instructions For MVSTERS AND arms, AND the use thereof:  
By order from the Lords of His majesties most Honourable privy counsel.  
 royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT.  
¶ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON, and John BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. 1623.   

¶ Jnstructions for MVSTERS and arms, and the use thereof.  
FIrst of all, it is to be understood that there are three sorts of distances, to wit, Open Order, Order, and Close Order. Open Order or the first distance is, when the Souldiers both in rank and File stand six foot removed one from another. 

Because the measure of these distances cannot bee 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 arms, and stand so removed one from another, that their hands may meet.  
And for the Ranks, wee make account wee take the same distance of six foot, when the butte end of the Pikes do almost reach their heels that march before. We take the second order or distance of three foot between file and file, by bidding the Souldiers set their arms a Kenbow, and put themselves so close that their elbows may meet. And wee reckon wee take the same distance between the ranks, when they come up almost to the swords point.    
The second distance, or your Order is, when the Souldiers stand three foot removed both in rank and File, one from another; and this Order is to be used, when they are embattayled, or march in the face of an enemy, or when they come to stand, or when you will wheel. But when you march thorough any Country, you must observe three foot only from File to File, and six from rank to rank. The third distance, or your Close Order is commanded, by this word Close, which is when there is one foot and a half from File to File, and three from rank to Rank, and this is for the Pikes onely, and must never be used but when you will stand firm to receive the charge of an enemy. The shoemakers must never be closer then the second distance of three foot in square, because they are to haue a free use of their arms.  
In exercising your motions, you are always to observe your Open Order of six foot in square, in which the company being first placed, you are to acquaint them to these terms of directions.  
Stand right in your Files.  
Stand right in your ranks.  
Silence.  
To the right hand.  
As you were. 
It is to be noted when you are commanded to bee as you were, you are ever to return by the contrary hand, from whence you came. 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.   
To the left hand.  
As you were.  
To the right hand about. 
When you will countermarch to the right hand, the first rank of Leaders only must advance one step forward with the right leg, and then turn, and all the other ranks must march first up to the place from whence the first rank did countermarch before they turn. So likewise if you will countermarch to the left hand, the first rank must step forward one step with the left leg, and then turn, and all the other ranks behind must ●ome up to that place before they, turn, as be●ore. The same order ●s to be observed when ●ou will countermarch ●our Files.   
As you were.  
To the left hand about.  
As you were.  
ranks to the right hand double.  
As you were.  
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.  
Middlemen to the right hand double your front.  
As you were.  
Middlemen to the left hand double your front.  
As you were.  
ranks 

to the right or  
left hand   countermarch 
In countermarching, though both are here set down for distinction sake, you are to name neither ranks nor Files: But are only to say to the right hand countermarch, or to the left hand countermarch.   


To the right or  
left hand   at discretion.  
Files 

to the right or  
left hand   countermarch.  


To the right or  
left hand   As you were.  
Before you wheel. 
When you exercise a company single, you double your ranks before you wheel, in regard the body is small. But in a division or greater body, you close first both your files & your Ranks to your Order of 3. foot, and omit the doubling, and so wheel.   
ranks 

to the right or  
left hand   double. 
When you will wheel to the right hand, double your ranks to the left hand, and when you wheel to the left hand, double your Ranks to the right hand. For so the right and left hand Leaders will keep their places on that corner towards which you wheel.   
Files 

to the right or  
left hand, or to  
the middle   close to your Order to 3. foot between File & File.  
ranks close to your Order to three foot between rank and rank.  


To the right hand wheel  
To the left hand wheel  
Or wheel about   which you list and each as often as you list. 
This maner of opening is used onely 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.   
After you haue wheeled.  
Ranks backward open in double distance. 
By double distance is meant 12. foot. For so the ranks( which before did double) falling out again into their first places, come just to the distance of their open Order of six foot, in which they were before they doubled.   
Files open to your Order, that is, to 3. foot.  
ranks as you were.  
In opening ranks or Files, you must make all the Files or ranks, saving the outermost on that hand from whence you mean to open( which must stand) to move altogether, till the second rank or File, from that which standeth, haue gotten its distance, and subsequently the rest.  
If you will haue them close their Files to the right or left hand, the outermost File on that hand you purpose to close, must be commanded to stand, and all the rest to close to it.  

advance your pikes. 
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 subject to be broken by the shot of the Enemy, as when they are advanced.   
Order your pikes.  
Shoulder your pikes  
Charge your pikes.  
Order your pikes.  
trail your pikes.  
check your pikes.   
¶ These following motions are to be performed both standing and marching. 

