files All the files close from the right and left towards the middle of the bodie Ranks close forwards to your close order All the ranks move forwards saving the first which standeth The second rank having their distance stand so all the rest Now the horse being to wheel it must be considered that it cannot be performed by them in such exact manner and so strait a room as the foot therefore the commander is to ride a reasonable compasse that so they may do it with convenience To the left hand wheel Because Melzo and Basta would have the horse in all their wheelings to do it by the left which indeed is the readier way unlesse the ground or other hindrance will not permit it I have omitted the wheeling to the right which in order should go first All the bodie moveth to the left upon the left file-leader as the center Then to wheel as they were There is also wheeling to the right or left about wheeling wings into the front c. which are here omitted for brevitie To reduce them first the ranks are to be opened as abovesaid then the files which bringeth them to their first form In opening the ranks the best if not the onely way is to do it by opening forward These and the like motions are directed and commanded by the voice of the commander a Vox autem percipi interdum non petest aut propter armorum sonitum aut propter equorun transitum himitum multitudinis strepitum c. Aelian cap. 35. but because the voice sometime cannot be heard especially in grosse bodies by reason of the clashing of armour trampling or neying of horses or tumultuous sound or noise of the multitude and that especially in fight b Nam cum voce sola inter praeliorum tumultus regi multitudo non possit c. antiquus omnium gentium usus invenit c. Tria generasignorum Vocaliae semivocalia muta c. Veget. lib. 3. cap. 5. Antiquitie hath invented helps making three kindes of militarie signes or directions 1 Vocall which is by the commanders voice pronounced by the inferiour officers to the eare 2 Semivocall by trumpet or other war like instrument to the eare 3 Mute by signes to the eye as the ensigne c The Cavallrie therefore must be taught c Praecipies autem ut perfectè cognoscant buccinae sonum ut ubi consistere eos jubet consistant c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.82 distinctly to know the severall sounds of the trumpet as when to clap on their saddle when to mount when to repair to the cornet when to troop away when to give a charge when to retreat when to attend the watch and the like All which being the lowder voice of the commander d Intenti ad ducis non signum modò sed nutum Curtius 3. they must punctually observe and obey Now howsoever I have here propounded a companie of 64 horse to be exercised in the motions and those of 8 in file as I see it observed by e Walhausen would have the Harquebusiers to be 8 in file and the Cuirassiers 10. lib. 2. cap. 2 3. But therein as in divers other things he is singular and dissenteth from others some yet the generall opinion is that they ought not to be deeper then 5 in file though the companie consist of 100 horse Every such companie must be furnished with A Captain A Lieutenant A Cornet A Quartermaster Three Corporalls Two Trumpeters A Clerk A Saddler A Chirurgeon A Farrier When the companie be f About the manner of marching of a companie of horse there is much disagreement among authors Melzo Basta and Walhausen would have them to march in one entire deduction not by squadrons the Captain to march first next after him two attendants with spare horses they bearing his armour then the trumpeters then the cornet in the first rank of horse But VValhausen placeth the Lieutenant next after the Trumpeters before the Cornet all others place him as he ought to be in the reere Flamin de la Crore would have them march in divisions and every Corporall to lead one but this the Corporalls being leaders of files disordereth their ranks I follow that order which is prescribed to be generally observed by the councel of warre to march they are to be divided into 3 equall parts and each of these is called a squadron according to the number of the corporalls and these are distinguished by the names of the Captains Lieutenants Cornets squadron The first squadron to be led by the Captain the second by the Cornet the third by the eldest Corporall The Lieutenant Quartermaster are to come in the reare And when they come to be exercised or to do service the Captains squadron stands the other squadrons sleeve up on the left hand so they become a Battalia As for their marching in grosse that comes to be spoken of in the next part THE SECOND PART OF MARCHING THE ARGUMENT HAving shewed in the first part how the Cavallrie is to be levied it followeth now to speak of their manner of marching a matter of no small a Plura in itineribus quà m in ipsa acie solent contingere pericula Nam in conflictu armati sunt omnes hostem cominus vident ad pugnandum animo veniunt praeparati In itinere minùs armatus minùsque attentus est miles superveniente impetu vel fraude repente turbatur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. consequence in the well ordering whereof oftentimes especially upon occasion of suddain charges the safetie of the troops or of the whole armie consisteth For the orderly handling whereof I purpose to direct my discourse to these 3. heads 1. The knowledge of the wayes and discoverie of the enemies designes and residence 2. The conducting of the troops to their Rendez-vous and their orders 3. The particular distribution of the whole train upon the way And the scouts or fore-runners And how they are to march in an open or strait countrey by day or night CHAP. I. Of guides FOr the knowledge of the wayes a a For want of good guides the late Prince of Orenge failed of an Aenslach or enterprise upon Bruges a citie in Flanders For when he had marched all the night himself and many other great personages often riding up to the horses bellies in waters he found himself within half an houres march of the place he landed at The day appearing frustrated the designe and caused him to dismarch re infectâ Meteren lib. 17. matter of great importance either to prevent the taking of one way for another in marching or in pursuing the enemie he having received the charge and flying by usuall wayes the use of mappes may somewhat help but being too generall is not sufficient And therefore the waggon-master is to provide good guides of the inhabitants of those places where the march is to be which may be able to give certain
of the troops of his neighbour garrisons untill he be superiour And by making embuscadoes two or three times in this manner it will terrifie the enemie in so much as that it may be conjectured that though afterward he make embuscadoes with fewer horse the enemie will not hazard to come forth and so he may the safelier take bootie When the armie marcheth there is usually some Cavallrie left behinde in embuscadoe in some eminent place from whence they may discover farre off by that means to be secured from the enemies Cavallrie which usually is sent to charge the reare of the marching armie to take some prisoners or to get intelligence But these must not go to their place of ambush by the right way but having passed the place they must return to it by some by-by-way lest the enemie following them discover them by their footing To employ all the Cavallrie supposed to be 4000 in 40 troops in Embuscadoe three troops must be sent before towards the enemie under an able Commander giving notice onely to him and the Captains where the embuscadoe shall be letting none of the souldiers know that any more horse are to follow them lest any of them in the enemies charge being taken prisoner should reveal it to the enemie Of these three troops 100 are to be sent to the enemies camp viz 50 Cuirassiers with their Captain and Lieutenant 50 Harquebusiers with their Lieutenant Of these Harquebusiers f Pauci equites praemittuntur vallida manus per alia mittitur loca primi ubi ad agmen inimicorum pervenerunt equites tentant leviter atque discedunt c. tunc illa Manus superveniens opprimit ignorantes ibid. 25 shall advance before with a good Corporall attempting to take horses prisoners c. as they shall be able In view of these Harquebusiers at the distance of a canon shot 25 Cuirassiers must make Alto under command of their Lieutenant to receive those 25 Harquebusiers when they return with bootie The Captain with the other 25 Cuirassiers 25 Harquebusiers shall keep behinde some half league off divided into two troops the Harquebusiers being placed nearest the enemie in convenient manner partly to succour the said 50 horse which likely will be charged by the horse of the enemies guards also to make their retreat wherein the Cuirassiers are of principall use These 4 troops must still retreat in fitting distance one from another one of them still turning face to the enemie unlesse the enemie so charge them as they must be forced to flie in disorder The other 200 horse being 150 Cuirassiers and 50 Harquebusiers shall enter the embuscadoe with their Chief about half an houres riding off from the other 50 horse which when they see returning and charged they shall issue out The 50 Harquebusiers first giving a charge rank after rank then the Cuirassiers leaving 20 horse in the reare to make the retreat The grosse which had taken another way lest the enemie should perceive by the footing that there was a greater number and so should stay or turn back must be in ambush about an houres march behinde the said 200 horse And seeing them return charged as surely they will the enemie thinking himself the stronger shall suffer them to passe and the enemie also that so they may charge them on the reare when they see their time For better assurance it were good to lead out with them as before was intimated some g C. Cassius in Syria adversus Parthos ducens aciem equitem ostendit à fronte cùm à tergo peditem in confragoso loco occultâsset dein cedente equitatu per nota se recipiente in praparatas insidias perduxit exercitum Parthorum cecidit Frontin Stratagem 2. lib. cap. 5. 500 musketiers and 300 pikes which must be in ambush about a league behinde the grosse of Cavallrie on the way by which the said 300 horse should return charged These foot must take heed they be not discovered untill the enemie be come up to them and then shall give them a full volly to disorder them Upon this the grosse of Cavallrie now issued out shall charge them on the reare and flanks and then the said 300 horse are to face about and sustain the charge by all which means it is not like that the enemie can escape without much losse According to this proportion a greater or smaller number may be ordered so as if you would make an embuscadoe with 100 horse onely 50 of them must be sent before towards the enemies camp or village where he is quartered Of these 50 15 are to advance before the rest to take some prisoners or horses the other 35 shall be in ambush about half a league behinde them in some place if it be possible whence they may see those 15 but if not then to place 2 horse between themselves and those 15 to give notice when the said 15 shall return charged Whereupon 25 of these 35 shall advance leaving 10 of the best mounted at the place to let the enemie see there is a greater number of horse These 10 must make good the retreat untill the other 50 arrive which lay in ambush two leagues behinde with Sentinels to discover afarre off towards the other 35 betwen which about the midway two horse were also placed to discover the motions of the first 50 and thereof to inform those 50 which were in ambush behinde them These seeing the first 50 return charged shall let them passe and then issue out against the enemie the first 50 making their retreat by 13 or 15 of their best mounted horse-men having reunited themselves and taken breath they must make h The word Alto or Alte is used in all languages in Christendome and signifieth to make a stand I cannot guesse whence it should be derived unlesse it be from the highdutch word halte which is as we say hold and with us is used in the same signification Alto and assist the other as hath been shewed This order is to be observed when you have certain intelligence by your discoverers that the enemie hath no forces thereabout But when you cannot be assured of that lest the enemie with a troop of 50 or 60 horse casually meeting with some of your said small divisions should defeat them there might be 20 or 25 horse first sent out whereof 15 to advance to take some bootie the other staying about half a league behinde in some covert place shewing themselves when those 15 return charged so to give suspicion to the enemie or to make their retreat The rest might be in ambush all together some two leagues behinde them demeaning themselves as before hath been shewed In i Est autem optimum instruendi artificium ut plus inferas adversariis copiarum quà m primo aspectu ostendas Aelian cap. 47. grosse ambushes they must make their number seem as small as may be k Sin parvum habeas exercitum
