out of the bullet bag at the pistoll case being in fight with the thumb and forefinger and to put it into the muzzell of the pistoll and the rammer immediately after it and so to ramme home 13. Return your rammer He is to draw forth his rammer with the right hand turned and to return it to its place 14. Pull down your cock With the bridle-hand he is to bring the pistoll towards his right side and placing the but end upon his thigh to pull down the cock 15. Recover your pistoll He is to take the pistoll into his right hand mounting the muzzell 16. Present and give fire Having the pistoll in his right hand as in posture 15 with his forefinger upon the tricker he is to incline the muzzell with a fixed eye towards his mark not suddainly but by degrees quicker or slower according to the space he rideth and that not directly forward toward the horse head but towards the right turning his right hand so as the lock of the pistoll may be upward and having gotten his mark he is to draw the tricker and give fire 17. Return your pistoll He is to return his pistoll into the case and then to draw his other pistoll as occasion may serve and to do as before Now concerning the snap-hane pistoll those postures wherein it differeth from the fire-lock pistoll are these as in figure 18. Bend your cock Holding the pistoll in the bridle-bridle-hand as before hath been shewed with the right hand he is to bend the cock 19. Guard your cock With the right hand he is to pull down the back-lock so to secure the cock from going off 20. Order your hammer With the right hand he is to draw down the hammer upon the pan 21. Free your cock With the right thumbe he is to thrust back the back-lock and so to give the cock libertie But the more compendious way of lading for the gaining of time which in the instant of skirmish is chiefly to be regarded is by using cartouches Now the cartouch is to be made of white paper cut out of convenient breadth and length and rowled upon a stick or the rammer if it be not too little fit according to the bore of the barrell to contain a due quantitie of powder the bullet The proportion of powder usually required is half the weight of the bullet but that is held too much by such as can judge Having moulded the paper the one end of it is to be turned in to keep in the powder and the due charge of powder to be put into it at the other end which powder is to be closed in by tying a little thred about the paper then the bullet is to be put in and that also tyed in with a little thred When the Cuirassier is to use his cartouch he must bite off the paper at the head of it and so put it into the barrell of his pistoll with the bullet upward and then ramme it home By b For the more speedy lading of the pistoll and avoiding the trouble of carrying either flasque or touchbox there is a late invented fashion of spanner or key which I have represented in figure 1 which contains six charges of powder at the least and priming powder sufficient for those charges for the cartouches wherewith the pistoll cases be furnished which the Cuirassier will finde to be of very good use when he is used thereunto this means he shall much expedite the lading of his pistoll The Cuirassier being become ready in his postures his next and chiefest study is to be an exact marks man And to this end he must frequently be practised at some c The Romanes exercised their souldiers at severall heights at stakes set up in Campo Martio Ad palum quoque vel sudes juniores exerceri percommodum est cùm latera vel pedes aut caput petere punctim caesÃmque condiscant Veg. lib. 2. cap. 23. But their manner of fighting with their swords was not caesim but all upon the thrust or point because that manner sooner pierced the vitalls and laid not open the bodie in fetching of a blow Ibid. lib. 1. cap. 2. marks to be set up at some tree or stake of severall heights Now because the Cuirassier is armed pistoll proof he must not give fire but at a very d La pistolle ne fait quasi nul effect si elle n'est tirée de trois pas Monsieur de la Noüe discours 18. neare distance being carefull to bestow his bullets so as they may take effect The principall place of advantage to aime at is the lower part of the bellie of the adverse Cuirassier also his arm-pits or his neck Some would not have a Cuirassier to give e Les Reitres bien instruits ne deschargent point leurs pistolles qu'en heurtant qu'ils addressent tousiours aux cuisses ou aux visages Ibid. fire untill he have placed his pistoll under his enemies armour or on some unarmed parts If he fail of an opportunitie to hurt the man he may aime at the breast of the horse or his head as he shall see occasion He usually giveth his charge upon the trot and seldome gallopeth unlesse it be in pursuit of a flying enemie or such like occasion Having spent both his pistols and wanting time to lade again his next refuge is his sword whereof the best manner of using is to place the pummell of it upon his right f As is shewed in the posture 22. thigh and so with his right hand to direct or raise the point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth either at the bellie of the adverse horse-man about the pummell of the saddle or at his arm pits or his throat where if it pierce not as it is very like it will not fail by slipping under the casque yet meeting with a stay in that part of the bodie where a man is very weak and having a sword of a very stiffe blade as afore-said it will doubtlesse unhorse him Being past his enemie he is to make a back-blow at him aiming to cut the buckle of his pouldron whereby he disarmeth one of his arms c. Basta highly commendeth the aiming at the enemies fight and
