The yong [sic] souldier

Author: Raynsford, John.1642

THE YONG Souldier:

London, Printed by J R. for Joseph Hunscott. 1642.

To the Right Honourable, and his endeared good Colonell, WILLIAM, Lord Viscount SAY and SEAL, Master of the Court of Wards, and one of His Majesties most Honorable Privy Councell.

RIght Honourable, Having this last yeere wanted Action in the Field, Mars (not willing to see His sonnes want imployment) makes me one of his Tutors to direct His Youth, and being now commanded to leave the Schoole, and lead my youth to Field, have, (for the helpe of their Memory) written a Copy of what I formerly taught them, which I call The yong Souldier) it being a Work, though very small, yet very necessary both for the present and future times.

Having been lately presented to your Honour, from whom I received a place of Souldier and Servant to Command your Honours Company, I am enboldned to present this small Work, humbly desiring your acceptance and View: For which your kinde Favours I shall endeavour to instruct your Souldiers in the right use of their Armes, Distances, Motions and Firings, (so long as I live under your Command) Thus, hoping your Honour will pardon the boldnesse of a Souldier, which knowes better the postures and use of the Pike than the Pen, I rest in hope of your Honours acceptance and favourable Construction, by which you shall ever obliege

Your Honours unworthy Cap. Lievtenant, John Raynsford.

[Page]

Words of Command, and other Rules and Orders to be observed by all the Captaines of Horse-Troops, and their Officers, within the Army, in the Exercising and Government of their severall Troops.

FOr the Horse, the Captain is to teach his Troop, (by his Trumpetter) these sixe severall sounds,

1 The Watch,
2 To Saddle,
3 To Horse
4 A March,
5 A Charge,
6 A Retreat.

THe Horse are to be foure deepe, and so, well mounted, brought to a Body in their Close Order, and Armed: The Cuirassiers, with Gorget, Back, Brest, Culottes, Cuisses, Pouldrons, Vambrace, Gantlet, Casque, a Case of good Pistolls, and a good Sword; And the Carabines, with Gorget, Back, Brest, Round Tasses, Head-piece, Carabine, the Barrell two Foot seven Inches long, hung in a strong Belt, a Case of good Pistolls, and a good Sword.

The words of Command to be used in exercising them, are as follow:

Silence.
Stand right in your Ranks, stand right in your Files.
This must always be downwards.
Ranks open to six foot.
Files to the Right hand, open to six foot.
To the Left hand.
To the Right hand.
When you are commanded to be as you were, you are ever to return by the contrary hand.
As you were.
To the Right hand, about.
As you were.
To the Left hand, close.
Files to the Left hand, open to six Foot.
To the Right hand.
To the Left hand.
As you were.
To the Left hand, about.
As you were.
[Page]To the Right hand, close:
Files to the Right and Left hand, open to six Foot.
To the Right and Left hand to your Leader.
Files to the Right hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the left hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the Right hand, Counter-march.
To the Left hand, about.

Thus, it is to be observed, That the fourth Rank which before was the Rear, now becomes the Front; and the Front, the Rear. And then to the intent that the whole Troop may be (as occasion shall be offered able, and knowing to lead their Files, and take their just Distance [...], as well as onely to follow, according to the Motions of the first Rank the Captain shall exercise them over again, in this manner:

And to the intent the second and third Ranks nay know how to lead, as well as the Front, and Rear; the Captain, or his Officer, when he begins to exercise them, shall do well, sometimes to put the second Rank in the Front, and the third Ranke in the Rear. So shal he make every man in the Troop not onely more ready to follow, but able also to be the Leader of his File.
To the Right and Left hand, close from the Center.
As you were.
To the Right hand.
As you were.
To the Right hand, about.
As you were.
To the Left hand, about.
As you were.
Files to the Right hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the Left hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the Left hand, Counter-march.
Now is your Front the same it was at first.
To the Right hand, about.
To the Right and Left hand, close to the Center.
[Page]
It is to be observed, That upon closing of Ranks, they are to take their Distance within three foot at least, and in Marching, not to be above six soot in Distance at most.
Ranks, close up to your order.
To the Right hand, Wheel.
To the left hand, Wheel.
To the right hand about, Wheel.
To the left hand about, Wheel.
Ranks open to six foot.

