Modern Arms  Book III, Chapter 19
  Armed soldiers  Book III, Chapter 19, Section 1a
 
Chapter 19, Item 13a
Pike and target commands
Words of command for the pike and targett.
Supposeing the souldier to stand in posture N.13. with his targett hung on his back by a Belt ouer his neck, according to the Instructions giuen by Adam Van Breen in his engraven Figures presented to the Prince of Orange 1618 these are his.
1. Shoulder your pike.
2. Recouer your Targett for the pike.
3. Present your pike.
4. Order your pike.
5. Traile your pike.
6. Ground your pike, or
7. Recouer your targett for the sword.
8. Draw your sword.
9. Advance your sword and stand on your defence.
10. Place your sword betweene your Targett and left shoulder.
11. Couer yourselfe with your Targett.
12. Recouer your selfe.
13. Return your sword.
14. Draw back your Arm out off the strap of the Targett.
15. Return your Targett Backwards to your back.
16. Raise your pike.
17. Order your pike, &c.
Each word of command hath three motions to perform the posture souldier like.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 13b
Sword commands
Words of command for sword and shield.
The heavy armed men such as had Helmets swords and shields, with other Armour for legs and Armes, and fought on foot, were exercised with these words of command.
1. Hang your shield on your back.
2. Recouer your shield to your Arm.
3. Take hold of your sheild.
4. Draw your sword.
5. Advance, or hold up your sword.
6. Place your sword between your shield and left shoulder.
7. Draw down the Bever of your helmet.
8. Stand to your gard. To the Left. To the right.
9. Recouer your self, and stand in your posture.
10. Raise your Bever.
11, Put up your sword.
12. Return your shield to your Back.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 14a
Captain's office
The Office of a captaine.
1. A captaine ought to be expert, diligent, and coragious, he must know his duty, and all their duties that are vnder him. He is to lead his company where the Generall or colonell shall command him, and to giue orders to his Lieutenant and sergeants for the marching of his company, be it three or foure in a ranke, placeing his muskets in the front and rear, and the pikes in the midle. Or in Battalion, placeing the Musketts on the flankes of the pikes.
2. He must teach them how to keep their ranks and files; how to fight, be it in surprise, embuscado, approach of citties, assaults, encounters, skirmishes or Battailes. To lead them on prudently, labouring to bring them off with as much glory, as he shall haue courageously brought them on.
3. The captaine must always be at the head of his company, vnlesse it be to ioyne battaile; for his owne person is not able to sustaine the shock of the enimys pikes, at which tyme he is to place him selfe in the first ranke of his company. He must therefore teach and cause his souldiers to be taught the use of their swords, pikes, and muskett; teaching them how to order themselues in Battalia, to Rally themselues being disbanded, either by occasion of a rout, breaking in vpon the body, a defeat, an Alto, or narrow passage.
4. He must take care of his souldiers payment, se to their Armes, victualls, and amunition; that the hurt be healed, and to compose quarrels.
5. The captaine hath power to appoint his owne Sergeants, Harbinger, Drummer, Fife, and Chyrurgeon: but his Lieutenant and Ensigne being commision officers with himselfe, he is to present to the colonell or commander in cheife, to haue his leaue to place them in their offices: also he may appoint corporalls and Appointees by the colonells leaue.
6. He cannot alone punish a souldier with death, vnless he rebell, for then he ought to kill him: but for any other matter, he can but disarme him, take away his accountrements of Livery, degrade, cashier or committ him to the marshall, or to the censure of the colonell of the regiment, or counsell of warre.
7. Att euery dislodging he must cause his company to be put in battalia, and then to cause them to march off according as the ground will permitt, and at their lodging to lead them in a long order of march, either, 3 4 or 5 o a ranke. If it be to be paraded and so to mount the Guard, he is to march at the head of his company, with a pike in his hand completely armed with rich armour: if it be in a citty or garrison, his head peece adorned with a faire plume, shall be carried before him.
