The compleat body of the art military ... divided into three books, the first containing the postures of the pike and musket ... the second comprehending twelve exercises ... the third setting forth the drawing up and exercising of regiments ... illustrated with varietie of figures of battail ... / by Richard Elton.

CHAP XIII. Reasons of the place of the second foure as they stand in Rank and File, the File being eight deep.

NOw for the further resolution herein, there is to be taken notice of, that the ge∣nerall drawing up of Regiments, when they consist of so few Companies as 8, 6, or 7, is commonly in two grand Divisions, that is to say, two bodies or two stands of Pikes, which are flanked with Muskettiers. Therefore you may ob∣serve the discretion of the Major who commonly is appointed to draw up the Regiments, doth so order the places of the Captains, that they may aptly fall into their due places of Honour, upon a stand and upon a march; and doth so order their Dignities as before is ex∣prest, as to make both the Front, Reer, right and left half Ranks, equall in Number, Strength, and Dignity. And, therefore, he draws up the third and fourth Captain between the Collonels Company and the eldest Captain, which makes their number (13:) and in like manner he draws the second Captain, and the youngest Captain betweene the Lieutenant Collonels Company and the Majors, whose number likewise carries equall proportion to be (13.) Now if you please to examine the whole number of the right halfe Ranks, and that makes (18:) maketriall likewise of the left halfe Ranks, in casting up of his ac∣compt; and you shall finde the same proportion of number as is cleerly set forth within the Table, both of Ranks and Files, for as the honour of every Souldier stands in the Rank, you will finde the same to stand so in the File.