few men notwithstanding all their Blockhouses Forts Garrisons for to secure them they are altogether useless Prodigalitâ—es our victorious puissant Navy being the sole best sufficient defence against them and only able to resist take sink and surprise them That England as Mr. Cambaen and †others write being 1836. Miles in compasse all invironed with the Sea except for some few Miles space next to Scotland it is as great a mistake in point of State-Policy as grosse an Absurdity in Military-Skill to assert or believe that 40. or 50. standing Garrisons Forts and Block-houses distant sundry Miles one from the other not taking up or securing 40. whole Miles of this vast Circuit and leaving no lesse then 1800. Miles thereof and near as many Landing Places for Enemies and Rovers open to their Invasions without any defence at all can hinder either their Landing or Pillaging or secure the Island from Invasion by any considerable Fleet and Forces now which they never could do in former Ages as its frequent Invasions and Conquests too by the Romans Saxons Danes Normans and others notwithstanding all our ancient Castles and Garrisons attest And to continue them for this very end upon the impoverished Nations drained-Purses by imposing unusual unsupportable taxes Excises on them for their support is as grosse a conceit as to assert that the Garrison and Guns in Dover Castle can forciblie keep off any Forraign Fleet of Enemies or Pirates from Landing or Plundering at the Lands-end Lizards Point or Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall or at St. Davids in Wales or that the fortifying of the Tower of London alone or the uselesse Block-â—ouseâ— at Graveâ—-end which can neither slay hurt nor sink any resolute Ship or Vessel much less an whole Fleet in a Sunshine-day nor yet discern them in a mist or darksome night and can discharge their Guns at them only at roves but once at most with more expence of Powder and Bullet to the State then harm to the Vessels they shoot at will hinder a Whery-Boat or Navy fraighted with Soldiers at Brainford from landing in â—utile-Fields or VVindsor or the guarding and locking up of Cripplâ—-Gate alone hinder an whole Army or Brigade from entring into London at New-gate or any other Gate of the City though they all stood open unguarded though all its Walls and Works like the late Line about it were levelled to the ground Yea as vain a State a Military Policy as formerly to have built a Fort onely at Tyburn to secure all London Westminster and Southwark against the late Kings Army without drawing any Line of Communication round about them or placing any other Guards then those in Tyburn Fort for their defence against them or to have placed a single Company of the London Militia at VVhite-chappel to Guard both Houses whiles they sate at Westminster without any other Guardians to secure them nearer hand It being both vanity and folly to fortifie only one inconsiderable part of a Town or Garrison and so if the Island if all therest be unfortified and lie alwaies open to all enemies Invasions without defence 4. That in all times of publick Peace or when and whiles there is no Enemy near it is Peace it self alone and want or absence of Enemies that secures the Peoples Nations Persons Estates from danger Plunder not Garisons or Field Armies which cannot universally protect their Lives or Goods in all places and at all times when there is any open War or Enemie in the Field as Peace alone always doth and will do still without cost or trouble Therefore it must needs be very ill Husbandry and no good State-Policy in these or other times of Inland Peace to keep up Land-Forces and Garrisons throughout the Nation at the Peoples intolerable costs now there is no Enemie at all in Arms amongst us to protect the Peoples Persons and Estates from spoil and danger when as our very Peace it self and want of armed Enemies doth and will absolutely secure them both without any charge at all or either of these costly Lordly Superfluous Guardians which could not secure the greatest part of the Nation from the late Kings Forces Power and Plunder in times of War nor yet the Kings Forts his Friends or Quarâ—â—â—â— from the Parliaments Forces 5. That in Times of open War no Garrisons throughout the Nation can secure themselves and those within them against a puissant Army or any Party stronger then these Garrisons which will soon * take them by Force Stratagem Composition or for want of Provision Ammunition and other Necessaries or by Treachery or Mutiny within themselves unless timely relieved by a marching Field-Army able to raise their Seiges as late experience and all Histories attest Yea oft-times a small Party far less and nothing so numerous as those Garrisons by some Stratagem of War sodain Surprize or through security or negligence of the Garrison Soldiers or by the casual death of some eminent Commander unexpected forcing of a Passe or routing of some of the Garrison Soldiers in their Salliâ—s and entring with them in their Retreat the successful springing up of some Mine the blowing up of a Magezine the stopping of all Provisions for their Relief advantage of Ground divisions amongst the Garrisons Treachery Bribery in Officers Soldiers Centinels or Townsmen and a thousand other Casualties have in all former ages and will hereafter do the like conquered sundry strong Garrisons throughout our three Nations and in all other parts of the World Besides no Garrisons in our Nation without the assistance of a Fâ—eâ—d Army either are or ever were yet able to protect themselves by their own strength against any powerful Enemies Seige who resolved for to gain them in times of War It can be therefore little less then apparent folly or frenzy for us to perpetuate and maintain them still at so vast a charge in these times of In-land Peace throughout the Nation to protect and secure the whole Land or Country about them being thus unable to defend and secure themselves in the heat of War from Foreign or Intestine Enemies 6. That Garrisons both in times of Peace and War are so far from being a benefit safeguard or protection to the whole Nation or to the Inhabitants within them the Country about them and the Contributers towards them that in truth they are commonly their greatest Grievance Oppression Loss Damage Mischief and frequent occasions of their utter ruine both in Peace and War as shall be evidently demonstrated for our Soldiers States-men and Nations future in formation and speedy suppression of these grandest Grievances by these particulars 1. In all times of Peace they put the whole Nation Inhabitants Country to an excessive prodigal expence of moneys which would be better imployed in relieving and setting poor people on work advancing Trade Manufactures Merchandize improving Lands and supplying the Peoples particular occasions to all which and the better relief of maimed Soldiers their continuance is and will
