may by this figure easily apprehend what the other would be CHAP. XIII Of doublings of Files IN this doubling of Files you may perceive that each of the even files doubleth into the odde files beginning from the hand named as in this doubling of files to the left the left hand file stands fast the second file doubleth into it the fourth file into the third and so for the rest If your command be to double your files to the right then contrariwise the right hand file stands fast the rest of the even files doubling into the odde accounting from the right as before from the left Thus much may suffice for the doubling of files onely take this by way of admonition that as in doubling of ranks any way you are to observe your right hand leader so in doubling of files you are to observe your file-leader so that as neere as possibly may be you may either in ranke or file be altogether in one motion If you please further to observe with me that this doubling is a doubling of number and not of place the depth of the battell not being thereby extended for further satisfaction observe this figure Files to the left double Files as you were CHAP. XIV Of doublings by bringers-up THis doubling which next followeth shall be a doubling by Bringers-up of which sort one figure will be sufficient which I hold most necessary to demonstrate in manner of motion The figure followeth This doubling of Ranks by Bringers up differeth from the other doubling of ranks first done both in quantity and quality In quantity it differeth in regard the other leaves a large distance betweene Ranke and Ranke being double the distance they formerly stood at this contrariwise continuing and preserving the same distance they formerly stood at betweene each Ranke In quality it also differeth in regard that it brings the best and second sort of Souldiers together into the Front The manner of this doubling you may plainely perceive by the figure where it is performed as followeth The eight or last ranke which are the bringers up passe forwards even in ranke through or betweene the intervales to the right of them that stand before them until they come even in ranke with the Front The seventh rank following those which marched from behinde them placing themselves in the second Rank the sixth in the third the fifth ranke or halfe file in the fourth or reere of the front halfe file This doubling maketh a very able Front in bringing all the best Souldiers together And although it hath diminished the number in regard of the depth yet it hath doubled the number in the length This doubling is in quantity of number not of ground When you march into your places remember this that the Rank which last tooke his place in the execution of this motion must first march into his place in the way of reducement For as they are led forth by their Bringers up contrariwise they are led off by their halfe file leaders In the doubling of the Front to the left by Bringers up it is the same onely differing in this that whereas before it was to the Right this is to the Left Wherefore let this suffice for doublings by Bringers up CHAP. XV. Doublings of Files outward and inward THe next doubling is a doubling of Files outward which workes the same effect as to double Files to the right and left For the right flanke is to double to the right the left flanke to the left As you may plainely perceive by the following Figure This doubling of Files to the right and left outward strengthneth both the Flanks at once by doubling their numbers in depth But it weakneth the Inward part where it taketh two Files cleane away leaving a large Interuale in the midst Some say it is good when a Commander will grace any to bring them through the center or midst of the Battalia But you must note if you have an odde File you cannot so punctually performe it as when the number of your Files be even The manner of the doubling you may perceive by the Figure The motion by the little lines drawen from the Pricks The performance is as followeth The outmost File of each Flanke stands The second Files double into them The third File from each Flanke stands The fourth File double into the third The sixt into the fift and so likewise for the rest If you would double Files to the right and left inward it is to be done the contrary way For whereas in this Figure of doubling last performed the outmost Files stand the other doubling outward into them Contrarywise the two inmost Files should stand the rest doubling to them inward And whereas in this there is a larger distance in the midst then is in any other part The other part Contra would bee closest in that part Some men doe not approove of either of these doublings I leave every man to his owne choice The practise of it makes perfection and he that can doe much may doe lesse when he liâ—teth CHAP. XVI Of doubling by Halfe-files THe next doubling is a doubling by Halfe-files whereby the length of the Battaile is extended to double the former proportion of number the depth being extenuated both in number and place This Figure will demonstrate unto you the manner of the motion which is as followeth This doubling our Rankes forward by our Halfe-files is a MorioÌ„ generally approved of by all for serviceable if it be done with conveniencie It differeth from the other doubling by Bringers up in quality not in quantity for therein they keepe one proportion In quality it differeth thus The doubling by Bringers up brought the best and second sort of souldiers together into the Front The fourth and third sort into the Reere So that the Reere was 4 7 worse then the Front This doubling by Halfe-files brings the best and the third together into the Front and leaves the second and fourth in the Reere So that the Front is made more able then the Reere by â…“ It differeth likewise in Motion thus For whereas in the other doubling by Bringers up the Motion was begun by the last Ranke every Ranke following the Ranke which came from behind him This contrarywise is directly led foorth by the fift Ranke from the Front if they be but eight deepe and so is executed more surely and suddenly the fift Ranke passing into the first the sixth Ranke into the second the seventh into the third and so for the rest For the reducement when they are commanded to face about to the left and march forth into their places Then as the Motion was led on by the halfe-file-Halfe-file-leaders so in the reducement they are led off by the Bringers up Doubling of halfe-halfe-files to the left produceth the same effect onely the contrary hand CHAP. XVII Of doubling the Reere by Front Halfe-files THe doubling of the Reere by Front halfe-files is differing
but they also have extended ther length to double their proportion of ground which formerly they did occupie I forbeare to speake more of this doubling untill we come to shew it in motion and now proceed to the next doubling upon this The command is as followeth This doubling of halfe rankes is a more speedy and sure doubling then the doubling of halfe ranks by countermarch but is most commonly used when the body consists but of one sort of Armes being either all Muskettiers or all Pikes But because in my figures I have as well Muskettiers as Pikes I have made use of a Doubling intire and from that have doubled my left flanke to prevent the mixture of Armes However mixture of Armes upon some occasion may be necessary The manner to performe the motion is this The left flanke stands the halfe ranks of the right face to the left and then the inmost file of the right flanke all the files of the right flanke being by this facing become ranks is the leader of this motion marching forth right to their left hands between the intervales of the rankes of the left flank untill that the sixteenth file which now is become a ranke have placed themselves orderly in the two and thirtieth file which is the outmost file of the left flanke The fifteenth in the one and thirtieth the fourteenth in the thirtieth the thirteenth in the nine and twentieth and so likewise of all the rest The places may be perceived by the figure The doubling is of number and not of place For reducement to both these doublings first cause the halfe rankes which last doubled to face to the right and so to march into their places They that last tooke their places in the motion are the first that take their places in the reducement The doubling of halfe ranks being thus reduced next for the reducing of the halfe files which were doubled before for the accomodating of the doubling of halfe-ranks command the halfe files to face about to the left and to march forth into their places Wherewith I will conclude these sort of doublings which require open order in Ranke and File and come next to shew intire doublings which claime a closer distance for their true performance And therfore conceive them closed to their order both in Ranke and File CHAP. XXI The difference betweene intire and divisionall doublings and of doubling halfe-files intire HAving closed our Souldiers to their due distance I will next proceed to shew doublings intire But me thinkes I heare some already inquiring what is meant by intire doublings and therefore without offence to the curious give me leave to be so courteous to the Ignorant to tell them that all Doublings are either intire or divisionall Intire Doublings being these or such like as when the files or halfe-files rankes or halfe-rankes according as the command may be doe march forth joyntly together without division or dissipation to double the part commanded Particle and divisionall Doublings being such as I have formerly shewn as when the files or halfe-files rankes or halfe-rankes are disranked and divided into more parts or places than one This may serve for way of distinction I will now shew intire doublings as they are in action and first beginne with doubling halfe-files The Figure followeth This doubling of halfe-files intire hath beene held a better doubling then either the ordinary doubling of Ranks or the usuall way of doubling by halfe-files or Bringers up some of the causes are these First it makes no disturbance to the other part of the Battalia but that it may either be executed in time of motion exercise or skirmish Secondly it appeares another solid body to the great disheartening of any enemy Thirdly it is very apt for over-fronting being a doubling both of number and place The way to performe the motion is this The halfe-files face to the left and march till they are quite cleere of that part of the body which stands then they face to their Leader and so march up untill they are become even in ranke with those which stand upon the right flanke and then the Figure will be perfect For the reducement the word of command is Halfe Files face about to the right march forth into your places having faced about they march straight forth untill they be cleere of the front halfe-files then they face to the left and march straight forth untill every man hath his right place and then face right after their Leaders The doubling of halfe-files to the right intire is performed after the same manner onely differing in the hand CHAP. XXII Of doubling the Front inward intire DOubling of the Front inward intire hath beene a doubling as usefull as ancient notwithstanding most commonly used by greater bodies as when one Regiment Division or Maniple moveth forward betweene two others thereby seconding or relieving them whereby the Front of all the three divisions become ranged in an even line but I have onely taken upon me to shew the motion in a private Company The Figure whereof followeth as it is in the execution It hath beene the custome amongst ancient Souldiers and great Commanders that in the matter of Exercise they shew some things which are most apt for a private Company some for a Regiment other some most usefull for compleat arms so in like manner it must be the discretion of every Reader whether hereade for apprehension or reprehension to suit and fit each motion to his true end purpose with the wise man rather reade twise than judge once and then perhaps when the intent of the Author is perceived his opinions may be received yet what need I or any other apologize ought in the behalfe of this Figure or any other such like sith they are but the expressions of the various figures which proceed of the words of command used almost by every ordinary Exerciser of a foot Company Neverthelesse if Aesops long ear'd beast passing by should peepe into this Druggists shop and quarrell with the Compounds I shall not studie for a further answer then That the excellent and skilfull Physitian can convert that into an Antidote which the unlearned foole will make his poyson But lest I be taxt for digression the motion of this doubling is thus performed The halfe files of the Front faceth to the right and left and march till they have left a distance between them sufficient to receive the halfe files of the Reere and then stand and face to their Leader Then the halfe files march up and even their Front For the reducement of this Figure there are as there are for all the rest divers waies But because that it is necessary to shew one let the halfe files face about to the Reere and march untill they are cleere of the Front halfe files then stand and face to their Leader then the other halfe files of the Front close their division and they are reduced CHAP.
that hath already been shewen will be sufficient at least in some small measure to give satisfaction to those which as yet have not knowne what is meant by Inversion Yet I could wish that such as exercise the Companies of the Trained-Bands of this Kingdome would rather make use of the plainer word of demonstration which is Rankes file or Files file and leave out the word Inversion as a word not sutable with the Capacity of divers of our Souldiers of the Trained-Bands Especially of this City where Porters Colliars Water-bearers and Broomemen are thrust into the roomes of men of better quality as though they themselves were too good to doe the King and Country service CHAP. XXXV Of the severall parts of Conversion and how they-are to be understood THe next branch of Discipline which I offer to your view shall be of Conversion and of its severall parts wherein if there be any that thinke me tedious let them turne it over and settle on some other part which may be to them more delectable whilest I in the meane time shall endeavour to give content to all neither stuffing out my booke with needlesse discourses nor yet too much abbreviating the matter whereby to render it too obscure unto the commonest capacity Wherefore take their parts as they hereafter follow Conversion consists of these parts viz. Of Ranks ranking in equall parts 1 in unequall parts 2 intire into the Front 3 by division into the Front 4 by wheeling to the Flanks 5 Files ranking by equall parts 6 by unequall parts 7 intire into the Front 8 First of ranks ranking in even or equall parts Which is to be understood when there are twelve or twenty more or lesse marching abreast and the Commander either for the narrownesle of a passage or for some other intent causeth his rankes to ranke three or sixe abreast or five ten or any other number either according to the place or occasion every ranke holding equality of number Secondly rankes then ranke by unequall parts when they ranke by increase or decrease As when the first ranke shall be three the next five then seven nine c. which is commonly used for the making of Diamond and Triangular figures Thirdly ranks then ranke intire into the front when the first ranke stands the second ranke placeth it selfe on the right or left of the first the third by the second the fourth by the third and so forward for all the rest untill all the rankes either to the right or left according to direction are become one ranke in the front Fourthly rankes then ranke by division into the front when the second ranke and all the rest of the rankes behinde open to the right and left the one part going to the right the other to the left ranking even with the first as before and all together making one ranke Fiftly Ranks then ranke to the flanke or flankes when either the right hand man of each ranke or the left hand man or both together are as it were the Hindge of the motion the rest of each ranke wheeling about them to the right or left or each hand by division untill that every ranke be brought into the distance which was before the ranke betweene the right hand-man of the ranke next before and the right hand-man of the same ranke you stand in If it be to the left then they wheele into the distance between the left-hand-leaders of each ranke If it be by division then halfe the ranke wheeleth to the right the other halfe to the left and produceth two rankes Sixthly Files then rankes by equall parts when they rank three foure or five abrest more or lesse still keeping the number of men in ranke of due proportion If you ranke three abrest either to the right or left and your files be but eight deepe then the first sixe men make two rankes the third ranke must be made up by the leader of the second file And so for all the rest If you ranke foure and the files be eight deepe then every file makes two rankes If you ranke five the files being 8 deep then the first five men make a ranke and the first two men of the second file from the hand named make up the second ranke Five of the other sixe make up the third ranke And so forward for the rest If the depth of the file were ten men then it would make two even rankes Seventhly Files then ranke by unequall parts when they either ranke by progressionall increase or by decrease As when every ranke exceeds the ranke before it by two three or foure be it more or lesse Or else that each ranke decreaseth after the same manner Eightly Files then ranke intire into the front when there is so much distance betweene file and file as will containe each file ranke-wise every man in the file marching forwards to the right or left as shall be commanded untill he stand even in ranke with the leader of his file which brings the body into one ranke CHAP. XXXVI Of Rankes wheeling by Conversion IF I would strive to bee curious I should need no other subject to lengthen my discourse but onely this of Inversion and Conversion which of it selfe would yeeld matter sufficient to make a Booke of But I have taken a large taske And therefore like the Artists in Geography who sometimes by a spot present a Town and by a wrinckled line a large River so must I crave of the favourable Reader that in this small Treatise of Discipline he will not expect that I should inlarge my selfe so amply as I might upon every part For then my booke would grow beyond his bounds and I beyond my promise but lest I be taxed for digression this that hath already beene shewne may suffice for Conversion But because it may be expected that I should shew Conversion in Figure as well as the other Motions therefore to gratifie such I shall demonstrate two Figures unto them which may serve for all the rest The one shall be of rankes wheeling by Conversion the other of files ranking foure to the left The word of command for the first stands placed right over the figure This foregoing figure of Conversion is of Rankes wheeling to the right and left or ranks ranking to each flanke by wheeling It differeth from ranks filing both in manner and matter In the manner thus Whereas in ranks filing to the right and left the right and left-hand file-leaders preserve and continue their places and with that their honours In this wheeling by Conversion to the right and left contrariwise the innermost file-leaders become the outmost men in that pure where the front stood the other file-leaders ranking even within them Some men have called this Rankes filing by Conversion to the right and left but corruptly For conversion alwaies produceth rankes as I formerly said and inversion files But their mistake groweth from this that when rankes wheele to the right or right and
left then say they they by wheeling become file or files which is a palpable mistake For when we have any command for wheeling it is a maxime for us to wheele our aspects unto the hand or part named By which doing we either become ranke or rankes and not files as some have sought formerly to maintaine One use among many for this motion is It is the speediest way for a great body if they have their due distance to give fire to one or both flanks that as yet I know of The way to performe this motion is as followeth The right and left-hand-men of every ranke became the Hindges of the motion the rest of each ranke wheeling by equall division to the right and left about and above their right and left-hand Leaders untill they become ranks to the flanks As you may perceive by the Figure where the pricks denote unto you the places they stood in before the motion the quarter circles shewing the way of their motion themselves being converted into two ranks sheweth the motion executed I have onely converted three of the rankes for it would have taken too much roome to have wheeled all the ranks And it is easie by this that is shewne to conceive the rest If you would avoid mixture of Armes then place all your Muskettiers either in Front or Reere or else wheele onely your Muskettiers and leave your Pikes standing Or else it may be done the body marching at length the Muskettiers being in the front and reere Divisions The word for the reducement is rankes ranke as you were The easiest way for the reducement will be first for to face to the reere and then to wheele backe into their places Then face to their leader and they will be reduced as at first Now we will come to shew the next figure of Conversion which is of files converted into ranks by equall proportion CHAP. XXXVII Of Files ranking in equall parts IN this Chapter I intend to shew the manner of files ranking by Conversion in equall parts which Motion I have seene used by some Commanders at such times as their Companies have been but small having not had above two or three files of Muskettiers upon a flanke and being willing to march forth their Companies in divisions And this because that two a brest would be somwhat improper unlesse it were upon necessity in some narrow passage and that three a brest is also somewhat with the thinnest Therefore to augment the front of their march they have shartned somewhat of their depths in each division by causing their files to ranke foure or five according as their depth may be when the Command shall be given This Motion of Conversion may also be usefull for larger bodies For if upon a March you are to passe thorough some streight where not above foure or five can march a brest and that being past thorough you are to direct your course to the right or left If your way be to the right then cause your files to ranke to the left If to the left then let the files ranke to the contrary hand For by so doing having past the streight and faced your body that way which you intend your March by commanding the File-leaders to march and the half-files to stand and take their places your body will be led again by their proper file-leaders all a brest the Musketiers becomming again the Flankers which in the passage of the streight were in the Front and Reere For the better understanding the manner of the Motion observe the following figure The way to performe this Motion is as followeth The Command being first given as abovesaid the right-hand-file-leader leadeth forth his file the three next men behind him move forwards to the left of each other untill they ranke even a brest with their file-leader The next foure in like manner ranking to the left make the second ranke The file-file-leader of the second file placeth himselfe next after him that was the half-file-half-file-leader of the first which now is become the right-hand-man of the second ranke the three next men behind him making up of his rank in like manner And so forward for all the rest untill the Motion be fully perfected This converts each file into two ranks and brings all the proper file-leaders and half-file-half-file-leaders to make the outmost file to the right the Bringers-up both of the Front and reere-half-Reere-half-files make the outermost file to the left The figures of Number which are on the left flanke of the figure in which the word file added to each of them demonstrate places of the first second third and fourth file and so consequently for all the rest according to their former standing and the places they now occupy being converted into ranks The letters f and h which are placed on the right flanke shewes the places of those which were the file-leaders and half-file-half-file-leaders each of the propex file-leaders having now his half-file-half-file-leader next after him I have showne this figure partly performed partly performing and partly standing as before the Motion began For reducement of this Motion of files ranking foure to the left One way is to cause your ranks to file or invert to the right which being done Command every File-leader to lead up his file to the left and so every man will have his place For another way Face the whole body to the right and command the File-leaders to march and half-files to stand and take their places and then they are all reduced onely the file-leaders of the right-flanke are on the left and the file-leaders of the left-flanke are on the right which is reduced by any entire Countermarch of ranke or file CHAP. XXXVIII The conclusion of doublings THere are yet another sort of Doublings both of length and depth which are performed by divisionall wheelings Which because they have ever been accounted for wheelings I will not displace them but stil rank them in their former places although in truth they are doublings The working part indeed is wheeling but the intent or thing wrought is Doubling I will speake further of them when I come to shew them in their severall places And here I mean to set a Period to our Doublings Concluding that those Souldiers who can put every one of these to his right use as also give to each his right reducement must needs be skilfull and expert in this part of the Art Military And contrariwise they that are ignorant in these Doublings can never truly attain to the right managing of a Foot-company either for exercise or service For doublings indeed are the only Motions for varicty and alteration of figures or formes of battaile No other Motions doing the like And therefore Doublings must needs be accounted the most excellent amongst all the Motions You that have eyes to read and skill to judge And have perus'd these doublings I have done Though I have tedious been yet do not grudge For you know well I have skipt
over some But marvell not the cause I do not show them It is not much materiall for to know them Those that are Skilfull in the Art of Warre And take delight to exercise their men Shall find more pleasure in these doublings farre If that they intermixe them now and then And so contrive their doublings in these cases That lastly one word brings them to their places Why in our Country do we Captains chuse That have no skill nor artfull inclination They do themselves and Country much abuse Thus to deceive them in their expectation I thinke the Cause of this fault in our Nation Is that our Gentry holds it not in fashion But some perhaps will say I am too bold There 's no such need for Captains to have skill The Muster-masters have enough some hold The Captains and the Counties for to fill So whilest the Muster-master doth the labour The Officers may play upon a Tabour But stay me thinks one puls me by the sleeve And tels me that I have my selfe forgot Wherefore of doublings here I take my leave Intreating those that read mistake me not Let Muster-masters take their money then But let the Captains exercise their men CHAP. XXXIX Of Countermarches Their Antiquity and words of direction THe next branch of Discipline which offers it selfe to your perusall are Countermarches which are of three kinds To wit Chorean Lacedamonian Macedonian which is Maintaining Loosing and Gaining Each of them are to be performed two manner of waies One by File the other by Ranke There are also Counter-marches Intire and Divisionall But divers men are divers for their opinions concerning the Macedonian and Lacedamonian Counter-marches Some will have the Macedonian A Counter-march of gaining of ground because that it transfers the Battalia into the ground before the Front Others will have it A Counter-march of losse of ground because say they the Enemy being in the Reere it makes a semblance of flying Some will have the Lacedamonian A Counter-march of gaining of ground because the Enemy appearing in the Reere it makes a semblance of Charging or falling on Others call it A Countermarch of losse of ground because it looseth all that ground the Battalia stood upon taking in stead thereof the ground behind the Reere There are others of opinion That there are Counter-marches of losse and gaine in either of them All these are furnished with reasons to backe their opinions But if I should stand to shew their many and severall reasons I might well be thought to be without reason my selfe My opinion is That taking the ground before the Front is gaining ground and that to leave the ground we stood on to take the ground next behind the Reere is losse of ground And yet to take either whereby there is advantage gotten must needs be gaining But where the matter it selfe is so indifferent it were fondnesse to spend longer time about it Wherefore note That Countermarches were of ancient use amongst the Greekes many hundred of yeeres since from them learned and practised by many other Nations and so still continued unto this day But as the Snow-ball by much rowling becomes the greater So in like manner these Counter-marches have received addition in all ages So that the three originall ones are now become more then thirty accounting those divisionall And yet are all of them fathered upon one or other of the three kinds Though some of them will scarcely be owned or acknowledged as you shall perceive when I come to shew them in their severall places But amongst all the Motions this might be the best spared as being least beneficiall to this our moderne Discipline But because that knowledge is no burthen and that at some times they may be usefull Therefore first take the words of command or direction which are as followeth Intire Countermarches by file Files to the right left hand countermarch Files to the light left countermarch every man turning on the ground he stands File-leaders face about to the right left the rest passe through to the right left and place your selues behind your Leaders File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the your Leaders right left placing your selues before File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right left placing your selues before your Leaders following your Bringers up Bringers up face about to the right left the rest passe through to the right left and place your selues before your bringers up Bringers up stand the rest of the Body passe through to the right left placing your selues behinde your bringers up Intire Countermarches by Ranks Ranks to the right left Countermarch Ranks to the right left countermarch every man turning on the ground he stands This right hand file face to the left the rest passe Macedonian through to the right placing your selues behind your right hand men This left hand file may face to the right and do as much This light left hand file stand the rest passe through to the right left placing your selues on the our side of your right left hand men This right left hand file face to the right left the rest passe through to the right left placing your selues before your right left hand men Divisionall Countermarches by Files Countermarch front and â—e cre into the midst File-leaders and halfe-file-halfe-file-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selues before your Leaders File-leaders and Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selues before your Leaders and Bringers up File-leaders face about Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the Right and place your selues behinde your Leaders and Bringers up front-halfe-Front-halfe-files interchange ground with the Reere Divisionall Countermarches by ranks Countermarch your wings or Flanks into the middest or Center The out-most-out-most-file of each Flanke face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selues behinde your out-side men The out-most file of each Flanke face inward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selues behinde your outside men The out-most file of each flanke stand the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selues on the outside of your outside men Interchange your Flanks Note what is done by the out most files may be reduced by converting the command to the innermost files but must be done before they have closed their divisions c. CHAP. XL. Of the Chorean Countermarch and the way to performe it I Could willingly have prickt a Figure for each of these severall countermarches but that they will take up too much roome And therefore I will onely pricke some few of the hardest of them and for the rest I will endeavour by words to make them as facile as I may that so they may be apprehended by the meanest capacitie And first I will begin with the Persian
