a pen doe in the hand of Experience if Nigard like he will not vouchsafe to spare vs any of his Beneficiall obseruations for mine owne part if either of these would haue risen vp in our Theater I would haue thought my selfe happy to haue sitten a dumbe but admiring Auditor yet to the first which is Learning whom I euer courted but could neuer attaine since I am a Stranger with the other which is Experience I will make bould for she hath beene my Guide in Trauell by Land my Pilot vpon the Seas and my Schoole-master in the warres Sir I know to whom I write to a Noble man that is Learned to a Noble man that is an Experienc't and an approued Souldier beleeue me I am not so ambitious to imagine I can send you any thing new any thing worthy your Studie no mine imperfect Offers come to serue you not to Instruct you and therefore I beseech you accept them as coole water which may refresh a Thirstie Weary and Ignorant Knowledge not milke to delight and nourish a Knowing Vnderstanding so shall you giue strength to my hopes and adde to the check-role of your seruants another faithfull Obseruer The Office vpon which I pitch in this Epistle is that of the Colonell of Horse which is a Noble and Honorable place and so much the more Noble as it excelleth in the dignitie and worthines of the weapon which he commandeth The name hath no larger extent or signification then the Colonell of the Infantrie only the dignitie of the person thus far excelleth that of what sort of weapon soeuer his Colony be compounded yet in himselfe he is euer a man at Armes and though his Regiment bee but of Dragoones yet loseth he no Honor either in his place or person but sitteth amongst the greatest Colonels according to his degree an equall Brother and Companion only contenting himselfe to be an elder or younger according to his antiquitie in command and the honor of the weapon by him commanded I need not insist much vpon his election since I haue already named the place Noble which inferreth as great and as singuler vertues as can by any tongue be named by any pen described by any heart conceiued neither need I make my way long and tedious in coming vnto the generall parts of his duty especially so much as concerneth the ordinary common-wealth and wholesome gouernment of his Regiment in Health in Concord in Plenty and in the performance of true Marshall Discipline since indeed he is so neare a Kinsman nay rather Brother or Fellow Companion with the Colonell of the Infantrie that in obseruing the first this latter doth as it were dilate and lay it selfe open to the intelligence and apprehension of euery indifferent Iudgement yet for as much as the alteration of weapon and addition of the Horse breedeth a diuersitie in some particuler duties therefore to those I will returne and shew how they are to bee mannaged in the designes of warre-like preparations It is a very materiall thing and an especiall duty in euery Colonell of Horse to looke that all his Regiment be well mounted and armed according to that proportion of Armes ouer which he is to Gouerne as if his Regiment consist of Gentlemen at Armes that then they be compleate armed in good Armor of high proofe from the close Caske downe to the Greaue and at all peeces a large straight Launce well headed with steele an arming Sword and a Mace or Battle Axe at his Saddle pomell a couragious strong and tall stooned Horse a steele Saddle and the Horses head necke brest and buttocke barbed with Pectron Trappings Crinier and Chieffront his Bridle double rained and well lined with a strong wyre chaine and the head-stall sutable with the like wyre lining also To euery Gentleman at Armes should belong three foure or more attendants mounted on Horse-backe though in a lower Ranke who are to waite vpon their necessaries and to take charge of their spare Horses for these men at Armes are all intended to bee men of great Blood and Qualitie to be the owners of Rich Estates and such as follow the wars only for Honor and the loue of vertue and put themselues vnder command not so much for Instrution as for orders sake and to leaue behind them the benefit of a good example If his Regiment consist of Pistoleers he shall see them armed compleat to the Cush strong Horses or Guelding of the largest size deep Saddles broad Trappings a faire Sword and a long Pistoll If his Regiment consist of Carbines then to haue as hath beene said in a former Epistle light Curats a Spanish Morrian a left Gauntlet and no more a faire Sword or Curtleaxe a strong nimble Guelding a Morocco Saddle and furniture sutable but if the Regiment be but Dragoones then a Spanish Morian and no other Armor a light Guelding a good Sword and a faire Dragoone When he hath his Regiment thus orderly armed it is then the duty of the Colonell to looke vnto their March their place of attendance and maner of Seruice as if they be men at Armes who are heauily armed then their Marches must be slow and seldome as namely when the Army doth dislodge and not vpon euery sleight occasion Their place is vpon each side of the maine Battell yet in a somewhat remoued and farre distance for in marching too nere