The generall exercise ordered by his highness the Prince of Orange, to be punctually observed of all the infantry in service of the states general of the United Provinces Being a most vvorthy compendium, very useful for all persons concerned in that noble exercise of arms.

1689

THE GENERAL EXERCISE Ordered by His HIGHNESS the Prince of Orange, To be punctually observed of all the Infantry in Service of the STATES GENERAL OF THE United Provinces.

BEING A most VVorthy Compendium, very useful for all persons concerned in that Noble EXERCISE of ARMS.

2 Sam. 22.40.

For thou hast girded me with strength to Battel; them that rose up against me, hast thou subdued under me.

Re-printed in the Year, 1689.

[Page]

[Page 3]

THE GENERAL EXERCISE Ordered by His HIGHNESS the Prince of Orange, To be punctually observed of all the Infantry in Service of the States General of the United Provinces.
General Observations.

I.

IT must be understood that before the Exercise begin, the Officers at the first Advertisement by tuck of Drum advancing their Pikes, shall turn about to the right; and upon the second, march through the Battalion, ranging themselves in the Rear, in the same order they were upon the Front; the Sergeants, who were posted behind the Battalion, separating themselves to the right and left, shall take their places upon the Flanks till the Exercise be done, and the Officers shall have taken their former Post upon the Front at the forementioned Advertisement by tuck of Drum, at which time the said Sergeants shall also return to the Rear as before.

II.

The Drummers shall stay upon the Wings of the Battalion during the Exercise, excepting those that are in the Center before the Picks, who in the time that the Officers march through to the Rear, shall range themselves behind the Major, to be alwayes ready either for giving Advertisements, or in case the Battalion might be exercised by tuck of Drum.

III.

No man shall offer to stir or make the least motion till the Word of Command be fully pronounced, and then to perform what shall be commanded with a gracefull readiness, and quick motion, all at the same time.

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IV.

The Souldier having his Musket shoulder'd, must stand straight upon his Limbs, hold up his Head, and look alwayes to the commanding Officer, making no Motion, but such as shall be ordered, which must be observed as a general Rule in all Commands.

V.

The Souldiers must keep their Feet a small pace distant from each other, their Heels straight in a line, and their Toes turned outwardly, holding their Muskets with their left hand upon their left Shoulder, the Thumb in the hollow above the Butt, holding the Iron which covers the Drawer close to the Shoulder, that the Muzzel of the Musket behind may stand somewhat high, turning the Lock a little outward, so that the Butt may come to the Buttons, or middle of the Breast, and the Muskets over all be the more equally carried.

VI.

The Match must be holden in the left hand, one end betwixt the first and the second finger, and the other betwixt the two last, both the ends a finger length without the back of the hand, so that the rest thereof may hang betwixt the hand and the Butt of the Musket; and because in exercising the March is to be laid down no more, it must never be kindled without express Order.

VII.

With a shoulder'd Musket the left Elbow ought to be turned a little outwards from the Body, but without constraint of the Arm, and the right Arm hanging loose downwards along the Body, with the Palm of the Hand turned to the Thigh.

The Manual of the Muskets:

1. JOyn your right hand to your Muskets.
2. Poise your Muskets.
3. Ioyn your left hand to your Muskets.
4. Take your Matches.
5. Blow your Matches.
6. Cock your Matches.
7. Try your Matches.
8. Guard your Pans.
9. Blow your Matches.
10. Open your Pans in presenting.
11. Give Fire.
12. Recover your Arms.
13. Return your Matches.
14. Blow your Pans.
15. Handle your Primers.
16. Prime.
[Page 5]17. Shut your Pans.
18. Blow off your loose Corns.
19. Cast about to charge.
20. Handle your Chargers.
21. Open them with your Teeth
22. Charge with Powder.
23. Charge with Bullet.
24. Wadd from your Hats.
25. Draw forth your Scowrers.
26. Hold them up.
27. Shorten them to your Breasts.
28. Put them in the Barrels.
29. Ram down your Shot.
30. Withdraw your Scowrers.
31. Hold them up,
32. Shorten them to your Breasts.
33. Put them up in their places,
34. Ioyn your right hand to your Muskets.
35. Poise your Muskets.
36. Shoulder your Muskets.
37. Rest your Muskets.
38. Order your Muskets.
39. Lay down your Muskets.
40. Take up your Muskets.
41. Rest your Muskets.
42. Club your Muskets.
43. Rest your Muskets.
44. Shoulder your Muskets.

Take heed to make ready by three Words of Command.