of two troops as Melzo hath it or the Generalls regiment according to C. Bingham which hath alwayes the vanguard And if the enemie should change place and from your front become to be upon your reare whereby the reare as most dangerous becomes most honourable that Captain which to day hath led the battaillon to morrow in stead of the vanguard may challenge the reare The scouts alter their course also and attend the enemies proceedings on the reare If occasion be in time of march to send out one or more troops for some service they are to observe the same orders But the armie being come to their quarter and occasion being to send out b When all or a good part of the horse are employed in some exploit without Infanterie it is called a cavalcado Such was that when the States men surprised the castle of Crapoel in Limburg c. Meteren lib. 23. all or part of the Cavallrie upon some exploit that troop which first appeareth at the place of Rendez-vous shall be appointed by the Commissarie Generall who is to be there to the first place the second to the second place If two troops come together at the same instant they shall cast lots By this means every man desiring honour they will be the readier to appeare in due time The same course shall be taken when the troops are to be sent upon some embuscado convoy or the like If the march be but of one day he which commandeth shall appoint the best experienced and ablest to lead c Others hold it much better to observe the same order in the dismarch which was used in the march so that companie which went out first comes in first who is to be in the reare returning back to the quarter And these may have private order to be at the place of Rendez-vous sooner then the rest to avoid jealousies The vanguard battaillon and reare must be divided from each other 300 paces CHAP. IV. Of scouts or discoverers TO be secured from unexpected assaults of the enemie neither the armie nor the Cavallrie alone no not a companie must march without a These the Romanes called exploratores or speculatores See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noceant ducis praestat industria quem omnia prius convenit explorare Idem lib. 3. cap. 6. discoverers which must be sent out not onely by the direct way where the enemie is like to come or you are to march but to scoure all the by-wayes on either side And sometime the first discoverers are seconded by a second companie to secure the march They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men valiant vigilant and discreet such as neither feare nor misconceit can easilie distract They must see that with their own eyes which they inform the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie Those select men appointed for this service are to be b P. Considius qui rei militaris peritissimus habebatur in exercitu L. Syllae postea in M. Crassi fuerat cum exploratoribus praemittitur Caes com lib. 1. c. 5. led by an able officer it being a task so difficult that many have lost that reputation by it which they had been long in gaining of This officer shall send word of what he discovereth and what he seeth not himself he is to signifie it as so reported to him and having seen it then to certifie it as for certain CHAP. V. Of the order of marching by day THe a Omni curā omnique diligentiâ providere debet dux ne proficiscens patiatur incursum vel si non facilè at sine damno repellat illatum Veg. ibid. march must be so ordered as the companies may readily from that order be brought into a good form of battell upon occasion of a suddain charge The Cavallrie supposed to consist of 40 troops and the countrey spacious is to be divided into two bodies of 20 troops a piece Melzo would have 3 troops of Harquebusiers in front of the vanguard which Basta and VValhausen are against because they are for the most part but ill armed These two divisions are to march in even front 150 paces divided Coming to strait passages the right wing is to march before the left The officers must suffer none of the baggage nor any other to intermingle with their troops The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the vanguard or one of them in that division when the Cuirassiers have it b Praemittes etiam ad loca exploranda equites quosdam praesertim si sylvosa sint aut collibus aut montibus inclusa per quae transeundum est c. Leo cap. 9.38 must send out a Corporall with 15 horse and a good guide some league before whereof two shall be sent out directly before him two towards the right and other two towards the left c Caesar exercitum per insidiosa itinera duxit nunquam nisi praespeculatus locorum situs c. Sueton. Jul. to discover among the woods and valleys and to get intelligence at any dwelling houses or villages advising the Corporall of what they discover Who is from time to time to advise the chief which is to march at the head of the first troop After these 15 he is to send out 4 others led by a sufficient souldier to bring reports of what those 15 shall discover the rather because the enemie might come upon them upon the flanks after the first 15. were past The Captain of Harquebusiers which hath the reare of the left wing must leave a Corporall with 15 horse a mile behinde him Of these 15 two are to be some 12 or 14 score behinde the rest to give notice if the enemie follow them in the reare d Illud vitandum nè aliis festinantibus aliis tardiùs incedentibus interrumpatur acies aut certè tenuetur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. The Captain which leads in front must march so as the other troops must keep foot with him and passing over a bridge or narrow passage must make Alto so soon as he is over or in the plain leaving a souldier at the bridge or strait which shall give him knowledge so soon as the reare be past over or through g Quando per angustias aliquas aut per arduos aviósque montes profecturus es praemitte ex tuis qui juga montium loca ibi editissima occupent qui aditus angustos minùs patentes anticipent c. Leo Tact. cap. 9.26 And if in these strait passages there be any advenues by which the enemie might charge you those must be prepossessed by Harquebusiers or Dragons alighting and keeping themselves upon some height or in some valley or behinde some hedge or ditch to secure their flanks Every troop is to leave 100 paces distance between each other and are to suffer no baggage nor others to trouble them as abovesaid CHAP. VI. The order of marching by night
UPon occasion of marching with all or part of the Cavallrie by night the companies are punctually appointed their places of march by written orders delivered to their officers Before the troops a Corporall with 12 or 15 Harquebusiers is to be sent by the space of half a league to discover and take intelligence at the houses whether there be any news of the enemie And passing by places which are at the enemies devotion some of them must have the language and feigne themselves friends the better to know what passeth Not long after these 4 others are to follow as in the former chapter Besides a chosen troop of Cuirassiers are to be readie led by a Captain of speciall desert with order to a Capienda rebus in malis praeceps via est Seneca charge resolutely upon any adversary and these are to march 150 paces before the rest The chief Commander is to march at the head of the first troop which followeth the said chosen troop of 60 Cuirassiers and with him one of the best souldiers of every troop to carrie the orders upon all occasions to their Captains sending before him 4 of his ablest men to give him notice if the said select troop of 60 Cuirassiers charge the enemie which if it happen he shall cast his companie out of the way and charge the enemie on the flank and so the rest of the troops observing that they intermix not their troops The troops must not leave such distances between each other as in the day march unlesse they heare news of the enemies approach b Progredientes viam faciunt silentio quietè decenter omnes proprium ordinem asservantes Josephus of the Romanes manner of marching cited by Lipsius de milit Rom. lib. 5.142 They must march with all possible silence At any by way the first companie must leave a souldier at the entrance thereof which shall be relieved or changed by the next companie and so successively untill all be past Coming into open and champion places the officers shall draw up their troops and cause them to march in square bodies well closed having regard that none slep The spare horses or pages must not march at the heads of the troops If the enemie charge the reare the chief officer in the reare shall cause the last companie to face about and so the rest if need be but those companies which were in front must not come to the reare for avoiding of disorder and lest the enemie cunningly make an alarm in the reare when he meaneth to charge the front In the reare of all a Corporall with 15 horse shall march as above mentioned with a guide The day being come the said 60 Cuirassiers shall return to their severall companies If the companies refresh themselves in the night they must not be suffered to unsaddle their horses nor disarm themselves The guides diverse of them must go before the troops whether on foot or on horse-back guarded by two souldiers which know the language and no other to speak to them c Interdum autem imperita rusticitas plura promittit credit se scire quae nescit Veg. lib. 3. Cap. 6. These are diligently to observe them whether they seem doubtfull looking here and there as doubting of the way and thereof shall presently certifie the officer that he may call others to be assured CHAP. VII How the baggage is to march AS little baggage as possible may be must be conducted with the Cavallrie It is the waggon-masters charge to order it for the march First the Generalls baggage is to march then the Lieutenant Generalls then the Commissarie Generalls and so the other officers in their degrees The place of march is uncertain a Auuertendo ancora che tutti li impedimenti artiglierie sempre camino da quelle parte che non sia volta verso al nemico Cataneo cap. 8. This agreeth with Aelians directions cap. 51. Impedimenta c. but alwayes it must be most remote from danger If the danger be in the front it marcheth in the reare c. The waggon-master or with some the Provost must see that all march in their appointed place and disband not A company of Harquebusiers is to guard the baggage The horse boyes march after the waggons and must not be suffered to march among the troops THE THIRD PART OF ENCAMPING THe next part to be handled according to our former distribution is Encamping In the skilfull performance whereof the militarie prudence and good judgement of the Commander of an armie chiefly appeareth And herein three things are principallie considerable 1 In what place and by whom the quarter is to be made and how distributed 2 The manner of securing the quarter by guards sentinels discoverers spies c. 3 Of dislodging and the way how to perform it CHAP. I. Of making the quarters IN a Castra tuto semper facienda sunt loco ubi lignorum pabuli aquae suppetat copia Et si diutiùs commorandum est loci salubritas eligetur c. Veg. lib. 1. cap. 22. the choice of a fitting place for encamping or quartering regard must be had 1 To the commoditie of the souldiers 2 To the situation to be able to resist the enemie For experience teacheth what benefit or losse an armie may receive by a good or bad quartering and hereof histories yeeld a world of examples To lodge or encamp the Cavallrie a speciall care must be had of the commoditie of water and where they may be under shelter for one cold or rainie night might ruine the Cavallrie nothing hurting a horse sooner then cold or wet By this means the souldier shall finde forrage at hand and needeth not to go seek it abroad with his horse of service all not having nags When the horse be lodged in severall quarters two souldiers of every quarter attend the person of the Generall or the chief Commander to carrie any sudden orders to their severall quarters But of such companies as are quartered neare him b Vnus ex omnibus manipulis imperatori in diem excubat Polyb. one is sufficient When all the Cavallrie is lodged together the Lieutenant Generall Commissarie Generall and Quartermaster Generall are usually lodged neare the Generall for the better distributing of the Generalls orders The appointing of the quarters belongeth to the Commissarie Generall and the Marshall by whose directions the Quartermaster Generall proceedeth It is fit for them to have some demonstration on paper of the place beforehand and to know the commodities and discommodities also the advenues of the enemie wherein the guides can better direct them then the usuall maps which if not false are too generall When the Quartermaster Generall c Cùm verò appropinquaverint ubi castra ponenda praeeunt Tribunus Centurionum illi qui ad hoc munus semper electi sunt c. Polyb. goeth before to make the quarters not onely the particular Quartermasters but also
