The art of vvar, and Englands traynings; plainely demonstrating the dutie of a priuate souldier; with the office of each seuerall officer belonging to a foot-company: and the martiall lawes of the field. : As also, the office and charge belonging to the command of a colonell; the exercise of trayning or drilling: with diuers other necessary and profitable disciplined notes and obseruations. / By Edw. Davies gentleman..

Certaine words to be vsed of the Officers that traine.

WHen any Officer determines to exercise his com∣panie to traine, or drill them, hee must cast them into a ring, the double or single bissa, the Romane S or such like necessarie forme, and vse these or the like words as heare followeth: My louing friends, fellowes, and companions in armes, we be gathered together for the seruice of God, his holy Church, our Prince and Coun∣trey; and for that none through ignorance shall perish or runne in danger of the Lawes of the Field, you shall from time to time, by me or other Officers of the Band be instructed by words or deedes in such sort, and points, as to your calling and the necessitie of seruice shall re∣quire, the which you must diligently obserue, and fol∣low, though the same shall seeme vnto you many times, both dangerous and painefull: also if any of you, my fel∣lowes shall finde an occasion conuenient to declare to me, or any other Officer, his minde and opinion in any thing beneficiall touching seruice, wee shall diligently heare, and gratifie the party the double value thereof; and God willing Equitie and Iustice shall bee ministred; also regard that all Souldiers know, and obey their Offi∣cers in their place, according to their calling.

The first thing of moment in the motion of a Company is how they should orderly march, and how their Offi∣cers should be rightly placed, the which I haue demon∣strated in the figure on the other side, according as it is practised in the Low-countries, the schoole of warre: First the Captaine, marcheth in the Front, and leades the com∣pany, whose place is marked with C: which is six foote distant before the first diuision of muketeares. The Lieu∣tenant is to march in the Reare of the second diuision of Musketeares, marked with L: six foot distant behind the same. The Ensigne is to march with the colours six foot behind the first diuision of Musketeares, and six foot be∣fore the first diuision of pikes, marked with the letter E. The eldest Sergeant is to march six foot behind the first diuision of pikes, and six foot before the second diuision of pikes, marked with S. 1. The second Sergeant is to march six foote behind the second diuision of pikes, and six foot before the second diuision of musketeares, mar∣ked with S. 2. the drummes beate betweene the third and fourth rankes, marked with D: The chiefest beates in the first diuision of pikes; The second in the first diuision of musketeares; And the third drumme beates in the se∣cond diuision of musketeares: The pikes and muskets march six foot in file, and three in ranke, euery diuision consists of ten rankes and fiue files, all which is made plaine in the next figure following.

The order how a Companie should march.

[illustration]

Leaders.

First diuision of Musketieres.

Bringers vp.

Leaders.

First diuision of Pikes.

Bringers vp.

Leaders.

Second diuision of Pikes.

Bringers vp.

Leaders.

Second diuision of Muskets.

Bringers vp.

AFter that the company hath marched in such order as aforesaid in the former figure, then the first diuisiō of shot (when they are come to the place where they should exercise, traine, or drill) makes a stand; and the first di∣uision of the pikes marcheth vp to the front with them, on the left hand: Then the second diuision of the pikes marcheth vp to the front with the first diuision of pikes, on the left hand of them also: lastly, the second diuisi∣on of musketiers marcheth vp on the left hand of the second diuision of pikes: which done they are comman∣ded to stand right in their files, and right in their rankes, at 6 foote distance, and commanded, silence, that euery one may heare the words of command, and be ready to execute the same. The figure on the other side pag. 149 sheweth the forme and station of the company, all things performed as aforesaid: note the distance is reckoned from the middle part of a man.

[illustration]

Front

left flanke

〈…〉〈…〉

Reare

To the right hand.