the foote bands they may giue offence as being sodainely enforced to charge then wanting sufficient ground for retraite they often fall in amongst their owne bands and so compell them to Rout and disorder their seruice is two fould for they must ether encounter with the enemies Men at armes or else breake in amongst the Pikes and disranke or ouerthrow them they are also sometimes to relieue the Carbines or Dragoons when they are ingaged and in retraits to make stands vpon the enemies and so keepe them from the execution If they be Pistoliers then their March is more swift and more generall yet not so great as to be worthy the name of Trauell their place is a good pretty distance before the men at Armes and they troope together in large Squadrons the Cornet being lodged within three of the first Rankes and their Seruice is to breake vpon the Battell of Pikes after they haue beene a little shaken and disrankt by the men at Armes by volleys of Short or any other amazement also they doe sometimes encounter the enemies horse doe follow the chase to finish vp the execution If they bee Carbines their March is sodaine and vpon most occasions their place is before the Pistoleirs and the troupe in wings or sleeues with their Guydon placed in the middest of the Rankes as for their Seruice it is principally against the Foote-shott especially in Champaines where they are vnguarded either with Hedge Ditch Wall or other place of aduantage Lastly if they be Dragoones their march is for the most part vpon the swiftest gallop their
occupations to relieue euery want before it be complaind of so that vsing them with any proportion of affection or moderation though this Officer be wanting yet shall the Armie not feele any sufferance vnder the hand of Necessity To come then to the perticular charge and nature of his Office hee hath as before I said the Charge and Commandmend of all Horses Mules Garrons Waggons Carts Sleads and other implements whatsoeuer to carry conuey all the needfull Baggage either of Meate Drinke or Apparrell which any way dependeth vpon the Armie and not only appointeth vnder him all such ministers as shall see the same mounted and laden out of euery seuerall quarter but also being so furnished placeth them in aray and Rankes as he purposeth they shall March designeing euery man to his place and order which no man shall dare or presume to breake vpon paine of either hauing so much money defaulted and taken from his wages or else some other bodily punishment at the discretion of the Waggon-Master And that these Necessaries or Baggage of the Armie may be conueyed with greater safetie the Officers of the Horse and Commanders of Infantrie are to allow vnto the Waggon-Master a good and sufficient Guard both of Horse and Foote to secure the Luggage and to bring it safe to the Rendiuous where it is to bee vnladen in the seuerall Quarters With this Baggage doth march all women of what qualitie soeuer whether they be Wiues Laundresses or Seruants all Boyes belonging to Horse or Foote and all base and idle persons being generally comprehended vnder the title of Baggage people how necessary or vsefull soeuer and indeede they are Creatures of a most base and vnhappy condition none vnder heauen induring greater slauerie or contempt especially the Horse Boyes who are vp early and downe late that eate little and labour much that finde no end of their trauell nor beginning of their rest to whome the day is too short for their Iourneing and the night not longe enough to finde out their Masters prouisions Forrage being farre to seeke Straw hard to get Boughes for their Cabines ill to come by many times in danger of Bullets with ranging wants drawing on sloathfull sicknesses sloathfull sicknesses speedy death and indeede but in death I know little they haue to call their comfort so that to conclude of a thousand what with the Bullet Sicknes Sword Famine Gallowes and other mischances except their Masters bee much the honester men scarce one liues to boast he is as old as the horse he keepeth Only some blacke Swanne amongst the rest who hath beene by God strangely preserued I haue obserued to come to aduancement and from Souldiers Horse-boyes proue valiant and braue Captaines but it hath beene like Winters Thunder hardly aboue one Cracke in a mans remembrance and therefore they may well be accounted amongst the Baggage for in the world are not found creatures of a more Baggage nature their education in the warres and their continuall early exercise in body so steelling their dispositions that if they liue to come to any mature age some proue Freebooters betweene whom and the Deuill hardly goes the sheares some Fugitiues and some whom God endueth with more spetiall grace Souldiers yet of them the least and hardest to be found out in the compasse of mans memory Now for the propper place wherein this Officer is to march with all his Baggage and prouisions although the Range and Marshalling of the vnruly company be in the discretion of the Waggon-master yet is his owne place at the appointment of the Serieant Maior who is to consider in the marching of the Armie vpon