Eight Military APHORISMES DEMONSTRATING The Uselesness Unprofitableness Hurtfulness and Prodigall Expensiveness of all standing English Forts and Garrisons to the People of England Their inability to protect them from Invasions Depredations of Enemies or Pyrates by Sea or Land The great mischief Pressures Inconveniences they draw upon the Inhabitants Country and adjacent places in times of open wars when pretended most usefull and the grand Oversight Mistake Injury in continuing them for the present or future Reall Defence of the peoples Lives Liberties Estates the onely ends pretended for them By William Prynne of Swanswick Esquire for the common benefit ease and Information of the whole Nation Habak. 1.10 They shall deride every strong hold for they shall heap dust and take it Hosea 3 14 Iudah hath multiplied fenced Cities but I will send a fire upon his Cities which shall devoure the palaces thereof 2 Chron. 12 4. And he took the fenced Cities which appertained to Judah Dan. 11. â—5 The King of the North shall come and cast up a mount and take the most fenced Cities neither shall there he any strenght to withstand Ezeck. 26. 11 12. He shall stay thy people by the sword and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground and they shall make a spoile of thy riches and make a prey of thy merchandise and they shall break down thy wals and destroy thy pleasant houses and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the middest of the water London Printed for the Author and are to be sold by Edward Thomas at his Shop at the signe of the Adam and Eve in Little Brittain 1658. EIGHT Military Aphorisms DEMONSTRATING The uselesness unprofitableness hurtfulness and Prodigal expensivenesse of all standing English Garrisons to the people of England their Inability to protect them from Enemies Invasions Depredations by Sea or Land the great mischiefs they occasion in peace open War the oversight injury of continuing them at the Peoples excessive expence or any other mercinary Land-forces for the present or future real defence of the Peoples Persons Liberties Laws or Estates THough Garrisons in three or four of our greatest richest strongest Cities which are as so many Magazenes and places of refuge may in some respects be necessarie and convenient in times of war especially when guarded by the Cities own Arms and Forces yet that our ordinary standing mercenary Garrisons especially in small Castles and Blockhouses are not only altogether uselesse but most dangerous oppressive and mischievous grievances to the Nation both in times of war and Peace I shall briefly evidence by these ensuing Aphorisms 1. THat the Principal use end of Garrisons is onely to keep a forraign conquered Enemy or Countrey in constant subiect on and contribution to the Conquerers therefore not to be contniued in our own free Nation by those who pretend its Freedom and Enfranchisement from bondage unlesse they resolve to make us their conquered Vassals and Tributaries instead of English-Freemen 2. That all Garrisons Castles Forts Block-houses throughout England if their works and fortifications were demolish'd would be nothing else but meer despicable worthless barren Hills or Clods of Earth scarce worth two hundred pounds a yeer at their best improved value which no wise Statesman or enemy upon due consideration would either value look after or go about to fortifie more then those many thousand unfortified Rocks Hills upon the Sea-coast or in inland Counties which any forraign or Domestick Enemies might with as much advantage to themselves and prejudice to the Nation soon fortifie and Garrison with ease and advantage if they would bestow so much charge pains as on those now fortified furnished to their hands at the peoples cost if once but Masters of the Field wâ—â—h forts would stand the Enemies in no more stead if now sleighted then any other unfortified Hills Rocks or those Garrison'd Hills and Rocks would do before they were fortified and Garrison'd being altogether as unuseful unable to defend or secure the Nation and People near them from the Invasions Plunders Conquests of any Potent Enemy or Party stronger then these petty Garrisons as any other unfortified ungarrisond Hills or Rocks throughout the Island of like or as strong a situation and really serving only to defend the bare mercenary Garrison-Soldiers in them and the barren Rocks Hills alone whereon they stand not the whole Nation or Counties adjoining in time of such Invasion Danger till they be either taken by or surrendred to the prevailing Party Enemy Therefore to put the Nation Countrey to a vast annual expence of many thousand pounds each yeer to fortifie furnish and man such Garrison'd fruitlesse Rocks and Clods of Earth not worth 200.l a yeer at utmost value which can neither secure the whole Island nor people near them from Forraign or Domestick Enemies and to continue them Garrison'd at such a prodigal expence is as great a Solecisir Madnesse Prodigality in true Martial State Politicks as it would be ill Countrey husbandry for the whole Nation or private Statesmen to bestow one hundred thousand pounds every yeer in Planting sowing the Hills and Rocks whereon these Garrisons now stand to reap a barren crop only of 200.l a yeer at most which as they are now garrison'd yeild them not one farthing towards the publice Revenue and yet have cost the Nation very many thousand pounds out of their Purses every yeer to no use or end at all but to cast away so much money on lazie Garrison-Soldiers to smoke Tobacco and cry one to another Who goes there as if we had stil too much mony in our dry-draâ—ned-Purses and to continue them at this grand charge only because the Island and places near them might be endangered if slighted their ruins supprised regarrisond by an enemy who wil never certainly be so mad or sottish as to fortifie any slighted Garrisons unlesse able to defend them against the whole Nation is as grosse an absurdity as to argue we must forthwith fortifie Garrison all other advantagious Sea-coasts Rocks Hills Basses in England because else any Enemy might master seise and fortifie them to the Nations Peoples danger damage and repair fortifie all old late demolished Castles Forts Block-houses upon the same reason and accompt which all the Indian Mines would not suffice to Garrison 3. That England being subject to the Forraign Invasions Depredation of Enemies or Pirates only by Sea with Ships which no fixed Land-Garrisons can incounter assault board take sink or pursue from place to place nor hinder from landing under their Noses if stronger then they muchlesse in any other place out of their command as is undeniable by our ancient seising of Cadez and sundry Townes Garrisons in the Indies by Sir Francis Drak others and our late invading and taking in of the Isles of Sâ—lly Geâ—sey Gaâ—nsey the Barbadoes and Scottish Island without the losse of any one Ship and of very
