see the first ranke is casting it selfe in a File behind the right hand man V. X. is a Fileing to the left hand where the first Ranke is going to File behind the left hand man and as the first Rankes in both doeth so yee must imagine the rest to doe in an instant Y. Z. is a Fileing to the right and left by division where yee see the halfe of the first Ranke falling in behind the right hand man and the other halfe of it behind the left hand man which also yee must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to doe The wordes of Command File Ranke as yee were Rankes File to the right hand Rankes File to the left hand Some say Rankes File by conversion to the right or left hand Files as yee were Rankes File to the right and left by division Or Rankes File by inversion to the right or left There is yet a Doubling of Files by wheeling the Rankes to the right or left hand If the word be to the right the right hand man turnes to the right and the rest of his Ranke wheele together and come aboue him on the left hand all the Rankes doeth the like If the command bee to the left the left hand man turnes to the left the rest of his Ranke commeth all aboue him on the right hand and so all the other Rankes CD AB The figure A. B. is a wheeling to the right hand where yee see the first Ranke wheeling about the right hand man and comming vp vpon his left hand C. D. is a wheeling to the left hand where the first Ranke is wheeling about the left hand man and comming vp on his right hand and so doth all the rest of the Rankes The words of Command Rankes as ye were Rankes wheele to the right hand Rankes wheele to the left hand Yee may wheele Rankes also to the right or left by division The use of Doubling of Files is to strengthen the deapth of your Battell to resist the Enemie The use of Doubling of Files when yee thinke hee mindes to breake through and diuide your forces It serues also to let the shot goe through your Files when ye are marching towards an Fort for which the first maner of Doubling is proper the Fileing of Rankes to the right or left hand Also to giue a Vollie of Musquetados vpon either Flanke or both or to make a streete for a Generall or some great Commander to goe through or else to lodge the Colours The Fileing of Rankes to the right or left or both by division or the wheeling of Rankes performeth this It serueth also to make your Forces seeme small to allure the Enemie to fight as did (u) Polien Strat. lib 2. in Cleandri §. 4. Cleandridas against the Leucans who first first drew out his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a greath deapth whereby his enemies contemning his apparentlie small number did charge him but hee instantlie doubling his Ranks did encompasse them and ouerthrow them But ye must take heed as the Emperour (x) Leo Tact. c. 14. §. 109. Leo advertiseth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. That when yee double the deapth of your Battell yee make not the Front of your Armie too narrow and so giue occasion to the Enemie to ouerfront you encompasse you which was (y) Polyb. histor lib. 1. §. 10. Marcus Attilius Regulus his error in the Battell against the Carthagenians for hee fearing the Forces of the Carthagenian Elephants to breake through his Armie drew his Battell to so great a deapth that it was easilie encompassed by the Carthagenian horse-men led by Zantippus the Lacedemonian and by them vtterlie defeate and himselfe taken prisoner For as too much weakening of the deapth and doubling the length of your Battell puts in danger to bee diuided and broken So too much Doubling the deapth and diminishing the length puts it in perrill to bee ouerwinged and encompassed And therefore a wise Commander will haue a care if his Front bee narrow to take the advantage of a Trench River or Marish thereby to secure his Flankes that the Enemie may not annoy him there and if hee can attaine to none of those yet to make use of his owne Waggons Obserue that this Motion of Doublings alters the forme of the Battell changing both the length and the deapth thereof which no other Motion doeth Obserue also that in Doubling the length of your Battell ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in doubling the deapth ye make the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (z) Aelian Tact. c. 29. Aelian (a) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian speaketh of a Doubling of the deapth in place which is nothing but an opening of Rankes to a geater distance Of Evolution or Counter-March Tit. 8. EVolution or Countermarch called by the Grecians (a) Aelian Tact. c. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Motion of the whole Battell whereby the Front is brought in place of the Reare or one Flanke in place of the other And therefore Countermarch is two fold of Files or of Ranks and both of those saith (b) Aelian Tact. c. 26. Aelian is threefold for either they gaine ground in marching not in charging or loose ground or keepe that same ground the first is called the Macedonian Countermarch the second the Lacedemonian the third the Chorean or Persian The Macedonian Countermarch by File so called from the Macedonians who were the inventers and users of it is described by (c) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the file-File-Leader turneth his face and the bringer vp with all the rest goe against him on the right or left hand and passing on to the ground before the Frōt of the phalanx placeth themselues in order one after another according as the File Leader himselfe hath turned his face Or it is when the file-File-Leader turneth his face and the next to him passing by him on the right or left hand placeth himselfe behind him so all the rest one after another As ye shall see in the figure following EFABCD A B C D is the Battell before the Countermarch E F A B the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground A B C D wherein it stood which yee see marked with points and taken the ground before it E F A B and are all faced about to the Reare A B which before the Countermarch was the Front doeth yet remaine the Front but the right hand File B D is become the left hand File B F and the left hand File A C the right hand File A E. the Reare C D is now the Reare E F. The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and gaine ground The Lacedemonian Countermarch by File so called from the Lacedemonians who invented and practised this Motion is set downe by (d) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those
wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the file-File-Leader turning his face about to the Picke transferreth the whole File to a place equall to the first the rest following standeth behind him or else When the Bringer-vp turnes his face about and hee that stood next before him passing by on either hand is placed againe next before him and the rest following takes place one before another as they stood till the File Leader be first GHIKLM G H I K is the Battell before the Countermarch I K L M the Battell after the Countermarch which hath left the ground it stood in before and taken the ground behind it the Flankes are changed as in the former figure H K the right Flanke to K M the left and G I the left Flanke to I L the right But the Front G H is brought to be the Front L M contrarie to the former where the Front of both figures A B did keepe still one place The wordes of Command Files Countermarch and loose ground The proceeding of this Countermarch is contrare to the former for the Macedonian tooke the ground before the Battell but this possesseth the ground after the Battell In the Macedonian the Motion is from the Reare to the Front in this the Motion is from the Front to the Reare The Macedonian seemeth to runne away but the Lacedemonian to charge and therefore it is preferred to the Macedonian by (e) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian because sayeth hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a show of falling on the Enemie appearing behind Whereas the Macedonian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It maketh a semblance to the Enemies appearing in the Reare of flying away neuerhelesse in some cases the Macedonian is of greater use as if ye desire to gaine some ground of advantage or else when yee desire to March on not giue Battell for by it ye doe noways hinder your March but coÌ„tinueth the same in the meane time may mak your Musquetiers giue fire vpon the Enemie so that ye both March fight But the Laced emonian falleth on vpon the Enemie and interupteth the March (f) Zenephon bistor grec lib. 6.605 Agesilaus the Lacedemonian Generall seemeth to haue used this Countermarch when hee made his Armie to March out of the Straites of Mantinea perceiuing that his Enemies were to charge his Reare from the Hilles he made his Reare-guarde to Countermarch and goe out of the Straites himselfe staying last with the Avantguarde The samine (g) Zenoph hist grec lib. 4.519 Agesilaus hauing embattelled his Troupes at Coronea against the Thebans himselfe had the right wing of the phalanx put the Argiues on the left wing of the Theban Armie to flight but the Thebans hauing beaten the Orchemenians who were vpon his left wing forced a passage through them to the Baggadge which hee vnderstanding did presentlie Countermarch his phalanx ledde against them where after a fnrious chocke hee killed manie of them and manie fled away to Helicon after their Confederates The Persian or Cretan Countermarch used by the Persians and Cretans is also called Chorean from the similitude of the Grecian Dances which â—he Dauncers called Chorus used for they ordered themselues in Rankes and Files and danced one through another keeping the same bounds of the place This Countermarch is described by (h) Aelian Tact. c. 27. Aelian in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Chorean is when the File-leaders turning to the Picke or the Target preceedeth the File The rest following till the Leader haue gotten the place of the Bringer-vp the Bringer vp the place of the Leader the Bedie mouing joynthie together so that this Countermarch maintaines and keepes the samine ground the Batell stood in And this is our Moderne Countermarch which wee use in our exercease NOPQ Yee see the figure N O P Q where the File-leaders of euerie File with their next followers that is to say The first two Rankes are turned to the right hand and hath begun to Countermarch and are in the distances betwixt the Files so that the two last of euerie File that is The 10. and 9. Rank hath marched vp with the rest to the Front N O. and hath left the place of the Reare