Cretan or Chorean Countermarch The word of Command or Direction is Files to the Right hand Countermarch This Chorean Countermarch is by some called the Moderne Countermarch I conceive their reason to be because that it is more in use than any of the other Or else for antiquitie it might claime many ages It is a Countermarch for maintaining of ground for it worketh its effect on the same ground it stands neither loosing nor gaining But it transferres the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up and the bringers up into the place of the file-leaders withall turning the aspect of the body or battalia to the Reere The way to performe this motion is as followeth Assoone as the word of command is given if it be to the right then all the file-leaders step forwards with their right legges and face about to the right every file-leader with his file following him passing downe towards the Reere through the intervall on his right hand still observing to keepe even in ranke with his right hand man But by the way note that no man must turne untill he come to the ground where at first his file-leader began the Countermarch This motion is then performed when the bringers up have attained unto the place where before their file-leaders stood being faced right after them Files countermarch to the left To countermarch to the left worketh the same effect and is done after the same manner onely differing in the hand For reducement if you countermarch to the right do as much to the left and they will be as they were For any intire countermarch of files will be reduced of what kinde soever by making another intire countermarch to what hand soever CHAP. XLI Of Countermarching to loose Ground The Command is Files to the Right Countermarch every man turning after his Leader on the Ground he stands THis Lacedemonian countermarch is a Countermarch of losse of ground for that it leaves all the ground the Battalia formerly did conteine and in lieu or place thereof taketh the ground behinde the Reere This Countermarch is to be performed when the Bodie is upon a stand And as the Chorean turnes the Aspect towards the Reere The Greekes were wont with this Countermarch to bring their file-leaders to oppose any enemie appearing in the Reere thereby gallantly bearding their enemies in the teeth neither politickly making shew of flight whereby to bring the enemie into disarray nor over providently carefull of the advantage of ground The motion of this Countermarch is to be performed as followeth The file-leaders of each file are to step side wayes to the right and therewithall to face about to the reere and so march even in ranke together downe betweene the Intervalls no man advancing a foot forwards but turning in like manner after their leaders when they are past by them still observing to keep their due distance And so a whole ranke together still turning off to the right each Ranke successively doing the like untill the Countermarch be fully performed Any intire countermarch of files will reduce this But for order sake take one of the same sort to the contrary hand which is Files to the left Countermarch every man turning after his Leader on the ground he stands I shall not need to speake further concerning this Countermarch of losse of ground to the left seeing that it differs from the other onely in the alteration of the hand The substance and effect of both being one and the same onely I will now speake to a second fort of Countermarch which is of the same kinde The Command is Bringers up face about to the Right the rest passe through to the Reere and place your selues before your Bringers up This Lacedemonian Countermarch doth also loose the ground whereon it formerly stood and takes the ground behinde the Reere the manner of the motion is as followeth The last ranke or Bringers up face to the Reere and stand the rest of the Body facing about in like manner and passing through or betweene their bringers up and placing themselues even in ranke before them The motion is begun by the ranke next the bringers up and so continued successively by the rest untill the Countermarch be ended It may be reduced by doing the same to the contrary hand Neverthelesse for brevity sake I will make use of a sprigge from the same bough and reduce this Lacedemon countermarch by another of the same kinde The Command is Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the Right and place your selues behind your Bringers up This Lacedemonian countermarch is thus to be performed the last ranke or bringers up are to stand and the rest of the body to face to the Reere and passe through to the Right and place themselues behinde their bringers up contrary to the countermarch last showne where they placed themselues before The motion is also begun by the second ranke from the reere the rest following successively untill the file-leaders are become the Bringers up Then face them about after their proper file-leaders and they are reduced CHAP. XLII Of Countermarches to gaine ground or the Macedonian Counter-march The Command is File-leader face about to the right the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behinde your Leaders THis Macedonian Counter-march is for gaining ground for that it leaues the ground the Battalia formerly stood upon taking in lieu thereof the ground next before the front It also turnes the aspect towards the reere The motion of this Counter-march is from the reere to the front contrary to the Lacedemon whose motion is from the front to the reere This Macedonian Counter-march makes semblance in the reere of flight but presently produceth an orderly settled front when perhaps the enemy with a too early pursuit hath broken the order of their array The way to performe this Counter-march according to the directions formerly given is as followeth The file-leaders or first ranke face about to the right the rest of the body passe through betweene the Intervalles or distance of files to the left and place themselves behinde their leaders every ranke beginning with that next the file leaders passing through successively and taking their places untill the Counter-march be fully executed It may be reduced as the rest by doing the same to the contrary hand or as I have formerly said by any intire counter-march of file and therefore I will reduce it by another Macedonian counter-march The command is as followeth File-leaders face to the Reere the rest of the body passe through to the left following your bringers up placing your selves behinde your leaders This Macedonian counter-march is rather remembred for its antiquity then excellencie as some more of them be neverthelesse if any will be curious to observe the motion it may be performed as followeth The first ranke or file-leaders face to the reere then the last ranke begin the counter-march passing
forwarde betweene the Intervalls the seventh ranke following the eighth the sixt following the seventh and so likewise the rest untill the whole body be transferred into the ground before the front and then joyntly together facing to the right about after their leaders the counter marche is ended For reducement observe this for all that any intire countermarch of file may be reduced by another intire counter-march by file of what kinde or to what hand soever These three last Chapters of counter-marches are the originall grounds of all the rest yet I shall shew one in the insuing Chapter which time hath begotten out of the latter two which takes part with either being absolute in neither CHAP. XLIII Of the Bastard counter-march The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leader THis passing through or bastard counter-march is partly Macedonian and partly Lacedemonian for first with the Macedon it takes the ground before the front the motion being from the reere forward it is partly Lacedemonian for that they passe through and place themselves before their Leaders and for that it makes semblance of falling on or charging the enemy neverthelesse the Macedonian disclaimes it for that it alters not his aspect The Lacedemonian refuseth it for that it takes the ground before the front and not that behinde the reere or with the Chorean it holds affinitie And many there be that will not allow it for a countermarch for indeed the word it selfe will not beare it notwithstanding seeing that it hath beene long ranged amongst them I will not be he that shall displace it but will passe forwards to shew the manner of the motion which is to be performed as followeth The file-leaders stand according to the former direction the rest of the body advance their armes the second ranke first passing through to the right and placing themselves before the first ranke the third ranke before the second the fourth before the third and so forwards for the rest untill the last ranke or bringers up are become the foremost which perfects the motion It may be severally usefull as to skirmish against an enemy advancing by way of introduction or upon occasion to bring the reere men to march in front and such like For the reducement you may doe as much to the contrary hand onely for order sake I will reduce it by another like it selfe The Command is File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right placing your selves before your Leaders following your bringers up This motion may be done either to the right or left and is nothing differing from that last shewne but that whereas the other began with the second ranke this contrariwise begins with the last ranke or bringers up every ranke successively following the ranke which came from behinde them untill they which were the leaders are become the last in the reere If this countermarch be first done it may be reduced by any of those formerly shewn c. CHAP. XLIV Of countermarching ranks to maintaine ground The Command is Ranks to the right hand countermarch THis Chorean counter-march of rankes is an altering or changing of one flanke for the other the Battalia still keeping the same ground onely the right flanke becomes the left and the left becomes the right The way to performe this motion is as followeth the command being given then the whole body faceth to the hand named and every man in the outmost file to the right files by this facing being become rankes turnes down through the Intervalle or distance betweene ranke and ranke marching forth right unto the part which was the left flanke with their rankes file-wise following them being come unto their ground they face as before and the counter-march is performed for the reducement let rankes countermarch to the left after the same manner differing onely in the hand and they are as at first CHAP. XLV Of Countermarching Rankes to lose Ground The Command is Rankes to the right-hand Countermarch every man turning after his right-hand-man on the ground he stands THis Lacedemonian-Countermarch of Rankes is a falling on upon the left Flanke the Motion being begun by the right It leaves all the ground the Battalia stood on and takes in place therof the ground beside the left Flanke turning the Aspect to the left The manner or way to performe this Motion is as followeth The whole Bodie faceth to the right and then the right-hand-file being faced becomes a Ranke begins the Countermarch turning downe the Intervals of the Ranks which by this facing is made the distance between the Files and so marcheth forth-right beyond the left Flanke every man following him that was his right-hand-man but not stepping forwards one foot of ground untill the Countermarch be performed For the reducement of this Countermarch do as much to the left and they will he as at first Or if you please take another of the same kind The word of Command or direction is right-hand-Right-hand-file face to the right the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your right-hand-men THis Lacedemonian Countermarch of ranks makes a falling on upon the right Flanke the Motion being from the left Flanke to the right leaving all the ground whereon the Battalia stood and taking in lieu thereof the ground beside the right Flanke In those dayes when Countermarches were more usefull for their Discipline then now they are for ours the Lacedemonian Countermarches were of chiefe repute aswell amongst the Macedonians as the Spartans and others the way to performe this Motion is as followeth The right-hand-file faceth to the right and passeth through the Intervals or spaces to the right placing themselves before their right-hand-men untill the left-hand-file become the foremost ranke If you doe this Countermarch by it selfe then for reducement first face them to their Front proper then let the left-hand-left-hand-files face to the left and do as much to the left and then they will be as at first CHAP. XLVI Of the Macedonian Countermarch by Ranke The Command is right-hand-Right-hand-file face to the left the rest passe through to the right placing your selves behind your right-hand-men THis Macedonian Countermarch of ranks contrary to the Spartan dismarcheth from the enemy upon that Flanke where hee appeares and presents the contrary Flanke to receive the Charge It is performed after this manner The out-most-out-most-file to the right faceth to the left The rest of the body or Battalia faceth to the right every man passing thorough to the right and placing themselves behind their right-hand-men For the reducement of this Countermarch as all the rest there are divers and severall wayes but performe as much to the left as you have done to the right and they will be at first Or if you please this following Bastard Countermand will do the same The word of Command or direction is right-hand-Right-hand-file stand the rest passe through to the right
placing your selves on the outside of your Right-hand-men THis passing thorough or Bastard Countermarch of Ranks doth alter both ground and flanke still reserving the Aspect without alteration It is to be performed as followeth The out-most or right-hand-right-hand-file stands the rest of the body facing to the right passe thorough to the right every man placing himselfe on the right side of his right-hand-man and so standing euen in Ranke the Motion still continuing untill the left-hand-file is become the right the right the contrary If this Countermarch be done alone for the reducement let the left-hand-file stand and do as much to the left as before to the right and they will be as at first CHAP. XLVII Of Countermarching Front and Reere to the middest FOr the Intire Countermarches I have indeavoured to expresse them as well as I could in words but for the divisionall Countermarches I intend to expresse both in word and figure whereby they may be the more easily apprehended by such as shall be desirous to know them notwithstanding before I enter upon the divisionall Countermarches I would willingly cleere one thing which by some will be carped at which is the using of the word Middest insteed of the word Center The word Center I confesse hath been the more usuall word amongst us and yet it is not altogether so proper to our use as the other wherefore give me leave without offence to use those words which are not only more proper but more significant The Midst of the Battaile is to be understood either from the Front Reere or from both Flanks or wings If between Front and Reere the Midst must be betweene the half-file-leaders and the Reere ranke of the Front half-files extending it selfe from Flanke to Flanke The Midst betweene the Flankes is betweene the two innermost files continuing the whole depth from Front to Reere Our first Countermarch shall be Chorean the word of command or direction is This divisionall chorean countermarch brings our File-leaders and Bringers up together in the midst and the ranks that were in the midst in the Front Reere It is a countermarch mayntayning ground for every man marcheth up into his leaders ground before he faceth about to countermarch The way to performe the Motion is as followeth The command being given to countermarch either let the commander or some other of the Officers command the half-half-files to face about then the file-leaders stepping forwards with the right legge and face about to the right passing downe the Intervals on the right hand the rest of the front-halfe-Front-halfe-files following their Leaders and not turning untill they come to the ground where their Leaders turned down before them The bringers up with the reere-half-Reere-half-files at the same instant turning downe their Intervales on the left hand the rest of their division following them untill the file-leaders and bringers up meet together in the midst of the Battaile and then having faced all to their Leader the Motion is performed For the reducement of this figure doing the same thing over againe will reduce it Or any other divisionall countermarch of File CHAP. XLVIII Of bringing Front and Reere together into the midst by the Bastard Countermarch The Command is File-leaders and half-fileaders stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders THis Bastard Countermarch doth bring the Leaders and bringers up together into the midst and saves two facings and is quicklier performed then the other last done or any other in the precedent Chapters The way to performe the Motion is as followeth The first ranke stands and the half-file-leaders stand then those of the Front-half-files passe thorough their Intervals to the right placing themselves before their File-leaders The second ranke before the first the third before the second the fourth before the third The Reere-half-files at the same instant doing the like and placing themselves before their half-file-leaders as the other did before their File-leaders This Motion may be either reduced by doing the same over againe to the contrary hand or else by countermarching front and Reere into the midst or by any other of the divisionall countermarches of files The next shal be a Lacedemonian countermarch the word of command or direction is as shall be exprest in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. XLIX Of Countermarching to make a large Intervale between the first and last Ranks The Command is File-leaders and Bringers up stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and Bringers up Lacedemonian THis divisionall Lacedemonian Countermarch makes semblance of falling on or charging both to the Front and Reere and leaves all the ground which was occupied by the Souldiers which stood betweene the front and reere transferring them into the ground before the front and behinde the reere the ground or place of their former standing being vacant onely demonstrated in this figure by the pricks The Motion may be thus performed The Reere-halfe-files are commanded to face to the Reere and then the front-halfe-files passe through to the right placing themselves before their Leaders The second Ranke before the first the third before the second the fourth before the third the Reere-halfe-files at the same instant passing through to the Reere after the same manner and placing themselues before their Bringers-up You may perceive by the figures of Number placed on the Flanks of the figure of battell both how the men stood before the Motion began as also how and in what place they stand the Motion being ended For the reducement if you have not closed their distance you may face them about and so let them passe againe into their places Or else by doing the same Countermarch over againe or to the contrary hand or any such like way will reduce them This next following Countermarch will also reduce them or this will reduce that The word for the Command or direction is as you shall finde it placed over the front of the figure CHAP. L. Of making a large Intervalle betweene the first and last ranks by the Macedonian Countermarch THis divisionall Macedonian Countermarch is little different from that next before it onely the other turned the Aspect outward to the front and Reere this Countermarch turnes the Aspect inwards towards the midst It may be usefull if the Commander would shew or publish ought before his best Souldiers for that it not onely leaves a large distance but that it brings the best Souldiers into the midst with their Aspects directed inwards It may also serue to conduct any great personage crosse the length of your battell whereby to shew them the braverie of your Souldiers c. The figure followeth The Command is File-leaders face about Bringers up stand the rest passe through to the Right and place your selues behinde your file-leaders and Bringers up This motion may be thus performed The first ranke or file-leaders face about the last ranke
Battalia and your Pikes on the out side or flankes If any question the depth of the number of this figure I have doubled files to make the figure more perfect The way to perform this motion is easie for all the file-leaders of the right flanke wheele about to the right the rest of each file following their leaders the file-leaders also of the left flanke wheeling about to the left in the same manner and then joyne or close their divisions This being done if you would then reduce them wheele them off againe by division after the same manner and they will be as before But if you would doe it some other way make use of this wheeling next following which will also bring them as they were The word of Command or direction followeth as in the next Chapter CHAP. LXI Of wheeling the Front inward towards the Reere The Command is Wheele your Front inward to the Reere THis divisionall wheeling of your front inwards to the reere is here placed as a reducement unto the other foregoing wheelings and so it brings the Muskettiers to the flankes againe But if you will doe it the Company being first reduced then it brings the Pikes to the flankes Some say it may be good if you be annoyd with horse in the Reere upon a march and that you have gained some side of a hill or other place of advantage then to wheele your front inward to the Reere to the enemy will make shew of disbandoning or flight But contrariwise you march toward him with a settled and orderly body your Muskettiers being all in the midst and so firing upon their enemy the Pikes being their flankers thereby defending the shot from the fury of the horse This motion will hardly be well done if your body hold too large an extension of length But at what depth soever it is easie The motion is to be performed as followeth The right hand file-leader with all the leaders of the right flanke advance forwards and so wheele about to the left every file still keeping close to their right hand file The left hand file-leader likewise with all the leaders of the left flanke advance forwards and wheele about to the right every file of the left flanke closing close to the left Thus the outmost files of each flanke will meete and become the innermost the front falling perpendicularly to the reere For the reducement of this figure you may if you please either wheele them off to the right and left by division or else wheele your front inward againe to the reere These two last wheelings have beene demonstrated with their files doubled whereby the figures might be the â—ore perfect but with men it would have beene needlesse wherefore double rankes to the contrary hand and they will be as at the first CHAP. LXII Of bringing the Flanks into the Front of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wheele your Flanks into the Front Wings Front Front Battell Front Midst Front Center Reere Flanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Front is properly a doubling performed by wheeling It brings all your Muskettiers from the flankes into the front So that whereas this bodie before could do execution but with 8. Muskettiers at once by this Motion they may powre on 16. shot together If they were deeper before the Motion began then it would bring the more hands to imployment If upon some passe you should be chased in the Reere by horse by this motion of wheeling your flanks into the front you not onely secure your Muskettiers but also barricado up the passe with your pikes if it be not above fifty foot over Some call this a wheeling on the center because they wheele about the middle-men of the front But I rather conceive it an angular because upon the first Motion of dividing every division wheeleth about his owne angle untill the outmost-file-leaders of each flanke meet together in the midst You may perceive how by the figures of number where the figure 1. meets the number 16 2 with 15 3 with 14. and so for all the rest Then being faced to their leader every two files that met being now joyned make one ranke There must be the like order and decorum kept in the motion of wheeling each flanke as I shewed in the instruction of intire angular wheelings For reducement of this Motion wheele your flanks into the Reere Or else foure times the same as I have seene some do although somewhat the further way about Divers men are diversly opinionated concerning the best word of Command or direction for this Motion These I have known used which I have placed in the Margent by the figure And if any man like one better then the other be it at his owne choice either to use or refuse while I passe to shew the next wheeling CHAP. LXIII Of wheeling the Reere into the midst of the Battell The Command is Wheele your Flanks into the Reere The Direction is Face all about to the Right Wheele yâ—â—r Flâ—â—kâ— into the Reere Wing Reere Reere Battell Reere Midst Reere Center Front â—lanks THis divisionall wheeling of the Flanks into the Reere is also a doubling and performed as the other And whatsoever might be said in the behalfe of the wheeling of the front into the middest the same may be also spoken concerning the wheeling of the Reere into the middest For this wheeling brings your two outmost-files to be the first ranke the Bringers up of the right and left-hand-files meeting together the bringers up of the left flanke meeting face to face with the Bringers up of the left-flanke And so being faced to their leader they which before were complete files are now become halfe-ranks either to the right or left But you must note that before you begin to wheele you must face your body about to the Reere and then the action will be all one as if you wheeled your flanks into the front Wherefore I shall not need further to explaine it having spoken fully to it in the precedent Chapter For the reducement of this wheeling the Commander being at his Front accidentall may command them to wheele their wings into the Reere and so passe through to that part where his proper file-leaders are and then face them to him and they are reduced Or else when he hath past through to the reere and faced his Company to him then his pikes being formost let him wheele his flanks into the front who being faced to their leader they are reduced For this motion there are also divers and severall words of Command And because it may be that some will better approve of some of the other words of Command then of this that I have made use of therefore I have placed others in in the margent That so any that will may take their choice while I passe to shew the next wheeling Whose word of Command and direction you shall finde over the figure of
following Chapter CHAP. LXVII Of wheeling the flanks into the midst of the Battaile The Command is Wheele front and reere into both Flanks The direction is Face to the right and left THis divisionall wheeling of the front and reere into both flankes may also be termed a doubling of the depth by reason that from 8 deepe it maketh them double numbers By this motion the Muskettiers which before were flankers are now transferred into the midst betweene the front and reere of the Pikes And whereas in the other figure the wheeling was about the two middlemost file-leaders and Bringers up this wheeling contrariwise is about the two halfe file-leaders of the outmost files of each flanke In the other wheeling the file-leaders and bringers up made the innermost file in this the innermost file of each flanke as you may easily perceive by the figure This motion being performed it leaves a large Intervalle or division from front to reere betweene the flankes which if the Commander passe into the midst betweene each division and face them all to him causing them to close their divisions and to march forth into his first place directing their aspects the same way then will the Pikes be in the front and reere For the reducement of this Figure of wheeling to its former posture you may face the body to one of the flanks Which being done command them againe to wheele front and reere into both flankes when being faced to their former front and having closed their division they are reduced But if you would make use of some other wheeling for reducement then wheele both flanks into the front and reere and they are as at first having faced to their leader and closed their division And thus as briefly and as plainely as I could have I runne through the severall motions and grounds for the disciplining of a foot-company And although I neither can nor hope to give satisfaction to all yet I shall intreat the better qualified that where I am wanting there they will supply my defects with their goodnesse Or if it so happen that I undergoe the censure of needlesse superfluitie I would have such to make use of so much of it as they shall thinke fit for their owne turnes and to leave the residue unto such as may have opportunity for to use it THus Courteous Reader have I past the grounds And various motions of the Infantry Where thou maist gaine the skill cost others wounds Though from a young one of th' Artillery Reade and consider if thou nothing gaine I aske as little from thee for my paine If thou the distances dost well peruse The severall facings and the doublings too The Counter-marches which of course ensues And then our wheelings which we lastly doe These being practis'd learn'd and understood The benefit turnes to thy Countries good These like the vowels are in number five With which me spell all words that can be nam'd So with these motions we all formes contrive And from these grounds are all our figures fram'd Then frame thou no excuse but learn to know them And with as free an heart as I doe shew them Now next of all I should some firings show But lest perhaps I hold you over long I thinke it fit some respite to be stow Lest that our Souldiers thinke I doe them wrong So please the Reader but to pause the whiles And see our Leaders exercise their files For now each Leader is so courteous growne He strives to bring another to his place But they as modestly would keepe their owne And each prefers his follower to the grace So please you then but winke at the digression And you shall see each Leader by succession CHAP. LXVIII Of making men file-leaders successively the files being eight deepe IN the making every man in file successively leader according to their first standing may as well and easily be done in great bodies as by single files Yea and with the same words of Command and direction as you may perceive by the Table where the figures of number shew the succession of each mans leading The words of Command which produce each leader being placed in the Columes beneath In the first Colume of the Table the file stands as at first with his proper file-file-leader in front each man having his right place The rest of the files demonstrating the places of the men according to their standing upon the making of every severall file-file-leader The Commands are figures which produce the like leaders The front of each file as they come to be File-leaders successively 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 1 4 3 6 5 8 7 3 4 1 2 7 8 5 6 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 6 5 8 7 2 1 4 3 7 8 5 6 3 4 1 2 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The severall words of Command which produce each file-File-leader 2 Ranks to the right double  Files 3 File-leaders and half-file-half-file-leaders stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders  4 Ranks to the left double  Files 5 The first Ranke stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders  6 Ranks to the left double  Files 7 Countermarch Front Reere into the midst then face to your Leader  8 Ranks to the left double  Files 0 Then face about or Countermarch your Files and they are as at first  The first are the proper leaders of the files For to make the second leade if there be but one file then file ranke two to the right if there be more files than rankes to the right double and files to the right double By which meanes the second man is become leader of his file every man being disposed as you may perceive by that file whose leader is the figure of 2. To make him that was the third man leader let file-leaders and halfe-halfe-file leaders stand the rest passe through to the right place themselves before their leaders Thus will the file stand like that led by the figure of 3. For to make him that was the fourth man leader Rankes to the left double and files to the left double whereby the file will stand like that led by the figure of 4. For to make him that was the fift man leader let the first ranke stand the rest passe through to the right and place themselves before their leaders by which meanes the file will stand like that led by the figure 5. For to make him that was the sixt man leader double your rankes to the left and files to the left double and then the file will stand like the file led by the figure of 6. For to make him that was the seventh man leader of the file Countermarch front and reere into the midst and face them to the former front whereby the file will stand like that led by the figure of 7. For to
