Ranke may consist of as many men as you please but a File how euer the Spaniards and Italians vse it vncertaine ought neuer to bee aboue ten persons deepe except it be in marching or especiall seruice where aduantage of the ground requireth the contrary for the first man hauing discharged his Peece may in the space that nine other men shal discharge their Peeces one after another be againe in readynes and make his first place good there to discharge his Peece againe besides it is the readiest and best way for the drawing of Groses and great numbers into any forme whatsoeuer Next hee shall teach them the carriage and vse of their armes especially the Pike for the Musquet is in the Office of the Serieant the manage wherof he shall deuide into these Postures first three standing that is Lay downe your Pike Take vp your pike Order your pike Then sixe marching as Aduance your pike Shoulder your pike Leuell your pike Slope your Pike Checke your pike and Traile your pike and lastly seauen charging as Port ouer hand Port vnder hand Charge ouer hand Charge vnder hand Coutch ouer hand Couch vnder hand Charge against the right foote and draw your Sword ouer arme When these are perfect he shall teach them distance of place in Files and Rankes as when he would haue the Files to march Closest then the distance is pouldron to pouldron or shoulder to shoulder if but Close then the distance is a foote and a halfe man from man If at their Order then the distance is three foote betweene man and man and if at Open-Order then the distance sixe foote betweene man and man so likewise in Rankes Closest is at the Swords point Close is at three foote Order at sixe foote and Open-Order at twelue foote Now there be some that vary in the tearmes but not in the distance for they wil haue Close Order Open-Order and Double Distance and not the word Closest at all but the scruple is small and may be left to euery Commanders discretion After this he shall teach them March and Motions In the first whereof is little art more then in obseruing truly their Rankes and Files and distance in places For Motions they vary diuersly and some are no Marches as when The Souldier turnes but his face on one hand or other or about Some Motions change place yet no more then a remoouing from one ranke to another or from one File to another in which though some remoue yet others stand stil as in doubling of Rankes or doubling of Files and in this Motion is to be obserued that Rankes when they double to the right hand must euer turne on the left to come to their place againe and if they be doubled to the left hand they must turne on the right hand to come to their pltces againe so likewise Files when they are doubled to any hand by the doubling of Rankes to the contrary hand they are brought to their first place againe and so of Rankes in the same nature To conclude there is another Motion to be taught in which all doe moue and yet none doe March and that is the opening or closing either of Ranks or Files is of great vse when one Ranke should passe through another or the whole body of the Battalion make a Countermarch or when the Battell should bee drawne speedily more of one hand or another Lastly the Lieutenant shall teach his Souldier how to know all the sounds or beatings of the Drumme in which he shall make him obserue not only what the Drumme doth beate but also what time and measure hee keepeth and according to that time and measure so to march slower or faster to charge with greater violence or to come of with more speede also he shall teach them to know when by the Drumme to attend the Captaines directions when to repaire to their Colours and when to doe other duties and as thus by the Drumme in seruice so by his voyce and the words of directions in Trayning he shall make them doe whatsoeuer hee pleaseth and therefore the Liuetenant shall haue perfecttly in his memory all the words of directions which are accustomably spoken As Close your Files To the right hand To the left hand and all these shall be done either Closest Close to Order or open Order Then Open your Files to the right hand To the left hand and these to any order And thus to open or close Rankes and to any Order with this obseruation that Rankes when they open ought to turne to the Reare and open downeward and when they close to close vpward then Files and Rrankes close Files and Rankes open and these to any order also then Double your Files To the right hand To the left Aduance your Files to the right hand to the left Aduance by deuision to right hand or left Files ranke by conuersion to the right hand to the left Files ranke 3. 5. 7. c. Shorten your Files to 5. 8. c. Lengthen your Files to 10. 12. 16. c. Files countermarch to the right hand to the left Double your Rankes to the right hand to the left Rankes file by conuersion to the right hand to the left Rankes ranke 5. 7. c. Middle men double your front to the right hand to the left Double to both by deuision Rankes countermarch c. as in Files Then faces to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Faces about Wheele by conuersion to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Charge to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Charge to the Front Charge to the Reare Charge to both by deuision then to reduce any of these words to the same Order or Station in which the Souldier stood before they were spoken the word is As you were And herein is to be obserued that in Charging with Pikes halfe the Rankes are but to Charge and the other halfe to carry them aduanced or ported so neare the heads of the formost as they may doe them no anoyance either in Charging or Retiring and they must also obserue when they doe Charge standing to fall backe with the right foote and marching to step forward with the left Thus I haue shewed in a briefe Epistle the large extent of the Liuetenants Office in which if I be either obscure by reason of the compendiousnes thereof or a little confused in snatching here and there at his duties without setling constantly vpon any one I hope your Lordship will call to minde it is an Epistle the lawes whereof alowes me the libertie of familiar speech not of subtill argument and for mine owne part I had rather leaue many nice wits vnsatisfied then your minde cloyed or tyred The end of the Second Decad. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE WILLIAM LORD EVERS THE ARGVMENT Of the Officers of Caualarie IF I could loue Fortune in any thing my worthie Lord I should surely loue her in