what poynt thereof the enemie is most likely to assaile as if it be vpon the head or vantguard then all the Baggage shall march in the Reare and if it be on the Reare then shall the Baggage take their place in the Van for where the greatest safetie is there this necessary-weakenesse should euer finde their security so likewise if the ememie should giue vpon the right side of the Battell then must the Baggage passe vnto the left and if vpon the left side then must it likewise passe vnto the right thus shall the Battell still become a wall to their goods and where the strength and abilitie thereof consisteth there shall their goods and weaker persons remaine as in a mansion meetest of all for their safety neither can this luggage munition nor dispised persons vpon any assault or ioyning with the enemie bee any hindrance to the armie but they shall haue full liberty to exercise their armes without being anoyed or falling foule vpon the Waggons The Horsemen which are to guard the Baggage ought to be either light horse or else Carbines or if it might be a company of such Dragons as were but lately produced which are certaine Horse-men lightly armed carrying short snaphaunce Peeces whose barrels are no more but iust sixteene inches longe and board at full Musquet boare which taking a Musquet charge will carry as all proofe can witnes directly twelue score point-blanke These Shot shall scower before the baggage that if any of the enemies stragling Horse shall offer to make Incurssions vpon them they may instantly resist them and beate them backe to their maine bodies But if it be so that the armie march in a place of safety and where there is no danger of the enemie then shall the luggage haue their place in the middest of the vauntguard alwaies with a stronge guard of pikes and shot continually about it and the Waggon-master in the head thereof to giue directions vpon any alteration which will be very commodious for the Souldier who by this forwardnes of the Baggage shall not stand to waite and expect but finde his Tent pitcht assoone as he commeth and all things which can accomodate his wearines to be ready and prepared Lastly it is the Office of the Waggon-master to looke to the goodnes and sufficiencie of all the Waggons and other carriages which hee hath in his charge to see that the bodies be whole and tyght the wheeles stronge and well bound the axletrees vnstrained and well clouted and all the harnes and implements belonging to the cattell for draught that it be firme new and vntatterd and to this end he shall euer haue neare and about him men of these trades as Codders or Knackers Cartwrights Smiths and the like with whatsoeuer is needfull for their vse which hee shall receiue by appointment from the master of the Ordnance and so he shall keepe euery thinge perfect and in good order both to the Generalls good the Souldiers profit and his owne reputation for howsoeuer some other smaller thinges depend vpon his knowledge yet these I haue already shewed are the maine substance of his cares and the full duties which are expected in his Office TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM LORD PAGET OF BEAVDESERT THE ARGVMENT Of the Forrage-Master SO little am I knowne to your Lordship that
there is in him a generall power of controlment so that should the least want of perfection draw him into contempt it were an vtter losse to his Reputation and an infinite great weakening to the whole Seruice It is then to be vnderstood that if the Regiment or Battalion consist which I wish and whereto all approued Souldiers both auncient and moderne giue allowance of one thousand men deuided into fiue seuerall Companies and each Company holding the contents of two hundred men a peece that then the Serieant-Maior hath his raunge iust in the mid'st two marching before him that is to say the Colonell and the Liuetenant-Colonell and two marching behind him which are the two youngest and Inferior Companies so that two command him and two are commanded by him yet in the absence of the Colonell and Liuetenant-Colonell he then commandeth all the fiue Companies and hath superior command aboue all Captaines and Inferior Officers whatsoeuer being as the Colonell himselfe The Serieant-Maior of a Regiment is the imediate next degree aboue an ordinary Captaine and reputed in all places to precead them as being their elder Brother Now touching the effects of his duty and Office in the Regiment he is as before I said the Marshall of the whole Battalion or Squadron and as the one ruleth and formeth what proportions soeuer he pleaseth of the whole Army so this man deuideth subdeuideth and fashioneth what figures and formes he pleaseth of his owne Regiment and as the Serieant-Maior of the Armie bringeth vp by the appointment of the Marshall great Grosses compounded of sundry Regiments to make vp the forme and figure of the Battell he intendeth so doth this Serieant-Maior of a Regiment bring vp vnto the Serieant-Maior of the Armie either all or part of his Regiment in such forme as hee shall bee appointed to the making vp of the Grosse and greater Body wherein is to be noted