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CHAP. XII. The third Exercise with foure Files six deep
BEing the third time brought into the Field compleatly arm'd, where being drawn forth into files, and by the Leaders thereof exercised, as before, they are commanded tolead up their files, yet not presuming to place themselves, but leaves that to the discretion of their superiour Officers, who knows best the desert of each perticuler man. But by the way, give me leave, in this place to tell the Souldiers and Leaders of our Private Meetings that this decorum is not rightly observed; the souldier thinking himself wi∣ser then his Loader presumes to chop and change by Counter-marching of his file▪ making some part of the Reer to be more honourable then the Front, which cannot be, for the youngest souldier there is off more honour then the eldest in the Reer, in regard it is the more honorable part of the Battalia, therefore it is plain, that they take more upon them then becomes them, for no file-Leader ought to meddle with his file in matter of motions with∣out consent of the Superiour Officers: neither ought the Leader either through favour, or out of malice when all the files are joyn'd into one compleat Body to Counter-march the files, (and after proceeding to other Motions) depraving thereby the Leaders thereof of their due honour; for else, why (just in the time of Exercise or Marching) should one single file as the right or left be counter-marched if he bore not malice to some, thrusting them by this un-souldier-like way out of their places, and through favour or affection often times putting men of little desert into their places. To leave this discourse not pleasing to some, let the Commander draw forth one file of Pikes, and double it by the half-file, and send a Serjeant to fetch the Colours, and after closing his ranks and files to order, he may begin to make some alteration in the exercising of them in their Motions, spending his time altogether upon Inversion and Conversion.