all carefulnes and secrecie for by Martiall Law it is death to discouer it contrary to appointment If any muteny happen in the company the Serieant vpon commitment shall guard them till they bee deliuered ouer to the Prouost hee ought to bee a punnisher of all sinne and an encourager to vertue In the absence to the superior Officers he commands as much as the Captaine he deuids euery Squadron to the places which are most fitting conducts them to their watches directs both the Corporalls and Souldiers what they are to doe and appoints how all the Sentinels must be placed to the best aduantage To be short it is one of the maine and principall points of his Office as conueniencie will giue him leaue to draw forth the short and to teach them the manage and true vse of the Peece and how in the comliest and brauest manner that may be to conforme both the weapon and their bodies to the most excellentest Postures as first by laying a Musquetiers Armes confusedly before him to command him to Take vp his Armes that is to say hauing his Morian on his head and his Sword by his side he shall first take vp his Bandeliers with his right hand and put them on with the same then take vp his Match and put one end betweene his little finger and his Ring finger of the left hand and the other end betweene the Ring finger and the great finger of the same hand then take vp his Rest and put it into his left hand then stepping forward with his right Legge take vp the Musquet within a hand full of the vpper end ank so raise it vpright then letting his hand sinke let him Iert it vp without sloping and so catch it by the breech and then laying the Rest to it let him shoulder it then the Serieant shall command him to Prepare for Skirmish that is to say hee shall light his Match at both ends put Bullets in his mouth and change his Rest if it bee in his right hand into his left Then the Sergeant shall teach the Souldier to Rest his Musquet then The Sentinell Posture then the Saluting Postures and all these Postures are to be done standing still After this he shall teach him the Postures which are to be performed in marching as Shoulder your Musquet and carry your Rest in your right hand Leuell your Musquet and Slope your Musquet Then the Postures which are to be performed in charging as Cleere your Pan Prime your Pan Shut your pan Cast off your loose powder Blow your pan Cast about your Musquet with both your hands and traile your Rest Open your charges Charge your Musquet with powder Draw your scouring Sticke Shorten your Sticke Rame in your powder Draw out your Sticke Charge with Bullet Rame in your Bullet Draw out your Sticke Shorten your Sticke and put it vp Bring your Musquet forward with the left hand Hold it vp in your right hand and recouer your Rest And lastly he shall teach him the Postures which are to be performed in discharging as Carry the Rest in the left hand preparing to giue fire Slope your Musquet and let the Rest sinke In the right hand poyze the Musquet In the left hand carry the Musquet with the Rest In the right hand take your Match betweene the second finger and the thumbe Hold the match fast and blow it Cocke your Match Trie your Match Guard your pan and blow your match Open your pan Present your Musquet Giue fire Dismount your musquet and carry it with the Rest Vncocke your match and put it vp betweene your fingers Now assoone as your Sergeant hath taught all these Postures perfectly and that the Souldier can doe them readily nimbly and exactly with a comely grace and a braue presence he shall then instruct the Souldier how to reduce and bring all this great number of Postures as namely the fiue which are done standing the three marching the eighteene charging and the fourteene discharging which are only for Military Instruction into three only and no more and which three he shall only vse in seruice or before the face of the enemie and no other and they are thus pronounced Make ready which containes all the Postures which are done either standing still or marching the next Present which containes all the Postures in Charging and lastly Giue Fire which containes all the Postures in Discharging Besides these he shall also teach them how to giue their vollies with those in their Ranke as when the first Ranke haue giuen their vollie if the Battalia march then that first Ranke to stand still and the second to passe through it and so giue their vollie and then to stand and the third to aduance vp and so consequently all the Rankes but if the Battalia stand the first Ranke hauing giuen their vollie shall fall backe to the Reare either in wheele or in countermarch and the second Ranke shall come into their places and giue their vollie and so consequently all the rest but if the Battalia fall backe or Retire then shall all the shot stand still and no man aduance a foote of ground but the first Ranke shall giue their vollie and then fall backe to the Reare so likewise the second Ranke and fall backe in like manner and so all the rest till they haue lost so much ground as to the Commander shall seeme sufficient so shall the vollie still be continued and the enemie neuer free from anoyance To conclude a good Serieant is an admirable benefit and if he liue and