8. There are other things necessary the captaines knowledge as how to fight single, how in bodyes: to know the advantage of places, Armes, tyme, strategemes, and how to make use of them: to vnderstand Fortifications, the maner of defending and assailing of places of strength; that so when it comes to his turne to direct, make or guard a worke, he shew not himselfe a Novice, or fresh water souldier.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16a
Pike commands
The words of command for the exercise of a pike, which euery souldier ought to know and practice are these.
1. Handle your pike. Then he goes to the head of the pike with his left side and foote.
2. Order your pike. He take it vp vnder the head and in three motions draws it throw his hands till it be set with the but end against his right foot and he holds it point vpright.
3. Advance your pike, In three motions take the but end in his right hand, and so rest it point vpright against his shoulder.
4. Shoulder your pike. In three motions lays the midle of his pike on his right shoulder.
5. Levell your pike, is to lay it euen on the shoulder, that the head and but end be both of one height.
6. Slope your pike, is to draw the But end of the pike (being shouldred) almost to the ground, and the point aloft.
7. Port your pike, is in three motions to take it by the But end, with your right hand, and beare the point forward aloft. In this posture a pike-man enters a gate.
8. Charge your pike, is to draw the point downe as lowe or equall to the brest, supporting it streight in that posture with your lift hand as far as you can reach; the right hand holding the But end.
9. Charge to the reare, is turning about and charging to that place where your back was.
10. Charge to the horse, is in three motions, to let downe the But end to the inside of your right foot, giueing a step forward with the left foote and drawing your sword ouer your left arme.
11. Cheeke your pike, is in three motions to slip your pike throwe your hand takeing hold of it with your left hand vnder the head and with the right at a litter distance from it.
12. Trayle your pike, is to take it in the right hand, vnder the head and hold it close to your side. In this posture they march. There is an other way of traileing the pike, which is by takeing the but end in the right hand holding it to the side, traileing or drawing the head after vpon the ground. In this posture they march at the funerall of a souldier.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16b
Gentlemen of the pikes
The Office of the Gentleman of the Pikes
He is to carry the colours to a campain, and at all tyme in the ensignes absence.
If the Ensign fall in battle or be advanced, the Gentleman of the Pikes is preferred in his place.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16c
Common soldier
The Office of a common souldier
He must be obedient, silent, and keep his Armes alwayes ready fixt, and to appeare at the beat of a drum, to shew himselfe discreet, valorous and coragious, not giuen to sleeping, but be carefull, vigillant, and actiue; not mutineer, neither change his company or comrade without great reason.
He must study to know the use and how to manage his Armes, the motions of companyes and vnderstand the words of command for doubling of Ranks, files, wheelings, counter-marchings, Randevo's, how to make his guards, place sentinells, and to know all the kinds of beats of drum.
Besides this a private souldier which desireth to attaine to some place of command, hath need of a long tyme to gaine experience sufficient to render him worthy, and to make his abilities knowne to such as can advance him.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16d
Lansprizado
The Office of a Lansprizado and Appointees.
Next to the corporall is the Lanspassado or Lansprizado who in the absence of the corporall is to doe his office: they are to ease the corporalls, and to be as their Lieutenants and aides in tyme of danger.
...
An Appointee is one put in office or Appointed by the Captaine or Captaine of the watch to goe the rounds to se the sentinells be vigilant and carefull, and to set perdue sentinells when occasion is.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16e
Gunner
The Office and duty of a Gunner.
He that will take vpon him to be a Maister Gunner if he will not wrong his profession must be endowed with these properties, endowments and Qualifications according to following Instructions.
1. He ought to be well skilled in Arithmetick and to vnderstand the square and Cube roots, and to haue knowledge in Geometry, whereby he may be able to take heights, depths, breadths, and lengths, and to draw any plot of ground, to make Mines, and Counter-mines, Rampars, Batteries, platformes, defences, Troniers, Gabbions, Loops, Parapets of earth and Fagotts of 23 or 24 foot high, and such like things usefull in tyme of war, as well offensive as defensive.