It will be fit for the Captains in all exercises of their Troops, to accustome their Horse-men to Drums, Colours, naked Swords, and to give fire one upon another; the Cuirassiers in Files, the Carabins in Ranks, and both of them in Body, as well upon the Foot, as upon one another, to the intent they may the better understand what they have to do, and their Horse made more bold upon all occasions of Service.

Orders to be observed in Marching of a Troop of Horse.

FIrst, the Ledd horse of the Captain.

Next the Trumpets.

Then the Captain.

After whom marcheth the first Squadron, the eldest Corporall marching on the right hand thereof, even with the first Rank.

Then the second, having the Standard in the Middle of the first Rank, the second Corporall leading it.

The third Squadron marcheth next, the yongest Corporall leading it.

In the Rear marcheth the Lievtenant and the Quarter-Master.

When the Troop is embattelled, the eldest Corporall marcheth on the right hand Flank, even with the first Rank, moving neverthelesse upon the Flank, to look to the orderly marching of the Ranks, as occasion shall serve.

The second, in like manner, on the left hand Flank.

The third marcheth on the left hand Flank of his own Corporallship, even with the last Rank thereof.

If there be any Servants or Baggage, they, or it, march in the Rear of all.

The Captain of Foot is to teach his Souldiers these sixe once a day, till they are perfect in knowing them.

1. A Call.
2. A March.
3. A Charge
4. A Retreat.
5. A Troop.
6. An Alarum.

[Page]

These 3 Figures or Formes following, are to practise the Foot Company before the words of Command be taught.

The 1. Figure. The maner of Marching of a Company.

The 2 Figure The way and manner to bring them to a Body in their 4. Divisions.

[Page]

3 Figure. The Company standing in a compleat Body to be exercised.

Words of Command, and other Rules and Orders to be observed by all the Captains of Foot-Companies, and other Officers within the Army, in exercising and government of their severall Companies.

Because the measure of the said Distances cannot be taken so justly by the eye, we take the Distance of six foot between File and File, by commanding the Souldiers as they stand, to stretch forth their armes, and so stand so removed one from another, that their hands may meet. And for their Ranks, we make account we take the same Distance of six foot, when the Butt-end of the Pikes do alway reach their heels that march before them.FIrst of all, It is to be understood, There are three sorts of Distances, to wit, Open Order, and Close Order. The first Distance is commanded by this Word, To your Open Order; and is, when the Souldiers, both in Rank and File, stand six foot removed one from another.

[Page]

We take the second Order of Distance of three foot between File and File, by bidding the Souldiers set their arms a Kenbow, and set themselves so close, that their elbows may meet And we reckon we take the same Distance in Ranks, when they come up almost to the Swords point.The second distance is commanded by this word, To your Order, which is, when the Souldiers stand three foot removed, both in Rank and File, one from another. And this Distance is to be used when they are embattelled, or march in the face of the enemy, or when they come to stand, or when you wheel. But when you march thorow any Countrey, you must observe three foot only from File to File, and Six from Rank to Rank.

The third Distance is commanded by this word Close, which is, when there is one foot and an half from File to File, and three from Rank to Rank. And this for the Pikes onely, and must never be used, but when you will stand firm to receive the Charge of an enemy.

The Musquettiers must never be closer then the second Distance, of three foot Square, because they are to have a free use of their Arms.

In exercising your Motions, you are alwayes to observe your Open Order, in which the Company being first placed, and armed, the Pike-men with Gorger, Back, Brest, Tasses, Head-piece, a good Sword, and a Pike sixteen foot and a half long, with a good Steel head; The Musquettiers, with Sword, Bandoleers, Rest and Musquet, the Barrell whereof to be four foot two inches long, of a Bore to receive twelve Bullets to the pound running, and ten rammed down: You are to exercise them with these words of Command:

Silence.
Stand right in your Files.
Stand right in your Ranks.
To the right hand.
It is to be noted, when you are comanded to be, as you were, you are ever to return by the contrary hand; as for example, if you did turn to the right hand, you are to return as you were, to the left hand. and so in the rest.
As you were.
To the left hand.
As you were.
To the right hand, about.
As you were.
To the left hand, about.
As you were.
Ranks to the Right hand, double.
As you were.
[Page 9]Ranks to the Left hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the Right hand, double.
As you were.
Files to the Left hand, double.
As you were.
Half Files to the Right hand, double your Front.
As you were.
Half Files to the Left hand, double your Front.
As you were.
Ranks to the Right or Left hand,
In Counter-marching, though both are set down here for Distinction sake, you are to name neither Ranks nor Files, but are onely to lay, To the Right hand Counter-march; Or, To the Left hand Counter-march.
Counter-march.
To the Right or Left hand, as you were.
Files to the Right or Left hand, Counter-march.
To the Right or Left hand, As you were.