taking in the Wars by Seige as Glocester Hull and Lime did in our late Wars but scarce any else yet as it was more through Gods mercy and the valor vigilancie and strength of their own Inhabitants and other Volunteers then of their hired mercenaries so the length of Losses and damages by their very Leaguers did more indammage impoverish them then an honorable composition with the Enemy at first or the leaving their Towns quite ungarrison'd would have done besides their exemption from all those fears hardships and other miseries accompanying their Leaguers There was no Garrison in the late Wars throughout the Nation but if left ungarrison'd by either side might with the quarter or half quarter of its unnecessary expences to make and keep it a Garrison have avoided all the Miseries Losses Devastations Plunders Pressures it suffered as a Garrison on both or either side without any great danger or Pillage to the Inhabitants persons or Estates by either side And half the charges of our Garrisons on both sides would have defrayed the whole charges of both the Field Armies and ended the Wars in far lesse then half the time they were protracted by means of Garrisons In brief our small Castles and Garrisons even in times of wars are can be no defence at all but great Oppressions and Grievances to the people and Countrey our great Garrisons are then but small defences and greater burdens and grievances to the people then smaller yea all of them after all their fortifications costs expences are or may be taken by * force stratagem Famine or Treachery at the last by any Enemy who is but Master of the Field Witnesse the strongest of Cities â—yrus Ezek. 26. and Ierusalem Gods own most fortified City of which the Prophet thus writes Lam. 4.12 The Kings of the earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the Adversary and the Enemy should have entred into the Gates of Jerusalem yet was it often taken pillaged dismantled and burnt by the enemies 2 Chron 12.4 c. 2 Chron. 36.7 10 17 to 21. Yea our own Garrisons were the principal seats theaters of all our former and late Wars epsecially when besieged by either party Whence a Siege is usually termed Le-Guerre from the French that is to say THE WAR because there is no War to speak of till then Battels in the Field being fought and ended usually in half a day or lesse and oft within one hour or two at most when as Sieges accompanied alwaies with frequent Skirmishes constant Batteries sundry Assaults Sallies Stormings on all hands or in some quarter or other continue many dayes weeks months and yeers sometimes with far greater danger and losse of men on both sides and are usually seconded with many Skirmishes bloody Battels and incounters of Armies or Parties sent to victual relieve the besieged or raise the Siege occasioning more and greater slaughters then a pitched battel in the Field alone as all Histories and experience manifest Upon all which confiderations all Statesmen Soldiers and intelligent Inhabitants of Garrisons who have any brains remaining in their heads or consciences in their brests must ingenuouslye after due deliberation acknowledge that Garrisons even in times of open Wars especially intestine are so far from being a Benefit Blessing Security or Protection to their Inhabitants and Owners that they are the extreamest Pressures Grievances Curses Plagues Dangers and most destructive desolating Instruments that possible can befall them as bringing all the Furies Plagues Miseries and Extremities of War upon them in perfection so as it were better safer for the Inhabitants of all or most Garrisons at least and more conducing to their safety in respect of Bodies Goods and Freedom from all sorts of Inconveniences by War to continue disgarrison'd and lye open to both parties Armies as Countrey Villages do thereby to escape all the forementioned Plagues to which Garrisons are exposed or else if there be cause to fire their own houses before hand or leave them empty and flie with their Families Goods moneys and what else they have into Bogs Woods Rocks Caves Wildernesses as the the wilde Irish High-landers Scythians and all Nations wanting Garrisons do and there to secure themselves from the Enemies till withdrawn thence routed or the Wars ended and thereby to save all or most they have for their own and Families uses then unadvisedly of their own heads or by the command of any in Power over them to put themselves to an extraordinary vast expence to erect fortifie furnish and maintain Garrisons of mercenaries to no other purpose at all if seriously considered unlesse able to defend themselves without any Mercenaries or Taxes but meerly voluntary when and where there is occasion only and no longer but meerly to expose themselves to all the premised Calamities of War and Garrisons under a Brainlesse pretext and lying imposture of defending their Persons and Estates from Danger or Molestation by the Enemies or others the contrary effects whereunto they ever occasion both in Peace and War Thirdly In times of open Wars Garrisons bring these manifold Evils and Miseries on the adjacent Countrey-Villages and contributing Friends and Neighbors near them instead of any real benefit or protection from them which they neither do will nor can afford them in their greatest needs though they voluntarily or by co-action against all Reason and Conscience largely contribute to their fortifying and supplying for this end 1 Upon the approach of any Enemy to besiege them these very Garrisons their Friends and Protectors like professed Enemies oft fire their adjourning Houses cut pull down their Trees Orchards Fences Ditches Walls Pales drive away all their Cattel carry away all their Goods Money Plate Arms Houshold-Stuff with their very Houshold Provisions into their Garrisons by meer violence against their wills intreaties cryes tears without any price or consideration at all to victual and furnish the Garrisons with necessaries against the Siege or else to preserve them before the Enemies approach from the enemies possession or Plunder who else would seise them to their disadvantage when as the Enemies for their own better accommodation would use them more favorably and not plunder them half so much as these their pretended Friends and new Protectors Secondly They are more frequently visited Plundred spoiled captivated fined ransomed by the Enemy upon all advantages and occasions when there is no Siege then places more remote from Garrisons and not contributing to them for protection upon these two accompts 1. To deprive or straiten these Garrisons the more of all provisions necessaries Supplies and Contributions from them if not totally to withdraw them from them 2. Because they accompt them their professed Enemies for being Contributers Friends Neighbors to these Garrisons so all they have is lawful Plunder without dispute unlesse they will redeem it by Fines or Ransoms or by paying asâ—â—â—â— or greater constant Contributions to them and their next adjoyning