whereas the Cuirassiers have but 2 foot their hutts are also of 10 foot broad and 8 foot deepe for 2 Harquebusiers and 8 foot for the litter of their two horses and 10 foot for their Stable And 5 foot for a street betweene their huts and the mangers for their horses their Suttlers streets their Suttlers huts c. are as the Cuirassiers The maner of Quartering the Pr. of Orange his Army both horsse and foote Fig 5. Par 3. Cap 2. When the quarter is to be in some suspected place it should if possibly it could be made in the day time before the approach of the night that so the fittest place for the alarm place might be made choice of and also for the corps-du-guard also the better to discover and observe the approaches of the enemie and to appoint the stands of the Sentinells that so the souldiers finding all things readie be not put to finde out their lodgings in the dark with lighted straw in danger to fire the houses besides a Lieutenant with 25 Harquebusiers useth to be sent out before and to place themselves beyond the further side of the village where the quarter shall be placing Sentinells a good distance before them to prevent the enemies suddain approach on that part The best house must be appointed for the Generall as neare the Corps-du-guard as may be the rest of the officers are to be accommodated in their order Everie Captain must lodge among his souldiers The troops being come neare to the quarter make Alto and receiving information by the Quartermaster Generall or one of the particular Quartermasters that the quarters are readie the Chief giveth license to the Captains to enter their quarters They which have the guard are to be conducted to the place by the Quartermaster Generall But if the armie be encamped in the field the Cavallrie is to be quartered according to the b The Romanes manner of quartering or encamping is shewed in figure by Lipsius in his book de Milit. Rom. lib. 5. dial 4. Also by Sr H. Savile in his annotations upon Tacitus And by Sr Cl. Edmonds in his observations upon Caesars commentaries lib. 2. cap. 9. And described by Veg. lib. 3. cap. 8. manner of quartering of a regiment c For the modern quarterings see S. Stevin his castrametarion Also D. de Solemne and others represented in figure 4. part 3 chap. 2. And of the whole armie in Fig. 5. CHAP. III. Of the necessitie of securing the quarters NOthing sooner deceiveth an unexperienced Captain then to perswade himself that he is superiour in forces and in advantage of place and so farre distant from his enemie as he cannot or dare not assail him Upon which supposition the a Militibus ad capiendum cibum occupatis aut munera facienda dispersis facilè nectuntur insidiae Noctis obscuritas necessitas somni pascentium equorum dispersio occasionem supervenientibus praestat Veg. lib. 3.8 surprisings of quarters are often grounded it being no marvail that secure disordered men should be assaulted by vvel ordered men resolute among the Cavallrie especially where the souldier cannot arm himself without help his horse-boy nor himselfe being scarce themselves as but newly rouzed out of their sleep by the alarm can hardly tell where to finde bridle or saddle or light so as the enemie is upon their jacks before they can mount or at least unite themselves together These things oftentimes happen but are justly derided by good souldiers b Castrorum munitio curanda nihil enim neque tam salutare neque tam necessarium invenitur in bello Idem lib. 1. cap. 21. and therefore all diligence must be used at all times as if the enemie were at hand readie to set upon the quarters everie moment CHAP. IV. Of the manner of securing the quarters ALl the diligences used about securing of the quarters seem onely to serve for the gaining of time a Subita conterrem hostes ustata vilescant and that the enemie may not charge you on the suddain so as the souldiers have not convenient time to arm themselves mount their horses and assemble at the place of arms To effect this there is no better way then to b The Romanes manner of fortifications about their camps for securitie are fully described by Veges lib. 1. cap. 24. If the enemie were neare all the armie stood readie for battell to guard them which behinde them wrought about the trenches And this was done by every centurie by turns every souldier becoming a pioner for the time Ibid. cap. 25. make sure the enemies approaches If the quarter be in a suspected place the companies of Harquebusiers are to be quartered in the advenues of the village the Lances if any be and Cuirasfiers in the middle At the entrances of all the streets either trees or c For a suddain defence of the quarter it being in a champain countrey destitute of any other it hath been usuall to enclose the quarter with waggons and carts So did the Helvetians now called Swissers as Caesar recordeth it Com. cap. 10. And to this purpose vide Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. Persae imitantes Romanae ductis fessit castra constitâ—â—â—t quia areâ—â—sa sunt propè omnia sâ—â—â—â— quâ—â— iâ—â—â—es portaverant ex pâ—â—verâ—â—â—â— qua 〈◊〉 â—â—rra compâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 facium ibid. waggons are to be placed acrosse giving order to the Harquebusiers to guard those passages and that none of them mount on horse-back without speciall order that so the rest may have time to assemble at the place of arms if the enemie come upon them unto which a new passage must be cut for the more privacie and securitie If there be Dragons then they are to guard the said approaches If infanterie then is it their task to do it If the scituation of the place be such as that the enemie may environ it round the usuall entrances or approaches to the village are to be stopped up and new ones cut in some secret places as gardens or the like distant from the usuall wayes that so the enemie may be afraid to charge home a Centinell or Corps-de-guard thereby to enter with them as they retreat The quarters are to be well barricadoed about except the new cut passages leading to the Rendez-vous CHAP. V. Of the Rendez-vous or alarm place THe alarm place is that place without the village where the souldiers are to assemble to withstand an assailing enemie being a place of great consequence In the election of this place consideration must be had of the scituation of the villages and countrey whether it be large or strait also of the time whether it be by day or night again whether the Cavallrie be lodged together or in severall villages If together in one village and in the night when the enemie may come upon them the more at unaware as not being discoverable very farre then this place must not be in front of the village as being
their dispatch Other waies and means may be used for discovering and preventing of spies wherewith the ready f Solertia enim imperatoria ubi occasionem rerum gerendarum ceperit non in iis solùm quae inventa sunt consistit sed etiam multò plura ac saepe meliora excogitat Leo Tact. cap. 18. invention of a quick spirited Commander will abundantly furnish him upon every occasion CHAP. XII Of dislodging FOr the manner of dislodging or removing of the Cavallrie out of the quarter there are also necessary advertisements to be given All the Cavallrie lodging together and order being given for their remove the Commissarie Generall is to take notice of the precise houre and at the distributing of the word to the Quartermasters he is to warne them to give notice thereof to their Captains which must be carefull to cause the a With antiquitie it was usuall to remove or dislodge by sounding the trumpet three times Leo cap. 11. boutez-selle to be sounded when they heare the Generalls trumpets do it This useth to be sounded 2 houres before the time of departing and the a chevall when it is time to march Upon sudden occasions or for privacie no other warning is given but onely the b Tubicen unus insonuit mox alii pariter responderunt Dio. lib. 47. Generalls trumpets sound and the rest take it from them If the Cavallrie be quartered in severall places the Quartermasters coming for the word c Scipio tesseram vesperi per castra dedit ut ante lucem viri equÃque curati pransi essent armatus eques froenatos teneret equos T. Livius lib. 28. the evening before carrie the orders to the Captains acquainting them with the just houre for their assembling at the generall Rendez-vous If the remove be sudden word is carried by one of the two souldiers which attend the Generall as is before shewed In suspected places they are to remove with all possible silence The Rendez-vous where the troops must assemble to be readie to march must be out of the village and free from hedges c. though it be somewhat the further of towards the place to which they are to march The companie which hath the vanguard is to be first on their march towards the Rendez-vous the souldiers of every companie assemble at their Cornets lodging who is to be first on horse-back and the c John Duke of Calabria is said upon all occasions to have been le premier homme armé et de toutes pieces Ph. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 11. Captain by his readinesse is to give a good example to his souldiers The greater part of the companie being met the Captain is to advance towards the Rendez-vous The companie which that day hath the guard must not stirre untill all be gone their Lieutenant going to the contrarie side of the village remotest from the Rendez-vous to draw in his Sentinells All the troops and baggage being marched away the said companie shall also march But if the said companie be to march in the van or battaillon to save the travell of the horses to hasten to their place of march and the trouble of passing before the other troops it is best to commit that dutie to the companie of Harquebusiers which is to march in the reare of all Every Lieutenant when his companie marcheth is to stay to reprehend or d How severe the ancients were in punishing of abuses may be seen in that example of Lucillius the Centurion who having broken a staffe about the bones of one of his souldiers called for a second and a third after that for which he was called Cedo alteram among the factious souldiers Tacit. 1. Annal. Which severitie of theirs wrought so good effects as Frontine reporteth that the Romane armie being to encamp where a tree laden with fruit grew within the quarter it remained so laden and untouched when the armie was dislodged Front lib. 4. cap. 3. severely punish such as stay behinde especially doing it to pillage or for the like bad intent The Provost or his assistants are also to stay to see the fires put out and good order kept As the troops enter the Rendez-vous the Quartermaster Generall or some of the particular Quartermasters are to place them one after another in their due places according to the written orders leaving spaces for every companie that is to come which after 2 or 3 dayes they can observe of themselves The companies entring the Rendez-vous must fit themselves as for fight The Captains must put on their casques so must the Cornets c. The Harquebusiers must place their Carabines on their thighs The Cuirassiers must hold their pistolls in their hands the trumpets sounding untill all be come to their places If they be there to make some stay they may put off their casques and alight a while with leave but must not omit to place Sentinells on some high places THE FOURTH PART OF EMBATTELLING THE ARGUMENT OF all other militarie actions the a Acies si suplenter disponitur plurimùm juvat si imperitè quamvis optimi bellatores sint malâ ordinatione franguntur Veg. lib. 3. cap. 14. chiefest is that of embattelling or ordering an armie for combat which now in the last place I am to treat of The occasions of combat for the Cavallrie are many and frequent sometime by a sole companie sometime by more troops otherwhile by all the horse together of divers kindes upon differing accidents and those for the most part sudden and unexpected Since therefore no b Nulla ars mittùs habet stabilia pracepta quà m militaris ars adeò subita in bellis ingruunt pericula fortunae varietas dominátur Scipio Amiratus Dissert Politic. lib. 21. discours 2. rules nor directions can be so full and ample as to meet with all sorts of accidents my purpose is to aim at the cheifest to shew 1 How to assail a quarter to give the charge in fight and to order embuscadoes by way of offence 2 How to do meeting with the enemie in marching and how to receive the charge by way of defence 3 How to order the troops in battell 1. by single companies apart 2 by all the Cavallrie united in a grosse bodie CHAP. I. How to assail a quarter A Captain which is desirous to gain honour by some enterprice upon the enemie though much his superiour in strength hath a In mansione dormientibus opportunum praelium semper infertur cum hostis priùs interimatur quà m praeparare se possit Veg. Ibid. cap. 19. no better way then to assail him in his quarter To effect this he must have good knowledge of the village and the countrey thereabout and if he can by taking a little compasse charge him on the reare or on the flanks if there be any negligence in the quarter it is like to be on those parts If he cannot by other means get knowledge
