So that an expert Leader may venter so far in them as to continue his Exercise without reducing almost for an hour and not to expresse himself twice in any one word of Command they affording such plenty and variety in them that with pleasure using but four words of Command he may bring each Souldier into his proper place again observing these directions following As first to look down in the Body where his File-leaders are and where his Bringers-up and likewise making the severall places of his halfe File-leaders and the Bringers-up of his Front half-files together with his Flankers and his middle Files this speciall care being taken he may begin and proceed to their Reducement after this manner If by some former Counter-marches his File-leaders are in the place of his halfe File-leaders and that his Bringers-up are in the room of the Bringers-up of the Front half-files then he may proceed in this or the like kind commanding them to counter-march their Front and Reer into the midst which being performed they will stand in some pretty way of reducing after facing them to the Front where he meets with his Bringers-up in stead of his File-leaders which by one Counter-march will bring them up again into the Front Yet perhaps the Flankers have inter-changed ground with the middle File-leaders if so then counter-march their Flanks into the midst and face them to the Front and if it happen that the right Flank is become the left and the left the right then counter-march their Ranks to any hand and after face them to the first Front they are reduced And farther take this for a generall rule that when Files Ranks or Counter-march to any stand command them to counter-march to the contrary and it will reduce them or counter-marching your Front and Reer into the midst counter-marching of them back again from the midst will bring each man into his proper place again the same rule being observed reduceth the flankers or Front and Reer half-files counter-marching of them from the midst Counter-marches rightly considered branch themselves forth into these three particulars The Macedonian Lacedemonian Chorean The Macedonian is a Counter-march of gaining ground for that it leaveth the ground it formerly stood upon and in lieu thereof taketh the ground before the front and turneth their aspects unto the reer The Lacedemonian is a Counter-march of losing ground for that it leaveth the ground it first stood upon and in room thereof taketh the ground which is behind the reer thither likewise altering the Souldiers aspects The Chorean is a Counter-march maintaining ground keeping the ground the Battalia formerly stood upon every Souldier taking anothers place it likewise turns the Aspect towards the reere Thus you see for all their great varietie which latter ages have invented they consist but of three sorts or kinds either maintaining gaining or losing of ground and may bee performed as I said before either by intire or divisionall Counter-marches It may now be expected that I declare unto the Souldier the meaning of each particular Counter-march briefly therefore thus Files counter-marching is when every Souldier followeth his Leader ranks counter-marching is when every Souldier followeth his side man whether it be to the right-hand or to the left Front and reer half-files counter-marching is sometimes when every particular Souldier followeth his Leader or his Bringer up or else when they follow their half-file leaders or their Bringers-up of the Front half-files or the like Right and left half-ranks counter-marching is when every Souldier in the ranke followeth the outmost men upon the right and left or when they shall follow their inside right and left hand men or the like What hath hitherto been spoken may be sufficient both for the instruction and direction of any discreet souldier I come in the next place to set them all before them as they lie in Order CHAP. LI. Intire Counter-marching of Files Command FIles to the Right Hand Counter-march maintaining ground Left Direction File-leaders turn off upon the ground you stand the rest moving up successively into the file-leaders place turning off untill the bringers up come up into the Front after face to your Leader Command File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Leaders Command File-leaders face about the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves behind your Leaders face to your Leader Command File-leaders face to the reer the rest passe through to the right or left following your bringers-up and placing your selves behind your Leaders face all to your Leader Command File-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Leaders following your bringers-up Command Files to the right or left counter-march losing ground placing your selves before your bringers up Direction Every file-leader turn off upon the ground he stands on the rest successively doing the same untill they come to the last ranke who need doe no more then face about after face all to their Leader Command The last rank stand the rest passe through to the right or left placing your selves behind your bringers-up every man following his Leader Direction File-leaders turn off to the right or left the rest following successively untill they are all cleer of the reer then face to their Leader Command Bringers-up stand the rest face about passe through to the right or left and place your selves behind your bringers up Command Bringers-up face about the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Bringers-up Direction Face all to the Reer and begin the Motion with the second Rank from the Reer moving forward every man placing himself before his Bringer-up to your Leader Command Counter-march your Front and Reer into the midst Direction Half-files face about and turn off to the left Front half-files turn off to the right to your Leader Command Front and Reer half files counter-march to the right or left Direction This is to be done distinctly the Front half-files turning off to the right by themselves the Reer half files turning off in like manner face to your Leader Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Leaders and half file-leaders Command Counter-march your Front Reer half-files to the right left from the midst Direction Front half files face about and turn off to the right Reer half-files turn off to the left to your Leader Command File-leaders and half file-leaders face about the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves behinde your Leaders and your half file-leaders to your Leaders Command File-leaders and half file-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right or left place your selves before your Leaders and half file-leaders every man following his Bringer-up and the Bringers-up of the Front half-files Command File-leaders and halfe file-leaders face about the
rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves behinde your Leaders and halfe file-leaders following your Bringers up Direction The File-leaders and the halfe file-leaders being first faced are to stand and the Bringers-up of the Front and Reer half-files are to move forwards untill they be cleer of the standing part after they are to face to the Reer which being ended they are again to face to the Front CHAP. LII Divisionall Counter-marching of Files Command FIle-leaders and Bringers-up stand the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Leaders and your Bringers-up Direction Half-files face about the Counter-march being ended command them to move forwards and close their Divisions Command File-leadeâ—s face about the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves behinde your Leaders and your Bringers-up Direction The two last Ranks from the Reer face about and then they are to begin the Motion together which being ended face them to the front and the half-files are to move forward and to close their Divisions Command File-leaders and Bringers-up stand the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your Leaders and your Bringers-up following the halfe file-leaders and the Bringers-up of the Front half-files Direction Half-files face about this Motion is begun by the Bringers-up of each Division which being ended they are to face to their Leader the half files moving forwards closing their Divisions Command File-leaders face about the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves behinde your Leaders and your Bringers-up following the halfe file-leaders and the Bringers-up of the front half-files Direction The two last Ranks from the Reer face about this Motion is begun by the Bringers-up of each Division who are to lead away the rest following untill they be cleer of the Front and Reer and after to face about placing themselves behinde their halfe file-leaders and the Bringers-up of the front half-files then facing to the front the half-files moving forwards closing their Divisions Command Counter-march to the right and left your Front and Reer half-files from the midst losing ground every man placing himseâ—â— before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Front half-files face about and turn off to the right and the half-file leaders turn off to the left and march cleer of the front and reer and after the file-leaders the bringers up are but to face about and the Counter-march will be ended then face the half-files to the front let them move forward and close their divisions Command Front and reer half-files interchange ground to the right or left marching cleer each from other Direction Front half-files face about and passe through to your own right hands untill you be cleer six foot of each other then face to the Front the half-files moving forwards and closing their Divisions Command Front and Reer half-files counter-march to the right and inter-change ground Direction Half-files face about and turn off to the right and front half-files at the same time doing the like moving forward untill they be cleer one of another six foot then facing to their Leader close their Divisions CHAP. LIII Intire Counter-marches of Ranks Command RAnks to the right-hand counter-marching maintaining ground Direction Face to the right the right-hand file that was turn off to the right the rest moving up into the same ground turning off likewise to your Leader Command The out-most file upon the right face to the right the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves before your right-hand men Direction Face to the right and passe through as before exprest to your Leader Cmmand The right-hand file face to the left the rest passe through to the right or left and place your selves hehinde your right-hand men Direction Face to the right and move forwards and place your selves behinde your right-hand men to your Leader Command Ranks to the left-hand counter-march losing ground Direction The out-most is to turn off to the left about untill he hath brought his aspect unto the right flank and so consequently all the rest moving still forwards untill they have gained upon the out-side of the right flank so much ground as they have lost or that they have placed themselves before their right-hand men by following their left-hand men face to your Leader Command The right-hand file face to the left the rest passe through to the right following your left-hand men and placing your selves behinde your right-hand File Direction The out-most File upon the left face to the right and march through the Intervalls towards the right flank and when he is moved away the rest upon the left are successively to do the same untill they have in lieu of that ground they formerly stood gained so much upon the out-side of the right flank then facing about toward the left flank after face to your Leader Command Ranks to the left-hand counter-march maintaining ground Direction Face to the left and the left-hand File that was turn off to the left on the same ground he stands the rest moving up successively doing the same to your Leader Command The left-hand File stand the rest face to the left passe through and place your selves on the out-side of your left-hand men Direction The left-hand File face to the left the rest passe through to the left and place your selves before your left-hand men to your Leader Command The left-hand File face to the right the rest face to the left passe through to the left and place yourselves behinde your left-hand men Command The left-hand File face to the left the rest passe through to the left and place your selves before your left-hand men following your right-hand men Direction Face all to the left and the out-most Files upon the right move forward upon the left the rest successively doing the same untill you have all placed your selves before your left-hand men to your Leader Command The left-hand File face to the right the rest face to the left passe through to the left and place your selves behind â—â—ur left-hand men following your right-hand men Direction The right-hand file that was is to begin this motion the rest are consequently to follow untill they have gained as much ground on the out-side of the left-flank as before they lost after face about to the right and after to their Leader Command Ranks to the right-hand counter-march every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his left-hand man by following his right-hand man Direction The left-hand file stand the out-most file upon the right is to turne about to the right untill he hath brought his aspect to the left-flanke then moving forward untill he he be cleer of the second file after the rest are to doe the like forsaking the ground they stood upon and in lieu thereof to gain so much upon the out-side of the left-flanke placing themselves on the out-side of their left-hand men
their Aspects being to the Front Or you may command the out-most file upon the right to face to the left and so begin to lead untill he be cleer of the second file the rest doing the same untill they have all placed themselves on the out-side of their left-hand men their Aspects being to the Front which I conceive to be the easier way Command Counter-march your Flanks into the midst Direction Face to the right and left outward right-flank turn off to the right left-flank turn off to the left untill they meet in the midst to your Leader Command Right and left half-half-ranks counter-march to the right or left Direction Face all to the right the right half-half-ranks are to turne off to the right by themselves and the left half-half-ranks in like manner to your Leader Command The out-most File upon the right and the right-hand file of the left half-ranke stand the rest face to the right passe through and place your selves on the out-side of your right-hand men face to your Leader Command The out-most file upon the right and the right-hand file of the left half-half-rank face to the right and stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your right-hand men face all to the right and the motion being ended face to your Leader Command The out-most file upon the right and the right-hand file of the left half-half-rank face to the left and stand the rest face to the right passe through and place your selves behind your right-hand men to your Leader Direction For these three last Counter-marches is for the moving part to begin to Countermarch who are the next files of the standing part and so to follow successively until they have performed the command and after to face to their Leader Command The right-hand file of the left half-half-rank and the out-most file upon the right stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves on the out-side of your right hand men following your out-most files Direction The out-most files are to face to the right and to lead away untill they bee cleer of the next who likewise are to follow successively Command The out-most file upon the right and the right-hand file of the left half-half-rank face to the right and stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your right-hand men Direction Face all to the right and the out-most files that were are to begin the motion placing themselves before their right-hand men the rest following successively to your Leader Command The outmost file upon the right and the right-hand file of the left half-half-rank face to the left and stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behind your right-hand men Direction The out-most files are to turn about untill they have brought their aspects unto the right-flanke then move away untill they be cleer of the second file and in like manner they are to turn off doing the same untill they have placed themselves behind their right hand men then facing to the left-about and after to their Leader to even their ranks and straighten their files Command Counter-march your right and left half-ranks from the midst Direction Face inward right half-ranks turn off to the right left half-half-ranks turn off to the left to your Leader CHAP. LIV. Divisionall Counter-marches of the right and left half-half-ranks Command THe outmost file upon each flanke stand the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selves on the out-side of your right and left-hand men Direction The rest face outward and begin the motion by the next files the others following in order and after to close their files into the midst to open order Command The out-most file upon each flanke face outward and stand the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selves before your out-side men Direction The rest are to face outward and the next files unto them that first faced are to begin the motion placing themselves before their out-side men after face to their leader and close files into the midst to order Command The out-most file upon each flanke face inward the rest passe through and place your selves behind your out-side men Direction The rest are to face outward and to passe through to the right and left placing themselves behind their right and left-hand men and after to move forward and close their divisions and face to their Leader Command The out-most file upon each flanke stand the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selves on the out-side of your right and left-hand men following your in-most files Direction The in-most files are to begin the motion moving away to the right and left untill they be cleer of their second files and then they are to move away successively untill they have all placed themselves on the out-side of their right and left-hand men and then close files into the midst to open order Command The out-most files upon each flanke face outward the rest passe through to the right and left placing your selves before your right and left-hand men following your in most files Direction The rest are likewise to face outward and the inmost files are to begin the motion the rest following in order untill they have placed themselves before their out-side men after face to the Front and close files into the the midst to open order Command The out-most file upon each flanke face inward the rest passe through to the right and left and place your selves behinde your out-side men following the inmost Files Direction The rest are to face outward the in-most files begin to move forward to the right and left the rest consequently doe the same untill they all stand behind their out-side men then facing to the right and left about closing their divisions by moving forward after face to the Front Command Counter-march your right and left half-half-ranks from the midst losing ground and placing your selves before your out-side men Direction Face inward right half-ranks turn off to the right and left half-ranks turn off to the left and move forward untill you have placed your selves before your out-side men after face to your Leader and close files into the midst to open order Command Right and left half-ranks interchange ground Direction Face inward and passe through to your own right-hand untill you bee cleer six foot each of other after face to your Leader and close files into the midst to open order Command Right and left half-ranks counter-march to the right and left and interchange ground Direction Face outward right half-ranks turn off to the right left half-ranks turn off to the left and march cleer each of the other after face to the front and close files inward to open order Thus much may suffice to be spoken of all the several sorts and kinds of Counter-marches which if any shall conceive my pains fruitlesse in culling out such plentie and varietie there being
to both the flanks Command Wheel the outward Angles to the right and left about to the Center Direction Face to the outward Angles and close ranks and files to close order and the Angles on the right turn off to the right the Angles on the left turn off to the left Command Wheel the inward Angles to the right and left about inward from the Center Direction Face to the inward Angles or to the Center and wheel about to the right and left inward from the Center These are all the intire and divisionall Wheelings that have hitherto been practised by any according to my best observation there are other Wheelings which may properly be term'd Doublings which I have placed amongst the Doublings where they more properly belong Now if any shall demand of me a reason why I have omitted the Reducements to each perticuler Command my answer thereunto is easie for as in the Countermarches so in these they may be reduced by three or four words of Command except a Commander shall of set purpose keep them off from the same to make some experiment after any wheeling is performed face them after to their first Front and command them to even their ranks and straighten their files they will be as at first and unto what hand soever they wheeled command them to wheel to the contrary hand and they will be reduced unto the first front or what part is wheeled off by Division wheel them inward again from that place and it will easily reduce them Thus you see that it is almost impossible for a Leader to be out unlesse he be extreamly ignorant therefore he need not fear to venter far in the progresse of them before he shall reduce them provided he use no Doublings which if he shall great care must be had that he be not put to a stand for the prevention whereof let him look back unto those doublings by wheelings wherein one doth reduce another where he may finde some remedie to help himselfe forth again CHAP. LVIII Of Firings either for delight or service THe chiefest thing required of the Muskettiers next their Postures by which they are taught how to handle their Arms with delight both marching or skirmishing is firing which to speak the truth is the full accomplishment of all the rest for unlesse they be really performed the rest are of no great advantage For to what end is it for any man to prime lade or cock if he present not answerably therefore firings are the execution of all the former in so much my advice shall be to all Commanders that they be carefull and diligent to have all their Muskettiers often practised with false firings which is firing in the pan only and falling off as hereafter followeth to the end that in time of need they may not spend their powder and bullets in vain And that they may likewise know where to fall off that others may do the like and where to place themselves securest from danger yet so as they may be still aiding the one unto the other I shall therefore for the good of my Countrey and for the benefit of all such as are herein concern'd collect forth some firings which shall be every one differing from the other in one kind or other either in the execution or reducing whereby the ingenious Souldier may cull forth such as he best likes to make use of what he shall think to be most fit and pertinent to his intended purpose be it either for delight or service briefly therefore thus Firings really considered can be perform'd but five ways that is to say to the Front Reer right or left-Flank Oblique or Angular but there is so much variety to be expressed in the performance of each of these that it makes them seem so many severall firings as by the following discourse shall be fully demonstrated CHAP. LIX Severall Firings to be performed with any number of men THe Front being the head of the Body and therefore the more honourable part challengeth the superiority or first place and therefore without any farther circumstance I come directly to the firings as they lie in order as followeth draw all the Muskettiers before the Pikes before you begin youâ— firings Firings to the Front 1 Two Ranks advancing ten paces falling in the Reer of themselves By single miles advancing three paces falling in the Reer of themselves 2 Fire 3 Fire and flank the Pikes 4 Fire by Files advancing 10 or 20 paces first single secondly ranking inward 1 2 3 4 or more falling down into rheir places again 5 Fire by Ranks filing and advancing 10 or 20 paces and moving down and ranking in the Reer of their own Divisions 6 Fire by Divisions drawn off 10 or 20 or 30 paces and returning again 7 Fire even with the Front and falling in the Reer of their own Divisions 8 Fire even with the half-files and fall in the Reer of themselves 9 Fire by way of Introduction thus the first rank fires and stands the last rank passeth up between the files and placing themselves before the File-leaders or first rank then stand and give fire the rest doing the like till the file-leaders come up again into their places and fire the second time 10 Fire by Introduction after this manner the first rank gives fire and stands the rest moving forward untill the next rank hath placed themselves before the first then stands and gives fire the rest moving up and doing the like untill they have all fired twice 11 Fire even with the Front falling in the Reer of Pikes 12 Fire by Extraduction the first rank passing from the Reer upon the out-side of the Pikes upon the left untill they have placed themselves in a rank in the Reer of the Muskettiers the rest successively doing the like untill they have fired all over and brought themselves as at first 13 Fire by the out-most files wheeling or ranking outward into the Front falling off Here the Muskettiers are upon the Flanks again likewise being led off by Bringers-up leading up next the Pikes this done twice reduceth 14 Fire two Ranks together falling off or falling down 15 Fire four Ranks together two kneeling and two standing upright falling off or falling down 16 Fire six Ranks together two kneeling two stooping and two standing upright falling off or falling down 17 Fire some Ranks drawn forth to the right or by division and in again left or by division and in again Note also if you please you may draw forth one Rank to the right and another to the left at one and the same time together 18 Fire by files drawn forth oblique then face about and move into their places Note also that severall figures may be made by these kinds of firings as the V the W or the Fort-battail and the like 19 Fire by ranks ranking into the front or files ranking into the front and ranking or filing as they were 20 Fire by files wheeling
and close your Divisions to your Leader Command Front half-files double your Reer inward intire Direction Reer half-files face about and move outward cleer of the standing part front half-files face about march down and even the Reer to your Leader Command The two outmost files upon each Flank double intire advancing the four inmost files Direction The two outmost files move forward cleer of the standing part face inward march and close your Divisions face to your Leader Command Double your files inward intire advancing every man placing himself before his Leader Direction The two inmost files stand the two outmost files move forwards and double your inmost files intire advancing placing your selves before your Leaders Command Half-files double your Front to the right they are reduced CHAP. IV. Eight severall Counter-marches with their Reducement Command FIle-leaders stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders Command The right hand file stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves on the out side of your right hand men Command File-leaders and Bringers-up stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and your Bringers-up Command The outmost file upon each flank stand the rest pass thorough to the right and left placing your selves before your outside men Direction Face outward and pass thorough to the right and left placing your selves before the outmost files to your Leader and close your Divisions to open order Command Bringers-up stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves behinde your Bringers-up Direction The five first ranks are to face about the next rank to the Reer is first to begin the motion the rest are successively to follow until the Leaders are become the Bringers-up Command The left-hand file stand the rest pass thorough to the left and place your selves on the out-side of your left-hand men Command File-leaders and Bringers-up stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves behinde your Leaders and Bringers-up Direction The first and the two next ranks from the Reer face about the two first ranks from the Front and the two last ranks from the Reer move forwards placing your selves behinde your Leaders and your Bringers-up face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command The out-most file upon each file face inward the rest pass thorough to the right and left placing your selves behind your right and left hand men CHAP. V. Ten severall Wheelings with their Reducement Command WHeel the Front half-files inward into the midst and double your Reer inward intire Direction Half-files face outward and march cleer of the standing part after face to the Reer front half-files open from the midst to open order after wheeling to the right and left inward into the Reer to your leader Command Right and left half ranks double the depth of the Battail by wheeling into the front Direction Right half ranks wheel to the left and left half ranks wheel to the right to your leader Command Wheel off the front half-files and double the Reer by division Direction Half-files face about and front half-files wheel off by division moving down even with the Reer to your Leader Command Wheel off your right half ranks and double your left flank to the right intire Direction Face outward and right half ranks wheel about to the left and move away and double the left flank to the right to your leader Command Front and Reer half-files double the depth of the Battail by wheeling into Front and Reer Direction Half-files face to the Reer and Front and Reer half-files wheel to the right and left inward face to your Leader and close your divisions Command Wheel off your left half-rankes and double your right flanke by division Direction Face outward and left half-ranks wheel off by division and move even with the right flank to your Leader Command Wheel off your Reer half-files and double the Front to the right intire Direction Half-files face about and wheel to the left untill you have ranged even with the front Command Wheel your Battail off by division from the Front Direction Right half-ranks wheel about to the right and left half-ranks wheel about to the left and move down to the Reer face to your Leader close into the midst to order Command Wheel off your left half-ranks and double your right flanke to the left intire Direction Face outward left half-rankes wheel about to the right and move forward and double the right flank to the left intire to your Leader Command Wheel off your Front half-files and double the Reer to the left intire Direction Half-files face about and front half-files wheel about to the right move down and range even with the Reer face to your Leader reduceth them CHAP. VI. Six Figures of Battail with severall firings thereunto belonging Command RAnks and files close to order they will stand us underneath is set forth from which we will draw our figures after we have fired upon this Platforme three or four times Command Double your files inward intire advancing The first firing Let the first two ranks advance forward ten paces give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after wheeling off to the right and left placing themselves before the front of Pikes the next two Rankes and so the rest successively doing the like untill they have fired once over which reduceth them The second firing Let the first Rank advance three paces give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves the rest doing the like untill all have fired once over as before The third firing Let them give fire on the ground they stand and fall off to the right and left and flank the Pikes The fourth firing Let them fire even with the front and fall in the Reer of the Pikes which being ended let the Pikes charge on Reducement Muskettiers double your front by division Command The first two Ranks stand the rest face outward and move cleer of the standing part to your Leader the two last Ranks move outward side-ways two paces The first firing Let every Division give fire on the same ground they stand and fall in the Reer of themselves The second firing Let them advance forwards untill they be cleer of the Pikes give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves after moving down into their places Command Front division advance forward three paces the two next divisions move outward one pace Pikes in each division face about and move two paces to your Leader Divisions of Muskettiers in the Reer advance forwards and range even in Front and Reer with the middle divisions of Pikes the first rank of Pikes in the Front division move three foot cleer of the standing part The first firing Let them give fire to the Front and fall in the Reer of themselves The second firing Let them give fire to Front Reer and both flanks altogether Direction Reer divisions face outward