The Company standing right in their files and rankes, at six foote distance (as in the figure before) vnto which the Captaine hath an eye in the front, and the Lieutenant in the Reare, and the Sargeants in the flanks; the Sarge∣ants hauing an eare to the Captaine are ready to informe the company what he commands: then the Captaine commands them to turne to the right hand; and then they moue all togither, keeping their left foote fixed, and mouing with the right foote onely; and hauing per∣formed it; the front is where the right hand flanke was; as in the figure pag. 151 is plainely demonstrated.

Note that in or at their facing to any quarter, the pikes are (to auoide wearinesse) ordered; and the muskets shouldred for ease and fitnesse. The reason of this mo∣tion is to make the company perfect to be sodainely pre∣pared for a charge in the right hand, flanke or wing.

[illustration]

As you were.

HAuing stood a while according to the forme in the former figure, the Captaine commands, As you were, and then they moue all towards the left hand, till their faces are turned to the first Front, according to the demonstration, pag. 153.

[illustration]

To the left hand.

BEcause the enemie may sometimes charge on the left hand flanke, therfore that you may sodainely be ready to defend your selues, and for diuers other reasons this motion is vsed, to turne to the left hand, which is done by mouing the right foot, the left foot standing still till your faces front towards the left hand flanke, according to the demonstration, pag. 155.

[illustration]

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As you were.

THen hauing performed the aforesaid motion, the Captaine Commands; As you were: and then they moue all towards the right hand, till they are turned to the first Front, according to the demonstration pag. 157.

[illustration]

To the right hand about.

BEcause there may be a charge giuen in the Reare, therefore is this Motion to be practised, to turne to∣wards the right hand (the left foote remaining fixed) till your faces front to that Quarter which was before the Reare; and then will they be ready to receiue the Ene∣mie and defend themselues: this forme is demonstrated in the next side, marked with the number of 159.

[illustration]

To the left hand as you were.

HAuing performed the former Motion, the Cap∣taine commands them, To the left hand as you were; and then they moue all towards the left hand, the left foot remaining fixed, vntill their faces are turned to the former front: according to that of pag. 161.

[illustration]

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To the left hand about.

BEcause it is sometimes more conuenient to turne to the left hand, then to the right, therefore this Motion is also vsed; which is to turne towards the left hand, till their faces front to the Reare: according to the figure in the pag. 163.

[illustration]

To the right hand as you were.

HAuing performed the former Motion, the Cap∣taine cōmands them, To the right hand as you were; and then they turne all towards the right hand, vntill their faces are towards the first Front, as in the figure pag. 165.

[illustration]

To the right hand double your Ranckes.

BEcause there will be an occasion sometimes to stren∣gthen the Front; it may one way be done thus: when all in the second Rancke march vp into the first Rancke, to the right or left hand, according to the command (as here to the right hand) and all in the fourth Rancke march vp into the third, and so of the rest, as in the Ex∣ample or Figure, pag. 167. Where you may perceiue by the letters marked with a Starre, that the motion is to the right hand: and the Starres in the second, fourth, sixt, eighth, and tenth Ranckes shew the places from whence they moued: and the figures in the lest flank demonstra∣ting the number of your Ranckes which did moue, being ten Ranckes, as you may perceiue thereby.

[illustration]

Ranckes as you were.

HAuing performed the former motion, the Captaine commands, Ranckes as you were; and then euery one marcheth into his owne place, all at one instant, and so are againe like the forme in the figure, pag. 169.

[illustration]

To the left hand double your Ranckes.

THis Motion differeth nothing in effect from that pag. 167. but that there those that doubled, did it to the right hand of their Leaders, and here they do it to the left hand: which is plaine by the Starres in the Figure, pag. 171.

[illustration]

Ranckes as you were.

THe former motion performed, the Captaine com∣mands, Ranckes as you were; and then euery one that doubled, marcheth into his owne place or Rancke, and so are in forme againe, according to the figure, pag. 173.

[illustration]

BEcause that there was an odde file of musketeares, in either flanke and wing of my former figures, and be∣ing desirous to make the double files perfit without in∣termixing the pikes with the shot, I was forced there∣fore to change the forme of the Company, and to place all the Musketeares in the Right hand flanke of the Pikes, according to the demonstration in the other side marked with the number of 175.