how their guards are kept and other duties either observed or neglected he may conjecture by the b Ad rem pertinet qualis ipse adversarias vel ejus comitos sint nósse utrùm temerarii an cauti audaces an timidi scientes artem bellicam an ex usa temerè pugnantes c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 9. qualities of their Chief whether he be a good souldier or not whether he be proud and hastie or that he be advised and deliberate for ignorance joyned with a naturall furie causeth a man to despise his enemie and to think it a disparagement to him as an argument of feare to use such cautelous courses in assuring his quarter especially knowing himself the stronger In the assailing of his quarter there are two things to be observed 1 To make your approaches as neare the village as possible may be 2 c In campis sparsis atque securis opportunum praelium infertur exceptis superventibus vel incursionibus repentium ex occasione quam nunquam dux exercitatus amittit Veg. lib. 3. cap. 19 To hinder him from uniting his troops into a bodie Touching the first the first troop shall advance without any forerunners as secretly as may be and assoon as they perceive themselves to be discovered without loosing a moment of time shall charge the Sentinels and enter the quarter with them and surprise the Corps-de-guard before they be able to mount on horseback For the second there must be an exquisite observance of the orders given and not a man to disband Suppose the enemie hath 1000 horse and you but 500 you may fitly divide your forces into five troops The first having surprised the Corps-de-guard as before mentioned shall from thence passe to the market-place with resolution to sustain any resistance which they shall meet with The second troop perceiving the quarter invested shall follow upon the gallop closely united and finding no resistance shall possesse the alarm place and send some horse to run through the streets to keep the souldiers in and to hinder them from mounting on horseback The third shall come fairely on to the said place and so the fourth which leaving the third there firm shall hasten to the place where they heare the most noise then shall they alight and enter the houses putting to the sword what enemies they finde The running of these horse through the streets hindering the souldiers to mount will surely make them think rather d Nec insequentium ullum periculum est cùm victi quibus defendi poterant arma converterint in fugam Ibid. cap. 21. of escaping by flight through the gardens or otherwise then of resisting neither can there in such a tumult be good orders given or observed Therefore the fift troop hearing the noise cease may conjecture there is no need of there help to take the village and so shall divide themselves into two parts and inviron the quarter on the outside to hinder the enemies flight on foot The horse-boyes may fire a house or two especially where the enemie shall endeavour to fortifie then as the souldiers to enter the houses to pillage and take prisoners c. Another way of assailing the quarter is this The enemies camp removing the Chief or Captain must labour to inform himself of the place where he purposeth to lodge that night and where the quarter for the Cavallrie shall be which may easily be learned because overnight it is usually published or having good knowledge of the countrey he may conjecture it He must consider the number of his enemies horse and of his owne and though he be inferiour by half as beforesaid yet may his enterprise take good effect if it be well carried He must fit the time e Nam vel celeriùs vel tardiùs aliquò pervenire quà m constitutum est propositum persaepe nostrum intervertit Leo Tact. cap. 15. 42. so justly as that he may come to the enemies quarter in the evening before the guards be disposed or the orders given And if the distance were such as that he must march when the enemie marcheth he shall depart from his quarter with all secrecie and f A good commander like a good wrastler ought to make shew of one thing and to put another in practise to the end to deceive the enemie and gain the victorie Ibid. cap. 20. Tutissimum namque in expeditionibus creditur facienda ab hostibus nesciri Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. pretend to march to some other place taking a way contrarie to that which leadeth to the place intended And when he thinketh fit he shall face about and march on the flank of the enemie as covertly as may be But to do this two things must be observed 1 That your march be through your friends countrey 2 That you have more then one spie in the enemies Cavallrie so as they be not able to stirre without your knowledge It must be also considered that if you go to assail your enemies quarter he may have means to discover your purpose by his scouts or otherwise and so be prepared for you therefore must you have a care to be provided for it by taking good order beforehand and securing your g Nam disciplinae bellicae exemplorum periti nusquam majus periculum iminere testantur quam in recessu ab hostibus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 21. retreat by placing a good number of Infanterie or Dragoniers in the mid way at some convenient place Going about this exploit in the night as the fittest and safest way every souldier must have some token or signe of a h This kinde of service is called a Camisado because the souldiers use to put shirts over their arms to be distinguished by So did the Duke of Alva his souldiers Anno 1572 in the night assail the Prince of Orange his quarter dounant une Camisà de Petit. lib. 10. white colour on their casks to distinguish each other by It often falleth out that the enemie having got intelligence of some intention to set upon his quarter keepeth extraordinarie guards and is verie vigilant in the night but in the day time they all go to rest and are carelesse as fearing no danger at which time many have been so found and defeated CHAP. II. Of giving the charge TO know rightly how to charge the enemie is a matter of great consequence If you meet the enemie marching in the day time and he retreat whereupon you resolve to charge him you are first to send a troop of Harquebusiers to charge him on the reare as followeth The Lieutenant shall first give on with 25 horse charging the enemie upon a full trot or gallop him shall the Captain follow with the rest of that troop These are to be seconded by a companie of Cuirassiers as fittest to sustain the enemie if he resist But if the way be narrow the said Cuirassiers shall follow immediately after the first 25 Harquebusiers and then the Captain
mistaken which think their e Non repellatur imperator pauper si cum virtute sit quanquam claris ac illustribus majoribus ortus non sit Leo. Tract cap. 2. 25. birth a sufficient pretence to places of honour without any qualification or merit there being other things more reall and essentiall f In legitimo duce quinque haec requiro Scientiam virtutem providentiam autoritatem fortunam Lips polit lib. 5. cap. 15. required in an officer namely Knowledge experience valour dexteritie c. To be under command for a time depresseth those vehement passions which nature exciteth especially in young men which would be very dangerous in a chief or commander Moreover it accustometh a man to danger and g Scientia rei bellicae dimicandi nutrit audaciam Veg. lib. 1. cap. 15. maketh him couragious so as being suddainly assailed he can recollect himself without astonishment a most necessary thing in a commander Adde to this that by using himself to travell and labour watching hunger thirst rain and frost and by h Mars is therefore called Gradivus as Festus hath it quia gradatim per ordinem militaria officia distribuenda sunt And that this was the constant practise of antiquitie is most apparent Rufus diu manipularis deia centurio mox castris praefectus Tacit. lib. 2. c. an orderly ascent by degrees from a Corporall to a Quartermaster from thence to a Cornet and so to a Lieutenant he prepareth himself for a Captains charge He learneth the trick of entertaining his souldiers and to keep them in good affection and reverence towards him He knows their severall dispositions and sufficiencies and accordingly entrusteth them with employments Honour must be his chief end to attain which he must be very vigilant not to loose i Occasio in bello ampliùs solet juvare quà m virtus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. any occasion of any brave exploit by which means he will be alwayes observing his enemy studying how to prevent him or endammage him alwayes bearing in minde this maxim That in warre no great or remarkable matter can be effected without danger and diligence To this end let him be sure to take heed that he k Quid fieri debeat tractato cum multis quid verò facturus sis cum paucissimis ac fidelissimis vel potiùs ipse tecum Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. trust not too much to his own judgement and valour without acquainting his officers with his counsels And let him so know the severall inclinations and sufficiencies of his souldiers as to take particular notice of such as deserve well and to reward them accordingly and to rid himself of base and debauched fellows and cowards He must alwayes aspire in way of l For this Caesar recordeth a memorable example in Pulfio and Varenus lib. 5. cap. 19. vertuous emulation to higher degrees of honour m Sit celso adversus pecuniam animo Plutarch in Philop. Covetousnesse he must hate for nothing will better continue his souldiers good affections towards him then liberalitie Gaming he must detest n Philopoemenes pubem ad se armandum impulit deinde delicias luxum eorum optimè invertit Omnes inflammavit ut quotidianis repressis in corpus sumptibus gestirent in militari bellico ornatu ostentare se splendidos Profusio impensa in hujusmodi res roborat animum extollÃtque Plutarch in Philop. In stead of costly apparell let him delight in good armes and horses wherein oftentimes both his life and honour consisteth He must be continent and sober not given to luxurie nor o The States edict of Marshall law provideth that such as in their drunkennesse shall commit any offence shall not therefore be any way excused but the more severely punished Art 67. drunkennesse but alwayes be as a good example to his souldiers for otherwise he cannot have that requisite libertie to chastise them for those vices which his own conscience will accuse himself to be guiltie of Above all let him set before his eyes as the originall and foundation of all perfection the feare of God carrying himself so farre as may be internally and externally inculpable For the horrour of a guiltie conscience and the imminent danger and apprehension of death meeting together take away all courage and valour And thus having reformed himself he shall the more easily reform his souldiers and make them fit for every honourable enterprise CHAP. II. Of officers in particular Of the Generall of horse TOuching the particular officers the a Iphicrates resembled an army to a mans body calling the heavy armed the body the light armed the hands the horse the feet and the Generall the head Plutarch Generall of the horse as being one of the principall Chiefs of an armie must be a souldier of extraordinary experience and valour having in charge the nerve of the principall forces and on whom the good successe of many designes and actions dependeth as being most usually executed by the Cavallrie especially in battells where the charging of the enemy in good order usually giveth victorie and contrariwise the b Witnesse the battell of Gembloers described by Meteren lib. 8. where the Infanterie is overthrown by their own horse So did the Burgundians Les hommes d'armes Bourguignons rompirent leurs propres Archers Phil. de Comines lib. 1. cap. 3. disorders of the Cavallrie often disturb and disband the whole armie The Generall of the horse was wont to supply the place of Lieutenant Generall of the army and in the Lord Generalls absence to command the whole armie True it is that the Lord Marshall forasmuch as he giveth the orders used to have some superioritie of command according to the opinions of some whence it cometh that the Lord Generall absenting himself from the army used to take along with him either the Generall of horse or the Lord Marshall to avoid the occasions of competition It is his office to take particular notice not onely of the Captains and officers but also of those private souldiers which are carefull and punctuall in their service c Perscrutaberis qui se in bello stremè gesserint illisque idoneos honores habebis ignavos antem quo par est supplicio constringes Leo. Tact. cap. 16. rewarding and d Monsieur de la Noiie reporteth that in his time in the regiment of Collonel Pedro de Pas consisting of 23 companies of Spaniards there was more then 1200 crowns a moneth given for extraordinary services signall acts Whence he draweth this observation Qui est un bon tesmoignage quil estoit rempli d'hommes valeureux Discours Polit. Milit. honouring them in publique when they perform some signall act and advancing them to offices without partialitie On the other side e Omnes culpas legibus vindicet nulli errantium credatur ignoscere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. he must chastise delinquents and such as are wanting in their endeavours