are reduced being faced to their Leader CHAP. LXVI Twelve severall Counter-marches with their reducements Command FIles to the right hand counter-march losing ground Command Ranks to the right hand counter-march losing ground Direction Face all to the right Command Front and Reer half-files inter-change ground Direction Front half-files face about to the left Command Right and left half-half-ranks inter-change ground Direction Face inward Command File-leaders face about the rest passe through to the right and place your selves behinde your Leaders face to the Front Command Counter-march your Front and Reer into the midst Command Counter-march your flanks into the midst Face out-ward Command File-leaders and half-file-leaders stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and halfe file-leaders Direction The second rank from the front and from the halfe file-leaders are to begin the Motion placing themselves as before commanded Command The out-most file upon the right and the second file from the left stand the rest passe through to the right and place your selves on the out-side of your right-hand men Command Files to the left-hand counter-march losing ground Command Front and Reer half-files counter-march to the right Direction Front and Reer half-files turn off distinctly by your selves on the ground you stand face to your Leader Command Right and left half-ranks counter-march to the right Direction Face to the right and right and left half-ranks turn off distinctly to the right face to your Leader they are reduced CHAP. X. Twelve severall Wheelings with their reducements Command WHeel your Reer half-files inward into the midst and double the Front inward intire Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst to double distance Reer half-files face about and wheel your Reer inward into the midst moving forward doubling the front inward intire Command Wheel off your right half-ranks and double your left flank to the left intire Direction Face outward right half-ranks wheel about to the right and double your left flank to the left to your Leader Command Right and left half-ranks double the Length of your Battail by wheeling outward to the front Direction Face outward and right half-ranks wheel to the left and left half-ranks wheel to the right and after close files into the midst to order Command Wheel off your right half-ranks and double your left flank by Division Direction Face outward right half-ranks wheel about to the right and left outward moving forward and doubling the left flank to the right and left outward Command Wheel your left half-ranks inward into the right flank Direction Face outward and open from the midst to double distance the front and Reer half-files and after the left half-ranks may wheel inward and double the right flank inward intire Command Wheel off your Reer half-files and double your front to the left intire Half-files face about Command Wheel your right half-ranks inward into the midst and double the left flank inward intire Direction Face outward and Front and Reer half-files that were are to open from the midst to double distance and right half-ranks wheel inward and move forward into the left flank Command Wheel off your Reer half-files and double your front to the right intire Half-files face about Command Wheel off your left half-ranks and double your right flank by Division Command Wheel off your Front half-files and double your Reer to the right intire Half-files face about Command Double the Depth of the Battail by wheeling front and reer into the midst of each Division Direction Front half-files move forward four paces then the last rank of each Division face about and wheel into the midst of Front and Reer of each Division face to your Leader Command Wheel off your Front half-files and double your Reer to the left intire Half-files face about Command Wheel your Battail off by Division from the Reer Direction Face all about and right half-ranks wheel about to the right and left outward to the front and closing files into the midst to order they will be reduced as at first and stand as underneath is set forth CHAP. XI Severall plain Firings upon this Exercise of 24 men with Figures of Battail belonging to the same A Commander having thus passed over the Motions may next prepare for Firings and calling up his Serjeants he may give them order how the Muskettiers shall fire in front and reer but before he begin his Firings it will be expedient that he double his Front to the right and left inward by the Bringers-up which being ended he may proceed as followeth The first firing Let them fire by Divisions drawn forth ten paces before the front of Pikes and fall in the Reer of themselves The second firing Let them fire again and fall off to the right and left moving down before the front of Pikes and closing their Divisions The third firing Let the first rank kneel down the next stoop and the last stand upright and give fire altogether the Pikes in the mean time are to advance their Arms and open to the right and left charge on to the front untill they be cleer of the Muskettiers and then face inwards and close their Divisions then facing all about they may give fire to the Reer marching The fourth firing Let the last rank face about to the left and give fire and fall off to the right and left placing themselves before their Leaders of their own Divisions of Muskettiers The fifth firing Let them face about to the left again give fire fall off to the right and left and flank their Pikes the Pikes at the same instant facing about and charge on cleer of the Muskettiers the Muskettiers after facing inward and close their Divisions the Pikes may charge to the Horse and the Muskettiers may give fire over their heads after this manner The sixth firing Let the first rank stoop and the other two stand upright and give fire altogether after recovering of their Arms they may all face to the front commanding the Pikes to double the front inward intire and afterwards files to double their Depth to the right and left outward every man falling behinde his Bringer-up closing files into the midst to order and wheeling about into the first front he may proceed as followeth Command Front half-files advance forwards three paces the middle rank of each Division face outward and move cleer of the standing part face to your Leader The first firing Let the in-most Divisions of Muskettiers in the Front fire and fall off in the Reer of themselves after facing about move down and inter-change ground with them in the Reer they at the same instant moving up firing and in like manner inter-changing ground with them in the Reer and at the same time the out-most men are to move up and fire to the front and to fall off to the right and left into the place of them in the Reer they at the same time moving up and firing in
file Command File file three to the left into the Front files double to the right intire advancing Front half-Files move forwards three paces files double your depth to the right of each division half-files double your front intire into the midst The two first and the two last men of Pikes upon each flank face inward the two middle ranks face outward the two last ranks of Muskettiers face about march all three paces to your leader To passe by the firings which may be performed upon this figure I shall proceed from hence to draw another Command The outmost divisions of Muskettiers close inward to order front and reer divisions of Pikes open outward to double distance Pikes double inward rank-wise and they will stand as followeth Upon this figure fire to the front in their severall divisions one after another and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel off to the right into the reer the rest of the divisions moving forward in their roome doing the like untill all have fired over twice Command Muskettiers double your Ranks outward in each division and they will stand as underneath Upon this figure as in the former they may fire like-wise to the front falling down into the reer and after every rank successively moving up into the front may fire and fall off in like manner this firing may be done twice to the front and being faced to the reer they may there give fire after the same manner and after face to there first front Command Muskettiers double to the right and left inward file-wise middle-most division of Muskettiers face outward and march untill you have placed your selves in front and reer of the out-most divisions of Pikes The last rank of front and reer divisions of Muskettiers double to the right file-wise and move for-ward untill your first men exceed two foot the front of each division which occasioneth the next figure It is now high time that we put a period to this Exercise wherefore let the Ensigne unsurle his Colours the souldiers shoulder their arms and the Drum beat a march upon which the Ensigne being in the midst may display his Coleurs so long as shall be convenient and after the Leader may proceed to their reducement as followeth Reducement Middle file of Muskettiers face about and march cleer of your owne divisions and double to the left rank-wise Muskettiers close inward to order Pikes double to the right and left outward file-wise files close into the midst to order ranks close to order Pikes move forward and even your front Pikes and Muskettiers inter-change ground they are reduced Now the Leader may command the Muskettiers to troop away and after he may lodge his Colours thereby refreshing both himself and his souldiers until the next summons by beat of the Drum CHAP. XV. The fourth Exercise consisting of foure Files eight deep THe Souldiers upon the fourth summons comming unto the place of Exercise makes fuller appearance then before insomuch that their files are drawn forth eight deep the Leaders thereof having spent some time in exercising them in each perticuler posture are called upon to joyne into a body where their leader stands be thinking of himselfe what new matter he should delight them with there being sufficient in any one perticuler motion for their Exercise pitches for present to spend his chiefest time in Motions upon facings continuing longer in them in respect of the several figures of Battail demonstrated by them Now for the more ready performance thereof I shall onely give the severall words of commands for each perticuler figure which may be drawn from these facings referring the reader to the figures themselves where I shal have occasion to make use of them upon firings which shall be made known unto him by Alphabetical letters pointing from each facing to the figure it produceth To come briefly to the exercise in hand silence being craved and ranks and files closed to order the Leader may proceed to these or the like perticuler facings producing eighteen figures of battail alphabetically set forth with their reducements Command Half-files double your front to the left Direction Files open from the right to open order half-files advance your arms and move forward to the left and double the front Command Files open from the midst to open order Muskettiers close outward to close order the inmost files of Pikes close outward to close order Ranks close to Front and Reer to order and they will stand in eight divisions Command Reer divisions of Pikes face about Muskettiers face outward move all three paces to your Leader pointeth to the first figure marked by the Alphabeticall letter A. Command Muskettiers face inward divisions of Pikes face outward march all untill the Pikes are cleer three foot of the Muskettiers to your Leader this formes the figure demonstrated unto you by the alphabeticall B. Command Reer Division of Muskettiers upon the left face about to the right Reer division of Muskettiers upon the right face to the right Front division of Muskettiers upon the left face to the left divisions of Pikes face to the center move all untill your Muskettiers be cleer three foot of Front Reer and both Flanks then let them stand and face the divisions of Muskettiers to the left and the divisions of Pikes to face about to the right and to move all two paces then face all to the center and close their divisions a little after face to their Leader C Command Reer divisions of Muskettiers stand the rest face to the Reer march all untill your reer division range even a brest with those upon the flanks to your Leader D Command Reer divisions of Pikes face outward march all untill the reer divisions of Pikes be cleer of the outmost divisions of Muskettiers then let the reer divisions of Pikes face to the Front the rest face to the reer march all three paces to your Leader E Command Divisions of Muskettiers in the midst face about march all untill the middle-division of Muskettiers range even with the Reer to your Leader F. Command Front-divisions of Pikes face to the outward Angles Reer-division of Pikes face about and after face to inward Angles of the Reer out-most division of Muskettiers face to your inward Angles Front-division of Muskettiers face about as you are now faced move all some three paces to your Leader G. Command Muskettiers face to Front Reer and both flanks divisions of Pikes face to the Center march all untill you be even a Brest in Front Reer and both Flanks to your Leader H. Command Reer-divisions of Muskettiers face about the out-most Divisions face inward Divisions of Pikes face to the Center march all some three paces to your Leader I. Command Division of Muskettiers upon the left in the midst and the three last Divisions of Pikes and Musktteiers to face to the Reer and move three paces and stand middle-divisions face to the left the rest face about to the right and move three paces
their leader they are reduced Which being performed the leader may lodge his colours having finished his ninth Exercise CHAP. XXXI The tenth Exercise consisting of 24 Files being six deep according to the first drawing up of a private Company THere being a greater number appearing upon this days Exercise then in the former it concerns a Leader more especially to give speciall charge to the inferiour officers to be carefull in the drawing forth the files that they make no man a file-leader bringer-up half-file-leader or bringer-up of the front half-files but such able souldier as may be deserving of the same whose diligence and care upon all motions is principally required being as it were the hinges of the Leaders severall words of command Wherefore supposing them to be drawnup in battalia and the colours being brought to the head of the Company the four Serjeants ready at hand attending their Captains commands and the body being closed in ranks and files to their distance of order and silence craved at the Company he that shall exercise them may begin after distances and facings shewen with this or the like doubling following CHAP. XXXII Eight entire severall Doublings with their Reducement Command FRont half-files double your reer inward intire Command The twelve inmost files double intire the depth of the six out-most files In-most files face about Command Half-files double your front to the right Command Double your files to the right intire advancing Command Half-files double your front inward intire Command The six outmost files upon each flank double intire advancing the twelve middle files Command Half-files double your front to the right intire Command Right half-half-ranks double your left flank intire advancing which being performed they are reduced CHAP. XXXIII Eight severall Counter-marches with their Reducement Command FIle-leaders stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves before your leaders Command The right hand file stand the rest passe thorough to the right and place your selves on the out-side of your right hand men Command Counter-march your front and reer into the midst of ranks Direction Half-files face about and turn off to the left front half-files turn off to the right to your leader Command Counter-march your flanks into the midst of files face outward Command Files to the right hand counter-march maintayning ground Command Ranks to the left hand counter-march losing ground Command Counter-march your front and reer half-files from the midst of ranks maintaining ground Direction Front half-files face about and turn off to the left the rest turn off to the right every man moving up into his leaders ground to your leader Command Counter-march your right and left half-half-ranks from the midst of files losing ground Direction Face inward and turn off every rank on the ground they stand face to your leader and close files into the midst to open order they are reduced CHAP. XXXIV Eight entire Doublings by Wheelings with their Reducement Command WHeel off your reer half-files and double your front to the right intire Half-files face about Command Wheel off your left half-ranks and double your right flank intire to the left Face outward Command Wheel off your reer half-files and double your front to the left intire Half-files face about Command Wheel off your right half-ranks and double your left flank to the left intire Face outward Command Wheel off your front half-files and double the reer to the right intire Half-files face about Command Wheel off your right half-ranks and double the left flank to the right intire Face outward Command Wheel off your front half-files and double the reer to the left intire Half-files face about Command Wheeel off your left half-ranks and double your right flank to the right intire Face outward CHAP. XXXV Plain Firings and Figures of Battail The first firing LEt the two outmost files of Muskettiers upon each flank advance ten paces before the front give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after face about and move down into their places again then face to their leader Then let the next two files upon each flank move away in like manner and fire as the former did and move down into their places again After let the other remaining files be led forth by the other two Serjeants and give fire as before and fall back again into their places The second firing Let two Serjeants draw four files upon each flank and move them away 10 or 20 paces before the front and give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after face about move down into their places And whilest they are moving down let the other two Serjeants draw forth the remayning four files upon each flank and fire as the former did and after return again into their places The third firing Let all the Muskettiers move forth cleer of the Pikes and let them open from the midst untill they stand in four divisions leaving sufficient intervalls for their wheeling into the reer of themselves first let them fire in each division falling in the reer of themselves untill they have all fired over two or three times after this kind The fourth firing Let them close their files before the front of â—ikes into the midst to order then let the two first ranks kneel down the next two stoop and the last two stand upright and give fire six ranks altogether then let the left half-ranks of Muskettiers be wheeled about to the left into the reer of the Pikes and the right half-ranks move to the left untill they stand streight before the front of Pikes The fifth firing Let the half-files face about and let them give fire to front and reer after this manner by two ranks drawn off ten paces before the front and reer and fall off to the right and left into the reer of themselves then facing about let them open outward and give way for the next two ranâ—s to come forward into their places who are to fire and fall off as the former did the other two ranks doing the same this firing may be continued as long as the Leader pleaseth The sixt firing Let them give fre on the ground they stand and fall off to the right and left into the reer of themselves The seventh firing Let them rank outward into front and reer and give fire altogether and rank again as they were The eight firing Let them give fire on the ground they stand and flank the Pikes those in the front flanking the Pikes on the right they in the reer flanking them on the left after let the Pikes charge on and being retreated into their places let them face all to their leader and in the next place proceed to figures of battâ—â—â— Command Files open outward to open order ranks open backward to your open order then let every four files close outward to order and ranks close to front and reer to order they will stand in twelve divisions as followeth Command The two inmost
up even with the Front Reer divisions of Muskettiers face outward and move untill they stand streight with the out-most divisions of Muskettiers then face to their Leader and close ranks forward to order and march up and make an even Front and close files into the midst to order they are reduced CHAP. XXXVI The eleventh Exercise with 24 Files six deep THe Souldiers being met unto the place appointed and the Officers being vigilant and carefull in their severall places in drawing forth the files and joyning them into a Body the Leader without any farther delay may crave their silence and close their ranks and files to order and after some distances and facings shewn unto them drawn forth from the former rule he may proceed to this following doubling making every man a file-leader according to succession and after reduce them again Command Ranks to the left double Command Files to the left double Command Half-files double your front to the left Command Files double your depth to the left Command Bringers-up double your front to the right Command Double your files to the left intire advancing Command Bringers-up double your front to the left Command Double your files to the right intire advancing Command Ranks to the right double Command Files to the right double Reducement Files rank to the left into the front Rank file six to the left they are reduced CHAP. XXXVII Eight Counter-marches with their Reducement Command BRingers-up stand to the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves behind your Bringers-up The rest face about Command File-leaders and Bringers-up stand the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves before your Leaders and Bringers-up half-files face about Command Ranks to the left hand counter-march maintaining ground face to the left Command Right and left half-half-ranks counter-march from the midst of files maintaining ground face inward Command File-leaders face about the rest pass thorough to the right and place your selves behind your leader to your leader Command Counter-march your front and reer half-files from the midst of ranks losing ground front half-files face about Command Ranks to the right hand counter-march losing ground Command Counter-march your right and left half-half-ranks every man placing himself one the outside of his right and left hand-man they are reduced CHAP. XXXVIII Eight severall Wheelings with their Reducement Command WHeel your right and left half-ranks inward to the midst of files Face outward Command Wheel the battail off by division from the reer Command Wheel the battail inward to the right flank from left Face to the left Command Wheel front and reer half-files inward to the midst of ranks Half-files face about Command Wheel off your right and left half-ranks by division from the midst of files Face inward Command Wheel off your front and reer half-files by division from the midst of ranks front half-files face about Command Wheel off your front by division Command Wheel your battail inward to the left flank from the right face to the right CHAP. XXXIX Plain Firings and Figures of Battail The first firing LEt them give fire to the front by introduction where first command them to open their files outward to open order and then let the first rank give fire on the ground they stand then let the next rank move forward and place themselves before the first ranke and give fire likewise and stand and so successively every rank is to move forward and place themselves before the rank that fired untill all have given fire this being twice performed reducâ—th them and is tearm'd a firing of gaining ground The second firing Let them fire by files inward to order and fire on the ground they stand and fall off to the right and left into the reer of themselves The third firing Let them close their files ranking outward into one intire rank into the front all at one and the same time and to file again as they were The fourth firing Let the Muskettiers double ranks to the right and left outward and give fire three ranks together the first kneeling the second stooping the third standing upright and after to double files to the right and left inward The fifth firing Let them fire again and fall off to the right and left and flank the Pikes who may after charge on and after retreat back again into their places The sixt firing Let them face outward and give fire to both flanks on the ground they stand and fall in the reer of themselves The seventh firing Let the half-files of Muskettiers face outward and move cleer of the standing part then let every division give fire again and fall in the reer of themselves and then close their divisions The eight firing Let them give fire eight ranks together viz. two kneel down two stooping two standing upright the last two to be drawn forth so fire them altogether The ninth firing Let the four first ranks upon each flank fire again and fall off to the to the right and left and flank the Pikes and let those Muskettiers face to front and reer and draw forth the last rank of Muskettiers upon the flanks to the right and left outward and place them in the midst of those intervalls upon the angles the Pikes being impaled then fire them to front reer and both flanks and four angles and fall in the reer of themselves This firing may be continued as long as a leader shall think fit then face about those files standing at the angles and move them into the reer of those divisions of Muskettiers upon the flanks from whence they were first drawn forth then let them face all to their leader The tenth firing Let the Muskettiers in front reer face outward and march cleer of the standing part then let them face to front reer and give fire fall in the reer of themselves then let the reer divisions of Mukettiers face to the front and the outmost divisions of Muskettiers in the front face to the reer then let the outmost divisions move and close ranks forward to order and let the Pikes charge on and being retreated back again into their places face all to the front and proceed to figures of battail according to the next direction Command Half-files of Pikes face about half-files of the four outmost Files of Muskettiers face to the reer the four outmost files and the body of Pikes move forward cleer of the standing part to your leader then let them face outward and move two paces then face to front and reer and move the like face all to your leader and close ranks forward and files inward in each division they will stand as followeth The first firing Let the reer divisions face about then let the first divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel off to the right and left and fall in the room or place of the next divisions and they at the same time are to move up
Guards which shall relate unto these severall Camps both in regard of the severall and most convenient places for securing the Camp by Sentinels and Per-dues they are to be primarily appointed and ordered according the discretion and command of the Masters of the Field whether Generals or Majors of Brigades and afterwards the Serjeant Majors and Captains of Regiments according to their commands and relieved order are to designe them for the aforesaid place The enlarge the severall Arguments and Disputes that might further arise in point of Field-duties relating hereunto would be too tedious and to little purpose in regard that whosoever shall but diligently observe what hath before been set down concerning the duty of Watches in Garrisons and Fortresses may sufficiently be able to apprehend and performe all manner of duties that shall concern this Field Service provided that he be carefull to adhere to the directions of the Field-Officers in all points and diligent to observe the manner of managing of all things according to their instructions And therefore to avoid prolixity and fruitlesse disputes I referre the Reader to what hath been above related CHAP. XXV The ordering of a private Company unto a Funerall Occasion WHen any Commander or Souldier of worth shall be deceased a private Captain that would shew respect and honour by marching a long with his Company attending the Corps to the place of buriall must order his Souldiers after this manner They being summon'd by beat of the Drum to meet at their usually place of Randezvous they may be drawn up according to the usuall manner having a Van-guard Battail and Reer-guard being thus ordered and each of the Souldiers having either in his hat a black feather or ribbin the Captain may draw them off and order them to their long-march moving them away in an orderly manner unto the place of him that is deceased and there make Alt. After which he may command the Muskettiers in the Van to open to the right and left outward to such convenient distance as the Pikes may move up between them and take possession of their first ground and those Muskettiers may face about and move down cleer of the Pikes and after close their files inward to order and face to their Leader Now being in two divisions let them so continue with their Arms ordered untill such time as they shall perceive the Corps to be brought forth into the Street then the Captain may face them all about and move them some three Pikes length before the Corps after which he may command his Muskettiers to performe their Funerall Posture which is to have their Muskets under their left arme with the But-end upward their Rests likewise on that side trailing After which the Pikes are to face again to their first Front and to lay the narrow end of their Pikes down upon the ground after facing about to the left and and bringing up the But-end of their Pikes on their right side conforming themselves with the Muskettiers in their Funerall Postures In the next place the Ensigne strips his colours off from his Staffe and ties them about his right Wast putting a black Ribbon towards the very end of his Staffe he after faceth to the Body of Pikes standing in the Reer of them and trailing his Staffe in the same Posture next followeth the Captain having in his hand a half-pike or leading-staffe conforming himselfe likewise to his Funerall Posture Thus being all ready to march and rightly faced toward that place where the Corps are to be interred are after this manner following to lead and to bring up The first division of Muskettiers which was the Reer-guard is led by the Lieutenant the next division of Muskettiers that was formerly the Van-guard is led by the second Serjeant the Body of Pikes is led by the eldest Serjeant he trailing a half-pike upon the head of them the Ensigne bringing it up and the Captain 12 foot short of him bringing up the Reer of the whole Company And after him the Ministers marching just before the coffin and in the Reer and next unto it the neerest kindred and after them those that are invited to the Funeral Having thus stated the manner and order of the Military Part with all others belonging thereunto for any ordinary Funerall Occasion I shall in the next place proceed to shew their order upon the March and how each Arms ought to be disposed before the Corps enter into the Church with the rest of the Train All persons being ordered as before expressed the Drums being covered with black-bays and placed betwixt the second and third ranks in each division and all being ready to move the Drums may begin to beat their Funerall March and the Lieutenant leading them away with the But-end of his Pattison upward and comported the rest following and marching in a leasurable and slow way a long together untill they come within a hundred foot of the Church-doore or place where the Corps are to be interred there making Alt. After which let the Muskettiers in their ranks file to the right and left not advancing ground and face in opposition making a Guard for the rest to passe through and resting their Muskets or putting the But-end thereof to the ground with the barrel towards them which is a conformity to the Pikes being ordered In the mean time let the Pikes advance their Arms and immediately after move forward betwixt the Guard of Muskettiers and let their ranks afterward file to the right and left making also a Guard their Pikes being ordered and they as the rest facing in opposition Then let the Captain who bring up the Reer of all his whole Body move forward with the rest to the Church-doore then falling off in respect of ordering his Company the rest of the Train marching into the Church After which the Captain may cause them all to face to the Church or to their Leader he standing then before the Church-doore commanding them to rank again as they were After every Leader may draw off his file and set their Arms a part in each file by themselves and go in to hear part of the Sermon if there should be any such order before-hand from their Captain placing Sentinels to look to their Arms. And when Sermon is almost done they ought to go forth of the Church and draw forth the files by some little warning of the Drums to be in readinesse to answer such directions as they shall receive from their Captain Who may if he have conveniency of room draw all his Muskettiers into a Ring and the Pikes in like manner on the out-side of them and as soon as the Souldiers have notice being all ready and presented that the Body is laid down in the grave they may upon warning of the Drum give one volley of shot altogether and after make ready again performing the same twice over more After which the Ensigne may put his colours upon his staffe and furle them up
right locking themselves so firme and stedfast one within another which 't were impossible for any Body of Horse to enter in amongst them Secondly it is of excellent use for to maintain a breach and to keep out an Enemy Thirdly it is very usefull to both arms at such time when a Commander hath any thing of consequence to discover unto his Company which he may have many occasions so to do as before his Exercise to advise them to silence to observe their words of command and their directions and when they are to fight against an Enemy to perswade and keep them off from fear by assuring them good reasons of hopes of overcoming These or such like speeches manytimes a Captain may have just occasion to expresse himselfe unto his Company and being at so close a Distance they may more aptly hear his words and obey his Comands But here now by the way too much preaching upon the head of a Company concerning matters of Exercise is too much a dulling of the Souldier who rather would fall into action then so to be confounded with much talking Close order may be of very good use also for most things which hath been spoken of the closest order only here the Souldier hath a little more liberty in the handling of his arms by being at a wider Distance This Distance also is of good use before wheelings because many times upon their moving they are apt to flie out to their proper Distance of order which they always should be at in their wheelings where note if first they were at order they would flie out to wider Distance Order is the Distance which the Souldier doth fight upon and is to be used skirmishing against an Enemy it is also usefull at such time when the Drum shall beat a Troop and that the Souldiers are marching to relieve some Court of Guard or making some expedition against an Enemy for then they are in a fit capacity of Distance for to fight It is also very usefull and to be observed upon facings for all intire doublings and for wheelings Order likewise in File and open order in Rank is to be used at such time when the Drum shall beat a march and the Body upon their moving or marching Open order is the Distance proper for all doublings of Ranks and Files by the half Files or by the Bringers up wherein they have intervall of ground sufficient to move in It is also a very proper Distance for facings and ever to be observed in time of Counter-marches It is the properest distance for the Ranks to be in upon a March but the Files are then to be at order as is before exprest The use of double Distance is to be observed at such times when the Souldiers shall stand or happen to be in some eminent danger of the Cannon shot from the Enemy for standing then so thinne they may be much preserved from danger it is likewise very good for Inversion and Conversion You may take notice of these briefe directions in openings of Ranks and Files when the Files are commanded to open to the right the left hand File stands and all the Files take their Distance from the left observing always in the Motions of Files their Leaders and to move altogether along with them If it be an opening of Files to the left then contrary wayes the right hand File stands and they take their Distance from the right So likewise for closings unto what hand soever they be commanded to close the out-most File is to stand the rest are to move and close to that In opening or closing of Ranks the first Rank is always to stand the rest are to move either opening or closing according as is commanded always observing in their motions their right-hand-men and moving altogether CHAP. XXII Directions of the way and manner of drawing up a private Company THe Postures being formerly described forth the diginity of places in a File and words of Command made known unto the Souldier for their severall Distances It next followeth to shew the joyning of Files and drawing up a Company where first pray minde at such times when the Drums are beating about the Quarters and in severall places makes Proclamation as by order from their Captain for all Gentlemen Souldiers that are under his Command to repair unto his Randezvous unto such a place and at such an hour then it must be the immediate care of every Officer under his Command punctually at that hour and place thither to repair for the more incouraging of the Souldiers as they shall come in and not to stir themselves from thence without some order from their Captain for fear of giving bad examples unto others And when they shall perceive some considerable number of men to come in the Serjeants then may take advice with their Lieutenant and Ensigne which of them they will appoint out to draw forth the Muskettiers and which the Pikes and whom they shall make the right hand File-leader of the Muskettiers and who shall be the left and again who shall be the Leader of the right hand File of Pikes and who shall be the left For these four being such remarkable places of Honour unto the knowing Souldier that speciall care must be had in placing deserving men to be there Now it is or ought to be the discretion of every Lieutenant and Ensigne as being Commission-Officers to resolve the Serjeants herein that they may with more alacrity go on to draw the rest up between and so to order unto each of them their perticuler duties as to carry equall paines in drawing forth the Files Therefore in respect that for the most part in every Company they have three Serjeants two of them ought to take charge in drawing forth the Muskettiers being helpâ— by the advice of their Lieutenant and the other to draw forth the Files of Pikes being assisted in Counsell by their Ensigne for at such times the Officers ought not to be idle and to stand gazing upon each other but every one according to his particular place and relation should be very active and assisting to each other In the drawing up the Company the properest way will be then as you may understand in perfecting up a Company to draw them forth into Files and to make them six deep as being our custome here in England and farther to have care in choosing able Souldiers to be File-leaders who having spent some time and pains in their Files in shewing them their Postures they may be called to joyne into a Body For farther direction herein unto the Serjeants whose proper place it doth belong unto to observe this order in drawing up their Files that they may ingrosse the Pikes into one Body by themselves and the Muskettiers into another and not to flank the Pikes untill such time they shall perceive that in both Arms they are compleat There are likewise severall places of honour that the Serjeants ought to take