P Q so much voyd as the first two Ranks hath marched through the Files from the place of the Front so that the file-File-Leaders shall march vntill they come to the place of the Bringers-vp P Q. and the Bringers vp till they come to the place of the File leaders N O. and there doe stand and face about with the rest Captaine (i) Bingam in his Notes vpon Aelians Tact. c. 28. Bingam expresseth this Motion more liuelie by figures of Armed Picke-men The wordes of Command Files to the right hand Countermarch Files to the left hand Countermarch Our wordes of Command are Stringes to the right hand Countermarch Stringes to the left hand Countermarch Because this Chorean Countermarch is that which is used in our exercease How the Motion of this Counter-march is done I will shew you how the motion is performed If the word of Command be to Countermarch to the right hand then all the File-leaders at one instant stepeth foreward with the right legge and bringing about their left legge turneth their Bodie to the right hand and so march downe through the Files till they come to the place of the Bringers-vp where they shall stand the rest that followeth the file-File-leaders must not offer to turne before they haue come vp to the place of the File-leaders If the Command bee to the left hand then the File-leaders must step foreward with the left leg and bringing about the right legge turne their Bodie to the left hand march downe as the former The figure N O P Q showeth a Countermarch to the right hand The other to the left hand by it may be easilie vnderstood for if yee make the File-leaders to turne toward N P. which yee see now turned towards O Q. it shal be a Countermarch to the left haÌ„d It seemeth to mee to be this Chorean Countermarch whereof the Emperour (k) Leo Tact. c. 12 § 65. Lee speaketh giuing this word of Command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is to bee obserued in this Motion of Countermarch that cuerie follower remarke his Leader and his right hand man that by them hee may keepe a due distance for otherwise the least disorder in this Motion will breed a confusion of the whole Bodie Obserue also that this Motion of Countermarch cannot bee done but at open Order Also it ought not to bee practised when the Enemie is neare hand for if the Enemie should suddenlie charge a Battell while it is Counterraarching hee should assuredlie ouerthrow it so that in this case the best expedient is to face about your Battell The use of Countermarching of Files is if the Enemie appeare in the Reare and come to charge you
or Contubernium the Leader of it Decanus Decurio or Caput Contubernii The deipth of a File according to our moderne Discipline is 10. howsouer the Spanyards and the Italians maketh it incertaine for the deipth of 10. is thought a sufficient thicknesse to receiue all charges Euerie man in his File is placed according to his worth and dignitie The first man in dignitie is first in place and is called by (k) Leo Tac. cap. 4. § 71. Leo and (l) Aelian Tac. cap. 5. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Leader or Forestander Hee hath commmandement ouer his File seeth that euerie one of them doe their duety both in March and Fight and in exercease as he moueth and turneth so must the rest of his File doe The second man in dignitie is last in place and is called (m) Leo and Aelian ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bringer-up or Reare-commander Hee hath command ouer the File next vnto the Leader and seeth that those before him keepe a right Line The third and fourth dignitie is in the 5. and 6. place and they are called middle-men the one middle-man to the Front the other middle-man to the Reare The fist sixt and seuenth Dignitie are in the 2.9 4. places The eight ninth and tenth Dignitie in the 7.3 and 8. places as this Table sheweth Number of place  Number of dignitie 1. 0. Leader 1. 2  5. 3.  6 4  7. 5. 0. Middleman 3. To the Front 6. 0. Middleman 4. To the Reare 7.  8. 8  10. 9  6. 10. 0. Bringer-vp 2. Ioyning of Files produceth Rankes which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for if ye jone 6. Files or 8. Files together yee make 6. men or 8. men in a Ranke and the more Files ye joyne the more ye extend the length of your Battell for as the File measureth the deipth or thicknesse so doth the Ranke the length of the Battell Those who are in one File are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leaders and followers Those of one Ranke are called Of Rāks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Sidemen A Ranke then is A row of men standing one by another in a right Line shoulder to shoulder or as Aelian describeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the side-men beareth straight foorth in length The length is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the dimension of the Battell from the one winge or Flanke to the other The deipth is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is the dimension of the Battell from the Front to the Reare The first Ranke is A row of File Leaders and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Frons Acies The Front The last Ranke is A row of Bringers-vp and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cauda the Reare As men in their Files are placed according to their worth so are the Files ranked in the Battell according to their dignitie The first place of dignitie hath the File on the right hand which is the right Flanke The second place hath the File on the left hand which is the left Flanke being the tenth if there bee onelie 10. in Ranke The third and fourth dignitic hath the 5. and 6. Files which are in the midst of the Rankes The fift sixt and seuenth dignitie hath the 2.9 and 4. Files The eight nynth and tenth dignitie hath the 7.3 and 8. Files Lefe Flanke Number of place Right Flanke 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2 1. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 0. 1. 1. 1. 0. 2. 6. 10. 8. 4. 3. 7. 9. 5. 1. Number of dignitie Count Mansfeilde his discourse in this varieth from his Table C. Mans in his Direct of war Pag. 31. 32. Euerie man in the first Ranke is Leader of a File euerie man in the first File is Leader of a Ranke ABCD This Figure A B C D sheweth you the distinction and disposition of Rankes and Files A. B is the Front C. D. the Reare B. D. the right Flanke A C the left Flanke The Lines A. B. and C D. with the others betweene them are Rankes consisting euerie one of 10 men The Lines B. D. and A C with the others betweene them are Files consisting euerie one of 10. men also The number of Files is from B to A which is the length of the Battell The number of Ranks from B. to D. which is the deipth of the Battell From B. to D. are Leaders and Followers from B. to A. Side-men In placeing our best mē in the Frōt of the Battel putting our brauest Souldiers in the Auantgarde of the Armie we follow the custome of the Grecians who put alwayes their choisest Souldiers in the Front of the Phalanx contrare to the custome of the Romans who placed the Maniples of their Hastati Souldiers of least experience in the Frōt of the Legion their principes Souldiers of better worth in the middle their Triarii the oldest Souldiers and of greatest vallour in the Reare who were not to joyne with the Enemie till the former had beene beatten or retired Of Distances Tit. 3. SOuldiers being armed and put in a Bodie they must then know their distances for all Ranks ought to bee parallel one to another as also Files and therefore a Souldiers chiefe care should bee to haue an eye to his Leader his Sideman that hee may keepe an equall distance both in his Ranke and File for not keeping of distance breedes confusion and oft-times is the cause of the ouerthrow of a Battell and too much thronging together maketh a Souldier vnable to use his Armes too much standing remoued weakneth the Battell and maketh way to the Enemie to breake it as (a) Veget. de re Militari lib. 1. cap. 26. Vegetius pertinentlie admonisheth Nec ultra magis quam expeditant conglobent agmen aut laxent nam constipati perdunt spatia pugnandi sibi in vicē impedimento sunt rariores atque interlucentes aditum perrumpendi hostibus praestant Wherefore due distances are the midst betwixt those extremities Distances than in our moderne Discipline by the opinion of the most learned Commāaders are three First second and third distance or open Order Order and close Order Open Order or first Distance is when your men both in Ranke and File stand remoued sixe foote from another This distance containes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 4. cubits in square at this distance yee are to exercise your Companie Order or second distance is when they stand remoued 3. foote both in Ranke and File one from anothere this distance is used when ye embattell your Troupes and lead them against the Enemie or when yee come to stand or meanes to wheale the Bodie This distance is called of the (b) Aelian Tact. c. 11. Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Densatio and taketh vp 2. cubites that is three foote as the former did 4. cubites for a cubite is a
