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. XII. Of dislodging.

FOr the manner of dislodging or removing of the Cavallry out of the quarter, there are also ne∣cessary advertisements to be given.

All the Cavallry lodging together, and order being given for their remove, the Commissary Generall is to take notice of the precise houre: and at the distributing of the word to the Quarter-masters, he is to warn them to give notice thereof to their Captains; which must be carefull to cause thea 1.1 boutez-selle to be sounded when they heare the Generalls trumpets do it. This useth to be sounded two houres before the time of departing, and the A chevall when it is time to march. Upon sudden occasions or for privacy, no other warning is given but onely theb 1.2 Generalls trum∣pets sound, and the rest take it from them.

If the Cavallry be quartered in severall places, the Quartermasters (coming for the wordc 1.3 the evening before) carry 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 re∣move with all possible silence.

The Rendez-vous where the troops must assemble, to be ready to march, must be out of the village, and free from hedges, &c. (though it be somewhat the further off) towards the place to which they are to march. The company which hath the vanguard is to be first on their march towards the Rendez-vous; the souldiers of every company assemble at their Cornets lodging, who is to be first on horse-back; and thed 1.4 Captain by his readinesse is to give a good example to his souldiers. The greater part of the company being met, the Captain is to advance towards the Rendez-vous.

The company which that day hath the guard, must not stirre untill all be gone, their Lieute∣nant going to the contrary side of the village (remotest from the Rendez-vous) to draw in his Sentinells. All the troops and baggage being marched away, the said company shall also march. But if the said company 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 com∣mit that duty to the company of Harquebusiers which is to march in the rear of all.

Every Lieutenant (when his company marcheth) is to stay to reprehend ord 1.5 severely punish such as stay behind, 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 company that is to come, which after two or three 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 pistols 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 a light a while, (with leave) but must not omit to place Sentinells on some high places.

Notes

• a 1.1

  With antiqui∣tie it was usuall to remove or dislodge, by sounding the trumpet three times. Leo c. 11.
• b 1.2

  Tu••••cen unus inso••uit, mox alii pariter respon∣derunt. Dio. l. 17.
• c 1.3

  Scipio tesseram vesperi per castra dedet, ut ante lu∣cem viri equíque curati & prans•• essent, armatus eques fraenatos terieret equos. T. Liv. lib. 28.
• d 1.4

  John, Duke of Calabria is said upon all occasi∣ons to have been le premier homme armé, & de toutes pieces. Phil. de Comines, lib. 1. cap. 1••.
• d 1.5

  How severe the ancients were in punish∣ing of abuses, may be seen in that example of Lucillius the Centurion, who having broken a staff about the bones of one of his souldiers, called for a se∣cond, and a third after that, for which he was called Cedo alteram, among the factious soul∣diers. Tacit. 1. Annal. Which severity of theirs wrought so good effects (as Frontine reporteth) that the Romane army being to encamp where a tree laden with fruit grew within the quarter, it remained so laden and untouched when the army was dislodged. Front. lib. 4. cap. 3.