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 ...

CHAP. XIV. Next followeth several Figures of Battail, with Firings upon the same, for the per∣formance whereof,

Command. BRingers-up to double their Front to the right and left inward, and Ranks and Files to open to open order, and Muskettiers to close outward to close order; the inmost Files of Pikes close outward to the same di∣stance, and they will stand in four Divisions; after let the Middle-rank in each Division open outward to open order, they will produce the first Figure.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let the first Rank give Fire, and wheel off to the right and left, and place themselves in the room of them in the Reer; and they at the same time moving forwards in their places, and give Fire as the first; after wheel off into their places again.

The second firing. Let the Middle-ranks advance three foot before the Front, and give Fire; face about, and move down into their places again.

Command. The last Rank in each Division move to the left one pace, and dou∣ble to the right File-wise; and then advance forward, until their first men exceed two foot the Front of each Division; then let the first Rank open outward to o∣pen order, and the last Rank close inward to the same distance.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let the middle File give Fire to the Front, and fall in the Reer of themselves.

The second firing. Let the first Rank give fire on the ground they stand, and af∣ter fall off to the right and left into the room of them in the Reer, they at the same time moving forward into their ground, and give fire in like manner, and fall off into their places again, and then the Pikes may charge on whilest the Mus∣kettiers make ready again.

Command. Face all about: middle File, move forward three foot clear of the Reer; the first Rank close inward to Order, the last Rank open outward some∣thing more then to open Order.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure let the first man in each division kneel down, and then to give fire altogether over one anothers heads, the Pikes at the same time charging brest-high to the Horse; then face all to their first Front.

Command. The last men in the Reer double to the left Rank-wise; Files, close into the midst to Order; Muskettiers, double your Pikes inward entire advancing, and move forward three paces; Files, double your depth to the right and left outward of each Arms, every man falling behind his Bringer-up; Front Half-files, double your Reer entire into the midst; Files, double to the right and left outward; Files, file to the right entire advancing: which being done, wheel them to the right about into a Ring, in form as followeth.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure let the Pikes charge round, and the Muskettiers give fire all together; which being ended, let the Commander go to the place where the File-Leader stands, and wheel them off again to the left until he hath brought them into one straight File, and then proceed.

Command. Half-files, double your Front to the right; Ranks, double to the right and left inward; Files, double outward entire, advancing; Half-files of each Arms, double your Ranks forwards to the left; Front Half-files, double the Reer to the left; Files, file to the left entire, advancing, and wheel about into a Ring; then face all to the Center, and close Files of each Arms to the right and left in∣ward to close Order.

[illustration] formation

Command. Middle-men in each Division move backward, and place your selves two foot behind your right and left-hand-men; face all about to the right, and close Ranks inward to Order.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure let them Fire by circumduction after this manner; let the odd men of Pikes port; and then the odd Muskettier, where the first Front was, is to give Fire, and to move away to the left; and the next odd man of Muskettiers upon the right, immediately comes stooping underneath the Pikes into the first mans place, Firing in like manner, moving away into the next odd mans place of the Muskettiers upon the left; the rest doing the same until the Muskettier come into his place again.

Command. Face all to the Center; odd men move forwards and place your selves two foot before the right and left-hand-men; after face all to the right a∣bout.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure you may Fire likewise by way of circumduction: the Pikes porting all round, and having performed one Firing in this manner; in the next place, let the odd Muskettiers and Pikes move forth again, and kneel down; the odd Pike-men charging at foot, the Muskettiers may give Fire altogether; then let them face to the Center, and let the odd men move forwards, and place them∣selves between the right and left-hand-men; then moving and closing their ring, let them face all about to the right: Then let the Captain go where the Leader of the File stands, and wheel him about to the left; the rest following until they be all brought again into one streight File.

Command. Files, file three to the left into the Front; Files, double to the right intire advancing; Front-half-files, move forwards three paces; Files, double your depth to the right of each Division; Half-files, double your Front intire into the midst. The two first and the two last men of Pikes upon each Flank, face in∣ward; the two Middle-ranks, face outward; the two last Ranks of Muskettiers, face about; march all three paces; to your Leader.

[illustration] formation

To pass by the Firings which may be performed upon this Figure, I shall pro∣ceed from hence to draw another.

Command. The outmost divisions of Muskettiers close inward to order; Front and Reer Divisions of Pikes, open outward to double distance; Pikes, double in∣ward Rank-wise, and they will stand as followeth.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure Fire to the Front in their several Divisions one after another, and fall in the Reer of themselves; then wheel off to the right into the Reer, the rest of the Divisions moving forward in their room, doing the like until all have fired over twice.

Command. Muskettiers, double your Ranks outward in each Division, and they will stand as underneath.

[illustration] formation

Upon this Figure, as in the former, they may Fire likewise to the Front, falling down into the Reer; and after every Rank successively moving up into the Front, may Fire and fall off in like manner: this Firing may be done twice to the Front; and being faced to the Reer, they may there give Fire after this man∣ner, and after face to their first Front.

Command. Muskettiers, double to the right and left inward File-wise; middle∣most division of Muskettiers, face outward, and march until you have placed your selves in Front and Reer of the outmost Divisions of Pikes: The last Rank of Front and Reer-divisions of Muskettiers, double to the right File-wise, and move forward until your first men exceed two foot the Front of each division, which occasioneth the next Figure.

[illustration] formation

It is now high time that we put a period to this Exercise; wherefore let the Ensign unfurl his Colours, the Souldiers shoulder their Arms, and the Drum beat a march; upon which the Ensign being in the midst may display his Colours so long as shall be convenient, and after the Leader may proceed to their reduce∣ment, as followeth.

Reducement. Middle-file of Muskettiers, face about, and march cleer of your own Divisions, and double to the left Rank-wise; Muskettiers, close inward to order; Pikes, double to the right and left outward File-wise: Files, close into the midst to order; Ranks, close to order; Pikes, move forward and even your Front; Pikes and Muskettiers interchange ground, they are reduced.

Now the Leader may command the Muskettiers to troop away, and after he may lodge his Colours, thereby refreshing both himself and his Souldiers, until the next summons by beat of the Drum.