When you will Exercise a Company Single, you Double your Ranks, before you Wheel, in regard the Body is small. But in Division, or a Greater Body, you Close first, both your Files, and your Ranks, to your Order of Three foot, and omit the Doubling, and so Wheel. When you will Wheel to the Right hand, double your Ranks to the Left hand, and when you will Wheel to the Left hand, Double your Ranks to the Right. For so the Right and Left hand Leaders will keep their places on that Corner, towards which they Wheel.Before you Wheel:—

Ranks to the Right or Left hand, Double.
Files to the Right or Left hand, close to your Order.
Files to the Middle, Close to your Order.
Ranks Close to your Order.
Which you list, and each as often as you list.
To the Right hand, Wheel
To the Left hand, Wheel
Or Wheel about.

[Page 10]

This maner of opening, is used only in a Single Company; for in Greater Bodies, where the Doubling is omitted, you open first your Ranks, and then your Files, to your Open Order of Six foot, to bring them back again as they were. By double Distance is meant 12 foot, for so the Ranks which did before Double, falling out again into their first places, come just to the Distance of their open Order of 6. foot in which they were before they Doubled.After you have wheeled:

Ranks backward, open in double Distance.
Files open to your Order, viz. to Three foot.
Ranks as you were.

In Opening Ranks, or Files, you must make all the Files, or Ranks (saving the uttermost on that hand, from whence you mean to open, which must Stand) to Move all together, till the Second Rank, or File, from that which Standeth, hath gotten its Distance, and so subsequently the rest.

If you will have them Close their Files to the Right, or Left hand, the uttermost File on that hand you purpose to Close, must be commanded to Stand, and all the rest to Close to it.

For the Pike.

When Pikemen are to double Ranks, or Files, or to use any other Motion, they are ever first to be commanded to advance their Pikes.
ADvance your Pike
Order your Pike.
Shoulder your Pike.
Port your Pike.
Shoulder your Pike.
Trail your Pike.
Check your Pike.
In Charging, half the Ranks onely must Charge their Pikes, the other hindermost half of the Ranks do Port their Pikes, that is, they carry them so couched over the heads of the foremost, as may give them no offence, either in Charging, or Retiring: Besides, this way the Pikes are not so apt to be broken by the Short of the Enemy, as when they are Advanced. All these Motions, except Ordering and Checking, are to be performed, either Standing or Marching: And they must likewise observe, when they Charge Standing, to fall back with the Right leg, and Marching to step forward with the left.
Charge your Pike.
Shoulder your Pike.
Charge to the Right,
or Left hand, or Rear.
Order your Pike.

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For the particular use of the Musquet.

PLace your Musquet, and Rest to the ground, in either hand.
Slip down your hand, and take your Musquet, and Rest, in either hand from the Ground.
Bring your Rest to your Musquet.
Peize your Musquet, and hold your Rest in the other hand.
Rest your Musquet.
Take out your Match.
Blow your Match.
Cock your Match.
Try your Match.
Guard your Pan.
Blow.
Open your Pan.
Present.
Give Fire.
Come up to your Musquet.
Return your Match.
Cleer your Pan.
Prime.
Shut your Pan.
Cast off.
Take up your Rest.
Blow.
Cast about.
Trail your Rest.
Open your Charger.
Charge with Powder and Bullet.
Take out your Scowrer.
Shorten your Scowrer.
Ram down your Bullet and powder.
Pull out your Scowrer.
Shorten your Scowrer to a handfull.
Return your Scowrer.
Recover your Musquet.
Peize your Musquet, and Recover your Rest.
Shoulder your Musquet, and with your Musquet carry your Rest.
Slip your Musquet.
Peize your Musquet.
Joyn your Rest to your Musquet.
Take out your Match.
Blow your Match.
Cock your Match.
Try your Match.
Guard your Pan.
Blow.
Open your Pan.
Present.
Give Fire.
Take up your Rest, and Musquet, and joyn them.
Return your Match.
Cleer your Pan.
Prime your Pan.
Shut your Pan.
Cast off.
Blow.
Cast about.
Trail your Rest.
Open your Charger.
Charge with Powder and Bullet.
[Page 12]Take out your Scowrer.
Shorten your Scowrer.
Ram down your Bullet and Powder.
Pull out your Scowrer.
Shorten your Scowrer to a handfull.
Return your Scowrer.
Recover your Musquet.
Peize your Musquet, and Recover your Rest.
Shoulder your Musquet, and with your Musquet carry your Rest.
Slope your Musquet.
March.

