cattalogue of the iust number of the Army together with the true sortment and diuision of euery weapon and in his memory he must euer carry ready framed the formes and proportions of sundry Battailes as quadrats or squares the equall or vnequall Tryangles diamunds and the like any of which he is to sorte fashion to the Grounde according as the necessity of the place requireth euer regarding to giue those Formes the greatest preheminence which are able still to bring the most hands to fight at one instant without disorder or trouble as in the champayne the broade Square is best the bastard or base square where there is aduantage of hedge diche water wood or marrish and the vnequall and imperfect proportion in Straytes amongst Hylls and Mountaines or in craggie or rockie places It is his place to take away all disorder from vnruly and Ignorant souldiers by letting them vnderstand the constant and true place of euery Ensigne as which shall make vp the first rankes Square or diuision which the second which the third and so of the rest wherein although some doe alow a constant rule yet many times it varieth vppon lot and may better be referred to the Serieant-maiors discretion who is to prouide that not the companies which challenge it by right but the companies which are euer best armed be still put into the vangard he shall after he hath framed his Battaile of pykes lyne them with shot on eytherside and not so onely but he shall also haue sundry loose wings of Short trouping by them in a pretty distance remote which shall euer be ready to entertayne any skirmish and keepe the Battayle from disquiet also he shall seriously prouide for the safety of his shot when the enemies horse aboundeth much by drawing out certaine ranks of pykes proportionable to the loose vnguarded shot vnder whose safety vpon euery extremity they shall retyer and then againe make good their places till the seruice be finished It is the Serieant-maior Generals office vpon any day of Battayle to goe to the Generall or Colonell Generall and from one of them to take his directions knowing whether the Generall will haue his owne Regiment to haue the vant-guard or no or otherwise the Battayle or reare which resolued he shall then atend the Lord Marshall to the ellection of the field In which it behotueth the Serieant-maior to be very skilfull in the situation of the Country and to know the distance of places and the difficulties of euery passage with all the seuerall circumstances which shall depend vppon the same as well for the guard and safety of his owne as for the hindrance and anoyance of the enemy so that althings being assured he may then cause the Drumme-maior to beate a remoue and all the Captaines being assembled to the place of armes he shall thence by the directions of the Lord Marshall draw forth the Battayle disposing euery Commander into the places which are most conuenient and framing his Maniples and diuisions sutable to the passages through which they are to march yet by no meanes into a lesse then a third or else fourth part of the front and keeping euery diuision iust tenne deepe and neither more nor lesse and herein he shall haue respect that in drawing vp the Maniples to make an entyre Battayle the Ensignes may fall into their due places as namely the Generalls vppon the head the Lieutenant generall the Lord Marshall the Master of the Ordnance the Treasurer the Colonell general and the Serieant-maior Generall one ranke within the Battell the Colonels of the Infantiue a ranke behinde them and the Captaines a rank behind them He shall haue an especiall care for the safe garding of the munition baggage placing it either before behind or on any side where the enemy is least suspected It is at his discretion to make stands which some call Altoes or Hallts when and at what time he please whereby the souldier may be refresht when he is weary with trauell and it must be done in places fit and commodious for the same as where there is cleane running water some shelter yet a large prospect so as no souldier may offer to straggle but the Officers may both perceiue him reprehend him Now that all these duties may be the better performed this Officer is intended to be euer on Horsebacke yet not vpon a horse of warre but rather vpon a comely and nimble Hackney on which he may ride in amongst the Ranks passe from File to File seeing euery man to performe his dutie in a carefull and modest manner and herein is to be obserued that if in his passages to fro he doe happen to encounter or meet with the Generall although on foot yet shall not the Serieant-maior alight from his Horse but keepe his seat for it is his particular preheminence neither shall he dismount at any time in the day of battel for any such errour is a cloud betwixt him and glory for being on foot he is no more then one man but mounted on horsebacke and assisting with directions he supplieth the places of many hundreds his Armour must be light and nimble being the same pieces which belong to a Foot-Captaine and in