ascend to the Glorie thereof then which there is not any flame of profession whatsoeuer that can aspire beyond it or of the goodnesse of his fires make a Starre more fixed and enduring for as all Arts are sooner attained then this by quiet studie warme ease and sound rest neither perplexing the mind nor putting the body in danger so the Souldier whose ends are euer high and great findes difficultie in all his designes dangers in his attempts and death both the Crown and Song of his Conquest and Triumph nor are they sutable to any particular proportion but euen married and allied to euery warlike action as whether with Alexander he seeke the conquest of the world or with Hanibal striue but to defend a particular citie for Souldiers cannot march farre sitting still nor compasse much with poore endeauors as their aymes are great so must be their actions and as their desires are infinite such must be their dangers which considered it must necessarily follow that their glory ought farre to exceed all others Souldiers are for the most part men of great and incomparable Spirits which is such a glorious Garment and so precious a Iewell wherewith to adorne Vertue that it sets her forth in the highest degree of all excellencie and perfection where on the contrary base low little and straight minds who haue nothing of price in them but life not any thing wise but their feares nor any Bountie more than a continuall affection to worldly riches These are in no sort fit for emploiments of this Martiall and high nature The true Souldier takes Scipio for his example and is like him spare of speech and euer musing lookes vpon Salust and with him is secret in his counsels but open in his actions and admires Furius Camillus with whom hee is neither puffed vp by any successe in Fortune nor yet abashed or deiected though his designes runne neuer so desperately to ruine and disorder Hence it comes that the greatest Princes stile all men of Warre their Fellow-Souldiers and the meanest amongst them in the way of Vassailage disdaine to serue the greatest persons well may they serue vnder them but cannot be truly said to serue them their hands they may commaund to vse the Sword not to carry a Trencher their minds they may inflame with courage not quench with flattery and their bodies they may sacrifice to Glory but not offer vp either to their Lusts Pride or Ambitions All Warres are either Offensiue or Defensiue to inuade others or preserue themselues either of which no man ought to vndertake but for a glorious purpose To God belongeth our actions to him therefore and his Glorie ought all Warre to bee dedicate For Warres offensiue or Inuading they must euer be either to plant Gods Name and Christian Religion amongst vs or else to regaine those Rights and Dominions which formerly being giuen from God haue been iniuriously taken and withheld from the true and lawfull owners and of this we haue plentifull examples in holy Writ both in the Stories of Moses Iosua Dauid and the Maccabees of which if wee should speake particularly some haue been commaunded by Gods owne mouth to make warres to destroy yea to take no Truce but to kill euery liuing Soule others haue themselues assumed Armes to these ends and by these examples and some haue regained their vniust losses by a lawfull Warre vnder a diuine authoritie As these so other great mindes though much lesse in true holy knowledge and with a much scanter Warrant furnished with great successe haue imbarked themselues into great actions and preposing humane ends as Scales to their high Thoughts haue become gloriously victorious in the world as Ninus in the first age Cyrus in the second Alexander in the third and Caesar in the fourth all these haue had glorious ends and famous Names and their memory will continue whilst Time hath continuance But when I fixe them against the Sun-shine of Christian and godly Captaines such as was our first Richard in the Holy land Burbon before Rome Great Henrie of Fraunce against the League or our renowned Henries of England pulling their Birth-rights from such as vsurped them then me thinks like new Starres they are either lost at their first finding or like eclipsed lights haue in themselues no beautie but such as is borrowed The Glory which appertaines to a perfit Souldier is of a two-fold Nature the one Terrestriall the other Celestiall of the first no doubt euery Heathen Conquerour will be a glorious partaker and memorie shall keepe their memories as long as Marble Brasse or the leaues of Bookes shall endure But the Champions of the Almightie shall be glorified for euer and euer both heere in the world and after beyond all worlds First therefore let Gods Battels be fought for that is the Tithe of our duties Next our Princes for that is the Rent of our Seruice and lastly our Countries for that is the Fee due from our Gratitude and in these two latter obligations there ought to be such a corespondence with Goodnesse that Princes ought not to ingage themselues in any action without God because God will not commaund vs any imployment but by the Prince whom hee hath assigned his Deputie forbidding vs Warre but for the King and not to dare in any semblance whatsoeuer to leuie or raise Armes but by and at the especiall commaundement of the King for so glorious is the profession of a Souldier that it is onely to bee raised for God by the King Subiects in other things haue great Priuiledges in this they are confined for Warre is Gods great businesse and whosoeuer leads he still should be Generall Now for warres Defensiue which questionlesse are more warranted they haue likewise most glorious ends For when God hath giuen to a people a Prince either by iust Conquest or lawfull Succession if then the violence of Tyrannie the falshood of Treason or the greedinesse of Ambition seeke to subuert and dispossesse what God hath planted O how iustly then are Armes assumed and how infinite is the Glory which depends on so noble a Reformation Slaughter a thing most odious to God and Nature in this case Heauen doth not onely permit it but commaund it and men-killers in this seruice shall bee crowned not alone with Oake but with Lawrell nay to such perfection they attaine that men dying with wounds of this vertuous nature like so many Martyrs with their last gaspe they are borne triumphantly into heauen I meane not those wicked Darers which make the Warres their whoore on whom they vent the pollutions of their swaggering Natures making Rapin Ryot and Disorder the three cornerd cap to couer the head of their purpose But such as vndergoe the cause of Conscience whose Warrant is from God and whose actions are mooued by a sollid and stedfast dutie fixt on their Prince and Countrey These doubtlesse how great soeuer the streame of Blood be which they spill shall shine with Martyrs at
name I must couer both your kinswoman and your owne greatnesse and to you in this Epistle giue a briefe account of those especiall Motiues which haue stirred me vp to vndertake and performe this labour in such sort as it is heere though bluntly and plainly yet with all truth and care faithfully effected I must confesse I neither expect nor wish for greater priuiledge then others haue found which haue runne before me in Tracts of the like nature but euer stand ready to receiue the Battery of Censure and Opinion onely from the daring ignorant pray heartily for some helpe and assistance for they neuer hold faire quarter but still carrie poyson in their weapons whereas Iudgement and Learning are euer noble and like Achilles if they hurt yet cure againe in the same instant Me thinks I heare one question how a man vnlearned and hauing spent so long a time in the warres could find leasure to arme himselfe for others instruction or how where few or no Bookes are yet Bookes should thus bee daily created another obiects how I hauing attained no greater place than the Title of priuate Captaine can finde out Rules by which to direct and gouerne more publique and powerfull Officers and the last though not the least in the bundle of Envie demands how I dare professe this Trade of making Booke-Souldiors as if the Arte of Warre were not better attain'd by Practise than Contemplation to all which I must returne this one ioynt and entire answere first it is not vnknown to those which best know me that I was euer a louer of the Muses and as I spent my Summer Progresse in the warres so I consumed my Winters quiet in the wholsome delights of forraine Accademies and if I be any way short in Scholler-like perfection questionlesse the defect proceeds much rather from mine owne dulnesse than desire to rest at that point which might in some sort expresse me a Scholler Thirtie and odde yeares I haue spent abroad in these imployments and sure the Prentiship is so sufficient that a very dull Mechannick might in that space haue writ himselfe Master of his occupation and the greatest trewant much sooner a willing mind might without wonder in that time attaine to the highest degree in the grauest Studie and questionlesse this I must say for the Warres that euen in Garisons and Campes I haue profited more by conference with noble Spirits than by any priuat Meditation though pen'd with the greatest luster so that ioyning together Practise and Obseruation had I been duller then Malice could wish me yet I could not but haue made much vse of my deseruings and finding it Honestum Vtile Delectabile how could mine Admiration chuse but still search to find out the perfection For this Ne Sutor vltra I haue seene so many vndertakings of men which neuer saw the Warres passe with that applause and reuerence that I imagined although my Suruey was neuer so little yet I might more freely labour in this worke and make mine experience of greater force both for mine owne knowledge and others satisfaction Againe howsoeuer my Fortune hath staid in the middle way or