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. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A78014 of text R210291 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.10[9]). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 9 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A78014 Wing B6144 Thomason 669.f.10[9] ESTC R210291 99869103 99869103 162550 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. 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. eng Military art and sciences -- England -- Early works to 1800. A78014 R210291 (Thomason 669.f.10[9]). civilwar no Militarie instructions, or the souldier tried, for the vse, of the dragon, being a part of cavalrie, for fierings, on horsback, as the harqu Burt, Nathaniel 1644 1511 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2008-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-12 John Pas Sampled and proofread 2008-12 John Pas Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion 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 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 , 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 horse-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 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 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 . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A78014e-30 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 . ( 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. ( 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.