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* 1.1Command. FRont and Reer-half-files, wheel your Ranks to the right and left into both Flanks, and the midst of Files.
Direction. Half-files, face about to the right; and the middle Files, and the outmost Files upon each Flank, are the hinges of this Motion; the
rest are to wheel their Ranks to the right and left towards both the Flanks, and to the midst of Files; face to your Leader.
Reducement. Files, rank six to the right and left inward to the midst of Ranks, and between the Flankers and the middle Files: Front-half-files, face about, and rank six to the right and left inward towards the midst of Ranks, & between the Flank∣ers, and middle Files; the Reer-half-files doing the same, face to your Leader.
Command. Front and Reer-half-files, wheel your Ranks inward into both Flanks, and into the midst of Files.
Direction. Half-files, face about; and Front and Reer-half-files, march until you be at double distance in the midst; after face all about to the right, and wheel your Ranks to the right and left inward into both Flanks, and into the midst of Files; face to your Leader.
Reducement. Files, rank six to the right and left inward into Front and Reer, be∣tween the Flankers and the middle Files; Half-files face about, and rank six to the right and left inward to the Reer between the Flankers and the middle Files, the Front-half-files doing the same to the Front, after facing to their Leader; & Half-files move forwards, closing their Divisions to the distance of the former Ranks.
Having dwelt thus long upon this subject of Inversion and Conversion (occa∣sioned thereunto by their great variety and difficulty in the performance of them,) I hold it convenient to give a breathing space unto the wearied Souldier, whilst I in the mean time prepare further matter for his longing desire.
Yet before I enter in any other discourse of the Art Military, I hold it requisite to give some admonitions to those that shall venture upon them. For being very difficult, they are not easily understood by every puny; my advice therefore is, to wave such things in time of Exercise, which the Souldiers are unacquainted with, providing for them such matter as is both plain and easie; and being frequently practised in such, he may after drill them on to harder, till by degrees he hath brought them unto such perfection and knowledge, that they shall be able to per∣form and execute what is commanded; not gazing upon one another, (as I have often observed) neither knowing their Leaders meaning; or if they did, they are altogether ignorant how to fulfil his commands. Frequent practice therefore makes the Souldier expert, witness our gallant Souldiers and Citizens of London, who are most of them so well grounded (by frequent practice) that their Leaders can scarce give a word of Command, which is not easily apprehended by them, they being in their exercises so often inured to such difficult expressions as these of Inversion and Conversion.
They ought to be at more then Open order in Ranks, and at order in Files.