halfe path to Greatnes yet hath both my Blood and it made me worthy to commerce and confer with great persons and to obserue the greatest Actions so that marrying to mine owne Readings the manage of their approued wisdomes I could not be so weakly fortified as to make doubt of mine owne strength or to suppose it is not able to beare me a much higher pitch than at this time mine Ambition will giue me leaue to presume Lastly for the title of a Booke-Souldier than which there is not a more distastfull sound to the eare of a military Professour I confesse a meere Phormio is vnfit to tutor Hanibal and a meere Aiax which hath nothing but his anger is lesse fit then Vlisses to weare Achilles armour but there must euer bee such a perfit mixture in the composition which is made between them that the Souldier must neuer be without one cup of the Muses Nepenthe nor the Scholler so vnnimble but that at any command he may be able to dance a Lauolta to the tune of the Cannon Caesar must be able to write his Commentaries and Tullie know how to put on his Armor when Rome is ready to be fired That the Subiect it selfe must lie at the mercy of Censure the very Times doe allow it for Peace hath made vp her garland with such sweet Flowers that the bitternes of Lawrell is not to bee disgested and euery one can say to his companion Take downe your harps againe and hang vp your Armes on the willowes breake no sleeps with your drums nor let the barbed Steed either spurne the earth or chide the bit which restraines him let Souldiers now turne Tradesmen for Minerua hath cast away her lance the Booke of the seuen Arts is become both her play-mate and pillow Is not Ianus temple now closed and yet shall Warre speake loud to affright vs hath not this land been harrowed many yeres with Romans Saxons Danes and Normans haue not our selues within our selues in the Barons wars and in the mightie diuisions of Yorke and Lancanster spent blood enough hath not the iniuries of France the reuenge of Spaine and the falshood of Ireland opened wounds enough but that now when God hath sent vs a peaceable Prince a hopefull Issue happie Vnion and a generall calmenesse with all that dwell farre or neere about vs shall we now sing of warre or let the sound of the drumme thunder amazement amongst vs O no t is a labour needlesse and a seruice thanklesse Well all this I confesse and more then this will solemnly affirme that Peace is the sweetest tune which euer warbled in a Christians eare euen sacred from heauen for it is said I will leaue my Peace with you most desired of good men and such a blessing to vs that enioy it as searching amongst all the Treasures both of heauen and earth none is found to mankind more deare or precious so that we are infinitly bound to praise God and pray for the King by whose mercy and wisedome wee haue found so gracious a possession But because Peace is to be desired shall Warre bee vtterly neglected because we enioy the sweet taste of Tranquilitie shall we cast away the wholesome bitternesse of Warre or because the Summer quarter hangs vpon vs shall we thinke Winter will rot on the Skie and stand in need of no prouision God forbid the world and her proiects tels vs the contrary nay the Sauiour of the world hath prophesied to the contrary affirming that At the end of the world there shall bee warres and rumours of warres and therefore howsoeuer we are now blest with an hauenly possession of Peace yet we are but Tenants at will and these secure times best fit martiall meditations Warre is the teeming mother and doth in as much abundance bring foorth Souldiers as Peace
company to dispence with places and duties of this nature yet in true seuere discipline this place was first allotted for yong Gentlemen of good Blood and discent who desirous to aduance their fortunes in the warres haue for pay thrust themselues vnder the commands of sundry Captaines for whose encouragement and respect both this place and dutie and an aduancement of some greater pay then that to a common Souldier was instituted and ordeined and questionles there is great reason there should be some distinction betweene them and the vulgar And although for knowledge sake it is sometimes a glory vnto them to stand Sentinell yet it must bee out of their voluntary motion for no constraint ought to inforce them thereunto These Gentlemen as they are Rounders are trusted with the Word which no Sentinel may be they are the leaders or Captains of Files in the company wherin they serue and may challenge the most honorable places in all Marches such as are the most likely to come to the first encounter of the enemy they may challenge now and then entertainmēt at the Captains own table and being without disparagement of cleare blood and vertue euen the General himselfe should not contemne them and doubtles these extraordinary graces doe infinitely oblige thankfull minds and in cases of Mutiny or any other priuate disorder doe much strengthen the Commander for being right Gentlemen of sweet conuersation they will euer haue in the company some to depend vpon thē so that howsoeuer mischiefes runne they will commonly haue the greater assuredly the better part to adhere vnto them and indeed it ought to be their study that as they are respected aboue the vulgar so they should excell the vulgar in the vertues of Fidelity Valour Secrecy Patience Abstinence and Continence and as others serue for gaine so they must serue for Glorie and aduancement Now to descend to the particular duty of the Rounder he ought first to set the watch either in company or in squadron whether it be in Garison or in the field to march with his fellowes in Armes to the place where the Corps du guard is appointed and there to place himselfe in a comely and silent manner till the Corporall haue set out all his Sentinels and that the first round is gone about which ought to be performed by the Captaine of the Watch himselfe or some other supreme Officer then after some small pause the Captain Lieutenant Serieant or Corporall which hath the charge of the Corps du guard shall call foorth two Gentlemen Rounders for it is to be vnderstood that they ought euer for the most part to go double and not single and to these in very silent manner hee shall deliuer the Word giuing them great charge of care and secresie therein and so forthwith they shal passe away vpon the Round with such ordinary Armes as they vsually carry which for the most part is the Pike for that is accounted the Gentlemans weapon Now being on vpon the Round they must with a very curious eye and a quicke eare obserue any cause of danger bee it neuer so light they must take a suruey of all Rampiers bulwarks trenches mines whatsoeuer they encounter with and behold if they can perceiue any thing dangerous about thē according to the brightnes or obscurnes of the aire so must their vigilance be augmented for if it be clear light then must their eies be their best Intelligēcers if it be cloudy dark vnperceiuable then must their eares inform them and they must diuers times stand still and listen whether they can heare any speech or conference and obserue of what consequence value the words are also if they can heare any trampling of horses fect any clashing of armors or if they can discern any glimpse of fire or sparklings of Marches and the like any of which when they perceiue they shall either conceale themselues till it approch them that they may discouer it or else draw as neere vnto it as they can with conuenience and if they find eminent danger either retire and giue notice or els raise the alarme but if it be in case of equality then by calling receiuing the Word giue passage or otherwise for want therof take them prisoners bring them to the Guard but vpon any resistance then it is lawfull to kill as being an enemy but not otherwise Thus passing along vpon the Round when they come vnto the Sentinels they must make their approches with all the art and cunning that can be deuised and with all silence stealing neere vnto them watch whether they be asleep or whether they stand carelesly out of order not vpon their guard they shall by perswasion intisement or insinuation trie if they can come within them if they can take their weapons from them or if they will admit them to passe by without calling their Corporall as knowing that they are Gentlemen of their Company and of their familiar acquaintance or the like careles escapes which they shall put to the vttermost triall then they shal presently call the Corporal to whom declaring their negligence and offence another Sentinel shall be forthwith placed and the offending one caried to the Guard shall by his superior officer receiue seuere condigne punishment The reasons of euery which attempt I forbeare to set downe because they would but ouerburden so short an Epistle and no man I hope that shall happen vpon this discourse will haue so shallow an vnderstanding as not to conceiue how dangerous the least of these escapes may prooue to the body of an Army It hath bin a question whether the Gentlemen Rounders may wink at these offences and only by giuing sharp admonishment to the Sentinel or peraduenture a drie blow or two conceale it from his superior officer but it is most certaine that they may not but in dutie ought truely to reueale vnto him all materiall things whatsoeuer which hath hapned vnto them in going of the Round But if in the Round they find all things wel and to their contentment and that the Sentinels are vigilant and carefull so as nothing can escape or passe by them then when the Sentinel shal say Quiva la or Who goes there the Rounder shall reply A Friend when the Seutinell shall say Stand the Rounder shall answer Call your Corporall then when the Corporall approcheth the Rounder shall in his eare deliuer the word with all secrecy which being true the Corporall shall say Passe along and so the Rounder shall depart to the next Sentinell and in that maner from Sentinell to Sentinell till he haue gone round about and be come to his owne Corps du guard againe If the Rounders in passing the Round shall encounter with other Rounders then they which first discouer shall first call and first challenge the word but if both discouer at one instant as it were call in one moment then they shall enterchangeably both
