or the other manner These as they receiue no pay so they passe no Musters neither are they tied to any strictnesse of any particular dutie but as free and noble Gentlemen may bestow their houres in any honourable fashion They may onely claime the benefit of the Generals Table and a principall respect both from the greatest and the lesser Commanders for thereby there is not onely brought a sweetnesse both to their expence and hazards but also it giueth a notable incouragement to others to pursue the like course and so become more enabled to performe excellent things when either their King or Countrey shall haue cause to imploy them And for mine owne part I haue seene when in the necessitie of affaires and when the approch of the enemy hath awakened a double Regard to preuent danger that these voluntary Gentlemen haue beene more diligent in Watches and more seuere in performing all manner of duties then any mercenary Souldier whatsoeuer in which they haue shewed both a singular affection to the profession they had vndertaken made themselues a great deale more able and perfit and lastly breed both a delight in the well deseruing and a shame and reproach to those Sluggards whose Cowardise and Sloth hath to the by-standers administred any euill examples Voluntaries may challenge in all Marches the most honourable and principall places of the Battell which are vnder commaundement as in the morning vpon the point or head of the Vauntguard and at night vpon retrait at the foot or last part of the Reare If it be in priuate Companies they ought in curtesie to haue the leading of the principal Files to be in the Reare or amongst the Middle men and Subdiuision at their owne election for wheresoeuer they march they are euer a grace to the Battalia and both by their courage and example make euen the dullest apt for to follow their imitation Voluntaries were wont to be but some few especiall persons in an Armie and were accounted Rara Auis in terris but in these our latter succeeding times when Generals haue out of popularitie been lesse sparing of Honour and more prodigall then their forefathers in bestowing all manner of martiall Bounties what through the enticement of Loue the hope of Aduancement and the incantation of Knighthood the number of them hath been infinitly increased so that the mixture being wonderfully vnproper and the Priuiledges which they assumed needlesse and without distinction they haue bred such a confusion that in Marching Fighting Lodging nay not so much but in Victualing they haue rather brought foorth the fruits of Trouble and disorder then either ease or perfection to any part of the Armie and of this both Fraunce and England haue tasted in a very large measure the first inforcing the King to erect his Blanch-Cornet the other seeing imbarqued both for Cadiz and the Islands a Regiment of Voluntaries farre surmounting any other through the whole Armie some led by their owne ambition some by their wiues and some as they say dogges goe to Church onely for company without either noble end or almost a tollerable purpose for as they were led on by vaine glory so commonly they were followed by want and finished with disgrace and dishonor for their pride for the most part made them foes to Discipline and their feares and follies kept them in such an extrauagant course that as well might a man rule a herd of wild Bulles as a Band of such vnruly Colts in whom was neither wisdome order nor discretion And to make this good I dare affirme that in one seruice I saw a whole afternoone spent by excellent Commanders in putting two hundred Voluntaries into order and yet all labor lost nor was at any time seene to the number of fiftie that stood in their true places I haue seene them also when they haue been to march into the field so pusled for want of knowledge where to place themselues or their vassals and so offensiue to the Generall by an vndecent crowding and thronging about him that the particular Officers of the field as the Scout-masters and Corporals of the field were neither able to approach to receiue direction nor yet able to passe into the armie to deliuer aduertisements where had the company of Voluntaries been competent and orderly they might then haue bin instructed that the best places had bin neerest to the best persons and in cases of attempts the likeliest to encounter and meet with the enemy But how these may truly bee called Voluntaries I know not for euery one that is able to suite his bodie in rich clothes vnlesse he likewise apparell his minde in an obedient and formable fashion in neither worthy the name priuiledges nor respects which are due to men of this supposed Vertue It is therefore to bee vnderstood that the noble Voluntary indeed ought to be a man of Vertue and Iudgement Noble in his carriage and ready to giue all maner of good examples he ought to keepe a table at his owne charge both for the entertainment of such by whose discourse he might reape profit and also for an ease to the General whose bounty might otherwise be stretcht vnto too high a reckoning and to conclude they