make him that was the eighth man leade the file-ranks to the left double and files to the left double and the file will stand like that led by the figure of 8. For to reduce them cause the first ranke to stand the rest to advance forwards to the right placing themselves before their leaders CHAP. LXIX Of making men file-leaders successively the files being but sixe deepe SOme will be inquisitive to know for what use the making of leaders by succession serveth or whether it be not a meere Curiosity to which I thus answer That it is not only pleasant but profitable Pleasant to the leader of a file who having sufficiently exercised his file in Postures to give some time of respite or delectation for the recreating of their almost tyred spirits brings each man successively to leade the file by proper words of Command And lastly reduceth each man to his former standing It must needs be profitable and much availeable in discipline when the skilfull Commander can thereby with much ease change and interchange bring what rankes he pleaseth to lead in front and exchange them afterwards for others yea and lastly at his owne pleasure bring the proper file-leaders againe into their places This following table shewes each mans severall place as they stand still being altered according to their various Leaders By the figures of number which are placed over the heads of those Columes wherein are writ the words of Command understand that those words under the figure of 2. are to make the second man file-leader Those words under the figure of 3. make the third man leader And so forward for the rest The front of each file as they come to be Leaders 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 1 2 5 6 5 3 4 6 1 3 4 4 3 1 6 4 3 5 6 5 2 1 2 6 5 4 3 2 1 The words of Command which produce each severall Leader  Files 2 Ranks to the left double 3 half-Half-files double your Front to the right Files to the right double 4 Facc to the Reere or let the first ranke stand the rest passe thorough c. 5 Ranks to the right double Files double your depth to the right  Files 6 Ranks to the left double 7 Face to the Reere and they are reduced The first man is the leader of the file For to make the second man leader Command file ranke two to the left If there be more files then one ranks to the left double and files to the left double which makes the second man leader every man in the file being disposed as you may perceive by that file led by the figure of 2. For to make him that was the third man leader command halfe files double the front to the right and files to the right double by which meanes the file will stand like that led by the figure of 3. For to make him that was the fourth man leader Face to the reere and then hee leads But if you will keepe the same front command the first ranke to stand the rest to passe through to the left placing your selves before your leaders Thus will the file stand like that led by the figure of 4. For to make the fift man leader command rankes to the right double and files to double their depth to the right intire by which meanes the file will stand like that led by the figure of 5. For to make the sixt man file-file-leader cause rankes to the left double and files to the left double and then the file wil stand like that led by the figure of 6. For to reduce them there needs no more but face to the reere notwithstanding if you would have the front the same way the Command is the first rank stand the rest passe forwards to the right placing your selves before your leaders For to make sixe men successively leaders by sixe words of Command besides Facings The first is leader for the second file Ranke 2 to the left and files to the left double For the third Countermarch front and reere into the midst and face to that part which was the reere For the fourth face about to the right For the fift countermarch front and reere into the midst and face to that which was the reere For the sixt ranke two to the right and files to the right double face them about and they are reduced CHAP. LXX Of drawing the Files againe into a Body and preparing them for a skirmish BY this time me thinkes I heare the Drums beat a Call which summons each file-leader to his place every man observing his order both in ranke and file The Officers having taken their due places the Captaine and Ensigne in the front of Pikes the Lievetenant in the reere the Serjeant on the flanks the Drums on the front and reere Angle s of the Pikes as you may perceive by the square figure next following Now the Drums beat a march the Ensigne flying at the head of the Pikes the Pikes and Muskets shouldered marching at their distance of order in file at open order in ranke presently by a signe from the Captaine the Drums beat a preparative the Ensigne furl-up retiring into the midst betweene the Pikes the Pikes advance the rankes close forwards to their order the Muskettiers makes ready and every man prepares himselfe for Battell or Skirmish And here the Eyes of the Drum must be very vigilant to observe his Captaine or Commander that by the least signe either of his hand leading-stafâ—e or whatsoever else he carries hee may either continue his charge retreat or else charge home and every Souldier ought to be so well trayned and practised that in the time of Battell he may receive ample instructions from the sound of the Drum The Body drawne into a square with the Officers in their places Thus many Officers may serue for a larger Company if the souldiers be expert and skilfull and to the contrary they are all too few if they be raw and unexperienced I have seene some Companies which have been so absolutely ignorant that each man would have needed an Officer to have kept him orderly in his place Neverthelesse I make no doubt but that by the carefull oversight of the Lord Lieutenants the good assistance of their Deputies and the diligence of the Captains and their Officers this fault will quickly be amended And this might easily enough be done if that those which are owners of Armes would but meet one houre or two in a fortnight at their best leisures and practise the postures of the Pike Musket first and the motions and firings when they are more expert If any shall object That how ever this may be done in Townes and Cities yet it cannot be in the Countrey Villages I answer That if they meete not above foure sixe or eight in a place although they have no Officer to instruct them yet by conferring and trying and often practising they will begin to carry their Armes with
the right your Battaile may be continued according to the occasion or the Commanders discretion The Figure followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire in flanke marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskets The way to performe this motion of firing is as followeth The outermost file being commanded to face to the right and present the rest of the body marcheth away as in the other Figure and the standing file gives fire This done and that the body is marched cleere of the standing file the next file presents to the right the file that first gave fire faceth to the first front and is led by a Serieant crosse the reere of Muskettiers and up betweene the Muskets and Pikes the Muskettiers are still to open to the right as they march that so there may be room for one file to march up betweene them and the pikes And so successively each file having fired marcheth up next unto the right flanke of pikes When all your Muskettiers have given fire once over they are reduced as at the first The battell may be continued at discretion The next firing in flanke for the matter of firing it selfe will be all one with this but for the manner of the wheeling off and placing them it will differ CHAP. LXXXIII A firing in Flanke led off by the Bringers up THe next firing in flanke which I propound to your perusall will be nothing differing for manner of execution from the firings in Flanke formerly shewed The onely difference arising betweene them is that the other files of Muskettiers after that they had given fire were led off by their proper file-leaders and this to the contrary must be led off by their Bringers-up And this indeed if the body be upon a slow march is the readiest and quickest way and doth more speedily secure the Muskettiers after that they have given fire The words of Command and direction which produce the firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right wheeling off after your Bringers up and placing your selues betweene your Divisions For the manner of execution or way to performe this firing it is as followeth The body must be conceived to be marching upon all these firings in flanke and that with their pikes shouldered This being presupposed the Command being given the outmost-file presents to the right and gives fire then faceth to the right after their bringers up who leadeth them off crosse the reere of Muskettiers marching them up betweene the divisions the bringers up supplying the file-leaders place and marching even in ranke in the front with the file-leaders the file-leader of the same file becomming the bringer up in the Reere The files of Muskettiers or Pikes according as the command shall be given are as they march to open thereby giving way to the Muskettiers after they have fired to come up betweene the divisions and so soone as the first file that fired is cleare from the right flanke the second file presents and fires in like manner wheeling off as before and marching up betweene the Pikes and Muskettiers every file successively giving fire and wheeling off as aforesaid This firing may be performed once twice or oftener over according to the discretion of the Commander Neverthelesse if it be twice performed the men are reduced as at first every man hauing his right place If you fire them but once or thrice or any odde number of times over then you must countermarch your files of Muskettiers to reduce them There is another way for the bringers up to wheele off and each of them to leade off his file untill he comes to the Reere of the division which is betweene the Muskets and the Pikes and there he is to stand and ranke with the bringers up the rest that follow passing on forwards by way of Introduction and every man ranking before him that was his leader in the wheeling off untill the proper file-leader be come into his place againe And after this way they may give fire each firing being his owne reducement CHAP. LXXXIIII The difference betweene Firings in Flanke marching and of bringing the Muskettiers on the outside of the Pikes ALL or the most part of the firings in flanke which are performed marching in point of execution are the same the especiall difference betweene them being â—ither in the manner of the wheeling off after they have fired or in the materiall placing them whereby to make them more offensive or defensive And all this appeareth by this next following firing which is to be used at such time and place when as there may be doubt of the enemies horse And therefore for the more securitie of the Muskettiers having fired they are to be drawne up on the outer-side of the left flanke if haply there may be some hedge ditch river hill marish wood or such like convenient safeguard whereby to shroud them from the furie and violence of the horse that so the pikes making Alt and facing to the enemy may charge and with their armed points strongly and closely coucht receive and abate the furie of the first shocke And if need be the pikes may all charge at the foot closely serried together with their swords drawne and the Muskettiers may give fire over them The manner you may perceive in the figure of the Convex halfe-moone But lest I anticipate my selfe in shewing the use I will returne to shewth e manner of the firing intended by this following Figure Onely first take the words of command and direction which are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right placing your selues on the outside of the left Flanke of Pikes The ovtermost files having presented to the right the rest of the body continueth the march whilest they in the meane time are giving fire Which being done and the body cleere the next outermost file presents the file that last fired in the interim facing to the left after their proper file-file-leader who leadeth them crosse the reere both of Muskets and Pikes a pretty round pace sleeving up on the out side of the left flanke of Pikes The next file having in like manner fired doth also troupe up on the out side of the file led off before every file giving fire and doing the like When all have given fire and are cleered away then the Pikes may charge Which is very necessary if but to accustome the ⊙ Souldiers unto in times of exercise both for charging on and for retreiting as also to push with their Pikes that so by practise they may be able to doe it orderly either way still keeping their order and array Having given fire upon the right flanke and drawne all your Muskettiers in this manner to the left flanke if you will cause them to give fire on the left flanke and bring them backe againe to the right flanke they will be reduced Or if you would reduce them without a firing then either passe your Muskettiers through between your rankes of Pikes or else let your whole
division of Muskettiers bee drawne crosse either the front or reere of Pikes into their places or by division if you please your Muskettiers also may give fire in flanke the first fire sleeving on the left flanke the rest of the files still falling betweene the Pikes and the Muskettiers which wheeled off the last before them And this is also a very good firing and may be reduced with doing the like backe againe and many other waies they may also fall off after the manner of the figure last shewn being led by their bringers up either into the front or else after the manner as is discoursed in the latter end of the last Chapter But I endeavour all I may to contract my matter left my volume should exceed my intent And therefore I will shew but one firing more in flanke upon a march wherewith I will conclude these sorts of firings CHAP. LXXXV Of Firing in Flanke and placing the Muskettiers in the midst of the Battell of Pikes with other firings from thence proceeding FIring in Flanke and bringing them off betweene the midst of pikes is to be used at such time when as you would secure your Muskettiers the place otherwise affoording no naturall convenience of succour such as I have formerly spoken of and therefore by this manner of falling off where we want naturall assistance in the scituation there art ought to supply us namely by contriving to bring up the Muskettiers betweene the pikes and so to defend them from the furie of the horse And if need be you may draw 3. or 4. files of pikes more or lesse according to your number or the danger crosse the Muskets both in front and reere which are in the midst betweene the pikes which will as well preserve the Muskettiers in front and reere as in flanks But leaving further to discourse what may be done I will now shew how this is to be done Onely first take the words of Command and direction for the firing as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the Right Marching up betweene the midst of Pikes The Command being given for the outermost-outermost-file to present to the right as formerly in the other firings in flanke the rest of the body still marcheth on untill that the outermost-outermost-file hath fired and is faced to the left againe following their leader He now leading them off to the left marcheth up betweene the middlemost-middlemost-files of pikes who are then to open to the right and left so to give them roome to march up betweene them In the meane time the next file having given fire wheeleth off in like manner marching up on the left of the files which fired last before them And so successively for all the rest of the files of Muskettiers all which are to give fire and to wheele off as before placing themselues still on the left of the files which last fired Wherein is still to be noted that the files are still to open to the right and left and that for the receiving of the Muskettiers after that they have given fire This firing as all other the firings in flanke may as well be led off by their Bringers up as by the file-leaders and then the reducements will be answerable The Muskettiers having all fired the pikes may charge at discretion The Bow-pike-men which are in the reere of the Muskettiers in the meane time not sparing to send their showers of arrows amongst the thickest of their enemies and if need require the front of pikes charging at the foot with their swords drawne the Muskettiers may give fire over them ranke after ranke for the formost ranks having fired may kneele upon the ground and there make ready againe untill the other ranks behinde them have likewise given fire After this manner the Battell may be continued according as occasion shall require For reducement and to bring the Muskettiers into both flanks againe as they were before I began these firings in flank command your pikes to face inward and your Muskettiers to the right and left outward and so to passe through and interchange ground then facing them to their leader they will be reduced as at the first I would have the ingenious Reader to conceive that all these firings in flanke may as easily be performed to the left and with the same words Onely the words of right must be changed for left and left for right I might have further enlarged my selfe upon Firings in flanke but these already exprest may suffice for to instruct the ignorant As for the skilfull and experter sort of Souldiers I shall rather request their approbation then presume to write ought which may seeme to passe me with the least conceit tending to their instructions Wherefore for the further prosecution of my intended discouse I will next shew some divisionall firings And for methods sake I will first begin with Firings in â—ront and Reere which may be performed either upon a march or stand And to that end suppose your Muskettiers to march all in front and reere Neverthelesse because it will not be amisse to shew with what words of command or direction the Muskettiers may be brought thither therefore take notice from what part of the body they are brought And if they be in the midst as in this last figure of Firing in flank then command the halfe-files of the Muskettiers to face about which done let the pikes stand and the Muskettiers march untill they are cleare both of front and reere of pikes then let them stand and face to their leader which being done your battell will stand in forme of an hollow square In which hollow may be conveyed any carriage or such like But if you will not have your battell hollow then command your pikes to close their divisions and the Muskettiers will be all in front and reere If your Muskettiers be on the flanke and you would bring them into the front and reere then after the same manner let the halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the reere and then both halfe-files of the front reere march untill they are cleare of the Angular pikemen This done let them face in opposition and close their divisions after which having faced all to their 〈◊〉 they will be rightly placed namely the 〈…〉 of Muskettiers before the front oâ— â—ikes and the reere-halfe-files of Muskettiers behinde the reerâ— of pikes Thus will the figure of battell be in fâ—â—me of â—n Hearse and the Muskettiers be ready to give fire to the front and reere either marching or standing But before I begin my divisionall firings I would intreat you not to expect that I should reduce every particular firing so soone as it is performed as I have done by these hitherto shewed but rather let it be sutable to your likings that I reduce firings by firings sometimes giving fire upon a march sometimes upon a stand sometimes to the front and reere sometimes to both flanks I do the rather desire to go on in this way because
thereby I may expresse farre more matter in fewer lines and shorter time CHAP. LXXXVI Of firing to the front and reere upon a march THe Muskettiers being all placed in the front and reere according to the directions in the last Chapter I will now shew the manner of firing to the front and reere upon a march Which however that it may bee rare and seldome usefull in service yet it must needs be excellent for practise For by the often using it the Souldier may be made capable of any firing The Pikes you are to understand are to be shouldered The Command for the firing is Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere and flanke your Pikes The Command being given as above said to give fire to the front and reere the first ranke presents the last ranke faceth about to the reere and doth the like and so both giving fire together wheele off by division The one halfe of the ranke following after the right hand man of the same ranke the other halfe after the left hand man who leads them close downe by the side or flanke of the Muskettiers untill they come to the Pikes The first ranke of Muskettiers now ranking even with the first rank of Pikes the last ranke of Muskets with the last ranke of Pikes leaving a sufficient intervalle betwixt them and their Pikes for the other Muskettiers to march betweene And here you must note that he that was outermost when they gave fire must likewise be outermost when they have taken their places on the flanke The first and last rankes having fired and wheeled off the next rankes the body marching on three or foure steps are in like manner to present and give fire wheeling off by division and passing betweene the divisions there placing themselves they of the front division behinde those which fired last before them and they of the reere division before them which fired last behinde them And so they may continue to give fire after the same manner untill they have all given fire once over Then may the body make a stand and the Pikes charge to the front and reere if need be Or if the Commander would continue his firing to the front and reere still upon the same figure Then let the Muskettiers of the front place themselves after they have given fire behinde the Muskettiers of their owne division those of the reere division placing themselves betwixt the reere of Pikes and the Muskets of their owne division and so the body moving but flowly forwards they may continue the firing Having given fire to the front and reere and flanked their Pikes if the occasion offer or the Commander please they may give fire to the front and reere upon that Figure which indeed I hold the better as you may perceive in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. LXXXVII A second way of firing to the front and reere THis second way of firing to the front and reere upon a march may easily be performed if the Souldiers bee well and often instructed Without which all matters in the Art militarie will seeme difficult and by which all things will be made facile and easie I could instance in divers motions and figures by some reputed superfiuous niceties which were the true uses knowne to the Commander and the way to execute to the Souldier would be found to be of singular good service Neverthelesse because to the ignorant nothing beyond their capacities may seeme excellent many good and serviceable motions are slighted and not accounted fit for service But I could well wish that some good course might be taken that the Souldiers of our trayned Bands might have a little oftener practise that so they might be able at least in some reasonable way to understand and exercise what shall bee commanded them But I have strayed from the matter And therefore take these words of Command and direction which being orderly executed produce this following firing Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere placing your selves betweene your Divisions The way to performe this firing is as followeth the Command being given the first ranke presents to the front the last ranke of Muskettiers facing about and doing the like towards the reere This done they both give fire wheeling off by division and place themselves betweene the Muskettiers of their divisions Those namely which were of the front halfe files falling into the reere of their owne division those of the reere halfe files contrariwise falling before their halfe file leaders and ranking even with the halfe file leaders of Pikes the next rankes successively firing and wheeling off after the same manner Having fired once over they are reduced every man to his place These two last firings to be performed upon a march would seeme very difficult to unexperienced Souldiers but by often exercising they may be made capable of these or of any other CHAP. LXXXVIII A firing to the Reere and right flanke marching HAving shewed firings in front reere and flanke some marching some standing I will shew one firing to the reere and right flanke upon a march which without question must needs be very serviceable at such times as the enemy shall skirmish with the body to annoy them in their passage in flanke and reere at one time I shall not need with arguments to inforce the usefulnesse of the firing for none that knowes any thing in the Art military but will ingeniously confesse that for some services it must needs be necessary You may if you please give fire to the flanke and reere your Muskettiers being in their ordinary places on the flankes of their Pikes Neverthelesse a securer way for the Pikes will be to draw the Muskettiers from that flanke which is in least danger crosse the reere of Pike-men And this shall be the way I will observe in this firing The words of Command and direction for this firing are as followeth Muskettiers give fire to the right and reere placing your selves betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions The Command being given to fire to the reere and right flanke the outermost file of Muskettiers presents to the right and the last rank of Muskettiers presents to the reere and so both give fire The rest of the Body in the meane time marching a reasonable pace The right hand file and last ranke having fired the file faceth to the left after their file-file-leader and so marcheth up between the Muskettiers of the same division and the Pikes the ranke wheeling off to the right and placing it selfe next after the reere of Pikes and before the first rank of Muskettiers of the same division If you please you may make an Intervalle betweene the Muskettiers that so part may wheele off to the right on the out side and the other part wheele off to the right and march up betweene the Intervalle into their places The first file and ranke that presented having given fire and wheeled cleere off the body the next file and ranke present and give fire
of pikes and there place themselues againe even in ranke with the last ranke of pikes This done the rest of the ranks successively give fire and do the like every Ranke taking his place after the ranke which fired last before them the other ranks moving one ranke forwarder The Muskettiers having given fire once over and falling off according to this direction they will be reduced to the flanks againe as they were at the first The firing may be continued or the pikes may charge at discretion of the Commander CHAP. XCII A firing tripartite doing execution to the front reere and right flanke FIgures and formes of Battell may bee infinite according to the judgements of the Commanders and the various workings of the divers motions no arte nor science yeelding more content unto the studious practitioners none more honourable and beneficiall for the good of our Countrie none more neglected and lesse countenanced then the Practisers of the Art militarie nor none more screwed up in the places of their abiding then those men this way affected The rich cubb'd gowne men holding it as a maxime that Souldiers though never so poore yet they must be taxed in the parish bookes like Gentlemen Thus much incouragement we have for spending our money and our time for our Countries good and this in good time I hope will be amended but of this no more The next firing being a firing Tripartite doth execution to the front reere and right flanke at one and the same time For the use I shall referre it to the judgement of the Iudicious for the instruction how it is to be made the words of Command and direction shew it which are as followeth Halfe rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For the direction looke backe to the 27. Chapter which treats of this doubling Onely remember to face the divisions that way which you intend they shall give fire For the manner of the firing it is ordinary the foremost Ranke of Muskettiers on each part having fired they wheele off to the right or to the right and left according as directions shall be given placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions the next ranks in the meane time moving forwards into their leaders ground there in like manner firing wheeling off and placing themselves as before the rest of the rankes successively doing the like This firing may be continued aâ— pleasure of the Commander The Pikemen as advantage may be given in the interim either porting charging or sending their fatall showers amongst the thickest of their enemies Lastly for reducement face them all to their front proper then Command halfe rankes that doubled to face to the left and so to march into their places For further directions turne backe to the 27. Chapter which shewes the reducement of the aforegoing Figure c. CHAP. XCIII Of the Sconce Battell THe Sconce Battell is a Figure most properly fit for a whole Regiment at least for a larger pro portion of number then is here exprest it neither being good nor safe to divide a smal Company into so many divisions and Maniples And yet to give satisfaction unto some I have placed it here amongst my Figures yea and shewne the way how to make it with a private Company For the manner or way how to fire upon it may be divers The Muskettiers being so placed that they may give fire to the front and reere to the right and left or to all foure together at the discretion of the Commander If your Muskettiers give fire to the front and reare every ranke making good his leaders ground then the Figure will still continue the same If they give fire without advancing into their leaders ground then the Muskettiers will ranke even againe with their Pikes and the Figure will become an hollow crosse the Muskettiers making the Angles The words of Command and direction which produce the Figure are as followeth Halfe files of Muskettiers face to the Reere That being done Command all the Muskettiers to march to the Angles of their Pikes Next cause The two first and two last rankes of Pikes to stand The rest to face to the right and left and march untill they are cleere of the other pikes then stand Lastly Command The two first and last rankes of Pikes which did not move to double their Files to the right These words of Command and direction being executed perfect the Figure as followeth Many and severall are the firings which with some little alteration may be drawne from this Figure Neverthelesse not to spin out time with discourse the firing now intended to be shewne is to be performed to the front and reere To which purpose the one halfe both of Muskettiers and Pikes are to face about to the right there presenting and giving fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left flank to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The next ranke still moving forwards into their leaders ground the other rankes successively doing the like After this manner the firing may be continued and the Figure still preserved For reducement First face them all after their proper file-leaders Secondly cause the front and reere divisions of Pikes to double their rankes to the left Thirdly command the Pikes of the flankes to face in opposition close their divisions and then to face after their leaders Next coÌ„mand the Muskettiers of the front division to face to the reere Lastly command the Muskettiers both of front and reere to close their divisions And then being faced to their leader they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. XCIIII Of firing by three files at once two of them standing oblique the other direct WHen I began the formes and figures of Battell I noted all fâ—rings to be either oblique or direct and now for satisfaction to the curious I shall insert two or three oblique formes amongst the rest The first whereof shall be a Firing to the Front by drawing forth the outermost file on each flank obliquely or the innermost as shall seeme best to the Commander untill the bringers up of the files stand even with the right and left angle-men over the front of pikes They may also beadâ— a file of Muskettiers crosse the front of pikes when having placed and faced them as they ought for execution they will stand in manner of this following figure The two files of Muskettiers which were led forth having obliquely presented inwards and the file drawn crosse the front of pikes being presented direct Rank-wise upon the first Command they are all to give fire together and then to face after their bringers up who leade their files directly into their places This done they face to their proper front againe the other files in the meane time leading forth after the same manner These having done their execution are to returne into their places being led off by their bringers up as is aforesaid The