Warre and deep-amazing Alarmes yet when I call to mind the excellencie of your Noble Blood and see how it springs out of the two heroicke Fountaines of Rutland and Willoughbie the first whereof Nature and dutie commands me to honour the other the goodnes of their owne vertues me thinks I see that strong promise of great Spirit within you that it seemes to say If the great Henrie of France playing amongst the Boyes of Pau was at ten yeares old chosen for a Generall why not you at as young be fit for Souldierly cogitations doubtlesse you are doublesse you will be and in that assurance I am bold to knocke at your eare with this short and plaine Epistle which when you haue pleased to reade if you finde nothing in it for your present vse then lay it by t is ten to one but ere an age or lesse be consumed you shall find occasion to reuiew it and though you finde nothing absolute and rare yet something there may be in it worthy your obseruation and knowledge The next degree or Station aboue the two Officers last named and who also is a dependant vpon the Master of the Ordnance taking from him most of his commands and directions is the Trench-master who by some and not vnproperly is called the Engine-master the qualitie of whose Office consisteth generally in matter of Fortifications Immurings and â—ntrenchments for he is both to fortifie the Campe and also to make the approches It is he that must communicate and mixe Art and Nature so well together that lending to either the perfections which it wanteth 〈◊〉 â—…kes the vniuersall Body of his worke absolute and impregnable for as Nature in some places may bee a great assistance vnto him for the perfecting of his worke so Art in other places must either take all authoritie vpon her or the whole worke bee left naked and weake to any approch or assault of the enemy so that in this Officer or Trench-master must bee a knowledge at the first apprehension or viewing how much Nature can any way helpe him in his worke and how much Art is necessary to the bringing of Nature to the fulnesse of perfection for it is to be vnderstood that Nature is a good houswife and saueth much charges in all Fortifications when Art is a prodigal and lauisheth out both coine and mens labours therefore in this mans Office is required a good husbanding of both their conditions and a finishing of the purpose he goeth about at as easie and small a charge as may be He is an Officer at whose hands are required a two fold dutie the one of Safetie the other of Hurt or Annoyance for to his friends he must be a strength and safeguard and to his enemies a plague and mischiefe It is requisite that in his election he be chosen a man of learning and experience especially skilfull in the Mathematickes and all Geometricall rules and proportions and that he haue the authority of long practise sound knowledge to countenance and defend whatsoeuer hee vndertaketh for in his Braine and Brest and the strength of his profession consisteth the safetie of the whole Armie which is lodg'd within the compasse of his intrenchments for his Art must be their wall of defence and by the square of his iudgement is their securitie lost or made perfect When therefore the plot of Ground for emcamping is appointed and chosen out by the Lord Marshall and that the Quarter-master hath deuided it into sundry large quarters for the generall receit of the whole Armie then shall the Trench-master forthwith stake out the vttermost verge and extreamest part thereof for the best aduantage of the Campe and the greatest hurt and annoyance that can be to the enemy which done according to the best proportions which will agree with the nature of the ground and those formes into which the Marshall and Quarter-masters haue formed the Campe he shall draw his Intrenchments and Fortifications girdling and surrounding the same in such manner about that the enemy may in no wise make any attempt thereupon without his certaine losse and hindrance and making all his approches and entrances to the Campe with such intricate Art and vnder such Guards and defences of its owne strength that the enemy may neither haue hope nor abilitie at any time to giue vpon the same but when hee shall returne backe repulst and laden both with shame and dishonour I haue in mine owne experience knowne some principall great Commanders as namely Sir William Pelham a noble and renowned Souldier who was Lord Marshall in my Lord of Leicesters time in the Low countries and after him Sir Francis Vere who both by experience and obseruation were wonderfully skilfull in this kind and notwithstanding both of them had most excellent Officers vnder them and men of exceeding rare knowledge in these practises yet in these great important affaires of Fortifications and Assurances in guarding of the Campe they still performed all things by their owne proper Commaund and directions neither could any danger how eminent or certaine soeuer either in the viewes approches or discouery of places fit to be fortified deterre or keepe them backe but notwithstanding they both receiued many great and almost deadly wounds yet still they performed those seruices in their owne persons But this was the perfection of their knowledge and the absolute rarenesse of their courage which is not alwaies found out in men of their high place and commaundement therefore it is expedient that in euery Army there should be this distinct and especial officer both for the generall safetie of the Souldier that hee may march without hazard to the approches outward skirts of the campe which as it were outfaceth the enemy and also being there may be defended against any Sallies Stratagems or other annoyances as also to haue a freedome of power to mount their Ordnance at pleasure and to make Mounts to receiue the Artillery also to raise Caualiers to digge Mines vnder earth or running Trenches to any Curtaine or Bulwarke whereby either the whole frame or at least the Orâ—chion Tronera or Pendent may bee molested or destroyed beside a world of other new deuices both to secure the camp and repulse the enemy when he shall vndertake any attempt against it This officer must haue a ready and pregnant skill in casting out the true proportion of all manner of Trenches forming the depths and breadths thereof according to Art and the imployment for which they were first framed It behoues him to know how to forme and modell out all sorts of Bulwarks making them large and massie how to make election of his earth for toughnesse and firmenesse how to ramme it pile it and in case the mould be light and subtill then in what sort to temper and mixe it and to bring it to a body that shall be tough closse and sollid then how to cast his ditches both about and betweene each seuerall Bulwark how to
despight of his owne will from running into disorder It is also the office of this Forrage-master when he approcheth any of those places where he findeth in part or whole the commodities he seeketh to haue a circumspect regard to the situation of the place and in what manner those commodities grow there as also what aduantage the ground or any place neighbouring neere vnto the same may haue for the placing and concealing of any ambush or other stratageme which may put himselfe and his company in danger and finding any suspition or doubt thereof it is his part presently to collect what ground of aduantage may againe relieue himselfe if any such vnlookt for accident should happen and hauing armed himselfe against the worst of all disastrous suppositions he shall yet notwithstanding dare to engage either himselfe or his company further then he hath a safe and assured retrait whereby to bring them off in despight of all the politike engines which the subtiltie of the enemy can deuise Lastly when the Forrage-master bringeth hom his Bootie which is all necessary prouisions belonging to the Horse-troupes he shall before it be shared make in his owne account a true value and estimation thereof and if he find it bee in any great measure or large quantitie so that the abundance amounteth to a very plentifull ouerplus then shall hee first of all deduct out of the whole Grosse a competent proportion to serue all the Troups of horse for the present and then the necessitie of their occasions and the profit of the Armie desiring such frugalitie he shall cause the rest to be stored and laid vp in some conuenient prouision house and thence weekely by his inferiour Officers haue it deliuered out to the Clerks of the Troups without any lauish expence or vnthrifty consumption of the same and questionlesse a better care cannot be preserued for I haue knowne in mine owne experience when at our first sitting downe before a place besieged comming vnexpected and before such prouisions could bee taken from our possessions wee haue found wondrous great plentie of all sorts of these accommodations yet hauing carelesly wasted and consumed the same without remembring any necessities that might arise from future times and being by the stubbornenesse of the enemy fixt to the continuance of a lingring Siege we haue vndergone such penury and want that it hath bin questionable whether the Besieger or the Besieged haue sustained at the hand of Fortune the greater calamitie whereas the smallest spark of Care in the beginning had fixt such a sure nayle in the wheele of Fate that nothing would haue troubled vs which had the least shadow or shape of Necessitie Many other complementall Obseruations