Files of the Bodie And in this doubling the halfe Files marching out from the Bodie breedeth no disorder nor disturbance at all but on the contrarie bringeth vp fresh aides vpon the Flankes against the Enemie and will affright him no lesse than if a newe Battaillion werecomming to charge him Lastlie it is more conducible for the use of doubling which yee shall see heereafter seeing it extendeth more the length of the Battell and keepeth it more from ouer-winging than any other doubling For if the enimie come vpon you with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is an ouerwinging Battell minding to encompasse either of your Flankes by this Motion yee may handsomelie rencounter him For if it be your right Flanke which hee persewes yee ought to use the doubling Enteare to the right hand A. B. C. If it bee the left Flanke yee are to use the doubling Enteare to the left hand D. E. F. But if hee come vpon you with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is an ouer-fronting Battell minding to encompasse both your Wings then yee are to use the doubling to the right and left by diuision G. H. I. K. so that by this Motion yee are readie to resist all his attempes (d) Capt. Bing in his Notes vpon Aeliā Tac. c. 29. § 3. 5. Captaine Bingam whose learning and vnderstanding in the Airte Militar is sufficientlie knowne doth allow of this Motion and commends it aboue the other do ublinges The illustrious (e) Count Mansfielde in his direction of Warre Count Mansfield himselfe whose Authoritie is sufficient to stoppe the mouthes of all contradictors discribeth this doubling and setteth it downe with the words of Command as verie usefull But laying aside Authoritie the argument is cleare That Motion which in time of fight without disturbance of the Battell bringeth supplie vnto it and annoyeth the Enemie is a steadable Motion But doubling of the Front enteare to either hand or by diuision is such a Motion Ergo it is a steadable Motion The major is manifest the minor I haue already provene so that this Motion remaineth good and steadable in seruice although those who vnderstand it not disdaine it and neglect the practise of it I haue insisted longer in this point than I would haue done because I cannot disgest the hautie ignorance of manie Commanders who slighteth and contemneth all thinges which surpasseth the reach of their vnderstanding There is yet other doublings of Ranks as namely by Counter-march which (f) Leo Tac c. 7.9.84 Leo describeth in those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And I haue seene it oft practised by the English It is thus done The Captaine commandeth the Files to counter-march to the right or left what Counter-march is yee shall see heereafter then the File-Leaders beginneth to turne and the rest following them they march downe through the Files till the Leaders bee in evin ranke with the Bringers-vp then presentlie hee commandeth them to halt or stand so that the last fiue Ranke are faced to the Front and the first fiue to the Reare The Captaine then if he will haue the Battell fronting as it was hee commandeth the first fiue Rankes to face about to him which done they shall all haue their faces directed one way towardes the Front But if hee please to turne the aspect of his whole Battell towardes the Reare hee commandeth thee Reare diuision or last fiue ranks to face about and so the whole Battell shall bee faced about to the Reare This is of singulare use against an enemie comming to charge your Reare and to encompasse you For by this Motion in an instant yee both double the length of your Battell and bring your best men to receiue the charge of the enemie And this is the use which the Emperour (g) Leo. Tact. § c. 7. Leo maketh of this Motion who was the breauest Commander of his tyme and who for his exquisite knowledge in the Arte Militarie was brought to weare the Imperiall Crowne There is another doubling of Rankes when the evin Rankes are drawne out fullie from the Bodie towardes either of the Flankes or else when they diuide themselues and march out towardes both Flankes together Count (h) Count Mansfield in his direct of warre Mansfield calles this to double the Front by the Flankes The Emperour (i) Leo. Tac. c. 7. § 69. Leo speaketh also of it and sayeth It is to be done by this word of command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rankes also are doubled by wheeling the Flanks into the Bodie as yee shall see heere after The use of Doubling of Ranks The generall use of Doubling of Rankes (k) Aelian Tact. c. 28. Aelian setteth downe clearelie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The length of the Battell is doubled when either they purpose to ouerwing the Enemie or else expectes to bee ouerwinged by him This did (l) Polienus Strat lib. 2. in Cleandrida § 4. Cleandridas the Lacedemonian Generall against the Leucans for he surpassing them in multitude first drew his Battell to a great deapth that he might allure them to charge which the Leucans seeing drew out their Armie in length came foreward to encompasse his winges but Cleandridas doubling the length of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouerfronted them and ouerthrew them The Emperour (m) Leo. Tact. cap. 7. § 69. Leo giueth another reason of Doubling the length of the Battell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The length of the Battell is doubled for ornament and to make a faire show or to make it equall with another Battell or else to affright the Enemie making him thinke your multitude to be greater then it is as did (n) Polienus Strat. lib. ◠in Antigono § 19. Antigonus against Eumenes But the Emperour (o) Leo Tact c. 14. § 108. Leo giues an good aduertisement and caution for doubling the length of the Battell whereof all Commanders should take heede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayth hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. When the deapth of the Battell is drawn vp in length it must not be so lengthned that it be ouerweakned in the deapth for it will fall out that the Enemies shall easilie breake it asunder and make a passage through it and will not onelie encompasse it before but passing through the midst will bee found behind and there doe great harme Wherefore a Generall should not onelie seeke to prevent this but to doe the like to the Enemie Aelian speaketh of a doubling of Rankes in place which is nothing but an opening of Files to a greater distance DOubling of Files OF doubling of Files is a Motion whereby the deapth of the Battell is increased and the length diminished by inserting the one halfe of the Files in the other (p) Leo Tact. c. 7. § 16 c. 14 § 109. Leo calleth this Motion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
doubled by advanceing or leading foorth when the evin Files marcheth out from the Bodie placeth themselues in a right line before the Leaders of the odde Files if the Command bee to the right hand and the odde Fils before the evin if the Command be to the left hand or else it is done when the one halfe of the Files vpon either Flanke marcheth foorth together and advanceth before the Files of the other Flanke according as the Command is to the right or left hand if to the right the Files of the left Flanke advanceth before the right Flanke if to the left the Files of the right Flanke advanceth before the Files of the left Flanke as in the figures following RSTV NOPQ DEFGHI XYZABC The figure N. O. P. Q. showeth a doubling to the right hand by advancing the evin Files before the odde N. O. was the front of the Battell before the Doubling the deapth was fioÌ„ O. to Q. which now is extended to the double R. S. T. V. is a Doubling to the left hand by advancing the odde Files before the evin R S was the Front before the douling and S. V. the deapth which is extended as the former The other two figures are doublings by advancing of the halfe of the Files Z. A. B. C. is a doubling of the halfe of the Files to the right where the Files of the left Flanke Z B the 10. 9. 8 7. 6. advanceth together before the Files of the right Flanke Z. A. was the Front or length of the Battell befor the Doubling which now is contracted to X. Y. A C was the deapth of the Battell which is now extended to C. A. Y. The other F. G. H I. is a Doubling of the halfe of the Files to the left for the Files of the right Flanke 1. 2 3. 4. 5. advanceth before the Files of the left Flanke the Front of the Battell before the Doubling F. G. is now dâ—minished to D. E. the deapth F. H. is now augmented to H. F. D. Those Doublings extendeth the deapth of the Battell towardes the Front as the doublinges by Countermarch did towardes the Reare Those Doublings altereth ground but if yee desire to keepe the same ground (t) Count Mansfield in his Direct of War pag. 45. Count Mansfield showeth a way which is to make the Files that are to double to close their Rankes forewards and the other to close backwards and so by a little edgeing aside shall bee placed before them But the publisher of his directions hath mistaken himselfe in saying that the Leaders of the halfe which is to double will stand alittle beyond the Bringers vp of the other halfe for it is the Bringers-vp of the halfe which is to double that will stand before the Leaders of the other halfe The wordes of Command Files as yee were Files advance and double to the right hand Files advance and double to the left hand Diuide your Files and double them to the right or left Count Mansfield useth those words File vpon File Files double the Bodie to the right or left hand FOurthlie Files are doubled by the Flankes that is When the Files of either Flanke are inserted in the other and so double them and that either to the right or left If the Command bee to double the right Flanke then the Files of the left Flanke for yee must conceiue the whole Bodie to be diuided into two Flankes faceth to the right hand and marcheth through the spaces of the right Flanke till the sixt File bee in one evin File with the first the 7. with the 2. the 8. with the 3. the 9. with the 4 and the 10. with the 5. and then they face as the rest If the word bee to Double the left Flanke then the Files of the right Flanke faceth to the left and doe as the former till the fift File joyne with the 10 the 4. with the 9. the 3. with the 8. the 2. with the 7. the 1. with the 6. as these figures following showeth OPQR KLMN The figure K. L. M. N. is a Doubling of the right Flanke by the left where ye see the Files of the left Flanke K. M. which are the 10. 9. 8. 7. and 6. are joyned with the Files of the right Flanke L. N. O P Q R showeth a Doubling of the left Flanke by the right where the Files of the right Flanke P. R. the 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5. are inserted in the Files of the left Flanke O. Q. Of both the Battelles the length K. L. and O. P. are contracted to the halfe and so the Battell is brought into a wing whereof is made the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (t) Aelian Tact c. 27. Aelianâ— These points · in al these former figurs showeth the place where · the Doubling Files stood The wordes of Command Files as ye were Files double your right Flanke Files double your left Flanke Some say Halfe Rankes double your right or left Flanke This Doubling mixeth your Armes which if yee would eschew yee may countermarch your Flanke beginning the Motion with the vttermost File of that Flanke which doubleth making it march through the distances betwixt Rankes till it joyne with the vttermost File of the other Flank the rest following it successiuelie so your Pickes shall double your Pickes and your Musquetiers your Musquetiers As if yee should suppose the tenth File of the figure K. L. M. N to double the first the 9 the 2. the 8. the 3. and so foorth But of this yee shall know more heereafter Obserue that yee may proceede in doubling your Files till yee bring your whole Battell in two Files or one File Or yee may doe this by making your Rankes File to either hand or both by division If ye command Rankes to File to the right hand the right hand man of euerie Ranke stands still the next to him falles behind him the rest of the Ranke follow vntill the whole Ranke bee in a File All the Rankes doe the same falling behind their right hand man and making one File of the whole Body If the word bee to the left the left hand man stands firme the next to him falles behind him and the rest follow and all the Ranke falls behind their left hand man and so are converted in one File But in this Motion yee must obserue a Double distance Yet if it bee in a March yee may doe it at any Or der Some call this Motion Fileing by conversion But yee must obserue that in a great Front yee can not well use this Motion If ye would bring your Bodic in two Files the one halfe of the Rankes fall into the right hand File the other into the left hand File the right and left hand File standing fast and the rest of the Files inverting to them for some calleth this Motion Fileing by inversion VX ST VZ The figure S. T. is a Fileing of Rankes to the right hand where yee