2. He must before any service examine his piece whither it be in good order; and must also be furnished with all necessary things for his Artillery, as wheeles, Trucks, Axeltrees, Ladles, Rammers, Spunges, Wormes, Tampions, Height board, round shott, chane shott, cross-bar shott, cartredges, calabers, compasses, sight rule, Gunners scale, Quadrant, Scales, Weights, Primeing Iron, and Aprons to couer the touch hole.
3. Before he come vpon service he ought to proue the goodnesse of his powder and match; and to be carefull to se the same be placed carefully and safely from the danger of his owne, or his enimyes ordinance: to be carefull in opening powder barrells, and if he shoot point blank, or vndermettle, to wad his ball for feare of danger.
4. He must learne the names, length, weight, and Fortification of euery peece about the chamber, and to tell readily how much powder is a due charge for euery peece; what shott is necessary how many persons must attend each peece in tyme of service and how many horses, Oxen, or men will each require to draw it.
5. A Gunner ought to charge and discharge his Gun Artist like, to se the Trunnions be rightly placed, that one wheele be not higher then an other, or reverse quicker then another, for thereby the peece will erre in it shott. And that he may be the better able to direct his shott to the place desired, he must consider the different thicknesse of the metall of his peece at the Britch and Muzzle and thereby by disparting his peece, giue a proportionall charge according to the thinnest part of the Mettall: and to take his observation of the marke Just ouer the midle of the bore within the peece, and by these meanes good shotts may be made in bad pieces.
6. To see that after discharging the Gun be spunged, and made cleane and the touch hole couered after service, and that it be not much handled, but kept neat and tite.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16f
Corporal
The Office of a corporall.
1. A Corporall is a privett souldier, yet the right hand file Leader of his diuision, and to him properly belongs the charg of one diuision or squadron of the company: and if such an accident sould fall out that all the superior officers of the company should be absent, then the command doth belong to him; but that very seldome happens.
2. To his place belongs to see his diuision exercise in their Armes, to lodge them by comeradoes, to preuent quarrells and disorders by admonishing them, or acquainting the captaine therewith: for to chastise them he hath noe power, vnlesse it be by vexing them with standing ouer long sentinell.
3. He is to deliuer them Munition of Victuals and Armes, to gouerne the watch, and to diuide the Labours of the souldiers equally either in watch, worke or service, and to take care in euery respect to the duties of a good souldier.
4. He is to visite the souldiers enterin the Gard, to know whether they be sufficiently provided with ammunition; as powder, bulletts, match, &c. and that fir be kept day and night to light the matches and that the court of Guard or corps-du-guard be furnished with fuell as wood or coales and candles.
5. He must place the sentinells in the places where the captaine of the watch shall direct him: he must releeve them and send a Lansprizado, or one that his captaine shall appoint, or visite them and walke the rounds.
6. In marching or fighting they haue no command, but of the file that each of them leadeth, and to obserue the motion that shalbe commanded by the cheife officer, neuer staring out of his place, or using any command of himselfe. As a corporall is next in degree to a sergeant, so in behaueing himselfe well, he may pretend to the place of a sergeant, when by accident it may be void.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16g
Sentinel
A souldiers sentinells duty and office.
1. The sentinell being placed, he is to stand in a sentinell posture, which is with his Gun loaden, his match cocked and his hand garding of his pan, if a pike man with is pike cheeked: he is to call to all that comes towards him, giue them notice to stand, not suffering any to passe his guard till they haue giuen the corporall the word. And were it the generall of the Army himselfe the sentinells ought not to suffer him nor any person to approach them without charging their pike, or presenting their muskett the match cocked, or cock drawne vp. and if it be the grand watch or round or other troop to stay them vntill the corporall come; who must neuer come out of the court of the Gard, but with 2 or 3 or 4 to accompany him.
2. He is vpon the discouery of the enimy, either to giue an alarum by shotting of his gun, or else to giue notice without making any noise (or as little as possibly may be) to the corporall who vpon an extraordinary occasion shall put his gard or diuision with him in Armes, giue notice of the danger to the next gard, and to the captaine of the watch.