might bee added to the nature of this office but being partly immateriall to my purpose and partly such neere dependants to the things already discussed that the one is no more but an exposition of the other I will neither bee tedious to your Lordship nor a breaker of order in the method I haue vndertaken but shut vp mine Epistle with this Conclusion That whosoeuer doth as much in this Office as is already deliuered albe hee doe not all that can be imagined yet he shall doe as much as any necessary Reason can be expected TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD DARCY OF THE SOVTH NOW Viscount COLCHESTER THE ARGVMENT Of the Victuall-Master FOr me to Coine vnto your Lordship any new complement whereby to insinuate more then mine Ignorance vnderstands were a thing stranger then my strangenes vnto you Therefore I only take by the hand in this place the necessitie of your noble Range to which I am bound and the goodnesse of your honorable minde which I know will giue allowance to euery worthy study these I hope shall excuse mee and for these I know you will so farre know me as in reading this Epistle you shall finde me worthy your notice more I will not begge lesse I dare not desire and this I hope I shall euer reape from your noble vertue The next Officer assending in this warlike legend and with which I am to account in this Epistle is that of the Victuall-Master Prouant-Master or Purueyor of victuals for the whole Body of the Armie and is indeede a principall and eminent person holding a place both of great Trust Care and Estimation his generall dependance is vpon the Armie and the Generalls especiall Commandments but the perticular looketh most at the Treasurer for he supplyeth all those necessities which he is not able to furnish The ellection of this man ought to be out of the best sort of Gentlemen hauing in him both the dignity of Blood and the glory of vertue with the one to feele and pitty mens wants and extreamities and with the other to giue a speedy honest and an wholesome remedy he ought to be endued with three especiall vertues as first Wisdome which he is to exercise in making his prouisions then Temperance which is to gouerne him in the expence of his commodities according to order and lastly Frugalitie by which to increase and keepe good his store in an honest profitable and thrifty manner he should be a man of yeares and great experience both in the natures of men the necessities of the warrs and the proportioning of allowances but especially he must be a man notably well seene in all manner of houshold prouisions knowing both the Rates of all manner of victualls the places where best to find them and the safest and wholesomest way how to keepe and preserue them he must not in any wise be a Begger for he that hath neglected to feede himselfe will either little regard how hee feedeth others or else so extreamely feed himselfe first that other men will sterue whilst he is in surfeting To conclude he must in no wise be a hard harted or couetous person for Couetousnes is the mother of many vices and if this Officer either to gaine at cheape Rates by vnsound and insufficient victuals or to keepe them till the extreamity of times doe compell the Souldier to accept them store them till they rot and turne to putrifaction and then force them on those where deniall can not be heard nor relieued then belieue it this man doth his Prince and Country most wicked seruice hath the curse of the liuing and the blood of many slaughter'd Soules hanging at his elbow for from this ground aboue others doe mutenies and deuisions amongst Souldiers arise which is seldome apeas'd but with death and from hence in mine owne experience I haue obserued two such insurrections that they started the whole Armie with amazement Touching the nature and qualitie of this Officer he is to make prouision for the Armie of all kind of victualls whatsoeuer carefully and faithfuly and for that purpose is to haue at euery Rendiuous or place of Garrisson a fit and conuenient Store-House in which to pile vp and accomodate the same whether it be Bread Bisket Cheese Butter
haue neuer so rude an vtterance yet you shal find it beares a worthy affection both to your Name and Honor. The Office vpon which I touch in this place my best Lord is that of the Prouost-Marshall which howsoeuer the Generall through his greatnes and priority of place hath power to confirme and appoint yet commonly the Gentleman which is designed therunto is alwaies nominated and recommended by the Lord Marshall of the field being his vnder Officer and one vnto whom is deliuered the charge and keeping of all Delinquents and criminall offenders whatsoeuer This Office I haue seene in mine experience to carry a double and two-fold estimation yet rather out of corruption then true ground men iudging of the good or euill thereof according to the worthinesse or vnworthinesse of the partie which held it the honest wise vnderstanding man swaying it with Reputation and Renowne The foolish base and contemptible person ordering it with a regard of as much or more Imputation But all this is fault in Election not in Place for it is certaine the Office in it selfe is both worthy necessary and good a calling fit for a Gentleman of Blood and qualitie and a degree wherein a man may expresse any vertue to the life both with applause and admiration It is also of great profit and aduauncement which inferres Merit and there is knit vnto it a singular Trust which must euer allow of much Faith and Wisdome I cannot compare it in our ciuill gouernment to any office neerer then that of our Vnder-Sherifes which howsoeuer the prouerbe is Twise an Vnder-Sherise euer a Knaue yet it is but corruption that makes good the Adage for I know many honest men that many yeares haue had the place yet many times better then a world of those which contemne it But to proceed the Gentleman which should be elected to this place of Prouost-Marshall would bee a man of great Iudgement and Experience in all Martiall Discipline well seene in the lawes and ordinances of the Campe and such a one as knew well the vse benefit and necessitie of all things belonging either vnto Food or Raiment he should bee a louer of Iustice impartiall in his dealings and free from the transportation of Passions he should haue an eare that contemptuously could beat backe not furiously drinke in Slander and rayling language hee should haue an eye that could gaze on all obiects without winking and an heart full of discreet compassion but not toucht with foolish or melting pitie In briefe he ought to be only the Lawes seruant and indeed to challenge no more in himselfe then so much as exprest to her his obedience For the nature of his Office hee is first the great and principall Gaoler of the Armie hauing power to detaine and keepe prisoner whosoeuer shal be committed vnto him by lawfull authoritie and though some contemptuously haue cal'd him the Hangman or executioner of the Army yet it is not so but as our Sheriffes of Counties are bound to find slaues for such needfull vses so he by his place is obliged to find men and other implements for all such occasions and to that end hath allowance for many attendants of all sorts and conditions and many Substitutes which are called Vnder-Prouosts who haue likewise allowance of attendants to dispatch any execution how suddenly soeuer commanded and to that end it is not lawfull for the Vnder-Prouosts to goe at any time without Halters Wit hs or strangling cords of Match euer about them The Pruoust-Marshall hath the charge of all manner of tortures as Gyues Shackels Bolts Chaines Bilbowes Manacles Whips and the like and may by his Ministers vse them either in case of Iudgement or Commandement from a Marshall Court or otherwise vpon vnrulinesse at his owne discretion hee is by his officers to see all places of Execution prepared and furnished with Engins fitting to the Iudgement whether it bee Gallowes Gybbets Scaffolds Pillories Stocks or Strappadoes or any other Engine which is set vp for terrour and affright to such as behold it This Officer hath the guard and keeping of all such Prisoners as are taken in the warres till they be either ransomed exchanged or by the General otherwise disposed in this case the nobler his vsage is the greater will the praise be of his humanitie vertue If any Drums or Trumpets shal happen to come from the enemy they are by the Prouest marshall to be entertained accommodated and prouided vnlesse it shall please the Lord Marshall himselfe otherwise to dispose of them And that all these duties before said may with more efficacie and lustre be performed hee shall haue his Quarter in the strongest and most securest part of all the Armie and in all Marches he is also to haue the place of greatest safetie for the assurance of his Prisoners Moreouer it is the Office of the Prouost-Marshall by authoritie of the Lord Marshal to guard with a good Conuoy of men both to the camp in the camp and from the camp all maner of Victualers Vianders Marchants and others which bring any prouisions to the campe and assoone as they are entred he shall rate and set prize in a reasonable indifferent maner vpon all their goods and secures them from the insolence of the Soldier prouiding that no man take any thing from them without payment hee also looks to the proportions of true Weights and Measures and reconciles any difference in buying and selling for which labour he hath of the Prouidadors or Marchants the Hides and Tongues of all manner of cattell that are kill'd and euery weeke sixpence a piece in money numbred for their stalles which sixpence a weeke he is accountable for vnto the Lord Marshall for to him that fee is belonging It is likewise the Office of the Prouost-Marshall to see that the Market-place of the Campe bee once in two dayes swept and kept sweet and cleane that all garbage and filthinesse bee burnt and consumed that no man doe the office of nature but in places conuenient and that in the whole Campe or Garrison there may not be any thing which may turne to a generall annoyance The Prouost-Marshall must haue an especiall care to the keeping of the peace and to apprehend the least occasion which may tend to the breach of the same hee must preuent all Mutinies Quarrels and disorders and that no such vnciuill dissention may haue strength to out-face or withstand the power of his command hee shall euer haue attending about him a guard of his vnder Prouosts and seruants who with short truncheons in their hands according vnto Military forme shall enforce obedience to any lawfull commandement which proceedeth from him and hauing taken them in their actuall transgressions to commit them to Prison or the Bolts as the nature or euill example of the crime deserueth for it is a dutie expected at this Officers hands to be a ready suppressor of all vice and disorder and to bee a maintenance