skill and worth to the Front halfe file And that the file-leaders and halfe-rankes of the left flanke should be equivalent in worth skill and valour to the right flanke that the Reere division hold like proportion with the Front division and that all parts of the body be ballanced with true proportion so neere as the knowledge of the Souldiers and the number of the men will give you leave and that there may be correspondency in their worth place and dignity you may observe by adding the figures of number together which are in the Margent where you shal finde that the dignity being added together of the Front halfe file makes the number of 18. And the worth of the Reere division being in like manner added makes the like number So likewise shal you finde the dignity and worth of the File leaders of the left flanke to paralell the worth of those on the right flanke by the same rule If you will have it yet more cleere observe that the file leader is the chiefe in his File the bringer up the second the halfe File leader the third the last man of the front halfe file the fourth Now note that as the worth of the first precedes the second so the worth of the third exceeds the fourth Now adde the first worth to the fourth worth and that makes five And the second worth to the third and it makes the same number so that there is equalitie throughout the Battell both in Front Reere and Flankes for it were unreasonable that all the chiefe men should be on the right Flanke and all the worst on the left For the left must be opposed to the enemies right The File leader ought to be worthiest because he hath the command of his File and marcheth the first against his enemy The bringer up ought to be the second because his place of march is in the Reere and is in most danger should the enemy charge on that part The halfe file leader is the third in honour because that when the halfe file is taken off upon any occasion he is the leader unlesse they be commanded to face about the last man of the front halfe file is the fourth man in dignitie for when the Reere division is taken off then he is the Bringer up The next man to the file-leader hath the fift place of honour for that one doubling brings him into the front The next man before the Bringer-up hath the sixt place of honour for that if the body be faced about one doubling brings him into the Front accidentall or keeping the proper front by once doubling of rankes he becomes Bringer-up to his File-leader The seventh place of honour is his that marcheth next after the halfe-halfe-file leader for that when the halfe files double the Front or marcheth forth then one doubling ranks him even with the Front The eight and last place of honour is his that is the third from the Front the File being but 8. deepe which may also be made a file-File-leader though with more trouble than the rest for by counter-marching Front and Reere into the middest and then facing to the former front after doubling of ranks makes him likewise a file-file-leader Now as every mans dignitie is more or lesse in his File so is all his ranke with him Wherefore this that hath already beene said may suffice to demonstrate unto those which as yet are ignorant of the severall places of dignity both in Ranke and File I might have enforced many other reasons concerning the dignity of number and place but I have insisted longer upon this subject then at first I intended which makes me the more willing though somewhat abruptly to breake from it and come to shew the manner of joyning or drawing up of Files into forme of battell And therefore this may serve for all the Serjeant that hath order to place them is to lead them up according to their worth and honour As first the right hand file then the left hand file and so the other files successively within them according to their severall worths and places As by the following figure you may more plainely perceive If there be any that shall say these are nicities and of no repute amongst Souldiers I dare say they have been well reputed of by good Souldiers no disparagement unto the fault-finders if there happen to be any such As for the noble worthy and well-knowing Souldiers I am almost confident that out of their true-speaking judgements they will eyther conclude that it is so used or at the least that it ought so to be but if this can worke no effect with the I leave every man freely to his owne judgement desiring the judicious alwaies to hold a favourable opinion of my well-meaning CHAP. VI. Of the severall distances NOw that our Souldiers have attained some small knowledge in the use of their Armes me thinkes like some of our little-knowing souldiers of the trained Bands they already begin to be ambitious of File-leaders places therefore that their owne weakenesses may light them to reade their owne follies we will see how they will behave themselves in exercise amongst the Companie Wherein the first thing we are to instruct them in is their distances But because it is held by some a matter disputable whether distance be one of the motions or no We will first declare what is distance To which I answer that indeed Distance it selfe is no motion but there is motion in producing such distance for Distance is the space of ground between man and man either in File or Ranke having relation onely to the place between each partie All the rest of the motions having not onely relation to the one but the other Wherefore not to spend more time in a matter so apparant we will say that the discipline of a foot-companie consists chiefly in distance and motion And therefore seeing that distance is the ground of motion and that no motion can be performed without distance wee will leave to discourse it and fall to the matter it selfe and shew how many sorts of Distance is ordinarily used in our moderne discipline which are these foure here under named viz. Close Order which is One foot and a halfe Order both in Three foot Open Order Rank Sixe foot Double distāce File Twelve foot It hath been the opinion of some ancient Commanders that the distance of Ranke was alwaies double the distance of File although they went both under one and the same denomination As that order in File was three foot order in Ranke sixe foot open order in file sixe foot open order in ranke twelve foot and so of other distances But the best received opinions hold them to be alike both in ranke and file There is to be considered in distance these three especially that is Distance For March For Motion For Skirmish You are to observe thatyour distance for march is to be three foot between file and file and sixe
foot between ranke and ranke distance for motion sixe foot both in ranke and file distance for wheelings and skirmish three foot in ranke and file Onely if you were to receive a charge from the horse it is necessary for your files of Pite-men to be at close order Wherefore we will rehearse all the ordinary wayes for the opening and closing both of files and rankes But in the first place command them to even their Rankes and streighten their Files to be silent attend to their words of command and direction c. Rankes and files to your close order Files open to the right to your order Rankes open forward Files open to the right to your open order Rankes open forward Files open to the right to your double distance Rankes open forward Files close to the right to your open order Rankes close forward Files close to the right to your order Rankes close forward Files close to the right to your close order Rankes close forward Files open to the left to your order Rankes open backward Files open to the left to your open order Rankes open backward Files open to the left to your double distance Ranks open backwards Files close to the left to your open order Ranks close backward Files close to the left to your order Ranks close backward Files close to the left to your close order Ranks close backward Files open right and left to your order Ranks to the front reere Files open right and left to your open order Ranks to the front and reere Files open right and left to your double distance Ranks to the front and reere Files close right and left inward to your open order Ranks to the middest Note that when Files open to the right the left-hand file must stand fast every file taking his distance from the file next his left hand And when they open to the left then the right hand file stands every file taking his distance from the file next his right hand Obserue also that when Ranks open forwards then the last ranke stands every Ranke taking his distance from the Ranke next behinde him And when they open backwards then the first Ranke is to stand every Rank to take his distance from the Ranke next before him You are likewise to take notice in the action that you are either to face to the right or to the right about Note also that in closing of Files if it be to the Right then contrary to the opening the right hand file stands the rest closing to the Right taking their distance from their next right hand file If you close to the left then the left hand file stands the rest of the files closing to the left taking their distance in like manner When Files close to the right and left then they close inward taking their distance from the files within them neerer to the middest of the bodie Also note that when Files are commanded to open to the right and left or by division it must be outward If Ranks close to Front and Reere then the first and last Ranke stand the others taking their distances from them If they close Ranks towards the center or midst then they close towards their two middlemost Ranks It is not required that every Captaine or other Officer that shall exercise a Company shall use all these several openings and closings which are here exprest but rather that he shall make use of so many of them as he shall thinke fit for his present occasion or exercise Although they all may be usefull at some time or other I may spare examples for it must needs be apparant to the meanest capacities CHAP. VII Of marching the Company in Divisions at length the order and places of the Officers and againe drawing them into forme of Battell NOw that our Souldiers are somewhat expert in their distances we will next draw them forth into a long March Wherefore note that our files must be at order and our Ranks at open order The Muskettiers of the right flanke are to make the Van and to march next after the Captaine The Pikes are to make the battell and to march after the Ensigne either in one or two divisions according to their number The Muskettiers of the left flanke sometimes called the second division of Muskets make the Reere Guard which is led commonly by the second Serjeant How beit if there be but one division of Pikes then the eldest or chiefest Serjeant leads the second division of Muskettiers If the Company be but small then it is best to make but two Divisions one of the Muskettiers another of the Pikes For the placing of the rest of the Officers you may perceive by the figure in the margent Wherefore note that M. stands for Muskets p. for Pikes D. for Drummes S. for Serjeants E. for Ensigne L. for Lieutenant and C. for Captaine Note if you have but three Drummes then let the Drumme in the second division of Pikes be wanting If onely two then upon a March the first betweene the third and fourth ranke of the front division of Muskettiers The second betweene the third and fourth ranke of the second division of Pikes Note that betweene each Division in March there ought to be 12. foot distance 6. foot betweene the Officer and 6. foot behinde him CHAP. VIII Of drawing the divisions up into a square WHen you would bring your body againe into Battalia command your front division to make Alt or Stand then give order to your Ensigne either by a Serjeant or by some signe to leade up the first division of pikes on the left of the first division of Muskettiers with his colours flying and the Pikes to continue shouldered so long as the Drumme beats a March But if it beat a Troope then the Pikes are to advance and close their Ranks forward to their order and so the Ensigne to troop them up with his colours fierld The eldest Serjeant is to leadeup the second division of Pikes The second Serjeant in like manner is to leade up the second or reere Division of Muskettiers each division still marching up to the left of that division next before it The manner you may plainly see in the figure where the front division is marked in the Reere with the letter A. The first Division of Pikes with the letter B. The second Division of pikes with C. The second Division of Muskettiers hath in the Reere the letter D. The other figure on the other leafe in form of a square shewes their standing after the Divisions are led up All the file-leaders standing even in front together making one Ranke The discipline of the Art Militarie may rightly be divided into these five generall heads viz. Distance Facings Doublings Countermarches and Wheelings which have beene not unaptly compared to the five vowels For as without one or more of the vowels no word can be spelled so without one or more of these neither
forme nor action can be performed CHAP. IX What is Facing and the use of the word whether to be used or refused BEfore we come to shew the varietie of Facings in the action I thinke it will not be amisse to speake a word or two in the way of definition and therefore what is Facing To which I answer That Facing is a particular turning of the Aspect from one part to another whereby the Front proper becomes a Front accidentall And a Front accidentall may be reduced to his proper Front There are some likewise that by no meanes will allow of the word Face Concluding it altogether unnecessarie And no other word must be given but To the Right To the left c. Yet I wonder that men will stumble at so small a straw which cannot chuse but be better used than refused For the word Face is but one syllable and quickly pronounced and gives so cleare an expression of the intent of the Commander that it concludes it necessary As for example Should you command a Company to double Rankes to the Right and then command them as they were and then say To the Left it might puzzle a good Souldier at the first to discerne whether he should face or double The like mistake might bee among Countermarches Wherefore I conceive that none can justly taxe it for superfluous seeing the easiest expression hath alwayes beene accounted for the best Yet spare me for my intent is not to oversway any man in his opinion but rather to deliver mine leaving all men freely to their owne likings If my intent were to make a great booke with a little matter I might then here insert figures for every particular Facing and their Reducements to their first Posture which would take up divers sheets of paper and to little purpose For I suppose that every man that knows any thing may easily conceive the Idea of any ordinary Facing in his minde Wherefore I will but shew one or two of the hardest You are to note that in the Motion of Facings every man turnes on the Center or Ball of the left foot moving onely the right the other being the keeper both of ranke and file Face to the Right As you were Left Right and left Right about Left about Right and left inward Right angle Left Foure Angles The front halfe files standing it will be requisite for the halfe files to the reere to do as much by themselues whereby they will the more aptly perceive how that the subdivision goeth under the denomination of the halfe files c. Halfe files face to the Right As you were Left Right and left Right about Left Right and left inward There is another word which is ordinarily used and proper for reducements of Facings which is To your Leader There is another Facing sometimes used which is Face to the center and is when the body stands in some circular form or else in an hollow square There is also a Facing which causeth the Body to face to the front reere and flanks which some call Facing square CHAP. X. Of Facing square and how to performe it the usefulnesse of facings and the severall parts thereof WHen we instruct our Souldiers how to face square if the Body be but 8. deepe command the two first ranks stand fast the two last Ranks face about the rest of the Body face to the right and left If the Body be deeper we command more Ranks to the Front and so likewise to the Reere It is very necessary for young Souldiers to move 10. or 12. paces upon every motion of facings whether they are entire or divisionall Now I will pricke two severall figures of facing which will be sufficient to demonstrate all the rest The words of Command commonly used to produce this figure are these as followeth The two first ranks stand The two last ranks face about The rest of the body face to the right and left then march all To reduce them to their first order Face all about to the right march and close your divisions Face all to your Leader who then stands at his front proper Facing square another way marching upon it The words of command customarily used to produce this figure are these as followeth Muskettiers face to the right and left Halfe files of Pikes face about to the right then march all To reduce them to their former order Face all about to the right march and close your divisions Face all to your Leader Facings are so usefull and necessary that you may as well dispense with any one of the grounds of Discipline as with them for they are usefull almost upon all occasions and not onely sooner executed than any other of the motions but may be needfull when Wheelings and Countermarches cannot be used as in a strait There are no more then foure facings intire besides Angular as for Divisionall there be divers and indeed very necessary many of them be as occasion may offer it selfe for their severall uses howsoever peremptorily to say there be so many and no more I conceive hath beene concluded by none but it still rests at the discretion of the Commander to exercise more or fewer of them as he best liketh and the necessity requireth either for action or exercise Intire facings are so called when the aspect of the whole Company are directed one way Divisionall facings are so called when the aspect of the Souldiers is at one the same time directed divers and severall waies as to the front and reere the right and left or to all foure at once c. Angular Facings are so called when the aspect of the Company is directed to the right corner man which is the right Angle or to the left corner man which is the left Angle or to the foure corner men which are the foure Angles Angular facings were of great use among the ancients for their figures called the Diamond the wedge the Sheeres the Saw and such like when they made use of such formes of battell But for the use of them in our moderne Discipline I conceive there is little or none onely thus wee honour the memory of the Ancients in their use And some say they are very fit for exercise for that by their use the souldier is made more apt and perfect in the other Therefore let this suffice to be spoken concerning facings and now be pleased to turne your aspect and take a view how our young souldiers will behave themselves in the performance of the doublings CHAP. XI Of Doublings their use and parts DOublings are of most excellent and singular good use for the strengthening of any part of the battell according to the occasion or discretion of the Commander and consists of these two generals Doublings of length and Doublings of depth all times in quantity of number sometimes both in number and place both sorts having this restriction to be doublings of rankes or flanks
even-files into the ground before the Front Contrariwise this doubling doth transferre them into the ground next behind the Reer And as in the other doubling you may perceive halfe the file-leaders to remaine in the Front the other halfe to be halfe-file leaders This doubling hath halfe the file-leaders in the front the other halfe being the last ranke of the Reere Those which were the former Bringers up being become the two innermost or middlemost ranks The figure followeth being demonstrated as the body stands the motion being ended The manner of the motion for this doubling is as followeth The command being given files double your depth to the right intire every man falling behinde his bringer up then the even files accounting from the hand named immediately face about to the right and the bringers up of each of the even files turne behinde the Bringers up of the odde files that stand And so every man as he commeth down to the Reere turneth to the left behinde him that marcheth downe the next before him untill those that were the leaders of the even files are become the bringers up to those which were the odde files The reducement is as followeth Bringers up that now are double your ranks forward to the left Which being performed they are as at the first If you would be instructed in the manner turne backe and see it where the bringers up double their ranks forward into the front It is the fourteenth Chapter I have willingly past over another doubling of the depth because it is much after the manner of that which is done by advancing file upon file which is the doubling of the last Chapter It differeth onely thus In the last figure the even files marched forth placing themselves before the odde files And in this which I have omitted the even files are to face about and march forth right towards the reere untill the file-leaders of the even files have placed themselves just behinde the bringers up of the odde files and then every man to face to his leader Some have a doubling of the depth by countermarch Which I conceive scarce worth penning yet willing to leave every man to his owne liking as I do nothing in it so I 'le say nothing of it There are others that have written concerning doublings of place nevertheles because they are nothing but the opening of ranks files wherby length or depth of your battell is extended and so doubled in place and not in number I forbeare to write further of them desiring not to treate of such things which are more curious then necessary CHAP. XXXI Of Conversion and Inversion with their words of Command and Reducements ACcording to my promise I will next shew the difference betweene Inversion and Conversion the very names whereof is such a puzzling unto many that they are more troubled with the words then the worke Some are of opinion that they are both one differing in letter not in matter Others would have a difference if they could tell how or where But generally they are so chopt and changed one for the other that the Souldier cannot in truth tell which is either But that you may not be deceived take this for a rule that Inversion doth alwaies produce file or files and Conversion ranke or rankes Inversion consists of the files filing or of rankes filing Conversion of ranks ranking to the right or left Or by increase of files ranking by even or uneven parts and of ranks wheeling to the right or left I shall speake further of them in their severall places But by the way you are to observe that Inversion and Conversion require larger distances of Ground then any other Motions which must be the Officers care to open the ranks or files to such distance as shall be necessary to containe the rankes or files so to be Inverted or Converted whether it be double-distance or twice double-distance for any other lesser or larger quantity of ground The words of Command with their severall Reducements are as followeth Inversion Files file one to the Right File-leaders lead up your files as you were Left Files file to the right and left by division Ranks file to the Right Files ranke as you were Left Right left Conversion Ranks ranke 3 5 7 or 9 to the right Ranks ranke as you were 4 6 8 or 10 to the left by increase 2. 4. 6. 8. c. to the right by increase 1. 3. 5. 7. c. to the left intire to the right into the front intire into the left into the front by division into the front Ranks wheele to the Right Left Right and Left Files rank 3 5 7 or 9. to the right Ranks file as you were 4 6 8 or 10. to the left by increase to the right 1 3 5 7 c. by increase to the left 2 4 6 8 c. to the right into the front to the left To avoid the words of Inversion and Conversion I have delivered the directions with once naming either of them Onely I have exprest the six first words of Command to be Inversion and these last sixteen to be Conversion For I conceive it not to be so necessary to adde to every word of Command Inversion or Conversion For by so doing the unlearned and ignorant Souldier will be so transported with the strangnesse of the word that he will scarce by any meanes be made capable of the matter For my own part I have ever held this opinion that the easiest expressions are ever to be preferred in the way of instruction to young Souldiers I might have much inlarged my self in the words of direction concerning this subject but these being perfectly attained others by practice wil be gained I at the first intēded to have drawn figure for every one of these words of Command but I have better considered that some of them will require so much roome and againe are so easie to be understood without their figures that I conceive I may both spare the pains and cost and onely deliver the figures of some few of them which will be the most necessary And for the others I will expresse in words what they will produce in figure CHAP. XXXII Of Files filing in sequence The Command is Files file on to the right TO performe this word of Command or Direction The right hand file marcheth away single The second file from the right falleth into the Reere of the first The third behind the second The fourth behind the third And so consequently all the rest of the files fall into the Reere of their next right-hand-right-hand-files untill all the whole Company become one file It may bee usefull to passe some narrow bridge or thicket or else-where where but one at once can passe the Commander being willing to preserve his files intire and whole The way for the Reducement may be after this manner The place being convenient every file-file-leader is to lead up his file to the
stands the Reere-halfe-files face about and so the front-division passe forwards and place themselues behind the file-leaders the reere-halfe-files behinde their Bringers up The manner you may perceive the plainer if you note the figures of number which are placed on the flanks of the figure their number shewing the places they had from the front before the motion began This figure may be reduced either by the same word of command which produced it or else by any of the foregoing divisionall countermarches Our next shall be a countermarch of exchange of ground The words for command or direction are as followeth CHAP. LI. Of Interchanging Ground The Command is Front-halfe-files interchange ground with the Reere passing through to the Right Bast Countermarch In Motion This Bastard Countermarch may not rightly be said to be derived from any one of the particular grounds of Countermarch but rather participating of them all And yet considering it as it is to be it is different from them all for whereas the other countermarches of files in division although they bring the Front and Reere into the middest yet the front-halfe-files continue still on the same part and the Reere-halfe-files do not alter into the places of the other But this contrary to any other of the divisionall countermarches transferres the front-halfe-files into the ground or place of the Reere-halfe-files and them into the contrary part bringing the file-leaders and bringers up together into the midst The way to performe this Motion is as followeth The front-halfe-files face about passing forwards to the right being led by the bringers up of the front-halfe-files betweene the Intervalles towards the reere The Reere-halfe-files at the same instant in like manner marching forwards betweene the Intervalles on their right hands into the Front untill the Front-division have attained the places of the Reere and they contrariwise the places of the Front For the reducement of this countermarch do as much backe againe Or if you would reduce it some other way you may first make an intirc countermarch of files and then countermarch front and reere into the midst for under two countermarches it will not be reduced Now I will passe to shew divisionall countermarches of Ranks or Flanks The first shall be Chorean as in the Chapter following CHAP. LII Of counter-marching the flanks or wings into the midst of the Battell The Command is Countermarch your flanks into the midst THis Chorean counter-march of the flanks into the midst is of ordinary use when the Commander would have the outermost files to become the innermost the motion to bee performed on the same ground and is as followeth The command being given the whole body faceth to the right and left by division the outermost files by this facing becomming rankes every man in the right hand file being a leader in his halfe ranke file-wise and so likewise in the left hand file the same then they countermarch the right flanke to the right the left flank to the left which you must alwaies observe to doe and your flanquers will meet just in the midst of your Battalia Lastly having faced them to their first front the counter-march is ended To reduce them they may either use the same Counter-march againe or any of these following divisionall countermarches of flankes unlesse it bee that of interchanging of ground The next shall be Lacedemonian the Command or words of direction are as in the Chapter following CHAP. LIII Of Countermarching to take the ground before the flanks The Command is The outermost file of each flanke face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves before your out-side men THis Lacedemonian Countermarch of halfe ranks or flanks makes 〈◊〉 of charging on upon both flanks but leaves a wast distance of ground unoccupied betweene the two outmost-outmost-files or midst of the battell The way to performe this Motion is as followeth The right-hand-right-hand-file faceth to the right the left-hand-left-hand-file to the left the rest of the body faceth to the right and left the right-flanke passing through to the right and placing themselues before their right-hand-men The second file from the right begins the Motion on the right-flanke the left-flanke in like manner passing through to the left and placing themselues before their left-hand-men the second file accounting from the left begins the Motion on the left-flanke But you must note that the files become ranks with the facing For the reducement of this figure if you will first face them to their proper front you may then command the two inmost-inmost-files stand the rest passe through to the right and left inward and take their places Or if you please make use either of a Chorean or a Macedonian Countermarch of Ranks by division and with a facing and closing their divisions they will be perfectly reduced CHAP. LIV. Of Countermarching to take the ground on the outside of the Flanks and to direct their Aspects inwards The Command is The outmost file of each Flanke face inward the rest passe through to the Right and Left placing your selues behinde your outside men THis Macedonian Countermarch differeth nothing from that last shewed but onely in the turning of the aspect inwards whereas the other directed their aspect outwards The Motion is thus performed The outermost-outermost-files of each Flanke face inward the rest of the body face to the right and left outward those of the right flanke passing through to the right and placing them selues behinde their right-hand-men Those of the left flanke passing through to the left and placing themselues behinde their left-hand-men The Motion is begun by the second file from each flank I might here shew these Countermarches beginning their Motion from their middlemost-middlemost-files But I am willingly silent hoping that these may suffice to the courteous not much forcing my selfe to give satisfaction to the curious For the reducement of this Countermarch having faced them to their first front you may if you please command the two innermost files to face outward the rest passe through to the right and left inward placing themselues behinde their right and left-hand-men which being done the whole body will stand faced to the right and left outward Then being faced to their Leader they are reduced If you would reduce it by some other way you may make use either of the Countermarch which is next before or of that which next followeth Or of any other divisionall Countermarch of Ranks which doth not interchange ground Our next two which follow will be Bastard Countermarches with the which we will conclude this our fourth branch of Discipline CHAP. LV. Of taking the ground on the outside of the flanks not altering the Aspects The Command is The outmost-outmost-file of each Flanke stand the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selues on the outside of your right and left-hand-men THis Divisionall bastard countermarch produceth the same effect which the other two next before it wrought
onely differing in the Aspect for the Lacedemonian turned the Aspect outward The Macedonian turned the Aspect inward And this keeps the Aspect still directed the same way He that knows every way may when time serveth make use of those wayes which are most necessarie and sutable to his present occasion The Proverbe saith Knowledge is no burthen The way to performe this Countermarch is as followeth according to the Command the outmost-outmost-file of each flanke stands the rest of the Body faceth to the right and left outward the right flanke passing through to the right the left flanke to the left those of the right-flanke placing themselues on the outside of their right-hand-men in like manner those on the left flanke placing themselues on the outside of their left-hand-men If may be reduced either by any of the foregoing divisionall Countermarches of Ranks or else being faced to any of the flanks then the rankes become files And by divisionall Countermarches of files you may reduce divisionall Countermarches of Ranks or by ranks files onely you must observe some facings Yet for this figure if you please Command the two innermost-innermost-files stand the rest face to the right and left inward and so march into their places The next shall be a Countermarch of interchanging of Flanks CHAP. LVI Of Interchanging Ground by the Flanks and bringing the innermost-files of Pikes to become the outmost-ranks The Command is Interchange Flanks THis exchanging of Flanks or Bastard Countermarch is differing from all the other divisionall Countermarches of Ranks for this transferres the right-flanke into the place of the left and the left-flanke into the place of the right It is very apt for to receive a sudden charge from the horse for as soone as they shall be commanded to interchange their flanks they face to the right and left inward and then the innermost-innermost-files of the pikes begin the Motion the rest of each flanke following orderly file-wise the pikes porting so soone as they begin to move and charge as they see occasion If need be the pikes may charge at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over their shoulders If any object that the Pikes have too large a distance they may close at their owne pleasures as soone as they have past through For the reducement you may if you please interchange ground againe neverthelesse if you would reduce it by some other way Countermarch your Flanks into the midst and then an intire Countermarch either of ranke or file will reduce them I might have further enlarged my selfe upon this subject both in Command and Figure but it may be that some will finde fault with these which I have already penned concluding them for nicities and for no service because they cannot presently apprehend for what use or service they may be fit Notwithstanding I would intreat such if any such happen to be my overlookers that they would suspend their censures untill they have fully enformed their judgements Yet thus much I will conclude with them that Countermarches might the best be spared of all the Motions as being least beneficiall to this our Moderne discipline And yet to very good use many of them might serve if our Souldiers were well practised in them Neverthelesse such is the wilfull stupidity of the times that many good and usefull things are disreputed and accounted of no use because the Souldier wanting skill cannot performe them as they ought which would the Officers take more paines by often instructing their Souldiers the hardest Motions would become facile and easie And to say truth the greatest fault is want of skill in those which should give instruction to others and yet they will not sticke to carpe at such as shall shew more than they concluding such things for superfluous and improper which they themselues do not rightly understand But lest I be taxed for digression I will conclude this branch of Discipline with these few lines following SOme burthened are with more command than skill Which had they power suting to their minde You then should see Reason inthral'd to will Nor any 'bove their knowledge should you finde For rather than they 'le study to learne better They wish all wanting none to know a letter So be there many Officers in Bands That neither know themselves nor care for those That skilfull are in Postures and Commands Nor are they carefull which end formost goes They thinke to dice to drabbe to sweare and swill Is skill enough for them Learne more that will And if that any man more forward be For to instruct the Souldier as is fit With such a fellow they cannot agree He is vaine-glorious strives to shew his wit They will be sure to quarrell and deprave him And in their cups perhaps they 'll Such honest hearts as spend both meanes and time To practise others for their Countries good Why should this good be counted for a crime To those that for their Prince would spend their bloud That Countrey sure will best be kept from harmes Whose Subjects pleasure take to practise Armes But on this Subject I 'le no longer bide Of Countermarches Here I 'le take my leave To shew the Wheelings next I shall provide Which follows next of course as I conceive And though with verse my Countermarches close Beginning Wheelings I returne to Prose CHAP. LVII Of wheelings their kindes and uses with their severall words of Command THe next Branch springing from this root of Discipline are wheelings which are of two kindes viz. wheelings Angular and wheelings on the Center as also they are to be conceived in manner of action either intire or divisionall the use of intire wheelings is to turne the aspect of the front proper to the right to the left or reere either for the gaining of the Winde Sunne or some such like advantage or to confront the enemy with their best souldiers Most of the divisionall wheelings being indeed more properly doublings either extending the length or depth of the Battell notwithstanding because I wold not be taxed with innovation or alteration I have according unto the usuall received way placed them amongst the wheelings and now I will shew their words of command or direction But before I enter upon them give me leave to lay downe an observation or two for the better instruction of the Souldiers in their wheelings The first is That before you enter upon your wheelings you close both Rankes and Files to their order which is three foot both in ranke and file The other that upon all wheelings you must be sure to observe your leader and follow him keeping your due distance your Muskettiers being all either poyzed or shouldered your Pikes ought to be advanced The words of Commands are as followeth Wheele your Battell to the Right   Left   Right about  Left  Right  on the same ground Left  Right about Left Wheele off your Front by division   your Front