either of the flanks by these commands the souldiers aspects are thither brought to present unto him a volley of shot It is likewise very usefull for the making of a Line against a Brest-work or lining of hedges carrying it self severall ways secretly to lye in Ambuscado whereby they may fire upon the Enemy as he marcheth by Or approching against any Fort or place of danger they may daringly make a large front and firing upon them after filing to the right or left making large intervalls they much preserve themselves from the danger of the great shot proceeding from the Enemy Again ranks ranking either in equall or unequall parts is of singular good use upon a narrow passage where they can march but 2 3 4 or 6 a Brest the Commander notwithstanding they marched before 20 a Brest may by it bring them to such small numbers whereby hee may much preserve them in time of imminent danger and perill To dwell no longer upon this discourse Inversion and Conversion many times requres larger distance then any other of the Motions as sometimes double distance or twice double distance wherefore being so many occasions for the use of them both I hold it requisite for a Leader frequently to practise his souldiers in them no part of the Art Military affording more commendations to the Souldiers that shall readily and handsomly perform the same Briefly therefore passing over what might be more spoken concerning them I shall in the next place set them all forth in their full view leaving every discreet Souldier to his own liberty to make use of as many of them as hee shall think fit and to use them after what manner he pleaseth CHAP. XXXIX The words of Command for Ranks Ranking and Files Ranking to the Front they being twelve a Brest and six deep Command RAâ—â—s rank to the right 2 3 4 or 6 as occasion shall require Direction If to two the two out-most men upon the right are to move away the next two to fall behinde them untill the first rank hath made six Ranks and the rest doing the like untill the first six Ranks are become thirty six Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the left the first Rank is to stand the rest are to move away two and two untill they have made up 12 in one rank and the rest are to do the like untill they are made up all again as at first or command Ranks rank as you were the same rule is to be observ'd if you rank to any of the other numbers to divide them accordingly Command Ranks rank three to the left Direction The first three men upon the left are to move away the next three are to fall in behind toward the left untill the first Rank have made foure Ranks the rest are to do the like untill they have made them 24 Ranks Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right the first Rank is to stand the rest are to move forth by three and three untill they have made twelve in one Rank the rest are to do the like untill they be as they were at first or ranks rank as you were Command Ranks rank three to the right and left outward Direction The three out-most men of the first rank upon the right and the three out-most men upon the left move away the next three of each hand in the same rank are to do the like and every rank throughout to follow successively dividing themselves three to one hand and three to the other untill they have made twelve ranks in each Division and falling in the Reer successively to each hand of the first rank Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right and left inward or ranks rank as you were Command Ranks rank intire to the right into the front Direction The first rank stand the rest face to the right and move away every rank placing it selfe successively to the right untill they stand all in one rank in the front Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the left the first 12 men upon the left are to stand the next 12 are to face to the left and to move and fall in the Reer of the first and so consequently all the rest or else to command ranks rank as you were Cmmand Ranks rank intire to the left into the front Direction The first Rank stand the rest face to the left and move untill they have successively placed themselves and made one intire rank into the front Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right the 12 out-most men upon the right stand the rest face to the right and move making 12 in every rank or ranks rank as you were Command Ranks rank outward into the front Direction The first Rank stand the rest face outward and place your selves successively into the Front facing after to your Leader Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right and left inward the 12 middle-most men stand the rest face inward and move ranking 12 successively behinde the first rank and after facing to their Leader and to even their ranks Command Ranks rank inward into the Front Direction The first Rank is to move away to the right and left the next rank moving up into his ground doing the like and consequently so all the rest untill the last rank be come up intire into the front Reducement Ranks rank six to the right and left outward the first six upon the right and the first six upon the left stand the rest move outward falling in the Reer of the first rank ranking six to the right and left and after closing their Divisions Command Files rank to the right into the front Direction Files open to the left to your double Distance and ranks close forwards to close order and move up to the right into the front Reducement Rank file six to the left the first six upon the left are to fall into a file the rest doing the like untill you have made 12 files as at first or command rank file as you were Command Files rank to the left into the front Direction Every man is to move forward to the left into the front beginning from the Leader of the File and moving up successively making one intire rank Reducement Rank file six to the right the six out-most men upon the right are to fall into a file the rest in like manner are to do the same or rank file as you were Command Files rank outward into the front Direction Right and left halfe ranks close into the midst to close order after move to the right and left outward untill they be come up into the front Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left inward the midde men are to stand the rest are to move side-wayes to the right and left inward and to file as before commanded or rank file as you were Command Files rank inward into the front Direction Right and left half Ranks open from the midst to twice double Distance and Files move up to the right and left intire
into the front Reducement Rank file six to the right and left outward the out-most men stand the rest move to the right and left outward filing according to command and after to close their Divisions CHAP. XL. Ranks ranking into the Front by Counter-march Command RAnks rank intire into the Front every man placing himself on the out-side of his right-hand man Direction The first Rank stand the rest move away to the right successively into the Front placing themselves on the out-side of their right-hand men Reducement Rank rank 12 to the left every man placing himself on the out-side of his left-hand man the first 12 upon the left are to stand the rest are successively to fall in behinde the first Rank placing themselves as before commanded or Rank rank as you were placing your selves on the out-side of your left-hand men Command Ranks rank intire to the left into the Front every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his left-hand man Direction The first Rank stand the rest move away to the left successively placing your selves on the out-side of your left-hand men Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right every man placing himself on the out-side of his right-hand man or rank rank as you were every man placing man placing himself as before Command Ranks rank outward into the Front every man placing himself on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Direction The first Rank stand the rest move forth to the right and left and successively to fall into the Front every man placing himself on the out-side of his right left-hand man Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right and left inward every man placing himself on the in-side of his right and left-hand man the 12 middle-men are to stand the rest are to move to the right and left inward six to one hand and six to the other making 12 in Rank and falling behinde the first Command Ranks rank inward into the Front every man placing himself on the in-side of his right and left-hand man Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst to twice double Distance the first Rank of each Division is to stand the rest are to move successively to the right and left inward into the Front making one intire Rank Reducement Rank rank six to the right and left outward every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his right and left-hand man the first Rank of each Division stand the rest move to the right and left outward ranking as before commanded falling successively in the Reer of the first Rank and after to close their Divisions CHAP. XLI Files ranking into the Front by Wheeling Command FIles rank to the right into the Front by wheeling Direction Face to the right and wheel to the left untill they stand The Files are to be at double distance and Ranks at close order even a Brest in one intire Rank in the Front Reducement Rank file six to the left by wheeling face all to the Reer and the first six men then upon the right wheel to the right and so consequently all the rest wheeling by sixes to the right their Leaders that were before being the hinges of the motion and after face to their Leader Command Files rank to the left into the Front by wheeling Direction Face to the left and wheel to the right untill they make all one intire Rank in the Front Reducement Rank file six to the right by wheeling face to the Reer and the six out-most men upon the left wheel to the left the next six are to follow and consequently all the rest untill they have made 12 Files as at the first and after face to their Leader Command Files rank outward into the Front by wheeling Direction Right and left half-half-ranks close into the midst to order and face outward wheeling to the right and left untill you are one intire Rank Reducement Rank file six to the right and left inward by wheeling face about to the right and the 12 middle-most men are to wheel to the right and left inward and the rest are likewise to do the same by sixes untill they have made themselves into 12 files after face to their Leader Command Files rank inward into the front by wheeling Direction Right and left half-half-ranks open from the midst to twice double distance after face inward and wheel to the right and left inward untill they are all in one rank in the front Reducement Rank file six to the right and left out-ward face all about and wheel by sixes to the right and left the Leaders being the hinges of the Motion after face to the front and right and left half-ranks may close into the midst again to their double distance Here endeth ranking into the front with all their severall kinds the Reer challengeth the next place but I shall spare the pains and labour to set them down in regard that he who hath a mind to rank his men thither may if he pleaseth make use of all the former words of Command for the performance of the same facing them upon every Command to the Reer I come therefore in the next place only to mention the ranking into the midst by Ranks and Files which may likewise be performed by the former words of Command provided they have convenient distance and be faced to the midst and after the Command is executed to face them to their first front Yet there is remaining a ranking unto all these places at once for the performance of which observe these few words of Command following CHAP. XLII Ranks ranking or Files ranking at one and the same time into Front Reer and Midst Command RAnks rank outward into the Front Reer and Midst Direction The two last ranks are to face about the first rank They are to stand at order in Rank and File and the last rank and the third rank from the front are to stand the other three are to move forth six to the right and six to the left untill they have ranked unto all these places after face to the front and the last rank moving forward to open order Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right and left inward the last rank face about the 12 middle-most men of each rank are to stand the six out-most men of each rank are to face inward to move and fall into the right and left behinde the middle-most men after the two last ranks are to face to the front Command Ranks rank inward into the Front Reer and Midst Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst to twice double distance the two last ranks face to the Reer the first and last rank and the third rank from the front stand the rest move to the right and left inward ranking into front reer and midst after that the last rank is to face to the front and to close forward to open order Reducement Ranks rank six to the right and left outward the last rank face
about and the out-most six men upon each rank are to stand and the middle-men are to divide themselves six to the right hand and six to the left and to fall in the Reer of the first last and middle rank after the last rank is to face to the front and then to close ranks and files to their order Command Ranks rank outward into the front reer and midst every man placing himself on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Ranks ranking by Counter-march Direction The two last ranks face about the first and last rank and the third rank from the front stand the rest move forth to the right and left ranking into front reer and midst placing themselves on the out-side of their right and left-hand men face to your Leader Reducement Ranks rank 12 to the right and left inward placing your selves on the in-side of your right and left-hand men the last rank face about the 12 middle-most men in each rank are to stand and the out-most six men in each rank are to move to the right and left inward placing themselves in the Reer of the former ranks and on the in-side of their right and left-hand men facing to their Leader Command Ranks rank inward into the front reer and midst every man placing himself on the in-side of his right and left-hand man Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst to twice double distance standing thâ—n at order in each division in rank and file the two last ranks face about and the first last and third rank from the Front stand the rest move inward placing themselves on the in-side of their right and left-hand men after the last rank may face about and move forward to open order Reducement Ranks rank six to the right and left outward every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his right and left-hand man the last rank face about the six out-most men of each rank stand and the 12 middle-most men in each rank are to divide themselves six to the right and six to the left falling in the Reer of the out-most men placing themselves on the out-side of their right and left-hand men after face to the front and ranks and files close to the midst to order Of Files ranking into Front Reer and Midst Command FIles rank outward into Front Reer and Midst Direction The two last ranks face about the first last and third rank from the front stand the rest move to the right and left after the manner of doubling of ranks and rank to front reer and midst as before commanded and after the last rank face to the front closing forward to order Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left inward the last rank face about and the even men from the midst of â—iles are to fall in behinde the odd after the manner of doubling files to the right and left inward and after the two last ranks are to face to the Front Command Files rank inward into front reer and midst Direction They standing at the distance of order in rank and file command right and left half-ranks to open from the midst some thing more then to open order after the two last ranks are to face about and the first last and third rank from the front are to stand the rest are to move to the right and left inward after the manner of doubling ranks to the right and left inward after the last rank is to face to the front and to close forwards to open order Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left outward the last rank face about and every man from the flanks is to move outward after the manner of doubling files to the right and left outward then the two last ranks are to face to the front and the whole Body may close their ranks and files into the midst to order CHAP. XLIII Of Files ranking by Wheeling Command FIles rank outward into Front Reer and Midst by wheeling Direction The two last ranks face about after face all outward and The Ranks must be at close order and the Files at open order for these three words of Command following and it would be better to divide them into three Divisions that is to say between every two Ranks to have some six foot of ground intervall that they may more distinctly perform the same and wheel to the right and left by two and two untill they be ranked into front reer and midst the last rank may after move forwards unto the same distance the former stands at being first faced to their Leader Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left inward by wheeling the first two ranks face about and then every perticuler rank to wheel by two and two towards the midst of files untill they have made 12 files as at first and after to face all to the front Command Files rank inward into the front reer and midst by wheeling Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst something more then open to order the two last ranks of each Division face about after face all inward and wheel by two and two to the right and left untill they have ranked into front and reer and midst to the right and left inward the last rank is after to face to the front taking his distance conformable to the rest Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left outward by wheeling the two first ranks face about and each perticuler rank is to wheel by two's towards the flanks untill they have made 12 files as at first after facing all to the front and closing their ranks and files into the midst to order Command Files rank inward into the midst by wheeling Direction Right and left half-ranks open from the midst to twice double distance after face inward and let them know that the Bringers-up of the Front half-fiiles and the half-file Leaders are the hinges of the motion after face them to the Front and they will be in two Ranks Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left outward by wheeling the last Rank face about and both Ranks wheel to the right and left by threes untill they have made 12 Files as at first after face all to the Front and close Files into the midst to order Command Files rank outward into the Front and Reer by wheeling Direction Right and left half-ranks close into the midst to order after face outward and wheel to the right and left the Bringers-up and the Leaders are the hinges of the motion and when they are brought into two Ranks one in the Front and the other in the Reer face them to the Front Reducement Ranks file six to the right and left inward by wheeling the first Rank face about and both Ranks are to wheel by threes towards the midst of Files untill they have filed according unto command after facing to their Leader evening their Ranks and straightning their Files And thus much of
Conversion or Ranks ranking or Files ranking they having more variety in them then many times can be usefull except it be to present unto the Souldiers some things that are new in the motions which many times they love to see I could upon this Subject have much more enlarged my selfe but conceiving what is already set down may be sufficient for the knowledge of any intelligible Souldier I come therefore briefly to treat of Inversion or of Ranks filing and Files filing CHAP. XLIV Of Ranks filing or of Files filing or of Inversion with their severall sorts and kinds Command FIles file to the right Direction The right-hand File is to move away cleer of the standing part and after the next File to fall in the Reer of the first and consequently so all the rest untill they become one File Reducement File-leaders lead up your Files to the left or file file six to the left Command Files file to the right intire advancing Direction The right-hand File stand the rest move away successively placing themselves in one direct file before the Front Reducement File file six to the right into the Reer face all about or File file six to the right towards the Front Command Files file inward into the right Flank Direction Half-files face about the out-most Files then upon the left as they are so faced are to move away forward and consequently all the rest are to fall in behinde them the like is to be performed by the Front the out-most File at the same time is to move away and the rest successively falling in untill they have made one intire File after they are to face to the Front Reducement Front-half-file file three to the left Reer half-file face about and file three to the right face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command Files file to the right by Division Direction Half-files face about the out-most file upon the right is to stand the rest are to move forward and to place themselves successively into one intire file going forward after each other and after face to the Front Reducement Front half-file file three to the right and Reer half-file face about and file three to the left face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command Ranks file to the right every man placing himself behind his right-hand man Ranks filing by way of Countermarch Direction This may be done marching or standing if marching the right-hand man of the first rank doth first move away the rest in the same rank do fall in behinde him and consequently all the rest untill they make one intire file if upon a Stand the ranks are to open backward to such a Distance as they may conveniently fall into one File Reducement File rank 12 to the left or File rank as you were Command Ranks file to the right advancing every man placing himself before his right hand man Direction The out-most file stand the rest are to move forward with their right leg The Ranks are to be at twice double distance and the Files at order placing themselves before their right-hand men Reducement File rank 12 to the right or file rank as you were Command Ranks file to the right every man placing himself before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction The half-files are to face about only the right-hand file is to stand the rest are to move forward filing to the right Flank every man placing himself before his Leader and his â—ringer-up face to your Leader Reducement Front half-file rank 12 to the right Reer half-file face about and rank 12 to the left face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command Ranks file inward into the right Flank every man placing himself before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Half-files face about Front and Reer half-files are to march to such covenient distance as the ranks may fall into the midst of the right flank after they are to face about or to face to the midst of ranks and then they are to move forward into the right flank every man placing himself as before commanded and after face to their Leader Reducement Front half-files rank 12 to the left Reer half-file face about and rank 12 to the right face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command Files file to the right every man placing himselfe behinde his Bringer-up Files filing by way of Countermarch Direction The out-most file stand the rest face about and move forward each perticuler file to the left placing themselves behinde their right-hand file and their Bringers-up Reducement File file six to the left every man placing himself before his Leader Command Files file to the right every man placing himself before his Leader Direction The right-hand file stand the rest move forwards every file successively placing themselves before their Leaders and their right-hand file Reducement Files file six to the right into the Reer every man placing himselfe before his Bringer-up face all about the last six men stand the rest are to move and to file six to the right placing themselves before their Bringers-up and after to face to the Front Command Files file to the right flank by Division every man placing himself before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Half-files face about the right-hand file is to stand the rest are to move forward to the right flank placing themselves before their Leaders and their Bringers-up making one intire file to the right face to your Leader Reducement Front half-files face about and file three to the right every man placing himself before his Bringer-up and Reer half-file file three to the left placing your selves before your Leaders face to your Leader Command Files file inward into the right flank every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files move forward until there be sufficient Distance to file into the right flank after face them about to the midst of ranks then the files may move successively into the right flank placing themselves before their Leaders and their Bringers-up face to your Leader Reducement Front half-file file three to the left every man placing himselfe before his Leader and Reer half-file face about and file three to the right every man placing himselfe before his Bringer-up face to your Leader and close your Divisions CHAP. XLV Ranks wheeling into the Flanks Command RAnks wheele to the right into the right Flank Direction Every perticuler Rank is to wheel to their right hand They ought to be at twice double distance in rank and at close order in file untill they have brought their aspects unto the right Flank after face to the Front Reducement File rank 12 to the right the first man is to stand the rest are to move forward to the right successively 12 in a Rank to the right Command Ranks wheel to the left to the right Flank Direction Face all about and Ranks wheel to the left
untill you have brought your aspects unto the right Flank face to your Leader Reducement File rank 12 to the left the first man is to stand the rest are to move forwards making up 12 a brest to the left untill they have made six Ranks as at first Command Ranks wheel outward to the right Flank Direction Half-files face about the first three Ranks wheel to the right and the three last Ranks wheel to the left to your Leader Reducement Front half-files Rank 12 to the right Reer half-files face about and rank 12 to the left face to your Leader march up and close forwards to your due distance Command Ranks wheel inward into the right Flank Direction Half-files face about Front and Reer half-files march from the midst to twice double distance after Front and Reer half-files face about Front half-files wheel your Ranks to the left Reer half-files wheel your Ranks to the right to your Leader Reducement Front half-file Rank 12 to the left Reer half-file face about and rank 12 to the right face to your Leader and close your Divisions The left Flank challengeth the next place but I shall spare that pains in regard it is to be done by the same words of Command only altering the hand I come therefore in the next place to shew how Ranks and Files may file outward to both Flanks and midst at one and the same time by proper words of Command as followeth CHAP. XLVI Of Files filing or Ranks filing to both the Flanks and the Midst at one and the same time Command FIles file to the right and left to both Flanks and the midst of files Direction The out-most file upon each Flank and the two middle files are to move away the rest are to fal in suceessively behinde to the right and left filing to both Flanks and to the midst after to stand and even their Ranks and streighten their files Reducement Files file six to right and left inward moving between the Flanks and the middle files Command Files file to both Flanks and to the midst of files advancing Direction The out-most file upon each Flank stand and so likewise the two inmost files the rest move forth and place themselves successively filing advancing towards both Flanks and the midst of files Reducement Files file six to the right and left inward to the Reer placing your selves between the flanks and the middle files the moving part is to face about and to march down according to command as before exprest after face to their Leader Command Files file to both flanks and the midst by Division They must be at order both in rank file Direction The out-most file upon each flank and the two in-most files stand half-files of the other files face about and march forth and file by threes to the right and left into both flanks and the midst facing to their Leader they will stand in four files 18 deep Reducement The six middle-most men in each File stand the three first and the three last ranks file six to the right and left inward the three first ranks face about then moving by threes between the out-most File of each flank and the middle Files after facing to their Leader Command Files file inward into both flanks and into the midst of files Direction Half-files face about march all and open from the midst to twice double distance face all about to the right the two in-most and the two out-most Files stand the rest move successively by threes untill they file into both flanks and into the midst face to your Leader Reducement Files file three to the right and left inward into the Front and Reer half-files face about the three first and the three last ranks stand the 12 middle-most men move inward by threes into front and reer between the out-most and the middle-most files face to your Leader and close your Divisions Command Files file to both flanks and to the midst of files every man placing himselfe before his Bringer-up Direction Face all about the two out-most files and the two middle files stand the rest move forth to the right and left placing themselves successively before their Bringers-up filing towards both flanks and the midst of files face to your Leader Reducement Files file six to the right and left inward following your Bringers-up between the flanks and the middle files the first six ranks are to stand Command Files file to both flanks and to the midst of files advancing every man placing himself before his Leader Direction The out most file upon each flank and the two middle files stand the rest advance forward placing themselves successively before their Leaders filing to both flanks and to the midst of files Reducement Files file six to the right and left inward into the reer following your Leaders between the flankers and the middle files the six last ranks face about and after they have filed they are all to face to their Leader Command Files file to both flanks and to the midst by Division every man placing himself before his Leader and Bringer-up Direction The out-most file upon each flank and the two in-most stand half-files of the other files face about and then command them to move filing to both flanks and into the midst placing themselves before their Leaders and Bringers-up to your Leader Reducement The six middle-most men in each file stand the three first and the three last ranks file six to the right and left inward every man placing himself before his Leader and Bringer-up the three first ranks face about and then with the three last they are to move forward between the out-most and the middle-most files that is by threes to place themselves before their Leaders and their Bringers-up face to your Leader Command Files file inward into â—â—ch flanks and into the midst every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his â—â—â—â—â—er-up Direction Half-files face to the 〈◊〉 march all and open from the midst to twice double distance face all about to the right the two in-most and the two out-most files upon each flank stand the rest move successively by threes placing themselves before their Leaders and Bringers-up filing into both flanks and the midst face to your Leader Reducement Files three to the right and left inward into front and reer every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his Bringer-up half-files face about the three first and the three last ranks stand the 12 middle-most men move forwards by threes between the out-most and the middle files placing themselves as aforesaid face to your Leader and close your Divisions CHAP. XLVII Of Ranks wheeling to both tâ—e Flanks Command RAnks wheel to the right and left to both flanks advancing Direction The out-most men upon the right and left in every They are to be at double distance in Ranks and at order in Files rank are the hinges of the Motion the rest are to divide their ranks by