3. The sentinell must neuer come of his gard or remoue therefrom vntill the corporall releiue him, or that they may be constrained by the enimy, and in such case they are to retire to the corps-du-gard, and the corps-du-gard (being forced) are to repaire to the quarters.
4. If the sentinell be found asleep, or haue committed an offence by not obseruing Orders, or causeing false alarms and such like the corporall or sergeant may committ him to the hands of Justice, or acquinte his cheife officer therewith.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16h
Perdua sentinel
The duty of a Perdue sentinell.
A Perdue sentinell is one brought out of the compass of the walls or fortifications by a corporall, and layd down in the open field where he lyeth on his belly with his eare to the ground to heare what he can from the enimy, and how they move in the campe, and whither there be any preparation for Assaults and the like.
...
A Perdue by cutting an hole in the earth and laying his eare to it, hath bin able to heare what hath bine doing to a great distance; for I haue bine credibly informed from one at the siege of Chester 1645 that from the out Lynns of the enimys works, where he so lay he heard a trampling of horses for six miles, the troops marching ouer Holt Bridg, which proved so the next day as we had intelligence.
...
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 16j
Provo
The duty of a Provo.
Each Regiment in an Army hath a Marshall or Hangman, which in a campaine are all put into companyes vnder one or more captaines, now these thus ordered are termed Provo's whose duty and office is to be as so many sentionells two and two together on the utermost lines or bounds of the camp (which is generally about a mile) there they are to take up all straglers and wandring souldiers that stray from the camp and forthwith hang them vp, except they can giue a good account of their being so, or haue leave of their officers.
This is to prevent souldiers from flying from their colours, or running to an enimy to bring intelligence, and for other good causes, &c.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17a
Musket and rest commands
The words of Command for a Muskett and Rest.
1. Handle your Armes. It is done by takeing the Mussell of the musket (lying on the ground) in your right hand and raising it vp letting the But end of the stock rest on the ground.
2. Pease, your muskett, is in three motions raising it up from the ground and holding it in the right hand belowe the lock, with the mussell vpright.
3. Shoulder your muskett; is with the right hand laying it on the left shoulder. In this posture the souldiers always march some tyme with the rest in the right hand, and some tyme carryed with the Muskett, in the left hand, where it is to be (except it be trailed) held in all the parts of the muskett exercise, with the match fired at both ends betweene the finger of the same hand.
4. Vnshoulder your muskett and recouer your rest; it is done by taking it in the right hand belowe the lock screw, because there the lighter to hold and holding it with the mussell vpright, and the rest in the lift hand.
5. Joyne your muskett and rest: is by laying the Muskett by the side of the rest in balance, betweene the thumb and the rest.
6. Handle your match and blow your coale, is by takeing on of the match end from betweene your fingers and bring it to your mouth to blow the ashes of the fire.
7. Cock your match and Try it: is putting the match into the cock and drawing the cock downe to the pan to see if it will fall right into the midle of it.
8. Gard your pan and blow your match; is couering the pan with your two fingers, to keep it from sparks, as fly from the match being blowed to a coale.
9. Present your muskett, is laying the musket on the rest, keeping the mouth of it somewhat vpwards: so making it ready to fire.
10. Giue fire, is drawing the cock to fire the pan.
11. Dismount your muskett and ioyne it to the rest, is takeing the muskett out of the rest, and ioyneing it to the side of the muskett, holding both betweene your thumb and finger.
12. Vncock your match and returne it, is takeing it out of the cock and putting it betweene the fingers of the left hand; each fire end asunder.
13. Cleare your pan and prim it; is to blow it and put primeing powder into it.
14. Shut your pan and cast of your Loose cornes; is to couer the pan and turne the Musket a little a side with a shake that all loose powder may fall of the couer, else blow them off.
15. Cast about and charge; is turning the But end from the right side to the left leting the same sink downe, and the rest traile.
16. Open your charge, and charge your muskett, is to take on of the bandelaro's in his right hand, and thrust open the couer with the thumb: than powering it into the barrell, the rest still trayling and the muskett held from the ground.
