in a Campe shall lose his right hand 23 That Souldier that shall goe out of the Fort Towne or Campe other then by the ordinary guards issues waies or ports shall suffer death by the Armes which he carrieth 24 He that shall abuse and iniurie the Serieant Maior the prouost Marshall either by word or deede if hee bee a Captaine hee shall be casseird if a Souldier he shall passe the pikes When the Officer or Souldier shall haue committed any Crime or haue made breach of the publique Lawes his Captaine shall commit him vnto the seriant Mâ—ior who hauing taken his examination shall send him to the Prouost Marshall committed vnto prison that he may bee brought to be censured by a court Marshall 26 No Souldier shall withstand or hinder the Prouost Marshall or his men in the execution of his office vpon paine of death 27 All Captaines Lieutenants Serieants and Corporals shall be diligent at conueuient times to traine and exercise their Companies shall haue a care of their Armes as they tender their entertainment and vpon paine of casseiring and other corporall punishment as shall be inflicted by vertue of a Marshall court 28 No man shall goe twelue score from the quarter his colours towne or fort without leaue of his Captaine vpon paine for the first time of whipping for the second offence to be committed to the Gallies for one yeare and for the third offence to suffer death 29 No man shall sell giue imbezell or play away his Armes or any part thereof vpon paine of death 30 No common Souldier shall sell or make away any of his apparell which is deliuered vnto him by the Colonie or out of the store vpon paine of whipping 31 No man shall depart from his guard without leaue of his officer vpon paine of punishment and who so shall be set Centinell shall not depart from it vntill he be relieued nor sleepe thereof vpon paine of death 32 No man shall offer any violence or contemptuously resist or disobey his Commaunder or doe any act or speake any words which may tend to the breeding of any disorder or mutinie in the towne or field or disobey any principall Officers directions vpon paine of death 33 He that shall not appeare vpon the guard or not repaire vnto his colours when the Drum vpon any occasion shall beate either vpon an Alarum or to attend the buisinesse which shall be then commaunded shall for his first offence lie in Irons vpon the court of guard all one night and for his second be whipt and for the third be condemned to the Gallies for one yeare 34 That Souldier who fighting with an enenemie shall lose his Armes or runne away cowardly or yeeld himselfe but vpon apparant and great constraints or without hauing performed first the part of a good souldier and an honesâ— man shall suffer death with the armes which hâ— carrieth 35 That Souldier that shall let go any caution deliuered vpon a treatie or any prisoner of warre by his negligence shall be punished with death 36 No Souldier shall let goe any prisoner of war which he hath taken without consent of his Captaine who shall aduertise the chiefe Commaunder vpon paine of being committed to the Gallies for one yeare 37 That Souldier which vpon an assault or taking of any towne that shall not follow his colours and the victory but shall fall to pillage for his priuate profit after the place taken shall suffer death with the armes which he weareth 38 No Souldier may speake or haue any priuate conference with any of the saluages without leaue of his Captaine nor his Captaine without leaue of his chiefe Officer vpon paine of death 39 When the Marshall or Gouernour of a towne shall demaund a Souldier that hath made breach of these lawes that Captaine or any other that shall conceale him or assist him to flie away shall bee punished with the punishment which the fact of the said fugitiue deserued 40 That Captaine that shall ipso facto find any Souldier breaking these fore declared lawes and ordinances of whatsoeuer company he shall be he shall commit him to the Prouost Marshall to be punished according as the offence committed commeth vnder the construction of the Martiall law in that case prouided 41 No Souldier shall vnprofitably waste his pouder shot or match by shooting it idly away or at birds beasts or sowle but shall giue an account vnto his Corporall of the same who shall certifie his Captain vpon peril for his first fault so coÌ„mitted to be coÌ„mitted to prison there to lie in Irons head heeles togither eight forty hours for the second to be condemned sixe monethes to the Gallies and for the third offence to be condemned two yeares to the Gallies 42 All Captaines Officers and common Souldiers or others of what condition soeuer members of the Colonie shall doe their endeauours to detect apprehend and bring to punishment all offenders and shall assist the officer of that place for that purpose as they will answere the contrary at our Marshall court 43 All other faults disorders and offences that are not mentioned in these Lawes Articles and Orders shall be are supplied in the instructions which I haue set downe and now