their Rankes at six foot distance and commanded silence that so euery one may heare the words of Command and to be ready to execute the same c. Front Reare To the right hand double your files BEcause there may be occasion of strengthning the Flankes as also for other purposes these words of Command are vsed To the right hand double your Files which is thus performed All the second file from the right hand march euery one behinde his side-man into the first or right hand File and so the fourth File into the third and the sixt into the fift c. which is done of all at one instant after the command is giuen The order whereof is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 177. In which you may perceiue by the Starres from and to what place each man marcheth The Stars are onely set downe in the first and second Files but you are to vnderstand the same order in the third and fourth Files and so of all the rest c. Files as you were HAuing performed the former Motion the Captaine commands them Files as you were and then all those which doubled returne vnto their owne proper places the which is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 179. by the Starres in the first and second Files the which order you must conceiue in the third and fourth fift and sixt c. To the left hand double your files THis Motion differeth little from that marked with 177. but that here the Motion is to the left hand as there it was to the right hand so that those Files which moued then stand still now and those which stood still then moue now all which is so plainly demonstrated by the Starres in the figure marked with 181. that it needs no further explanation Files as you were THe former Motion orderly performed the Captaine commands Files as you were and then those which doubled returne into their proper places according as you may plainely vnderstand by the figure pag 183. in which the Starres demonstrate both from what place they come and whither they march HAuing performed the doubling of Files in all points and orders demonstrated in my figures before this which was done with the shot in the right hand flanke of the pikes hereafter followeth the exercise in the very same forme and station of the Company where with I began the exercise of training the which Musketiers are diuided and placed in both the flankes of the pikes according to the figure in the next side pag. 185. Halfe Files to the right hand double your Ranckes IN the figure pag. 166. was shewed one way how that vpon occasion the Front might be strengthned here is another forme of strengthning the same which requireth two demonstrations or Figures for explanation In the first marked with D. is shewed the manner of acting this Motion and in the second marked with E. is demonstrated the action performed wherein you may perceiue how the sixt Rancke or as some improperly call them middle men doubleth the first Rancke the seuenth the second Rancke the eight the third Rancke the ninth the fourth Rancke and the tenth the fift Rancke Note that in performing this motion the halfe files of Pikes that doubled aduance their Pikes till they haue doubled and then order them D E Halfe Files as you were WHen they haue performed the former Motion according to the direction the Captaine commands Halfe Files as you were and then the halfe Files aduance their Pikes and fall backe with their right legge and so march into their proper places and then they are againe ten deepe at six foote distance according to the demonstration pag. 189. Note that in turning into their places euery one ought to turne to the right hand which is both easier and more pleasing to the eye then turning to the left hand Halfe Files to the left hand double your Ranckes THis Motion differeth nothing in effect from that before demonstrated in the 187. Figure the difference onely is that here the halfe Files which moue march vp to the left hand of the halfe Files that stand whereas according to those Figures they marched vp to the right hand of them The Figures marked pag. 191. make this very plaine Halfe Files as you were HAuing performed the former Motion the Captaine commands Halfe Files as you were and then the Halfe Files which doubled aduance their Pikes and fall backe with their right leg to be cleare of their Side-men and so march into their proper places turning into the same towards the left hand which done they will be in the forme marked with 193. Files to the Right hand Countermarch WHen a charge is expected in the Reare and it being thought conuenient to haue the Leaders of files to be in the places of the bringers vp because they are men best able to receiue the enemie it may be performed in this manner The Captaine commands Files to the right hand Counter-march and then the Leaders of Files aduancing with their right legge turne to the right hand and march downe towards the Reare all the body of the company mouing together and so the second rancke turning as the