17. Draw out your scourer, and shorten it: being drawne out you are to slip your had to the neather end, to bring it the surer to the muskett.
18. Ramme downe the powder, Bullet and Wadd.
19. Draw out your scourer and shorten it, is to draw it out from Ramming, and set the end against his body sliping his hand to the end.
20. Returne your Rammer, is putting it into it place againe.
21. Bring forwards your musket, is to bring the But end from the left side to the right, raiseing it up, to take hold of it with the right hand, and so peasing it and recouering the rest; then shouldering it, as at the first, &c.
Besides this way of fireing and ordering the musket with the rest ioyned to it, as in cocking the match, blowing it, trying it, guarding the pan, &c.: it is also exercised and ofter performed in these actions with the muskett lying vpon the Rest, as is and may be obserued by these words of command.
1. Vnshoulder your muskett.
2. Lay your muskett in the rest.
3. Hold or pease your muskett in the Rest, is to hold it with the right hand at the great screw place.
4. Balance your muskett and salute, the muskett ballanced is held in the rest with the left hand; and with the right hand you put of your hat; this is a posture used only by muskettiers, when some great person comes to viewe their discipline.
5. Handle your match, and blow your coale.
6. Cock your match, and Try your match.
7. Gard your pann, and be ready. This is a sentinell posture when the sentry souldier stands vpon his watch gard. If there be a disturbance by an enimys approach, then
8. Present and giue fire.
There is a word of command some tyme used, Reverse your muskett, which is the marching funerall posture: that is to put the Butt end of your muskett upwards vnder your left Arme, holding it in your left hand about the Lock of the Muskett, and the right hand backwards about the midle of the Barrell.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17b
Musket commands
Words of Command for the Caliver, or Muskett onely.
Suppose all to lye vpon the ground.
For the snap haunch or Firelock.
1. Take up your Bandalier.
2. Put on your Bandeliers.
3. Handle your muskett or Armes.
4. Order your muskett.
5. Rest (or palme) your muskett.
6. Secure (or guard) your cock.
7. Draw back your hammer or steele.
8. Cleare your pan.
9. Prime your pan.
10. Couer your pan (or put downe your hammer or steele.)
11. Blow, or cast off your loose cornes.
12. Bring about, or cast about your muskett to your left side.
13. Handle your charger.
14. Open your charger, and charge your muskett.
15. Draw forth your scowring stick.
16. Shorten your scowrer.
17. Charge with Bullett.
18. Put your scowrer into the muskett.
19. Rame home your charge.
20. Withdraw your scowring stick.
21. Shorten your scowrer.
22. Returne your scowrer.
23. Bring forward your muskett.
24. Poise your muskett.
25. Shoulder your muskett.
26. Rest or palme your muskett.
27. Fit your hammer or steele.
28. Free your cock.
29. Bend your cock or draw up the cock.
30. Present your muskett.
31. Giue fire.
32. Palme or rest your muskett.
33. Cleare your pan.
34. Shut your pan.
35. Poise your muskett.
36. Shoulder your muskett.
37. Poise your muskett.
38. Order your muskett, or set the Butt end of your muskett to the ground.
39. Lay down your muskett (or Armes).
40. Take off your Bandeliers.
41. Lay downe your Bandliers.
42. Face about to the left, and march. (or cleare your Armes.)
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17c
Matchlock commands
For the Match lock.
The words are the same save what is used about the handling cocking and blowing of the match which are brievely these and com in about those places where the figure sheweth, as,
3. Take vp your match with the right hand, returne your match, or place in the left hand.
6.Open}
cleare}
prime}your pan
shut}
27. Draw forth your match.
Blow your coale.
Cock your match.
Try your match.
Guard your pan.
Blow the ashes from your coale, or cleare your coale.
Open your pan.
33. Vncock your match and returne it.
40. Take your match from between the fingers of your left hand.
Lay down your match.
...
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17d
Grenadier arms
How a Granadeer's armed.