Cowardise Theft and the like all which by setled rules are euermore most seuearely punnished so that to a well mixed Law to haue a Iudge of a better mixed temper is the best election that can bee found out by any noble and well tried Iudgement Times in the Warres makes the nature of Offences differ for I haue seene a man who for stealing of a Hat or such a trifle nay for going but out of his Quarter or breaking his array hath beene kild or hang'd vp Imediately when at another time great fellonies haue beene committed but yet escaped horrible offences pardoned and grosse Iniuries highly praised this hath beene the working of Times and the Conscience of the Iudge neither will I stand in this place to argue either the one or the others greater goodnesse The Praetor or Iudge-Marshall being thus chosen his place and Office is the same almost in effect and qualitie which they carry in our ciuill Citties and Townes whom we call by the names of Recorders for as those are the Mouthes Iudgements and Censures of the Supreame Magistrate which we call Maior Baily or Alderman condemning or acquitting all such as are brought before them for any criminall offence of what nature or condition soeuer because it is supposed the higher Magistrate is not learned in the Misterie and Science of the Lawes So is this Praetor or Iudge-Marshall the voice Censure and opinion of the Lord Marshall of the Armie hauing full power and authority to drawe vp Ingrosse and pronounce all Sentences and Processes drawne agreed vpon in a Marshall Court against any Delinquent or Capitall offender whatsoeuer and for that cause he hath his seate and place in all Marshall Courts next vnder the Lord-marshall where he sitteth and heareth all complaints euidences and proofes which are brought in against any criminall offendor taking ample notes thereof and reducing them into heads both for his owne and all the other Captaines helpes which are Iudges in the same Court which being heard at large and vpon solemne oath he then calleth in the offendor and against him layeth all the Inferences Accusations and Imputations which had formerly beene alleadged together with the proofes and assertions receiuing the Delinquents ample and full answer to the same with all those testimonies and excuses which he can produce which done and the offending partie withdrawne the Praetor discourseth to all the Court his opinion of all he hath heard what agreeth with the lawes and what standeth against them discussing all doubtfull questions and truely and sincearely declaring how far the nature of the Offence extendeth of which when his speach is ended he craueth their Iudgement Then the puny Captaine first and so successiuely all the rest one after another giue their opinions of the nature of the offence and what punnishment it deserueth then in conclusion the Lord marshall himselfe if he be present giueth the finall sentence which finished the Praetor causeth the sentence to be drawne which being read by him to the whole Table to that effect which the Lord-marshall pronounced immediately the Prisoner is called for againe vnto whome after the Praetor in a solemne and learned Oration hath ript vp the qualitie and pernitiousnes of his sinne and the excellencie of the Lawes in cutting off the crueltie of such sinnes and then sawdering vp the wounds of a torne and declacerat Conscience with diuine and wholesome counsell forthwith he shall reade vnto him the full tenor of his sentence in such sort as it is there written and then deliuer it into the hands of the Prouost-marshall to see it put in execution And in this manner hee shall deale with all other controuersies whatsoeuer obseruing still to keepe in affaire and large Booke handsomely ingrost vp all Complaints Proceedings and Sentences whatsoeuer which shall passe before him as well for his owne discharge as the honor of the Court and satisfaction of all such as shall haue occasion vpon any controuersie or question to search or ouer-looke the same And this is the greatest part and effect of the Iudge-Marshalls Office in our Courts of warre though in other Countries they haue further imployments as the answering of forreigne Messengers the drawing of Proclamations controule of victuallers and the like yet since for these we haue other perticular and distinct Officers I will impose no more vpon this then his due place challengeth but only conclude thus That if hee discharge his place rightly in manner and forme as it is discribed he shall questionlesse doe to himselfe a great honor and performe a most acceptable worke both to God the world and all good Christians TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY CARIE LORD HVNSDON now VISCOVNT ROCHFORD THE ARGVMENT Of the Scout-Master THough I am my Lord a stranger to your person yet in as much as you are descended from the blood of the Ancient Great and Noble Somerset to that I may draw necre for shelter It hath many times shadowed our House and though the Frosts of Time and Fortune bite neuer so cruelly yet will not all the leaues I hope shed Be then pleased Sir that I may solicite you to read this Epistle the tale is plaine for it comes from a Souldier It is true for I haue Experience to beare me witnes and that it is modest feare not for a Gentleman sent it Concerning this Office of the Scout-master or Captaine of the Vant-currers there haue been many variable disputations touching his dependancie nor is the reconcilement setled or made perfect in all mens opinions some fixing him vpon the Lord Marshall some on the Generall of the Horse and some on the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse and indeed some on none but as a publike Officer of great and eminent importance to subsist onely of himselfe True it is that the last opinion is most strong if we draw into consideration the varietie and change of his duties for they are so many and so diuers that indeed he cannot be sayd to depend of any one but of all and may be truely called The Campes generall Seruant yet if we come to particulars and put those many duties into seuerall Balances we shall find that the weightiest of all belongs to the Lord Marshall It is certaine he is beholden to the superiour Officers of the Horse for his Guard so are they likewise to him for his Discoueries but the most important matters and secrets of his knowledge that is the Lord Marshals if on any then on him he must fix his dependance Touching the election of this Officer he ought to be a man of infinit great Valour and Iudgement very skilfull in the knowledge of the Countrey wherein he serueth a good Cosmographer and describer of the situations of places and such a one as by his eye can suddenly frame vnto himselfe a Map of whatsoeuer he discouereth Two things he must especially beware of Rashnesse and Credulitie for the first with many dangers will continually make spoyle of his
there is in him a generall power of controlment so that should the least want of perfection draw him into contempt it were an vtter losse to his Reputation and an infinite great weakening to the whole Seruice It is then to be vnderstood that if the Regiment or Battalion consist which I wish and whereto all approued Souldiers both auncient and moderne giue allowance of one thousand men deuided into fiue seuerall Companies and each Company holding the contents of two hundred men a peece that then the Serieant-Maior hath his raunge iust in the mid'st two marching before him that is to say the Colonell and the Liuetenant-Colonell and two marching behind him which are the two youngest and Inferior Companies so that two command him and two are commanded by him yet in the absence of the Colonell and Liuetenant-Colonell he then commandeth all the fiue Companies and hath superior command aboue all Captaines and Inferior Officers whatsoeuer being as the Colonell himselfe The Serieant-Maior of a Regiment is the imediate next degree aboue an ordinary Captaine and reputed in all places to precead them as being their elder Brother Now touching the effects of his duty and Office in the Regiment he is as before I said the Marshall of the whole Battalion or Squadron and as the one ruleth and formeth what proportions soeuer he pleaseth of the whole Army so this man deuideth subdeuideth and fashioneth what figures and formes he pleaseth of his owne Regiment and as the Serieant-Maior of the Armie bringeth vp by the appointment of the Marshall great Grosses compounded of sundry Regiments to make vp the forme and figure of the Battell he intendeth so doth this Serieant-Maior of a Regiment bring vp vnto the Serieant-Maior of the Armie either all or part of his Regiment in such forme as hee shall bee appointed to the making vp of the Grosse and greater Body wherein is to be noted that as Serieants of Bands are assistant to the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments for deuiding of perticular Spuadrons Files or halfe Files for the making vp of any Body whether it consist of odde euen broken or whole numbers according to directions so the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments are assistant to the Serieant-Maior of the Armie in bringing vp to him what Deuisions or Bodies soeuer shall bee called for whether they consist of ods euens or any other certaine or vncertaine number for it is a thinge impossible either for Lord-Marshall or the Serieant-Maior of an Army to take vpon him the manage of euery mans perticular company or to do those great and powerful duties which are expected at their hands without some strong sufficient assistance whence it comes that the priuate Captaines by the assistance of the ordinary Serieants keeping their companies or order the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments by the care of the priuate Captaines keeping the Regiments in true forme and the Serieant-Maior of the Army by the skill of the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments being able to forme Grosse Bodies into what figure hee thinkes conuenient the Lord Marshall of the Field may in a trice and vpon the Instant of any word giuen Forme vnforme change or alter any Battell according as either the aduantage of the ground the manner of the enemies marching or any other perticuler occurrent shal administer occasion And that this duty may be performed with all carefull seuerity euery Serieant-Maior of a Regiment either in long marches or otherwise is allowed his hackney to ride on from company to company and to looke that as the Captaines doe range their Companies in an orderly and true forme that so likewise the whole Regiment consist of an euen iust and beautifull proportion and not suffering any man of what degree soeuer either through Pride Stubbornesse Neglect Couetousnes of Pilage or any other dilitory weake excuse to breake or goe out of his Ranke or to disproportion any part of the maine Body by any rude or vncomely Posture but vpon the first apprehension thereof seuearely to rebuke the same and compell a speedie reformation for it is a customary thinge in the warres that men of great Birth and qualitie doe vsually traile Pikes and what through the guard of their Captaines fauor the rashnesse of their owne youthfull wills the presumption of other mens examples and the assuming of an vnnecessary freedome from some other perticuler beholdingnes they grow oft times disorderly and vnruly and will not bee commanded by the ordinary Sergeants or at least the Sergeant dare not command where he knowes admonition will but bring backe contempt to breed a much worse example in this case the Serieant-Maior is presently to arme himselfe with his owne power and to let such offendors know that Blood hath no priuiledge if once it rebell against Obedience and that Gentlemen doe runne backe from their vertue into the Bassenes of euery earthtie condition when they forget that their Commanders haue a Goodnes worthy their Obodience an Authority fit to exercise their Patience and a Knowledge to which they ought to tie their vttermost Diligence Nay it is certaine that a Gentleman cannot expresse Loue in any thing more then in Reuerence Dutie in nothing like Obedience nor Modestie but when hee admires his Commanders Excellence Our Serieant-Maior then being a Captaine and a principall Commander is to roote out enormities and to plant these vertues in euery Souldiers bosome neither will the blood of hot and vntamed Spirits be so apt to boyle ouer and exceede the Bounds of Rreason when they are commanded by a greater then themselues as they are when an Inferior in their owne opinion seekes to restraine them And therefore it behooues the Serieant-Maior in these reprehentions not only to shew his owne but also all other Officers authorities that are below him limming and painting them out in such liuely but dreadfull Colours that hee may strike a terror and feare into all offenders The Serieant Maior of a Regiment vpon all encampments or allodgements of the Armie is to attend the Serieant-Maior of the Field when the Campe is deuided out into Regiments he with his Quarter-Master shall take the Regiment belonging to his Colonell according to his Colonels antiquitie or greatnes of place and first shall demonstrate to the Quarter-Master which way to contriue and cast his maine streets according to the greatnes or littlenes of the ground and the best conuenience for passing in and out then where to place the Colonells Tent and Colours where the Liuetenant Colonells and where his owne and for the rest they are to be referred to the Quarter-Masters discretion If the Regiment shall be remoued far from the Armie either placed in Garrison or to defend or offend some other place then shall the Serieant-Maior both in the Field or otherwise performe both the Office of the Serieant-Maior and of the Marshall shall summon Courts of Warre with the assistance of his fellow Captaines and proceede to triall against offendors shall proportion out all Allodgments and
Office ranging euery Battalion euen that of the Liuetenant-generall or Colonell-generall of the Foote himselfe in such marshall order as shall be fit for any warlike imployment whether it be marching fighting incamping beseigeing assaulting or retiring all which paine the Colonell-generall taketh both for a fauor and a debt and returneth him for requitall all his best fauours and endeuors for the aduancement of any serious occasion which concerneth his person This Colonell-generall hath the mannage and gouernment of all publique and priuate affaires of the whole Army on foote whether it be in Battle Campe Ranging and disposing of all manner of persons according to his will and pleasure giuing the honor and dignitie of places in all dangerous seruices as he thinketh to be most conuenient he sendeth foorth great or small parties for Skirmishes or other publique encounters as seemeth best liking to himselfe and grants vnto them reliefes and seconds when he thinkes occasion fit and what numbers he holdeth best proportionable for the effect of the seruice It is in his power to regard and prouide for all the necessary and fit accomodations which belong vnto the Foote Armie whether it be Munition Victualls Apparrell or any necessarie thing belonging either to the nourishment of life or the generall defence of the persons as intrenchments fortifications places of approach sallies and all other aduantages or disaduantages which may either be defensiue or offensiue to his party or in the like case much auailing or much annoying the enemie and in any of these designes where either he shall heare complaint for slacknesse of duty or the performance of true care he is to call the offenders before him and to giue reprehension or punishment by imprisonment or other defaulâ—ation of pay as shall seeme best to his discretion but if the offence be capitall and of any extreame nature then he is to referre the partyes to a Martiall Court which Court he hath power to call at his best pleasure and there see all Delinquents punished according to the nature of their offences As thus he hath the generall punishment of crimes and calling in question of all iniuries within the Foote Armie so is he likewise to bee the author of all concord tranquillitie within the circuiets of his commands and to that end if any differences or deuisions shall fall out betweene any of the great and supreame Officers in the Armie or between Captaine and Captaine or Captaine and priuate Gentleman whether it concerne place matter of Honor vsurpation of Office disobedience or any other crime he shall out of his authority so it bee before the Generall taketh notice thereof call the parties before him and iudicially heare the whole proceedings either reconciling and making euen the controuersie or else referring it vnto the Generall or a Marshall Court according as the nature of the Busines requireth These are the most materiall things belonging to this great and eminent place which being honorably pursued there is no doubt but he shall gaine the loue of all good men and raise vnto himselfe pillars of glorious report which shall keepe his name to eternitie TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT LORD DORMIR of WING THE ARGVMENT Of the Lieutenant Generall of Horse THis Discourse my Lord which I am enioyned to tender to your Goodnesse to your hopes is but a due Rent belonging to the great place to which God and your Birth hath called you and therefore I send it for your Reading for your disposing yet for the vse of all men especially those which stand affected to the imitation of noble and most heroicall designes your Lordship is young your Lordship is hopefull beleeue it Youth and Hope or hopefull youth cannot spend houres that are free for Recreation in a more wholsome or truely delightfull Study for mine owne part I can ascribe little merit in the workmanship it is the matter it selfe which must commend the building Breuitie I know will a little deface it for indeed a volume were too scant a Map for so worthy a Subiect but as it is it must now bee your Lordships yet for your noble fathers sake with whom I was much acquainted beleeue it hopefull Sir no more it then the Authour which hopes he shall euer loue you As the Colonell-generall hath a principall and supreame command ouer all the Infantrie or Foot-companies disposing and gouerning them in all proceedings according to the strict rule of true Marshall Discipline so the Lieutenant-Generall of the Horse hath the eminent controll and commandement of all the Cauallerie or Horse-Regiments of what nature or composition soeuer This great Officer ought to bee touching the election of his particular person no lesse then the former great Commaunder of the Foot that is to say a noble man both of