Front or Leaders of the files did when they haue marched vp to the place where the front was and so doth the third fourth and fift rankes c. The manner whereof is plainely demonstrated in the figure marked with B. and the figure marked with C. sheweth the motion performed B C Files to the left hand Counter-march THis Motion differeth nothing in vse from the former the difference of acting it is onely that there they aduance with the right legge and turne to the right hand and here they aduance with the left legge and turne to the left hand The manner of doing this is demonstrated in the next page marked with G. And the thing done in that marked with H. And therefore needs no further explanation G H The Postures of the Pike HAndle your Pike Aduance your Pike Shoulder your Pike To the right hand charge As you were To the left hand charge As you were To the Front charge As you were To the Reare charge As you were Aduance your Pike Porte your Pike Comport your Pike Traile your Pike Cheeke your Pike Aduance your Pike To your funerall posture traile your Pike Recouer your Pike Order your Pike Your open order at foote Your close order at foote To the Front charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge To the right hand charge Order your Pike Aduance your Pike Lay downe your Pike Take vp your Pike Shoulder your Pike Slope your Pike Leuell your Pike Traile your Pike Recouer your Pike Charge your Pike and aduance your ground Retreat charging Aduance your Pike Lay downe your Pike The Postures of the Musket HAndle your Musket Lay downe your Musket Lay downe your bandeleers Hold your Rest in your left hand Take vp your bandeleers with
order that is kept then any of the other Which order of carrying armes is not onely ready and commodious to vse at all occasions but also doth make a gallant shew and a generall forme of good proportion and true prospect a thing most necessarie for a man of valour to vse in all his doings He ought likewise euer to haue good regard to weare his weapon of like length the other Souldiers vse which in marching doth make the rankes to be of one iust line and in shew of a seemely and streight proportion causing the whole band to carry a braue and singular grace A Souldier ought euer to retaine and keepe his armes in saftie and forth comming for he is more to be detested then a Coward that will loose or play away any part thereof or refuse it for his ease or to auoide paines Wherefore such a one is to be dismissed with punishment or made some abiect Pioner Therefore during his seruice and after his returne home let him still bee wedded to his weapons and armour that when he is called vpon againe to serue his Prince he be not enforced to furnish himselfe againe with new Armes sometimes old of little value and lesse goodnesse as some souldiers now adaies to their great discommendation doe vse A custome altogether different from the true exercise of armes and varying from the rule of other warlike-nations which make true profession of armes amongst the which the Spaniards and Zuitzers at this day are to bee commended the one for obseruing an apt sumptuous and warlike choise therein and the other for that they beare all sorts of armes with great aduantage both in length and strength the which vnto them becomes very familiar through the abilitie of body they possesse Those Souldiers which cannot endure the toile and trauell to beare armes of defence namely the Pikeman and Halberdier are made subiect to receiue both blowes and death by the hands of their enemies or through their disaduantage to take a shamefull flight or at the first encounter to remaine their prisoners Therefore it is very necessarie for a Souldier to take paines in daily practise to acquaint himselfe throughly in the exercise and carriage of armes whereof hee ought to vse practise specially of those that be offensiue and in those which ordinarily we are accustomed to carrie as the Rapier and Dagger Pike and Halberd and such like without making open and apparent profession of the practise thereof but secret and seuerall from the wide sight of the world that afterwards he may put the same in practise to his greater aduantage and commendation Finally the Halberdier who is armed either with brigandine or corslet ought of duty to attend with his halberd when his turne comes about his Ensigne in marching and set squares in the Captaines lodging and tent for his guard and at the entrance of a house c. to be the foremost person to force the passage But in a day of battaile the old Romane shield and a short sharpe-pointed sword to execute in a throng of men exceedes the Halberd and browne-bill Besides the Pikeman which is armed all ouer with a corslet and is to performe his duty in a maine square stand or battaile to receiue the shocke of horsemen or charge of the enemies infantery There be yet another sort of light-armed Pikes which onely haue the fore-part of a corslet and a head-peece as is the