by which means he shall be reverenced and loved of good men and feared of such as are bad It belongeth to his care that the Cavallrie be in good equipage and fitted with all necessaries requisite And that the companies being to march be provided of nags without which the souldiers can hardly preserve their horse of service by reason that with them they must go to forrage for want of bidets or nags after their march and presently enter into guard in the army or quarter without any rest to refresh their horses He is not to suffer the Captains either to make officers or to absent themselves from their companies without his leave and approbation He hath his officers apart and in that which concerneth the Cavallrie neither the Lord Marshall nor Lord Generall himself useth to dispose of any thing without his advice If he passe among the quarters of Cavallrie or Infanterie his trumpets are to sound but not where the Lord Generall lodgeth or where he is in person When he commandeth in the armie in absence of the Lord Generall upon occasion of fight his place is in the battell that he may be able to give order to all He hath usually a companie heretofore of lances to lodge with him and to serve him as his guard having usually six souldiers or more of his companie attending on him f Of Caesar it is said Dubium cautior an audentior Suet. A good Commander should rather look behinde him then before him said Sertorius Plutarch in Sertor He should not resolve upon any enterprise unlesse he first consider seriously of all that might happen that so propounding to himself greater difficulties in the action then in effect they be he may prepare remedies surpassing all the said difficulties it being a benefit not to be expressed to be able to g Temeritas praeterquam quòd stulta est etiam infelix Livius 22. foresee with good judgement those things which might succeed in the uncertain and variable accidents of warre Especially he must be h Intentus fis ut neque tua occasioni desis neque suum hosti des Ibid. ready in execution for suppose a determination never so well grounded yet it may prove vain and hurtfull if it be not executed with requisite promptitude CHAP. III. Of the Lieutenant Generall of horse THe charge of the Lieutenant Generall of the horse hath ever been held of very great importance and therefore must be supplyed by a person of great experience and valour one that must be very carefull and diligent because he usually marcheth and lodgeth with the Cavallrie For which cause he ought to be well versed in the opportunitie of the wayes upon occasion of meeting the enemy in marching a Erat Philopoemen praecipuae in ducendo agmine locÃsque capiendis solertiae atque usus Nec belli tantùm temporibus sed etiam in pace ad id maximè animum exercuerat Vbi iter quopiam faceret ad difficilem transitu saltum venisset contemplatus ab omni parte loci naturam cúm solus iret secum ipse agitabat animo cùm comites haberet ab iis quaerebat si hostis coloco apparuisset quid si à fronte quid si à latere hoc aut illo quid si à tergo adoriretur capiendum consilii foret T. Livius dec 4. lib. 5. He must alwayes have his thoughts busied about the motions of the enemie discoursing with himself from what part they might shew themselves with what number of men whether with Infanterie or not in how many houres they might come upon him from their armie or garrison and whether they might present themselves in a place of advantage that so it might be prevented as need should require He must also advisedly choose commodious places for the quarters or lodgings providing good guards causing the highwayes to be scoured or discovered placing men on those passages where the enemie might make head not neglecting to send out rounders and omitting no diligence to secure the quarter in which the Cavallrie findeth it self exposed to greater dangers then can befall it any other way especially being lodged without Infanterie He must also procure to have spies not onely in the enemies army but also upon their frontiers to penetrate their designes and intentions omitting no inventions which may stand him in stead to avoid inconveniences knowing that diligence is the mother of good fortune b Cui enim tanta potestatis insignia tribuuntur cujus fidei atque virtuti possessorum fortunae tutela virium salus militum rei publicae creditur gloria non tantùm pro universo exercitu sed etiam pro singulis contubernalibus debet esse solicitus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 10. His particular care is to see that the Captains wrong not their souldiers that they keep their companies in good state and well armed and that themselves and their officers do their endeavours and observe good order and discipline Towards the souldiers he must be no lesse affable and readie to heare them willingly in their just complaints and to help them in their necessities then rigorous in punishing He should also himself being free from covetousnesse give order to others to use no c Extortions of diverse kindes are punishable with death by the edict of Marshall law published by the States of the united provinces Artic. 41. extortion whereby the country is ruined and the souldier made odious to the prejudice of the Prince his service it being evident that too great a libertie of the souldiers produceth nothing but very bad effects Upon divers occasions of sending a good part of the Cavallrie to divers places the charge is given to the Lieutenant generall not onely of the horse but also of the foot which accompany them according to the occurrences for which cause he must also know how to command the Infanterie In absence of the Generall the whole weight resteth upon him and to him are the orders sent from the Lord Generall or Lord Marshall and to him as Chief reports are made of all the occurrences of the Cavallrie He may sequester a Captain from his companie upon just cause and demerit but cannot restore him without order from the Generall who first gives notice thereof to the Lord Generall He was wont to have a companie of lances which usually were lodged neare his person whereof foure souldiers alwayes attend him When he passeth by the quarters of Cavallrie the trumpets sound but not in the Generalls quarter or where he is When the Generall of horse commandeth the whole army and therefore takes his place in fight in the battell the Lieutenant Generall placeth himself in the vanguard of the Cavallrie where otherwise the Generall useth to be CHAP. IIII. Of the Commissarie Generall THe Commissarie Generall commandeth in the absence of the Lieutenant Generall and therefore must be a man of great experience This charge was first instituted by Don Ferrand de Gonzagua afterward
especially not to alight for it If he were to charge a flying enemy whether horse or foot he was also to assay to break his standard The Cornet of cuirassiers in march hath his place at the head of the company and also presenteth himself in the allarm-place but in fight he is to be in the middle of the troop leaving ⅔ parts of the souldiers behinde him b Optimus cujusque decuria praponi ductor caeterorum omnium esse debet Aelian cap. 5. Curandum ut etiam jugum secundum milite constet idoneo Ib. cap. 13 The reason is because the first rank being the edge it must be made good by the second and the rest if occasion be those before him must be of the best armed and most couragious He must also keep a list of the companie to send so many to the guard as the Captain or Lieutenant shall appoint Once a day at the Lord Generalls first passing by the troop he is to do obeysance by inclining the cornet towards the ground CHAP. IX Of the particular Quartermasters THe a The particular Quartermasters the Romanes called Metatores Veg. lib. 2. cap. 7. Also Mensores qui in castris ad podismum dimetiuntur loca in quibus milites tentoria figant vel hospitia in civitatibus praestant Ibid. Metatores sive mensuratores praemittes qui castrorum ambitum in quo castra ponentur dimetiantur certam quandam mensuram cum proportione justa unicuique turmae tribuant Leo Tact. cap. 9.7 particular Quartermasters should be men so qualified as reasonably they might pretend the Cornet and in absence of the Cornet might command the companie When all the companies are lodged together they accompanie the Quartermaster Generall in making the quarters but being to be lodged in severall places as often it happeneth some accompanie the Lieutenant Generall others the Commissary Generall Where a Captain commandeth the quarter the particular Quartermaster of that respective company maketh the quarter There is much fidelitie required in them in consideration of distributing the word and the billets They use also to distribute the souldiers pay in the King of Spains warres but on the States side the clerks of the companie onely meddle with the souldiers pay and account to their Captain having a cuirassiers pay and being exempted from bearing arms or doing the duties of a souldier In going with the Quartermaster Generall to make the lodgings the Quartermaster must be very diligent taking with him one or two souldiers such as the Lieutenant shall appoint him which shall return to their companie and conduct them to their quarter CHAP. X. Of the Corporalls COrporalls are very usefull in a troop of horse They must assist the Lieutenant in placing the sentinells when the souldiers of their particular squadron are to perform that service The harquebusiers are usually sent to discover or scoure the high-wayes and to be forerunners or scouts under the charge of one of their Corporalls a Mistakes in such as are sent out to discover do often bring much trouble upon the army and shame upon themselves A memorable example hereof is recorded by Phil. de Comines of the Burgundians who taking a field of great thistles to be a grosse of their enemies lanciers reported it so to their Chiefs and caused a great hurly burly in the whole army Lib. 1. cap. 11. for which respects he must be a man of experience Some passage or place of importance being to be guarded a Corporall is sent thither with his squadron He must be able to write and reade keeping a list of his squadron The Captain alloweth him half a place of forrage and a share of 10 per cent CHAP. XI Of the Trumpeters IT is not enough that a Trumpeter know how exactly to sound all the severall sounds of the trumpet but he must also be discreet and judicious not onely to be fit to deliver embassies and messages as they ought but at his return to a Ne manco si lasci troppo usare la frequentia di venire trombetti tamburri perche in quel'essercito tall'-hora son huomini molto astuti pratichi da poterti nocere assai G. Cataneo di fortif ' cap. 4. report what he hath observed concerning the enemies works and guards and what he hath further gathered and spied To do this he must be wittie and subtile knowing how to invent and affirm things which are not artificially concealing whatsoever passeth among those of his own side He must sound the b That is set on the saddle being the first sound when the horse are to march the next is a chevall that is mount on horseback the third and last is a standart that is repaire to your Cornet See chap. 32. boutezselle precisely at the houre appointed him and when the Cornet giveth him the list of the guards he must signifie it unto them One Trumpeter must alwayes lodge with the Cornet to whom the Captain is to give means for his entertainment He must alwayes have his trumpet about him to have it ready at a sudden allarm CHAP. XII Of the Auditor ON the Spanish side in the Low-countreys the Cavallrie have an Auditor by themselves who must be a man of great integritie well seen in the laws and of great practice In the absence of the Auditor Generall he supplieth his place He heareth and judgeth the causes of the Cavallrie and maketh report of all that passeth to the Generall or the Lieutenant Generall in his absence without whose order he cannot execute any of his sentences The Cavallrie lying in garrison he condemneth not to death without reporting first to the Lord Generall and Auditor Generall He is to keep neare the person of the Generall or Lieutenant Generall who are to see him duely respected He is to take notice of the prices of victuall which are brought to the quarter of horse that they be sold at a reasonable rate and to see that the victuallers suffer no extortion by the Provost Marshall or his officers But in the States army the horse and foot have but one Auditor or Fiscall Generall who passeth no sentence himself but that is done by the a The councel of warre among the Romanes consisted of their Legates Questor Tribunes and the Centurions Convocato concilio c. omniúmque ordinum adhibitis centurionibus Caesar Com. lib. 1. cap. 16. councel of warre wherein every Captain hath a voice CHAP. XIII Of the Provost Marshall OF all things in the charge of the Provost Marshall his principall care must be about the victualls He must be an honest man and content with his fees He is to look to the weights and measures and to guard the victuallers or sutlers from insolencies Himself or some of his men must alwayes be in the market-place or where the victualls are sold and he is to inform himself where and at what price the sutlers buy their victuall that the Commissarie and