Blood and Vertue truely descended from great and Heroicall parents the memory of whose former actions may as in a liuing Chronicle suruiue and continue to succeeding times in the hopes and forward promises of the sonnes most flourishing vertues neither is this Blood and Vertue to bee vnaccompanied with excellent parts as Valour Wisedome Temperance and Experience nay indeed in this mans nature may bee required as much and as many vertues as in the Generall himselfe onely in the matter of Experience if Blood Honour and the Princes fauour fortifie and giue countenance to the commandment there may be some dispensation for we haue beheld in our owne times not one but diuers examples thereof as if we looke but vpon the very first leafe of the History which speakes the life of the noble Earle of Essex for in my conscience hee did not imagine hee liued vntill hee entred into the warres we shall find that euen at his first approch to the warres when he went vnder the Earle of Leicester into the Low Countreys he discharged this place with all honour all admiration and was without doubt Infinitely worthy of the same for he was sonne in law to the Generall highly recommended by the Queenes Maiestie and a man borne of a Millitary noble and renowned father and although he were at that time but twenty yeeres of age yet he was of that Infinite greatnesse of spirit and had a minde so excellently compounded of all maner of vertuous inclinations was so great a louer of Iustice and in him selfe so much bound to the perfections of Temperance and Iudgement that neuer man ruld in a place or came off from a place with more honour and lesse enuie for he held as it were a continuall trading with the elder and more experienst Souldiers framing all his affrayres by their aduices and by his Affabilitie and Bounty though his estate could neuer boast of Infinites wanne such respect and loue amongst all men that neither time nor the powerfulnesse of any great wrath was euer able to find a tombe in which to inclose his memorie But some will say this president is rare and may not inferre an authoritie but I say no
of Countries the degrees of Honor and the distributions of Bloods places and imployments and that he may the better proceed in these affaires he is to bee assisted with diuers learned and experienc't Officers vnder him as the Iudge Marshall and Prouost-Marshall of whose Offices I haue already written an Auditor and two Clerkes the vnder Prouosts Gaoylers and Executioners Corigidors or Beadles to punnish the Infragantie or vnruly and twenty or thirty Gentlemen for a continuall Guard about him The Iudge-Marshall is to assist him in all difficult curious interpretations of the lawes and in deciding such controuersies as shall happen in the taking of prisoners in the flying of Colours and in sitting in Marshall Courts according to the dignity of places he is to direct the Scout-Master in all his proceeding and to receiue from him all the Intelligences and obseruations which he hath found out in his discoueries and to deliuer vnto him any other instructions which had formerly beene neglected It is the Office of the Lord Marshall to giue order to the Master of the Ordnance both for his march and for his passage both where when and which way all his prouisions shall goe for the best aduantage and safetie and at the planting of Artillerie or making of Batteries the Marshall is to ouersee the proceedings and to giue directions vpon any doubt or misaduenture he is to giue order vnto the Victuall-master Waggon-master and all Officers of their natures both for their allodgments Stores and all other necessarie accomodations and against all violences or iniuries which shall bee offerd them hee is to see a carefull and speedy Reformation When the Armie is to bee incamped in any new place the Serieant-maior-generall the Quarter-master-generall the Serieant-maiors of Regiments the Scout-master and all inferior Quarter-masters with a sufficient Guard of the best Horsemen are to attend him and hee out of his owne power with the modest aduise of the Serieant-maior-generall the Quarter-master-generall and the Scout-master-generall shall assigne the place wherein the Campe shall be pitched the manner forme and proportion it shall carry the bounds it shall containe and the distinction of euery place and commoditie aduantage strength or discommoditie which it shall please him to annexe vnto the same and according to his pleasure and demonstration so shall the Quarter-master-generall see it deuided leauing the intrenchment to the Trench-master and the other Inferior deuisions to the Serieant-maior-generall the Serieant-maiors of Regiments and to their Quarter-masters It is in the power of his Office also after the Armie is incamped hauing taken a view of all the Posts and Guards of the Campe to appoint all the Regiments in what manner they shall place their Corps de Guards the Scouts Sentinels so as no man may passe either in or out but to be continually vpon their discouery and likewise to prouide for all other Reparations Fortifications and Srengths which are to be made for the safetie of the whole Armie And as thus in the constant setling of the Armie so in the Marching and remouing thereof the Lord Marshall is to haue an especiall regard to his strength and abilitie to encounter with the Enemie whether it be meete to enter into the face of Battell or no or whether the times be ripe for matters of execution or else to deferre and keepe of all occasions of encounters In which if he find himselfe the weaker Hee shall then order his Marches through Rockie Mountanous and as ill accessible places as he can finde out thereby to adde a naturall strength to his Armie so as the Enemie may in no wise assault him and still to haue the lighter sort of Horsemen to March so neare vnto the Enemie that continually vpon euery alteration hee may haue a speedy notice of any particuler preparation but if the necessitie of the march be through Champains Plaines where the nature of the ground affoardeth no assistance then the Lord Marshall must by all politique deuises make his Caualrie or Horse Armie appeare so great and innumerable as is possible which being the greatest executioners in such Victories will not a little amaze and distract the Enemie in his approaches and so of the contrary part reputing himselfe the stronger he is to obserue all aduantages and by the discouerie of his Scouts to take oportunitie and to charge at the best aduantage Lastly as in Encamping and Marching so he is to hold especiall regards in the remouing of the Campe whether it be by night or day In which as the day remoue is audacious and bold without any respect of ceremonie so must the night Remoue be full of Policie Silence and great Diligence and the march or good array to be held with all care and Industry for this manner of Remoue is but one haire difference from flight and therefore it requireth all the skill and art of the Marshall and all the care and obedience that can be required in the Souldier for it is a Rule in Martiall Discipline that no Remoue by night can be absolutely secure and then being done without securitie it must needs Inferre necessitie and that necessitie requireth all the strength which can bee comprehended either in Art or Valour Into a world of other accourrens I could runne in this vnlimited Office but I imagine I haue already touched the most materiall and therefore he that shall applie the strength of his endeauours to performe as much as is already deliuered though he cannot asscence to the highest Spheare in euery curious apprehension yet beleeue it he shall rest in such an excellent middle which indeed is the best path that none can or shall receiue more scorne then those which dare to be his Scorners TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE FVLKE GREVILE LORD BROOKE Chancellor of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer and of his Maiesties most houourable Priuie Councell THE ARGVMENT Of the Lieutenant-Generall AFter so long a progresse my Lord as I haue held in these Discourses of the nature of the Warres no maruell though my minde bee taken vp with Wearinesse with Dulnesse but the first is an offence and I ought not to entertaine it the latter is a benefit and so agreeing with my nature that I see not how I can refuse it for howsoeuer we call it a Disease yet I find it still taketh vp its lodging in a retired Imagination where vanities are expulst or at least contemned If therefore that sollid humour shall take any thing from the cheerefulnesse which I ought to expresse in these substantiall and high places be your Lordship pleased to conceiue it is no sencelesse dowsinesse but rather a painfulnesse in my nature which though I cannot euery way resist yet I will striue as much as I can to adorne both to giue your Lordship and also the world that debt of contentment which I know I am owing This high place of which I am to entreat being the of Lieutenant-Generall is diuersly vnderstood as when