Almaine riuet or good light-iacke or plate-coate these sometimes may be sent amongst the forlorne-hope of Hargabusiers to defend them from the inuasions of Horse-men But touching shot I would wish our Nation being men of strong constitution of body to beare a Peece betwixt the boare of a Caliuer and a Musket the which with small vse they would be able to weeld very well at the armes end which would cary a great aduantage in skirmish the which like vnto the Hargabuse they might as I said before exercise and with a gallant and assured raising-vp the crooked end of the stocke to his breast hauing before-hand fitted the coale of his match to giue quicke and iust fire whereof euer he must take the certaine measure must then discharge amidst his modest trauerse to his greatest aduantage and to endomage his enemies Which done he must first fold-vp againe the falne match in a ready and conuenient sort betwixt his fingers hauing both the ends of his match light at once that whilst the one is spent and in kindling againe the other may serue his turne Besides these foresaid weapons I would not thinke it inconuenient to haue in a Band certain targets of proofe to march in the front which were very necessarie to defend a ranke of men in a streight-lane passage breach or other place from the enemies shot they all closely and in a low order marching vnder the fauour and shade of them as in a skirmish I saw put in practise when Cassimire did march with the STATES armie vnder Louaine 1578. The Captaine is to set downe by the Generals appointment the summe of all their paies and the difference therein according to euery mans weapon and qualitie But to speake of other directions and militarie obseruations A foot-man that is a Souldier ought aboue all things to be obedient to his Captaine and officers and neuer abandon his Ensigne nor be absent from his companie without leaue or speciall let In his march hee ought to be modest ready in his ranke obserue a long distance in his Laumband and keepe an equall stay in his Alta. If words of aduertisement doe passe ouer from ranke to ranke alongst the marching band let him deliuer those words plainely and with diligence which the Captaine giues ouer to be pronounced from mouth to mouth as to passe Parole appertaines If the enemie cause sodaine Arme let his bale en bouche and his match in the cocke shew his ready good-will either to receiue repulse or giue charge If either for pleasure in a muster or in any other shew in sport or earnest his Company be commanded to discharge certaine volies of shot or a Salua he must either hold his peece sidelong the rankes whilst he doth prepare the same or with the end higher then their heades and discharge ouer the toppes of the formost rankes for feare of hurting his Companions which rule they ought to obserue and thereunto be constrained vpon paine of seuere punishment If any enterprise be made in the night let him not only keepe his match close from open shew or falling sparkes but be vigilant and keepe silence to the intent that through his negligence and noise their actions be not discouered If he keepe Sentinell and haue the watch-word let him giue eare diligently to all rumours noises and view warily all suspected places to the intent if he heare any trampling neying of horses or approaching enemie which he may the more easily heare by making a hole in the ground and laying his eare to
The first is when euery one is distant from his fellow 6 foote square that is in File and Ranke 6 foote The second is when euery soldier is 3 foote distant one from another as well in File as in Ranke And in respect the measure of such distances cannot alwaies be taken euenly by the racke of the eye the distance of 6 foote betweene the files is measured when the soldiers stretching out their armes doe touch one anothers hands and betwixt the Rankes when that the ends of their pikes come very neere to the hams of them that march before them And the distance of 3 foot betwixt the Files is when their elbowes touch one another and betwixt their Rankes when they come to touch the ends of one anothers Rapiers or swords In marching in the field the distance of 3 foote from File to File is kept and of 6 foote from Ranke to Ranke when the soldiers order themselues in battell and also when they march towards the enemie the distance of 3 foote both in File and Ranke is to be obserued And likewise in conuersion or wheeling The musketiers making ready to shoote by rankes keepe the same distance of 3 foote but going to skirmish they goe a la disabande that is out of order There is also vsed another order of distance which is seldome obserued but for to receiue the enemie with a firme stand and serueth for the pikes onely for the musketiers cannot stand so close in files because they must haue their armes at liberty and that is when euery distance from file to file is a foote and a halfe and 3 foote from Ranke to Ranke and this last distance is thus