A Granadeers cap.
A Pouch to keep his Granado in, and belt to hang it ouer his shoulders.
A middle Belt and sword and hatchett.
A carbine hung in a sling.
A cartridg box with 6 or 8 charges therein.
Match and powder and granadoes.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17e
Foot grenadier commands
Words of command for Granadeers on foot.
They are drawn vp in rank and file as in the order of musketters only three deep and being shouldred the command is.
Lay your right hand on your firelock.
Poize your firelock.
Rest your firelock.
Cock your firelock.
Gard.
Present.
Giue fire.
Recouer your Armes.
Cast ouer to the left.
Draw your dagger.
Screw it into the Muzzle of your firelock.
Recover your Armes.
Charge.
To the right (4 tymes).
Charge.
To the right about charge.
As you were.
Charge to the left (4 tymes).
Charge.
To the left about charge.
As you were.
Charge.
Recouer your Armes.
Cast ouer to the left.
With draw your dagger.
Return your dagger.
Poize your firelock.
Half bend your cock (or firelock).
Clean your pan.
Open your cartridg box.
Handle your primer.
Prime.
Return your primer.
Shut your pan. Blow off your loose corns.
Cast about to charge.
Handle your cartridge.
Open it with your teeth.
Charge with powder and ball.
Draw forth your scowrer.
Shorten it to an Inch.
Ram down powder and Ball.
With draw your scowrer.
Shorten it to an handfull.
Return your scowrer.
Poize your firelock.
Shoulder your firelock.
Poize your firelock.
Sling your firelock.
Handle your pouch.
Open your pouch.
Take forth your Granade.
Shut your pouch.
Vncase your fuse.
Handle your Match.
Blow your match.
Fire your fuse.
Deliver your Granade.
Raise your Hatchets.
Fall on.
Return your Hatchets.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 17f
Horse grenadier commands
Granadeers on Horseback
Granadeers haue a care.
Sling your musketts.
Put on your caps.
Right and left hand or each rank keep mounted.
Clear your right foot of the stirop.
Dismount altogether.
Make ready your links.
Link your horses to the left.
March clear of your horses.
Shoulder your muskets, &c. as before in the foot.
Faces to the right about.
Sling your muskets.
March to your horses.
Vnlink your horses.
Fasten your links.
Put your foot into the stirrop.
Mount.
Handle your sword.
Draw your sword.
Place your sword, put it in the bridle hand.
Handle your pistol. Taking always the left first.
Draw your pistol.
Cock your pistol.
Present.
Fire.
Return your pistol, then use the same words for the right pistol.
Vnsling your musket.
Mount your musket.
March, &c. Halt. Stand still. &c.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 18a
Drummer's duty
The duty of a Drummer
1. Euery Drummer by turnes, is to attend the head quarter, both in the field and garrison, though the company were at that tyme free from duty, that vpon warning he may beat for gathering of the company: or otherwise may be in a readynesse to receiue Orders from the Drum Major. His pay is 1s. the day.
2. The drummer is to beat all maner of beats, as a Call, a Troope, a March, a Preparative, a Battalia, a Retreit, a Tato, and a Ravally, and an Allarum &c. with some other recreative sounds but these are onely in use in Military bussinesses.
3. When the company is to meet he is to beat twice from one end of the quarter to the other, and them repaire to the Ensigns lodgings: when the company marcheth, the one if the drums must beat continually, and by turnes ease each other, and when the company shalbe joyned with others, the drums shall take place by the appointment of the Drum Major, and shall beat the same point of War, and obserue the same tyme the drum doth, that is next the colonell, or cheife commander.
4. It is the office of a drumer, when any of the company is taken prisoners, to enquire after him or them, and carry their Ransom which he may doe boldly after he hath receiued a passport from the generall or commander in cheife of the Army where the company is: and when he shall neere any place of the enimys, he must beat (or sound) thrice; and not approach too neere till he be by some of the enimy fetched in: where he is onely to make his errand knowne, but not to discouer any thing of the estate of the place from whence he is sent.