so nearer to him by degrees So may a pistoll be fired some distance off and so nearer in like manner a drumme or trumpet may be used The groom may sometime dresse him in armour and he may be used novv and then to eat his oats from the drumme head It vvill be very usefull sometime to cause a musketier to stand at a convenient distance and both of you to give fire upon each other and thereupon to ride up close to him also to ride him against a compleat armour so set upon a stake that he may overthrovv it and trample it under his feet that so and by such other means your horse finding that he receiveth no hurt may become bold to approach any object He may also be used to mountanous and uneven vvayes and be exercised to leap svvimme and the like But for further directions for the art of riding and managing the horse I referre the reader to a Besides many of our owne writers Pierre de la Noüe in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne also Instruction du Roy de France en l'exercice de monter a Cheval par Antoyne de Plubinel lately published and divers others them vvhich have vvritten of horse-manship ex professo vvhose books are every vvhere obvious CHAP. XXVIII Of managing arms extending to postures and motions Of exercising the lance HOvvsoever the use of the lance be novv left off in the Lovv-countreys either for the reasons alledged chap. 23 or by reason of the discommodity of the countrey for the lance is of no use but in a spacious hard and even ground yet will it not be altogether impertinent to shew the manner of exercising the same seeing that a I. Lips 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Item de Milit. Rom. N. Machiavell G. du Bellay C. Bingham upon Alian Sr. Cl. Edmonds on Caes Com. Sr. Hen. Savilc c. many have taken pains to revive unto us the knowledge of those arms which sometime were in use among the Graecians Romanes and other nations which have been for many ages totally abolished The manner of carrying the lance is either advanced or couched that is when it is carried so abased as the enemie can hardly discover it untill he feel the shock The charging of the lance is twofold either by the right or left The right is when it is presented or charged along by the right side of the horse The left is when it is born acrosse the neck of the horse by the left eare The first is the manner used by the Turks and Hungarians and by some preferred before the other One reason which they give for it is because that in charging by the left the Lancier must incline his bodie to the left and so sitteth the lesse sure in his saddle Basta would have the second way to be best Howsoever all agree that a Lancier must ever strive to gain the left side of his enemie and charge him on the left Now there be three wayes of charging 1 By carrying the lance sloaped upwards 2 By charging it levell in a straight line 3 By charging it sloaping or inclining downwards Fig 2 Par 1 Cap 28 The second is by charging a horse-man about the middle to bear him out of the saddle or on the breast of the foot The third serveth to pierce the breast of the enemies horse or a kneeling musketier or pike charging at the foot against horse These three severall wayes must be diligently practised and require much dexteritie to which end a stake is to be set up having an arm as it were stretched out from it and thereunto a white either of paper or linen fastned at severall heights which the Lancier must exercise himself to hit in full careere also to take up a glove or the like from the ground with the point of his lance c. All which is shown figure 2. part 1. chap. 28. In his charging of the enemie he begins upon his pace or trot b Monsieur de la Noüe blameth the French for their errour in this point De 200 pas ils commencent à galloper et de 100 à courir à toute bride qui est faire erreur n' estant besoin de prendre tant d'espace Discours 18. then falls into a gallop but must not begin his careere untill he be within some 60. paces of his enemie presenting his lance from the advance at the half of that distance and charging it for the shock as occasion serveth Against an armed Lancier the best way of charging is judged to be not after the two first wayes but by the third that is at the breast of the horse and that towards the left side of him where his heart and vitals are and for this the charging by the right is held best Having given his charge with the lance so as it becometh unusefull to him he must betake himself to his pistoll in the use whereof he is to be very skilfull His last refuge is his sword which he must also be well practised in Of both which weapons shall be spoken in the next chapter CHAP. XXIX Of exercising the Cuirassier ALthough it be supposed and expected that no horse-man will presume to mount his horse to repaire to his cornet before his pistols harquebuse or carabine be spanned primed and laden his cases furnished with cartouches and all other equipage 1 To Horse 2 Vncapp your Pistolls 3 Draw your Pistoll 4 Order your Pistoll 5 Spann your Pistoll 6. Prime your Pistoll 7. Shutt your Pann 8. Cast about your Pistoll 9 Gage your Flasske 10 Lade your Pistoll 11 Draw your Rammer 12 Lade with Bullet and Ramhome 13. Returne your Rammer 14. Pull down your Cock 15. Recover your Pistoll 16. Present and giue Fire 17 Returne your Pistoll 18 Bend your Cock 19 Guard your Cock 20 Order your Hammer 21. Free your Cock 22. 23. 24. 3. Draw your pistoll He is to draw the pistoll out of the case with the right hand and alwayes the left pistoll first and to mount the muzzell of it as in posture 15. 4. Order your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and to reremove his right hand towards the muzzell and then to rest the but end upon his thigh 5. Span your pistoll He is to sink the pistoll into his bridle-hand and taking the key or spanner into his right hand to put it upon the axletree and and to winde about the wheel till it stick and then to return the spanner to its place being usually fastned to the side of the case 6. Prime Holding the pistoll in the bridle-hand as before he is to take his priming box into his right hand and pressing the spring with his fore-finger to open the box to put powder into the pan 7. Shut your pan He is to presse in the pan-pin with his right thumbe and so to shut the panne 8. Cast about your pistoll With the bridle-hand he is to cast about the pistoll
and particular information concerning the b Dux locorum intervalla non solùm possuum numero sed etiam viarum qualitates per discat compendia diverticula montes stamina ad fidem descripta consideret high-wayes and crosse-wayes how many there be of them whether they be even large and free or straight hilly or impeached with difficult passages Also concerning ditches and rivers whether there be bridges or not And if there be divers wayes which is the most safe and shortest or most exposed to the enemies advenues or approaches or most commodious for the baggage Whether there be requisite commoditie for the lodgeings as forrage water c. In so much as they may be able to know every hedge or ditch and all other particulars And that you may be assured of their fidelitie and the truth of their informations it is good to have them to be souldiers in pay or where they are not to take them of the c Ad hoc a prudentioribus locorumque gnaris separatim debet universa perquirere veritatem colligere de pluribus boores or inhabitants as aforesaid from place to place keeping them seperated from each other And if they differ either from the souldiers which serve for guides or from each other they must be confronted and by the mutuall consent of all the best way is to be resolved on These guides usually to prevent their runÌ„ing away which they will often do if they see an opportunitie of escaping are led bound d Eósque custodiae mancipare additâ poenae ostentatione vel praemii c. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. or at least committed to the custodie of some souldier Recompence is promised them if they doe their endeavour and punishment threatned if they direct amisse CHAP. II. Of Intelligence EVery good commander must have these two grounds for his actions 1. The knowledge of his own forces and wants knowing that the enemie may have notice thereof and therefore must he be alwayes studying for remedies if the enemie should come suddainly upon him 2. The assurance of the condition and estate of the enemie his commodities and necessities his counsails and designes thereby begetting divers occasions which afterward bring forth victories a M. Cato in Hispania quia ad hostium consâ—lia aliâ viâ pervenire non poterat jussit trecentos milites simul impetum facere in stationem hostium raptúmque unum ex his in castra perferre incolumem tortus ille omnia suorum arcana confessus est Frontin Stratagem lib. 1. cap. 2. And because the commoditie of spies cannot alwayes be had some of the enemies men must be assayed to be taken from whom there may be drawn a relation of the estate of the adverse part and this exploit is called b The French call it prendre langue taking of intelligence a dutie of great importance whereon the deliberations which are to be taken do depend and also of much travail and danger To effect this an expert officer with 20 or 25 of the c Dux cum agmine exercitús prosecturus fidelissimos argutissimosque cum equis probatissimis mittat qui loca per quae iter faciendum est in progressu a tergo dextrâ leváque perlustrent nè aliquas adversarii moliantur insidias Ibid. Veg. best mounted stoutest and hardiest Harquebusiers or mixt of Cuirassiers and Harquebusiers according to Melzo with two Trumpets are to be employed These are to carry with them some refreshment for themselves and their horses to that purpose retiring themselves into some wood or shadie place placing good Centinells upon trees If they finde the enemie marching they shall follow him on either flank as opportunitie shall direct them or on the reare or meet him on the front assaying to take some that are disbanded or some forrager In the night they must approach the enemies armie assaying to take some Centinell or some disbanded souldier in some of the houses there about And because it well may fall out that after the taking of some prisoner the troop shall be charged by the enemie the Chief which must be valiant b How abundant Antiquitie was in stratagems all their histories testifie Frontine a man of consular dignitie among the Romanes hath written foure books of stratagems being collected out of divers authors Greek and Roman and yet many by him let slip as himself acknowledgeth in praefatione ad lib. 1. also Poliaenus In stratagems Hannibal is said to have excelled d and abundant in resolutions and inventions of stratagems to make his retreat by some woodie place shall send or first there leave them foure of his best and best mounted souldiers with a Trumpet with order that when they see the troop coming charged by the enemie they shew them selves the trumpet sounding For it being an usuall thing in militarie courses to go and observe who they be which appear the enemie by this means makes Alto or a stand for feare of some embuscado which gives leasure to the troop to advance their retreat and the said foure souldiers may make their retreat either severally or together safe enough by reason of their good horses If the enemie be likely to come from divers parts the like number would be sent to each suspected place These should be sent before with the Quartermasters which go to make the quarters that so they might have 2 or 3 houres refreshment before they go to take intelligence If the armie be lodged in a very suspicious place after the first troop so sent out a second shall be sent but neither of them knowing of each others sending out if the armie be to march the next day the chiefs of the said troops must know towards what place the march is intended CHAP. III. Of the order of marching THe Commissarie Generall grounding himself upon good informations is to give the orders in writing for the manner of marching as well of the souldiers as the baggage Everie Captain is to receive his written directions overnight that so the signe given he may appeare at the Rendez-vous in such rank and place as shall be commanded him a Epoi lodata consuetudine il dividar gli esserciti in tre squadrons cioè vanguardia Battaglia retroguardia che ogni giornato si venga mutando Cataneo di fort cap. 8. Alternis diebus altera legio alterum cornu praecedunt eadémque rursus sequuntur mutantes semper ordinem ut alternatim primi incedant Polyb. Every armie is divided into three parts The vanguard battail and reare That part of the armie which is most exposed to the enemie and that most usually is the front should be the best and therefore all chiefs desire the vanguard The manner therefore is for generall satisfaction that they which this day had the van to morrow have the reare and they which had the reare the battail So changing alternatively except the Lord Generalls guard consisting