shall be deliuered vnto euery Captain and other Officer so farre forth as the infancie and as yet weake condition of this our present Colony will suffer and which shall be punished according to the generall custome and therefore I commaund all men to looke to their charges and him that hath no charge to looke to his owne carriage and to keepe himselfe within the bounds of dutie for the discipline shâ—ll be strictly kept and the offenders against the lawes therof seuerely punished 44 Whosoeuer shall giue offence to the Indians in that nature which truly examined shall sound to haue beene cause of breach of their league and friendship which with so great trauaile desire and circumspection we haue or shall at any time obtaine from them without commission so to doe from him that hath authoritie for the same shall be punished with death 45 Whosoeuer shall wilfully or negligently set fire on any Indian dwelling house or Quioquisock house or temple or vpon any storehouse or garner of graine or prouision of what quality soeuer or disualedge ransacke or ill intreat the people of the countrey where any warre or where through any march shall be made except it be proclaimed or without commandement of the chiefe officers shal be punished with death 46 Whosoeuer shal not do his endeauour and best to regaine recouer his colours if by hap it fall into the Indians hands shall lie subiect to the censure of a Marshall court 47 Whosoeuer shal faine himselfe sick vpoÌ„ the point of fight or when any worke is to be done or slip away from the seruice of either shall be punished by death 48 VVhosoeuer shall raise any question brabble or braule in the watch or Amboscado or in
guard with three or foure of his assistants and so to make the round about the campe towne or fort from guard to guard receiuing from euery Corporal the word of guet that their be no error or abuse by variety of word after which he is to goe into the court of guard to see that such officers rounders and soldiers apoynted for that guard bee there present vpon their guard then hee shall search the peices whither they be charged with Bullet and that the soldiers bee furnished with poulder and match for the better defence of the guard committed to his charge so commanding and inioyning euery officer and soldier to execute his duty for ther better security of the campe towne or fort hee shall depart to the next guard there to doe the like and so from guard to guard vntill hee hath visited all the guards and centinells of his watch giuing in charge to the officers of each guard to send forth their rounders according to their order and directions Further hee shall command all disordred people vntimely sitting vp late in vsuall assemblies whither in priuat meetings publike tap-houses or such like places vnto their rests for which he shall cause all fire and candles to bee put out and raked vp in the towne and such night walkers or vnruly persons whome hee shall meete in the streets he shall either send to their lodgings or to the Prouost Marshall according as their misdemeanouâ— shall require Hee being returned to his owne court of guard shall see his rounders set forth euery one according to his order of Billet from houre to houre and he shall informe him-selfe from these rounders which walke their rounds two howers before day breake whither the Captaines and their guards and their companies bee in armes according to their duties if they bee not hee shall walke around towards the morning vnto those Guards and cause them to be put in armes and shall informe the gouernour of those Officers neglects that they may receiue punishment after this at the discharge of the watch hee is with his guard to attend the Serjeant Major for the safe opening of the Ports At the opening of the Ports hee shall cause the people to stay that are to goe out of the Towne a pretty distance from his guard that they may giue no incombrance to his guard vntill such time as he hath sent out certaine Serjeants to discouer forth right and vpon each side as farre as the limmits of that fort are prescribed At the returne of the Serjeant hee shall cause those of the Towne to goe out leisurely and without thronging or confusion and those without to come in in like manner warning the Gards to stand in armes one houre after From thence hee shall returne to the maine Guard or place of armes to assist the Serieant Maior for the disposing of such men as are appoynted vnto â—â—eir seuerall busines and workes of the Colony for the whole day following and likewise to see that those Captaines who haue the Guard do put in execution the coÌ„mandements of the Marshall for the trayning and disciplining of their men for the better inabling them to the seruice of the Colony After which he shall do well to present himselfe before the Gouernour or chiefe Officer to vnderstand his further commaunds It shall bee his duty the time beeing come when the general morning worke is to be left off to cause the Drum to beate and with his Guard of Rounders to assist the Captaines or Capt. to