within the Nation the true interest safety preservation and protection of the Island and Peoples Persons Estates Laws Liberties Inheritances Rights consist not in our Garrisons or any Mercenary Officers and Soldiers English or Forraigners modelled or new modelled into a Field Army since Mercenaries as well Domestick as forraign in all ages have ever sought nought else but their own private Lucre Honor Power Advancement to places of greatest Authority Gain Trust and frequently after good Successe in Wars presuming on their strength and merits have supplanted subverted suppressed destroyed those very Powers and 〈…〉 who first raised paid and confided in them 〈…〉 their preservation and preferred their own mercenary Officers and Generals by Treachery Murther Perjury and open Violence to the Imperial and Royal Thrones of their Lawful Soveraigns and Superiors murdered and deposed by them as the * Roman Histories and others the practice of the Mamalukes in Egypt of Alexander the Great his own Captains who notwithstanding their extraordinary pretences of honor and respect unto him and his not only poysoned himself as some Authors write but murdered his own Son Heir to his Empires Conquests together with his mother wife all his remotest kâ—nâ—eâ— that might lay claim to his Dominions by Hereditary Right then divided his Territories between themselves made crowned styled themselves Kings and then by Gods avenging Iustice out of covetous ambitious spirits warred upon each other so long till they had all murdered and slain each other as Arrianus Plutarch Justin Curtius Diodorus Siculus and Dr. Usher in his Ecclesiastical Annals of the old Testament record at large with †other innumerable presidents abroad and the practice of Vortigerr Hengâ—st Horsa and divers others at Home sufficiently manifest in all times with Scripture presidents likewise But our real Interest Protection Safety resides next under God in the Nobilities Gentries and Peoples united voluntary unmercenary defence and protection of themselves in and by their own persons with their own Arms Servants Sons Tenants Retainers according to their respective abilities as appears by the Politique original Institution of ancient * Tenures in Knights-Service Escuage Castle-Guards and the like the old Charters of our Corporations and Cinque-Ports obliging them to finde a certain number of men and ships at their own costs to defend the Realm in times of War with all ancient Writs Commissions Precepts for arraying the people of the Realm in times of War and danger according to their Tenures Estates Customs to defend the Realm and themselves from invading Enemies at all times cited in the printed Arguments concerning Ship-money and the * Declarations both of the King and Parliament concerning the Commission of Array all former Statutes concerning Arrays Arms Musters and the old long continued practice of our Train's-Band in each County and Corporation formerly reputed the Nations chief Security in intestine and invasive Wars with the late Militia's raised on and by each County at their own vast expence to defend it and the nation as the best safestguard when all sorts were commanded to serve in person notwithstanding all Garrisons Mercenary Field-Forces and the Army then and since continued as our safety And indeed common reason proves that as every man loves and prefers his own person family estate before a strangers or any others so he will more vigilantly sincerely effectually defend and protect them from Enemies or Dangers then any Mercenaries how trusty and valiant soever they be And as every true Shepherd and owner of Sheep is more careful to defend and preserve them from Thieves and Robbers with the hazard of his own life then any Stranger or Hireling whose the Sheep are not who will slie and desert or else help to prey upon them and play the thief himself in times of danger or advantage as Christ himself resolves John 10. So every able private person Family Parish Town County Association and by like consequence the whole Nation will better cheaper and with lesse inconveniences by far defend and secure themselves by their own unmercenary persons Arms voluntarily united according to their respective abilities without any general forced Taxes and illegal Excises imposed and continued on them against their wills then any Mercenary Officers and Soldiers whatsoever who making onely a Trade and Gain of War wil therefore spin it out as long as the Nation or People have any moneys or Estates to pay and inrich them and will sooner conclude and settle Peace upon their own terms upon all overtures and occasions then Mercenaries who neither desire nor intend our publike Peace in reality but interrupt it all they may when neer concluded as in the late Treaty with armed violence both against King and Parliament Uupon which grounds our Ancestors never usually entrusted any Mercenary Armies but themselves alone with their own and the Kingdoms defence scarce ever imposed any Taxes on the people by publike Parliamentary Authority in any civil Wars and very rarely except a Subsidy or fifteen now and then for the Kingdoms defence against forraign Invasion but onely for their Invasive Defensive Forraign Wars in France or elsewhere Why then the whole Nation Nobility Gentry and People of all sorts should not now again be trusted with their own arms and self-defence as well as in former Ages being their native Priviledge and Birthright their onely best security and prevention against all publike Enemies and Invaders but are forced to pur their Armes Lives Estates Protection into the hands of Mercenary Officers Soldiers Garrisons who notwithstanding their vast endlesse expences for their Pay have so often abused violated their Trusts lengthned our old engaged us since in successive new Wars against our Protestant Brethren and Confederates themselves and have almost eaten up all our real personal private Estates with the whole publike ancient Inheritance and standing Revenues of the Nation let all prudent Statesmen and Patrons of their Countreys Rights and Priviledges resolve the rather because our Mercenary Soldiers Garrisons Forts are so far perverted from their primitive use to preserve our Persons and Estates from Enemies and Violence that they are now made the only Janazaries Goalers Goaâ—s Prisons forcibly to seise imprison close imprison the persons ransack the Houses Studies of the emminentest Parliament Members Patrons and Freemen Sufferers for our publike Liberties Laws Propertiesr Religion and the onely Instruments under the New Guardians of our Libertye to bring the whole Nation and all English Freemen of full age into perpetual Wardship to these new Seigniours since the old Court of Wards for Infants only till they came of full age is quite voted down as a Grievance though not comparable unto this of men of full age yea Parliament Members new strictest Wardships and close restraints under armed Garrisons and Centinels of meanest quality in these Garrison'd new Courts of Wards 8. That Maritine Garrisons Forts Blockhouses at the entrance of our Harbors as Pendennis and