that as Serieants of Bands are assistant to the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments for deuiding of perticular Spuadrons Files or halfe Files for the making vp of any Body whether it consist of odde euen broken or whole numbers according to directions so the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments are assistant to the Serieant-Maior of the Armie in bringing vp to him what Deuisions or Bodies soeuer shall bee called for whether they consist of ods euens or any other certaine or vncertaine number for it is a thinge impossible either for Lord-Marshall or the Serieant-Maior of an Army to take vpon him the manage of euery mans perticular company or to do those great and powerful duties which are expected at their hands without some strong sufficient assistance whence it comes that the priuate Captaines by the assistance of the ordinary Serieants keeping their companies or order the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments by the care of the priuate Captaines keeping the Regiments in true forme and the Serieant-Maior of the Army by the skill of the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments being able to forme Grosse Bodies into what figure hee thinkes conuenient the Lord Marshall of the Field may in a trice and vpon the Instant of any word giuen Forme vnforme change or alter any Battell according as either the aduantage of the ground the manner of the enemies marching or any other perticuler occurrent shal administer occasion And that this duty may be performed with all carefull seuerity euery Serieant-Maior of a Regiment either in long marches or otherwise is allowed his hackney to ride on from company to company and to looke that as the Captaines doe range their Companies in an orderly and true forme that so likewise the whole Regiment consist of an euen iust and beautifull proportion and not suffering any man of what degree soeuer either through Pride Stubbornesse Neglect Couetousnes of Pilage or any other dilitory weake excuse to breake or goe out of his Ranke or to disproportion any part of the maine Body by any rude or vncomely Posture but vpon the first apprehension thereof seuearely to rebuke the same and compell a speedie reformation for it is a customary thinge in the warres that men of great Birth and qualitie doe vsually traile Pikes and what through the guard of their Captaines fauor the rashnesse of their owne youthfull wills the presumption of other mens examples and the assuming of an vnnecessary freedome from some other perticuler beholdingnes they grow oft times disorderly and vnruly and will not bee commanded by the ordinary Sergeants or at least the Sergeant dare not command where he knowes admonition will but bring backe contempt to breed a much worse example in this case the Serieant-Maior is presently to arme himselfe with his owne power and to let such offendors know that Blood hath no priuiledge if once it rebell against Obedience and that Gentlemen doe runne backe from their vertue into the Bassenes of euery earthtie condition when they forget that their Commanders haue a Goodnes worthy their Obodience an Authority fit to exercise their Patience and a Knowledge to which they ought to tie their vttermost Diligence Nay it is certaine that a Gentleman cannot expresse Loue in any thing more then in Reuerence Dutie in nothing like Obedience nor Modestie but when hee admires his Commanders Excellence Our Serieant-Maior then being a Captaine and a principall Commander is to roote out enormities and to plant these vertues in euery Souldiers bosome neither will the blood of hot and vntamed Spirits be so apt to boyle ouer and exceede the Bounds of Rreason when they are commanded by a greater then themselues as they are when an Inferior in their owne opinion seekes to restraine them And therefore it behooues the Serieant-Maior in these reprehentions not only to shew his owne but also all other Officers authorities that are below him limming and painting them out in such liuely but dreadfull Colours that hee may strike a terror and feare into all offenders The Serieant Maior of a Regiment vpon all encampments or allodgements of the Armie is to attend the Serieant-Maior of the Field when the Campe is deuided out into Regiments he with his Quarter-Master shall take the Regiment belonging to his Colonell according to his Colonels antiquitie or greatnes of place and first shall demonstrate to the Quarter-Master which way to contriue and cast his maine streets according to the greatnes or littlenes of the ground and the best conuenience for passing in and out then where to place the Colonells Tent and Colours where the Liuetenant Colonells and where his owne and for the rest they are to be referred to the Quarter-Masters discretion If the Regiment shall be remoued far from the Armie either placed in Garrison or to defend or offend some other place then shall the Serieant-Maior both in the Field or otherwise performe both the Office of the Serieant-Maior and of the Marshall shall summon Courts of Warre with the assistance of his fellow Captaines and proceede to triall against offendors shall proportion out all Allodgments and