answering one upon another as upon all occasions they must be as in a circle round about it And these not to stand neare the wayes or principall approaches as the manner is but alwayes passing to and fro one towards another as if they would change places By which continuall motions none may passe undiscovered As farre beyond these they which went to discover have their courses sometimes riding up even to the adverse garrisons if they be not too farre distant which shall be shewed at large in the next chapter CHAP. VIII Of scouts to discover the highwayes THe quarters being thus accommodated the Commissarie Generall shall depute a Corporall with 12 or 15 horse and a trumpet to discover or scowre the highwayes towards the enemies aboad without which diligence the enemie might charge the Sentinels so suddenly and enter with them as there would be no time for the Corps-de-guard and others to prepare themselves for defence These do consist partly of Cuirassiers and partly of Harquebusiers to give the alarm They are to advance towards the enemie some 3 or 4 houres march by the severall highwayes 4 or 5 to a way as occasion shall require They must not set foot a ground but must silently go listning if they heare any rumour which in the a Tutiùs operantur exploratores noctibus quà m diebus nam quodammodo ipse sui proditor invenitur cujus speculator fuerit ab adversariu deprebensus Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6. night is easie to be heard If they heare any thing without being discovered the Corporall shall secretly send word to the quarter by a souldier of the approach of the enemie And when he judgeth the first is arrived he may send a second to assure the former advice retreating by little and little and observing the enemie and the number of his horse which he may easilier guesse by their footing then by view But if the enemie perceived him he shall cause a Carabine or two to be discharged and shall speedily dispatch away a souldier to certifie the quarter Or if the enemies number be great he shall set on fire some house thereabout they of the quarter knowing beforehand wherefore it is done And sending two souldiers with more certain news they shall give fire to their Carabines when they be so neare the quarter as that they may be heard thereby to give them the more time to get ready If the quarter be in a very suspicious place more companies of discoverers must be sent out and they are to have a countersigne given them as the name of some town c. to know each other by in the night Alarms though false cannot be prevented it being in the enemies choice to shew himself as often as he please happily for no other intent but to weary your souldiers or by that stratagem to make them secure and carelesse To remedie this the Captains use to give the alarm secretly vvithout sound or noise by silent advices that so the enemy vaunt not of putting you to trouble but wearie himself And thus the horrour of the sounds of trumpets and noise of warlike cries is avoided which hinder the hearing of the Commanders directions But if the enemie charge the said Discoverers or Sentinells so heard as that they have no opportunitie to send word but the enemie puts on to enter the quarter with them which is the best way for him to compasse his purpose then they shall flying to the quarter give the alarm with firings of the Harquebusiers and calling out aloud entering not at the usuall wayes but at the private ones to give the enemie occasion of suspence not knowing whither they might draw him on Moreover when the alarm is thus secretly given as before shewed and having some notice of the enemies forces how strong they are in number you may cause your souldiers to mount with all possible secrecie and order them for fight on the flank of the enemies advenue leaving the Sentinels with some trumpets there standing with command that when the enemie approacheth them they shall b Such a stratagem was used by Sr Fran. Vere Anno 1589. who being to passe through a wood neare Lo◠the enemie from that castle came forth to gaule them in their passage Sr. Fran. with 50 horse and 6 Trumpets made a stand about the middle of the wood hasting the troops and carriages out of the wood into the plain placing 100 foot with 6 drums in the reare The enemie gave 3 showts as the Spanish manner is when they go to charge bur could neither see nor be seen by reason of the winding of the way in the wood Upon this he commanded the Drums and Trumpets to stand sound a charge whereat the enemie made a stand expecting to be charged which gave time for all the troops to get into the plain by hastening their march Manuscript penned by Sr. Fran. Vere of his own exploits c. bravely sound an alarm Whereupon the enemie if he be a souldier will charge them in full careare with one squadron to enter with them and then second those with the rest of his troops whereupon it will be hard especially in the night to keep the souldiers from pillaging The first entring without resistance will be scattered about the houses the rest will hasten to get their shares and whatsoever the Captains do they shall not be able to keep them in such order as they ought Then shall your troops resolutely charge them not doubting of a good issue they being now surprised which thought to finde you asleep Or if it be not thought fit to fight yet may you by this means make a safe retreat so as you be not troubled with too much baggage If there be no bridges or strait passages between the quarter and the enemie by which he must necessarily passe the further the discoverers ride towards the enemie the better if he lay in garrison so as the distance be not too great they may ride to the very gates But if there be such strait passages or bridges by which the enemie must of necessitie passe if he will assail the quarter there must be guards of Harquebusiers placed which by their giving fire or otherwise shall give notice if the enemie shall approach Sometime a whole companie is to be sent out upon this service being a guard for the whole armie CHAP. IX Of forraging FOrraging is an action of great importance and danger 1 Of importance because thereon dependeth the sustenance of the horses 2 Of danger by reason of a Hostes qui longè a suis aut pabuli aut praedae gratiâ commorantur subitò occupandi cum delectis Veg. lib. 3 cap. 10. the enemies endeavours to set upon the guards and convoyes of forragers which must be sent out at least twice a week Therefore that these forragers may the better be secured there must alwaies be a good grosse of Infanterie and Cavallrie sent with them under the command
of a chief officer or at least a well experienced Captain The Provost or one of his assistants is to go with them to punish such as are exorbitant or straggle If the forrage be for the whole armie the Lieutenant generall is to lead the convoy b Pugnatores ab impedimentis laxamento aliquo dividuntur nè constipati laedantur in praelio ambulante exercitu Ibid. cap. 6. The baggage nor horse-boyes must be mingled among the troops It is not fit to go twice together to one place to forrage lest the enemie knowing it watch an opportunitie At first it is good to forrage in the most remote places where the enemie is like to come to encamp but if the enemie be setled it is not good to forrage so neare him as that he might set upon the convoy with Infanterie and Cavallrie but rather in such places where he can hardly without great danger to himself endammage the forragers c Vt locorum varietas advenerit ità defensionis ratio varietur Ibid. If there be one or more streets by which the enemie might come between the quarter and the place of forrage some convenient number of foot and 10 or 12 horse must be left at the advenues of each of the said streets The horse are to place a Sentinell to send out tvvo to discover the wayes a good distance before them By this means the forragers having finished their forraging make their retreat safely to which purpose also one or two troops of 25 horse a piece use to march upon the flanks of the forragers When all the forragers are marching back again towards the quarter all the convoy marcheth in the reare it being unlikely that the enemie will set upon them with any great forces between their convoy and their quarter At the place of d Vbi pabulandi tempus fuerit alii pabulum colligant alii apparati instructique sequantur ut nè si omnes se ad pabulum colligendum converterint subita quaedam irruptio aut insidiae fuerint ipsi imparati sparsÃque opprimantur Leo Tact. cap. 17. forrage the Chief shall cause a troop of Harquebusiers to advance somewhat before the rest there to stand and to suffer none to passe beyond he is also to send out some souldiers on every side and to visit woods and valleys c. For the better securing of the said forragers or the quarter there use to be 50 or more of the Infanterie which may be fitly performed by Dragoniers with a competent number of horse placed in some castle or strong Church within 2 or 3 houres riding of the quarter But to secure the quarter there ought to be two places equidistant so guarded which might cut off those small troops which runne neare the armie on either side And if the troops be of number these may by their discoverers or spies receive notice thereof and so suddenly inform the quarter CHAP. X. Of garrisons BY reason of the affinitie between a camp and a garrison it will not be amisse though somewhat by way of digression to say something of them The fittest places for the Cavallrie to be laid in garrison are those which are frontiers towards the enemy thereby the enemies excursions are hindred and their own friends secured Whereas otherwise though they be never so strong of Infanterie they are like to have some of the enemies horse alwayes at their gates Besides it gives more a Adversus omnia profuit milites quotidiano exercitio reborare courage to the Cavallrie to have their garrison thus on the frontiers against the time of their going out upon service then if they had spent all the winter b severè in defides vindicare Veg. lib. 1. cap. 1 Exercitus labore profificit otio consenescit Ibid. lib. 3. cap. 26. lazily in some garrison more within the countrey It is good to appoint them their ordinarie settled garrisons that so they may there leave their baggage and go into the field with the lesse incumbrance which will also make them the better skilled in the knowledge of the countrey and wayes If there be one troop or more of horse laid in garrison in some kinde of spies cannot continue long without being discovered If it be possible such spies must be had as are entertained into domesticall service of the chief officers of the enemie the better to know their intentions and designes On the other side there must be exceeding great care taken to beware of the enemies spies which otherwise may do you as much mischief as you reap benefit by your own To remedie this inconvenience 1 First those which shall be discovered must be punished with extreme rigour which will be a means to deterre others which are or might be so imployed 2 Rogues vagabonds and idle persons must be chased out of the leaguer 3 No officer is to entertain any unknown person into his service For oftentimes at table and otherwise things happen to be spoken which were more fit to have been kept secret 4 No stranger is to be lodged within the quarters by any officer or souldier without speciall license To this purpose a sudden c Cùm explorator hostium latenter oberrat in castris omnes ad tentoria sua per diem redire jubeantur statim deprehenditur explorator Veg. lib. 3. cap. 26. command useth to be published for every man to repaire to his tent or cabin whereby the Provost takes such as are remaining in the streets which are made to give account of their businesse there 5 A means may be used to deceive the enemie by his own spies giving it out that you intend one thing and do a contrarie also by seeming no way mistrustfull of the enemies drummes and trumpets which are often sent with some pretended message to heare and observe and letting fall some words which carrie with them some probabilitie in their hearing which they may take for truth 6 d Si speculatores hostium ceperis nè uno eodémque modo illos tractaveris c. Leo Tact. cap. 17. Sometimes it is wisedome having discovered a spie in stead of punishing of him to tell him that out of a good inclination to him in stead of severe punishment you desire to do him good c. by such baits they may become double spies And if you suspect any of your own souldiers it is best to dissemble it and to make much of them the better to discover them e Edict for Marshall laws Art 13. Lastly no drumme nor trumpet of the enemies is to be admitted into the leaguer but first to be stayed by the Sentinells of the Cavallrie untill notice be given to the Lord Marshall and he give leave for their admission then they are to be committed to the Provost Marshall which suffereth no man to speak with them The Lord Marshall having understood their message acquainteth the Lord Generall therewith that so a course may be taken for