Charge your pikes.  
Shoulder your pikes.  
To the right hand charge. 
They must likewise observe when they charge standing, to fall back with the right leg, and marching, to step forward with the left.   
Shoulder your pikes.  
To the left hand charge.  
Shoulder your pikes.  
To the rear charge.  
Shoulder your pikes.  
Stand.  
Order your pikes.    
¶ For the Musket.  
The Postures in his Excellencies book are to bee observed: But in Exercising, you must only use these three terms of direction. 

Make ready.  
Present.  
give fire.    
Your shoemakers must observe in all their motions to turn to the right hand, and that they carry the mouth of their pieces high, as well when they are shouldered, as in priming, and also when they hold their tyrants guarded, and come up to give fire.  
In advancing towards an enemy, when they do not skirmish loose and disbanded, they must give fire by ranks after this manner. Two ranks must always make ready together, and advance ten paces forward before the bodies, at which distance a Sergeant( or when the body is great, some other Officer) must stand, to whom the shoemakers are to come up before they present and give fire. First, the first rank, and whilst the first gives fire, the second rank keep their Muskets close to their Rests, and their tyrants guarded; and assoon as the first are fallen away, the second presently present and give fire, and fall after them. Now assoon as the two first ranks do move from their places in the front, the two ranks next it must vnshoulder their Muskets and make ready, so as they may advance forward ten paces, as before; assoon as ever the two first ranks are fallen away and are to do in all points as the former. So all the other ranks through the whole division must do the same by twoes one after another.  
A manner there is to give fire retiring from an Enemy, which is performed after this sort.  
As the Troope marcheth, the hindermost rank of all keeping still with the Troope maketh ready, and being ready, the Souldiers in that rank turn altogether to the right hand, and give fire, marching presently away a good round place to the Front, and there place themselves in rank together just before the Front. assoon as the first rank turns to give fire, the rank next it makes ready and doth as the former, and so the rest.  
We give fire by the flank thus; The outermost 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 turn to the right or left hand, according to the sight of their Enemy, either vpon their right or left flank, and give fire altogether: when they haue discharged they stir not, but keep their ground, and charge their pieces again in the same place they stand. Now assoon as the aforesaid file doth turn to give fire, the outermost next it makes ready, always keeping along with the Troope, till the bringer up bee past a little beyond the leader of that file that gave fire last, and then the whole file must turn & 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 Troope be great) some other better qualified Officer must stand at the head of the first file, and assoon as the second file hath given fire, and hath charged, he is to led 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 join them again in equal front with the Pikes.  
Last of all the Troope or whole Wing of musketeers makes ready altogether, and the first rank without advancing gives fire in the place it stands in, and speedily as it may, yet orderly, falls away, all the ranks doing the same successively one after another.  
The arms of a Pikeman, are Gorget, curates, headpiece, Sword, Girdle and Hangers.  
The arms of a Musketier, are a Musket, a Rest, Bandeliers, headpiece, Sword, Girdle and Hangers.  
It is required, that the Muskets be all of a Bore, the Pikes of a length: But to the end this course may not by a sudden alteration turn to a general charge and burden vpon the people, the Lords Lieutenants, and the Deputy Lieutenants are rather to use the way of advice and encouragement, as a matter which will be very acceptable to his majesty, who will take notice of the affection of such as shall most readily provide, arms according to this order, then to enforce a present general observation thereof. But in case where the arms shall bee decayed, and must bee renewed, this order is to be strictly observed.  
The arms of Horsemen, Cuirassiers, are a Gorget, curates, Cutases, Pouldrons, Vambraces, a left hand Gauntlet, Taces, Cuisses, a cask, a Sword, Girdle and Hangers, a case of Pistols, Firelockes, Saddle, Bridle, bit, Petrell, Crooper, with the leathers belonging to fasten his Pistols, and his necessary sack of carriage, and a good horse to mount on.  
The arms of a Hargobuzier or Dragon, which hath succeeded in the place of light horsemen( and are indeed of singular use almost in all the actions of war) the arms are a good Hargobus or Dragon, fitted with an iron work, to be carried in a Belt, a Belt with a Flaske, Priming-box, Key, and Bullet bag, an open headpiece with cheeks, a good buff coat with deep skirts, Sword, Girdle and Hangers, a Saddle, Bridle, bit, Perrell, Crooper, with Strappes for his sack of necessaries, and a horse of less force and less price then the Cuirassier.  