wheeling six to the right and six to the left untill they have brought their aspects unto both the flanks after face to their Leader Reducement Files rank 12 to the right and left inward into the Reer face all to the right and left about inward and begin the Motion from each file to rank six to the right and six to the left making up 12 a Brest in the Reer the rest following untill they have made six ranks in a Brest face to your Leader Command Ranks wheel to the right and left towards the reer Direction Face all about the out-side men are the hinges of this Motion who are to wheel from the reer to the right and left untill they have brought their aspects unto both the flanks face to your Leader Reducement Files rank 12 to the right and left inward the right-hand file is to begin to rank six to the left the left-hand file is to rank six to the right making up even a Brest 12 in number the rest doing the same Command Front and reer half-files wheel your ranks outward into both flanks Direction Half-files face about and front and reer half-files wheel outward into both flanks untill you have brought your aspects unto the right and left face to your Leader Reducement Front and reer half-files rank 12 to the right and left inward towards the midst of ranks front half-files face about and begin the Motion from the Bringers-up of the front half-files and the half-file-leaders ranking six to the right and left from each file making 12 a Brest face to your Leader Command Front and reer half-files wheel your ranks inward into both flanks Direction Half-files face about and march all untill you be at twice double distance in the midst then face all about to the right and wheel to the right and left untill you have brought your aspects unto both flanks by wheeling inward to them face to your Leader Reducement Files rank 12 to the right and left inward into front and reer half-file face about and rank in front and reer six to the right and six to the left making 12 a Brest after face to your Leader CHAP. XLVIII Of Ranks wheeling to the midst of Files Command FRont and reer half-files wheel your ranks inward to the midst of files Direction Half-files face about and front and reer half-files wheel your ranks to the right and left inward untill they face in opposition to your Leader Reducement Files rank six to the right and left outward unto the midst of ranks front half-files face about and rank six to the right and left outward reer half-files do the same to your Leader Command Front and reer half-files wheel your ranks inward into the midst of files Direction Half-files face about front and reer half-files march untill you have atteined twice double distance in the midst of ranks face all about to the right and wheele to the right and left inward into the midst of files to your Leader Reducement Files rank six to the right and left outward into front and reer half-files face about and front and reer half-files rank six to the right and left outward as before commanded to your Leader move forward and close your Divisions to your double distance CHAP. XLIX Of Ranks wheeling to both Flanks and into the midst at one and the same time Command FRont and reer half-files wheel your ranks to the right and left into They ought to be at more then open order in Ranks and at order in Files both flanks and the midst of files Direction Half-files face about to the right and the middle files and the out-most files upon each flank are the hinges of this Motion the rest are to wheel their ranks to the right and left towards both the flanks and to the midst of files face to your Leader Reducement Files rank six to the right and left inward to the midst of ranks and between the flankers and the middle files front half-files face about and rank six to the right and left inward towards the midst of ranks and between the flankers and the middle files the reer half-files doing the same face to your Leader Command Front and reer half-files wheel your ranks inward into both flanks and into the midst of files Direction Half-files face about and front and reer half-files march untill you be at double distance in the midst after face all about to the right and wheel your ranks to the right left inward into both Flanks and into the midst of files face to your Leader Reducement Files rank six to the right and left inward into Front and Reer between the flankers and the middle files half-files face about and rank six to the right and left inward to the reer between the flankers and the middle files the front half-files doing the same to the front after facing to their Leader and half-files move forwards closing their Divisions to the distance of the former ranks Having dwelt thus long upon this Subject of Inversion and Conversion occasioned thereunto by their great variety and difficulty in the performance of them I hold it convenient to give a breathing space unto the wearied Souldier whilest I in the mean time prepare further matter for his longing desire Yet before I enter in any other discourse of the Art Military I hold it requisite to give some admonitions to those that shall venture upon them For being very difficult they are not easily understood by every punie my advice therefore is to wave such things in time of Exercise which the Souldiers are unacquainted with providing for them such matter as is both plain and easie and being frequently practised in such he may after drill them on to harder till by degrees he hath brought them unto such perfection knowledge that they shall be able to perform and execute what is commanded not gazing upon one another as I have often observed neither knowing their Leaders meaning or if they did they are altogether ignorant how to fullfill his commands Frequent practise therefore makes the Souldier expert witnesse our gallant Souldiers and Citizens of London who are most of them so well grounded by frequent practise that their Lenders can scarce give a word of Command which is not easily apprehended by them they being in their Exercises so often inured to such difficult expressions as these of Inversion and Conversion CHAP. L. Of Counter-marches with their severall sorts and kinds affording much variety in time of Exercise THose which have a longing desire to be throughly knowing in this part or branch of Military Discipline must take notice of these foure sorts viz. Counter-marching of Files next of Ranks after the Front and Reer half-files and lastly of right and left half-ranks all which are performed either by intire or divisionall Counter-marches or else by the intire changing of ground and that by many ways the Front half-files with the Reer the right half-ranks with the left
for the satisfaction of those loving Gentlemen which have private Meetings in London but more especially for those of the Town-ditch unto whom I am most especially bound And therefore without more delay I shall lay before them certain figures of Battail upon all the Depths of files set forth in the former Table leaving them to their own discretion to make use of what shall best comply and suit to their intended purpose CHAP. LXV Military Experiment upon a File six deep branching forth eight severall Figures of Battail with their reducement Command FIle rank two to the left Command The middle-most rank open to the right and left to open order Command The last rank advance forward into the next rank that is before you and to open from the midst to open order and the first rank move forward one pace Command The first rank open outward two foot beyond open order the last rank close forward to order Command Division upon the left face about march all till you be cleer each of other face all to the left and march two paces face to your Leader the last rank open outward to double distance Command The first rank open outward to double distance the first man in the front face about move down and double the middle-most man to the right rank-wise Command The left-hand man of the middle-most rank face about the middle-most rank march two paces before the front and reer face to your Leader and close ranks and files to order Command The second rank from the front double the first to the right and left outward by Division the last man in the Reer close forward to order Command The out-most men of the middle rank face about and move down even with the Reer to your Leader Reducement The middle-most man in the Reer advance forwards to the left into the front Files close inwards to your order Files to the right double Half-files double your front to the left Files double your Depth to the right every man falling behinde his Bringer-up File rank two to the right Ranks rank intire to the left into the Reer every man placing himself on the out-side of his left hand man Direction Face about and after being faced to their Leader they will stand after this manner 6 5 4 3 2 1. Rank file to the right they are reduced CHAP. LXVI Words of Command to produce the first eight Figures of Battail with their reducements Command HAlf-file double your Front to the left Command The last rank face about the two middle ranks face outward march all some two paces to your Leader Command The first rank move forwards two paces the third rank close inwards to open order Command The third rank from the front face outward march all three paces to your Leader The first rank stand the rest face outward and move two paces to your Leader Command The first rank face about march all untill you be cleer one of another to your Leader Command The last rank move to the right and left and place your selves three foot behinde the Front Divisions Command Division on the right face about march all untill you be cleer one of another then face to the right and march untill you stand even a Brest of each other face to your Leader Command Reer Division face about the last man in each Division move forwards into the midst of the rank that is before you face to your Leader and close your Divisions to order Command The last man in the Reer move forwards to the right in the rank of him that stands before you the last rank open outwards to order to your Leader Reducement Face all about the last man in the Reer move forwards on the left into the rank that is before you even your ranks and streighten your files to your Leader Files double inward by Division Double your ranks to the left intire into the Front and Reer Direction Half-files face about after face to your Leader and the last rank close forward to order and even your ranks and straighten your files Wheel Front and Reer to the left flank Direction The last rank face about then face to your Leader and counter-march the file they are reduced CHAP. LXVII Words of Command for the second eight Figures of Battail with their reducement Command FIle rank to the left one three and four the last rank face outwards and move three paces to your Leader Command The two in-most men of the last rank close inward to close order the two out-most men of the last rank fall back two paces Command The middle-most man in the first rank face about march all till you are cleer one of another to your Leader Command Files close into the midst to order the last man move forward to order Command The middle-most rank open to the right and left to double distance Command The out-most men upon the flanks face inward the last man in the Reer face about the first the last rank face to the four Angles move all 3 paces to your Leader Command The first man in the Front and the last man in the Reer stand the rest face outward and march three paces to your Leader Command The last men of the out-most files move forward to the right and left untill you range even a Brest with the middle-men Reducement The last man in the Reer move forward and range even a Brest with the first rank Ranks file to the right following your Leader they are reduced CHAP. LXVIII Words of Command for the third eight Figures of Battail with their reducement Command BRingers-up double your Front to the left Command The first and the last rank stand the third rank double outward rank-wise the middle rank face outward march all two paces to your Leader Command The middle rank stand the rest double to the right file-wise face all to the Center and march some two paces to your Leader Command The middle rank double inward file-wise and move a little forward Command Half-file of the middle file double your Front to the left Front-division face to the right and move one pace to your Leader Command The left-hand file in the Front face about and march cleer of the Reer face to your Leader The middle file double to the left rank-wise files close into the midst to order Files rank outward into the Reer and then begin from the right to wheel them about to the left in a ring Command Files close into the midst to order the first rank close inward to close order the third rank open outward to open order the last man in the Reer move even a Brest with the rank that is before you Command Files open to the right and left untill you stand streight with your Bringers-up the rest moving forwards untill they have ranged even a Brest with the first man Command Angle-men face to the four Angles the middle-men in the out-most files face inward the middle-man in
the Front face about march all three paces face to your Leader Reducement The last man in the Reer of the middle file face about middle file march cleer of the standing part files close into the midst to order the last man in the Reer fall in Reer of the right hand file the first man in the Front move to the left and fall in the Front of the left hand file close your ranks and files forward to order and make an even Front files double your depth to the left every man falling behind his Bringer-up reduceth them CHAP. LXIX The way to make twelve severall Figures of Battail with a File ten deepe with their Reducement Command FAce to the right wheel your Front into the midst Face after to your Leader Command The last men in the Reer of the outmost files face about outmost files move cleer of the standing part face inwards and close your Divisions to your Leader Command The last man of the middle file and the last rank face about the first rank and the last rank and the middle file move forwards two paces the rest open outward two paces to your leader Command The last man in the front division advance forward three foot before the Front the first man of the Reer division face about and move three foot behinde the Reer the outmost files double ranks inward ranks close forwards to order and face to your Leader Command The first man in the Front face about the last man in the Reer stand the rest face outwards march all untill the first and the last man meet face all to your Leader middle men double to the right rank-wise and close outward to order The two middle-men in the Body face about and move cleer of the Reer three foot face to your Leader middle-men of the out-most files close inward to order Command Middle-man upon the right of the second Rank advance forward three foot before the Front the three first men in the Front and the middle-man of the second rank move forwards three paces the rest closing inward one pace Command The last rank open outward to double distance and the next rank open outward to open order and the third rank from the Reer to close inward to order Command The second man from the Front face about move down and range even with the Reer outmost men of the last rank advance forward and range even with the second rank from the Front the last rank move forwards untill they have exceeded three foot the next rank that stands before them divisisions on the wings face outward move two paces to your Leader Command Front-Division face about and march down even with the Reer the las◠man move forwards to order to your Leader Command Middle-Division advance forward cleer of the standing part Divisions in the Reer close inwards to order wheel your Reer into the midst to your Leader Command The last rank close inward to order and to double to the left file-wise the second man from the Reer move forwards into the second rank that is before you Reducement The first man in the Front move a little to the right the second man from the first rank double the first man to the left rank-wise the first rank wheel off by Division double the last man in the Reer to the right and left rank-wise ranks close forwards to order and face to your Leader Reducement The first and second rank face about the first rank double the second to the right and left outward to your Leader the last rank move forward and even your ranks and straighten their files wheel Front and Reer to the left flank the last rank face about before they wheel then facing to their Leader they are reduced CHAP. LXX Twelve severall Figures of Battail with a File 12 deep 〈◊〉 their reducement Command FRont half-file double your Reer to the left face to your Leader Half-files double your Front to the left Command the middle-most men upon each flank face outward the two middle-men of the last rank face about those that are thus faced and the two middle-men of the first rank move forward to your Leader three paces the first and the last rank stand the rest move outward two paces face to your Leader Command The out-most Divisions open from the midst almost to twice double distance the first rank face about and rank even with the midst of ranks face to your Leader the last rank double to the right file-wise the second man from the Reer advance forward and place himself 3 foot before the middle-men the last man at the same time closing forward to order Command The outmost division upon the right move away the rest successively falling in the Reeer of them untill they stand streight after the first division Command The outmost man upon the left of the middle division to open to the left to double distance the rest of that division to face to the right and to move cleer of the standing part face to your Leader the last man in the Front face about to the last Division the first man of the Front-division and the first man of the Reer-division to move forwards and to close to open order after facing to the left flank closing to the outmost man to order face to your Leader and after face all to the Center and move a little forward to your Leader Command The outmost man upon the right and the outmost man upon the left close inward to order Command The two middle-men move forth to the right and left three foot cleer of the standing part the first man in the Front face about the first man in the Front and the last man in the Reer move into the second that is before you to your Leader Command The two outmost men upon each Flank close inward to open order Command Face all to Front Reer and both Flanks and the four middle-men move forwards into the rank that is before them and they will stand in a Square face to your Leader Command Files rank outward the middle man of the first rank move forward and place himselfe three foot before his right and left hand man the outmost and the middle man of the last rank move backward and place himselfe three foot behinde the Reer-division close forwards to open order Command The first and the last rank move to the left one pace and after double to the right filewise the middle rank close inward to order Command The two out-most men of the middle rank face about move down and range even a brest with the middle-man of the Reer Division closing inward to order and facing to the Front even men from the left move forwards and rank even a brest with the middle-man of the Front-division and close inward to order the out-most men open outward to double distance Command Reer division face about and move two paces the outmost-man upon the left face about to
like manner this firing may be continued twice over The second firing Let them face to both the flanks and let the Divisions of Pikes in the midst open outward untill they be cleer of the standing part then Porting let the Muskettiers give fire on the same ground they stand and the Pikes after may charge on untill the Muskettiers make ready again and then retreating into their places again the Muskettiers may give fire as before is mentioned the Pikes in like manner charging on then retreating to the paces face all to their Leader Command In-most Divisions of Pikes move to the left one pace and double to the right file-wise and face to Front and Reer and march three paces Middle-file of Front and Reer-Divisions open from the midst to double distance face to your Leader The first firing Face to Front Reer then give fire fall in the Reer of themselves The second firing Let the Muskettiers move forwards and the in-most Division ran outward into Front and Reer and then give fire altogether and file as they were the Pikes may charge whilest they make ready and fall into their places again they may continue upon this firing a second time The third firing Let the Muskettiers and the two out-most men of the Pikes face to both flanks and likewise the middle-divisions of Pikes are to face to both flanks after this manner the first two of the Reer-division are to face to the right and the two last men of the Front-division are to face to the left then let the Muskettiers give fire to both flanks and the Pikes may after charge to the Front Reer and both flanks untill the Muskettiers make ready again this firing may be continued twice to your Leader Command The out-most single men of Muskettiers in the front-division face about the two out-most men of Muskettiers both of Front and Reer-divisions move forwards and close to order face to your Leader and close inward to open order The first firing Let them give fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves then face about and move down into the reer the rest moving up successively giving fire and falling off in like manner this may be continued twice over then face them to the reer and let the Muskettiers rank to the right and left outward The second firing Let the first rank of each division give fire and fall off to the right and left in manner and forme of the former firing untill they have fired twice over then to file as they were and face to their Leader Command Front and Reer divisions of Pikes move to the right one pace the second division of Pikes move forward and double the front to the left the second division of Pikes from the reer face about move down and double the Pikes in the reer to the left to your Leader middle divisions of Muskettiers open outward to twice double distance face all to the center and march two or three paces to your Leader The first firing The three last divisions face to the reer the two outmost men both of Pikes and Muskettiers face to the flanks then let them all give fire and fall in the reer of the Pikes the Pikes may charge while the Muskettiers make ready again The second firing Let the Muskettiers move forth and give fire as at first and after fall in again The third firing Let them give fire by Extraduction and fall again in the reer of the Pikes The fourth firing Let the Pikes charge the horse and the Muskettiers give fire altogether over their heads then move forth into their first places and face to their Leader Command Front and Reer divisions of Muskettiers open outward to double distance the outmost men of Pikes close inward to open order the third rank of Pikes from the front face about the third rank of Pikes from the front and the third rank of Pikes from the reer move forwards to order face to your leader front and reer divisions stand the rest face outward and move two paces to your Leader The first firing Let the first divisions fire and fall in the reer of themselves then wheeling off to the right and left into the place of those Muskettiers in the reer they at the same time moving forward into their places and firing falling off in like manner the Muskettiers may give fire on the ground they stand falling in the reer of themselves this firing being twice performed we proceed to another The second firing Let the Front divisions of Muskettiers and those upon the flanks give fire and fall in the midst of Pikes in the mean time the last division of Pikes may open outward untill they be cleer of the standing part then let Pikes charge all whilst the Muskettiers make ready again this firing may be performed twice after which let them move forth into their places again and face to Front and Reer and give fire and fall off in the reer of themselves the Pikes may charge which being ended face them to their Leader Command The last rank of Pikes of the middle division face about middle division of Pikes move forward untill you range even a brest with the midst of the Front and reer divisions of Pikes to your leader the last man of the outmost divisions of Muskettiers face about outmost men move forward three paces and face to your Leader ranks of the Front and Reer divisions open from the midst to open order Reer divisions move forward two paces The first firing Let them fire to the Front and fall in between the Pikes this may be done twice after which face to front and reer and fire there in the same manner then let Pikes and Muskettiers inter-change ground let them give fire altogether unto Front and Reer then facing about interchange ground with the Pikes who are to charge on whilst the Muskettiers make ready again then retreating let them all face outwards and they will stand in forme like a Saw after they have moved two paces The second firing Let the Muskettiers give fire altogether to both flanks and the Pikes to charge on and after retreating they may order their arms and face all to their Leader Reducement The outmost Muskettiers upon the Flanks move to the right and left inward placing themselves in the midst of their one divisions the outmost men of Pikes to stand the rest to double ranks to the left and the first rank of Pikes to double to the right file-wise and the second rank from the reer to double to the left file-wise after let the outmost men of Pikes double their inmost files into the midst then moving forward their divisions evening their front closing files to the midst to order they are reduced And now we will lodge our Colours and repose our selves untill by the next beat of the Drum we shall be summon'd to make our appearance CHAP. XII The third Exercise with foure Files six deep BEing the third
time brought into the Field compleatly arm'd where being drawn forth into files and by the Leaders thereof exercised as before they are commanded tolead up their files yet not presuming to place themselves but leaves that to the discretion of their superiour Officers who knows best the desert of each perticuler man But by the way give me leave in this place to tell the Souldiers and Leaders of our Private Meetings that this decorum is not rightly observed the souldier thinking himself wiser then his Loader presumes to chop and change by Counter-marching of his file making some part of the Reer to be more honourable then the Front which cannot be for the youngest souldier there is off more honour then the eldest in the Reer in regard it is the more honorable part of the Battalia therefore it is plain that they take more upon them then becomes them for no file-Leader ought to meddle with his file in matter of motions without consent of the Superiour Officers neither ought the Leader either through favour or out of malice when all the files are joyn'd into one compleat Body to Counter-march the files and after proceeding to other Motions depraving thereby the Leaders thereof of their due honour for else why just in the time of Exercise or Marching should one single file as the right or left be counter-marched if he bore not malice to some thrusting them by this un-souldier-like way out of their places and through favour or affection often times putting men of little desert into their places To leave this discourse not pleasing to some let the Commander draw forth one file of Pikes and double it by the half-file and send a Serjeant to fetch the Colours and after closing his ranks and files to order he may begin to make some alteration in the exercising of them in their Motions spending his time altogether upon Inversion and Conversion CHAP. XIII Thirtie severall Words of Command of Inversion and Conversion Command RAnks rank intire to the left into the Front Direction The first rank stand the rest face to the left and successively move into the Front Command Rank rank four to the left Direction The first foure upon the left stand the rest face to the left and by foures fall successively behind the first foure upon the left Command Files rank outward into the Front Direction The inmost files stand the rest open outward to double distance and after rank outward into the Front Command Rank file three to the right and left outward by wheeling Direction The three outmost men upon the right and left wheel to the right and left outward the rest doing the like by threes after close into the midst to order and face to their Leader Command Files rank inward into the reer Direction Face to the reer and move to the right and left inward into the reer to your Leader Command Rank file six to the right and left outward advancing Direction The outmost man upon the right and left stand the rest move outward untill they be six in a file and the next outmost men are to stand the other doing the like and after close files into the midst to order Command Files rank inward into the midst of ranks Direction Front half-files face about and right and left half ranks open from the midst to double distance the rest open outward to order and move to the right and left inward to the midst of ranks to your Leader and close files inward to order Command Ranks file 12 to the right and left inward every man placing himself before the Leaders and the Bringers-up of the middle Files Direction Ranks open backward to double distance the middle-file stand the rest advance forwards and file 12 to the right and left inward placing themselves before the Leaders and Bringers-up of the middle-files Command Files rank six to the right and left inward Direction Files open from the midst to double distance and move three to the right and three to the left inward untill you have made four ranks six a Brest after close ranks forward to order Command Ranks rank outward into Front and Reer every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Direction Half-files face about and rank to the right and left outward into Front and Reer as is commanded face to your Leader and close ranks forward to order Command Ranks file 12 to the right and left inward every man placing himselfe behinde the Leaders and Bringers-up of the middle-files Direction Ranks open backward to double distance the middle-files stand the rest move side-wayes to the right and left and place your selves behinde the Leaders and Bringers-up of the middle-files Command Files rank six to the right and left inward into Front Reer and Midst Direction The three last ranks of the Front and Reer half-files face about and Files open outward to double distance and move to the right and left inward into Front Reer and Midst making four ranks six a Brest after face to your Leader and close ranks forwards to order Command Ranks rank outward into the midst Direction Front half-files face about and move outward and rank to the midst and face to your Leader Command Ranks wheel to the right and left outward Direction Half-files face about and wheel to the right and left outward into both the flanks face to your Leader and close files into the midst to order Command Files rank six to the right and left outward into Front Reer and Midst Direction The three last ranks of the Front and Reer half-files face about and rank outward three to the right and three to the left into Front Reer and Midst face to your Leader and close ranks and files to their distance of order Command Ranks file to the right intire advancing Direction The out-most file stand the rest move forward and file to the right intire advancing Command File rank three to the right Direction The first three men from the Front rank three to the right the rest successively doing the same closing ranks forward to order Command Ranks wheel to the left Direction Ranks open backward to open order and wheel to the left Command File rank six to the left Direction The first six men rank six to the left the rest successively doing the same untill they have made four ranks six a Brest then close ranks forwards to order Command Ranks rank outward into the midst every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Direction Front half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files rank outward into the midst placing your selves on the out-side of your right and left-handmen face to your Leader Command Ranks wheel three to the right and left outward Direction The last rank face about and wheel by threes to the right and left outward towards both flanks face to your Leader and close files to the right to order they will stand four a Brest and
six deep Command Files file outward intire advancing Direction The out-most file stand the rest advance forward and place your selves before the out-most files after close files into the midst to order Command Files file to the right Direction The right-hand file stand the rest face about and fall in the Reer of your right-hand file to your Leader Command File file 12 to the right Direction The first 12 stand the other move forward filing 12 to the right Command Files wheel inward into Front and Reer Direction Files open from the midst to twice double distance after face inward and wheel six to the right and six to the left untill you have made two ranks 12 a Brest face to your Leader and close ranks forwards to order Command Ranks wheel inward to both the flanks Direction Ranks open from the midst to twice double distance the first rank face about the first and the last rank wheel six to the right and six to the left inward to both the flanks face your Leader and close files to the midst to order Command Files file three to the right and left outward into Front and Reer Direction Half-files face about the three first and the three last ranks are to stand the rest are to move by threes filing to Front and Reer to the right and left outward and after face to the Front and close their ranks forwards to order Command Files file to the midst by Division Direction Half-files of the out-most files face about and the out-most files move forwards and file by Division unto the midst of files face to your Leader Command Files rank inward into the Front Direction Files open from the midst to twice double distance and move forward to the right and left inward into the Front Command Rank file six to the right and left outward Direction The out-most men are to stand the rest are to move side-ways to the right and left making six in a file and then the next out-side men in like manner are to stand the rest successively are to file as before CHAP. XIV Next followeth severall Figures of Battail with Firings upon the same for the performance whereof Command BRingers-up to double their Front to the right and left inward and ranks and files to open to open order Muskettiers to close outward to close ordâ—â— the in-most files of Pikes close outward to the same distance and they will stand in four Divisions after let the middle rank in each Division open outward to open order they will produce the first Figure The first firing Let the first rank give fire and wheel off to the right and left and place themselves in the room of them in the Reer and they at the same time moving forwards into their places and give fire as the first after wheel off into their places again The second firing Let the middle ranks advance three foot before the Front and give fire face about and move down into their places again Command The last rank in each division move to the left one pace and double to the right file-wise and then advance forward untill their first men exceed two foot the Front of each division then let the first rank open outward to open order and the last rank close inward to the same distance The first firing Let the middle file give fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves The second firing Let the first rank give fire on the ground they stand and after fall off to the right and left into the room of them in the reer they at the same time moving forward into their ground and give fire in like manner and fall off into their places again and then the Pikes may charge on whilst the Muskettiers make ready again Command Face all about middle file move forward three foot cleer of the reer the first rank close inward to order the last rank open outward somthing more then to open order Upon this figure let the first man in each division kneel down and then to give fire altogether over one anothers head the Pikes at the same time charging brest high to the horse then face all to their first front Command The last men in the reer double to the left rank-wise files close into the midst to order Musketties double your Pikes inward intire advancing and move forward three paces Files double your depth to the right and left outward of each arms every man falling behind his Bringer-up Front half-files double your reer intire into the midst Files double to the right and left outward files file to the right intire advancing which being done wheel them to the right about into a ring in form as followeth Upon this figure let the Pikes charge round and the Muskettiers give fire altogether which being ended let the Commander goe to the place where the file-Leader stands and wheel them off again to the left untill he hath brought them into one streight file and then proceed Command Half-file double your front to the right ranks double to the right and left inward files double outward intire advancing Half-files of each armes double your ranks forwards to the left â—ront half-files double the Reer to the left files file to the left intire advancing and wheel about into a ring then face all to the center and close files of each armes to the right and left inward to close order Command Middle men in each division move backward and place yourselves two foot behind your right and left hand-men face all about to the right and close ranks inward to order Upon this figure let them fire by circumduction after this manner let the odde men of Pikes port and then the odde Muskettier where the first front was is to give fire and to move away to the left and the next odde man of Muskettiers upon the right immediately comes stooping underneath the Pikes into the first mans place firing in like manner moving away into the next odde mans place of the Muskettiers upon the left the rest doing the same untill the first Muskettier come into his place again Command Face all to the center odde men move forwards and place your selves two foot before your right and left hand-men after face all to the right about Upon this figure you may fire likewise by way of circumduction the Pikes porting all round and having performed one firing in this manner in the next place let the odde Muskettiers and Pikes move forth again and kneel down the odde Pike-men charging at foot the Muskettiers may give fire altogether then let them face to the center let the odd men move forwards and place themselves between their right and left-handmen then moving forward and close their ring let them face all about to the right Then let the Captain goe where the Leader of the file stands and wheel him about to the left the rest following untill they be all brought again into one streight