a Dauid in valour a Solomon in wisdome and an Ezekias in zeale making the world know what a great Iudgement can doe in a great Fortune a great modestie in a great power and a victorious arme in a renowned Triumph To be briefe this Generall is he which ought to be a Godly man a Good man Great Mercifull Wise Happy most Honor'd and most Worthy which howsoeuer some may imagine to be a man sooner found in Eutopia then any of our owne discouered Kingdomes yet doubtlesse many such there are and at least so neare as can be such a man for this place ought euer to be elected Touching the power of his Commandment let it suffice me briefely to say that as he commands all so the commandments which belong vnto all are truely his and he vnto the whole Armie must be the cheife and principall Moouer Touching his Skill and Gouerment in direction in preuention and in Marshall Discipline it ought to be so Illustrate and Shining and so able to inchant with the felicities of his Fortunes that not only his owne people but all that farre or neere stood to gaze on his proceedings how euer the wind blow vncertainly or his course seeme doubtfull yet with all willingnesse might be proud to Imbarque themselues in that vessell whose Pilot in gouerning the Helme was so aboue wonder that euen the Seas as a second Neptune seemd euer to obey him And hence it appeares that hee ought to bee a Souldier euen from his Cradle running through or at least respecting euery place and distinction of Office from the lowest Sentinell to the last great place of his present abiding and that not in one kind but in both also Horse and Foote making vp as it were one singuler Arte with both their perfections and coupling together euery Nerue so with Studie and Obseuation that all things may appeare easie and within the leuell of his Conquest to this end his power must be absolute and vnrestrained that flying with vnpinion'd wings it may seeme to be hid within the Skie of the greatest Actions In which way nothing can prosper him so much as Pietie and Religion for fearing God it will not only pull vpon him a blessing but administer to his people noble examples His Birth howeuer Plato be differing in opinion fearing least the regard of Blood should drownd the regard of vertue ought to be Noble for the great Spirit neuer declines but when it turnes backe on persecution it is they and only they which climbe by sure or safe Stayres Lower Fortunes when they rise commonly either Iumpe and bound vp too suddenly or stride and climbe so vnaduisedly that danger tripping at their heeles shame often thrustes them downe with a thousand disgraces but if they get vp by a true and direct way then they ennoble themselues nor doth Honor lose any grace when hee placeth Merit aboue him This Officer would be of ripe and vnderstanding yeares for youth is traueling but hath not attained to the iourney of experience and age how able soeuer it compound the minde yet it still must lodge in a Weake and Impotent body His features and proportion ought to bee comely and delightfull for models are better and with more delight taken from faire Structures then Ruinous buildings and his Speach would be gracefull pleasant and succinc't for in the warres it is a vertuous charme and accounted the most wholesomest Inchantment To conclude he ought to haue a principall regard of his owne safetie for Generals when too freely they thrust themselues into dangers are not carelesse of their owne but of the health of the Armie and the trespasse is made against the publique when any rashnesse hales the priuate into danger let him therefore only outbraue danger not wooe it let him with a bold for head and face fired with Courage a heart discreete and a minde that can preuent what Fortune dare to threaten not run into but resist hazards so shall he excell in good Fortunes and the world shall confesse that nothing he attempts but is assisted with Glory Grauetie Iudgement and Bouldnesse The end of the fift and last Decad.
greater testimonie of his Wisedome and Experience then of any other practise whatsoeuer for to what purpose were experience if the fruit thereof doe not appeare and shine in his actions wherefore it is the strength of this mans dutie to put all things in execution with great care diligence and vigilance and by a naturall and secret instinct to find out and re-acknowledge the natures dispositions and inclinations of all the enemies Commaunders and to finde which are Bold which Rash which Fearefull which Wise and which Inconsiderat that by making his applications sutable to their imperfections hee may attaine to the ends of his purposes with much greater ease many times with much lesse losse or bloody effusion A world of other obseruations are required in this great mans Office but in as much as they are in as neere a linke of alliance to the absolute Generall himselfe I will heere knit vp this Epistle and referre the rest as a binding Fillet with which to circle and gird together the next following and last concluding Epistle TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE EDVVARD LORD MONTAGVE OF BOVGHTON THE ARGVMENT Of the Generall IT falls out many times my Lord that the minde like a couragious Hauke which plies her wings labours to get vp high into the Aire if still it be ouerlaid with its owne toile must of necessitie in the end either flag her wings or stoope to a faulse prey not being able to doe any thinge because it hath done too much For too prodigall an expence of Spirits makes the minde heartlesse Nay some I haue knowne of that weakenesse of temper that but to thinke of that which they must doe hath taken away all abilitie to doe what they should But of these infirmities I hope your Lordship shall acquit me for as a chearefull hope was the first Author of mine vndertakings so heare an assured comfort in your noble acceptance to whose Blood and House I must euer acknowledge a particuler debt of seruice I doubt not but will fixe a worthy Seale to the end of my labors I know many might haue done this worke sooner better but since they are pleased to sit with foulded vp aimes and only studdie how to be rid of Time let it not be imputed to me error or arrogance that I haue writ my knowledge for though it adde nothing to a full growne strength yet I doubt not but it may giue nourishment to the young and sickly Being come to the last Confines of this Militarie discourse I am in this place to handle the particuler duties and vertues of an absolute Generall or the only one great and entier Commander ouer an Armie Royall wherein is to be vnderstood that the name or title of Generall as it is respectiuely in it selfe is to be taken diuers and sundry waies for some are absolute and without seconds as were the foure principall monarches of the world to wit the Assirrian the Persian the Gretian and the Roman some not altogether so absolute yet depending vpon one and the same authoritie as for example Iulius Caesar who notwithstanding he was but at first a seruant to the Seuant yet aspiring to the height of his ambition the greatest stile that hee affected was but to be Imperater which signifieth a Generall and the most glorious Title at this day which any Prince can attaine is but Generall yet this great Diamond is still more Glorious and Sparkling according to the Wealth and Arte in the setting for an absolute Soueraigne being made Generall ouer many Princes and many Nations and going to a holy Warre against the enemies of God and sinceare Religion he is esteemed the best and most renowned Generall of all others Next him is the absolute King which holdeth dependance on none but leadeth forth his owne Battels and people to defend his Rights against Rebels Intruding Iniurers or vnlawfull Vsurpers then the Heires apparent vnto absolute Kings as our Blacke Prince Philip Dolphin of France and Philip sonne to Charles the fift of Spaine or the like and lastly lawfull Generals made by absolute Princes as the Duke of Austria in Spaine the Dukes of Burgundy and Guyse in France Pembroke Sussex Leicester and Essex in England and of these Generals there are also a diuers kinde grounding the greatnes of their places from the greatnesse of their Commissions being Stiled some by the name of Generals as our Leicester was in the Low-Countries some Liuetenants without the addition of Generall as the Earle of Essex was in Ireland and some Liuetenant-Generals as the Earle of Ormund was in the same Kingdome the Lord Grey and diuers others for it is a Rule amongst Princes to qualifie these Titles according as either Factions or Iealousies shal guid them nay sometimes to Ioyne two Generals in one Commision as Norris Drake into Portingall and the Earle of Essex and the Earle of Nottingham into Spaine For the vertues which are to be acquired in the brest of this vnlimited Commander howeuer some would seeke to bring them into a proportionable number yet I affirme that questionlesse he ought to haue All without limitation no vertue excepted and the vices which hee must shunne should likewise be All and no vice accepted this is hee which ought to be loued and obeyed at home and redoubted and admired abroad He ought to gouerne the courages of the greatest and the wills of the meanest In matters that are declyning and desperat his constancy ought to be Inuincible and his valour so firme that with amazement hee might stricke dead the hearts of his enemies and make the very weapons drop out of the hand of the most resolued opposers it is he that ought to be darling of Fortune and to whom Chance should offer as a Sacrifice both Townes Castles and Prouinces as if they had beene taken in Nettes and throwne at his feete as lawfull Tributs and yet not to imagine that this Body yeelded a greater shaddow after then before his Victories he must not robbe the Gods of their heads to fixe them on his owne Statues but like the Sunne shine indifferently to all men only appeare terrible and scortch the proud rash and ouer curious Gazers his Inclination as it must only bend to Armes yet it must not looke awry from learning he must inure his body to trauell and feede his mind with paine pleasure at one instant howsoeuer Fortune at any time shall dart aduerse accidents against him yet must his resolution maintaine so strong a Guard about him that she may confesse his spirit greater then her violence and his Wisdome beyond the Stratagems of her seuearest designes he must haue Wisdome to maintaine the Flowre of his vertue that it wither not before it haue brought forth the expected fruits and Care to keepe that Oliue branch euer greene which he shall purchase with the price of Blood hazard of his life and the losse of the goodliest and most flourishing yeares of his age he ought to bee