yee may by this Motion bring your File-leaders who are your best men to encounter with him for it was euer the use of good Cōmanders to bring the front of their Battel against their enemies Thus Frōtinus witnesseth Alexāder Iulius Caesar to haue bene accustomed to bring the Souldiers who were in acie or the Front of the Battell to fight against their Enemie (l) Frontinus Strat. lib. I. c. 3. Alexander Macedo cum haberet vehementem exercitum semper eum statum belli elegit ut acie confligeret Caius Casar Bello civili cum exercitum vete ranum haberet hostium autem tyronem esse sciret acie semper decertare studuit COuntermarching of Rankes is when one wing of your Battell is brought in place of the other OF Counter-marching of Rankes or the wings into the midst of the Battell or one wing to double the other This Countermarch is also threefolde as the former of Files for it is Macedonian Laceden onian and Chorean The Macedonian taketh the ground which is on the contrare wing from the Enemie and therefore seemeth to march away from him The Lacedemonian taketh the ground which lyeth on the side of that wing which is towards the Enemie therefore maketh a show of charging him The Chorean keepeth still the same ground whereon the Battell stood before the Countermarch Aelian speaketh but little of those coūtermarches by Rāks neither haue I sene them much used in our exercise Yet for your vnderstanding I will set downe their Motion and their figures because some good use may bee made of them In the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke the right hand corner File faces to the left hand stands the rest of euerie Ranke passes through and place themselues orderlie behind their right hand sidemen beginning either with the vttermost File on the left Flanke or with the File next the right hand File and so they take vp the ground which was on the right wing of the Battell RSVX STXY R S V X is the Battell before the Countermarch S T X Y the Battell after the Countermarche which hath left the place it had and takin the place vpon the right wing and are all faced about to the left so that the front before R S is now become the right Flanke S T. The right hand File before S X is now become the Front The words of command Left wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the right wing or Rankes Countermarche from the left wing to the right The Lacedemonian Countermarche by Ranke is when the left hand corner File turnes his face to the left hand the rest of euery Rank passe through to the left and place themselues orderly before their left hand side-man beginning either from the vttermost File on the right hand or from the File next to the left hand File ABDE BCEF Yee see this Battell hath left the place where it stood B C E F and taken the ground beyond the left wing A B D E they are all faced about to the left The Front before the Countermarch was B C and is now become the right Flanke A B. The right hād File C F is now the Front A D The left hand File B E keeping still its place becomes the Reare The wordes of Command Right wing Countermarche through to the place beyond the left wing or Rankes Countermarche from the right wing to the left The Chorean Countermarche by Ranke is when the right hand corner File faces to the left and marches forward to the place of the left hand File the rest of euery rank following it the body mouing joyntly together while the right hand File come to the place of the left hand File and the left hand File to the place of the right hand File so that the bodie keepeth still that same ground it had before or to doe this more easily face only about your Battell to the left and then command a Countermarche of Files and this will produce the samine effect for it is all one to bring the front of your Battell to the Reare when it is faced to the right as to bring the right wing to the left before it bee faced GHIK In this Battell ye see the first man of euery Ranke with his Sydman that is to say the first two Files on the right Flank H K are turned are Counter-marching through the distances betwixt the Ranks the rest hath followed them on to the right Flank and hath left the place of the left Flank G I so-much voyd as the first two Files hath marched through the Ranks from the place of the right Flanke So that the right hand File shall marche on till it come to the place of the left hand File G I And the left hand File till it come to the place of the right hand File H K and so the Battell shall maintaine the samine ground it stood in and bee faced to the left The words of Command are Ranks to the right or left hand Countermarche and maintaine ground Our words of Command are Countermarch your Ranks to the right or left hand The use of Countermarching by Ranks is when the enemie appeareth on your left wing to charge you yee may by this motion oppose him with your best men and bring your right wing in place of the left against him and may applie your left wing to some advantage as a Riuer Marish or Trench that thereby it may be secure from encompassing or else it serues to bring one of your wings in place of the other when beeing embattelled ye minde to change the forme of your embattelling as if yee desire to set the right wing of your Battell against the right wing of your enemies Battell for some advantage of fight This did (m) Herodot in Calliope 248. Plutarch in Aristide Pausanias generall of the Grecian armie at the Battell of Platea against the Persians who hauing embattelled the Lacedemonians in the right wing of his armie and the Athenians in the left Mardonius the Persian Generall gaue the Thebans and other Greekes his right wing and the Persians the left wing Now Pausanias desiring to oppose the Athenians against the Persians as beeing better acquainted with the Persian fights then the Lacedemonians he Countermarched his right wing to the place of the left and so brought the Athenians against the Persians which Mardonius perceiuing did the like immediatlie Countermarched his right wing of Thebans to the left wing of the Persians as fearing to joyne the Persians with the Athenians By this manner of Countermarche yee may bring your wings in place of the body of your batallion which is this done Your right hand File faces to the left the left hand File to the right and marche both in towards the center of the Battell while they meet other face to face the rest of each Ranke vpon both wings followes them and marches out vntill the two middle Files
haue gotten the place of the corner Files and the Corner Files the place of the middle Files By this meanes P. Scipio making warre in Spaine against Asdrubal brought the Romans into the wings and the Confederates into the midst of his Battell whereby he overthrew Asdrubal as (n) Polyb. Hist lib. 11 Sect. 7. Polybius and (o) Livius decad 3. lib. 8. 204. Livius at more length reportes This is of excellent use in our discipline to bring the picks to the winges the Musquetiers to the midst of the Battell incase there were ane charge of Horse vpon both your Flanks for by this the Pickemen would receiue the charge of Horse and the Musquetiers giue fire vpon them Ye may also by this Motion double one wing with another to mak the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is done as before except that the Flanks doe not march through but when the Corner-File of the one Flanke is come in evin line and joyned with the Corner file of the other Flanke then yee command an halt and a faceing of them all to the Front Obserue that the Countermarch of Files of Rāks taks not the denomination à movente as would appeare but à loco in quo fit motus evolutionis for in a Countermarch of Files it is the Ranks that countermarches and moues downe through the distances betweene the Files the first Ranke beginning the second with the rest continuing the Motion till it bee ended In a Countermarch of Rankes the Files Countermarches and moues through the distances betwixt the Rankes the Corner-File which hath the command to Countermarch beginning the Motion and the rest of the Files continuing it vntill it bee finished And therefore in the Countermarch of Files the Motion is in the deapth of the Battell in the Countermarch of Rankes the Motion is in the length of the Battell Hence it is that the illustrious Count (p) Count Mansfield in his Direct of war Mansfield calleth a Coūtermarch of Rankes when the Front is brought in place of the Reare and a Countermarch of Files when one Flanke is brought in place of the other which is contrarie to the common appellation both of the Auncients and moderns or else I cannot see how hee can bee reconcealled vnto them Of Closiing and Opening the Battell Tit. 9. Closing is a drawing of the Battell to a lesse distance Opening an extending of it to a greater distance then it had before and both are either in length or in deapth And therefore two folde of Files and of Rankes Closing of Files is a contracting of the length of the Battell maintaining the samine deapth and it is threefolde for Files are either closed to the right hand or to the left or to the midle of the Battell The (a) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greekes calleth these Motions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To thicken to the right wing or the left wing or the midst of the Phalanx (b) Leo. Tact. c. 7. §. 