to your Leader K. Command The four last Divisions face to the left the four first divisions face to the right move all untill you be cleer one of another then face to the right and march untill you range even a Brest in Front and Reer face to your Leader L. Command The two in-most divisions of Pikes stand the rest face inward march all untill the middle-divisions be three foot cleer of the Front to your Leader M. Command Front-divisions of Pikes face outward the rest face inward march all untill the Front-divisions range even with the out-most divisions of Pikes face to your Leader N. Command Front-divisions of Muskettiers face outward the rest face inward march all untill the Front-divisions of Muskettiers are cleer of the Pikes then stand and the six last divisions to face about and move three paces to your Leader O. Command Reer-divisions of Muskettiers face outward march all some six paces Reer division of Muskettiers face to the Front the rest face to the Reer and move untill the Reer-divisions range even a Brest with the Front to your Leader P. Command Front-divisions of Pikes upon the left face about march all untill that divisions be six foot cleer of the Reer then stand and Front and Reer-divisions of Pikes face to the left and move two paces to your Leader Q. Command Front-division of Pikes face about march all untill the Front-division of Pikes range even a Brest with the first division of Muskettiers to your Leader R. Command The two out-most divisions of Muskettiers face about out-most divisions of Pikes face outward move all untill the out-most Muskettiers stand streight with the Front-division of Muskettiers then face to your Leader S. Reducement Divisions of â—ikes face inward the three last divisions face about march all some six paces Front and Reer divisions of Pikes face to the left Muskettiers face about move all two paces to your Leader Divisions move forwards and double your Front close Files inward to order and Ranks forward to order double files to the left intire advancing reduceth them Thus much I conceive may be sufficient at one time for a Leader to exercise his Company with the Motions upon their Facings so that he shall not need to trouble himselfe with any more then Firings where first as is most properest we will begin with some plain Firings to the Front for the performance whereof let the half-files double their Front to the left and ranks and files close forward and inward to order The first firing Let them fire by Divisions drawn forth 10 or 20 paces and fall in the Reer of themselves The second firing Let the Muskettiers close their Divisions before the Front of Pikes and give fire and fall all off upon the right Flank The third firing The Body moving or marching let the out-most files face to the right and give fire and lead away by the contrary side of their â—ikes by the Leaders of the file the next file may doe the same and consequently all the rest untill all have fired then let them face to the right the Pikes in the interim charging on whilst the Muskettiers make readie again The fourth firing Let the Pikes open from the midst that the Muskettiers may come up between them two ranks may kneel down and the other two stand uppright and fire altogether the Pikes then charging and after retreating they may close again into the midst continuing their aspects to the right flank the Pikes may port and the Muskettiers may slieve up upon the right and left of the Pikes the first rank giving fire and presently falling before the front of Pikes the next rank doing the same falling still behind their owne Muskettiers and before the front of Pikes as they are then faced and having all fired after that manner they may fire again and flank their Pikes then facing to front and reer they may give fire to both places and fall off to the right and left and flank their Pikes from Front and Reer and after face to their leader Command â—iles open outward to open order Muskettiers close outward to order the inmost files of Pikes close outward to order ranks close to front and reer to order Reer divisions of Pikes face about Muskettiers face outward move all three paces to your Leader And now you have the figure of battail pointed out in the first place unto you by the alphabet The first firing Let them fire to the Front and fall in the Reer of themselves then wheel off to the right into the place of those Muskettiers in the reer they at the same time moving up into the front firing in like manner and moving down into their places again The second firing Let the reer divisions face about and after let them give fire both to front and reer and falling in the reer of themselves the Pikes may charge while the Muskettiers make ready again they may fire a second time in the same manner The third firing Face all to both flanks then let them give fire and fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes after charging on three paces and the Muskettiers retreating three paces after facing to their Leader preduceth this figure following The first firing Let the two first Divisions advance three paces before the Front give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves and after move down into the places of them in the Reer they at the same time moving up into their rooms giving fire in like manner falling downe into their places again this may be perform'd twice over after face them to Front and Reer The second furing Let them give fire their Divisions advancing three paces before the Front and Reer falling in the Reer of themselves the Pikes charging on and the Muskettiers retreating into their places again facing to their Leader Command Reer division of Muskettiers upon the left face about Reer division of Muskettiers upon the right face to the right Front division of Muskettiers upon the left face to the left Muskettiers march all cleer of the Pikes then stand after face them in their severall divisions to the left and move two paces to your Leader If you find by the words of command given to make the former figure that your divisions stand too thin you may face them all to the center and move forward every division two or three paces then face to their Leader The first firing Let the Front division of Muskettiers give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves after wheel off to the right into the room or place of them in the Reer they at the same time moving up into the Front firing and falling off in like manner this firing may be performed twice The second firing Let the Muskettiers upon the Wings advance forward three paces give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves after face about and move into their places The third firing Let the front division of Muskettiers move to the right two
front divisions of Pikes Reer divisions of Muskettiers move forward and range inward even a brest with the front divisions files close into the midst to order front and reer half-files open from the midst to double distance the four in most files of front reer half-files face inward and interchange ground then let each two files of Pikes close outward to order and after to double there divisions to the right filewise and to close files to the left to order the two outmost files of Muskettiers upon the right double ranks inward and lead them away before the left half-ranks of Muskettiers the next two files doubler ranks outward and lead them away behind the reer by first facing them about Pikes face to the left and move streight before the Muskettiers and then double the reer inward intire and after files to double their depth to the right every man falling behind his Bringer-up they are reduced CHAP. XVIII The sixth Exercise with four Files eight deep THe Souldiers being met at the place appointed and their files being drawn forth according to the usuall custome the Leaders begin to shew each Souldiers how to handle and use his Arms and after leads up their files and joyns them into a Body where the Commander having sent for his Colours stands at the head of them commanding their silence and attention unto the words of Command Now having in his former Exercise spent most of the time upon plain Doublings he may in this shew unto them the great variety of Doublings by Counter-marches and although they are very difficult yet they will afford much delight and content unto the Souldiers CHAP. XIX Thirty Doublings by Counter-marches with their reducement Command BRingers-up double your Front to the left Command Double your files to the left intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right and left outward following your Leaders Command Double your files outward intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader Command Bringers-up double your Front to the right and left inward Command Double your files inward intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right and left inwards following your Leaders Command Files double your Depth to the right and left outward following your Bringers-up Command Double your files to the right by Division every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Half-files of the even files from the right face about even files advance forward and double the odd according to command to your Leader Command The four first and the four last ranks double the eight middle-most ranks to the right and left inward following your Leaders and your Bringers-up Direction The four first and the four last ranks advance your Arms and the file-leaders and the bringers-up begin the Motion the rest are to follow after order their Arms and face to their Leader Command Double your files to the left by Division every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction The eight middle ranks double your Front and Reer to the right and left outward following the half-file-leaders and the Bringers-up of the Front half-files Direction The four last ranks of the Front and Reer half-files face about the middle-ranks are to begin this Motion and to advance their Arms and to turn off to the right and left every rank following them untill they have doubled the Front and Reer then face all to the Front order their Arms and close their Divisions forward to open order Command Double your files inward by Division every man placing himselfe before his Leader and his Bringer-up Direction Half-files of the out-most files face about the out-most files advance your Arms and move forward placing your selves before your Leaders and your Bringers-up face to your Leader and order your Armes Command The four first and the four last ranks double the eight middle-most ranks to the right and left outward following your Leaders and your Bringers-up Direction The four first and the four last ranks advance your Arms and move away to the right and left and double the eight middle-most ranks to your Leader Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right following your Leaders Command Files double your Depth to the right every man placing himself behinde his Bringer-up Command Right half-ranks double your left flank to the right following your right-hand men Direction Face outward and right half-ranks turn off to the left and double the left-flank to the right to your Leader Command Double your ranks to the right intire every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his right-hand man Command Left half-ranks double your right flank to the left following your left-hand men Command Double your ranks to the left intire every man placing himselfe on the out-side of his left-hand man Command Double your ranks by Division every man placing himself on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Command The in-most files double the out-most files placing your selves on the out-side of your right and left-hand men Derection The in-most files advance your Arms face outward and move forward and double the out-most files placing your selves on the out-side of your right and left-hand men order your Arms and close files into the midst to open order Command Double your ranks by Division into the Reer Command The two out-most files double the four in-most by following of your out-side men Direction The in-most files face inward the rest face outward and turn off to the right and left towards the Reer and double the four in-most files to your Leader Command Double your ranks by Division into Front Reer and Midst every man placing himself on the out-side of his right and left-hand man Direction The two last ranks of the Front and Reer half-files face about even ranks from the Front Reer and Midst advance your Arms and face outward and move forth and double the Front Reer and Midst of ranks placing your selves on the out-side of your right and left-hand men face to your Leader and close ranks forward to open order Command Double your two out-most files to the right and left outward and Midst following of the in-most files Direction The two out-most files face outward the rest face inward and Front and Reer half-files distinctly turn off to the right and left and double the out-most files to the right and left outward and midst following of the in-most files to your Leader files close into the midst to order Command Double your files to the right intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader Command Bringers-up double your Front to the right Command File-leaders double your Reer to the left Command Double your files to the left intire into the Reer every man placing himselfe before his Bringer-up Direction Face to the Reer and even files from the left advance your Arms and move
forward and double the odd placing your selves before your Bringers-up to your Leader Command Files double your Depth to the left following your Bringers-up Command Half-files double your Front to the right and left inward every man placing himself before his Leader they are reduced as at first CHAP. XX. Plain Firings and Figures of Batail HAving spent so much time upon these Doublings by Counter-marches in the next place I shall proceed to Firings and severall Figures of Battail where first command the half-files to double the Front to the left and then go on to your Firings The first firing Let them fire even with the Front and fall off and rank even with the half-files and fall in the Reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge on and the Muskettiers may give fire again and fall in the Reer of the Pikes The second firing Let the Pikes port and the Muskettiers give fire by extraduction The third firing Now the Muskettiers being in the reer fire them there upon the march wheel them about to the right and let them fire after this manner face about to the right and left let the last rank fire fall off and flank the first rank of Pikes and so consequently all the rest after fire them to the reer and fall off to the right and left some six paces before the front of Pikes and in the reer of themselves then face the body about and let the Pikes charge to the reer and after port the Musketteirs may give fire to the reer by way of extraduction The fourth firing Next fire to the reer by dividing the Muskettiers and bringing them even with the reer and ranking outward and falling again as they were face to your leader Command Ranks and files open to your open order Muskettiers close outward to order the outmost Files of Pikes stand the rest close outward to order front half-files open forward three paces ranks close to front and reer to order Pikes move forward two paces Pikes face outward Muskettiers face inward and move clear one of another to your leader The first firing Let them give fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel off to the right and left into the reer they at the same time moving up into their ground give fire and falling off as before the Pikes may after charge on while the Musketties make ready The second firing Let Pikes and Musketieers rank outward and give fire and fall off in like manner as before after let them fire and fall in the reer of the first rank of Pikes of the front divisions then the Pikes may port then let the first divisions give fire and fal in behind the Pikes the reer divisions after moving up into their places may give fire and face about march down into their places then face to their Leader this firing being continued twice or oftner over you may fire them to the reer they being thither faced after the very same manner the Pikes there charging after facing all to their Leader let them double files to the right and left inward of each division Command Front divisions of Pikes face inward Front divisions of Muskettiers face outward the rest face about move all six paces to your leader Reer divisions move forward two paces The first firing Let the front divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel off to the right and left into the reer they at the same time moving forward into their places may give fire and fall off as before this may be twice performed The second firing Let the front divisions give fire and fall in the reer of the front divisions of Pikes the reer divisions of Muskettiers moving into their ground firing and falling behind the reer divisions of Pikes then they may move forth cleer of the Pikes and fire and fall in again they may fire after the same manner to the reer but I shall let that passe and goe on to the next Command Reer divisions of Muskettiers face outward and march three paces cleer of the reer divisions of Pikes then face to your Leader and move forward untill they range even a brest with the reer divisions of Pikes The first firing Let the first divisions of Muskettiers give fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves after wheel off to the right and left into the room of them in the reer they at the same time moving up into their places firing and falling off in like manner this firing may be continued twice over then the Pikes may charge whilst the Muskettiers make ready again The second firing Let the reer divisions move forward even a brest then let the Muskettiers give fire altogether and fall in the reer of themselves this firing may be continued twice over and the Pikes may charge after let those divisions that moved march down again into their places Command Front division of Pikes upon the left face about and move down four paces cleer of the reer front and reer divisions of Pikes move to the left two paces to your Leader Upon the former figure fire first to the front and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel down into the place of them in the reer they at the same time moving up into their places firing and falling off in like manner This firing being twice performed let the reer divisions of Muskettiers move up even a brest with the front divisions and fire altogether and fall in the reer of themselves after let the Pikes charge on and the outmost divisions of Muskettiers face about and move down into their places Command Front division of Pikes face about and march untill they range even a brest with the front division of Muskettiers to your Leader Reer division of Pikes move forward three paces Upon this figure let each division fire as they stand and fall in the reer of themselves performing it twice over the Pikes may after charge on whilst the Muskettiers make ready again who after may give fire by two ranks together as they in each division the Pikes charging as before Command Outmost divisions of Muskettiers face about march untill you range even with the reer face inward and move untill you stand streight after the front divisions of Muskettiers to your leader middle divisions of Pikes face outward and move cleer of the standing part to your leader The first firing Let them give fire to the front by divisions relieveing each other after face them to both flanks and let them give fire upon the ground they stand and fall in the reer of themselves this firing may be continued twice and after the Pikes may charge on whilst the Muskettiers make ready again and after retreating into their places The second firing Let the middle division of Pikes in the reer face about and the middle division of Pikes face to the front and Muskettiers to face to the outward angles of front and reer and let
standing upright then the Pikes may continue their charge till the Muskettiers make ready again and after they may retreat and fall in the Reer of the Muskettiers and close their Divisions inward to order These firings being all upon a stand and the Muskettiers being now in Front and Reer they may be moved away and may give fire upon the march to Front and Reer after this manner The fifteenth firing Let the first rank in the Front nimbly advance forward ten paces then present and give fire in which interim the rest will be moved up unto them the others having fallen off to the right and left in the Reer of their own divisions of Muskettiers the next rank may give fire in like manner untill all have fired thus once over the Reer are to fire at the same time with the Front facing about the last rank who are to fall off and to place themselves before their own divisions of Muskettiers The sixteenth firing Let them fire as before and the first rank of the Front-division to fall off and flank the Pikes to the right the rest of that Division falling off and placing themselves in the Reer of them and likewise the first rank of the Reer-division when they have fired let them fall off and range even a Brest with the half-files of Pikes and still preserving themselves in their places to be right-hand men to those which were at first and the rest to give fire and fall in the Reer of them The seventeenth firing Now the Muskettiers being all upon the right flank let the out-most file face to the right and fire and lead away by Bringers-up between the Muskettiers and the out-most file of Pikes let this be continued in the same manner untill all have fired The eighteenth firing The Body still marching let them fire again after the same manner as before The nineteenth firing Let them fire by ranks wheeling to the right flank and after to rank to the right so many a Brest as they were at first marching a long with the Body The twentieth firing Let them fire and fall off on the contrary flank The one and twentieth firing Let them give fire upon the gathering firing after this manner let the out-most file upon the left face to the left give fire and then face to the Front and untill the rest be cleer and then the next file to face to the left and fire and after face to the Front and then the first file may gather up even a Brest upon the left of the second file then the third file may face to the left and give fire after face to the Front and stand untill the other two march up on the left and joyn even a Brest with him and consequently so all the rest untill every file have fired and that they be all moved up even a Brest with the Pikes The two and twentieeh firing Let them wheel ranks to the left and fire and after rank four to the left as they were at first and march even a Brest with the Pikes The three and twentieth firing Let them fire to the left flank ranks inverting and after face to the Front and to rank again as they were The four and twentieth firing Let them fire by files filing to the right and facing after to the left and fire to the left flank and then facing to their first Front and to lead up their Files to the left again as they were The five and twentieth firing Let them fire by the out-most files to the left flank and lead away by the Leader up between or in the middle of Pikes The six and twentieth firing Let them face outward and fire upon a stand after this manner by ranks dividing moving forth to the right and left and fire and fall in again into their places the Pikes may after charge on and retreat again into their places The 27th firing Let them fire by ranks ranking outward into both the Flanks and moving forward and firing even a brest and ranking again as they were but not returning again into the midst of Pikes from whence they were drawn forth but fire to both flanks and fall in the Reer of themselves The 28th firing Let them fire again and fall in the Reer or midst of Pikes The 29th firing Let the Pikes port and let the Muskettiers fire by extraduction to both flanks and return again into their places The 30th firing Let the Pikes open to the right and the Muskettiers move up into the midst and the first rank give fire and slieve up to the right and left and place themselves before the Pikes the next rank moving forward into his ground and slieving away in the Reer of them untill all have fired The 31th firing Let them close their Divisions and fire and fall in the Reer of themselves The 32th firing Let them fire by files ranking outward and filing again as they were The 33th firing Let them fire by ranks wheeling outward into both flanks towards Front and Reer the half-files are to face about the left half-ranks are to wheel to the right the right half-ranks to the left the Front half-files doing the like may give fire facing after to the right and left inward ranking as they were into the midst of ranks and facing again to the flanks The 34th firing Let them fire two ranks together and slieving presently away and flank the Pikes The 35th firing Let them face to Front and Reer and after move outward and facing to the outward Angles of Front and Reer and let them fire and fall in the Reer of themselves The 36th firing Let them close files into the midst to order and fire again and let them fall off to the right and left and flank the Pikes then face all to their first Front they are reduced Having spent all this time in the plain Firings we will in the next place proceed to Firings upon such Figures of Battail as followeth CHAP. XXV Severall Figures of Battail Command HAlf-files double your Front to the left Muskettiers double your Pikes intire advancing Files open from the midst to double distance the two out-most Files close outward to open order and the two in-most Files close outward to the same distance half-files of each Division double the Front inward intire Ranks and Files close to order The four out-most Files upon each Flank stand the four in-most Files upon the left face to the Reer then let the four in-most Files upon the left and the four in-most Files upon the right move forward three foot before the Front and Reer and then face to the left and move two paces then face all to the Front and move streight in their Divisions both rank-wise and file-wise they will stand as followeth The first firing Let the front division of Muskettiers move forward untill they be cleere of the standing part then give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and then closing their files
double their depth intire to the right they are reduced Then the Leader may appoint one of the Serjeants to draw off the Muskettiers and file them away to the right and left outward either by ranks filing or files filing and every Muskettier to poyse his Musket then the Pikes may advance their arms and the Drum beat a troop and the Commander may lead them away and lodg his Colours CHAP. XXVI The ninth Exercise consisting of 64 men eight files eight deep IN this Exercise a Commander may in matter of motions present unto the Souldiers fâ—rther varietie to delight them withall in bringing up each man into the Front to be a File-leader according unto succession and dignity by proper words of Command by doublings with their Reducement Therefore to avoid any further circumstance wee will pass over the Postures and fetching of the Colours and suppose the Souldiers standing in a condition to be exercised begin first to make them all File-leaders by succession as followeth Command Ranks to the left double Command Files to the left double Command Half-files double your front to the right Command Double your files to the right intire advancing every man placing himself before his leader Command Ranks to the right double Command Files to the right double Command Front half-files double the reer to the right Command Double your files to the left intire advancing Command Double your ranks to the right into the reer face all about Command Double your files to the left advancing Direction Every even file from the left move forward to the left and by three steps double the odde advancing Command Half-files double your front to the left Command Double your files to the left intire advancing every man placing himself before his leader Command Double your ranks to the left into the reer face all about Command Double your files to the right advancing Reducement Files rank to the right into the front Rank file eight to the right reduceth them Next followeth to make every man file-leader according unto dignity with their Reducement Command Bringers-up double your front to the left Command Double your files to the right intire advancing Command Half-files double your front to the left Command Double your files to the left intire advancing every man placing himself before his leader Command Bringers-up double your front to the right Command Files double your depth to the right Command Ranks to the right double Command Front half-files double your reer to the right following your leaders Command Double your files to the right by division every man placing himself before his leader and his bringer-up Command Front half-files double your reer to the left following your leaders Command Double your files to the left by division every man placing himself before his leader and his bringer-up Command The two first and the two last ranks double the four middle-most ranks to the right following your leaders and your bringers-up Direction The four middle ranks stand the file-leaders are to turn off to the right and the next rank is to follow them untill the leaders rank even with the bringers-up of the front half-files and at the same instant of time the bringers-up are to move forward to the right the rest following untill the bringers-up range even a brest with the half-file-leaders to your leader Command Files double your depth to the left Reducement Half-files double your front to the right Bringers-up double your front to the right Then divide every four files distinctly apart making five divisions Files double to the right and left inward in each division and close files into the midst to order Files double to the left intire advancing reduceth CHAP. XXVIII Eight severall Counter-marches with their Reducement Command FIles to the right hand counter-march maintaining ground Command Ranks to the left hand counter-march losing ground Command Counter-march your front and reer half-files into the midst of ranks Direction Half-files face about and turn off to the left and front half-files turn off to the right untill they meet the front and reer into the midst to your leader Command Right and left half-ranks counter-march into the midst of files Direction Face outward right half-ranks turn off to the right left half-ranks turn off to the left to your leader Command Files to the left hand counter-march losing ground by following your leaders Command Ranks to the right hand counter-march mayntaining ground Command Counter-march your front and reer half-files to the right and left following the half-file-leaders and the bringers-up of the front half-files Direction Half-files face about the bringers-up of the front half-files and the half-file-leaders are to begin the motion the rest are to follow untill they have gained so much ground beyond the front and reer as they formerly possest in the midst to your leader and close your divisions Command Counter-march your half ranks to the right and left by following of the inmost files Direction Face outward the inmost files are to begin the motion moving forward the rest following untill they have gained so much ground beyond the flanks as they formerly possessed in the inmost files to your leader and close files into the midst to order they are reduced CHAP. XXIX Ten severall Wheelings with their Reducement Command WHeel the battail off by division from the front Command Wheel the body off by division from the right flank face to the right Command Wheel the battail off by division from the reer face about Command Wheel the body off by division from the left flank Command Wheel your battail inward to the reer from the front Direction Open outward to convenient distance to your leader Command Wheel your battail inward to the left flank from the right Direction Face to the right and open to convenient distance to your leader Command Wheel your battail inward to the front from the reer Direction Face about and open to convenient distance and wheel inward into the front Close ranks forward to close order and files into the midst to close order Command Wheel your battail inward to the right flank from the left Command Wheel the outward angles of front and reer to the right and left about into the center face to the outward angles Command Wheel the inward angles to the right and left about from the center CHAP. XXX Plain firings and figures of Battail IN the next place I wil proceed to some plain firings wherefore first double your ranks forward to the left by half-files and fire even with the front of pikes fal in the reer of themselves then fire and fall between the Pikes then move forth after this manner one rank drawn forth to the right and another to the left fire fal in again as before Then command the first rank to stand and the rest to move forth both Pikes and Muskettiers to the right and left untill each rank be cleer of other then let the Pikes charge and Muskettiers give
