Military instructions for the cavallrie, or, Rules and directions for the service of horse collected out of divers forrein authours, ancient and modern, and rectified and supplied according to the present practice of the Low-Countrey warres.

CHAP. IIII. 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 withouta 1.1 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 compa∣nie, to secure the march.

They that shall be employed in this service must be choice men, valiant, vigilant and discreet: such as neither fear nor misconceit can easily distract. They must see that with their own eyes which they inform, the least errour of theirs misleading the whole bodie. Those select men ap∣pointed for this service, are to beb 1.2 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.

Notes

• a 1.1

  These the Ro∣manes called exploratores, or speculatores. See Veg. lib. 3. cap. 22. Nè secreta noce∣ant, ducis praestat industria, quem ••mnia pr••••s con∣venit explorare. Idem lib. 3. c. 6.
• b 1.2

  P. Considi••••, qui rei milia•••• peritissimus habebatur, & in exerciui L. Sylla, & postea in M. Crassi fuerat, cum exploratoribus prai••t••itur. C••es. Comment. lib. 1. cap. 5.