33. Leo calleth the closing to the right and left 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bee thickned towardes the sides Aelian (c) Aelian d. cap. 32. sheweth how the closing to the right hād is to be done in those wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ye must command the right hand corner File to stand still and the rest turning their faces to the Picke to advance forwards towardes the right hand vntill they haue gotten the distance commanded the second File first taking his distance and the rest their distance from him and then all to face as they were ABCD The figure A B C D is the boundes where the Battell stood at open order imagine then the right hand File B D to haue stood still and the rest of the Files to haue marched from the left Flanke A C. towardes the right B D so that they are contracted to halfe the boundes they possessed before the closing and therefore standes at order or the distance of three foote from A C to the left hand File is the boundes which is left after the closing wherein the halfe of the Battell did stand before the closing to wit the 10. 9. 8. 7. and 6. Files so that the 10. File doeth now stand in the place where the 6. stood before the closing If yee close Files to the left hand yee must make the left hand corner File stand still and the rest facing to the Target advance forward to the left hand as the former did to the right vntill they haue all gotten their distance requyred and then they face as they were EFGH E F G H is a closing to the left hand where yee must conceiue the left hand File E G to haue stood still and the rest of the Files to haue advanced from the right Flanke F H vntill they haue contracted themselves as yee see so that they possesse only the halfe of the boundes they had before they closed From F H to the right hand File is the boundes wherein the halfe of the Battell stoode before the closing to wit the 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5 Files so that the first File possesseth now the place which the fyft had If yee would close your Battell to the middle Aelian d. c. 32. saith Aelian yee command the two middle Files to stand still and then the diphalanx that is the halfe Battell on the right wing to face to the Target and the diphalanx on the left wing to face to the Picke and then to moue forwards to the middle of the phalanx the two middle files also close and so after they haue gotten their true distance they face as they were IKLMNO This figure is a closing of the Battell to the middle The middle Files in K N that is the 5 6 files stands still The halfe Battell K L N O moues from the right Flanke L O towards the midle K N The halfe Battell I K M N moues from the left Flanke I M towards the middle K N so that the whole Battell I L M O is closed to halfe the distance it had before leauing the boundes voyde on the right Flanke L O where the first and second File and on the left Flanke I M where the 9. and 10. did stand The wordes of Command To your order or clo order Files close to the right hand Files close to the left hand Files close to the middle or as some say Files close for when the Command is onelie for Files to close without nameing any hand it is to bee vnderstood a closing to the middle Our Scotes words of Command To your first or second distance Close your Stringes to the right hand Close your Stringes to the left hand Close your Stringes Some will Close Files to the right and left by division making the halfe Battell on the right hand moue from the middle to the right hand File and the other halfe on the left hand
they likewise get their distance commanded so that in this Motion as in the other openings the Battell shall possesse in length after it bee fully opened the double of the ground it had before the opening The words of Command for these Motions To your open oder or any order else Files open to the right hand Files open to the left hand Files open to the right and left Or as some say open both wayes and some onlie files open for when there is no nomination of any hand it is vnderstoode as before in closing an opening from the middle to both hands Our wordes of Command To your first distance or any distance else Open your Stringes to the right hand Open your Stringes to the left hand Open your Stringes OPening of Rankes is an extension of the deapth of the Battell in place and is performed but one way to witte towardes the Reare which is thus done The File-leaders or the first Ranke standes still and the rest of the Rankes falles backwardes towards the Reare vntill the second Ranke haue gotten its distance which then standes the rest of the Rankes moues still backwardes vntill they all haue gotten their distance commanded IKLM IKLM is an Opening of Rankes where yee see the 2 and 3. Ranks hath moued backwards and hath alreadie taken their distance and ye must conceiue the rest of the Rankes to be mouing from the Front IK backwardes to the Reare LM vntill they all get their distance required The wordes of Command Rankes open to your open order or any order else Our wordes of Command Open your Rankes to your first distance or any distance else Some vse an opening of Rankes also forwards from the Reare to the Front if the ground permitt The action of these Motions of opening which I haue now showne both of Files and Rankes by making the Files presse vpon their Sydmen and the Ranks vpon their Followers is according to our common moderne exercise which differs much from the action of the Ancient (e) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Greeks for they in opening Files and Rankes did performe the Motion by Facing but in my opinion our common forme is rather to bee followed for although it want not its owne inconvenients beeing subject to stumbling on stobbs stones or holes in the way Yet in respect the terminus ad quem is not certaine nor seene as it was in closing of Files and Rankes The last Ranke or the vttermost File which beginneth the Motion of opening shall never bee assured where to stand or in what part to set themselues to giue a due competent ground to all the Rankes or Files to take their distance commanded neither can the samine be discerned be the ey of the Commander and therefore the Motion must bee begun and the distance must first be takin from the terminus à quo which is seene and certaine to wit the Ranke or File that stands and so euerie one after other shall assuredly get their distance commanded which they could not do behind their backs if they used a Facing but in this I submit my selfe to the judgement of the more learned For I think also that Souldiers may bee taught to take their distance by pacing Obserue that closing and opening both of Files and Ranks are one anothers reducemēts as if ye closed Files to the right hand and would reduce them to their first station command them to open to the left if ye opened Files to the left hand to bring them as they were yee must close Files to the right hand if yee closed to the middle open to the right and left by division and so they are reduced è contra Againe if yee close ranks forwards open them backwards and so yee bring them as they were è contra (f) Aelian Tact. e. 28. Aelian calleth an opening of Files or Rankes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a doubling of the length or deapth in place which in my opinion is not fitly spokin for although Files and Rankes bee opened to a greater distance yet the Battell cannot bee said to bee doubled The use of opening and closing the Battell in length and deapth yee may finde (g) Supra Tit. 3. before when I spoke of distances to the which I remitt you for I will repeat nothing only this I adde that Battells are opened and closed when a Generall will make his Armie appeare strong or weake according as hee mindes to terrifie or allure the enemie Files are closed to the right or laft hand when a troupe of Horse or Foote or Waggones with bagadge are to passe betwixt either of your Flankes and some strait Files are closed to the right and left by division when yee will make a streete through your Battell for a Generall or some great Commander to passe Of Conversion or VVheeling Tit 10. COnversion or Wheeling is a Motion of the whole Battell towards the Flankes or Reare changing the ground And therefore Wheeling is two fold the one when the Battell makes a quarter turne to the right or left Flanke which the Greeks calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or conuersion the other when it makes an halfe turne to the Reare be the right or left hand and this they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or inflexion no other languadge except the Greeke doth expresse this Motion in two seuerall wordes Epistrophe is described clearely by (a) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c When closing the Battell bee the Sydemen and the followers we turne it whollie as the Body of an man either to the Picke or the Target it beeing carryed about the corner File-leader as about a center and changing the place of the Front transfer the countenance of the Souldiers to the right or left Flanke (b) Aelian Tact. c. 31. Aelian in an other place setteth it down more amplie it is thus to be performed Ye must commād the Files to close to the hand to which ye mean to Wheele the Rankes to close also forwardes Then yee cause the Corner File-leader on the samine hand to stand still as the fixed foote of a compasse but moueing in his owne place and all the rest keeping their Files and Rankes closed to turne to the samine hand joyntly about the corner file-File-leader vntill the Front of your Battell be towards the Flank to which yee Wheele so that the Front of the Battell beeing wheeled falles like a perpendicular line vpon the Front of the Battell before it Wheeled making a right angle of 90 degrees at the corner File-leader about whome they Wheele and the Flanke falles vpon the Front as a parallel which the figure following showeth ABCDEF GHIKLM The figure ABCDEF is An Epistrophe or whee ling to the right hand CDEF is the Battell before the Wheeling whereof CD is the Front DF the right hand File The Command beeing given the right hand File-leader D who is thus marked * stands in his place