his right hand he shall beare a Trunchion with which hee may correct any man that wilfully offendeth as also with it to seperate vnruly horses carriage or baggage which troubles the Battalions or to demonstrat and point out to any thing which he commandeth his ordinary place is neere the person of the Generall or the Colonell generall for from them hee must take many instructions if any Squadrons or maine Bodies be broken hee is to bring Supplies and sawder them vp againe he is called the Guide of the Battel and therfore to looke that all things succeed rightly When the Army is encampt hee giueth the first directions for the Corps de guards charge for the Sentinels it is he that reacknowledgeth the Quarters and taking his orders from the Lord Marshall prouideth for the generall safty of all the Armie as the Watch the Ward the Scout Guard for the Munition Entrenchments and the like of all which I haue entreated something in the former Offices The Serieant-maior is first to take notice of alarmes of all kinds and to examine the causes then to giue information to the Generall and Lord Marshall and so to proceed according to order It is a very landable dutie in the Serieant-maior Generall if in the day of Battell he select and appoint a certaine number of Souldiers who from time to time shall draw forth the hurt maimed and slaine parties which else would trouble the Squadrons and to conuey them to cure or other place for other purpose It is his office to appoint the orders and formes of Camisados and Ambuscados to direct the place where the order how and the manner and forme of Silence he ought to awaken and stirre vp the Generall to the prouision of
alone that preuailed To descend nearer to our owne familiar knowledge what Senator is there which euer liued or what Orator that euer pleaded who giuing Sentence on a delinquent could by force of his eloquence perswade the wretch to runne himselfe to the Gallowes put on the noose and leape from the Ladder with Dulce quia sponte no life is a dearer companion to mans nature and when that is forfeit the Sherife which is his countries Souldior must with his armed Band compell him to the bloody Altar and as in this so in all cases whatsoeuer that are allied to Compulsion whether it be the execution of writs obedience to lawes the setling of Estates and Manners where the conscience will not be perswaded there the Sword must enforce and vse his commandement Should forraine enemies vpon false suggested Titles inuad vs our swords vnder God must defend vs should our Soueraignes loose any part of their lawfull Rights our Swords are bound to regaine them should Traytors like Hydras increase by killing yet must the Sword suppresse them should Rebells spring like the growth of the Dragons teeth yet must the Sword consume them and should our Neighbours or allies be opprest or true religion supprest yet must our Swords maintaine them so that we may conclude in all cases whatsoeuer whether Fas or Nefas either to strengthen Iustice or weaken iniury to guard Vertue or to combate Vice yet there is a strong necessity why the Sword should still be required Let vs therefore giue the Sword his due and say it is the eldest sonne of Honor and let vs giue that Royall Commander his deserued admiration who though he haue sheathed his owne and almost all the Swords in Christendome yet still stands fortified with so powerfull a preparation that with them of Colen the whole world may cry out it is a madnes to thinke to resist a Prince so good so wise and so fortunate War neuer had so many Schooles in the time of Troubles as his Peace hath Academies to expresse the depth of Martiall discipline euery man now is more then a master in that braue Art and Infants and Children as they are going to the schoole can teach one another the vse of Weapon March Motion and Posture so that strangers and forraine Nations haue beene heard to say What will the English doe if this continue euery child like Hercules will be able to kill a Serpent in his Cradle But to proceed againe to the necessity of this designe and to shew that Peace should be nothing else but a foster Nurse vnto Souldiers take a Suruey of all Gouernments whether Assirians Persians Greekes or Romans and we shall see that the Peace which they enioyed at home euer brought them forth those Souldiers which conquered abroad for Warre is a deuourer and only desires action giues little leasure to meditation Or to come a little nearer to our selues let vs looke into the deeds of great Henry of France and we shall see that though the Arsenal of Paris had in fiue and twenty yeares seene foure mightie preparations yet was the last which had inioyd the longest peace the greatest and most transendent being as the Duke of Suylly reported of that infinite space and largenesse that the first day it was knit together it seemed both to promise victory and to sing the triumph and the Terror was so great that it stroke Ielousie into all the Kings friends and feare amongst his enemies for the Sword was drawne