foure Corporals of the Field THe weakest knowledge my Lord that one man can get of another is that of the Eye for it is shallow and can sinke no deeper then the vtmost skin vncertaine and apt to change with euery infirmitie and imperfect being swayed by the violence and furie of passion the Eare is a much better Intelligencer and doth more truely declare our minds to others and others to our selues so that being the principall Sence both of Instruction and Friendship wee ought in all our designes to labour for its greatest satisfaction I am my Lord a stranger to your Eye with your Eare I would faine Insinuate and though I can bring you but a plaine and dull sound yet questionlesse if you please to examine the notes aright how euer you find little Musicke yet you shall relish a great deale of concord of which the latter is more sweet though the other be more cunning but whatsoeuer it be yours it must now be for so my vow hath made it so doth the Range and Ranke of your noble place commaund it The next great Officers preceding the former and vpon whose Range I am in this place hapned are the Foure Corporals of the Field who haue their dependance only vpon the Serieant-maior and are called his Coadiutors or Assistants being according to the manner custome of our late moderne warres in number but foure and no more who for their election ought to bee Gentlemen of great Dexteritie Knowledge and Iudgement such as haue at least been Captaines in other times and for their preferments are aduanced to these places wherein they haue no particular commands of any particular Companies which doe peculiarly belong to themselues but haue a generall charge and care of the whole Army they ought to bee men of great respect and estimation hauing gotten that authoritie of Trust and Beliefe amongst the common Souldiers through the prosperity of their affaires that whatsoeuer they command or direct may bee performed with a kind of religious seueritie as matters of high worth and importance for in an Army there cannot be a greater blemish then when these men shall come within the compasse of contempt or misdoubting Besides if these noble parts should be absent which are required in men of this high place and qualitie the disrepute not only seazeth vpon them but vpon the Serieant-maior also whēce it commeth that although the Generall himselfe doth many times take vpon him the nomination and election of these Officers yet particularly they doe belong only to the Serieant-maior for as the whole Army is to him but one entire and full Company so are these Corporal 's his inferiour Officers by whose skill and conduct he gouerneth and disposeth of the whole Bodie Touching the particular duties belonging to their place they are continually in all occasions of Action to accompany and attend vpon the Serieant-maior who being a man of infinit imployment as hauing a body that must bee almost in all places and that at one instant and a voyce which like thunder must bee heard neere farre off and indeed through euery corner yet for as much as his materiall body cannot be so transported therefore he hath these foure Gentlemen his Coadiutors or Substitutes who being dispersed at the foure corners of the Army doe as the foure winds ouer the world carry and conuay his directions ouer all the Army which that it may be done with more fulnesse of perfection the Serieant maior shall with these foure Corporals of the field from time to time continually consult communicat both his proper Authoritie and also the greatnesse of his affaires and making them as his especiall Counsellors by whose experience and skill all his endeauors are to be assisted neither shall he alone doe them this particular honor in himselfe but also make all Captaines and inferior Officers in the Army both to hold their persons in reuerence and also to performe their commaundements with care respect and diligence These Corporals of the field then being knowne Officers of this eminence in the fild are to carry the directions of the Serieant-maior ouerall the Army and whether it march stand still or fight they are to passe from place to place and see performed whatsoeuer shall proceed either from him or the Lord Marshall sometimes bringing vp Regiments and ioyning them into greater bodies somtimes deuiding and lessening them into smaller parts sometimes sorting and drawing one weapon from another disposing the Pikes one way and the Shot another sometimes culling out speciall Bands for speciall purposes either for Wings Forlornes or else to entertaine or relieue Skirmishes and sometimes disposing of Guards for the safetie of the Munition and Baggage all which as they are to performe them onely by directions and not the authority of their owne iudgements so likewise they shal doe them speedily faithfully and valiantly And as thus they are vpon the dayes of battell or when any necessary preparation is to be made continuall drummes in the eares of the Foot-companies so vpon commandement likewise they must bee shrill Trumpets to sound to the Horse-troups also drawing them