bring the laborers into the Church to heare diuine seruice which beeing ended hee is to returne to the maine Court of Guard there to be present for the ordering of all matters whatsoeuer to happen during his time of being Captaine of the watch and when it shall so fall out that the Indians do at any time come in way of trade or visitation vnto the Camp towne or fort he shal leaue order with the Guards that the suffer not them to enter before such time as they haue made him acquainted first of their beeing there who shall informe the Gouernor to know his pleasure which beeing vnderstood hee shal so accomplish at al times appointing Guards vppon such Indians that they do not steale any of out â—ooles Axes Howes Swords Peeces or what thing else and that none of our people talke publikely or priuately with them or that they truck or trade with them or doe any other vnorderly Act without leaue granted for the same from the Gouernour or chiefe Officer the omission of which duty will bee required at his hands Hee must likewise take notice of all such breaches of the publique Lawes and Articles as shall bee committed in the time of his Guard and accordingly command such persons to the Prouost Marshall as shall bee found trespassers and breakers of the said Lawes and Articles At the time or houres appoynted for the afternoone worke of the Colony euery labourer to his worke and euery craftsman to his occupation Smiths Ioyners Carpenters Brick makers He shall cause the drumme to beate againe to draw and call forth the people vnto their labour when againe the worke on all hands towards night being to bee left off hee is to cause the drumme likewise then to beate and as before assist the Capt with the whole company to bring them to euening prayer If it shall so bee that hee bee Capt. of the watch vpon Sonday it shall be his duety to see that the Saboath be no waies prophaned by any disorders gaming drunkennes intemperate meeting or such like in publike or priuate in the streetes or within the houses It shall be his duty halfe an houre before the diuine seruice morning euening to shut the Ports and place Centinels and the Bell hauing tolled the last time he shal search all the houses of the towne to command euery one of what quality soeuer the sick and hurt excepted to repaire to Church after which he shall accompany all the guards with their armes himselfe being last into the Church and lay the keyes before the Gouernor If at any time any alarme be taken he is to strengthen himselfe from the maine court of gard taking a competent proportion of that guard for the securing of his person and so to repaire to the place where the alarme was giuen to enforme himselfe by what means the alarum came causing his rounders to command all guards to be in armes for the readier execution and resistance of any perill and conseruation of their charge and if he find the alarum to be truly giuen and that the enemy approch the Fort towne or campe he is to send to aduertise the Gouernor or chiefe officers to know his directions for the assembling of guards and ordering and drawing a force for the better preuention of the enemies designes Lastly when the guard is set and another Captaine hath the watch hee shall present himselfe before the Gouernor or chiefe Commander to
officers that he may receiue condigne punishment according to the condition of his offence The Serjeant ought to know euery souldier and to take notice of their particular lodgings and to make it a point of his duty to see that they keepe their lodgings cleane and that their beds doe stand a yard about the ground to haue an eye into their diet their thriftinesse and conuersation to aduise them to the best whereof he is to make report vnto the Captaine or chiefe officer that they may receiue estimation for good and punishment for euill behauiour He is to informe himselfe of the sick or hurt in the company and to visit them once a day and to inquire whether they bee not defrauded by the Phisitions and Surgeons of such necessary helpes as are deliuered vnto them for their preseruations and recoueries and to informe his Captaine of the negligence and abuse of such who should in that case deale vniustly with them that their dishonesty may receiue due punishment He is likewise to addresse himselfe vnto the Serjeant Major and Store-maister for the supplying of his company with munition and victuals vpon any occasion and concerning the munition he is to haue a principall care that the souldier doe not spend it away in vaine but onely at such times as they are appointed for exercising and training He is likewise to take notice of all defects and abuses in his company and to enforme his superiour officers that they may be redressed and Iustice take place He shall with great diligence attend the commands of his Captaine and of the Serjeant Major and at all times put them in present execution rebuking such as doe amisse shewing them their faults and teaching them by a good example in himselfe to tread in the way of all ciuilitie and goodnesse