more ease and to use them with more delight Neither need they to be altogether ignorant seeing there are divers printed portraitures of the postures of each Armes as also books whereby they may have very ample instruction By which having attained some little skill they will not be contented untill they have better improved it by the instruction of their Officers after which they will proue better proficients in one houre then as they were before in a yeare CHAP. LXXI Of firing by forlorne files The manner and use BEfore I enter upon formes and figures of Battel be pleased to observe with me that all firings are either direct or oblique notwithstanding that the formes are full enough of varietie occasioned most times by the scituation of the place the order of the enemy and the number of men with other Politicall observations for the gaining of winde and Sunne For the manner of firings they are sometimes advancing against an enemy sometimes receiving the enemies charge upon a stand or else retreiting Otherwhiles we give fire in the Reere marching from the Enemy or in Flanke marching by an enemy and it may so fall out that the enemy may charge in severall places at once as in Front and Reere or in Front Reere and Flanke Of which particulars I will severally treat desiring to give content to all not making the least question but that benefit may accrue unto some And therefore hoping that the courteous and best qualified will accept of my good meaning and not refuse my cates although presented unto them in earthen vessels whereby I shall be induced with more willingnesse to proceed in my intended discourses so you be pleased to favour me with your better opinions neither rashly condemning me of prodigalitie for enterprising a worke of such consequence as this nor too suddenly accusing my simplicitie for preferring my rush-light before the Sunne when others suffer their Torches to burne out in darke lanternes whom I confesse to be farre more able were they but halfe so willing to have imparted of their Talents to the benefit of their Countrey But seeing that they will not vouchsafe it and that I like bold bayard have adventured thus farre I shall with your good favour proceed And first I will begin with firings in front advancing and standing and so to the rest And for the more cleare expression of each firing I will deliver them both in words and figures The first whereof shall be a firing by forlorne files which commonly is used in our exercise two manner of waies One way is for the two outermost-files of each flank of Musketiers to march forth being led on by the two junior Serjeants so farre as by the superior Commander shall be thought fit who being there to stand the formost ranks are to give fire wheeling off both to the right or to the right and left if it be so commanded and to place themselues in the Reere of their owne files the rest of the ranks firing and doing of the like untill they have fired once or twice over according to their directions This done the next two outmost-outmost-files of each flanke are to march forwards unto the place assigned and to do the like those files which formerly faced in the meane time trooping backe and placing themselues next the pikes on the inside of the divisions of Muskettiers the rest of the Muskettiers in like manner marching up and firing still placing themselues next the pikes as aforesaid When they have fired all over and placed themselues according to these directions they are reduced as at first A second way of firing by forlorne files may be after this maÌ„ner The outermost files of each flank are led forth by the Serjeants according to the charge untill they have brought them unto a fit place for execution and then they command their files to ranke inward and to present and fire all together as you may plainly perceive by the figure following The first two files having ranked iâ—â—ard presented and fired are to wheele off to the right and left following their leaders in single file and placing themselves on the inside of their divisions of Muskettiers next the Pikes the next outmost files which followed the first in the reere in the meane time ranking inward firing and wheeling off as before and placing themselves next the Pikes And so forwards for all the rest of the files still marching up and doing the like so long as the Captaine or Commander shall fee fitting These kinde of firings and all such like are either for the beginning of skirmishes before the Bodies come within shot one of another or to provoke the enemy to battaile to draw them from their Trenches into some ambushment and other such politicall ends the number of men which march forth upon such designes nor the manner are not alwayes certaine but consists sometimes of more sometimes of fewer according to the number time and place CHAP. LXXII Of firings by two Ranks ten paces advanced before the front Next even with the front and lastly even with the halfe files Advancing of two rankes to fire ten paces before the front is most commonly used when one or both Battailes march against each other the Muskettiers being led forth by two rankes together ten or twenty paces before the front of the body that so they may come neere enough to doe certaine execution A Serjeant from each flanke leading up the two foremost rankes according as they shall have order the first ranke of each flanke is to present and give fire wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you may perceive by the following Figure The first ranks having presented fired and wheeled off as aforesaid are to march close downe in single file within three foot of their owne flankes untill they come to the Reere of their owne divisions where every man is to place himselfe in the reere of his owne file The second ranke being at the distance of three foot behinde the first ranke when they first tooke their ground they likewise are to rest their Muskets mounting their muzzles cleere of their Leaders and so to stand with their matches cockâ— and pans guarded that so they may levell and fire as soone as their Leaders are cleere of them and wheele off in like manner placing themselves as they were before The next two rankes are to beginne to advance forwards when they see the last of the two former ranks presented ready to fire And they also having fired wheele off as the others did before them And so successively the rest of the ranks advancing fire and wheeling off againe placing themselves according to former directions This way they may give fire once or oftner over as the enemy doth advance or the Commander shall see fitting All this while that the Muskettiers advance so farre before the front if the body be upon march the Pikes may be shouldered but when the bodies come within
of the Commander give fire in front and so wheele off by division or all to the right as shall best please him that commands in Chiefe placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions and files of shot which is just before the front of pikes The next ranks then moving forwards into their leaders ground are to present fire wheele off and place themselues after the same manner the rest of the ranks of Muskettiers doing the like untill they have all given fire which firing doth nothing alter the forme or figure of battell Having fired once or twice over this way the second firing shall serue for reducement which is indeed the firing intended to be exprest by this figure And that I may by words the more clearly explaine the worke take these directions following The first ranke having given fire are to wheele equally off by division each part falling file-wise downe close by their flanks of Muskettiers untill the leaders of the ranks of Muskets come downe as low as the first ranke of pikes which being performed they are to face outwards and to move so farre forth in a strait line untill they have ranked even with the first ranke of pikes But herewithall are they to observe that they must leave an Intervall betweene the innermost-musket of each flanke and the outermost-file-leader of the pikes So soone as the first ranke hath given fire and wheeled away the second ranke is to give fire wheeling off as before and passing downe betweene the Intervals on the flanks placing themselues after their leaders The same is every ranke successively to do untill all the Muskettiers are drawne from before the front and placed on the flanke of their pikes But when there are not above two ranks of Muskettiers to give fire then the pikes may port and when the Muskettiers have fired and are wheeled away they may charge And lastly the pikes being re-advanced the body stands reduced as at first CHAP. LXXV Of giving Fire advancing by way of Introduction with the beneficiall use of the Bow and Pike I Shall next offer to your perusall a figure of Introduction which is a passing through or betweene Being a firing by way of advancing against the enemy and of gaining ground I will not dispute how usefull it is but sure I am it is over-ballanced with danger As for such whom I haue seene to practise it they have rather used it for varietie in a well experienced Company then for any knowne excellency it hath in it selfe But if these lines happen to be over-lookt by any that preserues a better opinion of this firing by introduction then I do I shall be willing to leave them to their owne liking while I in the meane time proceed to shew the manner of the execution which is usually one of these two wayes The first when the Motion is begun by the second ranke from the front The other when it is begun by the Bringers up Neverthelesse you must note that your files of Muskettiers must be opened to their open order before the firing begin that so the Muskettiers may passe betweene the Intervals of each file to give fire in the front And therefore take the words of Command and Direction which will produce this Figure following Muskettiers make ready to give fire by introduction to the right Files of Muskettiers open by Division to your open order This firing by introduction may be thus performed The Pikes being flankt with their Muskettiers the first ranke of each flanke present and give fire having fired they stand and make ready againe in the same place The second ranke passing forwards before the first doe there fire and stand the third rank then passing forwards after the second and standing even in ranke with them that first fired that so soone as the second ranke hath fired they may quickly step before them and fire in like manner In this firing still the ranke which is next to fire stands even in ranke with them which last fired untill those which stand presented have likewise given fire after which they then passe before them the Ranke which was their next followers passing forwards and ranking with those which last fired every man following his Leader successively untill the Bringers up give fire stand and then the Figure will become a Horne battell All the while that this firing by Introduction is continued the Pikes may be shouldered if there be no feare of horse or otherwise at discretion If you continue this firing twice over the Muskettiers will have their right places which being done march up your Pikes to ranke even with your Muskettiers in front and they are reduced For the other way of firing by introduction the first ranke or file-leaders are to give fire as before and to stand the last ranke or bringers up in the interim of their firing marching up and ranking even with the second ranke the rest following their Bringers up as they do when Bringers up double their front The first ranke having fired the Bringers up step immediately before them present and give fire the rest stil successively doing the like untill every rank have given fire once over Observe withal that the file-leaders are to give fire twice over being the first the last then to stand the Pikes marching up even with their front of Muskettiers And thus they are reduccd as at first The Pikemen all the time of this firing doe no service Notwithstanding if one halfe of them had bowes fastened unto their Pikes being able and well practised men they might whilest the Muskettiers are in firing be dealing of their doles about and although their arrowes did not happen to wound mortally yet the whisteling noyse the terrour of the sight and the severall hurts which could not chuse but be many would be a great abatement to the stoutest courages And great pitty it is to see the lusty Pike-man poorely to droppe downe by the Musket-shot himselfe not being able to hurt his enemy at that distance nor defend himselfe CHAP. LXXVI The way to make the Diamond Battell severall waies to fire upon it with divers other figures and firings which are thereby produced THe Diamond Battell is also a firing in front though more for shew then moderne service yet because that some hold it in venerable respect I thought fit to place it amongst the rest leaving every man to his liking either to use it or refuse it It may be that some will looke that I should make the Sheere Battell the Wedge the Saw and many such like which might be made either hollow or sollid But I shall intreate such to spare me for I would not willingly spend time to so small purpose chusing rather to insist on Figures more profitable for them and commendable for mee Yet if any man have a minde to practise any of them by observation of this Diamond Battell he may easily make them But not to hold you longer with circumstance
the words of Command and direction which are for the making of this Diamond Battell are as follow First cause your Muskettiers of the right flanke to open to the right to a sufficient distance for receiving the Muskets of the left flanke Then command the Muskettiers of the left flanke to passe through into the space of ground on the right This being done for to make the Figure Command Files of Muskettiers ranke 1. 3. 5. 7. c. by increase to the left Files of Pikes ranke by decrease after your Muskettiers The Muskettiers may fire on this figure divers waies though I onely intend to speake unto two of them The first is the most usuall way and that is the giving fire in ranke the first man or poynt of the Diamond first giving fire then wheeling off to the right and placing himselfe just behinde the single Pikeman in the reere Then the next ranke being three men give fire wheeling off by division and placing themselves in ranke behinde the single Muskettiers as they were before the firing began This done the ranke of five Muskettiers gives fire wheeling off in like manner by division ever observing that where the number is odde they command to wheele off by division there the greatest number alwaies goes to the right And so in like manner the rankes give fire successively and place themselves after their leaders as before When all the Muskettiers have given fire and are wheeled off then charge Pikes which will be fifteene in the first ranke the rest decreasing Having advanced your Pikes your figure will stand like two wedges with their poynts ioyned as you may perceive by this Figure next following If you would reduce your men from this Figure without firing your men being sufficiently expert let the Muskettiers stand and Pikes face to the reere and so the wedges will stand faced in opposition Next command them to interchange ground the Muskettiers advancing forwards into the ground of the Pikes and the Pikes moving into the ground of the Muskettiers and then by facing the Pikes to the former front the body will stand in forme of a Diamond againe If you would give fire from this Figure all the Muskettiers being in the reere the body must face about and so the firing will be contrary to the former But if you wheele them about they may give fire the same way Howsoever they having given fire are to wheele off by division and to place themselves in the reere of the Pikes even in ranke again as they were when they gave fire Thus having all fired ouer and wheeled away the Pikes may charge and being againe advanced the body will stand in forme of a Diamond and this I pray you to conceive for I intend not to remake the Figure The second way of firing on the Diamond figure is by way of Countermarch and is an oblique firing For whereas in the other firing by ranks in the Diamond Battell each ranke fired by increase of two beginning with one and ending with fifteene in a ranke this firing contrariwise begins with 15. and ends with 1. still decreasing 2. For this firing your files must be at open order because the Muskettiers must countermarch downe betweene the Intervals of their owne files to the right every Muskettier that findes himselfe without a leader being to present and give fire and then to countermarch to the right and to place himselfe in the Reere of his own file behinde the pikes When the first 15. have fired then the next 13. present fire and countermarch still placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Next there fireth 〈◊〉 thâ—â— 9. c. for still there fires â—o many as are 〈◊〉 of any leaders And in this manner of firing they that fire together stand neither in ranke not file buâ— oâ—liquely When all the Muskettiers have fired and â—â—e 〈◊〉 into the Reere of their owne files let the pikes charge and so the forme of your battell will be like a long wedge as you may perceive by the following figure where now your Ranks are become 2. and 2 of a number Your men standing in forme afore-shewed if you please yet to be more curious face them all to the Reere and command your Muskettiers to march ten or twelue paces Your pikes to stand and your Muskettiers will present you with an hollow wedge and your pikes with a sollid wedge Lastly to reduce all these severall formes into the first proper square battell first let the sollid wedge close forward into the hollow of the other then let the Muskettiers make ready present and fire as before That is to say every Muskettier that finds himselfe without a leader is to give fire and to countermarch to the reere of his owne file the rest doing the like successively When they have all fired and are countermarcht cleere let the pikes charge and then your body will have the form of a Diamond againe Next face them all to the Reere and command Ranks file 8. to the right Which being done passe through the Muskettiers which belong to the left-flanke into their places and close the Muskettiers of the right-flanke to their due distance and so they will stand all properly reduced CHAP. LXXVII Of the Convex Halfe Moone The use of the Figure and of severall wayes of firing upon it THe Convex halfe-moone or semicircular Battell is a forme both good and usefull which the time the number and place with other circumstances may make either beneficiall or prejudiciall Wise Captains and Commanders ever foreseeing with providence what formes or figures may be most profitable and available for the present service This Convex figure may be usefull either at the landing of souldiers in an enemies Countrey or for necessity the enemy being more able in horse making use either of hedge ditch wood creeke or River to secure the Reere For the figure it selfe it may be made many wayes either with the Muskettiers outermost or innermost or lined c. as pleasest he Commander It may also be made in a Regimentall way or after the way of a small and private Company But because I have onely in this my smal Treatise taken upon me to shew the postures motions and figures which are most usually done in a small Company although many of them yea the more part may be very fit for larger Bodies I shall content my self to saile in so small a bottome not desiring to put on more saile then will suffice for the bearing of so small a burthen Wherefore my request shall be that every courteous and skilful Pilot that shall come aboard this small Barke will be pleased neither to launch it into the maine lest it be swallowed in the Surges nor to expose it to the danger of shelues rocks and sands lest it suffer shipwracke for want of good guidance but so to steere it that it may safely arrive at its â—â—sirâ—d Harbour wherein they will both honour 〈…〉 expressing their vertues
after the same manner wheeling off and taking their places as aforesaid and so successively the rest both files and rankes give fire observing the same order And having given fire once twice or oftner over they are still reduced to the same they were before the firing began Then draw your Muskettiers from the reere to the left flanke againe and they will have their places as at first CHAP. LXXXIX Of firing to both flankes marching TO give fire to both flankes upon a march must needs be a serviceable firing without exception the time number place and strength of the enemy being alwaies to be considered which may sometimes cause the Muskettiers having fired to march up betweene their owne divisions and the Pikes as in this Figure Or sometimes betweene the midst of the Pikes the better to secure them Divers other such like waies there likewise be at the discretion of the Commander and as the present occasion shall require them But because I insisted somewhat largely upon the firings on the right flanke I shall not need to shew them againe by division on both flankes but will conclude them all in this one The words of Command which produce the Figure are as follow Muskettiers give fire to both flankes marching up betweene the Pikes and your owne divisions The Command being given the outermost file on each flanke presents outward the â—est of the body still continuing the march The presented files in the interim giving fire then facing after their proper file-leaders who led them up betweene the Muskets of their owne divisions and the Pikes in the time of their wheeling away the next two outermost files present firing after the same manner and leading up as before The rest successively doing the like untill they have fired all over which brings them to their former places The firing may be continued at discretion each firing being its owne reducement Neverthelesse it may so fall out that either through the fury of the enemy advantage or disadvantage of ground or some such like accident the body may be forced to make Alt and to face to both flanks and so with fronts accident all to maintaine the fight standing To which end the firing in the succeeding Chapter shal be of that sort Therefore suppose the body faced to the right and left preparing to give fire CHAP. XC A firing to both Flanks standing FIring to both flanks upon a stand is a good and serviceable firing And although it shew but thinne in the figure yet it may be substantiall and usefull for the field especially if there be a larger proportion of number then I have made use of in my formes and figures of Battell The words of command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Advance your pikes and stand Face to the Right and Left Muskettiers give fire and flanke your Pikes The bodie being faced to the right and left the formost ranks of Muskettiers which were the outermost-outermost-files present and give fire and then wheele off by division ranking even with the formost ranks of pikes and leaving sufficient Intervals for the rest of the Muskettiers to march betweene them and the Pikes The next ranke presenting and firing after the same manner but not advancing forwards onely firing upon the same ground and wheeling off by division afterwards passing downe betweene the Intervals and so ranke after their leaders It is herewithall to be noted that they that were outermost when they gave fire are likewise to be so when they have taken their places If these instructions be not sufficient utrne backe to the figure of the Demie-hearse where the manner of the execution is all one with this All the ranks of Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off as before the pikes if need be may charge and the Muskettiers give fire over againe wheeling off outward and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions Having advanced your pikes and faced your body to the first front all your Muskettiers will be in front and reere And then if you face your halfe-files about and give fire after the same manner to the front and reere having faced them againe to their first front they will be reduced as at first into their ordinary square Neverthelesse I will reduce it by another firing which was first invented and shewed us by that worthy Citizen and excellent Souldier Captaine Henry Waller now deceassed It is a firing in front the Muskettiers of the reere division opening to the right and left and sleeving up on the flanks of pikes untill the leaders of the reere division who as then are the halfe-file-leaders ranke even with the front of pikes The words of direction that produce the figure follow in the next Chapter CHAP. XCI Captaine Wallers Triple firing to the Front THis Triple firing to the Front hath had the approbation of good and well experienced Souldiers who have all acknowledged it to be both sollid and serviceable Bringing many hands to fight in very good order the pikes being securely covered by their Muskettiers in front Neither need they be idle in time of battell if they have any Bow-pike-men amongst them for that they may send their whistling Archery over their Muskettiers heads without offence to their friends though not without dammage to their enemies If any carpe at the depth of the Muskettiers either in this figure or in any other in this booke I shall request them to suspend their censures and wisely to conceive by a little what a great deale meaneth My intent not being to make my booke monstrous by having little leaves and targe figures Onely I desire with this small number to shew the nature of severall formes and figures of battell the manner of their firings and wheelings off their orderly placings and severall wayes of reducement not having the least conceit to induce any to beleeve that men are able long to continue battell at foure deepe although at sometimes and for stratagems they may be reduced into a lesser number But lest by digression I too farre trespasse upon your patience I will returne to shew the manner of the firing Onely first obserue the words of command and direction which produce the following figure Muskettiers of the Reere double your front of Pikes by Division The Command being given the first ranke of Muskettiers both of front and flanks present to the front and give fire wheeling off to the right and left by division The Muskettiers of the front-division being wheeled off as aforesaid close by the flanks of their owne Muskettiers passe directly downe betweene the Intervals and place themselues even in ranke behinde the Muskettiers of the reere division which are upon the flanks This you may perceive by the pricks that come downe betweene the Intervals the Muskettiers also that fired at the same time on the flanks wheele also off the right flanke to the right the left flanke to the left marching directly downe even with the reere ranke
rest of the files after the same manner firing and returning untill they have all given fire and then they will be all reduced as at first CHAP. XCV A firing oblique by foure files together in forme of a W. ALL the commendations that may be given of these oblique Figures is that they powre out a great deale of shot at once and may quickly be reduced to their places Notwithstanding they are a great weakening to the bodie if any sudden accident should happen before they are setled in their former stations Neverthelesse I shall leave them to themselues and if they be found to hold out weight I shall not grudge that I have given them roome amongst the rest But if they prove too light let them be as lightly respected yet beare somewhat with them for their antiquitie The way to make the figure is as followeth The two innermost files of Muskettiers on each flanke march forth each of them being led by an Officer untill they have taken their places Then the Officers that led forth the two middlemost files are to returne to their places againe the Serjeants that led forth the outermost files standing to see them do their execution Yet before the Muskettiers have order to give fire obserue the manner of their standing by the following Figure The Muskettiers having presented according to their directions they give fire all together and then suddenly facing after their bringers up march downe into their places the next two files of each flanke in the interim of their marching away are to move forwards to their ground where they are in like manner to give fire and then to take their places as aforesaid The rest of the files of Muskettiers if you have more must then move forwards and do the like And in this sort may the Muskettiers give fire once twice or oftner over each firing being a reducement to it selfe CHAP. XCVI Of the Fort Battell the way to make and to reduce it THe figure of the Fort-battell is an oblique firing and taketh its denomination rather from the 〈…〉 the strength of a Fort. It s chiefe use is for the entertainment of some great personage or Commander in the field who being received into the midst of the divisions of Pikes the Muskettiers may present and give fire altogether in one vollie Or if they would have the Muskettiers give fire one after another then the vollies by succession which some call the Peale will be the best If there be more Muskettiers then will serve to make up the figure single they may also give fire with the rest presenting obliquely betweene the distance of their leaders The way to make this figure is as followeth First draw forth the outmost files of Muskettiers on each flanke in forme of an hollow wedge before the front of pikes Then cause the next two outmost files to face about and to follow their bringers up in the same forme to the Reere Then let the last two files of Muskettiers on each flanke be drawne after their file-leaders in the same manner and forme to the flanks The Muskettiers being thus ordered and all presented obliquely outwards command the two first and two last ranks of Pikes to stand the rest of the Pikes to face to the right and left and so to march untill they are cleare off the other pikes which stand Then command the Pikes which moved to double their files to the right Lastly command all the Pike-men to face outward each division of Pikes after their hollow 〈◊〉 of Muskettiers Or else let them face all inward to the Center and then the Body will stand in forme of the following figure Having fired upon this figure there is no manner of wheeling off because the forme is still to be continued But when you come to reducement first face all the Pikes to their proper front that is unto the place where you finde the proper file-leaders Secondly let the Pikes which are flankers double their rankes to the left and so close their divisions Then the Pikes will be reduced For the Muskettiers first command those on the flanke to leade up their files in their due places close to the Pikes Next command the Muskettiers of the reere to sleeve up on each flanke by division Lastly command the Muskettiers before the front of Pikes to face after their bringers up and to march downe into their places Lastly facing to their leader they are all reduced as at first CHAP. XCVII Of the crosse Battell the way to make it with a private Company How to fire upon it and to reduce it THe Crosse Battell though it must needs shew thinne in regard that the number is not sufficient to expresse the worth of the Figure yet may the forme be very usefull with a larger body and the Muskettiers may give fire two three or foure waies at once upon it Yea if the number were as opulent as the Figure is excellent then they might fire twelve severall wayes together This notwithstanding I spare to speake further to what may be done and come to shew what I intend in it Concerning this Figure the waies to fire upon it are ordinarily two The first when the Muskettiers give fire and then place themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskets The second way is after that they have fired to place them in the reere of their Pikes the Pikes maintaining the Muskettiers ground The words of Command which produce the Figure are as followeth The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest of the body face to the right and left and so march untill the reere-Angles meete Then let the Commander goe into the midst or Center and face the whole Company to him giving tm such direction as is meete Lastly being all faced about to the right the body will stand like the following Figure This crosse Battell being faced to the front reere and flankes and the Muskettiers commanded to give fire one way of placing them is in the reere of their own divisions of Muskettiers for that hereby the Muskettiers will still continue their places For the second way after that the first rankes have given fire let them wheele all off to the right or to the right and left if the number be large and place themselves in the reere of their Pikes each ranke moving forwards and maintaining their leaders ground The second ranke in like manner is to fire and to take their places after the Muskettiers which fired and wheeled off last before them The rest successively are to doe the like untill all the shot have fired and are wheeled away againe Then let the Pikes charge c. If any object that it is dangerous to have so large distance betweene the fronts of each firing then if you have files enow yo u may draw two or three files of each Arme crosse the divisions from the Angle of one front