1, Make ready.
2. Present.
3. Give Fire.

Here follows the Manual of a Grenadier, beginning from a shoulder'd Fire-lock.

1. JOyn your right hand to your Fire locks.
2. Poise your Fire locks.
3. Ioyn your left hand to your Fire-locks.
4. Bend your Fire-locks.
5. Present.
6. Give Fire.
7. Recover your Arms.
8. Handle your Slings.
9. Sling your Fire-locks upon your shoulders.
10. Take your Matches.
11. Take your Grenades.
12. Open the Grenade Fuse.
13. Guard the Grenade Fuse with your Thumbs.
14. Blow your Matches.
15. Fire & deliver your Grenades.
16. Return your Matches.
17. Handle your Slings.
18. Poyse your Fire-locks.
19. Cast about your Fire-locks to the left side.
20. Draw your Daggers.
21. Screw your Daggers in the Muzzle of your Fire-locks.
22. Rest your Daggers.
23, Charge your Daggers the butt to the right knee.
24. Stand up again, and rest your Daggers.
[Page 6]25. Cast about your Daggers to the left side.
26. Withdraw your Daggers.
27. Put up your Daggers.
28. Half-bend your Fire-locks.
29. Blow your Pans.
30 Handle your Primers.
31. Prime.
32. Shut your Pans.
33. Cast about to Charge.
34 Handle your Cartidges.
35. Open your Cartridges.
36. Charge your Cartidges.
37. Draw forth your Scowrers.
38. Hold them up.
39. Shorten them to your Breasts.
40. Put them in the Barrels
41. Ram down your Shot.
42. Withdraw your Scowrers.
43. Hold them up.
44. Shorten them to your Breasts.
45. Put them up in their places.
46. Ioyn your right hand to your Fire-locks.
47. Poise your Fire-locks.
48. Shoulder your Fire-locks.
49. Rest your Fire-locks.
50. Order your Fire-locks.
51. Lay down your Fire-locks.
52. Take up your Fire-locks.
53. Rest your Fire-locks,
54. Club your Fire-lorks.
55. Rest your Fire-locks.
56. Shoulder your Fire-locks.

Take heed you be ready to give fire by three Words of Command.

57.

1. Make ready.
2. Present.
3. Give Fire.

Take heed ye be ready to fire your Grenades by three Words of Command.

58

1. Make ready.
2. Blow your Match.
3. Fire, and deliver your Grenades.

Take heed ye be ready to use your Daggers by three Words of Command.

59

1. Make ready.
2. Charge your Daggers, the Butt against the right Knee.
3. Rest your Daggers.

Take heed to make your Fire-locks ready again.

60.: Make ready-your Fire-locks.

Here follows the Manual of the Pike, beginning from the Advance.

THe posture of the Pike-man with his Pike advanced, must be the same as the Musketiers with a shoulder'd Musket, viz: that he stand straight upon his [Page 7]Limbs, holding up his head, looking-briskly, with his Eye always turned-towards the Commanding Officer, and making no other motions than the Commands do bear, that he keep his Feet a small pace distant from each other, his Heels in a straight Line, his Toes turn'd outwardly, and holding the Butt-end of the Pike-in his right hand, stretched downwards along his Body to the full length, so that the back of his hand be turn'd so much outwardly, as his Arm in such posture can suffer without constraint, and the Pike be kept close, as well to his shoulder, as the outside of his Thigh, that it may stand straight upwards, without inclining to either hand, which posture must be always observed with an advanced Pike.

1. Charge to the Front.
2. As you were.
3. Charge to the right.
4, To the left, as you were.
5. Charge to the left.
6. To the right, as you were.
7. To the right about charge.
8. To the left, as you were.
9. To the left about charge.
10. To the right, as you were,
11. Shoulder your Pikes.
12. Charge to the Front.
13. Shoulder as you were.
14. Charge to the right.
15. To the left, as you were.
16. Charge to the left.
17. To the right, as you were,
18. To the right about charge.
19. To the left, as you were.
20. To the left about charge.
21. To the right as you were.
22. Port your Pikes,
23. Charge to the Front.
24. Trail your Pikes the Spear behind.
25. Charge, as you were.
26. Push your Pikes.
27. Trail your Pikes the Spear before.
28. Present your Spears.
29. Charge to the Front.
30. Advance your Pikes.
31. Order your Pikes.
32. Lay down your Pikes.
33. Take up your Pikes.
34. Plant your Pikes.
35. Order your Pikes.
36. Advance your Pikes.

Here follow the Evolutions.
General Words of Command.