If any debate shall happen betweene souldier and souldier hee hauing knowledge thereof shall doe his indeauor to agree and reconcile them that it come not to his superior officers and if through obstinacie hee cannot agree them hee shall commit them or informe his superior officers who may take order therein He is to prouide that none of the company bee absent when the Drum shall call them forth to worke in which workes he is to be a president himselfe both by labouring in the same and calling vpon others to doe the like He is to goe to the Store to take out such Tooles as are required for the workes in hand and there to vnder-write vnto the booke of the store-Maister or vnto a note to be filed thereby charging himselfe to be accountable for the said tooles when the worke shall be performed ouer which he is to haue a regard that they be not neglectfully layed vp spoyled nor broken without examining by what meanes they came so broken that the wilfull breaker thereof may receiue punishment and the said toole or tooles so broken withall the pieces he shall bring vnto the store to shew the same for his better discharge Instructions of the Marshall for the better enabling of a Corporall vnto the discharge of his duty in this present Colonie Iune the 22. 1611. THe Corporall is in grade and dignity aboue the priuate souldier and therefore care ought to bee had in the choosing of this officer for that it is an office of good account and by neglect of this duty many inconueniences may come vpon a camp towne or fort therefore it is fit that hee surmount and excell his inferiors in valour diligence and iudgment and likewise in the practise and vse of all sorts of armes whereby he may the better bee enabled to instruct and teach this squadron committed to his charge The Corporall ought hauing the third part of the company giuen him in command to sort and assist them in their quartering or lodging to haue a care that they be cleane and sweet and that their beds in the same bee laide three foote from the ground hee is to carry a hand ouer their dyeâ— thriftinesse and conuersation and to aduise and instruct them at all times to demeane themselues as good Christians ought to do and to make report thereof vnto his Captaine or chiefe officer that from them they may receiue credit and estimation for good behauiour and punishment and disgrace for their misdemenours Hee is to haue a speciall care of their Armes to see them duly furnished and kept in order and when the Drum beateth to bee in a readinesse at the Colonies and if any bee absent hee shall make it knowne to his Serjeant or superior officer When he marcheth hee is to lead a file hee ought to bee daily conuersant with his little company committed vnto his charge and the company beeing in the field to lodge with them and prouide to his power for their wants and to instruct and teach them how to vse and handle the weapon they carry Likewise to remember well how each one is armed and appointed when hee receiueth him into charge then to see no part of his furniture or armes bee broken or spoiled but to haue care that they bee preserued cleane and seruice-able Hee ought to haue a vigilant eye vpon the good behauiour of his company not suffering them to vse any vnlawfull and prohibited games nor that they giue them selues to excesse of drinking surfitting and ryot but that they bee conformable to all the Martiall lawes that they likewise make spare of their pay or victuals the better to furnish themselues in comely and decent manner with apparell and other necessaries fitte and requisite for them wherein the Corporall ought to vse his vtmost endeauour In presence of his Captaine or superior officer hee is to take vppon him no more then the condition of his office doth require but diligently to attend and execute what they shall command that his example may serue for a President to the rest of his squadron At the setting of the watch hee is to see that they be furnished with poulder Bullet and match and that their armes be seruiceable and soldier-like If the company watch by squadrons he and his squadron shall be brought by the Serjeant vnto the place of watch and from him receiue the word and directions in what maner and where he shall place his Centinels whether by day or nightâ— which hee is to see performed When the Corporall with his squadron shall bee brought to the place where he and they shall watch he and they must prouide eft-soones for wood for fyring vpon the guard that beside for their owne comfort they may haue fire ready alwayes vpon the guarde to light their match vpon any proffered occasion Hee is to cause silence to bee kept vppon the court of guard and to gouerne the watch so that the labour bee equally diuided of his squadron either in watch worke or seruice and to take care in all respects that they performe the duties of good and honest soldiers His Centinels being placed hee is to let none passe
