CHAP. XXXII. Of exercising the Cavallrie in their motions.
HAving shewed how every horse-man is to be exercised in the managing of his horse, as also in the use of his particular arms; it followeth now that he be taught how to demean himself, being joyned in a body.
And here, before we enter into the motions, it were fit to explain the terms ofa 1.1 art therein used. and to shew what is meant by a file, a rank, half files, and half ranks; the front, flanks, and rear, and the like. But (for brevitie sake) I passe them over, referring the reader to the books of Infan∣terie.
To exercise the horse, they are to be drawn up into a body, not by ranks, but by files; and those of five deep, as most affirm; or of six, as others would have it: and that because the number of five is not divisible by two, and so in doubling of ranks, or half files, or the like, there is alwayes an odde rank. Some would have them (especially the harquebusiers) to be eight in file, taking the troop to consist of 64. Being put in Battalia, that is, ordered into a square body, and silence strict∣ly commanded; the first thing to be taught them, is distance. And herein authors disagree. Some make close order to be two paces; open order, foure paces; and so for double, triple, and quadruple distance proportionable. Others make but two kinds of distances; close order, which is three foot; and open order, which is six foot. But this must be understood cum grano salis, (as the Ci∣vilians speak:) for here we must observe a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavallrie, and that of the Infantery: for in the foot, the distance is taken from the centre of the souldiers body, which here cannot be so understood, but onely of the space of ground be∣tween horse and horse.
Monsieur de Praissac is more plain, who would have the distance between rank and rank (both for the length of the horse, as also for the space between horse and horse) to be six paces, and one pace between file and file. Yet, if we take every pace for five foot (as that is the usuall dimenti∣on) by this rule they should be at a very large distance.
In my opinion, the Cavallrie being to be exercised in their motions, should be at their distance of six foot, or open order (taking it as hath been shewed)b 1.2 standing right in their ranks and files.
c 1.3 Now the motions are of foure kinds; 1. Facings. 2. Doublings. 3. Countermarches. 4. Wheelings.
The use of facings is to make the company perfect, to be suddenly prepared for a charge on ei∣ther flank or the rear.
Doubling of ranks, or doubling by half files, or bringers up, is used upon occasion of strength∣ening the front.
Doubling of files, or doubling by half ranks, serveth to strengthen the flanks.
Countermarches serve, either to reduce the file-leaders into the place of the bringers up; and so to have the best men ready to receive the charge of an enemy in the rear; or to bring one flank in∣to the place of the other: or front, and rear, or either flank into the middle of the body.
The use of wheelings, is to bring the front (which is alwayes supposed to consist of the ablest men) to be ready to receive the charge of the enemy on either flank or rear.
These motions (for the more easie apprehension of the untutored souldier) are represented in figures, by a company of harquebusiers of 64 men. And therein the file-leaders and bringers up are distinguished by a differing letter, as followeth.