1. Take heed.

AT the pronouncing of this Word, there must be great Silence observed throughout the whole Battalion, the Souldiers doing no motions, neither with their [Page 8]Heads, Bodies, Hands or Feet; but such as shall be ordered, and looking [...] fastly to the commanding Officer, as hath been said above concerning the Manual.

2. Carry well your Arms. 3. Dress your Ranks and your Files.

Evolutions with Muskets and Pikes together.

1. Present your Arms.
2.
- 1. To the right.
- 2. To the right.
- 3. To the right.
- 4. To the right.
3. To the right about.
4. To the left, as you were.
5.
- 1. To the left.
- 2. To the left.
- 3, To the left,
- 4, To the left.
6. To the left about.
7, To the right, as you were,
8. Poyse your Muskets, and advance your pikes.
9. Shoulder your Muskets.

Take heed to double your Ranks to the Front

10. To the eight, double your Ranks to the Front.
11, March.

HEre it must be observed, as also by all other Marches, that all the Souldiers of the same Rank make the first step with the left foot, lifting all at the same time, to the end that marching softly, looking continually to the sides, more especially to the right, they may keep the Rank straight, and come upon their places altogether stepping, so that with four paces they may enter the Rank that is before them, having special care to carry their Arms well, hold up their Head, keep their Bodies in a straight and unconstrained posture, and look briskly.

12. To the left, as you were.
13. March.
14. Halt,
15. To the left, double your Ranks to the Front.
16. March.
17. To the right, as you were.
18. March.
19. Halt.

Take heed to double your Ranks to the Rear.

20. To the right about, double your Ranks to the Rear.
[Page 9] [...]
[...]
[...] you were.
24 March.
25 To the left about, double your Ranks to the Rear.
26. March.
27. Halt,
28. As you were.
29. March:

Take heed by half Files to double your Ranks to the Front.

30. To the right, by half Files double your Ranks to the Front.
31. March.
32. To the left, as you were.
33. March.
34, Halt.
35. To the left by half Files, double your Ranks to the Front.
36. March.
37. To the right, as you were.
38. March.
39. Halt.

Take heed by half Files to double your Ranks to the Rear.

40 To the right about by half Files double your Ranks to the Rear.
41, March.
42. Halt,
43. As you were.
44. March.
45. To the left about by half Files double your Ranks to the Rear.
46. March.
47. Halt.
48. As you were.
49. Halt.

Take heed to double your Files.

50, To the right double your Files
51: March.
52. Halt.
53. To the left as you were.
54. March.
55. To the left, double your Files.
56. March,
57. Halt,
58. To the right, as you were,
59. March.

Take heed to double your Files by half Ranks.

60, By half Ranks to the right, double your Files.
61. March.
62. Halt.
63. To the left as you were.
64. March.
65. Halt,
66. By half Ranks to the left double your Files.
67, March.
68. Halt.
69. To the right, as you were.
70. March.
71. Halt.

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Every Division must double its Files in it self, and the old File must stand on its ground.
Take heed to contre-march by Files.

72. By Files to the right about, contre march.
73. March.
74 By Files to the left about, contre-march.
75. March.

Take heed to contre-march by Ranks.

76. By Ranks to the right, contre-march.
77. March.
78 Halt
79. By Ranks to the left, contre-march.
80, March,
81, Halt.

Take heed to close your Files.

82 From the right and left, close your Files to the Center.
83 March.
84. Halt.

Take heed to close your Ranks.

85 Cluse your Ranks to the Front
86 March

Take heed to the wheel.

87. Wheel to the right,
88 March.
89 Halt.
90. Wheel to the right.
91 March.
92. Halt.
93 To the right about.
94. March.
95, Halt.
96. Wheel to the left.
97, March.
98. Halt.
99. Wheel to the left.
100. March.
101, Halt.
102, To the left about, wheel.
103, March.
104. Halt,

Take heed to put your Ranks and Files at their former distance.

105. Files to the right and left, take your former distances,
106, March.
107. Halt.

Take heed to put your Ranks at the former distances.

108, Ranks, as you were.
109 March.
110, Halt.

Take heed to lay down your Arms.

111. Rest your Muskers.
112. Order you Arms.
113. Lay down your Arms.

Take heed to quit your Arms.

114. For Straw.
115. March.
116. To your Arms.
117. Put up your Swords.
118. Take up your Arms.
119. Rest your Muskets.
120. Poyse your Muskets, and advance your Pikes,
121, Shoulder your Muskets,

FINIS.

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