either one way or other according as they shall be commanded whether it bee in framing any great Body or battel or in separating Regiments sending some to guard the great Ordnance some to answere the enemies Horsemen some to charge vpon the Pikes and some to scowre off on round about the field to spie all aduantages and see in what part the enemy is most weakened And that all these things may be done almost as soone as spoken it is meet that all these foure Corporals of the Field bee exceeding well mounted of most nimble swift tough and well winded horses by the assistance of which in a trice they may passe from one place to another seeing euery one of their cōmandments put in execution before they passe to another direction and heerein is to be obserued that these foure Corporals are to bee obeyed in all their commandements with as great feruency and respect as any other superior Officer whatsoeuer for indeed they are no other then their voices nay sometimes the voyce of the Generall or the King himselfe These Corporals haue the raunging of Battels and the shaping or proportioning of the figure according to the Serieant-maiors demonstration distributing themselues as it shal please the Serieant-maior or Lord Marshall to appoint to sundry weapons one bringing vp Pikes another Shot a third the great Ordnance and the fourth the Pioners or Myners one shall send the Men at Armes one way another shall send the Pistoliers another way a third shall giue directions to the Carbines and a fourth shall place the Dragoones where their seruice may be most conuenient Thus shall euery man haue his hands full the enemy continually bee assailed and offended and Order at no time either shooke or broken Neither shall these Officers alone in the action and heat of Battell haue only regard to the
cattalogue of the iust number of the Army together with the true sortment and diuision of euery weapon and in his memory he must euer carry ready framed the formes and proportions of sundry Battailes as quadrats or squares the equall or vnequall Tryangles diamunds and the like any of which he is to sorte fashion to the Grounde according as the necessity of the place requireth euer regarding to giue those Formes the greatest preheminence which are able still to bring the most hands to fight at one instant without disorder or trouble as in the champayne the broade Square is best the bastard or base square where there is aduantage of hedge diche water wood or marrish and the vnequall and imperfect proportion in Straytes amongst Hylls and Mountaines or in craggie or rockie places It is his place to take away all disorder from vnruly and Ignorant souldiers by letting them vnderstand the constant and true place of euery Ensigne as which shall make vp the first rankes Square or diuision which the second which the third and so of the rest wherein although some doe alow a constant rule yet many times it varieth vppon lot and may better be referred to the Serieant-maiors discretion who is to prouide that not the companies which challenge it by right but the companies which are euer best armed be still put into the vangard he shall after he hath framed his Battaile of pykes lyne them with shot on eytherside and not so onely but he shall also haue sundry loose wings of Short trouping by them in a pretty distance remote which shall euer be ready to entertayne any skirmish and keepe the Battayle from disquiet also he shall seriously prouide for the safety of his shot when the enemies horse aboundeth much by drawing out certaine ranks of pykes proportionable to the loose vnguarded shot vnder whose safety vpon euery extremity they shall retyer and then againe make good their places till the seruice be finished It is the Serieant-maior Generals office vpon any day of Battayle to goe to the Generall or Colonell Generall and from one of them to take his directions knowing whether the Generall will haue his owne Regiment to haue the vant-guard or no or otherwise the Battayle or reare which resolued he shall then atend the Lord Marshall to the ellection of the field In which it behotueth the Serieant-maior to be very skilfull in the situation of the Country and to know the distance of places and the difficulties of euery passage with all the seuerall circumstances which shall depend vppon the same as well for the guard and safety of his owne as for the hindrance and anoyance of the enemy so that althings being assured he may then cause the Drumme-maior to beate a remoue and all the Captaines being assembled to the place of armes he shall thence by the directions of the Lord Marshall draw forth the Battayle disposing euery Commander into the places which are most conuenient and framing his Maniples and diuisions sutable to the passages through which they are to march yet by no meanes into a lesse then a third or else fourth part of the front and keeping euery diuision iust tenne deepe and neither more nor lesse and herein he shall haue respect that in drawing vp the Maniples to make an entyre Battayle the Ensignes may fall into their due places as namely the Generalls vppon the head the Lieutenant