UPon occasion of marching with all or part of the Cavallrie by night the companies are punctually appointed their places of march by written orders delivered to their officers Before the troops a Corporall with 12 or 15 Harquebusiers is to be sent by the space of half a league to discover and take intelligence at the houses whether there be any news of the enemie And passing by places which are at the enemies devotion some of them must have the language and feigne themselves friends the better to know what passeth Not long after these 4 others are to follow as in the former chapter Besides a chosen troop of Cuirassiers are to be readie led by a Captain of speciall desert with order to a Capienda rebus in malis praeceps via est Seneca charge resolutely upon any adversary and these are to march 150 paces before the rest The chief Commander is to march at the head of the first troop which followeth the said chosen troop of 60 Cuirassiers and with him one of the best souldiers of every troop to carrie the orders upon all occasions to their Captains sending before him 4 of his ablest men to give him notice if the said select troop of 60 Cuirassiers charge the enemie which if it happen he shall cast his companie out of the way and charge the enemie on the flank and so the rest of the troops observing that they intermix not their troops The troops must not leave such distances between each other as in the day march unlesse they heare news of the enemies approach b Progredientes viam faciunt silentio quietè decenter omnes proprium ordinem asservantes Josephus of the Romanes manner of marching cited by Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 5.142 They must march with all possible silence At any by way the first companie must leave a souldier at the entrance thereof which shall be relieved or changed by the next companie and so successively untill all be past Coming into open and champion places the officers shall draw up their troops and cause them to march in square bodies well closed having regard that none slep The spare horses or pages must not march at the heads of the troops If the enemie charge the reare the chief officer in the reare shall cause the last companie to face about and so the rest if need be but those companies which were in front must not come to the reare for avoiding of disorder and lest the enemie cunningly make an alarm in the reare when he meaneth to charge the front In the reare of all a Corporall with 15 horse shall march as above mentioned with a guide The day being come the said 60 Cuirassiers shall return to their severall companies If the companies refresh themselves in the night they must not be suffered to unsaddle their horses nor disarm themselves The guides diverse of them must go before the troops whether on foot or on horse-back guarded by two souldiers which know the language and no other to speak to them c Interdum autem imperita rusticitas plura promittit credit se scire quae nescit Veg. lib. 3. Cap. 6. These are diligently to observe them whether they seem doubtfull looking here and there as doubting of the way and thereof shall presently certifie the officer that he may call others to be assured CHAP. VII How the baggage is to march AS little baggage as possible may be must be conducted with the Cavallrie It is the waggon-masters charge to order it for the march First the Generalls baggage is to march then the Lieutenant Generalls then the Commissarie Generalls and so the other officers in their degrees The place of march is uncertain a Auuertendo ancora che tutti li impedimenti artiglierie sempre camino da quelle parte che non sia volta verso al nemico Cataneo cap. 8. This agreeth with Aelians directions cap. 51. Impedimenta c. but alwayes it must be most remote from danger If the danger be in the front it marcheth in the reare c. The waggon-master or with some the Provost must see that all march in their appointed place and disband not A company of Harquebusiers is to guard the baggage The horse boyes march after the waggons and must not be suffered to march among the troops THE THIRD PART OF ENCAMPING THe next part to be handled according to our former distribution is Encamping In the skilfull performance whereof the militarie prudence and good judgement of the Commander of an armie chiefly appeareth And herein three things are principallie considerable 1 In what place and by whom the quarter is to be made and how distributed 2 The manner of securing the quarter by guards sentinels discoverers spies c. 3 Of dislodging and the way how to perform it CHAP. I. Of making the quarters IN a Castra tuto semper facienda sunt loco ubi lignorum pabuli aquae suppetat copia Et si diutiùs commorandum est loci salubritas eligetur c. Veg. lib. 1. cap. 22. the choice of a fitting place for encamping or quartering regard must be had 1 To the commoditie of the souldiers 2 To the situation to be able to resist the enemie For experience teacheth what benefit or losse an armie may receive by a good or bad quartering and hereof histories yeeld a world of examples To lodge or encamp the Cavallrie a speciall care must be had of the commoditie of water and where they may be under shelter for one cold or rainie night might ruine the Cavallrie nothing hurting a horse sooner then cold or wet By this means the souldier shall finde forrage at hand and needeth not to go seek it abroad with his horse of service all not having nags When the horse be lodged in severall quarters two souldiers of every quarter attend the person of the Generall or the chief Commander to carrie any sudden orders to their severall quarters But of such companies as are quartered neare him b Vnus ex omnibus manipulis imperatori in diem excubat Polyb. one is sufficient When all the Cavallrie is lodged together the Lieutenant Generall Commissarie Generall and Quartermaster Generall are usually lodged neare the Generall for the better distributing of the Generalls orders The appointing of the quarters belongeth to the Commissarie Generall and the Marshall by whose directions the Quartermaster Generall proceedeth It is fit for them to have some demonstration on paper of the place beforehand and to know the commodities and discommodities also the advenues of the enemie wherein the guides can better direct them then the usuall maps which if not false are too generall When the Quartermaster Generall c Cùm verò appropinquaverint ubi castra ponenda praeeunt Tribunus Centurionum illi qui ad hoc munus semper electi sunt c. Polyb. goeth before to make the quarters not onely the particular Quartermasters but also