that of the first or fourth as is in the Collonels In the next place the second Captains turn comes to be regarded who by the same rule as the eldest Captain layes claim to carry the first honour by leading the first Body of Pikes the Collonels colours so the second Captain cannot expect any other but to be placed to lead the second Body of Pikes the Lieut. Collonels colours Now there being an odd Captain he must be either placed upon the right or left he is therefore thought in discretion to be rather placed with the Collonel in his Division that his colours may there flie marching four together being far more honour and gracefull then that of three as in the Lieutenant Collonels and therefore where there is an honour in that kind which cannot be divided it is very fit and requisite to place and fix it with him that is the Commander in chiefe As for number of men both Divisions are equall a like and therefore I conceive what hath been spoken may take off all objections of this nature And now according to my promise I shall set forth the manner of the standing of seven Companies in a regimentall way with all the severall places of honour appointed forth unto them either marching or standing all even a brest If they be upon the long-march they are to observe that manner set down in six Companies onely to minde that alteration before expressed the Figure of their drawing up and the Officers stated in their proper places follows in Folio 156. From which Figure I will draw up another placing the Souldiers in Battalia which may be very usefull for them to fight upon Command Pikes in both Divisions face inward in-most divisions Muskettiers face outward Let them be at open order in their Ranks and Files and the two grand Divisions standing in one even Front together march and interchange ground each with other face to your Leader The four inmost files of Muskettiers next the Pikes face about and march six foot cleer from the Pikes and stand then close their Files to the right and left to order in their own perticuler divisions then face inward and march all together untill they stand six foot cleer of each other face to your Leader The next five Files of Muskettiers in each side of Pikes advance 18 foot before the Front then close their Files into the midst to order and Ranks forward to order Pikes close your Ranks forward to order and Files into the midst to order Every five Files of Muskettiers close inward to order and Ranks forward to order then face to the Pikes and march forward being betwixt every five Files of Muskettiers six foot of ground distance each from other and the same distance from the Body of Pikes face all to your Leader The 12 out-most Files of Pikes and Muskettiers advance forward six foot cleer of the standing part then move forward the three out-most divisions of Muskettiers 12 paces then face them inward and move them untill they stand streight before the five remaining divisions face all to your Leader The middle division of Muskettiers of those three taken off before from each Flank move forward six foot cleer of the standing part the three middle-most divisions of the five remaining upon each Flank move up untill you stand six foot short of the divisions which are before you the two out-most divisions of the last three that moved face outward and march six foot cleer of the former divisions before them the two remaining divisions by the out-side of Pikes move inward untill you stand streight in the Reer with the two Front divisions facing all to their Leader they will stand as is set forth unto your view in Folio 156. Notwithstanding the former directions of drawing forth the Figure make this alteration wheel off the first two divisions of Muskettiers before the Pikes and place them six foot behinde the Reer of those upon the Flanks and before you reduce them carry them into their first places In this Figure you have Forlornes aptly standing to the Wings and main Body of Pikes with Reserves to them all so that I shall not need to trouble my selfe for to describe what firings might be here performed upon the same they lying so apparant to the view the divisions being cleer each of other any ingenuous Commander may fire them according unto his own best discretion continuing the same as long as he shall think fitting and therefore passing it by and leaving it to their own liberty I come in the next place to reduce them again into private Companies Reducement Pikes of the Main Body advance forward and range even a brest with the Pikes before you the two last divisions of Muskettiers in the Reer move up and flank the Pikes the two divisions of Muskettiers before the Front face about and move down upon the right and left of the other two divisions of Muskettiers to your Leader The two last divisions of Muskettiers in the Reer of the Flanks advance forward to the right and left and range even a brest on the out-side of those three divisions that stands before you Single divisions of Muskettiers in the Front of each wing face about and move down even a brest with the Reer of the next divisions The eight divisions of Muskettiers upon each wing face about the five first divisions move down and range even a brest with the Reer the three last move to the right and left outward untill you be cleer of the rest face to the Reer and move down in like manner and rank even with the rest after face all to the Front and they will all stand in one even Front Next command the Pikes to face outward and the five in-most divisions of Muskettiers in each flank face inward then march and interchange ground each with other and face to their Leader they will stand again in two grand Divisions all even a brest in the Front In the next place let those six files be taken off by the Serjeants of their own Companies from the two grand Divisions and be brought into their first plâ—ces After the Major may give order to every Captain to draw off his men and put them into Companies again which is easily done after the Regiment may be ordered to march home in single Companies either by succession or dignity which he pleaseth And here I shall conclude concerning a Regiment of seven Companies CHAP. XIV The manner of drawing up and placing the Officers of a Regiment consisting of eight Companies having in it a Collonel a Lieuteuant Collonel a Major and five Captains their number of men in each Companie being equall with the former Regiment they amount unto 972 men In the nâ—xt place I shall shew how they ought to be drawn up in a regiment all way being all even a brest as before command Muskettiers to face about and to march down 12 foot cleer of the Reer
Flank Reer Order your Pikes and put up your Swords This way of charging to the Horse I have set down as being practised somtimes amongst us in our private meetings but I conceive it to be of little use to receive a desperate charge of the Horse for by these charges the Souldiers are in so lame and weake a posture that the Horse cannot choose if they come on with a full career but beare the Pikes and Pike-men down to the ground Therefore in my opinion the best way of opposing the Horse charge is that which we learned of our ever honoured Captain Major Henry Tillier in the Military Garden which was Files closing to the midst to their closest Order insomuch that there was not above half a foot intervall of ground between File and File the Pikes Porting and after closing their Ranks forwards so close that they locked themselves one within another and then charged on Which in my judgement is so secure a way from routing that it is impossible for any Body of Horse to enter therein and farther to my best remembrance I never could meet with any Souldier that hath been abroad upon any service that ever saw any charging of the Pikes at the Foot therefore I will further proceed From Order Advance Your Pike Shoulder Your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Order as you were From your Order charge to the Front Right Left Reere Order as you were Advance your Pike Shoulder Your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Advance as you were From your Advance charge to the Front Right Left Reer Advance as you were Shoulder your Pike Port Your Pike Comport Your Pike Cheek Your Pike Trail Your Pike Shoulder as you were From the Shoulder charge to the Front Right Left Reere Shoulder as you were Port your Pikes Comport your Pikes Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes Comport as you were From the Comport Charge to the Front Right Left Reer Comport as you were Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes Cheek as you were From the Cheek charge to the Front Right Left Reer Cheek as you were Trail your Pikes from your Trail charge to the Front Right Left Reer Trail as you were Order your Pikes Lay down your Pikes Here is to be observed by this Method an endeavouring to performe all the postures of the Pike from each particular posture only shortning it by degrees leaving out what was before commanded untill we come unto the Trail Yet notwithstanding I spared not the charges but have shewn them from every posture in their due order Next followeth the postures of the Musket wherein in answerablenesse to the Pike I shall lay them down in full and afterwards contract them in a shorter way CHAP. IV. The Postures of the Musket THE Musket lying on the ground the first word of command will be as to the Pike Stand to your Arms Take up your Bandiliers Put on your Bâ—ndilieres Take up your Rest Put the string of your Rest about your left wrist Take up your Match Place your Match Take up your Musket Rest your Musket Here the Souldier may perform the Saluting Posture if he shall finde any occasion so to doe for the honouring of his friend or any Gentleman of worth Poyse your Musket Shoulder your Musket Un-shoulder your Musket and Poyse Joyne your Rest to the outside of your Musket Open your pan Cleer your pan Prime your pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose Corns Blow off your loose corns and bring about your Musket to the left side Trail your Rest Ballance your Musket in your left hand Finde out your Charge Open your Charge Charge with powder Draw forth your Scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to an Inch. Charge with Bullet Put your Scouring-stick into your Musket Ram home your Charge Withdraw your Scouring-stick Turn and shorten him to a handfull Return your Scouring-stick Bring forward your Musket and Rest Poyse your Musket recover your Rest Joyn your Rest to the outside of your Musket Draw forth your Match Blow your Cole Cock Your Match Fit Your Match Guard your Pan Blow the ashes from your Cole Open your Pan Present upon your Rest Give fire brest high Dismount your Musket joyning the Rest to the outside of your Musket Un-cock and return your Match Cleere your Pan Shut your Pan. Poyse your Musket Rest your Musket Take your Musket off the Rest and set the Butt end to the ground Lay down your Musket Lay down your Match Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Lay down your Rest Take off your Bandiliers Lay down your Bandiliers Here endeth the Postures of the Musket from the taking of them up from the ground to make ready and the proceeding in them to the laying of them down again Now if the Souldier will take his Rest into his right hand for to be a support and help to him in his march he must observe the following words of command Lay your right hand upon the Butt end of your Musket Lay your left arme over your Musket The Musket being shouldered you may proceed in these words of command to recover the Rest into the right hand Shift your match between the fingers of your right hand Take your Rest into your right hand cleering the string from your left wrist Return your match and take your Rest into your right hand 't will cause you to be in a fit capacity for to march CHAP. V. The Postures and charges of the Pike to be performed in a shorter way all things acted in order and nothing done twice THE Pike lying on the ground the first word of Command will be Stand to your Arms Handle your Arms. Raise up your Pikes to your open Order Raise up your Pikes to your Order Raise up your Pikes to your close Order From your close Order charge to the Horse Front Right Left Reer Recover your Pikes and put up your Swords Advance your Pikes Port your Pikes Charge to the Front Shoulder your Pikes Charge to the right Comport your Pikes Charge to the left Cheeke your Pikes Trail your Pikes Charge to the Reer After lay the narrow end of the Pike to the ground face about to the left to your first Front and move forward with the Butt end of your Pike on your right side in your Funerall Posture After face about to the right raise up your Pike face then again to your first Front you may lay down the Pike to the ground and march from your Arms having ended all the Postures and Charges in their due courses And here Fellow Souldier whoever thou art thou maist perceive that there are no more then eight Postures of the Pike and foure Charges that is to say to the Front Reer and both Flanks There are some would fain have another Posture added to these which they call the Lazie Posture which somtimes I have
perceived upon a stand that then the Pike-man le ts slip his Pike from the shoulder untill the Butt end rest upon the ground then laying his right arme over it he stands in an il-favour'd lazit way Such Postures as these are not fit to be ranged among the former but rather to be condemned in regard the Souldier will be apt enough to finde out such Postures as these of himselfe if not prevented by the discretion of the carefull Officers for upon a stand the Souldiers properest Posture is to Order his Pike And thus much in briefe concerning the Postures of the Pike CHAP. VI. The Postures of the Musket collected in a briefe way ACcording to my former promise I shall endeavour to give the best satisfaction I can to the Muskettiers as well as to the Pikes that there is an answerablenesse of number in the proper Postures of the Musket to them of the Pike and they are eight as I conceive and may be proceeded on in order from the taking up to the laying down of the Musket and nothing acted twice the words of command for the Postures followeth The Musket lying on the ground the words of command will be as afore Stand to your Arms Handle your Arms. Now you are to take notice that in taking up the Bandiliers putting them on taking up the Rest putting the string about the left wrist the taking up of the Match placing of it the taking up of the Musket these or the like are no Postures but motions to the first Posture Therefore I will proceed upon them all in order as they lie leaving out the words of command tending to the Motions 1 Order your Musket 2 Rest your Musket 3 Poyse your Musket 4 Shoulder your Musket 5 Ballance your Musket and Rest on the right with the barrell upwards 6 Trail your Rest and ballance your Musket on the left side with the barrell downwards 7 Recover your Musket and performe your Sentinell Posture 8 Frō this perform your Funerall Posture This being ended a man may recover his Musket and Rest that knows how to perform this last Posture without bringing him again upon the Rest and may lay down his Armes again observing the former Rule where the Pestures of the Musket are set down at large CHAP. VII There is also a conformity of Posture with the Musket to those of the Pike and Words of Command to be given as may in many things be received by both Arms. THe Musket and Pike lying on the ground these words of Command may properly be imployed to both That is to say Stand to your Arms. Handle your Arms. The But-end of the Musket standing or resting on the ground at the out side of the right foot is conformable to the Pike ordered The Musket poysed to the Pike advanced The Musket shouldered to the Pike shouldered The Musket porting to the Pike porting The Musket reverst as in the Funerall Posture to the Pike trailing The Musket rested to the Pike cheeked which is his proper Sentinell Posture The Musket presented to the Pike charged As for the Motions of Posture which conduce to the lading and priming of the Musket as to cast about trail recover and the like they are all included in that generall Word of Command properly to the Muskettiers belonging which is to make ready Now me thinks I hear some ingenious Souldier begin to aske me what are the the use of these Postures so fully laid down by you To whom I shall be so courteous as to satisfie them according to my former Method beginning with the Pike as followeth CHAP. VIII The use of the Postures of the Pike THe Pike being ordered is the proper Posture of a Souldier upon a stand which he The use of Ordering the Pike ought ever to minde upon any such occasion so to make use of it And I have likewise seen in many places in the day time this Posture to be used by the Souldier standing Sentinell The Pike advanced is usefull for the Souldier upon a Troop when they are to march The use of advancing the Pike swiftly either for the relieving of some Court of Guard or to repair to their place of Randezvous or upon some suddain approaching to an Enemy to make a Charge for then he will be in a fit capacity to clap down quickly his Pike upon the breast of the Enemy It is likewise very usefull in the time of excercise to the half-files and bringers up upon any doubling to the Front for then they are alwayes to be advanced in respect of a longer march in their doublings then those that double Ranks and Files but having doubled they must always conforme in Posture to the part doubled The use of Porting was invented for the ease of the Reare half-Files upon a Charge for the Front half-Files are only for to charge the Rear haf Files in the mean time are to The use of Porting port It is likewise very usefull at such times when the Souldiers are marching through a Gate or Sally-Port from whence I conceive it doth derive its name porting The use of shouldering the Pike is only properest upon the March and in some kinde very usefull upon a Stand in time of Fight provided they are at convenient distance from The use of Shouldering the Enemy For it much preserveth the Pikes and Pikemen from the danger of the shot the bullets then gliding off from their Arms which if they stood at such times either ordered or advanced the bullets would make such a clattering amongst the Pikes that what with breaking of them and the shivers flying from them may much endanger the Souldiers which shall carry them The comporting of the Pike is only usefull to the Souldier marching up a hill for if then The use of Comporting he should be shoudered the But-end of the Pike would always be touching of the ground to hinder him in his March and much endanger his fellow-souldiers that shall come after him Neither can he march advanced for if there should be any winde it would be ready to blow him down Therefore as above that which is most commodious for the Souldiers marching up a hill is to comport his Pike The trailing of the Pike is seldome used but when the Souldier shall march straight The use of Trailing forward through a Wood the File-leader before he enters in trails his Pike and consequently all the rest in his File then stooping down they take up the But-end of their Leaders Pikes which they may easily gripe with their own in their right hands and after march forward through the busling leaves in a straight line every file single by himselfe but as neare each other as possible they can march for more securitie sake that when they are cleare they may finde each other and be in a condition to rally up againe as occasion shall require The trailing of the Pike may also be of excellent use in a Trench that at
such time when they shall have intelligence where the Enemy are preparing to make a Breach they may then move forwards unto that place undiscovered and may defend the same The cheeking of the Pike is the proper Sentinell posture and then to be used The use of Cheeking CHAP. IX The use of the Postures of the Musket I Conceive it will not be materiall to go over every posture of the Musket to describe the use of them in respect the greater part of them hath conformity to the Pike Those that shall remaine and of the chiefest consequence I shall not be wanting to satisfie the Souldier in The ballancing the Musket and Rest on the right side with the Barrell upward is one The use of ballancing the Musket on the right side of the chiefest Postures belonging to the Musket from thence he begins to make ready as to open cleare and prime the pan all being motions to this Posture To traile the Rest and Ballance the Musket on the left side with the barrell downward The use of ballancing the Musket on the left side is a Posture likewise of as great consequence for there are severall motions belonging also to this Posture as to finde out the charge to open it to charge with powder to take bullet out of the bag and to charge with bullet with divers other motions before you can recover your Musket and Rest againe How a Musketier shall performe the Sentinell Posture THe Sentinell Posture is to be performed after this manner first the Musket is to be laded with powder and bullet afterwards he is to cock his match and to stand with his pan guarded his Musket being upon the Rest untillsuch time that he is relieved but as concerning him I shall more fully set forth his duty treating upon the duty of the Sentinell CHAP. X. The manner and way to do the Funerall Posture NExt followeth to shew how to do the Funeral Posture the properest and the best way to begin this Posture is when the Musket is rested and is to be performed after this manner You must first slip up you your Musket upon the Rest so high untill the Fork of the Rest be within a handfull of the cock after you must bring your right hand under the barrell of the Musket close to the Fork of the Rest and then lift him off and after cast your Rest backward trailing him on the left side and bring your Musket under your left arme with the barrell downwards bearing the But-end upward with your two fore-fingers and your thumb holding off the pan and that with the left hand Now if you begin to be weary in the March by reason of the weight of the Musket you may to ease your selfe bring your right hand backward and there take hold of the Musket keeping still your left hand in it's first place untill you shall reduce him to the Rest again The reducement of the Musket from the Funerall Posture FIrst raise up your Musket a litle with your two fingers thumb of the left hand as you formerly held him then turn the Musket untill you perceive the barrell to be upward after lay your right hand upon the barrell much about the lazie â—in and then taking him bring him up forward on the out-side of the Rest recover your Rest fall back with the right legge you may with ease bring your Musket again upon the Rest as at first This Posture being so seldome used makes the Souldier much to seek in performance of the same but he that takes pleasure in handling of the Musket and shall exercise himselfe therein cannot chuse but finde it very easie and much delightfull to him And I know no Posture more becoming a Muskettier then this if it be neat and well performed by him And here I shall conclude and end discoursing of the Postures CHAP. XI The Souldiers desire to know every perticuler place of Dignity as they stand in Rank and File THe Souldier now having obteined some pretty knowledge skill and ready aptnesse in the managing and performing the Postures begins to look about himself what next is needfull for to fasten upon to make a further progresse in this Art And straight he meets with some that whispers to him that it were a gallant thing to know the Dignity of a File true and rightly stated to which he answers but where can it be found the opinions of Souldiers are so various and differing therein that none knows where for to atteine it My Captains eye saith he is upon me because I do the Postures well which causeth the Serjeants to make me a File-leader and that I know to be the chiefest and first place of Honour in the File the second place to be the Bringer up the third the half File leader the fourth the Bringer up of the Front half-Files Thus far no Souldier of any known judgment can deny but now a days our Files being drawn up six deep makes me altogether ignorant of the honour of the Rest Neither know I the Dignity of a File eight or ten deep which still in some places they do reteine drawing them up so deep If my ambition were but now fully satisfied herein I should in time come for to know the Dignity of the Captains as they are drawn up all in a Regiment by which Rule I am informed they walk And in my judgment there cannot be a truer stating the Dignity of a Rank and File then that which shall conforme to the Dignities of the Captaines as they are drawn up a Brest all in a Regiment Now for as much as many Regiments consist of severall Numbers of Captaines and Companies in them as some six Companies others eight some greater as ten and twelve Companies It is expedient therefore not only for my selfe but for every Souldier that will be truly knowing to be resolved herein concerning those severall numbers and as occasion shall alter to any other they may informe themselves by these how to fit their purpose And therefore not to keep the apt and forward Souldier longer in suspence but that he may proceed I shall amongst the rest declare my thoughts therein and set it forth unto their view everhoping from my fellow-souldiers a favourable censure of my good meaning to them and to my Countrey for to imploy that little talent which lately my endeavours hath obteined to do them service And shall forthwith set down unto them four Tables of Dignity both of Ranks and Files which shall be first of twelve a Brest and twelve deep Secondly ten a Brest and ten deep Thirdly eight a Brest and eight deep And lastly six a Brest and six deep wherein every ingenious Souldier shall easily know his perticuler place of honour and dignity both in Rank and File wherein he stands The Table being thus set forth unto the Souldiers view as is before expresâ— methinks I hear some say Sir we like the drawing forth and the manner of
what formerly hath been exprest of the middle Table may give full resolution of the perticuler places of Honour and Dignity as they stand both in Rank and File It further now remaines to speak somewhat of the rest and therefore I shall go down-ward cleering still the first four places of Honour which being rightly nuderstood the rest will naturally fall into the capacity of any ingenious Souldier Therefore further pray observe with me this again in examining of the sutablenesse and equall proportion of Worth and number of the first and fourth Worth carrying unto that of the second and third And thus far you may rest and satisfie your selfe therein We have therefore now no more to place and settle but the fifth and sixth Worth and then our work in this Table will be quickly finished Therefore of necessity as formerly expressed we must bring in the fifth Worth into the left halfe Ranks as being the second Captaine whose proper place as I said before is to lead the Lieutenant Collonels Colours or the second Body or Stand of Pikes He being there thus fixed we have no more to place but the sixth Worth which is the last or youngest Captain and we have no other place to bring him in but between the first and fourth Worth or if you will have it more cleere between the Collonel and eldest Captain But here by the way I am like to meet with some Objector that will say Sir What 's become of your equall proportion here Your right halfe Ranks with your left as you have so formerly stated them your right halfe Ranks carrieth or exceedeth one more in number then your left halfe Ranks doth and where we finde the greater number we must conclude the lesser dignity and if so Why do you not rather contrive it on the left then upon the right To which I answer first that in raising up of Companies into a Regiment those that are the Field Officers by right should have the most men and greater Companies then the private Captains have therefore if you will observe in the stating of this Dignity of a Rank six a Brest you will finde in the left halfe Ranke two Field Officers whose Companies are the greater then any private Captains certainly they must needs countervaile with any number of men with the right halfe Ranks for although the Collonels Company is or ought ever to be the greatest yet there is no more Field Officers but himselfe in his Division And again secondly where there cannot be an equall dividing of number as here you will finde it of six a Brest or six deep but that there will fall out some odd either on the right halfe Ranks or on the left and likewise the same either in the Front half Files or Rear-half Files as by example in the triall you will easily finde by casting up the whole number as they stand a Brest and they will fall out to be 21 divide this number into two parts and you cannot but must cast the odd either on the right or on the left Therefore to conclude since that there is a great possibility that there will be an equality of number of men in the left half Ranks sutable to that of the right where there shall fall out an odd number that you cannot cast it into the left half Ranks but that you must remove the fifth Worth in this extremity I say you may not do it but rather place it on the right For the Major having no certain place to march in a Regiment it is the proper place of the second Captain to walke along with the Lieutenant Collonel taking his due place of honour in his division as the first shall do by marching with his Collonel and thus much shall suffice to be spoken of the last Table CHAP. XVI Reasons likewise to be given for the Table 12 a Brest and 12 deep FOr as much as formerly hath been spoken that it is the discretion of every Commander so to order his men as to make an equall ballance throughout the battell that his Front carry with it an equall proportion of Worth Number and Dignity with that of the Reer and likewise so to steer and order his right half Rank or right Flank sutable with that of the left The next way then to receive further satisfaction herein is by an examination thereof as it lies and is set open to view Compare now the Worth and Diginity of the right half Ranks and you shall quicklâ— perceive to carry a like proportion of number and worth with the left To make it â— little more clear unto those that shall desire to be more satisfied herein you may take notice and observe a true qualification throughout the whole Rank As first begin with the Collonel who is the best and chiefest man of honour in the Regiment and next to him is placed the ninth or youngest Captain to qualifie his dignity and make his number 13 the Lieuâ—enant Collonel being the second man of honour hath placed to him the eighth which qualifies him in like manner to the Collonel and makes his number 13. Next come we to the Major and next to him is placed the seventh Captain which makes him sutable with the rest in his figure and qualification and to bear the number 13. After we are to speak of the eldest Captain who hath the sixth Captain joyned unto him and makes his number 13. And so comparing all the rest dividing them by two's they will stand as followeth Thus much I conceive may give a right understanding to any coming on Souldier of the true and right stating of a Rank twelve abrest being a thing very needfull for to know in respect that there are many Regiments which doe consist of twelve Companies and when in course as in the sequell of this Book when as I shall shew the manner of drawing up of twelve Companies there will a little more light appear unto them to their farther knowledge of the same But thus much for the present as concerning a Rank twelve a brest and now I shall come to speak or to touch a little of a Rank ten a brest and a File ten deep CHAP. XVII Brief reasons to be given of the Dignity of places of a Rank ten a brest and of a File ten deep WHat hath been formerly declared concerning a Rank twelve a brest as before shewed by every particular place of honour as they stand with the reasons for the same it may give a cleer understanding by the same rule to finde the Dignity of places ten a brest For walking by the same way and rule of examination and you will finde them to carry by dividing by two's being added to the four first places of honour and they will carry sutable proportions as underneath is set forth But for as much that in this Range of ten a brest there will fall out some odd we must then of necessity sake place it upon the right and
manner all a Brest provide he have ground sufficient for the same And being far more gracefull so to do then to march them stragling upon a long March for it doth represent in some kinde the manner of marching of a Regiment and at such times the Serjeants are to march upon the Angles as is before described moving to and again sometimes upon the Flanks and causing the Souldiers to keep their Distance of order in File and open order in Rank and to march all even a Brest and after to return again unto their places CHAP. XXIV Before I come to make description of a Body I shall shew some further Reasons of the Serjeants places of lesser Companies with the placing of the Drums IT happens many times some Companies falls not out so large as is before forth and that they have but three Serjeants and therefore it would be known when that they have but one Division of Muskettiers in the Van two Divisions of Pikes and one Division of Muskettiers in the Reer which is the Reer-Guard where then the placing of these three Serjeants and three Drums shall be upon their long March and where to be marching all a Brest To which I answer in the first place the youngest Serjeant is always to attend the Captain and having no Division to lead he is to be upon the right Angle of the Front there expecting his Captains pleasure and comands and the second Serjeant is to lead the second Division of Pikes and the eldest Serjeant to lead the last Division of Muskettiers or the Reer Guard here are their places upon the long March But when they are drawn up and so march even a Brest the youngest Serjeants place as is before exprest is to march upon the right Angle in the Front and the eldest upon the left the second Serjeant is to march in the right Angle in the Reer They having their places thus stated are to move sometimes up and down upon the Flanks in their marching causing the Souldiers to keep their due distance of order in File and open order in Rank and to march even a Brest and after they may return unto their places again But here me thinks I meet with some Objector by the way who saith the eldest is much wronged herein for that it is his proper place to be upon the right that when Forlorns are drawn off against an Enemy he is there ready first to lead them on claiming it as his due to give the first on-set and therefore far more honour for him to be on the right then on the left and the youngest Serjeant rather to be placed on the left then on the right as for the second Serjeants place 't is fit he should be in the Reer to assist the Lieutenant there he having none but he to help him if any occasion should require To which I answer that it is the youngest Serjeants place to be upon the right Angle either upon a Stand or upon a March and not the eldest for these reasons following The youngest Serjeant is not placed there for any honour that it is to him for he hath no Division at all to lead upon the March except the Company be very great and if so he is placed so neer the Captain to be serviceable to him to carry and convey his pleasures unto all the rest of the Officers As for the leading of the Van-guard upon the March the Captain takes that place unto himselfe and it is far more honour unto the eldest Serjeant to be a Leader of the Reer-Guard or entirely the left Flank then to lead a Sub-division of Pikes And besides that it is properest for his place to be upon the left when they are all drawn up upon a Brest for these two reasons as first he is there upon in a readinesse to take his due place upon the sub-dividing on the long March and again upon a Stand when they are all drawn up and ready to ingage against an Enemy and the Forlorns to be drawn forth equally a like from both Flanks he is then as ready in the Front to execute his Captains Commands the youngest Serjeant being likewise sent to be something helpfull to him and attending after for further order from his Captain to send him reliefe by the second Serjeant as occasion shall require So that in my judgement take it either upon the long March or others when drawn all up even a Brest all things are so stated for his due honour and place that he hath no reason to complain nor any of the rest having all their due and proper places which doth belong unto them As for the placing of the Drums upon the long arch Mevery Division ought to have his Drum to fall between such Ranks as before exprest excepting only the second Division of Pikes which may be excused when they are to beat a March as being all drawn up they are to fall in two to beat even a Brest upon the right and one upon the left as is before set down If it should chance further in a Company to be so small to have but three Divisions that is to say one Division of Muskettiers in the Van the Body of Pikes in the midst and another Division of Muskettiers to bring up the Reer-Guard and having but two Serjeants and two Drums the youngest Serjeants place will be as before mentioned upon the right in the Front and the eldest Serjeant upon the left and to take his place to lead the last Division of Muskettiers upon the long March and the first Drum to beat in the first Division of Muskettiers and the second to beat and to march along amongst the Pikes I have a little more enlarged my selfe in this discourse of placing of the Serjeants then I at first intended but meeting many times with severall Souldiers desiring satisfaction in every one of these perticulers I shall perhaps undergo here the hard censure of some for this my tedious discourse but to such others which desires to be knowing herein I hope will have a more favourable opinion of my good meaning unto them And here I shall conclude for the present concerning the perticuler places of the Serjeants in every private Companie and now supposing as by order from the Captain the Serjeants have brought up their Divisions standing again as before expecting something more to be spoken unto them they silently stand to here what follows CHAP. XXIV A Description of a Body of men through out with all their severall parts and kinds IT is a very necessary knowledge to every perticuler Souldier to be acquainted throughout with all the parts of a Body of men drawn up with their severall extents and bounds and with the true understanding of the same Where first note the Description of Files a File is a Sequence of men consisting of Leaders and Followers from the first unto the last the joyning of Files Flank-wise maketh Ranks and is the compleating up of a
