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. III. The Postures of the Pike.

THE Pike lying on the ground, the first word of command will be, stand to your Arms.

Handle your Pike Raise up your Pike

to your

Open Order, Order, Close Order.

Charge with the But end of the Pike, at the inside of the right foot, your Pike in the left hand, drawing your Sword over your left arm.

Charge to the

Front Right Flank, Left Flank, Reer,

Order your Pikes, and put up your Swords.

This way of charging to the Horse, I have set down, as being practised somtimes amongst

us in our private meetings, but I conceive it to be of little use to receive a desperate charge of the Horse, for by these charges the Souldiers are in so lame and weake a posture, that the Horse cannot choose if they come on with a full career, but beare the Pikes and Pike-men down to the ground: Therefore in my opinion the best way of opposing the Horse charge is that which we learned of our ever honoured Captain, Major Henry Tillier, in the Mi∣litary Garden; which was, Files closing to the midst to their closest Order, insomuch that there was not above half a foot intervall of ground between File and File, the Pikes Por∣ting, and after closing their Ranks forwards so close, that they locked themselves one within another, and then charged on. Which in my judgement is so secure a way from routing, that it is impossible for any Body of Horse to enter therein: and farther, to my best re∣membrance, I never could meet with any Souldier that hath been abroad upon any service that ever saw any charging of the Pikes at the Foot, therefore I will further proceed.

From Order

Advance, Your Pike. Shoulder, Your Pike. Port, Your Pike. Comport, Your Pike. Cheek, Your Pike. Trail, Your Pike.

Order as you were.

From your Or∣der charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reere,

Order as you were.

Advance your Pike.

Shoulder Your Pike. Port Your Pike. Comport Your Pike. Cheek Your Pike. Trail Your Pike.

Advance as you were.

From your Advance charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reer,

Advance as you were.

Shoul∣der your Pike.

Port Your Pike, Comport Your Pike, Cheek Your Pike, Trail. Your Pike,

Shoulder as you were.

From the Shoulder charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reere,

Shoulder as you were.

Port your Pikes, Comport your Pikes,

Cheek your Pikes Trail your Pikes

Comport as you were

From the Comport Charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reer,

Comport as you were.

Cheek your Pikes.

Trail your Pikes,

Cheek as you were.

From the Cheek charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reer,

Cheek as you were.

Trail your Pikes, from your Trail charge to the

Front, Right, Left, Reer.

Trail as you were.

• Order your Pikes,
• Lay down your Pikes.

Here is to be observed by this Method an endeavouring to performe all the postures of the Pike, from each particular posture, only shortning it by degrees, leaving out what was before commanded untill we come unto the Trail. Yet notwithstanding I spared not the charges, but have shewn them from every posture, in their due order. Next followeth the postures of the Musket, wherein, in answerablenesse to the Pike, I shall lay them down in full, and afterwards contract them in a shorter way.