ought to be but few in number and those of principall regard and estimation for this fluxe is a torrent which drowneth and ouerwhelmeth both Discipline and Order and from hence it hath come to passe that I haue knowne diuers discreet Generals which haue both proclaimed and inserted in their Articles that no man of what condition soeuer without his speciall licence but vpon paine of death within such a limitation of time should either inroll himselfe vnder some one or other Captaines colours or else to depart from the Armie by which meanes the multitude of Voluntaries were lessened and none allowed but such as were of the Generals owne election a course questionlesse full of great prouidence for by that meanes many weake Troupes and Companies were made strong much disorder was preuented and a generall beauty grace was spread through the whole armie no man hath receiued losse in his entertainement vnnecessary checks haue been taken away and the benefit of the Voluntaries bountie hath done good through the whole armie where as to haue erected whole Troupes or new Companies onely of Voluntaries if the State should take exceptions thereat and denie the entertainement then must the Captaines vndergoe either checke and losse or others meanes must be shortned to draw his within compasse Thus I haue shewed the Nature the Honour the Vse the Benefit and the Offence of Voluntaries of which I know your Lordship in your owne noble Experience haue had a sufficient triall so that to detaine you with any longer Relation were but to ouerdoe what I onely striue to doe in the best perfection and therefore I will here knit vp mine Epistle with this Protestation That if in it you will be pleasd to discerne my loue in that loue your
and aduauncer of all those which haue any semblance or likenesse with an honest sober and ciuill inclination whence it behooueth him to haue a ready and quick iudging eye between the good and bad so that he may in an early houre restraine all immoderat and vnlawfull Gaine and rather compell the Cut-throat to kill himselfe with enuy then to consume others with the rust and canker of his vnsatisfied Couetousnesse It is also a maine point in this Officers dutie to discouer the lurking subtilties of treacherous Spies and by learning the true interpretation of mens Words lookes manners formes and habits of apparell to bee able to turne the inside of their hearts outward and to pull out that little deuill of malicious deceit though he lye hid in neuer so darke a corner and truly a better seruice cannot be done nor is there any Art sooner learned if a man will apply his knowledge but seriously thereunto To conclude the last dutie of the Prouost-Mashall is after the Watch is set at night to suruey the Army and see if it remaine calme and still and that no disorderly noyses or tumults keepe any part of it awake and not silent and in this suruey if he encounter with any immoderat fires or superfluous candle-lights he shall cause them to be put out and extinguished or if he heare in Sutlers cabins or other harbors any Drunkards Tobacco takers or other vnruly persons whose noise is both offensiue to the Campe and giueth to others an euill example he shall presently suppresse them and make them depart or else vpon grosser disorder commit them for besides the vndecency and vnfitnesse of the action such clamors and noises are more then hurtfull in a Campe epecially being any thing neere where the Sentinell standeth for it is an interruption and hindrance through which he cannot possibly discharge his dutie Thus I haue briefly runne ouer all the maine points in which the duty of this Officer doth consist and though not with those amplifications and inlargements which might be required in a greater and more spacious Volume to which no law in this Art of writing will allow me yet I know like a reasonable handsome picture your Lordship may if you please iudge by it of euery feature in the liuing proportion which if nobly you vouchsafe to doe you pay mee the greatest Interest my loue can wish and I will studie more and more to bee your seruant TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE GEORGE BRIDGES LORD CHANDOIS THE ARGVMENT Of the Judge-Marshall You are my noble and worthy Lord happie in your owne growing fruitfulnesse to all goodnesse happy in your descent from your Parents noble vertues and happy in the hopes of all that doe or shall depend vpon you whence I make bold to send you this poore Epistle as an acknowledgment of my seruice not to plead merit but to signifie my wishes to the prosperitie of your Spring and flourishing beginning If you please to reade it you shall finde nothing in it that is vncomely if you neglect it yet is it the figure of such an affection as wisht it for your seruice how euer I know your goodnes and dare boldly knocke thereat for I know it is a Gate that must not be shut against any honest or worthy endeauour The Subiect whereof I intend to intreate in this Epistle is of the Iudge-Marshall or as some call him by the old Roman name the Praetor or Iudge in all Martiall causes