time as his Corporall shall relieue him and to let no man passe nor come vp to him but to force him stand and then to call his Corporall He must harken diligently and looke well about him from his place of Centinell for the approch of any about the Camp Towne or Fort or the dich thereof or if he heare any noyse to call his Corporall to aduertise him of the same He must haue a speciall care that he sleepe not vpon his Centinell nor set his armes out of his hands for therein he maketh himselfe subiect for any passenger by to take away his life beside the generall inconuenience that may come vpon the Camp Towne or Fort. His Corporall hauing releiued him and brought him to the guard he shall do well to read the Lawes and ordinances for the gouernment of the Camp Towne or Fort constituted and prescribed by the Marshall the better to enable his memory for the exact obseruance of those lawes whereby he shall not only auoyd the trespassing against the same but also get the reputation of a well ordered and gouerned soldier Such gentlemen or others as are appointed by their Captaine for rounders and approoued by the Serjeant Major or Captaine of the watch amongst them those rounders that are appointed to attend the Captaine of the watch on his guard are to receiue their directions from him as Likewise those of the companies vpon the guards for their order of rounding according to the time of the night in what hower they shal make their Rounds The Rounders from the guard from the Captaine of the watch are to visit the Centinells and Courts of guards making their rounds vpon the rampart harkning and listening and looking ouer into the ditches if they can heare or see or discouer any troopes or men neere the town taking care besides that there be good watch kept both by the Centinells and vpon the court of guard and if any noyse or tumult be neere the rampart they may step downe and informe themselues of it and bring the trespassers to the next guard committing them there vntill after the round made they haue acquainted the Capt. of the watch of such disorders The rounds frō the Ports are to round the streets to take in charge that no disorders breaking vp or fiering of houses of y c store or roberies magazin riots or tumult in Taphouses or in the streetes or in priuat houses at houres vntimely be committed and the offenders to bring to the next guard and to informe the Captaine of the watch All rounders are to be subiect and obedient vnto the Captaine of the watch and his commands during his time of watch Two houres before day he must be ready in arms with his peice charged prouided a match a light at both ends and bullets in mouth there to attend the command of the Corporall vntill further directions be giuen and at the time appoynted for the exercise of his armes he shall be tractable and obedient to his officers executing such commands as they shall impose vpon him that he may be the better trained and inhabled to offend his enemy and to defend himselfe He shal be carefull to obserue al words of command postures and actions according to the order of training published by the marshall The exercise being ended and the prisewon and lost he shall pose his armes at the court of Guard and ther giue diligent atendance that he be at no time absent from his Guard aboue one houre without leaue from his Officer and that not without leaue of his Officer The watch being relieued and he free from the guard he is to dispose of the rest of the time for his owne perticular vse vntill next morning at the discharge of the watch when at the call of the drumme he shall attend at his corporalls lodging ther to receiue such instrument or toole as the busines of that day shall require from whence he shall march to the place of armes or maine court of guard there to be disposed of by the captaine of the watch for that day seruice of the Colonies in which he shall doe his best indeauour like a painfull and industrious seruant of the Colonies to discharge his duty for the furtherance of his worke and incouragment of such who shall be the more stirred vp by his example of goodnes to the imitation of the like and thus doing he shall giue cause vnto the Generall vnto his Captaine and chiefe officers to take notice of his painfulnesse who may according to his desert in time giue him aduancement for the same He shall continue at his worke vntill the drumme beate and that his Captaine his officers or ouerseers of the worke giue order unto a cessation for the time and for the same purpose attendeth to lead him in whom he shall orderly and comely follow into the Camp Towne or Fort by his said Captaine officer or ouerseer him meeting to be conducted vnto the church to heare diuine seruice after which he may repayre to his house or lodging to prepare for his dinner and to repose him vntill the drumme shall call him forth againe in the afternoone when so as before he shall acompany his chiefe officer vnto the field or where els the work lieth and there to follow his easie taske vntill againe the drumme beat to returne home at which time according as in the forenoone he shall follow his cheife officer vnto the church to heare