Militarie instructions, or the souldier tried for the vse, of the dragon, being a part of cavalrie, for fierings, on horsback, as the harquebusier, & on foote, as infantry, very necessary for such as desier to be studious, in the way of the art militarie. / Never before published, by any, and now set forth by Captaine Nathaniell Burt. Burt, Nathaniel, fl. 1644-1655. 1644 Approx. 9 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A78014 Wing B6144 Thomason 669.f.10[9] ESTC R210291 99869103 99869103 162550

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A78014) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162550) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f10[9]) Militarie instructions, or the souldier tried for the vse, of the dragon, being a part of cavalrie, for fierings, on horsback, as the harquebusier, & on foote, as infantry, very necessary for such as desier to be studious, in the way of the art militarie. / Never before published, by any, and now set forth by Captaine Nathaniell Burt. Burt, Nathaniel, fl. 1644-1655. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. s.n., [London : 1644] Engraved caption title. Dated at end: From the Hermit at Wapping, June 5. 1644. Reproduction of the original in the British Library.

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 eng Military art and sciences -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2008-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-12 Sampled and proofread 2008-12 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
Militarie Instructions, or the Souldier tried, for the Ʋſe, of the Dragon, Being A part of Cavalrie, for fierings, on Horſback, as the Harquebuſier, & on foote, as Infaritry, very neceſſary for ſuch as deſier to be ſtudious, in the waye of the Art militarie, never before publiſhed, by any, and now ſet forth by Captaine Nathaniell Burt
Fellow-Souldiers,

For the marching poſtures of the Dragoone, they are like the 23. and 24. Figures in the Booke of Cavalrie; I could wiſh they might have Snap-hances on their Muſkets; then the poſtures mentioned at the end of the 30. Chapter would ſerve them on horſe-backe, to make ready. I hope there is no Musketier that is any part a poſture man, but will finde way to make uſe of it, on horſe-backe, although to fire on horſe-backe is not ſo fully knowne. HAving upon ſome occaſions viewed and looked upon ſome part of the Booke of Military Inſtructions for the Cavalry, &c. and finding it to ſpeake ſo diſreſpectively of the Books of Infantrie, without exceptions, and for that he ſaith, the Dragoone, or Muſquetier, muſt exerciſe himſelfe to give fire on hotſe-back, as the Harquebuſier, &c. as you may read in his 31. Cap. pag. 44. and yet leaveth him to be directed therein, by the Infantry, I ſhall here take occaſion to ſpeake ſomewhat for the complete and perfect method of the Young Artillerie Man, ſet forth by my honoured fellow-ſouldier and acquaintance, Lievt. Colonell Barriffe, which for its ſufficiency, and plainnneſſe, to ſpeak truly, I think as yet unparalleld in any language, which being perfectly apprehended and underſtood, will furniſh the Partie that ſhall underſtand it, in the Rudiments (God giving him courage to performe and act it ſufficiently) in moſt things. But I would intreat all ſouldiers to make uſe of, and ſtore up experimentall (a) I am perſwaded there be many that have beene abroad have growne little in experience or valour, onely in pride and covetouſneſſe, to defraud: and I dare boldly ſay, ſuch will never be ſouldiers, &c. knowledge: for as this war differeth much from other warres, ſo doth the ſeverall skirmiſhings, and occaſions (therein:) and reſolution goeth very farre in it, ſo it be grounded upon judgment, and produceth many faire effects, through Gods bleſſing.

For the exerciſe of the Dragoone, firing on horſe-back, I will recite ſomewhat, I have ſeen, though in a more confuſed manner and way, and give ſome directions to performe the ſame.

Suppoſe the enemy retreating, and their horſe facing while they draw off their great guns, and baggage, marching away with their Infantry, they loſing ground, retreat entire, together, with their Cornets on the head of their Troups, they being on a hill, having a deep and dangerous dale, to friend, fit to lay Ambuſcadoes in, beſides the night approaching to help them, &c.

