THE SOLDIER'S DISCIPLINE, FROM A BROADSIDE OF THE YEAR 1642.
"The Grounds of Military Discipline: or, Certain Brief Rules for the Exercising of a Company or Squadron.
Observed by all.
In march, in motion, troop or stand,
Observe both leader and right hand;
With silence note in what degree
You in the body placed be:
That so you may, without more trouble,
Know where to stand, and when to double.
Distances.
True distance keep in files, in ranks
Open close to the front, reare, flanks,
Backward, forward, to the right, left, or either,
Backward and forward both together.
To the right, left, outward or in,
According to directions given.
To order, close, open, double,
Distance, distance, double, double:
For this alone prevents distraction,
And giveth lustre to the action.
Facings.
Face to the right, or to the left, both wayes to the reare,
Inward, outward, and as you were:
To the front, reare, flanks, and peradventure
To every angle, and to the centre.
Doublings.
To bring more hands in the front to fight,
Double ranks unto the right,
Or left, or both, if need require,
Direct divisionall or intire:
By doubling files accordingly,
Your flanks will strengthened be thereby.
Halfe files and bringers-up likewise
To the front may double, none denies;
Nor would it very strange appear
For th' front half files or double the reare:
The one half ranks to double the other,
Thereby to strengthen one the other.
Countermarches.
But lest I should seen troublesome,
To countermarches next I come.
Which, though they many seem to be,
Are all included in these three:
Maintaining, gaining, losing ground,
And severall wayes to each is found:
By which their proper motion's guided,
In files, in ranks, in both divided.
Wheeling.
Wheel your batten ere you fight,
For better advantage to the right,
Or left, or round about
To either angle, or where you doubt
Your enemie will first oppose you;
And therefore unto their Foot close you.
Divisionall wheeling I have seen
In sundrie places practis'd been,
To alter either form or figure,
By wheeling severall wayes together.
And, had I time to stand upon 't,
I'de wheele my wings into the front.
By wheeling flanks into the reare,
They'll soon reduce them as they were.
Besides, it seems a pretty thing
To wheel, front, and reare to either wing:
Wheele both wings to the reare and front;
Face to the reare, and having done 't,
Close your divisions; even your ranks,
Wheel front and reare into both flanks:
And thus much know, cause, note I'll smother,
To one wheeling doth reduce the other.
Conversion and Inversion.
One thing more and I have done;
Let files rank by conversion:
To th' right, or th' left, to both, and then
Ranks by conversion fill again:
Troop for the colours, march, prepare for fight,
Behave yourselves like men, and so good night.
The summe of all that hath been spoken may be comprised thus:
Open, close, face, double, countermarch, wheel, charge, retire;
Invert, convert, reduce, trope, march, make readie, fire."
Anon.