generall the Lord Marshall the Master of the Ordnance the Treasurer the Colonell general and the Serieant-maior Generall one ranke within the Battell the Colonels of the Infantiue a ranke behinde them and the Captaines a rank behind them He shall haue an especiall care for the safe garding of the munition baggage placing it either before behind or on any side where the enemy is least suspected It is at his discretion to make stands which some call Altoes or Hallts when and at what time he please whereby the souldier may be refresht when he is weary with trauell and it must be done in places fit and commodious for the same as where there is cleane running water some shelter yet a large prospect so as no souldier may offer to straggle but the Officers may both perceiue him reprehend him Now that all these duties may be the better performed this Officer is intended to be euer on Horsebacke yet not vpon a horse of warre but rather vpon a comely and nimble Hackney on which he may ride in amongst the Ranks passe from File to File seeing euery man to performe his dutie in a carefull and modest manner and herein is to be obserued that if in his passages to fro he doe happen to encounter or meet with the Generall although on foot yet shall not the Serieant-maior alight from his Horse but keepe his seat for it is his particular preheminence neither shall he dismount at any time in the day of battel for any such errour is a cloud betwixt him and glory for being on foot he is no more then one man but mounted on horsebacke and assisting with directions he supplieth the places of many hundreds his Armour must be light and nimble being the same pieces which belong to a Foot-Captaine and in his right hand he shall beare a Trunchion with which hee may correct any man that wilfully offendeth as also with it to seperate vnruly horses carriage or baggage which troubles the Battalions or to demonstrat and point out to any thing which he commandeth his ordinary place is neere the person of the Generall or the Colonell generall for from them hee must take many instructions if any Squadrons or maine Bodies be broken hee is to bring Supplies and sawder them vp againe he is called the Guide of the Battel and therfore to looke that all things succeed rightly When the Army is encampt hee giueth the first directions for the Corps de guards charge for the Sentinels it is he that reacknowledgeth the Quarters and taking his orders from the Lord Marshall prouideth for the generall safty of all the Armie as the Watch the Ward the Scout Guard for the Munition Entrenchments and the like of all which I haue entreated something in the former Offices The Serieant-maior is first to take notice of alarmes of all kinds and to examine the causes then to giue information to the Generall and Lord Marshall and so to proceed according to order It is a very landable dutie in the Serieant-maior Generall if in the day of Battell he select and appoint a certaine number of Souldiers who from time to time shall draw forth the hurt maimed and slaine parties which else would trouble the Squadrons and to conuey them to cure or other place for other purpose It is his office to appoint the orders and formes of Camisados and Ambuscados to direct the place where the order how and the manner and forme of Silence he ought to awaken and stirre vp the Generall to the prouision of
managing and disposing of their owne Troups Bands but also shall keepe a vigilant eye vpon the orders and disorders of the enemies Battels and vpon Information thereof vnto the Serieant-maior and receiuing new Instructions with all Valour Readinesse and skill to alter and frame his owne Bands anew in such wise as may best answere those aduantages which they haue already taken neither in these actions and alterations shall they performe them with a silence or dumbnesse as if they were afraid to awaken the Souldier nor yet with such an hastines or rashnes as if the losse of a minute were the losse of the whole Army nor yet expressing feare in their amazement or tyranny in the crueltie of their Language they shall not driue men before them like herds with shouts and blowes neither shall they let them behold more sharpnesse in their frownes then can bee on their enemies swords but euery action which proceedeth from them shall be accompanied with honorable and couragious words whereby the Souldier may still be more and more inflamed with the loue of danger and vertue It is also a part of their office that if any Captaines Officers of Foot-bands or other foot Souldiers to whom for some respects of sicknes or infirmitie may be by their Superiours Hackneys allowed to ride vpon that yet notwithstanding all such when they come within one mile of their allodgement shall by the appointment of the foure Corporals of the field alight from their horses and put themselues into their due and proper places and so march to the place of encamping which it is presupposed the Serieant-maior and these foure Corporals of the field with other Officers hath already viewed and made conuenient for their entertainment neither being ariued at the place of encampment