the Front or Reer and nimbly stepping to them to stay them if disorderly they swerve awry from what he first intended He must likewise order all his Words of Command so as that they may be proper and cleerly pronounced forth unto the Souldier without any faltering And in every one of these to see the Souldier leasurely and easily perform the same in a compleat manner He must not be two quick in his Words of Command but carefully see what before commanded well done and then he may proceed unto the next In time of his Exercise he must seriously mind what he is to do and not to have his thoughts extravigantly carried away upon any other Subject for fear he be out but if any such thing should happen through forgetfulnesse he ought not to be daunted but to pull up the Spirit of a Souldier as well as he can and endeavour to reduce them again For it is a rare thing to be found for a Leader to be so exquisite in his Exercising as not to be somtimes out and in my observation of most at one time or another I have found them so to be His discretion also ought to be such as to cull out and chuse those things that be chiefest as flowers out of a Garden to fit and compleat up his Exercise in a Souldier-like way which may be most properest for service and use which will bring to him far more commendations and praise in the judgement of every knowing Souldier then to spend his time upon unnecessary â—oyes but yet somtimes to please the fancie of the curious at their private meetings he may use some things for delight to support and uphold their private Exercises which have nurst up here in London many able Souldiers and Commanders who have been serviceable to our Nation It is a very necessary thing likewise that a Leader somtimes do acquaint the Souldiers of the use of their severall Distances Facings Doublings Coun-marches and wheelings and of all things else he shall command but in such a manner that he dwell not too long upon any thing he shall declare unto them for dulling of the Souldiers who rather would be pleased with more actings then by too much talkings which spins out the time as somtimes ordered to very little purpose He must be very carefull of every Word of Command he gives that the Souldiers be ordered in their due Distance sutable to the same of what kind soever it be and if it shall be lost in their movings or marchings he must endeavour to bring them to it again He is likewise to acquaint the Souldiers when they are drawn up to look about them and to minde their severall places how they stand in the Body whether they be in even Ranks from the Front or odd if even and upon any doubling of Ranks they are the men to double the odd if half File-leaders that they be commanded to double the Front they must advance their Arms and are Leaders of that Motion to come up to double the Front if Bringers-up commanded to double they are a like to do the same if Bringers-up of the Front half-Files and that they be commanded to double the Reer they likewise are to advance their Arms to face about and are to begin to lead them down to the Reer They should likewise take notice how they stand in their Files whether even from the right or no if even and there be any command to double Files to the right they all are to move and to double the odd if commanded to double to the left they then stand odd and the others are to move and double them They likewise are to mind their places who are upon the Flanks for a doubling either to Front or Reer by the half-Files they first begin to march and how they stand there as right and left-hand men in even Ranks for by any doublings of Ranks entire or by Division they likewise are the Leaders of the Motion There ought also advice be given to the middle File-leaders to know their places for if there should be any doublings of the half-Ranks they then are first to move and to begin the Motion This caution being somtimes quickly run over in advising of the Souldiers that they should ever minde when they are first drawn up into a body these particular places they would not stand so carelesly and so ignorantly in a Body as many times they doe not knowing which way to move without a great deale of pains and directions from their Leader for there being so many occasions of doublings of these kinds that it is a necessary thing for every Souldiers to be acquainted with the same Yet it is not only sufficient that the Souldiers doe minde their places as they stand in a body according to the direction of their Leader as before set forth unto them but that they be likewise in the time of their Exercise very silent in the body and helpfull unto their fellow-Souldiers by pointing out unto them with signes with the hand where they should march to performe what was before commanded and to be very civill and orderly in their carriage to each other and to minde their Exercise so as a matter of great weight and high consideration in the well regarding of the same And if a word of command as somtimes may happen slip out of order as by the mistaking of a hand or the like yet neverthelesse it should be their modest care if not prevented by him to be ready to execute what they conceive he intended and walking along in this civill and respective way unto him that shall lead them it will not only be a great encouragement unto him but they will also reap much benefit unto themselves And thus much briefly may be spoken in way of advice unto every Leader before his beginning of his Exercise and unto each particular Souldier as shall by him be exercised CHAP. XXVII Of Facings of their severall kindes and of their use with the words of command for performance of the same FAcing is the altering or turning of the Aspect to either hand upon the ground they stand according to the words of command whether it be to the right lefâ— Front or Reer or to the midst of Files or Ranks or to any of the outward or inward Angles or to the Center The manner of execution of the same it is a particular turning of every Souldiers countenance unto each of those hands or places as above exprest and to be performed after this manner The left foot is alwayes to be kept fixed like the hinge of a door and unto what hand or part they shall be commanded to face every particular Souldier is immediately to turn his body upon the ball or center of his left foot by wheeling untill he hath brought his Aspest unto the place commanded Facings is one of the most necessary and usefullest motions amongst all the rest for when the body shall be in
so few of them practised among able and knowing Souldiers my best apologie will be the high and venerable esteem had of Antiquity necessitated me thereunto as also to give full satisfaction to the Leaders of our private Meetings who of late have laboured to inure their Souldiers in the full practise thereof made me the willinger rather to undergo the censure of some then to incurre the displeasure of many Yet by the way give me leave fully to declare my selfe concerning the use of them for my opinion is that of all the Motions tending to Martiall Discipline these may the best be spared as being of little use and not so much as practised abroad upon service and therefore the fewer of them any Leader shall use in his Exercise in my judgement he doth the better not spending time in needlesse speeches telling of his Souldiers that this is the Macedorian this is the Lacedemonian or Ocean Countermarch not to lie under the censure my selfe of mispending time I come therefore briefly in the next place to treat of Wheelings being a subject more profitable for the intelligible Souldier CHAP. LV. Of Wheelings with their severall uses HAving proceeded thus far in shewing all the severall sorts and kinds of Military Motions it will now in the next place be expected that I speak somwhat of Wheelings and as formerly so now to set before the Souldier their severall kinds and uses Wherefore take notice of two sorts Wheelings angular and Wheelings on the Center which latter is commonly called the Prince of Orange his wheeling being acted or performed by the Souldier two severall ways that is to say Intire or Divisionall Intire Wheelings to the Angles are when the Souldiers turn their Aspects from the front proper to either of the Flanks or Reer whereby they may give the winde or Sun or some like advantage bringing their best Souldiers thither for to encounter an Enemy For the better performance of this Motion it will be convenient to close Ranks and Files into the midst to order and to keep their due distance both in rank and file observing in their Ranks their right and left-hand men and following their Leaders always conforming themselves in their Motion to the most commendable Posture which is Pikes advanced and Muskets poysed Wheeling the Battail on the Center is when they are so straightened with ground that they have not room to wheel to the right or left as in the former which gaineth as much more ground before the front as formerly they stood on this wheeling brings their best Souldiers to either of the flanks or Reer I could wish that this wheeling were more oftner practised amongst us for by it the Souldiers are better kept together in their Motion being not so apt to flie out as in the former Divisionall Wheelings provided they have sufficient number of men are of singular good use to encounter severall Enemies at one and the same time which the front of our Battalia bringing our best Souldiers for to skirmish with them It is likewise usefull to bring either Arms into Front Reer or both the flanks for suppose the Muskettiers to be upon the flanks and fearing a desperate charge of the Horse to fall upon them by a Divisionall Wheeling the Pikes are thither brought to receive their on-set and in the mean space the Muskettiers have time to recruit their Bandiliers again much more might be spoken but my intent is not to fill my Book with impertinent discourses knowing what is already spoken is sufficient for the intelligible Souldier CHAP. LVI Intire Wheelings Command WHeel your Battail to the Right WHeel your Battail to the Left WHeel your Battail to the Right about WHeel your Battail to the Left about Direction The right or the left-hand men in the front are the hinges of these Motions the rest have a greater compasse to march then they to bring their Aspects unto the place commanded following their Leaders Command Wheel your Battail on the same ground to the Right Wheel your Battail on the same ground to the Left Wheel your Battail on the same ground to the Right about Wheel your Battail on the same ground to the Left about Direction The left half-ranks moveth forwards wheeling to the right and the right half-ranks contrariwise faceth to the left side-wise falling backward moving still unto the place commanded CHAP. LVII Divisionall Wheelings Command WHeel the Battail off by Division from the Front Direction Turn off to the right and left Command Wheel the Battail off by Division from the Reer Direction Face to the Reer and turn off to the right and left Command Wheel the Battail inward to the Reer Direction Open from the midst to convenient distance and turn off to the right and left Command Wheel the Battail inward to the Front from the Reer Direction Face to the Reer open from the midst and wheel inward to the front Command Wheel off the Body by Division from the right flank Direction Face to the right Command Wheel off the Body by Division from the left flank Direction Face to the left Command Wheel the Body inward to the left flank from the right Direction Face to the right and open outward to convenient distance to wheel inward to the left flank Command Wheel the Body inward to the right flank from the left Direction Face to the left and open outward to convenient distance to wheel inward to the right flank Command Wheel off your Front and Reer half-files by Division Direction Half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files turn off by Division Command Wheel your Front and Reer half-files inward to the midst of Ranks Direction Half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files open outward to convenient distance to wheel inward to the midst of Ranks Command Wheel off your Front and Reer half-files by Division from the midst of Rank Direction Front half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files wheel off to the right and left by Division Command Wheel Front and Reer half-files inward both to the Front and Reer from the midst of Ranks Direction Front half-files face about and Front and Reer half-files open from the midst to convenient distance and wheel inward into Front and Reer Command Wheel off your right and left half-ranks by Division Direction Face outward and wheel off to the right and left by Division Command Wheel your right and left half-ranks inward to the midst of files Direction Face outward and open to the right and left to convenient distance to wheel inward to the midst of files Command Wheel off your right and left half-ranks by Division from the midst of files Direction Face inward and cause them to move backward to convenient distance to wheel off by Division from the midst of files Command Wheel your right and left half-ranks inward to both flanks from the midst of files Direction Face inward and open to the right and left to convenient distance to wheel inward
may be sufficient for to instruct them to continue their charge retreat or else to charge home Secondly that the Serjeants be carefull in time of Battail that their Souldiers be at their due distance of order both in rank and file and that upon their firings whether they be by forlorns either of files or ranks drawn forth or otherwise by Divisions they see them neatly and handsomly perform'd by cocking their matches and presenting something lower then brest-high and after uncocking and returning them wheeling off either to the right left or both falling in the Reer of themselves or else where as shall be appointed in an orderly manner whereby they may decently come up again to fire against the Enemy Thirdly that the Souldiers present and give fire upon their Rests not using that slovenly posture of popping their Matches into the Pan their Muskets being on their left sides which is not only hurtfull unto themselves but much endangers their fellow-Souldiers and by so doing they scarce or ever do any execution against an Enemy But here I meet with an objection framed by the Souldiers after this manner our Rests are of little or no use unto us in time of skirmishing fit they are we confesse in the Military Gardens but in time of Battail both troublesome and cumbersome unto us to whom I reply what if they be a little cumbersome at the first must they therefore be rejected and carelesly thrown away nay rather they ought frequently to practise themselves in the use thereof which if they did they would finde the same very serviceable unto them in time of skirmishing wherewith they fire better and in a more comely and gracefull way far more securing both themselves and fellow-souldiers from danger and likewise upon their March it is both a help and support unto them Fourthly their eyes ought likewise in time of Battail to be fixed stedfastly upon their Captain always conforming to him in Posture when he shall prepare to charge or retreat and likewise they ought to be knowing and well verst in the severall beats of the Drum which if well observed by all there would not be so much confusion in time of Battail amongst them as many times by sad experience hath been found when disregarding their Officers commands and the beating of the Drums they ignorantly and rashly run on in a disorderly manner by which means they have cut off their own Officers and fellow-souldiers many times more then they have dangered the enemy Thus you see what great necessity there is of instructing and training up the Souldiers in their Postures and how requisite it is to conforme themselves to their Officers in time of Battail performing thereby better execution against their Enemies and by their decent and comely array preserve themselves from imminent dangers and perils The Souldiers having now all the ground-worke of the exercising a body of men laid down before them in the next place he labours to make experiment thereof but being no Officer he cannot attein thereunto without speciall leave from his Superiours and therefore being a File-leader he craves leave for to exercise his single File both in their Postures and Motions contenting himselfe for present with that small number whereby he is able to run through many plain things of Distances Facings Doublings Countermarchings and Wheelings But being not fully satisfied he presumes upon the former favour had from his Superiours to goe on to make every man in his File a File-leader first by succession and after being not called away by the beat of the Drum or by his Officers to lead up his File and to joyne into a Body according unto Dignity and after endeavours to reduce them again by proper words of command This liberty being granted at convenient times unto a File-leader much indeers the Souldiers good affections unto their Officers and is a means whereby many others are brought in to be true lovers of Military Exercises as being much taken and well pleased with the sight of the former things And therefore I could wish that they were not hereafter prevented as formerly I have observed by the malice of some who have had places of command bestowed upon them more through favour or by reason of their riches then for any worth or desert found in them They perhaps hold it a great disparagement unto them to be eclipsed but a judicious and discreet Captain accounts it a great honour to lead such gallant men that are as able and as well knowing as himself CHAP. LX. The way to make every man in a File six deepe according to succession a File-leader by doublings not The File 1 2 3 4 5 6 using one word of command twice 2 Command FIles rank two to the left Files to the left double Brings the second man into the Front 3 Command Halfe-files double your Front to the left Files double your depth to the left 4 Command Bringers-up double your Front to the right Double your Files to the left intire advancing 5 Command Bringers-up double your Front to the left Double your Files to the right intire advancing 6 Command File rank two to the right Files to the right double Reducement File rank to the left into the Front Rank file six to the left CHAP. LXI The way to make every man in a File six deep File-leader according to dignity by a doubling not using one Word of command twice The Dignity of the File 1 6 4 3 5 2 2 Command HAlf-files double your front to the left Files double to the right intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader 3 Command Front half-file double the reer to the left Files double to the left intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader 4 Command Bringer-up double your Front to the right Files double your depth to the right every man falling behind his bringer-up 5 Command Half-files double your Front to the right Files double to the left intire advancing Files ranke two to the right Files to the right double 6 Command Bringer-up double your Front to the left Files double your depth to the left every man falling behind his bringer-up Reducement File ranke two to the left Files to the left double CHAP. LXII The File 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The way to make every man in a File eight deep File-leader by succession and that by doubling not using one Word of command twice 2 Command FIle ranke two to the left Ranks invert to the left 3 Command Half-file double your front to the right Double your files to the right intire advancing every man placing himself before his Leader 4 Command Files ranke two to the right Files to the right double 5 Command Front half-files double your reer to the right Double your files to the left intire advancing 6 Command Files ranke two to the right into the reer Ranks invert to the right 7 Command Half-files double your Front to the left Double your files
the right the outmost-men move forward and rank to the right with the last man in the Reer of each division face to your leader and move forward two paces Reducement Reer division face about middle-man of the first rank of each division move forward and rank two to the left into Front and Reer Files close into the midst to order ranks close forwards to order Halfe-files double the Front to the right intire Ranks rank outward into the Front every man placing himselfe on the outside of his right and left hand men Ranks file to the right and left inward Files double your depth to the left Face to your Leader It might be expected that I should shew the severall Charges upon all these Figures but in regard I may perhaps meet with some of them again in greater Bodies or the like I shall for present passe them over and in those places endeavour to give them the best satisfaction I can In the mean time they may with ease finde out in every one of them such charges as may instruct the Souldiers how to fight whether it be to Front Reer both Flanks or Angles they may be shewn and exercised in them according to the discretion of him that shall command them whether they be Muskettiers or Pike-men and therefore thus much shall suffice concerning the exercising of a file for matter of Figures In the next place followeth the Exercise of greater Bodies The end of the first Booke THE COMPLEAT BODY OF THE ART MILITARY The Second Book CHAP. 1. Concerning the Artillery and the Military Gardens together with the Private Meetings in and about the City of LONDON THe great delight in handling of Arms in Military Exercises makes the City of LONDON and the Suburbs thereof famous through the whole World by reason as I conceive of those two great Nurseries or Academies of MILITARY DISCIPLINE the ARTILLERY and MILITARY GARDENS from whom as out of pure Fountains all other our Private Meetings as of Town-ditch and Cripplegate c. are derived The Artillery Garden deserves the first place in respect it is the greatest Meeting from whence as it were out of a Nursery have been transplanted many able knowing souldiers both at home and in forreign Countries to the great honour of our Nation The Military Garden is famous likewise for the great improvement of diverse worthy persons of quality daily thither resorting whose excellent skill in Military Exercises hath raised many of them to high preferment here at home and places of honourable command abroad The Captains in chiefe of these Academies are Major Generall Skippon and Major Henry Tyllier which later was the first that ever shew'd in the Military Garden of which I am a member the marching of the Souldiers in a Regiment all way whose great pains amongst us deserves much honour and high commendation shewing unto us such variety of matter in a Souldier-like way as was never before seen by any member thereof Not to ecclipse the fore-mentioned Private Meetings in London but to give them that due which belongs unto them they likewise are of great honour and same for their frequent exercising of their Souldiers in the handling of their Arms whether it be of the Pike or Musket and instructing them in the knowledge of Drilling and drawing up of Companies and Bodies of men furnishing both Kingdoms with able knowing souldiers My hearty wishes therefore that all and every one of them may be propt up and supported to all ages that when need shall require we may draw from these fountains such skilfull and experienced Commanders and Officers as may be as it were a Bulwark to this our Nation Not to dwell any longer upon this discourse I come therefore briefly to set forth severall Exercises formerly practised by me amongst those loving Gentlemen of Town-ditch according to the usuall numbers there appearing whether they be great or small practised for the most part with 24 or 32 men and somtimes although seldome with 64 men unlesse it were upon generall days when they were drawn forth into the field at such times perhaps there might be an appearance of greater numbers as 120 and upwards My purpose therefore is to pitch upon and to make use of all and every one of these numbers making 12 Exercises dividing them by threes untill I have run over them all conceiving them sufficient for the industrious to gather from thence matter enough for his intended Exercise And for the more enabling of them I shall indeavour in these curious times to walk a long in as plain a way as possibly may be giving directions unto all Words of Command for the better performance of the same wishing all my loving fellow-souldiers to conceive well of my good meaning intended to them desiring withall to be rightly informed of what part soever they fall upon that they proceed leasurely and orderly in the same which will not only be an incouragement unto the Authour from whom they gather their Exercises but will bring much prayses and commendation to themselves But to leave every one to their own best thoughts whilest I proceed to practise what before promised concerning the severall Exercises following CHAP. II. The first Exercise of four Files six deep EAch File-leader as being his duty having gone over the Postures shewing and instructing his file with their uses and neat handling of their Arms hearing the Drums beat a Call for all to repair and stand to their Arms begin to lead up their files according to order the Leader then closing their ranks and files to close order craving their silence may proceed to shew unto them all their severall distances and facings according unto the former rule set down and after he may proceed to Doublings if he pleaseth as followeth CHAP. III. A Doubling consisting of sixteen in number every one differing from the other and not reduced untill the last Word of Command Command FIles file to the right intire advancing Command Bringers-up double your Front to the left Command Half-files double your Front to the left Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right intire Command Right half-ranks double your left flank intire advancing Command Half-files double your front to the right intire Command Left half-ranks double intire the Depth of your right flank Command Files file to the left intire advancing Command Bringer-up double your front to the right Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right and left outward following your Leaders Direction Reer half-files face about the file-leaders are to turn off to the right and left the rest are to follow them untill they are marched down into the Reer and have doubled it to the right and left outward Command Half-files double your front inward intire Command The two out-most files upon each flank double intire the Depth of the inmost files Direction The two out-most files face about inward and move streight down cleer of the standing part afterwards face inward march
the last rank of Pikes and Muskettiers of the Front division face to the Reer the last rank of Muskettiers move down cleer of the Reer and close inward to order then let the Pikes port and after the Muskettiers have fired charge on then retreating into their places again Command The first and the last rank of Pikes face about and move down cleer of the Reer and close ranks forwards to order outmost divisions of Muskettiers face about move down and flank your own divisions of Pikes the first division of Pikes move forward and range even abrest with your own division of Muskettiers the Front division of Muskettiers closing into the midst to order The first firing Let the Front division give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after wheeling off to the right and left move down and flank the reer division of Pikes The second firing Let the Front divisions of Muskettiers fire and fall in the reer of themselves then face about and move down upon the inside of the next division of Pikes and after face to their Leader The third firing Let the Muskettiers upon the flanks move up into the roome of the former and fire falling in the reer of themselves and after face about and move down into their places again the Muskettiers on the inside moving up into their places again The fourth firing Let the reer division face about then let them fire to Front and Reer and fall in the Reer of themselves let the Pikes charge and after ordering their armes the Reer division facing to their Leader the Muskettiers thereof may move up into their places again Command The outmost Divisions face outward and move two paces face to your Leader move up untill you range even a brest with the second Divisions next the Front Reer Division move streight forward two paces The first firing Let them all give fire and fall in the reer of themselves The second firing Let the Muskettiers advance forwards untill they be cleer of the front division and then rank outward and fire altogether after filing inward as they were move down again into their places the Pikes at the same time charging and after order their arms Command Front division advance forward three paces the outmost divisions upon the Flanks move up and range even with the Front The first firing Direction for the same let them all face to the Reer and the middle division of Muskettiers move forwards and flank the Reer Division of Pikes after let all the Muskettiers advance forwards three foot cleer of their own Divisions of Pikes and give fire falling in the Reer of themselves and after facing about move into their places again The second firing Let them fire as they stand and fall in the Reer of themselves and the Pikes in the Reer may charge on and after facing to their Leader Command The out-most Divisions face inward march three paces and the next two Divisions face outward and move two paces to your Leader Reer-Division move outward untill you stand streight with the Front-Divisions The first firing Let the Front-Division of Muskettiers give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves and after moving down in the room of them in the Reer they at the same time moving up into the front firing in like manner moving down and exchanging places with them in the Reer The second firing Let the Muskettiers upon the flanks move forward even with the front give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves and after move down into their places again and face to their Leader The third firing Let them face to front-reer and both flanks and let the Pikes port and the Muskettiers give fire The fourth firing Let them give fire on the ground they stand and fall in the Reer of the Pikes the Pikes charging whilest the Muskettiers make ready again The fift firing Let the Pikes charge at foot and the Muskettiers give fire over their heads then recovering their Arms face to their Leader Reducement Front-Divisions face about Front and Reer-Divisions march and interchange ground to your Leader The out-most Divisions face inward and close your Divisions to your Leader even your ranks and streighten your files and close to order they are reduced The Captain may now command the Muskettiers to poyse their Arms and file away to the right and left making as it were a Street or Gallery for him to troop away the Pikes and lodge his Colours CHAP. VII The second Exercise with four Files six deep THe Souldiers being the second time summoned to appear at their place of Randezvous the Serjeants having drawn forth the files may give liberty to the Leaders thereof to exercise them in their severall Postures which being ended their Captain or other Officers may command them to lead up their Files and to joyn them into a Body after which he may shew unto them their Distances and Facings with their severall kinds following the former rule and after proceed to these or the like Doublings following CHAP. VIII Eighteen severall Doublings with their reducements Command HAlf-files double your Front to the left Command Double your files to the right intire advancing Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right intire Command Left half-ranks double your right flank to the left Direction Face all to the right and left half-ranks move forward and double your right flank to the left to your Leader Command Double your ranks to the left intire Command Right half-ranks double your left flank intire advancing Command Left half-ranks double your right flank inward intire Direction Half-files of the right half-ranks face about right half-ranks move cleer of the standing part face all to the right left half-ranks move forwards into the right flank to your Leader Command The three first and the three last ranks double the six middle-most intire to the left flank Direction The three first and the three last face to the left march cleer of the standing part face inward move and close your Divisions to your Leader Command Right half-ranks double your left flank to the right Direction Face all to the left and right half-ranks move forwards and double your left flank to the right to your Leader Command Double your ranks to the right intire Command Right half-ranks double your left flank inward intire Command The three first and the three last ranks double the six middle-most ranks intire to the right flank Command Left half-ranks double your right flank intire advancing Command Front half-files double your Reer to the left intire Command Half-files double your front to the right Command Double your files to the left intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his Leader Command Front half-files double your Reer to the right following your Leaders Direction Half-files face about file-leaders turn off to the left and move down upon the right of the Reer the rest following successively to your Leader Command Files double your Depth to the left intire they