This is a renowned and reuerend Officer as some suppose attendant but as I confidently imagine rather an assistant to the Lord Marshall for he is not alwaies designed nominated and appointed by the Generall or Lord Marshall but oftner by the King himselfe and his Regall authoritie which greatnesse in election proues the dignitie and worthines of his place for it is a rule in all the Titles of Honor whatsoeuer that as that is the greatest which riseth immediatly from God and not from the King so those are the next best which rise immediately from the King and not by a second from the Kings Commission but letting passe the curiossity in his appointment let it suffice vs that his place is of great Reuerence and respect and the man which ought to be elected thereunto should be a person of sincere and holy life Learned Religious and of a sound and approued knowledge in matters of Iustice and Equitie he should haue a conscience like an Innocent and spotlesse Virgin delicate quicke and tender yet fit to receiue no impression or stampe but that of goodnes for he hath to doe with the bloods and liues of men and no addulterate censure committed against them but pulles with incessant cries vengeance from heauen to consume the Author I haue knowne in mine owne experience called to to this place both reuerend and famous Diuines and sometimes learned and worthy Ciuilians either of which haue discharged the place withall contentment and admiration mannaging all their actions both with a Religious feare of Gods Indgements and a carefull duty to the preseruation of Iustice but yet if a man had libertie to wish in this place the fulnesse of perfection me thinkes a man that had the mixture of both these excellent qualities were sure of the best composition and would farre exceede the single Ingredian that is to say either Diuine Ciuilian or a Ciuill-Diuine would farre surpasse a smple Diuine or simple Ciuilian It cannot be denied but in as much as the Ciuill Law hath the greatest sway in all marshall crimes controuersies therefore it is necessary the Iudge of these errors should be learned in that profession so on the other side since there is no constant path but it may walke whither soeuer the Conscience please to giude it there is a strong necessity that Religion and Diuine knowledge come in for an assistance least by a small mistake the flatterd Conscience may goe awry and then there is no fall but into a Precipice Diuers I confesse haue written Military and Marshall lawes and of all those not any with a more worthy or memorable approbation then our Reuerend and learned Doctor Sutolife whom I long knew in the wars and much reuerenced for his infinite vertues being a man so able and vncontrolable through the merit of his owne rare experience that few comes neare none equals him yet he I know will modestly confesse that those lawes cannot alwaies be certaine in all places for Generalls themselues continually taking vpon them to make new lawes aptest and fittest for the present Times find sometimes those things which were imagined most fit at other times to bee held the most inconuenient and what was at one time most dangerous at another time is most sufferable and wholesome so that still there must be a Quere left as our Common Lawyers tearme it and there is no constant Law but the Iudges Conscience for all manner of occasions maine Trespasses only excepted as Treasons Conspiracies Contempt of Officers
faining some at last it grew to a custome and what at first with some difficultie they entreated now they began boldly to commaund so that collecting the infinite charge which was saued and the great expedition and also exactnes with which their workes are performed they began to make it penall in any man which should refuse this late but despised vndertakings To which some of our English Commanders more willing for their owne ends to gratifie the Dutch then to prouide for their owne Countrey-mens ease and safety gaue so farre way that now it is a thing vtterly vnrecouerable amongst them for mine owne part I doe know and must euer acknowledge that it is the dutie of euery braue and generous Spirit in cases of great necessitie to imagine that no danger toyle or basenes can be too much where either the glory of God the seruice of his Prince or the safetie of his Countrie is ingaged but in all occasions and at all times to make the well-deseruing Souldier an ordinary packe-horse I cannot but thinke the discipline too strickt and that it doth as it were giue a wound of discouragement to euery generous breast making the sweet delight of the wars turne irkesome and vnpleasing Besides it was neuer yet disputable in any discipline of warre but that Pioners were euer necessary both for the making of Mines Trenches Passages for the carying and recarying of all maner of Engines for placing bridges loading and vnloading of all kind of munition and many other works of importance for which ends they are euer armed with Spades Crowes of yron Leuers Pickaxes Baskets and wheele-barrowes to which whosoeuer shall imploy the necessary Souldier