5. They must obserue what they see and take good notice thereof and to make a true report of it.
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 18b
The English March
Charles R.
Whereas the Ancient custome of Nations hath euer been to use one certaine and constant forme of March in the Warrs, whereby to be distinguished one from another; and the March of this our English Nation, so famous in all the Honorable atcheivements and glorious Warrs of this our Kingdome in forraigne parts (Being by the approbation of strangers themselues confest and acknowledged the best of all Marches) was through the negligence and carelessness of drumers, and by long discontinuance; so altered and changed from the Gravity and Maiestie thereof, as is was in danger utterly to haue bine lost and forgotten. It pleased our late deare Brother Prince Henry to revive and rectifue the same, by Ordering and establishment of one certaine measure which was beaten in his presence at Greenwich Anno 1610. The confirmation whereof we are graciously pleased, at the Instance and humble suit of our right trusty and right welbeloued cousin and councellor Edward, Viscount Wimbledon, to set down and ordaine this present Establishment here vnder expressed. Willing and commanding all drummers within our Kingdome of England and Principallity of Wales, exactly and precisely to obserue the same, as well in this our kingdome as abroad in the service of any Prince or State; without any addition or alteration whatsoeuer: To the end that so Auncient Famous and commendable a custome may be preserued, and a patterne and president to all posterity. Given at our pallace at Westminster the 7 Feb., In the seaventh yeare of our raigne of England: Scotl: France and Ireland: &c.
The Voluntary before the March.

The March with its seuerall parts.
Pou tou pou tou pong.
Pou tou pou Rou pong.
Rou pou tou Rou pong.
Rou Rou pou Rou pong.
Rou Rou pou tou Rou pou, tou pou Rou pong.
Rou Rou Rou Rou pong.
Rou Rou Rou pou Rou Rou pou, tou Rou Rou tou pou Rou Rou pong.
pou pong.
Subscribed: Arrundell and Surrey. Dorsett.
This is a true Coppy of the Originall signed by his Maiestie.
Edw: Norgate Windsor.

[For a recent commentary on this march, see Byrne, Maurice, 'The English March and early drum notation', Galpin Society Journal,50 (1997), 43-80]
Back to Text & Pictures

Chapter 19, Item 18c
Drum beat terms
Termes used by Drumers in their drum beating.
The seuerall Beates or points of warre are these, which are as so many Military signs for the souldier to walk or guide his actions by, and are termed semivocall signes, as you may se in the horse service, number 26 of chap.19.
1. A Generall is when all the drumes in a Regement beat together.
2. A Call.
3. A Troop.
4. A Voluntary before the March.
5. A March.
6. A Preparative.
7. A Challenge.
8. A Battalia.
9. A Retreit.
10. An Allarum.
11. A Parlae.
12. A Ta-to.
13. A Turn out.
14. A Revally, or Trevally, and ruvalley.
15. A Dead March.
The maner of which beatings is performed by single and double, quick and slow, down right and rowling blows, for which they haue these termes.
A Roofe.
A rowle.
A right and left.
A Flam.
A Dragg.
An Almon rowle.
A Diddle, and
Pou, Rou, tou, pong.
Of which take this one example set down by K. C. I. Of happy memory.
As for the antiquity of the drum,
...
But for delight.
A point of Warr. An Almaine when on sings to the drum.
A Salute, A Mascorade or Sumade, is all kind of drum beating made into one proper beating.
The chamadoes and Answers thereto.
Reveills and proclamations.
With seuerall other sorts of Beats for pleasure which a good Drum-beater can perform on his drum, as well as an other person can on his musicall Instrument.
Back to Text & Pictures

 

 
icon  Back to Main Text and Picture index  

[Table of Contents] [Picture Index] [Image List]
[Table of Subjects] [Text Index]   [Ms Pages]
[Introduction: Randle Holme and The Academy of Armory] [Introduction: Editing the CD-ROM]
[Copyright details] [Site map] [Guided Tour]



icon  © 2000 The British Library Board