after facing above move into their places again The first firing Let them face as before and give fire on the same ground they stand and fall in the Reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge on and retreat into their places again Command Muskettiers move forth and range even a brest with the Pikes into Front Reer and Midst and they will stand in a square as followeth The first firing Upon this figure as they are faced to front reer and both flanks and the Pikes to the outward angles of front and reer it will be best to fire on the ground they stand and to fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge to the four angles The second firing Let them double their ranks outward and give fire after face about move three paces into the midst of Pikes and having made ready again let them face about and move forward and fire as they did before and after dismount their Muskets taking them in both hands they may as occasion shall require make use of the Butt end thereof against the horse and the Pikes may stand upon their charge The third firing Let the Muskettiers double inward file-wise the Pikes keep their aspects to the four angles the Muskettiers as before may give fire to front reer and both flanks and fall in the reer of those Pikes next their right hand And having their aspects unto the the same angles they may fire there if they please by way of extraduction and move forth to the left into their places again then let the Pikes face to the front and Muskettiers upon the wings face about to the right and Muskettiers move forward three paces face to your leader formes the following figure The first firing Let the first division give fire together and wheel off into the reer the reer the next two divisions moving forward into their ground giving fire altogether and wheeling off to the right and left into the reer the rest stil moving forward until the reer division is likewise come up into the front and gives fire in like manner and falling off to the right into his first place again this firing may be continued twice The second firing Let them give fire altogether to the front after this manner let the middle divisions move forth to the right and left cleer of the Pikes the reer division at the same time moving forward upon the out-side of those in the front and give fire and move into their places again making ready whilst the Pikes close forward and charge on five or six paces they may retreat again into their places The third firing Let them face all to the reer and fire after this manner the first division kneel down the middle divisions move forth cleer of the Pikes the front division marching down into the reer may give fire altogether the out-most division and the front division over the heads of them in the reer and move in and back again into their places then face to their leader Command The outmost division of Muskettiers upon the left in the midst and the three last divisions of Pikes and Muskettiers face about march all three paces and stand Middle divisions face to the left and move two paces face all to your leader divisions of Pikes face inward front division of Muskettiers and the second from the reer face about and move little and close your divisions to your leader The first firing Let the first division give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then wheel down into the reer the other divisions successively moving up into the front and firing in like manner this firing may be continued twice over The second firing Let the divisions of Muskettiers double their ranks to the right and left outward and give fire in single ranks as they did before untill all have fired twice over The third firing Let them double their files to the right and left inward and the reer divisions to face about then let them give fire both to front and reer falling first in the reer of themselves after to wheel off into the midst and facing to front and reer the middle divisions may move forth into their ground firing in like manner the Pikes may after charg whilest the Muskettiers make ready again and after retreating into their places they may continue their firing as formerly the Pikes charging on as before The fourth firing Let each division of Muskettiers double ranks outward and fire to front and reer and to wheel off in one single rank to the right and left and rank again in the midst and after double inward file-wise and face to their leader Command The four last divisions face to the left the four first divisions face to the right march all untill you be cleer one of another then face to the right and move untill you be even a brest in front and reer to your leader The first firing Let the first divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after wheeling off to the right and left into the reer they at the same time moving forwards into their places firing and falling off in like manner they may performe the same firing to the reer being thither faced The second firing Let the reer divisions move to the right and left outward cleer of the standing part then face to the front move up even a brest with the front divisions and let every division fire to the front and fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may charge and after both they and the outmost divisions may move down into their places Command The in most divisions of Pikes advance forward three foot before the front the rest face inward and move two paces to your Leader Upon this figure let the first ranks of the front division fire and fall behind the front divisions of Pikes the next rank may fire and fall behind the first then let the reer division move up and give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after wheel about to the right and left inward moving down cleer of the reer and facing again unto their Leader then they may fire a second time in the same way the front divisions moving forth and firing first and falling behind the Pikes the reer divisions comming up into their places firing and falling off again by wheeling about inward untill they be cleer three foot of the reer then facing to their leader they will stand as followeth where the Ensigne may display his colours if the Leader pleaseth to march upon it Having now spent much time in these particular firings it will be convenient to give the souldiers some respit to refresh their almost tired spirits that they may more cheerfully appear upon the next summons of the Drum and therefore we wil conclude this Exercise and prepare for the lodging of the colours Reducement Reer divisions of Pikes move streight forward untill you range even a brest with the
Files from the midst to open order and the Bringers-up thereof to double the Front to the right and left inward The first firing Let them fire to the Front by ranks ranking outward and after to rank as they were The second firing Let them give fire to the front by ranks ranking inward and ranking again as they were and closing again to the Body of Pikes The third firing Let the half-files face about and let them give fire to Front and Reer by ranks ranking outward and ranking in again as they were The fourth firing Let them advance forwards by two Ranks some ten paces before the Front and Reer and give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves then face about and fall before the Front and Reer of Pikes and then fire again falling off to the right and left and flank the Pikes then the Pikes may charge on and the Muskettiers may fall in the Reer of the Pikes and then Pikes may charge at Foot and the Muskettiers may give fire altogether over their heads The fift firing Let the Pikes port and the Muskettiers move forth to the right and left and fire by extraduction then the Pikes may charge again and the Muskettiers may move forth as before and the first Rank of each Division may give fire even with the Front and Reer and stand the rest may after move forth cleer of them and give fire falling behind their own Divisions of Muskettiers then face all to their Leader and close their Divisions forward to order and then proceed to Figures of Battail Command Half-files face about Muskettiers move forward untill you be cleer of the Pikes the two in-most files of Muskettiers stand the two out-most files of Muskettiers move forwards untill you be cleer of the in-most files the two out-most files of Pikes face outward and move three foot cleer of the out-most Divisions of Muskettiers and after to face to Front and Reer and to move forward untill they range even with the Reer-divisions of Muskettiers then let them face all to the front and stand streight in their Divsions both rank-wise file-wise and they will stand as in the next Figure when they have closed Upon this figure let the first divisions of Muskettiers give fire and fall in the reer of themselves after wheel off to the right and left into the room of them in the reer they at the same time moving up into their places firing and falling off in like manner Then let the inmost divisions give fire in like manner as the former did and wheel off to the right and left and be relieved by their owne reer divisions of Muskettiers then let the Pikes charge on and after recreating back again into their places Command The two middle ranks of Pikes face outward and move cleer of the standing part then let the first rank of Pikes face about and the first and last rank of Pikes to move forward to order face all to your Leader The first firing Let the front divisions fire and fall in the Reer of themselves then wheel off to the right and left into the room of them in the neer they at the same time moving forward into their places firing and falling off in like manner Next let the inmost divisions of Muskettiers doe the same who may be relieved by the inmost divisions of Muskettiers in the reer The second firing Let them all face to the reer and give fire as they did to the front The third firing Let them face to front and reer and give fire and fall in the reer of themselves first after falling off and inter-changing divisions relieving each other then let the Pikes charge on to front and reer and after retreating back into their places Command The inmost divisions of Muskettiers to move forward untill they be two foot cleer of the standing part then let them face all inward and move untill the utmost divisions of Muskettiers range even a brest with the middle divisions of Pikes to your Leader Upon the former figure fire them to both flanks where first face them outward let the first division give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after wheel off to the right and left into the places of the Reer divisions and they move up at the same instant of time into their rooms giving fire and falling in the reer of themselves afterward into their places Next let them fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after move inward and fall in the reer of the next division of Pikes and then the first division of Muskettiers move forth and give fire in the ground they formerly stood on and fall in the reer of themselves and stand and the next division of Muskettiers is likewise to move forth where formerly they stood and to fire and fall in the reer of themselves the Pikes may after charge on and after retreat back again into their places and face to their Leader Command Reer divisions of Muskettiers move to the left two paces and double to the right file-wise the two middle divisions of Pikes face outward and move two paces to your leader reer divisions of Muskettiers move forward untill the first divisions of Muskettiers be placed three foot before the midst of the middle divisions of Pikes and the second division be three foot behind the same standing streight with the front divisions of Muskettiers in the midst Upon this figure they being faced to front and reer both Pikes and Muskettiers let the first divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and stand let the rest move forward untill they be cleer of the front divisions of Muskettiers and fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after face about and move down into their places again then let the Pikes open a little outward and charge all to front and reer and when they shall retreat back again into their places the Muskettiers may fire again as they did before and continue it as long as they please Or they may fire upon this figure either to front or reer according to discretion as long as they please Now in respect much time hath beene spent in the motions by wheelings in plain firings and figures of battail we will draw forth one figure more from the former that the colours may be displayed and that we may conclude our seventh Exercise to refresh the souldiers for a space untill they shall again have warning from their Commander for another appearance Command The last division of Muskettiers in the midst to face about middle divisions of Muskettiers advance forward untill you be three foot cleer of the front and reer to your leader each division of Pikes face outward and move to convenient distance for the colours to display to your leader Reducement Front and Reer division of Muskettiers face about front division move down and double the reer division to the left rank-wise to your leader the two first divisions of
Muskettiers in the front face about then let them and the two last divisions of Muskettiers in the reer move forward untill they be even with the next divisions of Muskettiers to your leader The two middle divisions of Pikes close into the midst to order and to open their ranks from the midst to somthing more then open order the two outmost divisions of Pikes face inward and move forward into the midst of the two middle ranks in the body to your leader Front divisions of Pikes face about and front and reer divisions to move forward and to close their divisions to your leader Files close to the right and left inward to order Muskettiers in the front and reer double your Pikes by division Files double your depth to the right and left outward every man falling behind his bringer-up they will be reduced as at first Now the Serjeants may draw off the Muskettiers filing them to the right and left outward thereby making a guard for there Captain and other Officers to march through trooping away and lodging the colours which done one of the Serjeants command the Muskettiers to face about to the right and to present all and no man to give fire untill they heare the beat of the Drum no man pulling his tricker but once which will be a means that they all fire handsomly together which being ended every man may depart home untill he shall be called forth again CHAP. XXIV The eighth Exercise consisting of sixty four men eight Files eight deep THe Souldiers being again brought into the Field or place of Exercise the Serjeants according to their wonted manner drawing forth the Files bids each File-leader to take his File into some convenient place a part to exercise them in their severall Postures and Charges and after what manner they may fire whether it be to Front Reer or both Flanks Which being performed they are called up to joyn into a Bâ—dy and commanded to close their Ranks and Files to their distance of order and the Front doubled to the right and left inward by the half-files distance before hand being prepared for their moving up The Leader appoints one of the Serjeants to fetch the Colours which being brought up to the head of the Company the Leader for variety sake may spend the chiefest of his time in Firings as followeth The first firing Let the Muskettiers move forward untill their Bringers-up range even with the Front of Pikes after let the two out-most Files of Muskettiers move forward untill their Bringers-up range even a Brest with the Front of the two in-most Files Let the Front or fore-most Divisions of Muskettiers give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves then let them face about and move down into their place where they were last then let the two in-most Files of Muskettiers of each Division advance forwards untill their Bringers-up range even with the Front of the two out-most Files and then let them give fire and fall in the Reer of themselves and after face about and march down into their places again where they were last drawn off The second firing Let them give fire on the ground they stand in each Division falling off to the right and left in the Reer of themselves The third firing Let the first rank in each Division fire as they stand and after move inward in a streight line before the Front of Pikes which gives way for the next rank to fire in each Division after to move inward into the Reer of the first Rank so consequently all the rest to fire in like manner untill they have all fired and stand streight before the Pikes The fourth firing Let their ranks rank outward into the Front and then give fire all intire in one rank and ranking again as they were The fifth firing Let the half-files of Muskettiers double the Front by Divsion and give fire by two ranks together and after to move back again into their places The sixth firing Let the two first ranks kneel down the other two stand upright and give fire four ranks together The seventh firing Let the half-files or Pikes to face about and move three paces to your leader and then Files to double their Depth to the right and left outward of each Arms then let them give fire eight ranks together after this manner two kneel down two kneeling two stand upright and the two last to be drawn off to the right and left and so to fire altogether which being ended command the Pikes by their Files to rank outward into the Front and then open outward to the right and left and charge on in the Front and File again as they were The eighth firing Let the Pikes open their Files from the midst to double distance then command the Muskettiers to face about and move down into the midst of the Pikes then let the half-files face abour and let the Muskettiers be at open order in their Files and the Pikes at order and then let them give fire first to Front and Reer by intraduction after this manner let the first rank in Front and Reer present and give fire on the ground they stand and presently make ready again the next ranks may move forward and place themselves three foot before them and fire in like manner and after stand the other ranks still moving forward into the next rank untill the first have fired and then immediately to clap before them and fire in like manner untill all have fired twice over The ninth firing Let them close their Files into the midst to order and fire on the same ground they stand and fall in the Reer of themselves The tenth firing Let them fire and fall off to the right and left into the midst of Pikes again then let the Pikes charge on to Front and Reer and when they are cleer of the Muskettiers let them close to the right and left inward to order The eleventh firing Let the Pikes port and let the Muskettiers be drawn forth one whole rank to the right and another to the left both to Front and Reer give fire and fall into their places again then let the other four be drawn forth in like manner and fire and fall into their places again the Pikes if occasion shall require may again charge on The twelfth firing Let the Muskettiers range to the right and left outward and fire even a Brest with the Reer of each Division and move in again into their places The thirteenth firing Let the Muskettiers rank outward and move even a Brest with the Front and Reer and there present and give fire and whilest the Pikes are charging on they may rank again as they were and fall in the Reer of the Pikes and make ready again The fourteenth firing The Pikes being retreated into their first ground you may open them to the right and left and then the Muskettiers may move forward and fire two ranks kneeling down the other two
are to face inward and to move into their places where formerly they stood then face them all to their leader and proceed Command Reer division of Muskettiers in the midst face about middle divisions of Muskettiers move forward three foot before the front and reer division of Muâ—kettiers in the midst upon the right face to the left angle and move untill you stand even and streight in the next range of Muskettiers the next division of Muskettiers in the midst upon the left face about and then likewise face to the left angle and move down into the next range of Muskettiers to them and to stand streight in the reer of the reer division face all to your leader produceth the next Upon the former figure let the six last divisions face about let the first divisions give fire fall in the reer of themselves then wheel them about to the right and interchange ground with them that stand in their reer who just upon their wheeling about are to move up cleer of the Pikes to make them room to fall down through the middle intervall into their places who also are immediately to give fire and fall off accordingly Then let the outmost divisions give fire and fall in the reer of themselves then let the Pikes charge on to front reer face them after to the front at such time when the Pikes have retreated back into their places again Now if you will fire them to the front the Muskettiers stands in such good order that you may fire them by divisions by their severall turns as long as you please they relieving each other After you may fire them to front reer and both flanks the Muskettiers standing in fit condition for the same But fearing to keep the souldiers to long in Exercise debarring them thereby of there wonted refreshment I will hasten to the reducement and for present lodge the colours and conclude the eleventh exercise Reducement Out-most divisions of Muskettiers face outward and move six paces to your leader the two first divisions of Muskettiers in the midst face to the right and move cleer of the Pikes then face to the right and left inward and move and interchange ground then stand and face to your leader The two last divisions of Muskettiers in the midst face to to the left and move cleer of the Pikes face all to your leader then let every division close forward to order and move up even a brest with the Pikes they are reduced CHAP. XL. The twelfth Exercise consisting of 24 Files six deep THe place of Exercise appointed for the souldiers to meet they upon a just summons make full appearance being indeed the very life of any Exercise affording much comfort to him that shall lead them And therefore seeing their readinesse forwardnesse as in duty they are concer'nd the leader cannot chuse but forthwith to give order unto his officers for the compleating up of the body who knowing his commands goe nimbly and cheerfully to work in drawing forth the files and joyning them together after fetching the colours and bringing them to the head of the company So that nothing being wanting the leader craves their silence and attention commanding them to their distance of order both in rank and file and after some few distances shewn unto them he may proceed in the next place to such facings as followeth Command Face to the right and left outward and move four paces Face to Front and Reer and move three paces Face to the outward angles in the Front Face to the inward angles in the Front Face to the inward angles of the right Flank Face to the inward angles in the left Flank Face to the outward angles in the Reer Face to the inward angles in the Reer Face to the outward angles both of Front and Reer Face to the inward angles both of Front and Reer Face to the midst of Files Face to the midst of Ranks Face to the Centre Face to the outward angles of Front and Reer from the centre Face all about to the right Face to Front Reer and both Flanks from the Centre As you were to to your Leader CHAP. XLI Doubling to make every man a File-leader by dignity Command HAlf-files double your front to the left Command Double your files to the right intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his leader Command Front half-files double your reer to the left Command Double your files to the left intire advancing every man placing himselfe before his leader Command Bringers-up double your front to the right Command Files double your depth to the right every man falling behind his bringer-up Command Half-files double your front to the right Command Double your files to the left intire advancing Command Ranks to the right double Command Files to the right double Command Bringers-up double your front to the left Command Files double your depth to the left every man falling behind his bringer-up Reducement Ranks to the left double Files to the left double CHAP. XLII Severall Wheelings with their Reducements Command WHeel off your reer half-files and double your front by division Command Right and left half-ranks double the depth of your battail by wheeling inward to the reer Face to the reer Command Double the length of your battail by wheeling inward to front and reer Half-files face about Command Front and reer half-files double the depth of your battail by wheeling outward to the right flank Half-files face about and wheel to the left front half-files wheel to the right Command Front and reer half-files double the length of your battail by wheeling inward to the left flank face all to the left Command Front and reer half-files double the depth of both flanks by wheeling to the right and left outward Half-files face about Command Front and reer half-files double the length of the battail by wheeling inward to the midst of ranks Face inward Command Front and reer half-files double the depth of your left flank by wheeling to the right and left outward Half-files face about Command Front and Reer half-files double the length of your battail by wheeling inward to the right flank Face to the right and as they then stand right half-ranks wheel to the left and left half-ranks wheel to the right untill the right flank meet together they are reduced CHAP. XLIII Plain Firings and Figures of Battail The first firing LEt two ranks advance forward ten paces and give fire and fall in the reer of themselves and after wheel off to the right and left outward and move down in the reer of their own divisions of Muskettiers and then the next two ranks are to move forward and to give fire as the former did and so consequently all the rest untill all have fired and reduced back again into their places The second firing Let them fire even with the front and fall in the reer of themselves and let the Pikes charge on whilst the Muskettiers make
Muskettiers march all 12 paces and stand to your Leader The two middle divisions of Pikes and Muskettiers in the Reer next the Flanks face about outmost divsions of Pikes and Muskettiers in Front and Reer face outward march all four places and stand Again let the outmost divisions of Pikes and Muskettiers face about to the right then march all three paces then stand and face to their leader it produceth the first figure Each of the former divisions conteining five files a piece excepting the outmost division of Pikes upon the right in Front and Reer and they contein six files in each of them Command Divisions of Muskettiers face outward Pikes face about to the right march all untill the Pikes range even with the Reer then face to their Leader occasioneth the next Command The four last divisions of each arms in the midst face about the six outmost divions of each arms face outward the two middle divisions of Pikes in the front face about march all four paces and stand then face the six outmost divisions about to the right and the four middle divisions of Pikes about to the left then march all four paces and face to their Leader Command The two next divisions of Pikes in the midst from the Reer face about middle divisions of Pikes move forward six foot before the Front and Reer to your Leader Reducement The 12 last divisions face about then let every division march forward untill they range even abrest with the Front and Reer and face to their Leader then let the Reer divisions move forward within 18 foot of the Front divisions and they will be in two grand divisions the one in the Reer of the other as at first when they began their facings Having past over part of the distances and facings the next which in order falls to be handled is Doublings and having by command gained 18 foot distance betwixt every five files if in their former motions they should chance to lose it you may then proceed to Doublings by way of divisions as shall be in the next place set down CHAP. IX Doublings belonging to a Regiment Command DIvisions double to the right file-wise Direction Every even division from the Front face to the right and march down cleer untill you stand streight with the next intervall then face to the left and move in and double those Divisions on the right sile-wise to your Leader Command Divisions double to the right rank-wise Direction Every even Division from the Front face to the right and march forward six paces then face to the Front and move forward and double your divisions to the right Command Divisions double the Length of the Battail to the right and left outward Direction The 12 last divisions face outward and march cleer of the standing part face to your Leader move up all even a brest and double according to command Command The 12 in-most divisions double the six out-most to the right and left outward advancing Direction The 12 middle divisions advance forward untill you be six foot cleer of the standing part then face outward and march untill you stand streight before the six out-most face to your Leader and after face inward and move forward untill they stand again unto 18 foot distance from each other to your Leader Command Divisions double the depth of the Battail to the right Direction Every even division from the right face about to the right and move down 18 foot cleer of the Reer face to the left and move untill you stand streight with those divisions on the right which you are to double to your Leader Command The 12 last divisions in the Reer double the Front to the right Direction The 12 last divisions face to the right and move six paces then face to the left march forward and double the Front to the right and they will be reduced CHAP. X. Four severall Wheelings with their Reducement Command DIvisions wheel about to the right and move down into the Reer Direction Front divisions wheel about to the right and move down into the Reer the rest march up into the same ground wheeling to the right hand and following successively after face to your Leader Command Divisions wheel about to the right to the left flank Direction Face to the right and the out-most divisions wheel about to the right and march away unto the place of the left Flank the rest moving up into the same ground wheeling about to the right and following accordingly to your Leader Command Divisions wheel about to the right from the Reer into the Front Direction Face to the Reer and let the first divisions wheel about to the right and move up into the Front the rest marching forward into their ground wheeling off and following in like maner Command Divisions wheel about to the right to the right flank Direction Face all to the left and let the out-most divisions wheel about to the right and move forward to the right flank the rest marching up into their ground following after in the same kinde reduceth them CHAP. XI Counter-marches not fit to be used in the exercising of Regiments IT might be expected after Doublings that I should shew some kinds of Counter-marches amongst the Military Motions in the exercising of a Regiment but being of very little use or practise amongst Commanders in these times especially in such great Bodies for my own part I fancy them not therefore have passed them over pitcht upon such wheelings which by some are accounted counter-marches Whose judgements my desire is better to informe by these severall reasons following wherein and in what kinde they differ from them As thus by these wheelings they keep their distance in rank and file unto order and wheeling intire unto any hand down to the Reer cannot be performed but by gaining in the Motion before the Front and unto all places as they move so much ground as is the Length of their perticuler Divisions and in the execution thereof they still preserve the honour of the right and left-hand Tile-leaders and all others as are concerned in their perticuler Divisions unto any accidentall Front which they shal be brought unto Now concerning counter-marches they are to be performed either by single files ranks half-files or half-ranks and at their distance of open order their words of command having relation to all these perticulers Their counter-marching of Files to the Reer gaineth no ground before the Front in the Motion but onely the room of one perticuler File upon the right it preserveth not the honour of the right and left-hand File-leader at one time by any one word of command unto any of their Motions to such accidentall Fronts they shall make but ever loseth it to some and gaineth it to others And therefore it may appear cleerly unto any ingenious capacity that the former wheelings cannot be accounted or given in their Motions in that kind to the Souldiers for counter-marches
Muskettiers in their files to close outward to order commanding them afterward to move up and flank the Pikes after which he orders the Body into thirteen remarkable divisions four divisions of Muskettiers upon each side of the Pikes and the Pikes into five divisions having their colours flye by two and two and to be led by those Ensign-bearers that do belong to each of them excepting the first and middle divisions for they have Leaders in chief as the first and fift Captain and the third Captain to bring up the Reer of the whole Body of Pikes For more fuller illustration of the leading and bringing up of each division in the Regiment upon their Long-march observe these following directions 1 The Regiment being upon their March the first division upon the right is led by the Collonel his Captain Lieutenant marching in the Reer of him severall paces and that perticuler division is brought up by the Captains Lieutenant Bringer-up 2 The second division of Muskettiers is led by the second Captain Lieutenant and brought up by the first or eldest Cap. Lieutenant 3 The third division of Muskettiers is led by the sixt Captain and brought up by his own Lieutenant 4 The fourth division of Muskettiers is led by the fift Captains Lieutenaut and brought up by the fourth Captain 5 The first division of Pikes is led by the eldest Captain having the Collonels and second Captains colours flying on the head of them 6 The second division of Pikes is led by the fift and sixt Captains Ensignes having their own colours flying upon the head of the same 7 The third division of Pikes is led by the fift Captain having the Majors and eldest Captains colours flying upon the head of the same 8 The fourth division of Pikes is led by the fourth and seventh Captains Ensignes having their own colours flying upon the head of the same 9 The fift and last division of Pikes is led by the Lieutenant Collonels and third Captains Ensignes having likewise their own colours flying upon the head of the same and the Reer of the Pikes is brought up by the third Captain 10 The first division of Muskettiers on the left flank is led by the second Captain and brought up by the fourth Captains Lieutenant 11 The second upon the left is led by the third Captains Lieutenant and brought up by the Majors Lieutenant 12 The third division is led by the seventh Captain and brought up by his own Lieutenant 13 The fourth or last division of Muskettiers is led by the Lieutenant Collonels Lieutenant and the Reer of the Regiment is brought up by the Lieutenant Collonel Notwithstanding I have thus laid down the manner of the Divisions with the placing of the Officers there are also from all these divisions both of the Pikes and Muskettiers subdivisions drawn off upon the long-march betwixt every fift or sixt file as they can equally divide them with even proportions to march And for the leading of such divisions there are Serjeants cast in that properly belong unto them which do lead and bring them up so that upon this accompt they make in their long-regimentall-march some thirty divisions by reason as I conceive upon any Alt or convenient place of drawing them all up even a brest the Serjeants as well as the rest of the superiour Officers may be helpfull to bring up the file-leaders again as at first into their properplaces And thus far I have endevoured for the satisfaction of all ingenuous Souldiers to set forth the manner of Collonell Rainsborough's Regiment of their drawing up disposing of colours and placing of Officers as was the Observation of my ever honour'd Friend and most exquisite knowing Souldier Thomas Walker one of the Captains of the same Regiment and a true lover of the Military Art who friendly communicated to me the practise of their Regiment Which although it differs from the drawing up of all others in our Army as I am inform'd they varying in one kind or other by their severall ways I question not but this may be as good as any of the rest which I leave to the judgement of the curious searchers into this Art whilest I proceed to shew the Figures following CHAP. XVIII A third way of drawing up a Regiment of ten Companies after the manner used amongst the Swedes THe Companies meeting altogether whether it be in the Alarum place otherwise at their generall Randezvous where they have ground and room sufficient enough for their drawing up The Major appointing forth unto the Lieutenant Câ—llonels Company a place most convenient to stand he draws all the rest of the Companies upon the left of him after this manner The seventh and the second Captain then the Collonel after him the sixth fourth and first Captain then the Major after him the fift and third Captain who closes up the left of the whole Regiment the figures of their dignity standing after this manner Here you may perceive they follow a rule to ballance their number of dignity as neer as they can carrying their odd number on the left half-rank and not upon the right for these reasons as I conceive following Their Regiments being so full of men they draw them up for the most part into three Squadrons or grand Divisions giving unto the Lieutenant Collonel the right wing the Major the left and the Collonel the Main-battail The Collonels grand Division consists of the four middle Companies where you are to take notice being drawn off some ten paces cleer from the rest they stand after this manner by way of figure 4 7 9 1. The Leiutenant Collonels Division after this manner 5 10 2. and the Majors after this kind 6 8 3. Wherein I do observe in each grand Division this rule that by succession and degrees they put the best Souldiers upon the right and the second according to course upon the left and the rest between them As first the Collonel being the chiefest man of honour is placed upon the right of his Squadron next to his left is the sixt and fourth Captain and the closing up of his grand Division is placed the first or eldest Captain The Leiutenant Collonel being the second man of honour is likewise placed upon the right of his Squadron and next to his left the seventh Captain his grand Division being closed up by the second Captain In the next place the Major he being the third man of honour is placed upon the right of his Squadron and upon his left the fift Captain and his grand Division is closed up upon the left by the third Captain So that you may observe in the closing up of every Division that as every Field-Officer is upon the right of their Squadrons so they take by degrees upon the out-most of their left to close their Divisions the Captains according to their degrees by succession As first and more cleerly the Collonel takes the eldest Captain to him on his left who will aptly fall in