with the rest of them The other troops shall second these keeping alwayes 100 paces distance betwen every companie If you meet a troop of the enmies horse your self having also but one troop both of equall number and that it so fall out that the enemie retreat you are to send your Lieutenant with 20 horse to charge him in the reare following him with 50 to the same effect closed as firm as may be the rest must follovv at a good distance under a good Corporall which shall not engage himself to fight though the enemie turn head unlesse he see his Captain and Lieutenant in great danger and then he shall couragiously charge the enemie to give time to those of his companie to reunite themselves a Milites lectissimes habeat Dux post aciem in subsidiis praeparatos ut sicubi hostis vehementiùs insistit nè rumpatur acies provalent subitò suppleant loca additâque virtute inimicurum audacium frangant Hâc dispositione nulla melior invenitur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 17. there being nothing more dangerous in combat then to engage the whole troop at once because if they never so little disorder themselves they cannot reassemble unlesse they have fresh men to sustain the enemie Besides the meere sight of a reserve gives a terrour to the enemie which upon occasion may charge him on the flank And if there be but 50 horse in a troop yet some 10 or 12 would be left for a reserve If the troop which retreateth be of 60 horse at least 15 horse must be sent with the Lieutenant to charge the enemie so as he be constrained to entertain them to give time to the rest that follow to arrive in grosse and united for by your sending of a smaller number they might save themselves without losse by leaving onely some few to make the retreat CHAP. III. Of embuscadoes IT is an ordinarie thing in warre to studie how to endamage an enemie and to distract his forces to which purpose all possible means must be used especially when the camps lie neare each other The Cavallrie must principally be employed to travell and molest the enemie sometime by hindering him from his victuall sometime by endamaging his forragers sometime by sending some troops even up to his camp to take some bootie by that means a Boni duces non aperto marte in quo est commune periculum sed ex occulto semper attentant ut integris suis quantos possunt hostes interimant certè vel terreant Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. to draw him forth and to make him fall upon some embuscadoe disposed before-hand in some fitting place To order your embuscadoes or ambushes as they ought you must first know what number of Cavallrie the enemie hath if he have fewer horse then you you may employ all yours attempting to draw out all his and to rout them Or else you may employ some small number by which you may at severall times make some good bootie the enemie not daring to issue out of his quarter But if the enemie exceed you in horse it is not convenient for you to make embuscadoes unlesse it be with some few horse for being a small number you may easilie retreat but being a grosse it might be entertained by part of the enemies Cavallrie presently issuing and those seconded by more whereby you should be hardly able to retreat without disorder and losse b Count Philip of Nassaw anno 1595. intending to set upon Mondragons forragers with 600 horse passed the river Lippe to lay an embuscadoe But being discovered by some of the enemies souldiers or betrayed as Meteren hath it lib. 17. was taken unawares and routed himself and count Solms wounded to death many others slain and divers taken prisoners The Romanes were exquisite in laying discovering of ambushes The good successe of an embuscadoe consisteth chiefly in their not being discovered for which cause they are usually appointed to march in the night or being to march a great way to cause them to passe by those places in the night where the enemie might most likely discover them So proportioning the time as that they might arrive at the place appointed for ambush before day that so they may give time to lay their embuscadoe under favour of the night The said troops arriving long before day they are to be kept firm on the plain and Sentinells are to be placed on every side In the mean time you c Qui superventus in sidias subsessas passus est culpam suam non potest excusare quia haec evitare potuit per speculatores idoneos ante cognoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. must diligently search and discover about the place appointed for your embuscadoe lest there should be any ambush of the enemies then being assured for that you are to lay your embuscadoe before the dawning of the day and to place Sentinells in places convenient where they may be unseen some on trees others couched on the ground to discover such places as they cannot discrie from the trees The embuscadoe must not be laid much before break of day because otherwise they cannot discover the approach of the enemie but at hand and so the embuscadoe should have no time to come forth and put themselves in order and being so taken on the sudden d Deprehensa subsessa si circumveniatur ab hoste plus periculi sustinet quà m parabat inferre Ibid. cap. 6. they might be defeated in their own ambush Besides in that remainder of the night many might be overcome with sleep and not use that vigilance which is required The troops must be placed at good distances one from another that so they intermix not nor hinder each other in time of fight In making the embuscadoe with a grosse of Cavallrie some number of Infanterie must be laid in ambush about the mid-way to sustain the Cavallrie in their retreat if need were or otherwise to assist them upon occasion e With antiquitie embuscadoes were very frequent and were to be used by either partie Vtrique parti in itinere ad subsessas communis occasio est Nam qui praecedit opportunis vallibùs vel sylvosu montibus quasi post se relinquit insidias in quas cùm inciderit inimicus recurrit ipse adjuvat suos Qui verò sequitur adversis semitis longè amè destinat expeditos ut praecedentem adversarium arceat transitu deceptúmque à fronte à tergo concludat Ibid. cap. 22. In marching some horse must be sent out a good way before by the right way and the by-waies to discover whether there be no ambush of the enemies And indeed to be the better assured of the good successe of an ambush it should be accompanied with some new and extraordinarie invention If the Chief of a frontier garrison will attempt to endammage the enemie by an ambush being inferiour in strength to the enemy he must gather together so many