him the one halfe falling backward the other halfe advancing foreward according as the Command is to wheele If the Command bee to the right hand the right Flanke middle file-File-leader standes still and all those of the right Flanke goeth backeward the left Flanke forward If to the left hand the left Flanke middle File leader stands the left Flanke moues backeward and the right forward vntill they haue all made their Quarter-turne or halfe turne as the word is to wheele to the Flankes or the Reare ABCDEFGH This Figure is a wheeling of the Battell by the Center to the right hand where the fift File leader D* did stand as the Center the body hath moued about him the right Flanke F C falling backward the left Flanke A B advancing forward vntill they haue left the place D E G H and taken the ground A B C F. D E is a part of the Front before the wheeling E H the right Flanke B F is the Front after the wheeling F C the right Flank the number of the Files are set downe in the Reare of both the figures because I had no place to set them in the Front for the intersection of the two Fronts By this yee may also easilie conceiue a wheeling to the left for making the sixt File leader to stand the right Flanke F C to moue forward and the left Flanke B A to fall backward and make a quarter turne vntill the Front B F shall be converted to the left hand Likewise yee may consider a wheeling to the right or left about if yee cause the Bodie make an halfe turne to either hand vntill the Front bee towardes the Reare so that B F shall fall parallel vnto the former Front whereas now it cuttes it perpendicularlie The wordes of Command for this Motion VVheele your Battell by the Center to the right hand VVheele your Battell by the Center to the left hand VVheele your Battell by the Center to the right or to the lefth and about This VVheeling doeth not alter the ground so much as the other wheelings The use of this Motion The vse of VVheeling is when the Enemie comes to assault you in any one place as on either of the Flankes or the Reare ye turne the Front of your Battell towardes him and so bringes your best men to fight with him which Good Commanders was alwayes accustomed to doe as I shew before But if he come to charge you on more places then one as in the Flankes and the Reare or in the Front and the Reare or in the Front and the Flankes VVheeling will doe you no good your onelie remeade will bee to face about and receiue his Charge By this Motion (e) Plutar. in Pyrrho Pyrrhus ouerthrew Arieius King of Lacedemon and (f) Polyb. Hict lib. 1. Sect. 21. Amilcar defeate Spendius with the rest of his Rebelles See the Histories For I will not burding this small Treatise with many Allegations Obserue that Epistrophe and Perispasmus are in the whole Battell the same which Clisis and Metabole was in a particular Souldier for as thir turnes the face of the Souldier to the Flanks or the Reare keeping still his place so doeth the others turne the Face or Front of the whole Battell to the Flankes or the Reare changing the ground There is another kind of VVheeling which is when the winges are wheeled into the Bodie this is done either towardes the Front or towardes the Reare If towardes the Front then yee command the middle File leaders to stand still I meane from changing of ground not from Motion for they moue in their owne place and the right wing to wheele forwards to the left about its owne middle Fileleader transferring their faces to the contrarie wing The left wing in the same time wheeles forward to the right about the other middle Fileleader meeting the other wing in the midst face to face Then the Commander bids the right wing face to the right hand and the leftwing to the left hand so they shall all haue their aspect towards the Front If the wheeling be towards the Reare ye must first face your Battell about by either hand then the bringersup of the middle Files who are now become leaders stands still both the wings shall moue about the Bringersvp the one to the right hand the other to the left till they meete other in the midst as did the former then the Commander may bring their aspect to the Front or the Reare as hee pleases IKLMNOPQ This figure is a Wheling of the wings into the midst of the Battell towards the Front where ye see the right wing K L O P to bee wheeling to the left hand about the middle Fileleader K* the left wing I K M N to be wheeling to the right about its own middle Fileleader marked also K* and ye must conceiue those two wings to moue still on vntill they meete other the Pickes joyning with the Pickes and the Musquetiers with the Musquetiers and then the left hand File of the left wing I M shall come in evin line with the right hand File of the right wing L P making thereof the Front of the Battell after they are turned and the File K N shall come in an evin line with K O making thereof the Reare N Q O is a parte of the ground where the Battell stoode before it began to wheele But if yee wheele your Battell towards the Reare ye must conceiue N and O to be joyned to stand still and the right wing after it is faced about to wheele to the right hand about O the left wing to wheele to the left hand about N vntill they meete other face to face so that the File I Mâ— shall come in evin line with L P. The words of Command for this Motion are Wheele the wings into the midst of your Battell Or Wheele your Battell to the right left hand by division towards the Front or towards the Reare The use of this wheeling is to bring all your Musquetiers or all your Pickes to the Front as occasion shall serue and therwith to double your Front The Musquetiers are brought to the Front by wheeling towards the Front if they were before on the Flankes The Pickes are brought to the Front by wheeling towardes the Reare if they were before in the middle Suppose then that an troupe of the enemies horse were comming to charge your Front or your Reare minding also to encompasse your winges by this wheeling of the winges into the midest of your Battell with one labour yee both bring your Pickes against the Enemies horse and doubles the length of your Battell to eschew over-winging This wheeling hath onely a quarterturne but if yee will make an halfe turne either to the Front or the Reare yee shall bring the Pickes to both Flankes if they were before in the mids as in the former figure if yee should make an
first order Double your Rankes to the right hand Double your Rankes to the left hand SEcondlie Rankes are doubled by the Bringers-vp when the last Ranke aduanceth through the distances betweene the Files and after it the nixt last Ranke and so the rest successiuelie till the Bringers-vp bee in Ranke with the Leaders The 9 Ranke with the 2. the 8 with the 3. the 7 with the 4. The Bringers-vp middlemen with the Leaders middle-men so your Front is doubled with your best men and this is done as the former either to the right or left hand If the Command bee to the right the Bringers-vp with those that follow goe vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders if to the left they goe vp vpon their left hand as in these figures folowing appeareth IKLM NOPQ The figure I. K. L. M. is a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the right hand where ye see the 10 Ranke with the 9. and 8. following it are marching through the distances of the Files and going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders vntill the 10 Ranke come to the Front I. K. And as the Ranks marcheth vp to the Front they leaue as many voide places towards the Reare L M. as in the figure yee may see marked by these points ... The figure N O P Q showeth a doubling of the Bringers-vp to the left hand where the 10. Ranke with the rest following it are marching vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders towards the Front N. O. and leaues the voyde spaces towards the Reare P. Q. as did the former Let the Pickemen obserue when they begin to double that they Aduance or mount their Pickes and when they haue doubled that they order or ouer-end them and in reducement that they turne to the contrarie hand as I shew before in the first doubling (c) Count Mansfield in his directions of Warre Count Mansfield calles this Motion A doubling by induction The wordes of Command are Bringers-vp as yee were Bringers-vp double your Front to the Right Bringers-vp double your Front to the Left Our Scots words of Command are Tenth Ranke to your first Order Tenth Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Tenth Ranke to the Left hand advance to the Front THirdlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files that is to say The last fiue Rāks marcheth vp through the distances betwixt the Files till the Bringers-vp Middle-men bee in evin Front with the File-Leaders so that the sixt Rank of 10 deipth doubleth the first the 7. the 2. the 8. the 3. the 9. the 4. the Bringers-vp the Leaders Middle-men And this is done either to the right or left hand as the former whē the Middle-men goeth vp either to the right or left hand of the Leaderes according to the worde of Command as the figures following showeth RSTV XYZA Those two figures are battells of Pickes onelie which I haue set downe for breafe perspicuities cause for yee may imagine the like Motions to be done by Musquetiers on the Flankes The Battell then R. S. T. V. is a doubling of Rankes by Middle-men to the right hand where ye see the sixt Rank with the 7.8.9 10. following it is going vp vpon the right hand of the Leaders to the Front R.S. and leauing the voyde spaces where they stood towards the Reare T. V. so that the deapth which was before from S. to V. is now diminished to the half X. Y. Z. A. is a doubling by Middle-men to the left where the samine rankes marcheth vp vpon the left hand of the Leaders to the Front X. Y. leauing their voyde spaces toward the Reare Z. A. and diminishing the deapth as the former The wordes of Command Halfe Files as yee were Middle-men or halfe Files to the right hand double your Front Middle-men or halfe Files to the left hand double your Front Our Scotes wordes of Command are Sixt Ranke to your first order Sixt Ranke to the right hand aduance to the Front Sixt Ranke to the left hand aduance to the Front Obserue that those doublinges are to bee done at open order FOurthlie Rankes are doubled by Middle-men or halfe Files enteare or by diuision enteare when the halfe Files or last fiue Rankes faceth about to the hand to which they are commanded to double marcheth out altogether from the Body till they bee cleare of it and then face to the Front and march vp to joyne themselues in evin Front with the File Leaders By diuision when those halfe Files doe face the one halfe to the right hand the other to the left and so going out from the Bodie they march vp vpon both Flankes vntill they come and Front with the File-Leaders as may bee seene by these figures following ABC DEF GHIK The figure A. B. C. is a doubling of the Front by the halfe Files to the right hand enteare where yee see the last fiue Rankes C. are passed out together from the Bodie and are marching vp vpon the right Flank B. to joyne in evin Front with the first 5. rākes The figure D. E. F. is a doubling to the left hand where the last fiue Rankes F. are gone out from the Bodie to the left and are marching vp the left Flanke D. to front with the rest as the former did vpon the right G. H. I. K. is a doubling to the right and left by diuision where yee see the last 5. Rankes I.K. hath diuided themselues and gone out from the Bodie the one halfe K. marching vp the right Flanke H. the other halfe I. marching vp the left Flanke G. to joyne all in evin Front with the rest The wordes of Command are Halfe Files as ye were Halfe Files to the right double your Front Enteare Halfe Files to the left double your Front Enteare Halfe Files double your Front to the right and left by diuision I haue not seene our Scots Commanders use this Motion in their exercease and therfore I cannot set downe their wordes of Command In this Motion if you would keepe your shot and your pickes together yee must cause your shot on the Flankes to edge out-ward and leaue a distance for the Pickes to come vp and joyne with the rest and your Shot that doubleth marcheth out and joyneth with rest of the Shot I haue heard many Commanders slight this Motion as vnprofitable but I doe not approue their opinion for I hold it the most usefull Motion that can bee practised in doubling of Ranks and more seruiceable thā any other doubling whatsoeuer because all other doublings must be done at open order therefore cannot bee used when the enemie commeth to charge or in time of fight because that distance is not fit to receiue the charge of the Enemie but these doublinges are done at close order therfore may be used in time of fight and at all other times without any trouble Againe other doublings disturbes the Battell maketh a confusion by marching through the