Note then to alter the forme of the former station, and to bring the Company into the forme, set downe in the other side, (as I said before) you are to doe as followeth. First you are to lead forth the Right wing of shot, then the first diuision of Pikes, which be in the right hand flanke of the second diuision of pikes, and march with them to stand iust against the first diuision of musketeares, on the left hand of them, leauing a space to place the se∣cond diuision of shot betweene them both; then you are to march vp with the second diuision of Pikes to stand on the left hand of the first diuision of Pikes: Lastly, the second diuision of Musketeares, marcheth vp to stand on the left hand of the first diuision of Musketeares, which will be on the right hand of the first diuision of Pikes: which done, they are commanded to stand right in their Files, and right in their Rankes, at six foot distance, and commanded silence, that so euery one may heare the words of Command, and to be ready to execute the same. &c.

[illustration]

Front.

Reare.

To the right hand double your files.

BEcause there may be occasion of strengthning the Flankes, as also for other purposes, these words of Command are vsed, To the right hand double your Files; which is thus performed: All the second file, from the right hand, march euery one behinde his side-man, into the first (or right hand) File, and so the fourth File into the third, and the sixt into the fift, &c. which is done of all at one instant after the command is giuen. The order whereof is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 177. In which you may perceiue by the Starres, from, and to what place each man marcheth. The Stars are onely set downe in the first and second Files, but you are to vnderstand the same order in the third and fourth Files, and so of all the rest. &c.

[illustration]

Files as you were.

HAuing performed the former Motion, the Cap∣taine commands them, Files as you were; and then all those which doubled, returne vnto their owne proper places: the which is plainely demonstrated in the Figure marked with 179. by the Starres in the first and second Files, the which order you must conceiue in the third and fourth, fift and sixt, &c.

[illustration]

To the left hand double your files.

THis Motion differeth little from that marked with 177. but that here the Motion is to the left hand, as there it was to the right hand: so that those Files which moued then, stand still now; and those which stood still then, moue now: all which is so plainly demonstrated by the Starres in the figure marked with 181. that it needs no further explanation.

[illustration]

Files as you were.

THe former Motion orderly performed, the Captaine commands, Files as you were; and then those which doubled, returne into their proper places: according as you may plainely vnderstand by the figure pag 183. in which the Starres demonstrate both from what place they come, and whither they march.

[illustration]

HAuing performed the doubling of Files in all points and orders demonstrated in my figures before this, which was done with the shot in the right hand flanke of the pikes: hereafter followeth the exercise in the very same forme and station of the Company where with I began the exercise of training: the which Mus∣ketiers are diuided and placed in both the flankes of the pikes, according to the figure in the next side, pag. 185.

[illustration]

Halfe Files to the right hand double your Ranckes.

IN the figure, pag. 166. was shewed one way how that vpon occasion the Front might be strengthned: here is another forme of strengthning the same; which requi∣reth two demonstrations or Figures for explanation. In the first marked with D. is shewed the manner of acting this Motion; and in the second marked with E. is de∣monstrated the action performed: wherein you may per∣ceiue how the sixt Rancke, or as some improperly call them, middle men, doubleth the first Rancke, the seuenth the second Rancke, the eight the third Rancke, the ninth the fourth Rancke, and the tenth the fift Rancke. Note that in performing this motion, the halfe files of Pikes that doubled, aduance their Pikes till they haue doubled, and then order them.

[illustration]

D

[illustration]

E

Halfe Files as you were.

WHen they haue performed the former Motion, according to the direction, the Captaine com∣mands, Halfe Files as you were; and then the halfe Files aduance their Pikes, and fall backe with their right legge, and so march into their proper places: and then they are againe ten deepe at six foote distance; according to the demonstration pag. 189. Note that in turning into their places, euery one ought to turne to the right hand, which is both easier, and more pleasing to the eye, then turning to the left hand.

[illustration]

Halfe Files to the left hand double your Ranckes.

