The compleat body of the art military in three books : I. The postures of the pike and musket ..., II. Twelve exercises ..., III. The drawing up and exercising of regiments after the manner of private companies ... : also, the duties of all souldiers and officers ... / by Richard Elton ... ; to which is added a supplement comprehending these particulars, I. the duties and qualifications of all officers belonging to an army .., formerly written by Capt. Tho. Rudd ...

Observations.

IF you be upon Defence, venture not your Game at a cast; your Enemy can loose but his Army, you may loose your Countrey: have a care that you be not forced to fight: hinder him of Provision, by cutting off his Convoys, or burn∣ing all before him, that he may gather none in the Countrey; use some means to call him home by diversion, or wait upon him in places of advantage, as Straits and narrow Passages, when he must march in small Divisions, and draw his Troops into such a length that they cannot easily succour each other; then find∣ing opportunity, attach him resolutely; so shall you be sure, if he be not a vigi∣lant and expert Captain to do him an affront. Many Examples there are in Hi∣story, of men that perished by pressing an invading Enemy to fight: the Battails of Cressy, Poitiers, and others, are fair warnings to perswade men not to presume, or wilfully to hazard all in one day. Had the Cardinal Infanta fought with the Prince of Orange and the French when they were in little Brabant, without doubt he had lost his Country. In a word, if you fight, you set your fortune upon the Dice; if you husband your business warily, the storm will over.

If you be an undertaker, the sooner you bring your Cause to trial, the better you are like to speed; delays are dangerous: for change of Air, Diet, and other inconveniencies, may breed sickness and divers ill humors in your Army: and if your Enemy will not fight, but make a Fabian or lingring War, he may put you to your shifts; therfore first acquaint your self with the strength and quality of your Enemies forces, with the state of his Country, with his own disposition, and the disposition of those that are neerest about him; and before you declare your self gain some of his great men (if it be possible) to take your part: maintain good Spies in his Court.

Forecast all that can further or hinder your design, before you undertake it; and let your Cause be just, left you draw the vengeance of God and jealousie of other Princes upon you. In your preparation, let your first care be of the belly: want of Victuals hath been the loss of many a brave design, and the ruine of great Armies. Let your men be well trained, and such as have been used to exercise and labour (if you can) let them be all of your own Subjects: provide plenty of materials and other necessaries for your design, and use the means to begin your War with some notable loss to your Enemy; so shall you terrify him, and discourage his Allyes and friends from giving him assistance.

When you come to fight, chuse ground (as neer as you can) to fight upon proper for the number and quality of your men: if you be strong in Horse, chuse champion; if your strength be on foot, and that you want Horse, chuse uneven, bushy, or inclosed ground, and place some Muskettiers in the distances between those Troops you have, which may advance, and give fire upon the E∣nemies Horse: if they offer to charge, cover one of your Flanks if you can with some River, Morass, or Wood. Make your Front so large, that your Enemy may not be able with his Wings to charge you in Flank. Let your Battalions be small, as of five or six hundred at the most, which may nimbly move, charge, re∣tire, or succour each other at their pleasures; for great Bodies are unweildy, and being forced to move, cannot keep their order unless the ground be very even; for upon uneven ground, they will either fall foul, or be forced to open; and if an Enemy can then make use of his advantage, and charge, they are easily bro∣ken, and being broken are irrecoverable; whereas small Troops, although they break, may under the favour and succour of their seconds, put themselves again in order, and be able to do good service. Use means to draw your Enemy off the ground he hath chosen to stand upon; it may to your advange, perhaps bring some disorder in his Troops. Be sure to have store of Seconds, and always keep some Troops in reserve: rather give, then attend the charge; it will encourage your own men, and dishearten the Enemy. Charge on that hand you think your self the strongest. Let the distances between the Battalions, as also between the Ter••••a's of your Army, be carefully kept; and get the advantage of Sun and Wind if you can.