that might command but no man knew to whome it would speake power and valour like thunder in the hand of Iupiter was ready to fall in a twinckling yet was no enemy seene no peace broken no warre proclaimed This was the ability of a right peace and by these helpefull prouisions he became both feared beloued and admired what shall we say of the peace in the Netherlands but that euery day it hath almost begot them a new army and euery night intic'd to the Seas an inuincible Nauy So that through prouidence they are becommed so infinitely rich both in the one and the other prouision that of them may be said as was said of the Secular Triumphs Come and see that which was neuer seene and which no man liueing euer thought to see a Nation that stood in need of all now needed of all and she that was taught of all now teaching all others this wonder hath peace wrought and this profit haue they gaind by exercising peace with a hurtlesse Matiall imployment I could inferre as much for Spaine and say that her peace at home bred her Souldiers to guard her gettings abroad and that neither the vnwholesomnesse of the Equinoctiall line nor the vninhabited Tropycks so much feared of our forefathers hath had so much power to consume men as martiall discipline in times of calmnesse hath had strength to reuiue them and like the best Alchymie to make infinites grow from a single seede or proiection To conclude then for the necessity of Warre was neuer accounted a Paradox Armes and Soulderie are the Cronicles of Princes the hazards of Battayles their Theaters and the Iustice of their warlike cause their Honor Perfection and Tryumph so that he which will liue long in mens memory must build this Pyramed whereon his name must stand strong vpright and euen he that will fill his Theater with shouts and plaudyties must grapple with Lyons and Tygers and he that will tryumph in perfection must haue all the foure vertues chaynd to himselfe not to his Charyot so shall his armes bee lawfull and needfull and howsoeuer the curious may account him a meane Captaine yet shall not the whole world produce the Character of a better a more needfull or a more renowned Souldior TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND GRAVE COVNSELLOR EDVVARD Lord ZOVCH Lord Warden of the Cinque ports c. THE ARGVMENT Of the Glorie of a Souldier SInce in the Time past we haue no interest at all and in that of the present we can challenge no more but an Instant how behouefull is it noble Sir for euery man to bee carefull to what ends his Imployments ayme that the expence thereof may returne both an acceptable rent to such as may challenge his Seruice and also some glory to himselfe by leauing behind those parcels which may giue others cause of honest Imitation This my Lord hath directed me into this path which now with all earnestnesse I follow and this emboldeneth mee to send this Epistle to your Lordship to giue you a iust account of my Time Studie and Seruice which as it is not altogether a Stranger so I hope it may a little reuiue againe those thoughts which howsoeuer you may be pleased to lay by yet I know you will neuer vtterly forsake or abandon I haue in the former Epistle shewed the necessary vse both of Warre and the Souldier and that as the maine Columbe of a Common-wealth it keepes all estates vpright and euen Now I am to
the last day yea though accompanied with weaknesses of more then a tollerable proportion yet is the cause so good that their hope cannot chuse but ascend to an infinite measure To conclude then mine Epistle if both in warres Offensiue and Defensiue the cause bee so good and the action so full of Splendor how much Glory ought to be ascribed vnto them as the glory of apparell and ornaments of person Crownes and Plumes Scarfes and Garlands Glory of the liuing as great mens praises and meane mens admirations and Glory of the dead as Tombes and Collosses Achiuements Hearses Temples Trophies and eternall Epitaphs this they purchase with Blood this they deserue by Vertue this makes them beloued at home and redoubted abroad this makes good Princes seeke them and bad Princes feare them and this who not affords them must to himselfe affoard He is not vertuous TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MARTIALL ROBERT BARTVE Lord Willoughbie of Eresbie THE ARGVMENT Of the true Honor of a Souldier HOwsoeuer your Lordships owne experience being apparelled in all the richest garments belonging to the noble art of Warre as Obseruation in executions Consideration in Counsailes and wisdome in the election of the one or the others aduantage may make mine Epistle apeare naked or at least but thinnly clad in respect of your greater knowledg yet when I see how the greatest Captaines haue beene inflamed with their Souldiers actions and that Alexander from a silent muse would runne into a martiall distraction at the warlike sound of the Ionian musique how euer strooke by the hand of a meane musitian I could not but add courage to my labour and rather enlarge my desires then abate