THis Motion differeth nothing in effect from that before demonstrated in the 187. Figure: the difference onely is, that here the halfe Files which moue, march vp to the left hand of the halfe Files that stand, whereas according to those Figures they marched vp to the right hand of them. The Figures marked pag. 191. make this very plaine.

[illustration]

Halfe Files as you were.

HAuing performed the former Motion, the Cap∣taine commands, Halfe Files as you were; and then the Halfe Files which doubled, aduance their Pikes, and fall backe with their right leg, to be cleare, of their Side∣men, and so march into their proper places, turning into the same towards the left hand: which done, they will be in the forme marked with 193.

[illustration]

Files to the Right hand Counter∣march.

WHen a charge is expected in the Reare, and it be∣ing thought conuenient, to haue the Leaders of files to be in the places of the bringers vp, because they are men best able to receiue the enemie, it may be per∣formed in this manner: The Captaine commands, Files to the right hand Counter-march, and then the Leaders of Files aduancing with their right legge, turne to the right hand, and march downe towards the Reare, all the body of the company mouing together; and so the second rancke, turning as the Front or Leaders of the files did, when they haue marched vp to the place where the front was; and so doth the third, fourth, and fift rankes, &c. The manner whereof is plainely demonstrated in the fi∣gure marked with B. and the figure marked with C. sheweth the motion performed.

[illustration]

B

[illustration]

C

Files to the left hand Counter-march.

THis Motion differeth nothing in vse from the for∣mer; the difference of acting it is onely, that there they aduance with the right legge, and turne to the right hand: and here they aduance with the left legge and turne to the left hand: The manner of doing this is de∣monstrated in the next page marked with G. And the thing done in that marked with H. And therefore needs no further explanation.

[illustration]

G

[illustration]

H

The Postures of the Pike.

• HAndle your Pike.
• Aduance your Pike.
• Shoulder your Pike.
• To the right hand charge.
• As you were.
• To the left hand charge.
• As you were.
• To the Front charge.
• As you were.
• To the Reare charge.
• As you were.
• Aduance your Pike.
• Porte your Pike.
• Comport your Pike.
• Traile your Pike.
• Cheeke your Pike.
• Aduance your Pike.
• To your funerall posture traile your Pike.
• Recouer your Pike.
• Order your Pike.
• Your open order at foote.
• Your close order at foote.
• To the Front charge.
• To the right hand charge.
• To the right hand charge.
• To the right hand charge.
• To the right hand charge.
• Order your Pike.
• Aduance your Pike.
• Lay downe your Pike.
• Take vp your Pike.
• Shoulder your Pike.
• Slope your Pike.
• Leuell your Pike.
• Traile your Pike.
• Recouer your Pike.
• Charge your Pike, and aduance your ground.
• Retreat charging.
• Aduance your Pike.
• Lay downe your Pike.

The Postures of the Musket.

• HAndle your Musket.
• Lay downe your Musket.
• Lay downe your bandeleers.
• Hold your Rest in your left hand.
• Take vp your bandeleers with your right hand.
• Put on your bandeleers.
• Take vp your Musket.
• Bring your Rest to your Musket.
• Open your pann.
• Prime your pann.
• Shut your pann.
• Cast off your loose powder.
• Beare ouer your Musket into your left hand.
• Traile your Rest.
• Charge your Musket.
• Draw forth your skowring stick.
• Short your scowring flick against your right side.
• Ram downe your powder.
• Draw forth your skowring stick.
• Short your skowring sticke.
• Returne your skowring sticke.
• Bring forward your Musket into your right hand.
• Recouer your Rest.
• Poyse your Musket.
• Bring your Rest to the right side of your Musket.
• Beare your Rest and Musket in your left hand.
• Draw your match.
• Blow your match.
• Cock your match.
• Try your match.
• Guard your pann.
• Blow your match.
• Present to the Front.
• Giue fire.
• Take downe your Musket.
• Vncock your match.
• Returne your match.
• Blow your pann.
• Prime your pann.
• Shut your pann.
• Shoulder your Musket carrying your Rest in your left hand.
• Slope your Musket.
• Vnshoulder your Musket.
• Rest your Musket.
• Stand to your saluting Posture.
• Lay downe your Musket.