diuine seruice and after dispose of himselfe as he shall best please and as his owne businesse shall require with this caution carefully to preserue the toole or Instrument with which he wrought to serue his turne againe the next day as he will answere the contrary vpon the perill prescribed Concerning his order of march and carriage in the field when occasion shall present it selfe he will easily acquire and learne the same by experience prouided that he be carefull to march ranke and file and not straggle or be disobedient vnto proclamations of the General for therin consisteth the princicipall part of his duty vntill when I leaue him with this caueat that he diligently marke consider and remember the orders which the higher officers do obserue in ordering their files and rankes and surueying their squadrons of footmen and to the placing of the great Artillery in the march and setled campe and the plot of the quartering according to the disposition of the ground where the campe shall then be with the manner of entrenching placing of Ordinances Guards for the defence of the same that in the knowledge and execution of these duties the Generall hauing vnderstanding of his promptitude and diligence may conferre vpon him and call him vnto place of preferment and commaund That there be no neglect found in him in his marching to the Guard or Field and that in the same he doe not forget or leaue behinde him any peece or parcell of his Armes appointed him by
FOR The Colony in Virginea BRITANNIA Lavves Diuine Morall and Martiall c. Alget qui non Ardet Res nostrae subinde non sunt quales quis optaret sed quales esse possunt Printed at London for Walter Burre 1612. To the Right Honourable his singular good Lord the Lord LAWARR of the heroyicke and Religious Plantation in VIRGINIA-BRITANIA the sole personall Aduancer his Maiesties Lord Gouernour and Captaine GENERALL OF all things we enioy the Founders worth Is still most praide for In attempts of warre The Chargers fame is euer most set forth Of all things founded true Religion farre We are worthyest Palme and merits holyest meede This then Heroyicke Lord your glorie shrines That y' are sole personall Lord of this great deede Which more by all else shund the more it shines Skorne then all common Aymes and euery Act Where euery vulgar thrusts for profit on Nor praise nor prise affect like the meere Fact Nor any other Honour build vpon Then onely this since 't is for Christs deare word You shall be surnam'd The most Christian Lord. By an vnworthy follower of the same fortune your Lordships Seruant William Strachey To the much Honoured in all Nations acknowledged the most renowned famous Factor and Professor of all Actions that haue the warrant of Religion Honour or goodnesse Sir THOMAS SMITH Knight and in this piouâ— Plantation of Virginia-Britania the vnremoueable cordiall friend and right bounteous well chosen TREASVRER SIR if the traffique with all Nations Vent'ring your Purse for profit hath renown'd Your noble minde with all mens commendations For this diuine gaine it is triple Croun'd In which you traffique not with men but God Not venturing but surely gaining Soules Not onely such as Idlenesse had trod As low as hell and giuen their flesh to Fowles In our owne Countrey but such soules beside As liuing like the sonne of Earth the Moule Haue neuer yet Heauens sauing light descry'd More then the world he gaines that gaines a soule Which but your selfe though few or none esteeme Assures your soule a heauenly Diademe William Strachey To the Right Honorable the Lords of the Councell of Virginea NOblest of men though t is the fashion now Noblest to mixe with basest for their gaine Yet doth it fare farre otherwise with you That scorne to turne to Chaos so againe And follow your supreme distinction still Till of most noble you become diuine And imitate your maker in his will To haue his truth in blackest nations shine VVhat had you beene had not your Ancestors Begunne to you that make their nobles good And where white Christians turne in maners Mores You wash Mores white with sacred ChristaÌ„ bloud This wonder ye that others nothing make Forth theÌ„ great LL. for your Lords Sauiors sake By him all whose duty is tributary to your Lordships and vnto so excellent a cause William Strachey To the constant mighty and worthie friends the Commitâ—ies Assistants vnto his Maiesties Councell for the Colonie in VIRGINEA-BRITANNIA WHen I went forth vpon this voyage Right worthy Gentlemen true it is I held it a seruice of dutie during the time of my vnprofitable seruice and purpose of stay in the Colonie for which way else might I adde vnto the least hight of so Heroicke and pious a building to propose vnto my self to be though an vnable Remembrancer of all accidents occurrences and vndertakings thereunto aduentitiall In most of which since the time our right famous sole Gouernour then now Lieutenant Generall Sir Thomas Gates Knight after the ensealing of his Commission hasted to our fleete in the West there staying for him I haue both in the