shall be sure euer to want his hand in a more needfull labour Now for the especiall dutie of the Captaine Generall of this Regiment he is first to looke to the keeping of them in good order concord and obedience to see that they haue their pay and intertainment according to their rates in as due and fit manner as any other common Souldiers that they keepe safely and make not away any of the tooles or instruments wherewith they are armed and that they be continually in readinesse vpon euery call for any imployment If the Lord-Marshall the Serieant-Maior or the Trench-Master shall draw the platforme of any Trench whether it be for the fortification of the Campe or for the assailing of any besieged Towne whether it be to bring men to the assault or else to throw vp and countermine any worke of the enemies presently vpon the first summons giuen to the Captaine of the Pioners he shal raise so many of his men as shall be commanded by the Lord Marshall or other superiour Officer and with them armed with all tooles conuenient for the seruice shall march to the head or beginning of the Trench and hauing receiued directions together with the forme and figure of the worke which is to be made hee shall foorthwith take a spade and himselfe dig vp the first turfe and then all the Pioners by that example shall instantly fall to their labor and dig the Trench according to directions during which time he shall be euer with them giuing them all maner of incouragement and prouiding that euery man do his dutie without slacknes neglect or any slouthfull action If he find that the labor be sore and difficult he shall then at his discretion relieue them by bringing new supplies and sending away those that are ouerwearied that they may be againe refreshed and thus he shal without ceasing cause the worke to be continued till euery thing be finished according to the will of the superiour Commander And in this worke is to be obserued that if it be to be done in the face of the enemy and where their shot may freely play vpon them that then ere the Pioners begin to dig they shall plant barrels and great vessels fil'd with earth and plac't in double rowes before them vnder whose guard or the guard of some other wall hill mount or gabion they shal begin to dig til they haue couered themselues in the earth then they are past perill and may proceed to work at their pleasures and whensoeuer they either come from their work or go vnto their worke still their Colours must flie before them for the Captaine of Pioners is as capable of Colours as any other Captaine whatsoeuer and may beare them mixt with the Ensigne of the kingdome in what maner himselfe pleaseth As thus he bringeth them to the digging of Trenches Mines so also it is his dutie to bring them to the making of Bulwarks or Mounts placed vpon Angles some lading carying the earth in barrels baskets and wheele-barrows by which are framed the Trauesses or flankers of the Bulwarke the Orechion which is the guard or shoulder of the Bulwark the Curtaine which is the Front the Counterfront which are the Spurrs the Pestils or Parapets the entrance in out and the place for the Artillery some ramming some knocking in piles to fasten the earth and some cutting vp turfe sods with which to assure the groundwork and as in these so in all other matters of Fortifications these Pioners are of very necessary vse and the Captain shal be sure to haue them euer ready vpon any moment of warning as either when any new workes are to be framed or any old repaired for albe these Fortifications of earth are better resisters of the Cannon then those of stone worke and both make lesse ruines and also are lesse assailable yet they are but of short continuance and will quickly decay by reason of the loosenesse of the mould if they be not continually visited with carefull eyes and presently mended by artificiall good workmen To conclude it is the office of the Captaine of the Pioners to see his Regiment euer quartered as neere vnto the munition as is possible both because they are properly appertaining thereunto being the men to carry and recarry to load and vnload the same as also because all the necessary tooles and Engines wherwith they worke and which they must daily alter according to the alteration of their labors are stored and preserued in the same This is the substance and effect of this office the which howsoeuer a greater knowledge may cloath in a great number of more wordes yet I dare assure your Lordship they will still but arriue at the same end and though the Garment may bee somewhat better to looke on yet it will be little more easie more in fashion or longer lasting TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HIS SINGVLAR GOOD LORD HENRY LORD GRAY of GROOBY THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of Foot EVery one my Lord is so great a louer of his owne designes that he is easie to be flatterd with any hope that can lend beauty to the same yet I hope it shall not so fare with me in this Epistle for since you haue with all felicitie linckt in Marriage with that sweetest