The first order of exercising Musketiers.

FIrst vnderstand that they are three foote in File and three foote in Rancke, hauing a diuision in the mid∣dest of six foote; then the Captaine bids the two first Ranckes, Make ready, and marcheth with them some fiue or six paces before the rest of the Company, and bids the first Rancke Giue fire; which it doth, and then marcheth away, turning to the right hand, the one halfe marching by the right hand Flancke, and the other halfe through the middest of the body, and so fall euery one into his owne File in the Reare: and then the Captaine com∣mands the second Rancke to giue fire, which performes all as aforesaid; and then two Ranckes more aduance in the former order, and so they may continue discharging with ten Ranckes a long time. The Demonstration pag. 201. makes this very plaine, to which I refer you for spe∣culation. This order is of great vse to winne ground vp∣on an enemie.

[illustration]

The second Order of Exercising Musketiers.

IN the former Demonstration was shewed an Order of winning ground vpon an enemy; in this the con∣trary of loosing ground, or retraiting is shewed, and yet to offend the enemy. The distances and diuision being obserued as in the former Figure, the Captaine in the Reare commands, To the right hand about and giue fire; and then the Rancke in the Reare performes the same, and presently after they march into the Front, euery man into his owne File; the one halfe march on the left hand File, and the other halfe through the middest of the bo∣dy. Then the Captaine commands againe, To the right hand about, and giue fire; which the Rancke then in the Reare performes, as aforesaid, and so forth infinitely: all which in the Demonstration pag. 203. is made plaine and easie.

[illustration]

The thrid Order of exercising Musketiers.

THe whole Company being three foote distant in Files and Ranckes (without any diuision as afore∣said) the Captaine marching in the Front, commands, Right Flanck to the right hand & giue fire; & then the right hand File turneth towards the right hand, and performes the same, and the rest of the body continues marching till they be cleare of that File which gaue fire: and then the Captaine commands againe as before; which the then right File performes, the rest of the body marching: and so in like manner, till all the Files haue discharged. The order hereof is demonstrated pag. 205. If there be oc∣casion to discharge on the left hand Flancke, the same or∣der is to be obserued as on the right hand Flancke. Note that when the second File hath discharged, that then the first File marcheth vp to Front with it: and both those with the third File when it hath discharged, and so forth till all front with the last File: and then they are ready to discharge againe, if occasion require.

[illustration]

The fourth Order of Exercising Muskettieres.

THis fourth way in vse, is all one with the third order; the difference is onely in the manner of performing the same; for according to this order the depth of the Company is diuided by making the fift and sixt Ranckes sixe foote distance each from other. The Captaine mar∣ching in the Front, commands, Right Flancke to the right hand and giue fire, which the right File doth; and then halfe thereof march through the Diuision, and the other halfe in the Reare, and so march on the left hand of the left hand Flancke, euery man into his owne Rancke: the order whereof is plainly demonstrated in the Figure marked pag. 207.

[illustration]

The fift Order of Exercising Muskettieres.

THis Order is another kinde of loosing ground; the Captaine in the Front commands, Make ready alto∣gether, and then saith to the first Rancke, giue fire: which done, the one halfe of that Rancke marcheth downe into the Reare, on the right hand of the right hand Flancke, and the other halfe through the midst of the body (which for that end is diuided) euery man falling into his owne File. Then the Captaine saith likewise to the second Rancke, Giue fire, which it doth, and fals into the Reare, as the first did, and so the third, fourth, fift, &c. The manner whereof is demonstrated in the Figure marked with 209. Note that here the whole body stands still, and are onely in motion by particular Ranckes, when they haue discharged, till they come againe into their proper Files in the Reare, and then stand still againe, till they haue redischarged.

[illustration]

Close your Files both waies at a foote and halfe.