Here Dragoones may do better ſervice, firing on horſe-back, then the Curaſier, the way being dubitable, &c. by advancing ſlowly after them, following them about musket ſhot, the Curaſier being withing ſuch diſtance as is needfull, to relieve them, if that the enemy ſhould ſeeme to charge, or attempt it: for the better performance thereof, they are to fire by (b)

Firſt, firing of the Muſketier on horſe-backe by introduction, which I am of opinion is not overbalanced with danger, but the propereſt, one of them upon ſuch an occaſion: but I leave it to the judgement of others, according to my requeſt at the end, &c.

The ſecond firing of the Musketier on horſe-backe.

3. The Dragoone to fire on foot, if that he ſhall ſee occaſion, and after fire given, to mount, &c.

4. The Dragoone ſervice in a ſiege, and how he is to behave himſelfe, and to fire, &c.

introduction, on horſe-back; which is a paſſing through, or between the Files, the files being at open Order: the firſt rank having given fire, by the Commanders direction, let the bringer-up paſſe through the Files, which is commonly to the left, placing themſelves before their Leaders, in the Front, and then giving fire, the reſt of the Ranks acting the ſame ſucceſſively, till ſuch time as they ſhall receive Order to the contrary, or to cloſe their Files. I am loath to forme their place of march upon ſuch occaſions, but the Van, or Flanks, is moſt advantagious, and neceſſary for them, becauſe from thence they can command, and ſend fartheſt, and make the beſt uſe, to line the hedges, or to beat up their Ambuſcadoes, if need require: but not knowing the ſcituation of the place, or the forme of the enemy, which they may purſue, I leave it to the wiſdome of the Commander, &c.

Secondly, a party of Dragoones may fire retreating, on horſe-back, and do good execution, they riding ſuch a pace, as their occaſion requireth, or the ground will permit, the laſt rank ſomtimes facing about, and firing upon the enemie, then wheeling off to the right, or left, as the ground beſt affords. I would adviſe them (herein) to keep their Files cloſe, and place themſelves before their Leaders in the Front, till they receive order to the contrary. The Dragoons having been ſent forth for the taking ſome bridge, or ſtopping ſome paſſage, the enemy having poſſeſſed himſelfe of it before them, and advancing towards their Quarters, whether in field or garriſon, and being too ſtrong for them to encounter with, having retreated as before to their Quarters, or ſome place of advantage, where they may ſecure their horſes in the way, they being acquainted therwith before, and what Scouts the enemy hath out, may give the enemy an unexpected volley of ſhot from ſome ſecret and unexpected place, which may offer it ſelfe to their view, which having performed, to mount ſuddenly againe, for better and ſooner expedition, &c.

For ſervice to be performed by the Dragoone in a Siege, it is commonly on Foot, wherefore I leave the direction thereof in firings to the ſeverall and ſpeciall occaſions, as they ſhall ariſe, and their Commanders give directions, further certifying, that by the skilfull, and truly valiant, it is ſooner formed in field, then deſcribed by the pen, onely finding the Cavalrie Booke ſo full of good language and learning, and the Dragoon, being made a part thereof, and left to anothers direction, I could do no leſſe then vindicate my deceaſed fellow-ſouldiers book, ut ſupra. And as a teſtimony of my love to the School of War I was bred in, and my reall and hearty affections to my Countrey, offer this my mite into the Treaſurie, with my humble prayers to the Almighty, to convert us all unto him in his good time, and to ſend peace in this diſtracted Kingdome, &c.

From the Hermit at Wapping, June 5. 1644. Postſcript.

Gentle Reader, accept of theſe lines in love, and correct them in love, ſo ſhall I be ingaged hereafter, further to publiſh ſuch things as I ſhall find occaſion, for thy benefit, onely for the preſent, I have commended to the Cutters, or Ingravers of Copper, and ſo to the Preſſe, for the ſeconding of the young Artillerie-mans requeſt, the Motions of the Poſture for the Musket and Pike in their ſeverall Garbes and Portraitures, as alſo the Poſtures of the halfe Pike joyned with the Musket, being at this time required either for Musketier or Dragoone: but the preſent neceſſity calling upon this (as I conceive) hath cauſed me to ſet this forth alone: wherefore expect the other as ſoon as it can be finiſhed. Vale.

Your Friend, Nathanael Burt.

Publiſhed according to Order.