commanded Close your selues throughly But it is not to be taught the soldiers for that when necessitie shall require it they will close themselues too much of their owne accord without command How Pikes are to be raised vp and abased in closing and opening of a battaile I Will not omit to put in memorie vnto them that know not of the particulars of those things and order that are required in making a battell of footmen Therefore those which would make a battell of footmen must be aduertised that in shutting vp the said battell the ranks of pikes as well armed as vnarmed must not raise vp confusedly but with order that is when the Sargeant maior Captaine or Lieutenant shall say Raise or right vp your Pikes then it is requisite that the first and formost Ranke must begin to raise vp it selfe and that the second doe not moue to raise vp it selfe till the first be raised vp and so the third and fourth the same order is to be obserued in all the other Rankes from one Ranke to an other The like Rule is to be obserued by them in laying downe of their pikes vpon their shoulders for so much as Ranke by Ranke in order and without confusion they ought to let fall their pikes appointing the first Ranke to fall after the second the third after the fourth and so is all the rest of the Rankes to follow the same order till the hindermost Ranke of all And by obseruing that order they cannot commit disorder but rather make a gallant shew and preuent many confusions How Pikes are to be carried in aray march or battell with also other necessarie notes THose that are appointed to carry pikes in array of Rankes or battell must know that pikes amongst all other weapons that belong to soldiers is of greatest honor and credit And truely whosoeuer doth carry and manage the same weapon well and with good grace doth make a very beautifull and pleasant shew to the beholders and chiefly when it is caried with a good grace as I haue said before and with il combedo alto And as touching the obseruation of shouldring of pikes to wit that there is a new order obserued in the Low Countries now of late the Commanders there will haue the pikes to be carried vpon the right shoulder and not to remoue or change to the left shoulder at all Note also that the Pike-man doe march then with a good grace holding vp his head gallantly his pace full of grauitie and estate and such as is fit for his person And let his body be straight and as much vpright as is possible And that which most imports is that they haue alwaies their eyes vpon their companions which are in ranke with them and before them going iust one with the other and keeping perfit distance without committing error in the least pace or step and euery pace and motion with one accord and consent they ought to make at one instant time And in this sort all the rankes intirely are to march sometimes softly sometimes fast according to the strokes of the drumme the heele and the tippe of their pikes would be equally holden both of length and height as neere as is possible to auoid that they fall not out to be seeme by bearing them otherwise like vnto Organ-pipes some long some short The measure and propertie thereof to hold the heele of the pike is this it is necessarie for him to haue an eie to the ranke that doth march before him and so carrie the Butt-end or heele of his pike that it may be iust ouer against the ioynt of the hamme of the souldier that in march shall be straight before him And so euery one from hand to hand must obserue the proportion of that height And that is right behind vpon the ioynt of the knee for by doing so they cannot commit errour carying in their march that legge that is vnder that arme that sustaines and caries the Pike of iust and euen proportion by mouing their pace right-vnder the staffe of the pike going in their march as I haue said before iust and euen with a stately and sumptuous pace for by doing so they shall be esteemed honoured and commended of all the Lookers on and they will take wonderfull delight to behold them march in that order And whereas I haue said before that the Souldiers should march forward with one consent I meane not onely that the Pike men ought to obserue that order but also that the musketeares are to follow the same rule of order because that the whole company must be ready to march forward at one instant time obseruing the true strokes or battery of the drumme which actiue obseruation may well be compared to a Dancer for the one by hearing his musicke is prepared to tread the measure answerable to the time And the other by hearing the warlike and comfortable stroke of the drum is ready to aduance his pace and march forward The Officer is to pace towards his people so to giue the word and so to lead march and also obseruing the strokes of the drum the first ranke being the file leaders it to follow their Leader The second ranke euery one to follow his pile-leader also The third fourth and fift rankes and so the