would still preserve the Figure then let every ranke before they give fire march up into their leaders ground Having either marched or skirmished upon this Figure or both and then would come to reducement First face all the whole body to the proper front and cause the Pikes that are flankers to face inwards and to close their divisions This being done cause the Muskettiers which are in the middle part of the Battaile to double their files to the right Secondly let them face inward and close their division Next let them face all to their leader and wheele front and reere into the right flanke which being done and they faced again to the front proper they will be reduced into the ordinary square the Pikes being flanked with the Muskettiers as at first CHAP. CIII Of the Hollow Square girdled with shot THe Hollow Square Girdled with shot is a Figure to be used at such times of necessity as the Commander shall see occasion who well knowing that hee shall be enforced to fight having found some commodious advantage or ground drawes forth his battell into this forme and array The use whereof is that within the hollow parts of it he may convey such of his carriage or whatsoever else may not prove usefull for the strengthening of some part of the battell Having drawne his men speedily into this forme lest that the enemy should take the advantage to breake their order by entring at any of the Angles they are speedily to cast up a Rampart of earth in each of those parts of the Angles Or if they have not time or that the ground be not fit they may supply that defect by placing some of their Wagons Carts or other of their Carriage so orderly that it may be sufficient to fortifie those parts which are the weakest This Figure may be as well made with the Pikes foremost but because that the Musketiers may more commodiously fight before their Pikes and with lesse danger to their owne body therefore I conceive it fittest at first to place them in front of their Pikes And if the enemy shall too hotly presse them with his horse then at the discretion of the Commander they may safely retreate behinde their Pikes the Pikemen making good the ground of the Muskettiers For better satisfaction observe the direction to make the following Figure First command a Serjeant to draw forth all the odde files of the right flank both Muskettiers and Pikes and wheele them to the left crosse the front That being done command the odde files of the left flanke as well Muskettiers as Pikes to face to the reere and let them in like manner be wheeled to the left crosse the reere following their Bringers up For the rest of the body that remaines undrawne forth let them close to the right and left outward untill the Reere-Angles of each division stand diagonally opposite to each other Then let them be all commanded to face to the Center or midst of the hollow square where the Commander is to give them such incouragement directiōs as shal be meet Lastly let all face about to the right and present For the manner of firing upon this Figure it is as followeth The first ranke of Muskettiers to each front having presented and given fire they are to wheele all off to the right And because that eight or tenne men are too many to wheele downe one Intervalle for that they will bee so long before they can cleere the front therefore you may cause Intervalles to be made betweene the midst of each division as you may perceive in the Figure The first ranke having fired and wheeled off the next ranks are to move forwards into their ground they which wheeled off in the meane time placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The next ranke of Muskettiers having fired in like manner are to wheele off and to place themselves as aforesaid the rest of the rankes of Muskettiers successively are to doe the like untill they have all given fire once or oftner over that way according to the occasion And in this interim may the Bow-pikemen be bountifull in bestowing their showers of arrowes amongst the thickest of their enemies If the horse prevaile so much that the Muskettiers may not endure to beare the brunt of them then let the Muskettiers after they have fired wheele off and place themselues in the reere of their following divisions of pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground charging with their pikes as they see occasion for securing the Muskettiers in the midst This notwithstanding if the enemies horse shall still presse forwards and with their shot shall continue to annoy the body the pikes on this figure being especially defensive then cause the Pikemen to charge at the foot and your Muskettiers to give fire over them according to former directions on the Convex halfe-moone After this manner the battell may be continued to the last ranke When you have given fire in this order your Muskettiers being all in the reere of your pikes and that you be minded to reduce them into the first orderly square this is one way for it Passe through your Muskettiers before your front of pikes as they were before the firing that being done let the Commander face the whole body to the left Angle of the front-division by which meanes he shall there finde the halfe of his file-leaders This being performed let them march and so even their ranks and straiten their files the reere division of Muskettiers and Pikes orderly following after the front division of the like Armes After this let the halfe-files which then are which indeed are the residue of the file-leaders double their ranks forwards to the left which being performed the men are reduced as at first If you would reduce them some other way without passing through your Muskettiers as I have formerly said then first let the whole body face to the left Angle of the front-division and march evening their ranks and files as aforesaid Which being done cause the halfe-files which then are to double their front to the left which being in like manner performed all your Muskettiers are still in the midst Your next worke is to cause your Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward and your pikes contrariwise to face inward and so to passe through and interchange ground Thus being faced to their front proper they will be reduced as at first If any will be practising of this forme of battell with a smaller number of men as with 64. or fewer whereby they will be constrained to double their halfe-files then they will be reduced the same way onely they shall not need to double their halfe-files againe in their reducement as they must needs do were the number larger CHAP. CIIII. Of the Sollid Square with Muskettiers in Center and Angles The way to make the figure with a private Companie how to fire upon it and to
all off to the right placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers For the ninth firing let them giue fire as before but place themselves in the reere of their Pikes the Pikes moving forwards into their ground and charging Having advanced your Pikes command your flanke divisions to face about to the right and to close their divisions Then command the front and reere divisions to wheele their flankes into the reere which being done face them to the front proper that is after the right file-leader For the tenth firing your Muskettiers being still in the midst let your Muskettiers give fire by Introduction beginning with the second ranke the Pikes moving softly forward For the eleventh firing let them give fire by Introduction beginning with the Bringers up The Pikes may charge at discretion then let the Muskettiers stand and the Pikes march forwards closing their divisions before the Muskettiers And so let the twelfth firing be by way of Extraduction Let the Pikes charge which being performed command the first and last foure rankes to stand and the rest of the body to face to the right and left and so to march untill they are cleere of the standing rankes Then let the whole body face about to the right and let the Ensigne display his Colours in the midst For the next let the Muskettiers give fire being foremost both in front and flanke which will make the thirteeenth firing Let them wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Which being done next cause those which opened to the right and left to face in opposition and to close their division Then wheele off your front by division or else wheele your front inward to the reere Then let the Commander march at the head of his Pikes all the Muskettiers being in the reere Then for the fourteenth firing let the Muskettiers give fire in the reere wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes which doth reduce every man to his place he had when the Exercise first began Aud herewith we will conclude our third dayes Exercise and lodge our Colours untill that the bellowing Drum call us the fourth time into the field to give an account of our proficiency Till when we will leave our Souldiers in their severall Hutts or Cabines there to rest their limbs refresh their spirits and replenish their Bande liers CHAP. CVIII The fourth daies Exercise HAving the fourth time brought your Souldiers into the field and as formerly caused them to be instructed in the Postures both of Musket and Pike that so they may be capable to use them both with agility and with safety As likewise taught them their divers wayes of distance with the severall and various motions not forgetting particularly to instruct them with rules and pertinent reasons to every one of them that so they may not onely learne to doe but like rationall men understand what they doe Which being deliberately performed and each Officer disposed to his severall place the rankes being evened and the files straitened the Captaine commands the Drum beats and the Muskettiers make ready for skirmish c. The first firing being by drawing forth the innermost files of each flanke of Muskettiers to the right and left obliquely before the front and so to stand and giue fire Having given fire let the Bringers up leade them back into their places And in the meane time let the next innermost files leade forth and fire after the same manner and so likewise the rest untill all the Muskettiers have fired once over that way For the second firing let them give fire obliquely and crosse the front both at once For the third let them give fire obliquely the Muskettiers standing before the Pikes in forme of an hollow wedge Vpon this firing the Muskettiers fire outwards whereas in the other they fire inward For the fourth firing let them fire upon the oblique W. For the manner of these firings with the waies both how to make them reduce them I refer you to their severall places where I have shewne them plainely For the fift firing let them fire to each flanke obliquely the Muskettiers making on each flanke the formes of hollow wedges and so they may performe as much to each flanke or both flankes as hath beene to the front For the sixt firing let them fire over the first oblique firing to front and reere For the seventh firing let them fire obliquely and crosse the front and reere For the eighth firing let them fire to the front and reere obliquely in the formes of the hollow wedges For the ninth firing let them fire to the front and reere obliquely in the forme of the W. And for the tenth firing let them give fire obliquely on the Fort figure which is to front reere and flanks In all these firings the pikes never come to charge but stand in a square battell in danger of the enemies shot themselues neither being able to offend the enemy nor to defend themselues And yet if by frequent practise they were inured to the use of the long how fastened to their pikes I make no question but that when they should become expert in the use of the Bâ—w and Pike they would not onely be a terrour to their enemies by the continuall showers of Arrows which they would send amongst them but also that they would be a great meanes to rout their enemies uâ—â—erly to breake their order On the contrary if men should be put to use the Bow and Pike and have not first well learned the use of the Pike alone they would be so cuâ—â—ersome to themselues and so troublesome to others that instead of spoyling their enemies they would â—out them selues But pardon this 〈◊〉 whilest I proceed to the rest of this dayes exercise The eleventh firing being in â—â—rme of a Romane T is to be made as followeth Let the pikes stand and the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 wheele into the front then let them give fire making an Intervall upon each flanke the 〈◊〉 of the right-flanke wheeling off to the right the Musâ—ettiers of the left flank to the left and placing themselues in the reerâ— of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When the Muskettiers have fired once or twiâ—â— over 〈◊〉 the pikes pâ—sse through and wheele their froâ—â— into the midst and then faciâ—â— to the front let them charge their pikes and from thence having advanced their pikes let the Commander passe to the right flanke and face the whole body to the right Then wheele the battell about to the left untill the body be brought into a round battell from whence we will begin the twelfth firing The figure being made face the whole body to the Center and give them their directions what they have to do When they have received their instructions let them all face about to the right present and give fire The first time of their firing placing themselues in the reare of their Muskettiers The second
firing countermarch to the right and placing themselues in the reere of their pikes The pikes at the same time are to move forwards into the Muskettiers ground where they may charge over head and if need be at the foot the Muskettiers giving fire over them as in the Convex-halfe-moone The firing being ended and the pikes advanced let the Commander march forth of the round Battell at that point where he shall finde all his proper file-leaders Then let the whole body be faced to that part aâ—â— the file-leaders caused to march forth even a breast the Muskettiers and pikemen following their leaders and marching untill the body have atteined their orderly square againe But note that all your Muskettiers are in the midst of the battell For the thirteenth firing make the impaled souâ—d square the way to performe it is as followeth Your 〈…〉 being now the flankers draw forth the 〈…〉 of the â—â—â—es of pikemen from the right flanke crosse the front of the body taking the outmost-files let halfe the files of pikemen of the left flanke be drawne crosse the reere following their bringers up Then face all your Muskettiers to the front reere and flanks The pikes may charge all overhand and if need be at the foot with their swords drawn the Muskettiers firing over them Having fired charged and advanced their Pikes draw off the Pikes againe from the front and reere into their places ⊙ For the fourteenth firing the Muskettiers being still in the middle make the hollow fronted-crossebattell the Pikemen making the hollow upon the flanks of the Muskettiers For the making whereof wheele the front off the 2. first ranks into the midst That being done wheele the reer of the 2 last ranks after the same manner and then face the rest of the body to the right and left and cause them to march untill there be a square hollow in the middest of the battell Then command them to face to the front reere and flanks which being in like manner performed cause the Pikes who are now in the front of the Musketticrs to open to the right and left the last ranke of Pikes ranking even with the first ranke of Muskettiers The Muskettiers may give fire upon this figure wheeling all off to the right and placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers If need be the Pikes may close their divisions before their Muskettiers and charge their Pikes Which being done and the Pikes againe advanced we will come to the reducement For which purpose face the whole body about to the Center and cause the flanke-divisions to close to their order This being executed let the front-division wheele together their front into the midst as they now stand faced the reere-division doing the like That being in like manner performed face the whole body to the front proper then wheele off the battell to the right and left after which having closed their divisions they are perfectly reduced as at first And herewith we will conclude this dayes exercise and leave our Souldiers to rest untill that the morrows Sunne and the thundering Drumme shall call us forth againe into the Field CHAP. CIX The fifth dayes Exercise HAving the fift time brought your Souldiers into the Field if you have leasure it will not be amisse for to cause them to be instructed in the first place in the Postures of the Pike and Musket For those Souldiers which by often practice of their Postures are growne perfect will manage their Armes with case surety and celerity when on the contrary the unpractised Souldier will be a trouble to himselfe a danger to his fellowes and a Dormant to his Enemies After the Pastures each file being drawne into his place and the Ensigne according to former directions brought to the head of the Pâ—kes the Rankes evened and the files streitned the Captaine having commanded silence and delivered himselfe in such â—earmes as the present occasion doth require ever preferring the industrious and painfull and on the contrary blaming the carelesse and the slothfull he next proceeds to instruct them in their sevâ—â—aâ—◠〈◊〉 and these indeed are the grounds of all motion seeing that without distance the motion cannot be excected Next to the distances they are to be instructed in the motions ever observing to each motion its due 〈◊〉 Next after 〈◊〉 distance and motions let the rest of the dayes Exercise be spent in firings and figures of Battaile Each Officer having now received his severall Charge The Captaine commands the Drums beat and the Muskettiers make ready The first firing being performed by leading forth the outmost file of each Flanke twenty paces or thereabout before the Front and no◠〈…〉 the place of firingâ— let the second men 〈…〉 the right and leâ—â— inward even with their 〈…〉 so give fire together wheeling off by 〈…〉 the right Flanke to the right the left flanke 〈◊〉 the left placing themselves on the inside of their owne dâ—vissâ—ns of Muskeâ—â—iâ—â—s next the Pikes file-wise as they were when they marchedforth So soon as the first two men of their files have after this manner ranked fired and wheeled off the next second mâ—n ranke even with their Leaders as before giving fire and wheeling away to place themselves file-wise aftertheir â—â—â—ders The residue of their first files are to do the like and so still the outermost files leading forth doing in like mannerâ— and still placing themselves file-wise next to the Pikes For the second firing cause the outermost files to march forth to the former distance before the front And whereas in the last firing they ranked but two and twoâ— and so gave fire now let them ranke foure That is to say the three men next behind the right-hand-file-leader shall ranke inward to the left even with their File-leaders the three next men after the left-hand-file-leader ranking inwards to the right even â—â—rest with the leader of their file the residue of each file keeping themselves in file and closing formardâ— to the distance of order just after their File-leaders The first foure of each file having presented fired and wheeled away the last foure men being the â—eâ—râ—-half-files in the interim of their wheeling off ranke to the â—ight and left inward presentingâ— â—â—â—ing and wheeling off as aforesaid and placing themselves in the 〈◊〉 of the former part of their files which wheeledaway before them The second Files are then to lead forth and to doe the like and so successively the rest untill they have all fired over this way For the third firing let the outermost files lead forth to the same distance befoâ—e the Frontâ— whither being come as tothe place wherein 〈◊〉 doe their executionâ— let the files 〈◊〉 to the right and left inwardâ— and so fire all together 〈…〉 and placing themselves as in the 〈◊〉 fâ—â—â—ngs The residue of the other Files of Muskettiers at the sametime marching forth giving fire and still placing themselves file-wise on the innermost part of their own divisions of
Muskettiers and next to the outside of Pikes For the fourth firing cause your Muskettiers to ranke to the right and left into the front and so the whole body of Muskettiers give fire at once which being performed let them face to the right and left inward and so march into their places They may if you please open the files of Muskettiers to double distance and so cause the files to ranke to the right into the front by Conversion giving fire after that manner which if it be done will make the fift firing After this let them fall backe into their places and having made ready againe before you close their distance cause the halfe-files to face about and then let the files ranke into the front and reere and so give fire which will make the siâ—t firing Having thus fired and being fallen backe into their places let the halfe files face againe to their leader and the files of Muskettiers close againe to their order For the seventh firing let the rankes of Muskettiers open backe to their double distance and the Muskettiers wheele to the right and left by Conversion and so give fire to both flankes The men being returned to their places and having againe closed their rankes to their order after some little pause by marching or otherwise the Muskettiers being all againe ready command your files of Pikes to open to the right and left to their double distance Then command rankes both of Muskets and Pikes to open backward to their double distance Which being done command the Muskets to invert to the right and left outward and then to face outward and present and let the halfe-files of Pikes face about Then cause your files of Pikes to ranke to the front and reere by conversion and let the Muskettiers give fire and the Pikes charge This figure will take up a great quantity of ground because that all the Muskettiers are now become two rankes that is to say to each flanke one all the Pikes being likewise brought into two rankes one to the front and the other to the reere This being performed the body will stand in form of a great hollow square The Muskettiers hauing fired the Pikes being advaneed and each Souldier returned to his place and all faced to their leader let them close their rankes and files to their order Then cause the ninth firing to be performed to both flankes upon a stand facing the whole body to the right and left there firing and wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes Whilest the two last rankes are giving fire let the Pikes port and when the Muskettiers have fired and wheeled off let them charge Having advanced their Pikes face the whole body to that part where you shall finde your file-leaders of Muskettiers then will all your Muskettiers be in front and reere Next command your halfe-files that then are to double your front to the left entire which being done let them face to the right and left the Muskettiers giving fire and wheeling off to the left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions The Pikes may also port and charge at discretion The Pikes being advanced and the whole Company faced to their former front command the halfe-rankes of the right both Muskettiers and Pikes to march and the halfe-rankes of the left flanke to follow in the reere Having given them some time of breathing then for the eleventh firing cause the halfe-files that then are Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the reere Which being done let the Muskettiers give fire to the front and reere upon a stand wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their Pikes they moving forwards and maintaining the Muskettiers ground The Pikes are then to charge when they are cleered of their Muskettiers Which being done and they againe advanced face them all to their former front For the twelfth firing command halfe-files to double the front inward intire To which purpose open the front halfe-files both Muskettiers and Pikes to the right and left for receiving the halfe-files of both Armes within them which being executed each Armes will stand in three divisions Then command the front halfe-files to face about to the reere and to present The Reere halfe-files keeping still faced to the front and there in like manner presenting and both giving fire together The first time of their firing over they may fall in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers wheeling off to the right and left The second time of giving fire upon this figure let them wheele off as before and place themselues in the Reere of their following divisions of Pikes Which being in like manner performed let the Pikes charge Being againe advanced face the body to the former front and command halfe-files that doubled to face to the Reere and march into their places The halfe-files being faced about and marched cleare off then are the front halfe-files to close their divisions Thus being all rightly faced the Muskettiers will be in the front and reere For the thirteenth firing make the horned battell to the front and reere For the which cause the halfe-files of Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the reere Then cause the Muskettiers to open to the right and left both in front and reere and so to give fire wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes The Pikes may also charge Having advanced let them all face to their leader at the proper front Lastly for the fourteenth firing make the Sconce Battell For further directions wherein turne backe to the 93. Chapter where you may finde instructions as well for the making giving of fire and reducing thereof And if you please your Ensigne may display his Colours in the hollow part of the midst of the Pikes Supposing now that by this time the night hath almost overtaken us we will prepare to lodge our Colours with our accustomed Bene-vale and herewith we will conclude this our fifth dayes Exercise suffering our Souldiers to depart to their severall habitations There leaving them to clense their arms and to refresh their bodies untill the morrows clamouring Drum doth invite us forth to our sixth dayes Exercise CHAP. CX The sixt dayes Exercise HAving the sixth time brought your Souldiers into the Field according to the accustomed manner let each file-File-leader exercise his File in the Postures of such Armes as they carry Which being performed and the Files againe rejoyned into one body the Ensigne being at the head of the Pikes and the rest of the Officers in their severall places The Captaine having commanded silence attention and obeaience three especiall vertues most necessarily requisite to every common Souldier hee proceeds to the severall distances instructing them in the uses of each of them Next after the distances he teaches them the Facings the Doublings the Countermarches and the Wheelings with severall Observations upon each of the Motions After which having so commanded The Drums bcat and the Muskettiers make ready
for Skirmish Then if you please you may cause three or foure of the first firings to be performed by light Skirmishing before the Front and that with loose Ranks or Files or both either some of those or such like as I have formerly spoken off in the preceding Exercises After which for your next firing cause your Half-files to open to the right and left by equall division untill the Reere Divisions of Pikes stands right after the Muskettiers of the Front-division Now the Muskettiers standing in foure Divisions let them all present and give fire to the Front wheeling all off to the right and placing themselves in the Reere of their own divisions of like Armes each Ranke still making good the Leaders ground Having given fire once or twice over on this Figure For the second firing cause the Front-division to give fire to the Front and the two Reere divisions to each Flanke in a March The Front-division with fires in Ranke wheele all off to the right placing themselves in the Reere of their ownc Divisions of Muskettiers the other Divisions with fire in flanke leading up their files betweene their owne divisions of Muskettiers and the Pikes Having given fire once or oftner over according to discretion this way let the third firing be performed upon a stand For the which cause your reere-divisions to facc to the right and left outward the front-division still to continue the same aspect Then let the Muskettiers give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right and the contrary flanke to the contrary hand the Muskettiers of the front division placing themselues in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskets the Muskettiers of the reere divisions placing themselues in the reere of the reere divisions of Pikes each ranke of Muskettiers still making good his leaders ground When they have fired all over let the Pikes charge to front and both flanks Having advanced your Pikes againe and faced your body to the front proper each Armes still standeth in three divisions Then let the fourth firing be to the reere and both flanks upon a march And to that end open your front-divisions of Muskettiers to the right and left untill they are cleere of the reere-divisions of Pikes that so they be not troublesome unto them in their march Then let your pikes shoulder and the Muskettiers give fire the front divisions of Muskettiers firing in flanke and leading up on the inside of their owne divisions The Muskettiers of the reere division giving fire in the reere in ranke wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the front of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having fired once over and the Pikes charged let your fifth firing be to the Reere and both flankes upon a stand In the which let the half-files both Muskettiers and Pikes face to the Reere the Front-division to the right and left and so give fire one each part those that fire to the flankes wheeling off and placing themselves in the Reere of their divisions of Pikes and the Muskets of the Reere divisions wheeling off to the right and left and placing themselves in the Reere of their owne divisions of Musketties each Ranke moving forward into their Leaders ground Having fired over let the Pikes charge The Pikes being againe advanced face the whole body to the proper front and then all the Muskettiers will be in the midst and the Pikemen on the flankes For the sixth firing cause your half-rankes of the left double your right flanke by division For further directions looke back to the tripartite firing which you shall find Chap. 92. Having fired over that way charged and re-advanced your pikes face the whole body to their former front For your seventh firing cause the front and reere divisions of Muskettiers and Pikes to face to the right the rest of the body both Muskets and Pikes to the left Let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele all off either to the right or left and place themselves in the reere of their following divisions of Pikes each ranke still moving up into their leaders ground When there rest but two rankes of each division to fire let the Pikes port Having all fircd and wheeled away let the Pikes charge Then face the whole body to their first front and command the first and last foure rankes to face to the left and to march untill they are cleere of the standing part of the Body Then cause the front halfe-files to face to the left the reere halfe-files to the right and so to close their divisions and after that to face towards their leader For the eight firing make the sollid Square girdled with Muskettiers For the which draw halfe the files of the right flanke of Muskettiers crosse the front and halfe the files of Muskettiers of the left flanke crosse the reere Then face the whole body both Muskets and Pikes to the front reere and flankes This done let the Muskettiers give fire and wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers All the time of this firing the Pikemen being in the middle of the Muskettiers have good opportunity if the enemy be neere to gall them with their thicke showers of feathered shot The Muskettiers in the meane time having fired once twice or oftner over on this Figure draw your files of Muskettiers backe againe into their places Then having faced the whole body to the proper front let your ninth firing be Captaine Wallers double firing to the front and reere after this manner First wheele front and reere into the right flanke then face them all the same way they were before which done cause the halfe-files to face to the reere and command the Muskettiers which are in the reere of each division of Pikes to double their front of Pikes by division Then let them face about and close their divisions and so having refaced them as they were let them give fire wheele off and charge according to directions on Captaine Wallers Figure For the tenth firing let them face to the right and left and give fire to both flankes upon a stand wheeling off by division and flanking their Pikes When the Pikes have charged and are againe advanced let the Captaine passe to the front accidentall of the left flanke and face the rest of the body to him and in the next place wheele their flanks into the front and so all the Muskettiers will be in the front and by facing the whole body to the left all the Muskettiers will be on the right flanke Let the eleventh figure be the Diamond Battell Having given fire two or three severall wayes according to the directions upon that figure charged Pikes and reduced them againe into the Square face the body about to the right and passe the Muskettiers which belong to the right flanke betweene the ranks of pikes into their places Then the Muskettiers of the left flanke being closed to their Pikes the Body will stand