to the left hand File leauing the voide distāce in the middle which other closings leaues vpon the wings as if the halfe Battell should moue from K N to L O and the other halfe from K N to I M with this word of Command Files close to the right or left by division to your order or close order To reduce your Files after closing to their first posture or station is to open Files to the distance they had before their closing of which I shall shortly speake (c) Aelian Tact. c. 32. Aelian saith that closing of Files is to bee done by facing as indeed it is the most fitte action How the Motion is to bee performed but I haue seene many Commanders in exercise use this Motion without any Facing only mouing sydelings to the hand to which the command is to close and forsooth they will defend this to bee good because say they Facing in so small a bounds as a private company taketh vp is needlesse but I say they maintaine ane errour for laying aside the authoritie of the Grecian practise which justly may bee tearmed the touchstone of martiall discipline they are easily convinced by reasone because Facing performes the Motion more assuredly and more gracefully then going asydwayes seeing their steps are not sure being subject to stumbling neither the actiō comly and although the first or second file next the hand to which they close haue but a litle ground to goe Yet the ground doth accresse according as the Files are remoued from the standing File which our blunt Commanders doth not consider so that the vttermost File must marche the halfe of the boundes wherein the battell stoode before the closing as for example Say yee had a single company of 200 men making you 20 in Front and standing at open order sixe foote betwixt Files The bounds that the length of your Battell takes vp is 120 foote this is found by multiplying the number of your men in Front by the distance they stand in as 20 multiplied be 6 the factum is 120 if then yee command Files to close to the right hand to their order or distance of 3 foot the left hand File shall haue 60 foote of ground to march before he close to his distance requyred which if hee march sydelings yee may easily consider what a stedfast and gracefull Motion it will bee The Argument then is evident The most assured and most gracefull Motion is the best Motion But so it is that closing of Files by facing according to the Grecian forme is the most assured and most gracefull Motion Ergo Closing of Files by Facing is the best The major I hope no man vvill deny The minor I haue alreadie proven This I thought good to aduertise you whom I would wish to learne the Arte Militare scientifice and not according to the vulgare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there are manie men who pertinaciously will maintaine their badde customes and will obtrude them for precepts and good Laws vpon men as also I haue knowne manie Commanders more fraught with a Thrasonicall ostentation then any skill to performe their charge Closing of Rankes is a contracting of the deapth of the Battell Of Closing of Rankes and it is performed one way only to wit towards the Front which is thus done The File-leaders or first Ranke stands still the second Ranke comes vp and closes to the distance commanded the rest of the Rankes moue vp and close to the samine distance euerie man taking his distance from his Leader PQRS This figure P Q R S is the boundes wherein your Battell stood at open order or distance of 6. foote betwixt Rankes Now the deapth is contracted and the Ranks hath marched vp from the Reare R.S. and closed towards the Front P Q. to their order or distance of 3 foote so that your Rankes possesses only the halfe of the boundes they had before the closing from R S to the 10 Ranke is the voyd ground wherein the halfe of your Rankes did stand before your closing to wit the 10.9.8.7 6. so that the 10 Ranke stands now in the place where the 6 stoode before the closing The wordes of Command Close your Rankes to your order or close order Our wordes of Command Rankes close to your second or third distance The Emperour (d) Leo Tact. c. 7. §. 84. Leo speakes of a closing of Rankes backwards to the Reare which he calles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Motion because it is not commodious nor yet aggreeable to our moderne practise I will not touche OPening OF opening of Files is an extension of the length or deapth of the Battell and therefore is twofolde of Files or of Rankes Opening of Files is an extension of the length of the Battell in place and it is threefolde as was the closing For Files are opened to the right hand or to the left hand or to both Opening of Files to the right hand is thus performed The left hand File stands still the next File vnto it first taketh its distance pressing vpon the next File on the right hand and so the rest of the Files successivelie still presseth upon the right hand till they haue all obtained the distance commanded TVXY TVXY is an opening of Files to the right hand where yee must conceiue the left hand File TX which is the 10 to stand still so ye see the 9 and 8 to haue already taken their distance and the rest of the Files to be moueing towards the right hand VY till they haue all gotten their distance required In opening of Files to the left hand ye must doe the contrare way for yee make the right hand File stands still and the rest to open towardes the left stil pressing vpon the left hand as the former did vpon the right hand till they haue all gotten the distance commanded and so both of them taketh vp the double of the boundes they stood in before ABCD ABCD is an opening of Files to the left hand where the right hand File BD stands still The 2 and 3 haue already gottē their distance the rest are moving towards the left hand AC till they also get their distance required Opening of Files to both hands is performed thus The two middlemost Files presse vpon the Flāks the one vpon the right the other vpon the left and take their distances and standes the rest of the Files on both Flanks takes their distance from them moving the one halfe to the right and the other to the left hand till they haue all gotten their distance commanded EFGH EFGH is an opening of Files to both hands where yee see the two middlemost Files to haue gotte their distance the fyft hauing pressed vpon the right Flanke FH The sixt vpon the left EG the files next vnto them the 4 vpon the right Flanke and the 7. vpon the left hath also taken their distance The rest are mouing vpon both Flankes till
Tact. c. 14. § 69. Leo and also beeing placed in the middle of the Battell or in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 described by (e) Aelian Tact. c. 8. Aelian or yet being inserted betweene the Files of the armed men as in the (f) Aeiian Tact. c. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how could the light armed I say and chiefelie Archers doe anie seruice how could they doe any harme to their E nemies without endamnadging their own Phalanx or Maniples The doubt is alike and yet the Auncients many times were accustomed to use this forme of Embattelling There is no question then but our Pickmen with their Bowes may doe the same execution as did the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or velites yea in this respect they haue a great advantage aboue their Archers seeing they had to shoote their Arrowes ouer the heades of 16 deepe attour the deapth of their own Bodie but the last Rankes of your Pickemen hath to shoote ouer the heade of 9. deepe onelie Al. wayes yee shall consider that the Enemie must be at a farre distance when the whole Battell shootes off otherwayes when hee comes nigh to charge as seldome hee will doe if this weapon bee rightlie used they must shoote a straight shoote and then the last Rankes can hardlie let flee their Arrowes except the first rankes charge at footte as I said in which case the first Rankes recouers their picks fastens their Bows commeth vp to close order chargeth their pickes against the Enemie the last Rankes standing still at their shooting Posture This Bow is verie steadable in warlike service VVherein the Bow excelles the Musquet and although the use thereof is almost quite extinguished by the furious execution which the Musquet appeareth to make yet I will proue it to surpasse the Musquet in manie respects first in surenesse because an archer cannot misse to nock his arrow and to shoote off but an Musquetier may fail of his shot by sundrie accidentes as by rolling out of the bullet by an badde matche an matche not right cocked by euill powlder or wet powder in his Pan and suche like and I haue oftentimes seene an Ranke of Musquetiers hauing presented and given fyre that three or foure of ten hath failed of their shot ye must know that in service there is no time to prime againe or to right their matche for they must fall away with the rest of their Ranke and make place to the next Ranke to giue fire Againe it surpasses the Musquet in readinesse for an Archer shall shoote sixe arrowes at the least before a Musquetier haue dismounted his