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. VI. Six Figures of Battail, with several Firings thereunto belonging.

Command. RAnks and Files close to order, they will stand us underneath is set forth, from which we will draw our Figures after we have fired upon this Platform three or four times.

[illustration] formation

Command. Double your Files inward intire advancing.

The first firing. Let the first two Ranks advance forward ten paces, give Fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves; after wheeling off to the right and left, placing themselves before the Front of Pikes: the next two Ranks, and so the rest suc∣cessively doing the like until they have Fired once over, which reduceth them.

The second firing. Let the first Rank advance three paces, give Fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves; the rest doing the like until all have Fired once over, as before.

The third firing. Let them give Fire on the ground they stand, and fall off to the right and left, and Flank the Pikes.

The fourth firing. Let them Fire even with the Front, and fall in with the Reer of the Pikes; which being ended, let the Pikes charge on.

Reducement. Muskettiers, double your Front by Division.

Command. The first two Ranks, stand; the rest face outward and move cleer of the standing part; to your Leader: the two last Ranks move outward side-ways two paces.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let every Division give Fire on the same ground they stand, and fall in the Reer of themselves.

The second firing. Let them advance forwards until they be cleer of the Pikes; give Fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves, after moving down into their places.

Command. Front-division, advance forward three paces; the two next Divisi∣ons move outward one pace: Pikes in each Division face about, and move two paces; to your Leader: Divisions of Muskettiers in the Reer advance forwards, and range even in Front and Reer with the Middle-divisions of Pikes; the first Rank of Pikes in the Front-division move three foot cleer of the standing part.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let them give Fire to the Front, and fall in the Reer of them∣selves.

The second firing. Let them give Fire to Front, Reer, and both Flanks altoge∣ther.

Direction. Reer-divisions, face outward; the last Rank of Pikes and Musket∣tiers of the Front-division, face to the Reer; the last Rank of Muskettiers move down cleer of the Reer, and close inward to order; then last the Pikes port, and after the Muskettiers have Fired, charge on, then retreating into their places again.

Command. The first and the last Rank of Pikes, face about, and move down cleer of the Reer, and close Ranks forwards to order; outmost Divisions of Mus∣kettiers face about, move down and flank your own divisions of Pikes: The first Division of Pikes move forward, and range even abrest with your own Division of Muskettiers; the Front-division of Muskettiers closing into the midst to order.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let the Front-division give Fire and fall in the Reer of them∣selves; after wheeling off to the right and left, move down and Flank the Reer-division of Pikes.

The second firing. Let the Front-division of Muskettiers Fire and fall in the Reer of themselves; then face about, and move down upon the inside of the next division of Pikes; and after face to their Leader.

The third firing. Let the Muskettiers upon the Flanks move up into the room of the former, and Fire, falling in the Reer of themselves; and after face about, and move down into their places again; the Muskettiers on the inside moving up into their places again.

The fourth firing. Let the Reer-division face about; then let them Fire to Front

and Reer, and fall in the Reer of themselves; let the Pikes charge, and after ordering their Arms, their Reer-division facing to their Leader, the Muskettiers thereof may move up into their places again.

Command. The outmost divisions face outward, and move two paces; face to your Leader, move up until you range even abrest with the second divisions next the Front; Reer-division move streight forward two paces.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let them all give Fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves.

The second firing. Let the Muskettiers advance forwards until they be cleer of the Front-division, and then rank outward and Fire altogether; after filing inward as they were, move down again into their places: the Pikes at the same time charging, and after order their Arms.

Command. Front-division advance forward three paces; the outmost division upon the Flanks move up, and range even with the Front.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Direction for the same: let them all face to the Reer, and the middle-division of Muskettiers move forwards, and flank the Reer-division of Pikes; after let all the Muskettiers advance forwards three foot cleer of their own divisions of Pikes, and give Fire, falling in the Reer of themselves; and af∣ter facing about, move into their places again.

The second firing. Let them Fire as they stand, and fall in the Reer of them∣selves; and the Pikes in the Reer may charge on, and after facing to their Leader.

Command. The outmost divisions face inward, march three paces; and the next two divisions face outward, and move two paces; to your Leader: Reer-division, move outward until you stand streight with the Front-divisions.

[illustration] formation

The first firing. Let the Front-Division of Muskettiers give fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves; and after moving down in the room of them in the Reer: they at the same time moving up into the Front firing, in like manner moving down, and exchanging places with them in the Reer.

The second firing. Let the Muskettiers upon the Flanks move forward even with the Front, give fire, and fall in the Reer of themselves; and after move down in∣to their places again, and face to their Leader.

The third firing. Let them face to the Front, reer, and both Flanks, and let the Pikes port, and the Muskettiers give fire.

The fourth firing. Let them give fire on the ground they stand, and fall in the Reer of the Pikes; the Pikes charging whilest the Muskettiers make ready again.

The fifth firing. Let the Pikes charge at foot, and the Muskettiers give fire over their heads; then recovering their Arms, face to their Leader.

Reducement. Front-Divisions face about; Front and Reer-Divisions march, and interchange ground, to your Leader; The out-most Divisions face inward, and close your Divisions, to your Leader: even your Ranks, and streighten your Files, and close to Order, they are reduced.

The Captain may now command the Muskettiers to poyse their Arms, and file away to the right and left, making as it were a Street or Gallery for him to troop away the Pikes, and lodge his Colours.