In the exercise of the foot troops, the companies are to be of hundreds onely, besides Officers, that they may bee so much the nearer together to bee trained and exercised with less pains to the souldiers, and less loss of time, when they shalbe called together by their captain.  
The Company is to be divided into Files of ten in a File; 
●eader. ●iddleman middleman ●ringer up  the File is to bee distinguished into a Leader, a Bringer up, two Middlemen, and three between the Leader and his Middleman, and three between the bringer up and his Middleman. When the Companies come together, they are to be exercised ten in depth( as the proportion best fitted to receive all charges, and perform all executions) But in cases of necessity in service, and for exercise, it will be requisite to reduce them into five in File, and then those two Middlemen become bringers up, and then haue a kind of charge over those three between the Leader and the Bringer up, and will bee of great use in preparing and exercising of the souldiers in the practise of their arms and order. For it is not intended that the whole Companies should be drawn together to be exercised: But that vpon sundays after evening prayer, and vpon holidays( as it hath been formerly used for Bow) the Leader, Bringer up, or Middlemen should exercise together with his whole File, or such a part as dwells most convenient for him. And further that once in a month, or six weekes, the captain, Lieutenant or Ancient may( with the knowledge of the Deputy Lieutenant that dwells next him) vpon a Holiday exercise a squadron of his Company, or the whole, as shall seem good to the Deputy Lieutenant.  
The like form for the Horse: 
o Leader. middleman middleman Bringer up  But it is to bee observed that the Files of Horse are never to be above six, but distinguished by the names of Leader, Bringer up, and two Middlemen, and to bee doubled to three deep, vpon occasion. And to avoid the great abuse, that is practised by those that are enrolled to keep horses for the Kings service, That the Leader, Bringer up, or Middlemen of the Files of Horse, do exercise the Horse vpon holidays and sundays after evening prayer: And that the captain by himself, his Lieutenant, or Cornett, may( with knowledge of the next Deputy Lieutenant) vpon a Holiday call together some Files or a squadron of his Company, to practise them in the exercise of their arms. The Officers also both of Horse and Foot Bands, as well in the chief, as inferiors, Sergeants, Corporals, and Lamprizados, are to haue a more special care for the ordinary exercising of the Souldiers of their Company, which dwell next unto them, and properly for them.  
A special care and order must be taken that all those that find a man to serve on horseback, whether they find the Horse or the Man, or both, must not change the Horse or Man at their pleasure: for so it would bee every day to practise a new man or a new horse, and the exercise bee made vain. But they must take into consideration, that the man and horse designed to the service of the King, hath( by the intention of the Law) been dedicated so to the interest of the King, as they must always be in readiness at the call of the Kings Officers, and may not bee changed without the knowledge and consent of the captain, or Deputy Lieutenant next adjoining, or by warrant of the Lord Lieutenant. And this with this onely limitation, that another sufficient man or horse be supplied in the room of the man or horse made deficient, for a just cause well approved of. And as the soldier, or Horse may not bee changed or discharged, without the knowledge of the captain, or superior Officers. So is it not lawful for the captain to change or discharge any man or horse( once enrolled) without the approbation of the Lo. Lieutenant, or his Deputy.  
A principal care is to be taken for the provision of the arms, that they may bee provided at such rates as they are truly worth, that the people be not subject to the abuse of undertakers for these businesses: And also for the furnishing of every Shire with a competent proportion of Match, Powder and Bullets, to which purpose directions haue been heretofore already given. nevertheless it is not held necessary, until the Souldiers bee perfect in their postures, and ready managing of the Pike when they are armed, and the Musket together with the Rest, that there should bee any expense of powder at all: And then for some time to bee exercised with some false fires, which is onely a little powder in the pan: Nor at any time to blow away their powder in vain; but that powder which should be allowed by the Country for training, be bestowed only at Marks: In which case, it is to be wished, that little small prizes might bee provided at the cost of the Country, to bee shot for at the marks, which would give an ambition to men to carry them away, and would save the Country more in powder then their value: And a desire in men to render themselves perfect, would make them to find themselves powder with that money, which on those daies, and in those times, would bee worse spent in an Alehouse.   

¶ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON, and John BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty.  
Anno Dom. 1623.