shall any Company offer to lodge or disband it selfe till they haue receiued licence and directions so to doe from one of the foure Corporals of the field Many other by-authorities are transferred vpon these Officers as distribution of victuals taken from the enemy prouision of fewell lights and other necessaries belonging to the night watchings and indeed almost any thing which hath a generall dependance on the whole Armie before the face of the enemy yet in as much as they are rather intruded and thrust vpon them by greater authoritie then rightly to be challenged I will not here daigne a recapitulation of the same but finish vp mine Epistle with this assurance that whosoeuer shall performe faithfully what hath already been declared need not feare the debt of any greater dutie which can be demanded TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD DENNY OF WALTHAM THE ARGVMENT Of the Counsell of Warre IT is my Lord God which hath called you to Honor and it is that Honor which enforceth me vnto this dedication to omit any were to breake a linke in that golden Chaine which with all my skill I studie to pollish and to adde any other besides your selues were to put disagreeing Mettals together which not fixing according to Art would shame both me and my labors pardon me therfore though I be bould in this short Epistle to call vpon your noble name you see the motiues which inflame me and the Subiect which I couet to aduance to the first I would bring eternity to the latter loue and to both an immortall lodging within the house of Memory The world speakes you noble and I am bound to beleeue her yet if you shall please to expresse your selfe further in the protection of this poore labor you shall tie me in two Bonds more the one of Seruice the other of Admiration It is certaine my good Lord that as no great matter of what nature or kind soeuer it consist can be well effected or brought to passe without a serious deliberation and graue aduise painefully expostulated amongst men of sound and approued Iudgements so aboue all other marshall men which haue the command and charge of great Armies ought still to be accomodated with men of infinite Skill Wisdome and Vertue who communicating amongst them their affaires and disputing the reasons and occasions of euery occurrent may as from noble Oracles receiue an happie discussion of all the doubts and hazards whatsoeuer and the rather since the manage of their designes dependeth vpon so great and waighty a consequence as mens liues Estates and Fortunes the reuolution of Kingdomes the destruction of Lawes both Diuine and Ciuill and many times the vtter Ruine and subversion of all Piety and Religion any or all which are brought as wealthy prizes and laid down at the stake to be wonne and lost vpon euery chance of Fortune hence it comes that it is thought conuenient a Generall of the wars aboue many other Princes should be carefully armed with a sound Wise and Religious Councell First to proue the action of his vnderstanding to be lawfull Iust and agreeing both with diuine and humaine Vertue next that he may be furnished with all the Nerues Health and Strength of the Warres as Money Munition Victuall Able men and Forraigne Confederates and lastly that he may haue an easie frequent safe passage therevnto both for the transportation and reliefe of Seconds as also for the necessitie of a suer and quiet Rendeuous when any crosse mischance shall checke or seeme to thwart the successe of his proceedings When therefore a Generall is ingaged in these great Businesses of the Warres and hath for the happy ruling of his affaires appointed all his Superior Officers he is then out the whole and entier number to select an especiall company of the most Religious Stoutest and Wisest men to be of his Councell wherein although in some Campes there be some particuler men which by the dignities of their place and Office doe challenge a priuiledge to be of his Counsell as namely all Colonels and their equals yet it is to be vnderstood that from hence hath growne a disstinguishment of Counsels and according to the variation of Marshall Courts so they haue altered both in eminence and application some being generall as in the triall and iudging of criminall offendors and to this all Captaines enrouled within the Generals List may freely and by their owne right be admitted others are more especiall as where the debatement of prouisions the raising of Taxes and the ordering of the publique affaires of the Campe are handled and to these all Colonels and Officers within their range are admitted and doe consult and conclude with the Generall for all the prosperities and benefits which doe appertaine vnto the Armie but the last Counsell of all is a great deale more priuate and the matters which are handled therein are of that consequence for secresie and effect that it were vnfit and not allowable so many should be drawne thereunto or that all sorts of men should pertake of euery State negotiation or those powerfull stratagems which indeed should lodge in the strongest and safest Bosomes for norwithstanding men of great experience and