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CHAP. III. A Rule to set Souldiers in aray.
THe Footmen being assembled at the place where they are to be set in aray: First, you must foresee, that the ground be fit and capable for the purpose, that the aray may commodiously turne to the right or left hand, as much as may be neuerthelesse, according to the number of soldiers you haue, you are to proceed in this sort as followeth.
First, to wit that all the soldiers of a band of foot∣men are bound by the law of Armes, forthwith and as soone as they shall heare the Drum beat a Call to repaire to the Colours, vnder paine &c. except that sicknes be the cause thereof; or that hauing a licence or forelofe they may thereby excuse themselues. But to returne: you are to begin in this order following: First, you are to draw the pikes by themselues on the one side, togither with the Ensigne: and vpon the other side all the muske∣tiers, somewhat aloofe distant from the pikes, beginning to make the musketiers march so many in a ranke as you list, parting them neuerthelesse according to their num∣ber: you may put them from 3 to 12 in a ranke; for it is not often seene that more than 11 is put in a ranke, how great soeuer the number of the footmen be: neither in troth ought they to be any more than 11 in a ranke: for when they passe 11 or 12 they are not to be accoun∣ted an array, but rather a battaile: I haue omitted to write herein of the placing of my officers belonging to a com∣pany of footmen, you shall finde it plainely set downe in the march, and at the beginning of the exercise of