Musquet Vncocked his matche Blowne his Pan primed shoote his Pan cast off his loose Powlder cast about his Musquet charged drawne out his scourer shortened his scourer done all therest of the Posturs which are requisite for the right using of the Musquet Also the Musquet as all fierie wapons is dangerous to them who are Vnskilfull for an unexpert man may spoile himselfe and many about him which inconvenient is notsubject to the Bow Lastlie it excelleth the Musquet in execution and pluralitie of vollies for an whole Battallion of Archers or Pickmen with their Bowes may shoot off all together wheras one Rank only of Musquetiers can giue fire at once vnlesse the rest would either shoote at random or else kill their leaders so that in an Battallion of 200 men halfe Picks halfe Musquetiers the Pickmen shall shoote 100 arrowes for 10 shot of Musquet wherfore so manie flights of 100 arrowes following suddenly and continually after others vpon the enemies Battallion shall assuredly so terrifie and disorder them that they shall bee forced rather to saue themselves by flight than either follow or a abide the charge Of what esteeme the Bow was in ancient tymes and how serviceable in warres (g) Veget. de re milit lib. 1. c. 15. Vegetius citeth the Bookes of Cato de disciplinâ militari and showeth the example of Claudius and Scipio Africanus who by this weapon ouercame their enemies whome otherwise they could not haue matched His wordes ar those QuaÌ„tum autem utilitatis boni sagittarij in preliis habeant Cato in libris de disciplinâ militari evidenter ostendit Claudius pluribus jaculatoribus ante institutis atque perdoctis hestem cui prius impar faerat superavit Africanus quidem Scipio cum adversum Numantinos qui exercitum populi Romani sub jugum miseraÌ„t esset acie certaturus aliter superiorem se futurum esse non credidit nisi in omnibus centuriis lectos sagitarios miscuisset The Emperour (h) Leo. Tact. c. 11. â—ultimo Leo after hee hath giuen Command to renew the practise of Archerie hee subjuneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meaning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the neglect of Archerie hath brought great skaith and damnage to the Roman armie and it is certaine that by this weapon the (i) Veget. de re milit lib. 1. cap. 20. Gothes did subdue the Romans exstirpat their Empire By this weapon in leate times the English did euer ouerthrow the French cavallery therby obtained many great and famous victories as those of Cressi Poictiers agin court and others The Souldiers of the militarie yarde at London are taught to use a Musqueton or demy Musquet with their Pick which hangs about their Neck in a Belt like a carabine beeing two foot in length and of full Musquet bore 12. bullets to a pound but hauing a snapwork it wil carie blanck as far as a Musquet which I haue sene This demy Musquet they charge and discharge with as great facilitie as if they had nothing to use but their peace making their Picks as it were a rest vnto it but the use heereof cannot be so well vnderstoode by discourse as by practise Yet it is certaine that the first or last two Ranks only can haue the benefite of this weapon whereas the whole Battell of Pickmen may shoote off their Arrowes altogether And thus much for the exercising of Pickmen with a Bow or halfe Musquet wherein I haue insisted longer then I intended because the matter is worthie of imitation for it hath oftentimes grieved my minde that the choisest men in the Battell should patiently stand as a marke to the enemies shotte and thereby fall to the ground before they come to hands OF the exercising of Musquetiers This exercise of Pickemen with the Bow and halfe Musquet I haue not else whereseene except in the fornamed places but the exercising of Musquetiers is ordinarie euerie-where The Musquetiers most commonlie are placed in the Flankes of the Battell although vpon occasron the Commander sometimes will place them in the Front sometimes in the Reare sometimes make plottons of them or troupes of reserue Musquetiers then are to bee exercised and taught to Giue fyre three manner of wayes In the Front in the Reare in the Flankes By the first they gine fyre advancing vpon
and the whole body turnes about him vntill the Front of the Battell be in an evin line with the right Flanke of the former The Battell after the wheeling is ABCD wherof BD is the Front DC the right hand File BD falls as it were perpendicular vpon the former Front CD making the angle BD C a right angle DC falles as it were parallel vnto the former Front The other figure is a Wheeling to the left which by the former ye may easily vnderstand for the left hand File leader I. hauing also this mark * stands still and the whole Battell moues about him to the left leauing the place they stood in IKLM and taking the place GHIK The Front of the Battell before the Wheeling is IK the left hand File IL The Front after the Wheeling is GI The left hand File IK which is parallel vnto the former Front and GI falls vpon I K maks the like angle as was in the former figure After yee haue made them close Rankes and Files The words of command for Epistrophe are Wheele your Battell to the right hand Wheele your Battell to the left hand Our wordes of Command are The Great turne to the right about The Great turne to the left about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith (c) Aelian Tact. c. 24. Aelian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perispasmus or Wheeling about is a Motion of the Battell in two Epistrophes or single Wheelinges whereby the Front is brought in place of the Reare In performing of the Motion yee must doe all as before in Epistrophe except that your Battell must make an halfe turne towards the Reare to the right or lefthand whereas before it made onlie an quarter turne to the right or left hand So that Epistrophe brought the Front of the Battell to either of the Plankes Perishasmus bringes the Front to the Reare as yee see in the figure following VXYZABC NOPQRST The figure N O P Q R is a Perispasmus or Wheeling about to the Reare by the right hand where the left hand Fileleader Q* stāds still the rest of the body moues about him an halfe turne vntill they bee all faced to the Reare and leaues the place they stoode in P Q S T and taks the place N O Q R so that it falls vpon the other like an quadrant vpon an others angle the right hand Fileleader beeing the point of the angle to them both the Front before the wheeling is P Q the right hand File Q T the Front after the wheeling Q R the right hand File Q N which fals in a right line with the former Q T. The other figure is a Perispasmus or wheeling about by the left hand where the body moues about the left hād Fileleader Z* to the left making an halfe turne till they be all faced to the Reare and leaues the place they stood in Z A B C takes the place V X Y Z. The tront before the wherling is Z A the left hand File Z B the Front after the wheeling is Y Z the left hand File Z X which falles in a right line with Z B. Obserue that the corner Fileleaders about whom the Battell is turned either to the Flankes or to the Reare which I haue marked so* are said to stand still not in respect of Motion but of altering of ground for they doe also moue in their own place where they stand not changing the ground onely facing to the hand they wheele but all the rest changes the ground and moues to the Flanks or the Reare as the Commād is The wordes of Command for Perispasmus after closing the Battell are VVheele your Battell to the righthand about VVheele your Battell to the left hand about Our words of Command are The great turne to the right round about The great turne to the left round about The reducement from a wheeling which the (d) A lian Tact. c. 24. c. 31. Greekes calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is thus performed If ye made an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or quarter turne to either hand yee must first face them to the contrarie hand and then wheele the Battell backe to the place it stood in before and after they haue faced againe as they were Open Rankes and Files and so they shall bee brought to their first station many doe not use a facing in this Reducement but if yee haue made a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or halfe turne To reduce the Battel ye must yet mak another Perispasmus or wheeling about to the same hād as if yee wheeled about to the right hand yee must yet wheele about to the right hand if yee wheeled about to the left hand ye must yet wheele about to the left and then open Rankes and Files and so your Battell shall bee reduced to its first Station Obserue that the Remoter the Souldiers be from the Fileleader that stands and the neerer they approach to the opposite corner the swifter pace they must moue in wheeling because they mak an greater arc of an Circle and therefore hath more bounds to walke for euerie Ranke of the Battell in wheeling considdered as a Rhombe describes an quadrant or semi circle according as the wheeling is to the Flanks or the Reare about the corner Fileleader as a center And ye know that of many Circles described about one center taking proportionable arcs they shall be Unequall in bignesse for the Remoter the Circles be from the Center the greater the arcs of them are as yee see in the figure following ABCDEFG F G and D E and B C are proportionable arcs of three Circles described about the center A whereof yee see F G to bee the biggest because it is remotest B C the least because it is nearest to the center A. Suppose then three men were placed the one in F the nixt in D the third in B and were to make their course the one to G the next to E the third to C which they behoued to make in equall time it is certaine that hee who goes from D to E must goe more swiftly than he who goes from B to C because his bounds is greater and he who walkes from F to G must goe yet a swifter pace than hee who went from D to E because his arc is geater Hence it is cleare that the Remoter the Souldiers are from the File leader about whom they turne the swifter pace they must goe because they describe the greater arcs and the File-bringer vp who is Diagonallie opposite to the File-leader that stands as Center describes the greatest arc of all For lacke of this consideration I haue seene much disorder in wheeling of a Battell There is another kinde of VVheeling used in the Low Countre exercise which is a wheeling by the Center to either hand or to either hand about It is thus performed The middle File-leader of the Flanke to which they wheele stands still as the Center all the rest moues about