BEST FOOT FORWARD
The exercise of the foot; With the Evolutions, According to the Words of Command, As they are Explained. As also The Forming of Battalions, with Directions to be Observed by all colonels, captains, and other Officers in Their Majesties Armies.
London.
Printed by Charles Bill and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, 1696.
8vo.
[2], 235pp, [1]. Contemporary blind-tooled speckled calf. A trifle rubbed, small worm-track to foot of spine. Loss to lower corner of leaf M3. Recently dispersed from the Cottlesloe Military Library 'probably the most extensive private collection of early printed books focused on military matters', with the bookplate of Thomas Francis Fremantle, 3rd Lord Cottesloe (1862-1965) to FEP.
An early edition of an infantry drill manual for the army of England, first published by royal command in 1690; no doubt compiled in response to the continuing hostilities of the Nine Years' War. Participation in the conflict had necessitated the expansion of the English army to a size five times larger than Charles II’s forces had been in 1685. The war was welcomed by those who thought that participation restored English honour after a long period of military decay.
Interestingly, in addition to the operation of the, still somewhat novel, musket, the work contains exercises of the pike, a weapon that by 1705 was no longer employed by the English army, being entirely superseded by the flintlock. It would appear therefore that this is one of, if not the final military publication to included instruction for this increasingly outmoded form of spear warfare.
£ 625.00
Antiquates Ref: 22713
Interestingly, in addition to the operation of the, still somewhat novel, musket, the work contains exercises of the pike, a weapon that by 1705 was no longer employed by the English army, being entirely superseded by the flintlock. It would appear therefore that this is one of, if not the final military publication to included instruction for this increasingly outmoded form of spear warfare.