four men of warre to convey such ships as were in the Harbour to Plymouth two of them came into the Harbour the other two plied up and downe at the mouth of it till the other two came out of the Harbour to them This little Pink thereupon hoysed saile as if she were bound for Plymouth with them without any discharge or leave from the Castles whereupon they shot two warning pieces over and under her to bring her in for this affront and to make her pay for the shot and custome of Tinne which they imagined she had stollen I looking on the Captain Gunners and souldiers told mee They would warrant mee shee would come in and submit but I observing her course told them Shee would no more come in to their lure then a wilde Hawke got loose whereupon both Castles discharged their cannons in earnest to hit sink or bring her back through fear but shee in despite of them though there were two men of warre before and two behinde her under saile got away from them all without any hurt or stop the whole Garrison looking on VVhereupon I laughing at their confidence and uselessness of these castles serving only to shoot away * powder and bullet in salutes and frollicks told them That our wise Statesmen and the Kingdome were very much overseen to keep two Castles three or four Blockhouses so many score Cannons Gunners Souldiers and Matrosses there as cost them eight or ten thousand pounds a year under pretence to secure the Haven and Nation against Enemies and Pirates when they could not at noon day as they now saw by experience so much as stay take hurt or sink one little Pink of nine or ten tun with foure or five sea-men onely and not one Gun in her when as there were four Men of War under sail so near her and she had stolen Customes Much lesse then could they stop hurt sinck any stout man of War or an whole squadron of Ships or Navy or hinder them from entring the Harbor riding or landing there and returning at their pleasures their Pieces and Blockhouses not commanding one half quarter of the Harbor when entred not being able to hurt or sink them in their entry or retiring as I clearly demonstrated to them then and afterwards especially by these unanswerable experiments in our late sea Fights Collonel Blake my Countrey-man in his first sea Fight with Van Trump as his and others printed Letters relate had many scores if not hundreds of broad sides discharged against his ship by the Dutch at nearest distance by far greater better Cannons Cannoneers and Tyres of Ordinance charged with Chain and Crossâ—aâ—â— shot as well as Bullet lying nearer the water then any Guns in Pendennis or St. Maudits Castles Blockhouses or in any other of our Forts receiving no less then 3000. Cannon shot in his Hull tackling M. st Saâ—ls After which he received in his ship as many or more broad sides and shots in his third Fight with the Dutch in their return from France with their Merchant ships and Sir George Ascough received neer as many in his ship in his fight with Ruttier Yet all these road sides thousands of shot did neither sink split fire nor make unservicable either of these ships which were soon repaired neither did they kill any store of their men with their Cannons their Musket shot and boording only doing their men most harm Therefore questionless so many thousand Cannon shot discharged against any other stout single ship or man of War from these Castles and Blockhouses at greater distance uncertainty and higher level with smaller Ordnance balls by worser Guners can neither sink nor spoil her muchless sink hâ—rt spoil stop or take an whole squadron of ships of war which our whole Fleets can hardly do when they cannot come neare to board or fire them by this proportion all the powder cannon shot bullets Guns in both Castles would not be sufficient to sink or spoil one single ship riding at Anchor within their command muchlesse in her passage in or out since 3000. shot in her bulk sails masts and tackling would not do it and half of the Cannons discharged would not hit but passe besides her Therefore to keep up such Castles and Blockhouses to secure Harbours sink ships and hinder any fleets or squadrons of ships from entring or harbouring in them was but a prodigal oversight and mistake there being never any warlike ship yet sunk by our Forts blockhouses since their first erection for ought I could read in history or hear by information from credible Witnesses nor any Navy repelled from entring riding or landing by them had they a resolution to do it as the premised instances with sundry others manifest And one since these Aphorisms penned namely General Blakes fireing the Turkish ships lying under their very strongest Castle Walls notwithstanding all their cannons blockhouses ships playing upon our ships assaulting them and beating down their castle about their ears with the cannon from our ships without the loss sinking spoile of any of our ships A sufficient demonstrative evidence of the uselesness of Maritine forts and blockhouses which in truth are meer idle scarecrows and bugbears to fright raw cowardly sea-men not daunt or keep off experienced resolute ships or marriners VVherefore to draw towards a conclusion I shall onely adde That the onely pretended use of Mercenary Garrisons and Souldiers being but to defend the Peoples Persons and Estates in times of necessity when and whiles end angered by a Potent Enemy in actuall Armes who are secure enough without them when where and whiles there is no such visible Enemy to assault them it can be neither justice equity conscience honesty good husbandry nor true State-policy to continue any such Garisons or Feild Souldiers on them to their vast expence and undoing now there is no Armed Enemy in the Island and so strong a Fleet at Sea to secure them against forraigners upon endlesse full and constant former pay without any necessity or actuall service till the next spring or summer because then peradventure there may be some new imployments for them at home or abroad onely to enrich the Mercinary Officers Souldiers and oppresse undoe the undone people lying down like Issachars under both these heavy burthens of Mercenary Garrisons and a Mercenary field Army too even with broken backes and bleeding hearts without ease or commisseration notwithstanding all their clamours No present ruling Potentates or States-men who should help and right them will be such Prodigals or ill husbands of their owne Purses and Estates as to keep those Reapers Mowers who have cut down their Corne and done their harvest work the last Summer in ful constant harvest pay all the following Autumne Winter and all the succeeding spring till the Summer harvest come again without any other usefull work or imployment for them till then because peradventure they may then imploy them again for a month or two