he useth in the handling of his Armes consisting of severall Motions for atchieving of each Posture The Motion being the working part the Posture the alteration or act either in circumstance or matter As to rest your Musket being one Posture to shoulder your Musket another so likewise for the rest howbeit some perchance will object as formerly hath bin to one of Athens making a long Oration in the praise of Hercules his valour who ever doubted of it So to me who ever questioned these for Postures yet I have known them not only questioned but written against peremptorily concluding that there are but three Postures to be used for the Musket whose errours I shal easily confute But more of this after the Postures of the Musket Wherefore for the more orderly proceeding conceive their Armes to lie before them on the ground and then the first command will be to stand to their Armes The Postures of the Musket TAke up your Bandeliers Put on your Bandeliers Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket and Rest Rest your Musket Now if you please you may performe your saluting Posture Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Take your Rest into your right hand and you are armed ready to March Now to begin to make ready which may be done either standing or marching Take your Match between the fingers of your right hand Put your Rest string about your left Wrist and carry your Rest in your left hand Return your Match between the fingers of your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your Pan. Cleer Prime Shut Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose Corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Treile your Rest ballance your Musket in your left hand Charge with Powder Bullet Draw forth your Scowring stick Shorten Put your scowring stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your scowring stick Shorten Return Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket and recover your Rest Ioyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Coale Cock your Match Fit Guard your Pan. Blow the Ash from your Coale Open your Pan. Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning your Rest to the outside of your Musket Uncock and return your Match Cleer your Pan Shut Poise your Musket Shoulder Take your Match between the fingers of the right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering your string from your wrist Return your Rest into the left hand the string loose Return your Match into your left hand Unshoulder your Musket and Poyse Rest your Musket Set the But-end of your Musket on the ground Lay down your Musket and Rest Match Take off your Bandeliers Lay down March from your Armes There is likewise the Sentinell Posture which is The Muskettier having his Musket charged with Bullet his Match cockt his Pan guarded stands with his Musket rested to performe such duty as shall be commanded or given him in charge Some have likewise taught to make ready on or from the Sentinell Posture But note that as none comes to stand Sentinell but comes ready charged So if any occasion happen that he must give fire in the time of his standing Sentinel it causeth a generall Alarme So that he will have no fit time to make ready upon his Rest Wherefore I conceive it superfluous but will ever conforme to better judgement We have also the Funerall Posture which from the Rest is to be performed at 3. Motions which cannot so well be exprest in writing as it will expresse it selfe in Action Wherefore seeing that it is rather an Ornament to Obsequies than truly necessary for Armies I will not spend more time about it but come to the Postures of the Pike Yet before I passe upon them give me leave to answer some which out of a Criticall humour will alwayes be carping at others condemning these Postures saying There are more by halfe then are either good or usefull and that there are no more Postures to be used but Make ready Present Give fire The which wee will not deny that in Service there are any other usefull notwithstanding I would have them to know that Make ready is no Posture but a word of Command including all Postures from the first Arming of the Souldier to the present or if the Muskettier be charged shouldered or both then the word Make ready commands the prosecution of the rest of your Postures which are between the Posture you then immediatly are at when the word is given and the other Posture Present for which reason when wee teach Muskettiers at first it is most necessary to instruct them punctually from Posture to Posture Which being once attained he manageth his Armes more surely more comely with more celerity and with better execution and at the first may as easily be taught the best way But if he have got an habit of doing ill there wil be as much or more pains spent in reclayming his errours as at first to teach him the best safest and readiest way CHAP. II. Of the Postures of the Pike THat which followeth next of course is the Posture of the Pike Wherefore that we may observe order in our proceeding we will likewise conceive their Pikes to lie in like manner before them on the ground And then as before the first Command will be To stand to their Armes Handle your Pikes Order To your open Order close Charge with the But-end of your Pike at the inside of your right Foot your Pike in the left hand drawing your Sword over the left Arme. Charge to the Right Left Reere Order your Pikes and put up your Swords Note that these Charges at the Foot are to receive a desperate Enemy on Horse upon a stand in some strait or other place of advantage the Muskettiers to give fire over the Pikemens heads or else-where at the discretion of the Commander Port your Pikes Comport Cheeke Treile Order Charge to the Front Order as you were Right Left Reere  Shoulder your Pikes Advance your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile your Pikes  Advance as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder your Pikes Port Comport Cheeke Treile Shoulder your Pikes  Shoulder as you were Charge to the Front Right Left Reere From Comport Cheeke or Treile the Pikeman may at the discretion of the Commander charge either to the Front Reere or both Flanks as shall be necessary or thought expedient Wherfore we shall not need to do it but once over for the Charges will be all alike whether you Comport from Order from Advance or Shoulder And so likewise for Cheek and Treile c. From Comport Charge to the Front Comport as you were Right Left Reere Cheek your Pikes   From the Cheek Charge to the Front Cheek as you were Right Left Reere Treile your
from the doubling last shewen more in maner then matter Both concurring in substance although differing in circumstance To say more of it were more then needed only peruse the Figure which presents it selfe unto you as it is in motion as followeth This doubling of the Reere by the Front halfe-files is to bee performed after this manner The command being first given the Front halfe-files face about to the left the Pikes being all aduanced the Muskets all either poysed or shouldred and so being led by the Halfe-file-leaders to the Reere which are those that hold the fourth place of honour they march directly forwards to the Right of the other part of the Body which stood faced in opposition untill the leaders of the doubling have ranked even in Ranke with the Bringers up the rest ranking even with the other standing Rankes according to their places If it be for service that this doubling is used then the whole body is to face about to the Reere being the part to be doubled If onely for exercise then the Commander may if he please keepe his place and the doubling being performed and the whole Body faced to the Leader command for the reducement Files to the Right double intire advancing every man falling before his leader which reduceth each man to his first place CHAP. XVIII Of doubling the Reere by Countermarch THere is another manner of doubling of the Reere by the Front halfe-files contrary to that shewen in the precedent Chapter which is done by the way of the Lacedemon Countermarch which some would ranke amongst the Countermarches Because say they the Motion is a Countermarch But the act intended or thing wrought is a doubling and if it were to have the denomination of a Countermarch then it ought not to mixe with any other part of the Body onely to Countermarch the Front into the midst and there to stand without passing forwards to the Reere which makes it a doubling and then it might be accounted for a part-Countermarch But as it is here commanded and performed it is a doubling Obserue the Figure following This Figure of doubling the Reere by Countermarch produceth the same effect to the Reere as doubling the Front by Bringers up doth unto the Front The Countermarch by which it is performed is a Countermarch of losse of ground We will speake more of it amongst the Countermarches The command to reduce it is if the Commander stand at the head of that part that is doubled Front halfe-files face about to the Right march forth into your places If he keepe his first stand having faced them to him Then Front halfe-files march forth into your places To double the Reere to the Left by Countermarch is the same differing onely in the hand I will next shew a doubling of the left Flanke by way of Countermarch CHAP. XIX Of Doubling Flankes by way of Countermarch HAlfe-rankes or flankes are then said to be doubled when the depth of your Battalia is increased to double their former proportion of Number or Place or both which may be done divers wayes But this Chà pter and Figure is onely to demonstrate unto you the doubling of the left Flanke by way of Countermarch The Figure followeth and stands as the doubling is in Motion This doubling of Halfe-rankes by Countermarch is a doubling of Number not of Place for the depth still retaines the same proportion onely augmented by one man the length of your Battalia being diminished both in Number and Place The right Flanke being wholly inserted into the left Flanke as you may perceive by the Figure The Motion is to be performed on this manner The halfe-rankes of the Right Face to the Right and then Even in ranke together Countermarch betweene the Intervales untill the outmost file to the Right which is marked with the figure 1 be come into the outmost File of the left Flanke which is marked with the number 16 The second into the fifteenth the third into the foureteenth The fourth into the thirteenth and the rest in like manner The use of this doubling is to strengthen one of the Flankes by bringing more hands to doe present execution the other Flanke being in more surety The way for the Reducement of this Motion is after this manner The halfe-ranks last doubled being faced to the Right then they which were the last which tooke their places in the Motion now are the first which take their places in the Reducement orderly marching in Ranke together untill they come to their places Then facing to their Leader they become Files againe The left flanke may in like manner double the Right by Countermarch The difference is this The right Flanke stands the left Flanke is inserted into the Right as before the Right was into the Left To shew another Figure for it would be altogether needlesse CHAP. XX. Doubling halfe files to the right intire to accomodate the doubling of halfe Rankes I Should now come to shew another manner of doubling of flanks by inserting the one flanke into the other a different way from that last shewen But if I should performe it as the body stands in the ordinary square flanked with Muskettiers then it would produce a mixture of Armes To avoid which before you enter upon this doubling of passing in through or betweene your halfe rankes Cause your halfe files to double the Front to the right intire which being performed you may then proceed to the doubling of your flanks any way without mixture of Armes If I should have shewen this motion with Pikes or Muskettiers alone this first doubling of halfe files intire might have beene spared but I desire not to leave any thing obscure or difficult but to render it as easie and apparant as I may to the capacity of the meanest reader and if any place in this small Treatise of mine shall seem ambiguous I shall intreate the courteous to impute it to my lacke of language to expresse my selfe rather than any will in me to conceale or obnubilate the sense whereby to deprive them of the true meaning of any thing in this Booke contained But left by doubling of words I prove tardy in my worke I will forbeare further circumstance and come to the prosecution of the matter which in the first place will be a doubling of halfe files to the right intire whereby the next doubling may be the more commodiously accomplished The figure followeth This doubling of halfe files to the right intire I have fully exprest in the figure as the body stands the motion being ended because we are to adde another doubling before wee reduce them This figure next following will be best shewen in the motion or action not fully performed that thereby the manner may be the more easily discerned But by the way observe that this doubling of halfe files is a doubling both of number and place for the length of the Battalia is not only double so many a breast as they were before
Muskettiers will be together and the Pikes likewise by themselves The Reducement wil be after the same manner But for instruction for the Motion by this figure intended according to the command formerly given The left Flanke stands the right Flanke marcheth forth right untill the Reere of the right Flanke be advanced before the Front of the left Flanke as a foresaid Then face them to the left and cause them to march untill the Pikes are even in Ranke with the Muskettiers which perfects the doubling For the Reducement let the halfe Rankes that doubled face about to the left and march until they are cleere of the left Flanke or standing part of the Battaile then cause them to face to the right and to march strait downe into their places Then the Leader being at his first From faceth them all to him which reduceth them as at first The right Flanke may also double the left Flanke to the left intire And then as the right Flank in this doubling came crosse the Front of the left contrariwise they will come crosse the Reere The left Flanke may double the right Flanke intire to gether hand in like manner But by this that hath already been shown the others may be understood Wherefore I spare the Figures CHAP. XXVII Of doubling of Flankes by Division THis next doubling is a doubling of flanks by division and without question a serviceable doubling and very usefull for some occasions For if you note the figure and conceive rightly what it will produce the motion being ended it makes a strong forme of battaile to give fire three severall wayes at once The figure followeth The motion of this doubling is thus to be performed The Reere-half-files of the left Flanke face about to the right and then both the front half-files and Reere-half-files march forth-right untill they are cleere of that part of the body that stands Then each division faceth that way which they are to double which the Front half-files must doe to the right the Reere half-files to the left And so march forth-right untill the doubling be performed For the Reducement you are to conceive it may bee diversly performed If the Leader be at the right flanke which is the part that was doubled Then the Reducement is as followeth The half-rankes that doubled face about inward and march forth-right untill they are cleere of the right flank which stands Then the Front half-files face to the left the Reere-half-files to the right and then close their division The Leader going to his first front and facing the whole body to him they are reduced as at first If that the right flanke would double the left Flanke by division The matter is the same differing onely in the hand CHAP. XXVIII Of doubling Rankes intire DOubling of ranks to the right intire is a doubling both of number and place and in some sort worketh the same effect as the doubling of half-â—les to the right intire But differeth first in regard of the partias which are the doublers and secondly in the distance left after the doubling For the first which is matter of dignitie The fift and first in honour are ranked together in the front the second and sixt in dignity make the last ranke in the Reere So that the Front precedes the Reere ¼ in worth whereas in the doubling by half-files the Front exceeded the Reere by â…“ Secondly it differeth for the distance by leaving open order at the left betweene all the ranks For further satisfaction observe this figure following The motion of this doubling ought to be performed as followeth namely if the doubling be to the right as is above expressed by this figure Every even ranke faceth to the right The right hand man of each ranke becomming the leader of his ranke file-wise leading them forth and in their march or moving forwards a little bending to the left that when the left hand man of each ranke which are the bringers-up of the motion are cleere of the standing part of the body by onely facing to the front they may stand even in ranke with the rest of the company For reducement of this doubling it may be as followeth Command the ranks that doubled to face to the left and march forth-right into their places Or for variety command halfe-ranks of the right to face to the left and double the left flanke Both which as the company now stand worke one and the same effect The left hand men of each ranke being the leaders of the motion in the reducement To double rankes to the left intire is to be done after the same manner onely observing the difference of the hand This doubling may also be done by division But I spare the figures CHAP. XXIX Of doubling Files intire advancing DOubling of files to the right intire advancing is also a doubling both of number and place for it increaseth the depth to double their former proportion of number as from eight to sixteene from ten to twenty c. It also gaineth so much more ground before the front as formerly the Battell did containe by transferring the even files of the body into the ground before the front of the odde files but this doubling diminisheth the number of the length of your battell although it preserves their place I spare to speake further of it onely thus Let the antiquity of this doubling plead for it's excellencie and if that may hold for a rule then this may be ranked amongst the best For further directions observe the following Figure The motion of this doubling ought to be performed after this manner The odde files are to stand beginning your account from the outmost sile to the hand named The Musketticrs and Pikes of the even files are to advance their Armes and follow their file-leaders every file-leader leading his file forth right before his next file to the right untill the bringers up of the even files are orderly placed before the leaders of the odde files as you may perceive by the Figure For reducement let the files that doubled face about to the left the bringers up of each file leading them forth right downe the Intervales which are on the left hand untill they are come even with the Reere and then stand and face to their leader and they are reduced as at first The doubling of files to the left intire advancing is after the same manner It onely differeth in the hand wherefore I spare the figure They that love to be curious may likewise double files by division advancing CHAP. XXX Of Files doubling their depth THis next doubling is a doubling of the depth to the right intire and is likewise a doubling of files as the other last shewen in the precedent Chapter Being alike both for number and place notwithstanding it differeth from the other both in manner of executing and in some sort of the matter executed For whereas the other doubling by advancing of files did transferre all the
inward to the Reere   Front and Reere into the Right flanke Left your flankes into the Front  Reere  both flankes into the front and reere   your front and reere into both flanks   Observe that the first foure wheelings are angular the next foure are wheelings on the center or more properly on the midst of the front But all the first eight be intire the latter eight are all divisionall You may also observe that every following wheeling is a reducement unto that which is placed next before it and the wheeling next before may reduce that next following as to wheele your flankes into the front if you wheele your flanks into the reere it is reduced or to wheele front and reere into both flankes if you wheele both flankes into the front and reere they are likewise reduced as before For the last eight wheelings which are divisionall I will pricke for each of them his figure As for the first eight which are intire I conceive them so easie to be understood that I may spare the labour yet I will endeavour to expresse them as well as I can in words and first I will beginne with the wheelings anguler and then with the rest according to their places and therefore note that when you are Commanded to wheele to the right or left c. and no other command added it is to be understood an anguler wheeling and so to be performed CHAP. LVIII Of wheelings Anguler The Command is Wheele your battell to the right THis is an angular wheeling which transferres the aspect or countenance of the front proper into that part which was the right flanke It also removes the Battalia from the ground wheron formerly it stood and placeth it on that part before the front the hindge or Axell tree of the motion is the right corner man or right hand file-leader who with a small motion moveth to the right every man the more his place is remote from the right Angle the more swift must be his motion because his arch-quadrant or semi-circle is larger in proportion wherefore it must be the discretion of the Officers so to instruct their Souldiers that when they wheele to any hand they may so moderate their motion that they on the contrary flanke be not forced to runne but so orderly to containe themselves that they may still preserve an orderly and even front For the reducement wheele your Battaile to the left in the like manner as it was wheeled to the right neverthelesse you must then note that it will not bring you backe into the same ground you formerly stood on for it hath advanced you the length of your Battalia before the place of your first front But if you would be reduced into the same place or plot you first stood on then face your Battaile to the right and being so faced wheele your Battaile to the left which being performed face to the left and then they are compleatly reduced both for aspect and place The next Command is Wheele your Battaile to the right about This is also an anguler wheeling and transferres the aspect of the front proper towards the reere It is to be performed in the same manner as the wheeling to the right was onely the motion is twice so much Wherefore there ought to be the more care had that so the motion may be orderly performed by so much as every man is nearer or further off from the right corner man by so much the more swifier or slower must he continue his motion that so he may be sure to keepe still even in ranke with his right hand man This motion being thus performed your Battaile will be removed from its former station taking in lieu thereof the ground Diagonally opposite in the right Angle To reduce these to their former aspect wheele your Battell to the left about notwithstanding the ground you formerly did possesse will be twice the length of your Battaile to the left of your left flanke if you would reduce them as well to their first ground as their first aspect face them to the right and then wheele them to the left about which being done face them to the left and they are perfectly reduced as at first CHAP. LIX Of wheeling on the Center The Command is Wheele your Battell to the right on the same ground THis wheeling is by some called a wheeling on the Center by others a wheeling on the same ground I cannot absolutely maintain it to be either for that it onely wheeles about the midst of the first ranke Neither may it rightly bee termed a wheeling on the same ground because it loseth ¾ of the ground it formerly stood upon This wheeling is quicker performed then the anguler wheelings and may be done in farre lesse ground For the left flanke advanceth forward still wheeling to the right the right flanke contrariwise facing to the left and so falling backward If you have an odde file then the middle file-leader must be the center or axelltree of the motion if you have an even number of files then the middlemost file-leader from the left But if your wheeling be to the left then the contrary This by some is called the Prince of Oranges wheeling For the reducement wheele your Battell to the left on the same ground and they are reduced as at first Our next Command is to Wheele your Battaile to the right about on the same ground This wheeling is also a wheeling on the center or midst of the front and transfers the aspect of the front proper towards the reere removing the Battaile from the ground whereon it formerly stood and placing it on the ground before the front It is performed after the same manner as the last onely the motion is double so much as the other In this motion on the left flanke every man is to observe his right hand man and the right flanke must keepe even and straight after their left hand man which become their leaders file-wise untill they have attained their ground after which they face as before making an even front For the reducement wheele your Battaile to the left about upon the same ground and they will be reduced as at first I will next shew the divisionall wheelings and intend to giue to each of them his figure whereby they may appeare the more easie to such as doe not yet rightly understand them The first shall be a wheeling off by division as in the next Chapter CHAP. LX. Of wheeling off by division The Command is Wheele off your front by division THis wheeling off by division in greater bodies may be usefull to meete severall enemies at one and the same time with the front of your Battalia and so consequently with your best Souldiers But if you will wheele off your Battaile by division and ioyne them againe when they be in the reere then it brings all your Muskettiers from the flankes to the midst of your
and gâ—â—tifie 〈◊〉 by applying each motion figure and forme to his right use and true intention I will now shew how the figure is to be made which is as followâ—th If yoâ—â— Battell be in forme of an Hearse then 〈◊〉 them to the right or left about untill they have atteined this figure But if in a square then observe these following words which will produce the figure Wheele your Flanks into the Front then face the Body to one of the Flanks and wheele your Battell into a Convex Halfe Moone The Convex Halfe Moone Having brought your Souldiers into this Convex forme you may face them all inward for speech or outward for fight Then let the Officers make Intervals for the Muskettiers and let the outermost Arc or first ranke of each division present and give fire those of the right flanke wheeling off to the right the left-flanke to the left placing themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers still making good their leaders ground The rest of the ranks are to do the same untill they have all given fire Neverthelesse if your enemy be too potent for you by reason of his horse your Bow-pike-men need not stand idle although they stand behinde their Muskettiers for that they may plie them faster with their shafts then the others can with their shot But if the horse be so violent that the Muskettiers may not abide them then let them give fire and wheele off by division as before passing quite through their Intervals and placing themselues in the Reere of their pikes every ranke making good their leaders ground Thus also are the rest of the Muskettiers to give fire placing themselues in the concave part of the Body as aforesaid following the pikes which now make good the Muskettiers ground If need be the pikes may charge over-hand or if occasion serves at the foot drawing forth their swords over their left armes and couching downe their heads by which meanes the Muskettiers may give fire over their shoulders For the first ranke having fired may kneele downe on the ground and charge againe and so the second ranke may give fire and kneele in like manner making ready againe And so in like manner for all the rest all giving fire and kneeling on the ground that so the next ranke behinde may give fire over them Thus continning the firing untill all the Muskettiers have given fire Neverthelesse if need be the first ranke may rise with the rest and give fire over again as before And so the Battell may be continued the Pikes still keeping off the horse For the reducement of this figure to bring every man to his place let your Muskettiers either firing or passing through be brought into the places they were in before they first gave fire Then face the whole Body to one of the flankes and march them untill they have evened their rankes and straitned their files This done then if all your Pikes be on the right flanke wheele your right flanke into the midst if on the left flank wheele front and reere into the left flanke This being done let the Commander passe to his proper file-leaders and face the whole Body to him and they are reduced as at first CHAP. LXXVIII Of Extraduction the severall uses firings and Reducements THe next Firing which I shall take upon me to demonstrate shall be by way of Extraduction which is also a firing in Front It may be to singular good use in a strait or passage sage where your Wings and Reere may be secured your enemy being supposed to be too powerfull for you either in Horse or Foot or both Having gotten into some strait there fill the mouth of the passage with your Pikes and if the length of your Company be not sufficient to do it then double your ranks as in this following figure and let yâ—ur pikes either order advance port or charge according to the occasion your Muskettiers being in the Reere may march up into the Front and fire But before I shew the firing observe these following directions which produce the Figure Pikes stand Muskettiers face to the Reere and March uâ—till you are cleere of your body of Pikes Then face inward and close your division that being done face to your Leader and double your Rankes This being performed the Pikes are all in front the Muskettiers in Reere A firing by Extraduction Having ordered your baâ—tell in this manner let the first rankâ—â—f Muskettiers which are those that follow next after the Pikes face to the right and march forth file-wise to close by the right flanke of Pikes untill he that is the leader of them be come into the front of Pikes then hee is to leade them quite crosse the front of Pikes untill he have attained the further part of the front to the left which being done they are all to stand present and give fire You must note withall in this firing that hee which was the right hand man of the Ranke and was the leader of the â—â—tion now becomes the left hand man when he gives fire and that having fired they are to wheele off to the left close to the left flanke of Pikes and so to fall in the reere of the Muskettiers In the interim whilest that the ranke which first fired is wheeling away the second rank is marching into their places to give fire And in this manner they may maintaine their Battaile so long as they please the Pikes either porting or charging all the whiles The Muskettiers in the time of their crossing the front are to couch or stoope under their Pikes that so they may be no impediment to the Pikes in their charge There is another way of firing â—y Extraduction which is that the right hand leader of Muskettiers placeth himselfe before the right fileâ—eader of Pikes the rest all falling beyond him neverthelesse because I conceive it not to be so good a way as that already shewne I will not trouble you with it but come immediately to the â—educement of this which is as followeth Comâ—and your Pikes to stand and your Muskets to double their front by division but if you want room to doe it then first double your files 〈◊〉 the contrary hand of that which you doubled your rankes and so hauing doubled by division as aforesaid they will be reduced as at fiâ—st CHAP. LXXIX Of the Broad-fronted Battell with the wayes of firing upon it THe broad-fronted battell must needs be of speciall use for many occasions either offensive or defensive Which because it is so apparant to all I shall not need to stand to reason with any rather desiring to shew the manner of making and reducing it which is â—s followeth Cause your Pikes to stand and your Muskettiers to march untill the reere ranke of Muskettiers be advanced a little before the first ranke of Pikes then let the Muskettiers face inward or in opposition and close their divisions and then face to their leader And if
