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 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 1.1 and that the enemy may not charge you on the sudden, 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 tob 1.2 make sure the enemies approches. 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 Cuirassiers in the middle.

At the entrances of all the streets, either trees orc 1.3 waggons are to be placed acrosse, giving order to the Harquebusiers to guard those passages, and that none of them mount on horseback without speciall order: that so, the rest may have time to assemble at the place of arms, if the enemy come

[illustration] figure depicting encampment layout

THis Regiment consisteth of foure troops of horse, viz. two of Cuirassiers, and two of Harquebusiers: which Regiment containeth in breadth (or front) from A. to B. 700. foot, and in depth (or length) from B. to C. 300. foot: from A. to D. is 205 foot in breadth for one company of Cuirassiers, which consisteth of 80 horse, together with 80 nags, which have five files of huts, and five files of horse, which Curassiers are quartered (or lodged) on the right hand of the Regiment.

From E to Z is 115 foot in breadth for a company of Harquebusiers, which consisteth of 100 horse, and it hath three files of huts and horses.

From A to G is the space of ground where the Collonell of the Regiment is lodged, on the right hand of these foure companies, and the said enclosure for the Collonel is 70 foot broad, from A to G.

From G to H is 40 foot in depth (or length) for the said enclosure for the Collonell; and so are all the other enclosures of the Officers.

From H to I is 20 foot in breadth, for the street between the Collonells Enclosure, and the Enclosure for the Lieutenant and Cornet of the said Collonells company (which are both lodged in one Enclosure, marked I K) which hath also 70 foot in breadth, as that of the Collonel; which Enclosure is divided into two parts: The Lieu∣tenant being lodged on the right hand, and hath 40 foot in breadth for his Enclosure: And the Cornet on the left hand (with one of the Trumpeters) having the other 30 foot in breadth of the said Enclosure; which ma∣keth 70 foot for them both.

From K to L is another street of twenty foot broad, to the enclosure marked L M. L M is the enclosure where the Quartermaster is lodged, with two other horsemen which he pleaseth to admit of, which is 25 foot broad, and 40 foot long, as the rest. Their hut (within the said Enclosure) being 12 foot square for them three, and their stable is 25 foot broad for their six horses.

From M to N is 30 foot for the street between the Quartermasters enclosure, and the first hutts for the horse∣men, marked N.

From N to O is 180 foot for the quartering of the files of huts for the horsmen, viz. for 16 huts, and their 32 horses in a file, agreeable to the Regiments of Infantery: That so, where the Regiments of Cavallry are to be lodged in the champaine ground among the Infanterie, they might all make one and the same line before and behind the Regiments. And through the said two Troops of Cuirassiers there be two streets marked P. which streets are of 13 foot broad and the huts of the horsemen are ten fort broad, and 8 foot long for one horseman and his boy. And between two huts there is two foot of space for the drain of rain water, dropping from the thatch or covers of the huts. These huts have their chief doores or passages towards the heads of their horses, and a small one opening into the street, where they lay their hay and straw every one behind his own hut.

[illustration]

Q are two streets of twelve foot broad, which passe through the troops of Harquebusiers.

R is a street of five foot broad, between the horsmens huts, and the mangers for their horses.

S is ten foot for the Stables for their horses, which horses are placed with their heads toward their huts, and every horse hath 4 foot in breadth for his litter, and 8 foot for the two horses; according to the length of their huts. And more ground then eight foot they must not take; for otherwise it would cause a great disorder and confusion, not observing the said precise measures.

T is a street of 20 foot broad between the heels of their horses: in which street they mount and alight off their horses; which street they are bound to keep clean, and to carry away the dung every two or three dayes.

V is 30 foot in breadth for the street called the Victuallers (or Sutlers) street.

W are the Sutlers huts being ten foot square, and more room they must not take, unlesse (when they have many Pensioners) the Quartermaster give them a foot or two more in breadth, but not in depth, to observe the measure of 300 foot in the depth of the Regiment, as the Infantery.

X is ten foot of ground behind the Sutlers huts, for a place for the Sutlers, the horsmen and their wives to dresse their victuals. And in no other place of the Quarter must any fire be made. Neither are they to cast any filth, &c. within the Quarter, but to carry it to the place appointed thereunto, upon pain of a fine, which the Pro∣vost taketh.

E F is the enclosure of the Captain of a troop of Harquebusiers, being of the same breadth and depth as those of the Capt. of Cuirassiers, viz. 70. foot broad, and 40 foot deep. And the ancientest Captain of Harquebusi∣ers, or Cuirassiers closeth the battalion of the Regiment on the left hand, at the corner marked B.

F Y is a street of twenty foot broad, to the Lieutenant of the troop of Harquebusiers his enclosure Y.

Y Z is 25 foot in breadth for the enclosure of the said Lieutenant, where also are placed his foure horses; ha∣ving in depth 40 foot. And the Cornets of the troops of Harquebusiers are lodged on the right hand in the two first huts of the horsmen, and that to place his three horses, and the fourth horse is the Trumpeters, who alwayes lodgeth with the Cornet. These companies of Harquebusiers have also 180 foot depth for the quartering of their three files of huts marked (in the Cuirassiers) N O. but these have but 15 huts in every file for 30 horse: ha∣ving also two streets (as the Cuirassiers) through them marked Q. being 12 foot broad (as abovesaid) leaving three foot of space between their huts for the drain (whereas the Cuirassiers have but two foot) their huts are also often foot broad and 8 foot deep for two Harquebusiers, and 8 foot for the litter of their two horses, and ten foot for their stable. And five foot for a street between their huts, and the mangers of their horses: their Su∣tlers streets, and Sutlers huts, &c. are as the Cuirassiers.

[illustration] figure depicting encampment layout

T••e maner of Quartering the P^r. of Orange his Army both horsse and foote.

upon them; unto which a new passage must be cut, for the more privacie and security. If there be Dragons, then they are to guard the said approches: If Infantery, then it is their task to do it.

If the situation of the place be such as that the enemy may environ it round, the usuall entran∣ces or approches 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 enemy may be afraid to charge home a Centinell or Corps-du-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 Rendezvous.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Subita conter∣rent hostes, usita∣ta vilescunt.
• b 1.2

  The Romanes manner of forti∣fications about their camps, for security, are ful∣ly described by Veget. lib. 1. c. 24. If the enemie were near, all the army stood ready for battell, to guard them which (behind them) wrought about the trenches. And this was done by every century by turns; every souldier becoming a pioner for the time. Ibid. cap. 25.
• c 1.3

  For a sudden defence of the quarter (if being in a champain countrey, destitute of any other) it hath been usu∣all to enclose the quarter with waggons and carts. So did the Helvetians (now called Swissers) as Cesar recordeth it, Communt. cap. 10. And to this pur∣pose, vide Veget. lib. 3. cap. 10. Persae (imitantes Romanos) ductis fossis castra constituunt; & quia arenosa sunt propt omnia, saccos quos i••••es pertav••rant, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pulverulenta (quae effoditur) terra complent, ••orúmque c••••nulo aggerem faciunt. Ibid.