in reaping and inning their next yeares crop which they have not so much as sowen and are yet uncertaine whether to sow or not which if they did would render them ridiculous to every Country Clown who hath so much Policy and frugality as to discharge his mercenary harvest folke so soone as they have ended their harvest worke and not to keep them still idle and pay them harvest wages till the next Summer because he can then if need be soon hire them or other Reapers Mowers when his corne is ripe for cutting not before for lesse then one quarter of the money their pay would come to if kept in hire till that time without doing him any other service And shall our wise new Statesmen then be such Prodigals and ill husbands of the exhausted peoples purses and estates as to keep many thousands of mercinary Field and Garrison Horse and foot in constant full pay who many moneths since have done all their sommer and present publick worke for the peoples safety all the censuing Autumne winter Spring in no actuall necessary Service for them at all onely because perhaps they may make use of them the Sommer following or a year or two hence if then to cut down imaginary armed Enemies in the Field or Island if any then appeare to invade the Peoples Persons and Estates of which there is yet no probability Verily if they shall still do thus every Country Peasant will despise deride and ensure this their folly and unthriftinesse and the whole exhausted oppressed Nation condemne if not casheir them for such grosse imprudence Certainly every rich private Statesmans Noblemans Gentlemans Peasants House Person in these necessitous times when theives are so busy in all parts of the Nation are in greater danger of being robbed plundred murdred by Murderers and Robbers then any Garrison Towne or Village to be piliaged by any forraigne forces or domestick Enemies appearing in no parts of the Isle nor likely to do it yet none of them will be so ridiculous prodigall or distrustfull of Gods protecting Providence as upon their owne purses to hire any Horse or foot perpetually to Guard their Persons Houses day and night till the next Sommer because some Theeves and Robbers these long tedious winter nights may probably assault their Houses steal their moneyes plate goods or murder their persons but will ease themselves of this cost and charge till they be certainly informed of a company of Robbers conspiring for to plunder rob or kill them about some certain time or have news that they are ready to execute this designe and then they will time enough summon their domestik servants freinds to encounter and surprise them if they come and should they not then intrust the peoples persons estates to Gods Protection and their owne at this present without any mercenary Garrisons or Forces to guard them against their wills or desires to their superfluous vast expence when there is farr lesse probability or feare of danger to them in generall from armed Enemies then to their owne private persons Houses or moneys from Theeves and Robbers If they be thus continued on them onely to enrich the Officers Souldiers and secure their own Usurpations Intrusions or over ruling powers preferred before the peoples ease or weal under a pretext of danger from some Enemies that may or will infest plunder destroy the people so soone as the Army and Garrisons are disbanded we shall then desire that all officers Souldiers unwilling to disband upon this pretence of great imminent danger for the peoples more certaine security from Enemies and meriting of their future pay may be strictly enjoyned to put on all their Armes and draw up all their forces in battalio where they most feare the Enemies in the field and all their Garrisons likewise kept in a constant standing Posture to receive the Enemy in their respective Forts and there to stand night and day in their compleat armes in a perpetuall readinesse and posture of defence till the next sommer and our fears be ended without putting off their Arms as our * King Richard the first kept the Bishop of Bevâ—ies taken Prisoner by his forces in the field harnessed from head to foot in his iron Armes night and day above two months space without suffering him all that time to put them off lest some Enemies should surprise them our Island Garrisons on a sudden ere they could arme or put themselves in an actuall posture to receive them if permitted once to retire into their Winter quarters for their ease and then we suppose these pretenders of imminent danger only to get pay when and where they neither do nor can do the people the least reall Publick service but greatest prejudice as the premises evince will soone become as humble and earnest petitioners to our present swaying Powers who continue them and to the People who desire it to be forthwith disbanded and sent home again to their friends further imployments as this Harnessed Bishop was to our King Richard himselfe the Pope and his Brother Prelates to be disrobed disarmed of his heavy iron Rochet so long keept on his back and body to his little ease and lesse content it being altogether as just equitable and reasonable for them to keep the Army and Garrison Soldiers in this unreasonable hard constant duty and armed Posture day and night till they be disbanded as to lay unsupportable endlesse Taxes Excises on the oppressed peoples backs to maintain them in constant pay to their intolerable oppression till the next Sommer or longer upon the premised pretences If any now demand as many Officers and Souldiers oft do being their chief plea against disbanding how shall the Officers and Souldiers live after all their good Service in the Wars if they shall be now at last disbanded to ease and pleasure the people The Answer is very obvious just and equall 1. How shall the poor people live or maintain themselves and families if these Garrisons and Mercinary Forces be still continued being already like to starve 2. How do the poor people live who are still enforced to give them full pay and maintain them in idlenesse without any labour to do very little duty that wholly useless in Field or Garrisons wherein their onely necessary uselesse present dutie is to stand Centinell once or twice a week one houre or two to take Tobacco play sleep drink and cry stand or who goes there to one another in the night as they passe by the Centinels to as much purpose in relation to the peoples safety as one night-Owles crying hallowing is to another or to demand of those that enter into the Garrisons in the day time Whence come you what are you what is your name businesse whom would you speak with Have you taken the new Engagement else you must not enter the Fort or Garrison no not alone in these times of no danger as if one disarmed Non Engager