In Exercising, use these three Terms of Direction.

Make Ready.
Present.
Give Fire.

Your Musquetiers must observe in all their Motions, to turn to the Right hand. And that they carry the mouth of their Pieces high, when they are shoulder'd, when they are Priming, when they Cast about, and also when they hold their Pans guarded, and come up to Give Fire.

In Advancing towards an Enemie, when they do not skirmish Loose and Disbanded, they mustThe Right and Left Wing in all occasions of Giving Fire by Ranks, are to have a principall Respect to the Pikes, to make their Front equall with them, and to take their distances from them accordingly as when they stood first in Battell; And this may be the more certainly done, if the Ranks of the Right Wing take their Distances from the Pikes, by observing the Left hand man, as the Ranks of the Left Wing do by observing the Right hand man. Give Fire by Ranks, after this manner following.

TWo Ranks must alwayes make ready together, and with aWho is to March Even with the Left hand man of the first Rank. Sergeant (or, if the Body be greater, with some better qualified Officer) Advance ten Paces forwards before the Body, viz. The first Rank is to Advance eight Paces, the second Rank six Paces, coming on with their Right Legs first, and there Stand: When the Officer bids them Present, the first of the two Ranks advanceth two full Paces, moving with the Right Leg first, and Layes on; The second Rank following them with two Paces in like manner, keeping their Musquets close to their Rests, their [Page 13]Pans guarded, and their first Rank having Given Fire, and falling off to the Rear; The second being bid to Present, Advanceth in like manner two full Paces, Presents, Gives Fire, and falls off as the former.

When the two first Ranks Advance forward as aforesaid, the two next Ranks (the whole Wing moving after them) March up into their places, and keeping Even with the two first Ranks of the Pikes, unshoulder, and make ready; And as soon as the two former Ranks are fallen away, they are to Advance, and to do in all points as aforesaid; And so all the other Ranks successively, two after two, thorow both the Wings.

A manner, there is, to Give Fire retiring from an Enemy, which is performed after this sort.

THe whole Body, being turned from the Enemy to the Right or Left hand about, the Rank then in the Rear, keeping still with the Body, maketh ready; and being ready, the whole Rank turn about to the Right hand, and stepping forward each with the Left leg, Present, and Give Fire, marching presently away, a good round pace to the Front, and there, placing themselves in Rank before the Front, fall even in their march with the first Rank of the Pikes. As soon as that Rank in the Rear as aforesaid, turns to Give Fire, the Rank next it makes ready, and doth as the former, and so the rest.

We Give Fire by Flanks thus:

THe Uttermost File next the Enemy, must be commanded to make Ready, keeping still along with the Body, till such time as they be ready, and then they return to the Right or Left hand, (according to the sight of their Enemy, either upon their Right or Left Flank) and Give Fire all together, when they have discharged, they stir not, but keep their ground, and Charge their Pieces again, in the same place they stand. Now as soon as the aforesaid File doth turn to Give Fire, the uttermost next it makes ready, alwayes keeping along with the Body, till the bringer up be past a little beyond the Leader of that File, that Gave Fire last, and then the whole File must Turn, and Give Fire, and do in all points, as the first did, and so all the rest, one after the other. A Sergeant, or (if the Body be [Page 14]Great) some other better qualified Officer must stand at the head of the first File, and as soon as the second File hath Given Fire, and hath Charged, he is to lead forward the first File, up to the second File, and so to the rest, one after another, till he hath gathered up again the whole Wing, and then he is to joyn them again in Equall Fronts with the Pikes.

