Company Organization
An English company of foot consists of between one hundred and two hundred men (mainly pikemen and musketeers), commanded by a captain, a lieutenant, two sergeants, and five corporals. In this they are aided by an ensign and a pair of drummers. The company will likely also have a clerk, a surgeon, and other auxiliaries. A variable number of companies may be grouped into a colony, commanded by a colonel.
Of the Captain…
At the head of any company of foot, figuratively and literally, is the captain. He has quite possibly raised the company from scratch, and upon his shoulders rests the not-inconsiderable responsibility of keeping one to two hundred men fed, clothed, sheltered, equipped, and transported. Once in battle, he leads from the front. All this is the theory. In practice, many captains raised companies that existed only on paper, with men hired for the annual muster in place of real soldiers. Even an honest captain would reasonably be expected to divert some of the funds meant for general company upkeep into his own purse.
Goode’s Company is led by Captain Nathaniel Goode, who has been missing for some time. Rumors say that he fled the country ahead of a jealous husband, or that he is convalescing in France after a bout of the French pox, or that the devil himself collected him as part of an old debt. Whatever the truth, his subordinates carry on in his absence.
Of the Lieutenant…
Second in command to the captain is the lieutenant. To him is delegated much of the day-to-day administration of the company: oversight of the sergeants and corporals, organizing of supplies, and training the men. In battle, the lieutenant brings up the rear of the company and is charged with, among other duties, convincing those who would desert in battle to return to the ranks.
Lieutenant William Elder de facto commands the company until the worthy Captain Goode returns from his “convalescence”.
Of the Ensign…
The ensign—a corruption of “Ancient” (as in Shakespeare’s “Ancient Pistol”)—carries the company’s colors. That the colors themselves are also sometimes referred to as the ensign indicates how closely this man was to guard them. The colors, carried by the ensign, are vital in that they are the primary way for a general to identify a formation of men at a distance so that he might send them orders. While technically an officer, the ensign himself has no command authority. The ensign’s place in battle is at the center of the formation.
The office of ensign rotates among soldiers of Goode’s Company.
Of the Drums…
Good drummers are essential for communication of orders among a company of foot. Drum signals are commonly used and the drum signals the execution of every command. In battle the drummers will usually be found in the center of the formation near the ensign.
In Goode’s Company we try to maintain a pair of drummers but often have only one. A good drummer is a treasure beyond price. A bad drummer will make a march significantly more difficult and will incur the wrath of short-tempered people with spears and guns.
Of the Sergeants…
A company of foot generally has two sergeants, each overseeing a “sergeantry” of 50 men. They were responsible for ensuring that every man was trained properly, both in the use of his particular weapon, and in the marching and drill used in combat. Sergeants are also responsible for ensuring that the men’s equipment is in proper order and for tracking ready supplies like powder and ball. In battle, the sergeants—each carrying their weapon of office, the halberd—would be stationed on each flank of the formation to keep order.
Of the Corporals & Lancepresados…
Five (or so) corporals are appointed to lead a “squadron” of roughly twenty men each, mainly in administrative things, like tracking supplies, keeping equipment clean, and ensuring the men’s attendance at muster. Think squad leader. Their place in battle varies, but often one would be assigned to the pikemen while the others led detachments of shot for independent skirmishing. Each corporal may be assigned a lancepresado who serves as his assistant.
Goode’s Company currently maintains four corporals, occasionally rotating the office for training purposes.
Of the Pikemen…
Pikemen make up anywhere from one to two thirds of a company of foot, with the proportion decreasing as the sixteenth century progresses. The pike itself is a sixteen foot long spear, equally effective at killing men and horses. Pikemen are strong, fearless, and disciplined. Maybe. Every man in a pike formation has a relative worth—based on his ability, experience, and armor—called his “dignity”. Men of higher dignity are placed on the front and rear of the formation to better resist enemy attack. At this time, piking was considered more noble than shot.
Every soldier in Goode’s Company trains as a pikeman first before they pursue other roles, like musketeer.
Of the Musketeers…
The musketeer enters battle with a dozen or more vials of explosive strapped to his body and a burning match in his hand. He is daring and probably a little crazy, which makes him right at home in Goode’s Company. He is frequently out ahead of the formation, firing at the enemy from advance skirmish positions. A “musketeer” may in fact be equipped with an harquebus (a smaller version of a musket).
Goode’s company has a small contingent of musketeers, limited mainly by the available firearms. They follow period practices and drill both with the pikes and on their own.