more unruly deboist injurious imperious over them in all kindes then in Peace 5. By inviting inducing or necessitating the Enemies Forces to besiege and inflict upon them the saddest Calamities and Plagues of War from which ungarrisoned Towns and places far from Garrisons are usually exempted or not so liable to especially in civil Wars To enumerate some particular miseries accompanying Seiges 1. Burning wasting destroying their own Suburbs Neighboring Houses Villages Orchards Gardens Trees in or near their Garrisons Walls or Works and that frequently by their own Officers and Garrison Soldiers to prevent the Enemies quartering in them or some annoyances from them or to contract their Works for their better and easier defence of what remaiins unburnt or unwasted to the undoing of hundreds and thousands left houslesse and harborless by this inhumane Policy as bad or worse then any Enemies rage as the sad late presidents of the firing the Suburbs of Bristol Excester Taunton Lincoln York Colchester and other Garrisons experiment with some stately Houses and whole Villages adjoyning to them To which may be added the like frequent furious devastations of them by the Enemies if spared by themselves Secondly Losse of all Trading Commerce and Markets during the Leaguers about them when they need them most of all Thirdly Perpetual Fears Alarms Disturbances Watchings Frights day and night continual hard military duties and skirmishes with the Enemy even by the Inhabitants themselves at their free cost notwithstanding their hired dear-waged Guardian Soldiers to secure them Fourthly Forcible seisures of the Inhabitants Houshold-Provisions of all sorts with their Beds Bedding Arms Money Plate to feed lodge arm pay their Mercenary Servants then in all things their most absolute Lording Masters who extort and will take from them and theirs all they have of purpose forsooth to protect them though those their protected Pay-masters and their whole Families starve lye cold or naked on the boards want money to buy them bread necessaries or lie sick in greatest distress Fifthly The losse of many of the Inhabitants lives by Assaults Granadoes Fire-works Sallies Shots wounds Famines Plagues Feavers and other Sicknesses usually accompanying Sieges and Wars by invented false accusations suspitions of holding intelligence with the Enemies or plotting to betray the Garrison to them by suddain fears frights discontents firing or beating down Houses springing of Mines and the like during their Seiges in many whereof if sharp or long or accompanyed with Plagues and Sicknesses above half the Inhabitants or more have frequently been quite consumed and the rest utterly undone though the Enemies left the Seige at last Sixthly The Wounding Maiming loss of Limbs of many of the Inhabitants multiplying of their poor Widows desolate Orphans by Seiges and their new charge to relieve them Seventhly The total Banishment Captivity Slaughter and extirpation of all the Inhabitants and mercenary Soldiers too in Garrisons if taken by storm or assault by putting them all to the Sword Man Woman and Childe without distinction or the greatest number of them and carrying the rest Captives thence whereof there are hundreds of sad presidents in * Sacred and Prophane History The famous Protestant Town of Magdeburgh in Germany of late years was by bloody General Tilly put totally to the Sword and then burnt to ashes And Tredagh in Ireland though for the most part Protestants always constant to the Parliament enduring many long and sharp Seiges by the Irish Popish Rebels yet submitting to Marquesse Ormond a sincere Protestant formerly General for the Parliament in Ireland and then for the King and receiving a Garrison from him at the last when their Governor entred into an offensive and defensive League with Owen Roe-Oneal the General of the Popish Rebels their greatest Enemy and chief Contriver Fomenter of the Irish Massacre and Rebellion upon the late taking of it by storm most of the Inhabitants were thereupon put to the sword without distinction together with all the Garrison Soldiers by Gen. Cromwell himself and his Forces to the great grief of many good Protestants there which fatal desolation and total destruction they had all escaped had they not been a Garrison Eightly The total demolition and burning to the very ground of sundry private Garrisons Castles strong magnificent Houses of ancient Nobles and Gentlemen and of some fair Churches too when taken whereof our late Wars have produced many sad Spectacles as Rag land Castle Basing House Rowden House Cambden House Litchfield Closâ— Banbury Pomfret Castles with sundry more And which is yet more grievous the burning to the ground and total desolation depopulation ruine of many great famous Garrisons Cities and Towns as Troy Jerusalem Tyrus Athens with hundreds more and of the best and greatest part of other stately Cities never since repaired re-peopled whereof * Sacred and Prophane Stories of former ages our own Annals and late experience can furnish us with multitudes of sad Presidents Which fatal Subversions Devastations they had all escaped had they not been Garrisoned and stood out a Siege Ninthly the total Spoil Plunder Confiscation of all the Inhabitants Goods and Estates if not their Lives to the Enemy if taken by Assault or Stratagem to their universal undoing and yet putting them to future Fines Ransoms and heavy Taxes afterward to buy their Peace or save them from the general subsequent Plunder of all not formerly spoiled by the Soldiers All which they had escaped if un-Garrisoned Tenthly The unavoidable reception of greater and usually worse domineering new Garrisons from the conquering Enemies oft spoiling plundering firing ransoming executing the wealthiest of the Inhabitants notwithstanding all Articles of agreement for their Indempnity and Security though taken by surrender onely not by storm which Articles are usually much violated and very seldome kept by faithlesse greedy rude plundering Officers or Soldiers who add affliction to affliction and a new undoing to the old to whose new Lording Lawlesse power Orders Pleasures Government the Inhabitants must all submit or else they their Families must be forthwith banished out of their native Habitations as enemies stript naked of all they have and forced to wander cold naked about the Countrey like vagrants for bread clothes relief houseroom which they plentifully enjoyed before to the breaking of their hearts and shortning of their lives Eleventhly These Garrisons are oft taken re-taken over and over and so as oft plundered re plundered spoiled ransomed and new garrisond by both sides yea those of them who were protected as friends and favorites to the one side are sure to be most spoiled plundered oppressed persecuted by the other and to suffer thus in their successive turns till they be quite undone and ruined by their frequent takings and re-takings on both sides as Bristol Exeter with other places have found by late sad experience the vicissitudes and miseries of these Garrisons never ceasing till their Wars and Garrisons cease and they became no Garrisons Twelfly If any besieged Garrisons escape