Bermudas and since in Virginea beene a sufferer and an eie witnesse and the full storie of both in due time shall consecrate vnto your viewes as vnto whom by right it appertaineth being vowed patrones of a worke and enterprise so great then which no obiect nor action the best of bests in these times may carry with it the like fame honour or goodnesse Howbet since many impediments as yet must detaine such my obseruations in the shadow of darknesse vntill I shall be able to deliuer them perfect vnto your iudgements 〈◊〉 I shall prouoke and challenge I do in the meanetime present a transcript of the Toparchia or State of those duties by which theâ—â— Colonie stands regulated and commaunded that such may receiue due chicke who malitiously and desperately heretoforè haue censured of it and by examining of which they may be right sorie so to haue defaulked from vs as if we liued there lawlesse without obedience to our Countrey or obseruancie of Religion to God Nor let it afflict the patience of such full and well instructed iudgements vnto whom many of these constitutions and Lawes Diuine or Marshall may seeme auncient and common since these grounds are the same constant Asterismes and starres which must guide all that trauell in thâ—se perplexed wayes and paths of publique affairs whosoeuer shall wander from them shall but decline a hazardous and by-course to bring their purposes to good effect Nor let another kind quarrell or traduce the Printing of them to be deliuered in particular to officers and priuate Souldiers for their better instruction especially vnto a Company for the 〈◊〉 vnsetled and vnfurnished since we know well how short our memories are oftentimes and vnwilling to giue stoâ—ge to the better things and such things as limit and bound mankind in their necessariest duties For which it transcends not the reach of his vnderstanding who is conuersant if but as for a festiuall exercise euery 〈◊〉 Moone in reading of a booke that records and edâ—cts for manners or ciuill duties haue vsually beene fixed vpon ingrauen Tables for the Commons daily to ouerlooke a custome more especially cherished by those not many yeeres since in Magnuza who haue restored as I mâ—â— say after so great a floud and rage of abused goodnessâ— all Lawes literature and Vertue againe which had well nigh perished had not the force of piety and sacred reason remaining in the bosomes of some few opposed it selfe against the fury of so great a calamity of whom it is an vndenyable truth that the meanes and way wherby they reduced the generall defâ—ction was by printing thereby so houlding vppe those inuolued principles and Instructions wherein as in a mirror the blind and wandering iudgement might suruaye what those knowledges were which taught both how to gouerne and how to obey the end indeed of sociable mankinds Creation since without order and gouernment the onely hendges whereupon not onely the safety but the being of all states doe turne and depend what society may possible subsist or commutatiue goodnesse be practised And thus lawâ—s being published euery common eye may take suruey of their duties and carrying away the tenour of the same meditate bethinke how safe quiet and comely it is to be honest iust and ciuill And indeed all the sacred powers of knowledge
and wisedome are strengthned by these two waies either by a kind of diuine nature which his happy creation hath blessed him with the vertue whereof comprehendeth foreseeth and vnderstandeth the truth and cleerenesse of all things or by instruction and tradition from others which must improue his wants and by experience render him perfect awaking him in all seasons a vigilant obseruer of ciuill cautions and ordinances an excellent reason inforcing no lesse vnto the knowledge of him that will shine a starre in the firmament where good men moue and that is that no man doth more ill then hee that is ignorant For the auoiding of which and to take away the plea of I did not know in him that shall exorbitate or goe aside with any delinquencie which may be dangerous in example or execution albeit true it is how hee is indeede the good and honest man that will be good and to that needeth fewe other precepts It hath appeared most necessary vnto our present Ethnarches Deputy Gouernor Sir Thomas Dale knight Marshall not onely to exemplifie the olde Lawes of the Colony by Sir Thomas Gates published put in execution by our Lord Generall Laware during his time one whole yeere of being there but by vertue of his office to prescribe and draw new with their due penaltyes according vnto which wee might liue in the Colony iustly one with another and performe the generall seruice for which we first came thither and with so great charges expences are now setled maintained there For my paines and gathering of them as I know they will be right welcom to such young souldiers in the Colony who are desirous to learne and performe their duties so I assure me that by you I shall bee encouraged to go on in the discharge of greater offices by examining and fauouring