IF a charge of Horse be expected, then the foote are to be in the closest order; which is one foote and a halfe in Rancke, and three foote in File. The words of com∣mand for closing Files are diuers; as Close your Files to the right hand: or, Close your Files to the left hand: or, Close your Files both waies: the last whereof is most com∣monly vsed, and therefore I haue demonstrated that or∣der, as you may perceiue in the Figure marked pag. 211.

Note also, that because I desired to obserue the di∣stances precisely in all the Figures, that therefore the Printer was forced to change the Letters in this and some other Figures, and in steed of M. for Muskettiere, hath placed S. for Shot: which I thought good to giue notice of for thy better vnderstanding.

[illustration]

Close your Ranckes at three foote.

THe Files being closed, at a foote and halfe demon∣strated in the Figure marked in pag. 211 the Captaine then commands, Close your Ranckes at three foote, or, at Swords point; which is the closest order for Ranckes: the which is plainly demonstrated in the Figure marked in pag. 213.

[illustration]

To the right hand, wheele.

VPon occasion of the Enemies charge on the right hand Flancke, to receiue him with the most able men, which are vsually in the Front; it may be perfor∣med by commanding them, To the right hand wheele; and then the Leader of the right hand File standeth fixed, onely turning his body, and all the rest moue vpon him as the centre: according to the Demonstration pag. 215. Note that the Officers must be very carefull to command and see them to keepe their distances in Rancke and File, without which, this Motion will not bee gracefully acted.

[illustration]

To the left hand, wheele.

THis Motion differeth from the former pag. 215 only in this; that here the Leader of the left hand File standeth fixed, as there the Leader of the right hand File did: which by the forme of the Demonstration marked with A. you may easily vnderstand.

THere is another way which I haue seene Graue Mau∣rice his guard to wheele, viz. to moue vpon the middle of the Front, and then if they wheele to the right hand, All to the right hand of the middle of the Front go backwards, and the rest forward: and if they wheele to the left hand, then all to the left hand of the middle of the Front goe backwards, and the rest forwards. All which is most plainely vnderstood by obseruing the De∣monstration marked with B. In which and the two for∣mer Figures is a Starre placed neere the centre, on which the Company moues.

[illustration]

A

[illustration]

B

Open your Ranckes backwards.

TO open the Ranckes, vnderstand that the Front or first Rancke standeth still, and the other nine Rancks fall backwards altogither, till the second Rancke be six foote distant from the Front, and then it stands still, and the rest of the body moues till the third Rancke be six foote distant from the second Rancke, and so till the fourth Rancke be distant six foote from the third, and all the rest of the Ranckes in order. The manner whereof I haue demonstrated in the Figure marked M. and the thing done in the Figure marked N.

[illustration]

M

[illustration]

N

Open your Files both wayes.

IN opening the Files, halfe the body moues towards the right hand, and the other halfe towards the left hand, in grosse; and then the two middle-most Files when they are 6 foote distant, stand still, & the rest of the body continues mouing both wayes, till the next two Files are distant six foote from the former which stood still: and so the Motion continues in this order till all the Files haue taken their distance of six foote each from other. The manner whereof is demonstrated in the Fi∣gure marked with E. and the thing done in the Figure marked with F.

Thus much for the manner of exercising footemen, fully performed, after the right order and moderne vse of Theoricke Rules, accustomed in these dayes.

Now lastly you are to lead forth your souldiers by fiue and fiue in Rancke, in like order as is set downe in the Figure of the order how a Company should march. Note that the Captaine marching out of the field, most commonly doth march in the Reare of his Company, and his Lieutenant in the Front, the rest of the Officers are to march in like order as is demonstrated in the order of march, except you do troope out of the Field; for then you are to alter &c. howsoeuer you are to conduct the Colours to the place where they are to be laid vp, where hauing made a guard, the Captaine and his Officers re∣pairing to the Colours, being within the said guard, and towards the Front, he saith to the Drum or Drums, Beat vp a discharge, which being done, (with sometimes a vol∣ley of shot giuen) and the Colours wrapped and folded vp, euery man departs to his home. &c.

[illustration]

E

[illustration]

F