The Marquess of Winchester's Regiment

English Civil War Re-enacting 

Chapter 3
Of the Drum

Our soldiers being sufficiently instructed in the postures of such arms as they carry (or appointed to use ) the next thing they are to learn is the knowledge of the several beats of the Drum, which is requisite to be learnt of the soldier, as any thing else in this way. For the Drum is the voice of the Commander, the spur of the valiant, and the heart of the coward, and by it they must receive their directions, when the roaring, canon, the closing of arms, the neighing of horses, and other confused noise caused that neither Captain, nor other officer can be heard. Therefore it will be necessary that every soldier should learn these six several beats. vis.

1 A Call. 2 A Troop. 3 A March. 4 A Preparative. 5 A Battle. 6 A Retreat.

1 By a Call, you must understand to prepare to hear present Proclamation, or else to repair to your Ensign.
2 By a Troop, understand and to order your musket, to advance your pike, to close your Ranks & Files to their Order, and to Troop along with (or Follow) your Officer to the place of Rendezvous, or elsewhere.
3 My a March you are to understand to take your open order in rank, to shoulder both Musket & Pikes, and to direct your March either quicker or slower, according to the beat of the Drum.
4 By a Preparative you are to understand and to close to your due distance, for a skimish both in Rank & File, and to make ready, that so you may execute upon first command.
5 By a Battle, or charge, understand and the continuation of pressing forward in order of Battalia without lagging behind, rather boldly stepping forward in the place of him that falls dead or wounded, before thee.
6 By a Retreat, understand an orderly retiring backward, either for relief, for advantage of ground, or for some other political end, as to draw the enemy into some ambush, or such like. Much more might be written concerning the Drum, but this may suffice for the present.