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. V. Of the order of marching by day.

THea 1.1 march must be so ordered as the companies may readily (from that order) be brought into a good form of battel, upon occasion of a sudden 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 Walhausen 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 1.2 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 1.3 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, af∣ter the first 15 were past.

The Captain of the Harquebusiers which hath the rear of the left wing, must leave a Corporall with 15 horse a mile behind him. Of these 15, two are to be some 12 or 14 score behind the rest, to give notice if the enemie follow them in the rear.

d 1.4 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 rear be past over or through.e 1.5 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 behind 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.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Omni curâ, omníque diligen∣tiâ providere de∣bei dux, nè pro∣ficiscens p••••tiatur meursum, vel si non facilè, at sine damno ••••pell••t ill••um. Veg. ibid.
• b 1.2

  Praemittes et∣jam ad loca ex∣ploran la equites quesdam, p••aser∣tim si s••••••osa sint, aut collibus aut montibus inclusa, per quae t••••n••un dum est, &c. Leo cap 9.38.
• c 1.3

  Casar exerci∣tum per insidiosa itinera duxit nunquam, nisi praespe•••• u•• lo corum situs, &c. Sueton. Jul.
• d 1.4

  Illud vitan∣dum, nè al••u fe∣stinantibus, al is tardiùs inceden∣tibus, interrum∣patur acies, aut certè tenuetur. Veg. lib. 3. cap. 6.
• e 1.5

  Quando per angustias ali∣quas, aut per ar∣duos aviósque montes prof••ctu∣rus••s, pramitte ex tuis qui juga montium & loca ibi editissima occupent, & qui aduus angustos & minùs patentes anticipent, &c. Leo Tact. cap. 9. 26.