the Muskettiers next behinde the reere of pikes Or if the body be large to wheele all off to the right through Intervals and so to march into the front of pikes Or else they may wheele off by division flanke their pikes and so fire over againe as before If you have brought your Muskettiers by firing to the Reere before the front of pikes then to reduce them you may either wheele the body about and give fire in front causing your Muskettiers to fall off by division and to flanke their pikes as you may perceive by the figure of the Demie-hearse Or else if you will reduce them without a firing cause your Muskettiers to open to the right and left and the pikes to march up in the miast after which facing all to your Leader they are as at first I might have shewne a Figure for each of these severall firings in the reere which would have delivered them with more variety but I conceive that this here already exprest may suffice especially this being the ground of what may be spoken Concerning firings in this nature many men are of many mindes about this firing in the reere Some will have it that the last ranke shall at one motion face to the reere and there present and give fire Others will have it at two motions but either of them have their inconveniences For however they pretend a more sudden execution they are decerved for would they make tryall by causing the Muskettiers of one of the flanks to give fire at one motion and the Muskettiers of the other flanke at three motions as I have here set downe they should soone finde that the firing upon three motions were the best and that the other would be cast so farre behinde their body that they would be in some danger to be cut off Besides this they are longer in clearing themselves from their owne men which all the whilst must stay untill they are marched off or else kill them in stead of the enemy whereas in this other firing upon three motions they still keepe along with their Body doing their execution more suddenly and more safely Neverthelesse there be many so much wedded to â—heir own wilfull opinion that they will more willingly persist in knowne errour then be seene to alter what they have seemed to maintaine But leaving such to steere by their owne compasse I will here conclude my firing in the reere And the next I shew shall be firings in flanks to which purpose I passe all my Muskettiers to the right flanke The words of direction for it are these Muskettiers of the right flanke open to the right or face to the right and march When they have opened to a sufficient distance then stand Muskettiers of the left flanke passe through betweene your rankes of Pikes to the intervalle on the right flanke then stand and face all to your leader CHAP. LXXXI Of firings in flanke in generall and more particularly of the gathering firing THe Muskettiers being all on the right flanke as in the last Chapter is directed it would be needlesse to make a Figure whereby to demonstrate the standing of the body seeing that none can be so ignorant but must needs know that all the Muskettiers being upon the right the Pikes must be upon the left Neverthelesse I shall endeavour to shew what is meant by firing in flankes Which for the generall are of these two kindes The first is when the enemy skirmâ—sh with us in flanke as we march the other when as by some sudden attempt or ambushment the whole body is engaged and so forced to stand and to face to the right or left or both By which facings the flanks become fronts accidentall and their firings wil be after the same manner of the firings in front Wherefore seeing I have already spoken sufficiently of them I will now shew firings in flanke marching the particulars whereof are as followeth The first is for the outmost file to give fire and stand untill the next file have fired which by some is called the gathering firing Secondly firings in flanke and leading them up between the Muskettiers and Pikes firing in flanke being led off by the bringers up firings in flanke sleeving up on the contrary flanke of Pikes firing in flanke and drawing them up betweene the innermost files of Pikes All these firings in flanke are to be performed upon a march the Pikes are to be shouldered Our first firing in flanke followeth The Command is Muskettiers give fire to the right and gather up your files This kinde of firing on the flanke I have seene and knowne used by many good and able souldiers Neverthelesse in my opinion the men stand in a great deale of danger when having given fire they can doe no good but stand like so many markes for their enemies shot Notwithstanding it may be that such whom I have frequently seene to use it in their practise may be able to render good reasons for the service though as yet I cannot conceive it I will therefore surcease any further prosecution my opinions and shew the manner of execution which is to be performed as followeth The Command being to give fire to the right presently the outermost file to the right faceth outward and presents the rest of the body still marching forwards Then the presented file gives fire and stands facing againe to their first front By thattime the body will be marched cleere of the standing file then the next outermost file presents and fires in like manner the body marching as before Having fired they in like manner face to their first front and stand a Serjeant leading up the file that first fired on the out side of the file that last fired Then they both stand together untill the third file hath given fire after the same manner And then the Serjeant leads up the two files even with the third which last fired And after this manner the â—â—â—es of Muskettiers face to the flanke and give fire sâ—câ—essively and stand untill the Serjeant leads up the rest of the files which fired even with the front of the file which last fired Thus having all fired over they are to march up againe even with the front of Pikes and this reduceth them as at first CHAP. LXXXII The second manner of giving fire to the flanke IF you would fire in flanke a more secure way then that last shewne take this way of firing And this shall be full as serviceable for matter of execution and shall farre precede it in way of preservation both in securing the Muskettiers after they have fired from the danger of their enemies shot as also in continuing the body intire without separation It is especially usefull when two enemies are divided by a River or by some such like meanes secured from the incursions of the horse For then by this way of drawing the Muskettiers up betweene the innermost file of Muskettiers and the outermost file of Pikes to
to the other and so facing of them outward they will make reasonable good defence on those parts c. Having given fire upon the crosse battell and brought your Muskets to the reere of the Pikes if you would reduce them passe into the midst of Center of the Figure and face all both Muskettiers and Pikemen to you and cause those which were the flankers to close their divisions Next wheele the fronts into the midst of the two other divisions then move to the front proper and face the whole body to you and so you shall have all your Muskettiers in the midst flanked with Pikes If you would reduce them into their right places command the Muskettiers to face to the right and left outward the Pikes to face to the right and left inward and so to passe through and interchange ground thus being rightly faced they are reduced CHAP. XCVIII Of the hollow-fronted Crosse Battell how to make it with a private Company and the way to fire upon it c. THis next Figure shall be of the hollow-fronted Crosse which is a stronger forme than that last shewne and yet thus much let me warne you of that there can be but little expectation of strength to be perceived in Battels formed with so small a number This notwithstanding the ingenious Martialists can easily discerne those things which in warre may prove most usefull for his owne and his Countries benefit although they are here expressed to the publique view in so meane array and in such thinne numbers Wherefore setting aside all Apologies and excuses I will briefly shew the words of Command and direction which will produce the following Figure The two first rankes wheele your front into the midst The two last ranks wheele your reere into the midst The rest face to the right and left and march untill they have made the perfect Crosse Lastly cause the Muskettiers to flanke their Pikes according to this following Figure The severall directions for firing upon this Figure may be divers But to avoyd distraction I will shew onely one way and that directed to the front reere and flankes Neverthelesse for varieties sake you may cause them to give fire once over wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions still moving forwards into their leaders ground thereby to preserve the Figure in the same order At the second time of firing cause the Pikes to move softly up even with the front of Muskettiers porting as they advance forwards The Muskettiers having fired and wheeled off are to place themselves in the reere of their divisions of Pikes whom before they flanked every ranke of Muskettiers firing wheeling off and placing themselves as aforesaid Lastly the Pikes having charged and againe readvanced the body will stand in the Figure of a perfect Crosse For the reducement it is the same with the Crosse-Battell delivered in the 97 Chapter Wherefore I shall need to adde no further directions in this place for the said reducement then that the flanke divisions are to be closed and the front and reere divisions to be wheeled that the body may be againe returned into a square with the Muskettiers in the middle All this being here taught I now proceed to shew one firing with the Muskettiers in that order CHAP. XCIX Of firing upon the square Battell flanked with Pikes THe square battell flanked with Pikes must needs bee very safe for the Muskettiers as being a very able defence for the flankes against the incursions of the enemies horse The Figure followeth just â—s the Muskettiers are in motion The wayes or manners of giving fire upon this figure are ordinarily three The first firing is with the Aspect being directed to the front the Muskettiers wheeling either all off to the right or to the right and left as you perceive by this figure The second is for the Muskettiers to give fire to the reere upon a march which they may easily do from this figure The third is to give fire to the front and reere upon a stand the halfe-files being faced about If the firing be performed to the front then every ranke is to march up into their leaders ground If the firing be to the Reere upon a march then the ranks contrariwise close backwards towards the Reere to make good the Battell on that part If it be to the front and reere upon a stand then the Muskettiers march up into their leaders ground and those which have fired and are wheeled off place themselues in the Reere of their owne divisions To write further of this firing were more then necessarie no one of these firings any wayes altering the figure but the Aspect onely Neverthelesse if the Commander please he may after the firing in front wheele both flanks into the front and so charge pikes and from thence proceed to other firings If the firing were in the reere he may wheele the flanks into the Reere and cause his pikes to charge that way If the firing were to the front and reere he may wheele both flanks into the front and reere and so charge with his pikes both wayes Which by Captaine Bingham is called Amphistomus Before I come to reducement I shall proceed to the next firing in the ensuing Chapter CHAP. C. Of the Plinthium or foure-fronted-battell by us called the Crosse of Muskets flanked with Pikes THe Foure-fronted Battell is a figure both steady and serviceable being usefull as well for a march thereby securing the carriage and all other such like necessaries as for fight For if it should so happen as it often doth that you should be charged in front reere and flanks all at one and the same time then are there both Muskets and Pikes so placed that each Armes is assisting to the other For seeing that neither Muskettiers nor Pikemen alone can be singly sufficient of themselues to withstand the able and resolute horseman without great advantage of ground on the contrary the Muskettiers and Pikes being conjoyned into one body and being well ordered they are not onely able to defen'd themselues against their furie but also to put them to the worser Yet this must not be understood of raw and unskitfull Souldiers whose ignorance is cause of diffidence but of hardy experienced and well exercised men such as know well how to demeane themselues couragiously in time of fight The words of Command and direction which produce the figure are as followeth Halfe-files of Pikes face to the Reere and march untill they are cleare of the last ranke of Muskettiers Secondly command Halfe-files of Muskettiers face to the right and left then march betweene the divisions of Pikes Thirdly command Left halfe-ranks of the first division of Muskets face to the Reere and march betweene the Reere divisions of Pikes Lastly Having evened their ranks straitened their files and closed their divisions to an equall distance and being rightly faced the body will stand like the following figure The
you may cause them to give fire with forlorne files marching forth twenty paces or thereabouts before the front Having all fired over that way they may give fire once over by advancing two rankes together ten paces before the front Then let them give fire even with the front and then with the halfe-files the Pikes porting or charging according to discretion The Pikes being advanced and the Muskettiers marched up even with their front you may either face about wheele about or Countermarch and so give fire in the reere Your Pikes then being shouldered and your Muskettiers having fired over in the reere you may if you please wheele your flankes into the front and so charge Pikes to the reere Which done wheele your front into the midst passe into your place and face them to you Then if you will you may passe your Muskettiers of the left flanke through betweene the rankes of Pikes and place them next to the right flanke of Pikes opening the right flanke of Muskettiers to give them way Then let the Pikes shoulder and Muskettiers give fire to the right upon a march their leaders leading them up betweene the Pikes and their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having fired once over in this way let them continue their firing to the right each leader leading up his file on the outside of the left flanke of Pikes Then let the Pikes advance even whilest the last file is giving of fire and so soon as the Pikes are cleere of the Muskettiers let them face all to the right and charge Having advanced your Pikes and faced your body againe to the left you may then wheele your Battell about to the right and then facing the whole body to the left the Muskettiers will be all in front Then let your Muskettiers give fire and either wheele all off to the right thereby making an Intervalle for the left flanke or else let them wheele off by division placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers Having given fire once or oftner over that way let them give fire againe and wheele off by division ranking even with their Pikes That being done cause the Pikes to charge the Muskettiers giving fire once over on that Figure The Pikes being advanced face the whole body to the right and cause the Muskettiers to stand and the Pikes to open to the right and left and so to make the hollow square Then you may if you please command the Ensigne to display his Colours in the midst of the hollow in signe of triumph the body either standing or marching After which command the Pikes to close their divisions Which being performed command the reere division of Muskettiers to double their front of Pikes by division and then they will stand in forme of Captaine Wallers Triple firing Let them give fire upon that Figure and fall off againe according to the directions upon that Figure Which being performed and the Pikes charged and readvanced the body will be absolutely reduced as at the first it was before you began your firings These firings may with the motions be sufficient for the first daies Exercise Wherefore for this time we will lodge our Colours untill by the summons of the Drum we are called forth to the second daies practise CHAP. CVI. The second dayes Exercise HAving brought your Souldiers the second time into the field the body being drawne up into the ordinary square and every Officer vigilant in his place the Captaine commandeth silence with some other generall termes of observation both for the leaders and right hand men Having thus commanded them as before to even their rankes and to straiten their files he proceeds to shew as formerly the distances the facings the doublings the Countermarches and the wheelings therewithall instructing them either in all or so many of them as the time will permit and he thinkes convenient Ever by the way observing that in the Proverbe A thing once well done is twice done That Commander that exerciseth his Souldiers with good language and with sollid reasons shall make them better proficients then he that shall use rigid termes and rough hands After the postures distances and severall motions that which next followes for this daies exercise are firings and figures of battell So soone therefore as the Drum begins to beat a preparative the Muskettiers are to begin to make ready And first you may cause them to give fire on the Horne Battell still marching up into their leaders ground by that meanes preserving their Figure Secondly let the Muskettiers close their diuisions before their Pikes and then give fire upon the demie-Hearse-Battell falling off presently either all to the right the one halfe passing downe an Intervalle or to the right and left by division and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions of Muskettiers The third time of their firing let them wheele off by division and flanke their Pikes and when they have fired over that way let the Pikes charge For the fourth firing let them give fire even with the front of Pikes wheeling off to the right and left and placing themselves in the reere of their owne divisions Then let them fire even with the halfe-files wheeling off by division and placing themselves in the reere of the Pikes The Pikes you are to understand ought to charge all the time of the last firing who being advanced you are to wheele your Battell about to the right or left Then your Muskettiers being in the reere of your Pikes let your sixt firing be to the reere the Muskettiers wheeling off by division and placing themselves before the front of their owne divisions of Muskettiers and next behinde the reere of Pikes Having fired once over that way let them give fire ouer againe and flanke their Pikes which being in like manner performed Command them to wheele their flankes into the front and then face to the reere and charge pikes at the inside of the right foot with their swords drawne in their right hands Let the seventh firing be discharged over their pikemen wheeling either all off to the right through Intervals or else by division and placing themselues in the reere of their owne files Otherwise for want of room the first ranke of Muskettiers having given fire let them kneel or crouch low upon the ground and make ready againe the second ranke in like manner firing and kneeling and so for the rest Having all fired once over in that manner let the Pikes advance and put up their swords the Muskettiers in like manner are to rise then to even their ranks and streighten their files For the eighth firing you may face the body to the reere or if you will continue your firing the same way then wheele your battell about and having opened your Intervals your forme will be the broad fronted Phalange or broad fronted Battell Let these give fire the first time falling
it will be best for the ease of the Musettiers to be shouldered And upon all doubling of Ranks whatsoever lot them be sure to observe their right hand men A part Countermarch is when one Moity or part of the Body countermarcheth thereby not altering the number of the length or depth of the Figure but onely transferring one part into another Note that if the Reere be doubled to the Right the Countermarch must be to the Left if the doubling be to the Left the Countermarch must be to the Right It is at the discretion of the Commander to face the Company which way he pleaseth either for Motion or Reducement of any Motion formerly performed Order in Ranke and File The distance required for intire Doubling What intire Doublingsare What is meant by Particle and dividuall Doublings Note that the left-hand men are the Leaders of the motion in the reducement Inversion Chorean Lacedemon Macedon Bastard Countermarch Bast Count. Lacedemon Lacedemon Cretan or Chorean Lacedemonian B. A Countermarch Lacedemonia Cretan or Chorean Bast Countermarch Lacedemonia Macedonian Bast Count. Chorean or Cretan LacedemoniaÌ„ Macedonian Bast Counter The distance for Counter march is sixe foot or open order in ranke and file Note that when there is a Countermarch commanded without any other addition then it is alwayes intended a Chorean countermarch LacedemoniaÌ„ * An Intervall is the space of ground betweene fils file or ranke and ranke but in this place is intended the space of ground betweene the files LacedemoniaÌ„ Lacedemonian Macedonian Macedonian Bastard Counter-march Bastard Countermarch Chorean Lacedemonian Lacedemonian Macedon Bast Count. Of divisionall Countermarches Note that for Countermarching Front and Reere into the midst the Front-halfe-files ever turne off to the Right the Reere halfe files to the Left which being truely observed they will alwayes meet even in the middle of the Battaile where to the contrary if they turne both off to the Right they can never doe the Counter-march but wrong Bast Counter * Note that as the front half-files empiieth the space of ground betweene the leaders and halfe-file-leaders placing themselues in the ground before the front so in the meane time their places are replenished by the souldiers of the Reere-halfe-files which march up and supply their roomes If you reduce them by another Countermarch first close their divisions Macedonian Note that when the Reere half files face about the last ranke which are the bringers up 〈…〉 â—ill to keep their 〈…〉 Note that upon the Countermarching of flanks into the midst the right flanke must alwayes obserâ—e to turn to the right the left flanke to the left For if they should both turne off to the right they wil never meet right iâ— they turne off both to the left it will be as bad Macedonian Note that if yâ—u please yâ—u mâ—y paste the Pikes alone through and let the Muskettier stand But then there wil lbe a la ge distance betweene the Musketti â—s in the midst Note that the distance for wheelings ought to be three foot betweene Ranke and File Note that upoÌ„ the exercise of the motions whether it be distance facings doublings Countermarches or wheelings the Muskettiers ought to be all upon one and the same posture either poâ—â—ed or shouldered the pikes in like manner either shouldered or advanced Note the direction for angular wheelings Note that wheeling to the rightabout will not be reduced by wheeling back againe to the left about just into the same ground if the wheeling be Anguler but will be â—wise the length of the battell removed to the right of your former standing Vpon al wheelingâ— you must obserue to follow your leaderâ— which must be understood aswell of those which bâ—come leaders accideÌ„â—ally by reason of facings as of those which be the â—â—â—st and proâ—â—â— leaders As in th s wheeling â—or example where the upâ—te â—te become the leaders of the Mâ—â—â—on Note that the two upâ—re â—re the Hingeâ— of this whâ—â—ling Notâ— that if the length of your Batâ—eâ—â— be double the numâ— r of your depth as in this figure then this wheeling of front and reere into the right or left-flanke doth quâ—dâ—uple their formeâ— depth If the number were equall in lengto and depth then by this wheeling they would be but doubled If the number of your length exceed more then double your depth by so much the more will the extension of the depâ—h be beyond quadruple c. * The three motions are Blow your Coalâ— Open your Pan Present Breast high You are to blow your Coalâ— stepping forwards with your left foot Open your Pannel stepping forwards with your right foot Present stepping forwards with your left foot The 〈◊〉 aâ—e to bepetforâ—â—d hand and foot together by every one that advanceth 〈◊〉 to â—ivâ— fire without expecting anydirectiâ—â—â— in time of Skirm sâ— * Note that the second firing will cause the body to fâ—ee to the reer which then becomes a front accidentall and is the cause that the same command reduceth the figure which first made it Note upon all firings in the Reere Blow your colt stepping forwards with your right foot Open your pâ—n stepping forwards with your left foot present to the R ere stepping forwards with your right foot Note that all the Muskettierâ— must be in the midst and the pikes on flankeâ— when you begin to make this figure If your Muskettiers be on the flanke when you make it then the crosse will be Piâ—â—s and the Angles Muskettiers c. The Plinthium is a hollow Square Battell fronted foure waies the number equall in length depth Another kind of Plinthium is to have the depth exceed the length the light Armes to be placed in the miost of the hollow patt See the Taâ—â—icâ— of Aelian the second Books the notes of the forty two Chapter * Note that the odde files on the right flank are the outermost files to the right the third file the fift file the seventh so forward for the rest if the 〈◊〉 be larger beginning your account from the outermost file to the right Note that the odde files on the leâ—t-flanke are the fileâ— the third the fiâ—th the seventh c. so still accounting the odde files beginning with the outermost file to the 〈◊〉 * I is very necessary still so often as time will permit to instruct the Souldiers in the postures and the well handling of their Armes * Each file-leader to lead up his file upon the first Summons of the Drum * Ever to observe to be even in Ranke and strait in file and stand at the true distance * Fetching the Ensigne to the head of the Company * Souldiers ought to be very silent First the souldiers ought to have their due distance given them with directions how most properly to performe * Facings Doublings Countermarches Wheelings wherein the Souldier ought treatably to be instructedâ— the Commander alwayes observing what his Souldiers are hee hath to deale withall and to give h s directions accordingly Never striving to put more into the battle then it can conveniently hold * Observe to march between each firing upon each figure that may be convenient * Face about or wh ele about for to Countermarch if any en my be nâ—â—r iâ— very dangerous * Wheele your Flanks into the Front if your Souldiers have time enough otherwiâ—e face to the Reere and charge Pikes * When the Pikes shoulder the Musketiers must observe to ranke even with them * Vpon this firing advance Pikes when there is but one file and close forwards to the distance of order * These kind of Intervals ought to contain six foot in distance upon some other occasions 12 foot is necessary The hollow Square Captain Wallers firing Silence Vpon all motions be â—ure that the Souldiers stand even in ranke and file Good words more available then blowes or ill language The Muskettie s make ready to give fiâ—e â—etween each firing cause your body to march either in forme of Baâ—talia extended in length or upon any other figure where it may conveniently be done without disorder Whosoever it be that teacheth the postures of the Musket ought to be very diligent in his instruction concerning the well managing of their aâ—mes that they may not only fire to the Front reere and flank But that they observe order in their motion which will better their execution The file-leader if he have time may instruct his file in the distances and the severall motions * By drawing foâ—th â—ff loose files or otherwise You may eiâ— tâ—â—r draw forth the innermost or outermost at discretion
left of him that marcheth before him untill all the file-leaders are even in ranke together their files orderly following them The word for the Reducement is File-leaders Lead up your files as you were For files to file on in sequence to the left may be performed after the same manner but differeth in the hand Yet works the same effect only the right-hand-file-leader led the other and the elft-hand-file fell last of all into the Reere This contrariwise ' is led forth by the left-hand-file and the right-hand-file is the last that taketh place in the Reere of the extended file Files file to the Right and Left by Division This files filing by division is wrought after the same manner but differeth in this That the right-hand-file of the Company and the left-hand-file of the same begin to lead forth at one and the same time in their severall places The files of the right flanke falling likewise behind the Right-hand-file the files of the left flanke falling in like manner behind the left-hand-file So that if the body be flankt with Muskettiers then this filing by division bringeth all the Muskettiers into the front-division and the Pikes in the Reere of them If there be an odde file it most commonly falleth to the right The word for Reducement is File-leaders lead up your files as you were This sort of Inversion is called filing in sequence I will now shew another sort of Inversion which is by Ranks filing The which I will demonstrate unto you by two figures which will be sufficient to instruct the desirous CHAP. XXXIII Of inverting Rankes or Rankes filing THis following figure of Inversion is of Ranks filing to the right where all the Ranks are to be inverted into the out-most-file to the right For the doing whereof let all your files be closed to their order or close order as shall bee thought most necessary the ranks opened either forward or backward to double-distāce or twice double-distance more or lesse as the Commander shall see most convenient according to his number Having closed your files and opened your ranks unto their due distance then let every ranke move after his right-hand-man untill every ranke stand right in file after the right-hand-leader of his rank In this figure I have onely opened the foure first ranks to their distance and inverted but two of the foure By which it may easily be perceived both the manner of the worke and the matter which is to be wrought But if the Commander will performe it upon a March then they shall not need to open to any distance but to take their distance in the executions which is the easiest way and will be thus performed The right-hand-man of the first ranke marcheth forth right all his ranke facing to the right and marching file-wise after him The right-hand-man of the Second ranke falling immediately after the left hand-man of the First ranke all his ranke in like manner following of him The right-hand-man of the Third ranke after the left-hand-man of the Second his ranke likewise following of him And so for all the rest untill they are all become one file Place this Figure in Chapter 33. betweene folio 90 and 91. This Rankes fileing is sooner performed and reduced then Files fileing and in the Reducement will presently be ready to make resistance against any opposition in the Front Whereas if Files file it will be a great while before the File-leaders will be able to make good the Front The manner of the Reducement of this figure is as followeth If they were Eight men before in ranke then the first Eight men ranke to the Left into the front The next Eight men ranke next after them which makes the second ranke The third Eight men ranking to the left make the third ranke And so forward for the rest untill they are reduced as at the first But it may be that some will object That in this figure there is mixture of Armes which if they will avoyd they may either March forwards their Muskettiers of each division and close them before the Pikes and invert them first Or they may March forwards their Pikes first and leave their Muskettiers to come in the Reere Or if they please they may upon a long March first invert the front-division of Muskettiers then their Pikes and last the Reere-division of Muskettiers which way so ever it be done The Word for the reducement will be Files ranke as you were Rankes file to the Left is performed after the same manner It differeth from this last done but onely in the hand And whereas the Right-hand-file-Leader was the Leader of the last this would be led by the left-hand-file-Leader The left-hand-Leader of each ranke leading forth his ranke file-wise as before it was performed but to the contrary hand I spare the figure CHAP. XXXIIII Of Rankes filing by division and how vsefull THis next figure of Inversion is Rankes filing by division is a doubling of the depth by unequall proportion For whereas in most of all other doublings the Number of the Length or Depth is augmented but to double their former proportion of Number this doubling of Inversion makes their Depth so many times more in number as there are files to double Or halfe so many times if it be done by Division as in the next following figure It hath beene of ancient use amongst the old Grecians and in these our latter times it hath beene held of speciall use to avoyd the shot of the great Ordnance when of necessity we are to march against any Battery It hath also been held good to prevent the eminent danger of some great shower of small shot likely to be powred out upon the Front of your Battalia It may also serue for an Honourable passage large interualle street or gallery as some call it for any great Personage or Commander to passe through It is also of common use for the lodging of the Colours or Ensigne And many other such like Place this Figure in Chapter 34. betweene folio 92 and 93. For instruction how to performe this Motion It is the same with the last figure differing onely in this That as in the other figure all the whole rankes turned to the right behind their right-hand-men In this Motion the left-flanke or halfe-rankes to the left fall into the outmost file to the left The halfe-rankes to the right behind their severall right-hand-men as you may perceive in part by the figure I have shewen the figure in the manner of the action not fully performed The pricks ranke-wise denoting the places from whence they came The Quarter-circles shewing the way of the Motion The prickes file-wise directing or shewing their Places they are going too For reducement to the figure it is no more then this The Rankes which before inverted into files now againe convert into rankes as they were The word of Command for it is Files ranke to the right and left inward as you were I hope this