Last of all, the Body, or whole Wing of Musquetiers, make ready all together upon their Rests, and the first Rank falling back two steps, Gives Fire, and speedily, as it may, yet orderly, falls away. All the Ranks doing the same successively, one after another.

And we do especially Require all Captains of Foot, in Exercising their Companies, to accustome their Musquetiers, to Give Fire, according to all these severall manners before prescribed.

Orders to be observed in the Marching of one single Company, or of many joyned together in one Body.

WHen a Regiment is drawn into Battell, the Officers shall be thus placed. It being first understood that the Coronell, Lieutenant Coronell, and Sergeant Major, are to be on Horseback, only they are to alight when they Marrh by the Generall.

The Coronell is to March in the Front of the middle of the Pikes.

The Lieutenant Coronell in the Reare of the Pikes.

The Sergeant Major a little behind the Coronell, on his left hand; from him to receive Orders, and to Move accordingly as the occasion is offered.

The First Captain marcheth in the Head of the Pikes.

The Second Captain in the Reare of the Pikes.

The Third Captain in the Front of the Right Wing of Musquetiers.

The Fourth Captain in the Rear of the Left Wing of Musquetiers.

The Fifth Captain in the Front of the Left Wing of Musquetiers.

The Sixt Captain in the Reare of the Right Wing of Musquetiers.

The Seventh Captain in the Front of the second Division of Pikes.

The Eight Captain in the Rear of the second Division of Pikes.

[Page 15]

In case there be not a full number of Captains, then these places are to be supplied, for the time, by the Lieutenants, according to the Seigniority of their Captains; And where the number of Captains is full, in that case the Lieutenants are to march, and serve with their own Captains.

But it is to be observed that when the Regiment marcheth; then the place of the Coronell is in the Van of the Right wing of Musquetiers.

The Lieutenant Coronell in the Rear of the left wing of Musquetiers.

The Sergeant Major neer the Coronell, as before.

The other Captains keep their places.

And if the Regiment be put into two Divisions; The Coronell leads the first, and the Lieutenant Coronell the second: If put into three Divisions, then the Sergeant Major leads the third. The Captains and Lieutenants to be placed according to their severall Antiquities, respectively, as aforesaid.

When a Regiment marcheth, half of the Musquetiers shall march before, and the other half in the Rear of the Pikes, marching at least ten in Front, if the ground afford it.

The Officer who leads the Regiment, shall not be above six foot before the first Ranke of the same; and he that marcheth in the Reare of any part, or division of the Regiment, shall not likewise be further than six foot, behind the last Ranke of those which march before him.

If the Regiment be divided, the second division shall march within ten paces of the last rank of the first division.

If one Regiment march after another, the distance is to be eighteen paces, to wit, six foot for the Officer that marcheth in the Reare of the former Regiment, six foot for the Officer that leads the Front of the next Regiment; and the rest of the space to be left between those Officers.

The distance of the Van, Battell, and reare of the whole Army in marching, is to be behind one another twenty five paces, where the ground affords it; the Regiment shall march close, and in one Body, the Files three foot, the ranks six foot, in distance one from another.

Between every five Files of musquetiers at the most, and three Files at least, there shall be left a space of six foot.

[Page 16]

When the Regiment stands in Battell, being ready to fight, the distance betwixt ranks shall be brought to three foot, as also the Files of musquetiers, but the Files of Pikes are to stand at a foot and a halfe.

If the Regiment consists of two divisions, each division shall stand in Battle, fifty foot distance one from the other.

All the Captains and other Officers of the Army, in all their marchings, whether it be in single companies, in divisions, or Regiments, to take care, that all the Souldiers of that company, Division, or Regiment, move together, as well reare, as Front, observing their due distances.

All Troops and Companies, marching either in greater or lesser Bodies, respectively, shall not onely take care their Files and Ranks keep their true distance, and move equally, even, and together; but in case the Files fall off too much one from another, to either hand, the Souldiers are to be instructed to recover their true ground and distance, not all at once, but by degrees in their march, insensibly, closing to either hand, as there is occasion: Likewise for the Ranks, those which finde themselves to be behind, by marching a little faster, must set themselves even with their Right hand man, and if they find themselves before, must by the slownesse of their march, take up their Right hand man even to them, but not to do it by standing still, and lesse by falling back; for so their own disorder doth not only appeare the more, but they likewise fall foule upon the Ranks behind them.

FINIS.

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