my good intention in this and in what else my poore knowledge or faithfulnesse may enable me to be a seruant in so beloued and sacred a businesse And euen so committing to your still most abstract graue and vnsatisfied carefulnesse both it and my selfe I wish returne of seuen fold into such his well inspired bosome who hath lent his helping hand vnto this new Sion From my lodging in the blacke Friers At your best pleasures either to returne vnto the Colony or to pray for the successe of it heere WILLIAM STRACHEY Articles Lawes and Orders Diuine Politique and Martiall for the Colony in Virginea first established by Sir Thomas Gates Knight Lieutenant Generall the 24. of May 1610. exemplified and approued by the Right Honourable Sir Thomas West Knight Lord Lawair Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall the 12. of Iune 1610. Againe exemplified and enlarged by Sir Thomas Dale Knight Marshall and Deputie Gouernour the 22. of Iune 1611. WHereas his Maiestie like himselfe a most zealous Prince hath in his owne Realmes a principall care of true Religion and reuerence to God and hath alwaies strictly commaunded his Generals and Gouernours with all his forces wheresoeuer to let their waies be like his ends for the glorie of God And forasmuch as no good seruice can be performed or warre well managed where militarie discipline is not obserued and militarie discipline cannot be kept where the rules or chiefe parts thereof be not certainely set downe and generally knowne I haue with the aduise and counsell of Sir Thomas Gates Knight Lieutenant Generall adhered vnto the lawes diuine and orders politique and martiall of his Lordship the same exemplified an addition of such others as I haue found either the necessitie of the present State of the Colonie to require or the infancie and weaknesse of the bodie thereof as yet able to digest and doe now publish them to all persons in the Colonie that they may as well take knowledge of the Lawes themselues as of the penaltie and punishment which without partialitie shall be inflicted vpon the breakers of the same 1 FIrst since we owe our highest and supreme duty our greatest and all our allegeance to him from whom all power and authoritie is deriued and flowes as from the first and onely fountaine and being especiall souldiers emprest in this sacred cause we must alone expect our successe from him who is onely the blesser of all good attempts the King of kings the commaunder of commaunders and Lord of Hostes I do strictly commaund and charge all Captaines and Officers of what qualitie or nature soeuer whether commanders in the field or in towne or townes forts or fortresses to haue a care that the Almightie God bee duly and daily serued and that they call vpon their people to heare Sermons as that also they diligently frequent Morning and Euening praier themselues by their owne exemplar and daily life and dutie herein encouraging others thereunto and that such who shall often and wilfully absent themselues be duly punished according to the martiall law in that case prouided 2 That no man speake impiously or maliciously against the holy and blessed Trinitie or any of the three persons that is to say against God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost or against the knowne Articles of the Christian faith vpon paine of death 3 That no man blaspheme Gods holy name vpon paine of death or vse vnlawfull oathes taking the name of God in vaine curse or banne vpon paine of seuere punishment for the first offence so committed and for the second to haue a bodkin thrust through his tongue and if he continue the blaspheming of Gods holy name for the third time so offending he shall be brought to a martiall court and there receiue censure of death for his offence 4 No man shall vse any traiterous words against his Maiesties Person or royall authority vpon paine of death 5 No man shall speake any word or do any act which may tend to the derision or despight of Gods holy word vpon paine of death Nor shall any man vnworthily demeane himselfe vnto any Preacher or Minister of the same but generally hold them in all reuerent regard and dutifull intreatie otherwise he the offender shall openly be whipt three times and aske publike forgiuenesse in the assembly of the congregation three seuerall Saboth daies 6 Euerie man and woman duly twice a day vpon the first towling of the Bell shall vpon the working daies repaire vnto the Church to heare diuine Seruice vpon pain of losing his or her dayes allowance for the first omission for the second to be whipt and for the third to be condemned to the Gallies for six Moneths Likewise no man or woman shall dare to violate or breake the Sabboth by any gaming publique or priuate abroad or at home but duly sanctifie and obserue the same both himselfe and his familie by preparing themselues at home with priuate prayer that they may bee the better sitted for the publique according to the commandements of God and the orders of our Church as also euery man and woman shal repaire in the morning to