Garrisons as they do to those to live in Peace being thus made a double prey to both sides under colour of Protection by and from both An intolerable double Pressure and Imposition of which our late Wars afforded many experimental Presidents in most places next to Garrisons who if the pillaging Enemies be strong at any time neither will dare nor ought as they hold by the Laws of War to stir out of their Garrisons to encounter or protect their country neighboring contributors from their Plunder even under their Walls and view for fear of being cut off and losing the Garrison to them Such notable useful Protectors are they to the adjacent Countrey as not to stir one foot to help them at their greatest needs but expose them to their Enemies spoil without resistance if unato protect themselves Thirdly They are more frequently then any others of the Country further of oppressed vexed hindred impoverished with the seising impresting of their Servants Children Ploughs Carts Horses and sometimes taking them quite away by both sides alike either for publick services or private occasions to their vexation or undoing Fourthly They are more oppressed by laboring in and contributing to these Garrisons Fortifications carrying in their Ammunition and other Provisions cost-free or for little pay that long ere received constant Contributions to their Garrisons quartering Free-quartering insolences outrages abuses of the Garrison Soldiers of marching Parties of the Field Army it self when drawn into Quarters then any parties more remote from Garrisons and their persons more oft Imprisoned Beaten Wounded their Wives Children Servants more abused their houses more ransacked Goods Monies more frequently seised and taken away upon malice jealousies pretences by crafty Knaves Officers and pillaging Soldiers then others farther off them Fifthly When these Garrisons are besieged as usually and frequently they are their Pressures and Miseries are beyond expression The Men if well affected to the Garrisons are all forced by fear or otherwise from their Houses into the Garrisons Woods or other Counties if not their Wives Children and whole Families likewise to avoid the Fury Pressures Troubles Insolencies of the besieging Enemies who fill all their houses with their free-quartering rude abusive Soldiers eating drinking up all their Beer and other Provisions whatsoever for man or beast both within without not leaving them or their Families bread to eat or beer to drink nor yet any Bed Bolster Cushion or ought else to rest their heads on or Straw to lie in Tread and eat out all their Grasse Hay Corn standing or cut with their Horses kill devour drive away all their Stock Cattel which the Garrisons have left them as good booty burn up all their Pales Houses Wood Timber-Trees fruit-Trees for firing soon make them all as poor as Job himself 6. They are more frequently then any others of the Countrey further off oppressed vexed hindred impoverished as aforesaid and every new Siege by either party reiterates the same or worse effects as the first to their reiterated beggerie as many late experiments fresh in peoples minds about Plimouth Excester Lime Taunton Bristol Glocester Worcester Oxford York Hull whose first Siege produced the drowning of all the Countrey round it in the beginning of our Wars and most besieged Garrisons evidence beyond contradiction which miseries Countries void of Garrisons or remoter from them doe not sustain the quarterings on them being neither so frequent thick long-lasting or oppressive as in places next to Garrisons especially in Sieges 7. In these Garrisond Leaguers their Gardens Grounds Orchards Houses are frequentlie destroyed digged up or pulled down their Trees and Timber felled their Men Women Children Ploughs Carts Horses forced day after day to toile and labour in making Trenches Sconces Batteries Approacees Mines Redoubts or carry Timber Provisions Artillery Armes and other Baggage which remoter Parishes are free from and themselves would be so too but for these Garrisons which occasion and enforce these Sieges 8. If the Opposites Field Armie or strong Parties from them during the Sieges approach to raise them or to victual or relieve the Garrisons the oppressions of the adjoyning Parts ate then doubled trebled and spread wider round about these Garrisons till the whole Country ten twenty or thirty miles about by the long quartering and lying of so many Armies Parties upon them and Marches to and fro to take or relieve the Garrisons be quite undone and eaten out and so one or both Armies necessitated to seek out fresh quarters or the Garrisons taken or relieved After this the necessitated neer-starved Garrisons requiring new supplies of all sorts if not taken extort them from the adjacent Countries if they be to be had above ground which addes much to all their former afflictions And then again some other new Sieges or occasions drawing one or both Armies thither afresh so soon as the miserable Country People have gotten any thing about them they are to their endlesse vexation exposed afresh to all the fformer miseries of Wars Sieges and never eased of them till the Garrisons either be demolished or disbanded From all which experimentall Arguments and real Demonstrations of undoubted verity all rational men whatsoever and no doubt the whole Nation Country Inhabitants of Garrisons with all consciencious self-denying Statesmen and Souldiers who really intend or affect the peoples true weal ease or safety the Supream Law the principal end of War Peace Garrisons Armies Parliaments Councils Magistrates Government and higher Powers as the Army-Officers themselves remonstrated in the very worst of their Remonstrances Nov. 20 1648. making it the Basis of all their exorbitant unparalleled Demands therein of their violent Proceedings in pursuit of them ever since will and must henceforth confesse conclude against all Erroneous Opinions and Practises to the contrary That the raising fortifying and holding up of Garrisons kept by Mercenary Soldiers even in times of Civil or other Wars is so farre from being a Protection Advantage Security to the Nation in General the Garison Inhabitants Owners of Garrison'd Castles or Houses themselves or the Country adjoyning to and contributing towards them that they are their Greatest Oppressions Grievances Calamities Plagues Burdens Vexations Damages Tortures Heart-breakings and usually the chief occasions of their oppression utter ruine desolation devastation in War and Peace and so in Reason Justice Conscience Prudence ought to be eternally exploded dismantled disgarrison'd as well as sundry heretofore and of late there being the selfe same Reason for all as for any for the Nations Inhabitants Countries Ease Peace Weal and future exemption from all the forementioned evils and miseries attending them both in Peace and War without delay or further dispute by all in present Power or by the Supream Authority of the people themselves in their wilful neglect or delay out of any Sinister or self seeking ends or designs whatsoever which their publike ease and benefit should outvie 7. That in all times of civil or other Wars