plures buccinae sonent ut magnam multitudinem hostium venire arbitrentur Leo. Tact. cap. 17.28 but in small ones they are to make shew of a greater number then they have for which reason all the horse must not go out of the embuscadoe at once but some 12 or 15 when their number is small must remain at the further part of the wood to favour the retreat of the rest as hath been said and to cause the enemie to think that there is a greater number of them vvithin the wood To this purpose some six horse may be left some league behinde the rest a little out of the way but so as they may discover if the rest return charged and then shew themselves at the end of the wood as before is shewed to make the enemie think there is a grosse embuscadoe leaving one horse-man further within the wood then the rest and he to give fire when the enemie may perceive or heare him which the enemie may think was done by a mistake CHAP. IV. How to do meeting the enemie marching A Commander marching with one or more troops and chancing to meet the enemie or otherwise having newes of him must presently resolve either to offer combat or to retreat or to attend the charge of the enemie and herein he must govern himself according to the intelligence he hath and the convenience of the a Bonum Ducem convenit nôsse magnam partem victoriae ipsum locum in quo dimicandum est possidere Veg. lib. 3. cap. 13. place To get the more certain intelligence besides his scouts he shall send out a good distance before him a Corporall with 10 or 12 souldiers who pretending to be of the enemie if the countrey be at the enemies devotion shall discover and take information c. If you meet the enemie neare his own quarter and farre from yours you must resolve with a generous courage to go and b In rebus asperis tenui spe fortissima quaque confilia tutissima sunt Livius lib. 35. charge him though inferiour in number it being often seen that valiant resolutions are seconded with good luck But being neare to your own holds and knowing the enemie to be much stronger then your self it will be prudently done to c Observandum autem est baud par esse sine magna necessitate ut pauca copiae cum magno instructo exercitu dimicent Leo Tact. cap. 12. 36. save your men by the nearest retreat making your retreat in good order and taking heed you spoile not your horses by too much haste but suffer them now and then to gather breath leaving a Lieutenant in the reare with some of the best mounted souldiers The retreat shall be by the same way you went so long as day continues but night being come you must take some other way though the longer to return to your garrison or quarter Thus you shall gain time by turning away from the enemie by the benefite of the night causing the footing of your horses to be defaced at the place where you left the way for it is to be supposed the enemie will follow you by the direct way To deface or put out the footing of the horse if the way be dustie two souldiers are appointed to stay behinde all the rest which draw a great bough betwen them along the ground and so put out the marks of the horses footing Or if there be a great number of horse and the way be broad then foure souldiers with two boughs do it But if the way be soft the Chief commandeth five or six souldiers to alight and with their hands and feet to deface the footings and in such wayes the horse are commanded to march with doubled files and closed for a little space when they turn out of the usuall way that so they may trample the lesse Besides you may avoid the danger of being traced by the horse footings especially in the night by turning out of the way at some house or through some garden breaking the hedge on the further side and going into the way by wayes unthought off by all which means you gain time whilest the enemie is constrained to spend time in discovering of your footing and taking informatiom of the way that you took CHAP. V. How to receive the charge IT hath been shewed how necessarie it is that the Corporall which is sent out with the scouts or discoverers be a very able souldier to know what to do upon occasion of unexpected accidents One or more troops of horse being on their march with their discoverers before them if they shall meet the enemie and perceive him to be the stronger the said Corporall shall presently send a souldier to certifie the grosse that they may retreat himself with his scouts also retreating but by differing wayes For suppose the enemie hath received tidings of his contrarie partie it is likely that having discovered the said scouts he will follow them perswading himself that they flie to their grosse by which means the grosse shall have time to save themselves while the enemie is pursuing the said Corporall and his fellows When the enemie is much stronger and the other partie have neither time nor convenience to put themselves into good order the Chief shall call with a loud voice and command every man to a Quintus Sertorius pulsus acie a Quinto Metello pio nè fugam quidem sibi tutam arbitratus milites dispersos abire jussit admonitos in quem locum vellet convenire Frontin Surat lib. 2. cap. 13. save himself whereupon the souldiers disband into many parts so as the enemie cannot charge them all and so especially in the night many may escape But this course is dangerous and must be commanded with great judgement howsoever in all retreats some of the best mounted must be left behinde under a good Commander to make the retreat If passing by or through some village or wood the first discoverers discrie the enemie not being able to discern of what number he is one of them shall presently come and certifie the Corporall which followeth with the other scouts whereof the Corporall instantly certifieth the Chief of the troops who thereupon puts his men in order causing them to put their casks on their heads which otherwise in march they carrie at their saddle or hanging on their left arm and in some convenient place he maketh Alto and resolveth according to the more certain newes which the Corporall shall send him Which since it may be such as may b Prince Maurice at the battell of Newport sent the messenger which brought him the newes of Count Ernests overthrow away to sea and kept it from the knowledge of his souldiers commanding away all the ships to take away all hope of escape by flight and caused his forces to march through the haven to meet the enemie Meteren lib. 33. discourage the souldiers the Chief perceiving him coming that
Par 4. Cap 8. THE INFANTRIE AND CAVALLRIE EMBATTAILED BY THE PRINCE OF ORANGE NEERE VORSTENBVRGH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Fig 15 Par 4 Cap 8 FORME OF BATTAILE ORDERED NEERE VORSTENBVRGH IN THE MARCH TOWARDS GVLICK THE XXII OF AVGVST M.DC.X. Differing from figure 15. in that some of the Horse are here placed within the body Fig 16 Par 4 Cap 8 CHAP. IX Of certain ceremonies before fight HAving shewed by these former rules and examples how the horse are to be ordered for fight not onely by themselves but also when they shall be joyned with foot that which a Quid superest nifi pugna quae jam manuum est non verberum Lips de milit Rom. lib. 4. now remaineth seemeth rather to require action then words Indeed with antiquitie when the armie was embattelled and readie for combat it was usuall for the Generall to deliver some set speech either from some higher place of turf or stone or at the head of the troops and riding amongst the Maniples to encourage his souldiers And they either with an acclamation lifting up of their hands or clashing of their arms used to manifest their assenting resolution Unto which kinde of b Caesars armie being so dismaid through feare as they were almost brought to desperation tantus subitò timor omnem exercitum occupavit c. was by an elegant oration of his suddenly revived Hac oratione habitâ mirum in modum conversae sunt omnium mentes summáque alacritas cupiditas belli gererdi iunata est Caesar de bello Gal. lib. 1. cap 9. allocutions the ancient Sages use to ascribe a marvellous efficacie not onely amongst the Grecians or Romanes but also those whom they then accounted barbarous as the Britons Gaules Germans c. as the histories of those times sufficiently testifie Next to this they sounded the Classicum that is a generall charge and this was seconded by a generall shout of the souldiers or a concussion of their arms Moreover a c Tunicarussa punicea vel caccinea Some resemblance hereof there is in the bloody flagge at sea scarlet red or carnation coloured coat or cassock was hung out upon the top of the Generalls tent and a countersigne or a word of distinction was given to the souldiers as d Veg. lib. 3. cap. 5. Victoria palma virtus or the like to know each other by The Grecians used also to sing the Poean before the fight to Mars and after battell to Apollo c. Of all which ceremonies which they duly observed as found to be of very good use and which were much graced by the solemne and stately manner of performing them our times have retained very few For as the actions of the modern warres consist chiefly in sieges assaults sallies skirmishes c. and so affoard but few set battells so the practise of delivering publike speeches is almost grown out of use and esteem amongst our chief Commanders Yet the late e Meteren lib. 12. J. Petit. lib. 15. Prince of Orange at the battell of Newport before the conflict delivered a pithie short speech to his souldiers adding to his publike Oratorie publike Orisons and riding up and down gave courage to his souldiers The Classicum is still retained that is to sound a generall charge namely amongst those troops which are to give on And sometimes the Clamor militaris or shout of the souldiers which was not onely an acclamation or assent unto the Generalls speech but also a f This by the Grecians was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines Barritus the originall of which words is shewed by Lips ubi supra yet afterwards when the Empire was become Christian they used when they were readie for conflict to crie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the victorie of the crosse as appeareth by Leo the Emperour who reigned in the East from the yeare of our Lord 886 to 903 Tact. cap. 12 69. Cùm ad conflictationem movet exercitus consueta Christianis vox usurpanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And after this in the very charge they were to make their shout as it followeth there 106. Conflictationis tempore post vocem Victoriae crucis magna atqui altos clamores edere oportet c. loud and dreadfull kinde of noise which they used to make when they gave the charge thereby to encourage one another and to strike a terrour into the enemies as the Turks crie Bre Bre Bre the Irish Pharro Pharro the French Sa Sa Sa the Dutch Vallaen Vallaen c. But as for the countersigne or word of distinction that is seldome used now adayes unlesse upon occasion of some Camisado or other exploits in the night when the souldiers may easilie misse those means to know each other by which in the day time the light the sight of the ensigne or cornet their skarfs required among the Cavallrie or long acquaintance may afford them But these being but ceremonies as I called them in the title of this chapter I willingly withdraw my self from them Neither should I have been desirous to have meddled with them at all but that the example of others g Lips de milit Rom. Reusnerus de arte stratagem who have writ in this kinde led me unto it and the respect unto my reader in common civilitie required it at my hands whom I could not well leave after the sight of so many dumbe figures without a word or two at the parting There remaineth onely now that every one according to his office rank and abilitie strive for honour and victorie propounding to himself the goodnesse of the cause the authoritie of the Prince the command of the Leaders the vertue of the souldiers the honour of the conquest and the disgrace and damage of the defeat Above all lifting up his eies and heart unto Almightie God from whose hands victorie and the means to obtain it is especially to be expected h Psalm 18. vers 32 34. It is God that girdeth me with strength of warre and maketh my way perfect He teacheth my hands to fight c. i Psalm 144. vers 1. Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth mine hands to warre and my fingers to fight k Psalm 44 vers 5 6 7. Through thee will we overthrow our enemies and in thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us For I will not trust in my bow it is not my sword that shall help me But it is thou that savest us from our enemies and puttest them to confusion that hate us And to this purpose we may not unfitly apply that which Hezekias spake to his Captains and souldiers by way of encouragement after that he had fortified himself against the power of the Assyrians l 2 Chron. cap. 32. vers 7 8. Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismaid for the King of Assyria nor for all the multitude that is with him for