them knowing that who sings to the skilfull shall euer reape praise or instruction but to play to the rude and not knowing Scorne is his portion for betwixt ignorance and art no vertue yet could make a perfit reconcilement To you then my Lord that are a Souldier to you that know a Souldier and to you that loue a Souldier I send this Souldierly salutation which howsoeuer the weakenesse of words may deface yet your Lordshippe shall fiind it hath an honest ayme and though it hit not the Bird in the eye yet I doubt not but it will be so direct it will shed some of her feathers If any Raunge of persons in the world deserue true honour it must needs be the Souldier for as his disposition holdeth the neerest alliance to it so doth his merrits by an infallible Interest iustly and truely claime it for the very Basse or Ground whereon all his actions are built must be nothing else but goodly peeces of honourable and noble perfection The protection of Ladyes the defence of Orphans the reliefe of Widdowes to helpe the good to ease the grieued and to make strong the weake all these are noble designements and to these all souldiers are tyed by a thousand chaines of vertues making Nay if the weake contend with him he is bound as the seruant of Honor either to yeeld or at least though with losse to come to a faire composition Flint striketh not fire out of woole but out of Steele nor must the Souldier dart his flames downe on the Riuers but send them vp to reflect on the mountaines his heart must be vndaunted when hee meetes with power but soft and vulnerable when it grapples with disabilitie this made Numa apease Iupiter with heads of garlicke not heads of men and this made Alexander execute the rigor of his vowe rather on the Asse then on his keeper and hence came that heroicke and memorable saying that Mercy pardoneth those who haue not deserued it and the Iuster that wrath is the more commendable is Mercy all the quarells of Souldiers must be Iust for no ocasion must enforce him to vndertake an vnworthy thing he must warre for God his Prince and Country oppressed not for enuy displeasure or to make his bounds without limit hee must be mooued for goodnesse selfe not gaine which mooues euery marchant or peasant and when all the vertues of a souldier haue brought him to the toppe of felicitie yet must not the prosperitie of his affaires any thing withdrawe his minde from the loue of peace and a laudable friendshipp and to this the very heathens may giue rules to our christian Nations for thus war'd Scipeo in Affirica Scilla in Spaine and Caesar amongst the Gaulls by this Augustus closed vp the Temple of Ianus and for this Tiberius sent Drasus to see the warrs in Illyricum and to conclude these noble entendments made Henry the great of France to saue Paris when he might haue spoyled it at Longeuall when the desolation of all the strangers army was in his power and that with one breath hee might haue hewed them in pieces euen then he puts downe his Pystoll and saued them saying Hee would not let them suffer harme which were not in case to doe any As thus there Actions ought to bee honorable so likewise must bee their words and speaches maintaining that Truth and Iustice in their language as once being engaged vnder the faith of a Souldier no danger or extreamity whatsoeuer may haue the least shew or suspition either to change or abate it this made Fabritius say that he which tooke away his enemie otherwise then by Iustice or the euent of warre was a coward and seemed to feare that which he should contemne and this made Tiberius tell a Prince of the Celies that Rome had a sword to kill with not an Appothecaries shoppe this was it which euer made Marcellus inuoke the Sunne to gaze on his actions and the contrary to this made the King of Bithinia a by word to all Nations and an example of falshood and the breach of hospitality As the Actions and words of Souldiers must thus bee compannion'd with honor so must also their thoughts and inward intentions making their mindes nothing else but neate and curious vessels wherin to carry the sacred liquor of care and pretious Honor nay their very affections and passions must bee gouernd and swaid by honorable motions they must loue for honor hate for honor desire nothing but honor and dare any thing for the defence of honor If honor suffer or hang in the ballance ready to be ouerswaid with the poyze of iniurie then must the souldier march through thicke and thinne through fire frost floods and Seas through shot wounds blood nay euen into the very iawes and deuouring teeth of eminent and certaine hazard all for the repriue of so deare a thing as innocent honor And on the contrary part if honor forbid any attempt how glorious and gratious soeuer in humaine apprehension yet must not then the noble Souldier dare to touch it no not so much as bend a thought against it were all the crownes and garlands in the world stackt downe for his recompence no luker must intice him no pleasure seduce him nor any glory inchaunt him Honor is the