execute his place well any long time no man deserueth aduancement before him for besides all that hath beene spoken of him hee is of wonderfull vse in all Scalados Assaults Mines or things of that Nature and if to beautifie all the precedent vertues he likewise be inriched with any small proportion of learning espetially in the Art of Arithmaticke whereby he may iudge of the alteration and proportion of sundry bodies and how to deuide and subdeuide numbers at his pleasure then I dare affirme he is an absolute Serieant nor can his Captaine wish or desire a rarer or better Iewell to depend vpon his person TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN LORD MORDANT OF TVRVY THE ARGVMENT The Office of the Ensigne THe Ensigne or Alferes as the Spaniard cals him is my good Lord the first great Officer of a priuate Company for all the former howsoeuer necessary are but petty and low places this only the first of Eminence and Account and therefore in his election great consideration is to bee had and to the making vp of his perfection many great vertues are required as Valour Wisedome Fidelitie and Honestie he hath the guard of his Captaines Colours and therein is trusted with his Honour and Reputation and if hee be comely of person strong and amiable hee is a greater glorie to his place and more becomming in Seruice but because in the Warres Officers expect to be aduanc't by
alone that preuailed To descend nearer to our owne familiar knowledge what Senator is there which euer liued or what Orator that euer pleaded who giuing Sentence on a delinquent could by force of his eloquence perswade the wretch to runne himselfe to the Gallowes put on the noose and leape from the Ladder with Dulce quia sponte no life is a dearer companion to mans nature and when that is forfeit the Sherife which is his countries Souldior must with his armed Band compell him to the bloody Altar and as in this so in all cases whatsoeuer that are allied to Compulsion whether it be the execution of writs obedience to lawes the setling of Estates and Manners where the conscience will not be perswaded there the Sword must enforce and vse his commandement Should forraine enemies vpon false suggested Titles inuad vs our swords vnder God must defend vs should our Soueraignes loose any part of their lawfull Rights our Swords are bound to regaine them should Traytors like Hydras increase by killing yet must the Sword suppresse them should Rebells spring like the growth of the Dragons teeth yet must the Sword consume them and should our Neighbours or allies be opprest or true religion supprest yet must our Swords maintaine them so that we may conclude in all cases whatsoeuer whether Fas or Nefas either to strengthen Iustice or weaken iniury to guard Vertue or to combate Vice yet there is a strong necessity why the Sword should still be required Let vs therefore giue the Sword his due and say it is the eldest sonne of Honor and let vs giue that Royall Commander his deserued admiration who though he haue sheathed his owne and almost all the Swords in Christendome yet still stands fortified with so powerfull a preparation that with them of Colen the whole world may cry out it is a madnes to thinke to resist a Prince so good so wise and so fortunate War neuer had so many Schooles in the time of Troubles as his Peace hath Academies to expresse the depth of Martiall discipline euery man now is more then a master in that braue Art and Infants and Children as they are going to the schoole can teach one another the vse of Weapon March Motion and Posture so that strangers and forraine Nations haue beene heard to say What will the English doe if this continue euery child like Hercules will be able to kill a Serpent in his Cradle But to proceed againe to the necessity of this designe and to shew that Peace should be nothing else but a foster Nurse vnto Souldiers take a Suruey of all Gouernments whether Assirians Persians Greekes or Romans and we shall see that the Peace which they enioyed at home euer brought them forth those Souldiers which conquered abroad for Warre is a deuourer and only desires action giues little leasure to meditation Or to come a little nearer to our selues let vs looke into the deeds of great Henry of France and we shall see that though the Arsenal of Paris had in fiue and twenty yeares seene foure mightie preparations yet was the last which had inioyd the longest peace the greatest and most transendent being as the Duke of Suylly reported of that infinite space and largenesse that the first day it was knit together it seemed both to promise victory and to sing the triumph and the Terror was so great that it stroke Ielousie into all the Kings friends and feare amongst his enemies for the Sword was drawne that might command but no man knew to whome it would speake power and valour like thunder in the hand of Iupiter was ready to fall in a twinckling yet was no enemy seene no peace broken no warre proclaimed This was the ability of a right peace and by these helpefull prouisions he became both feared beloued and admired what shall we say of the peace in the Netherlands but that euery day it hath almost begot them a new army and euery night intic'd to the Seas an inuincible Nauy So that through prouidence they are becommed so infinitely rich both in the one and the other prouision that of them may be said as was said of the Secular Triumphs Come and see that which was neuer seene and which no man liueing euer thought to see a Nation that stood in need of all now needed of all and she that was taught of all now teaching all others this wonder hath peace wrought and this profit haue they gaind by exercising peace with a hurtlesse Matiall imployment I could inferre as much for Spaine and say that her peace at home bred her Souldiers to guard her gettings abroad and that neither the vnwholesomnesse of the Equinoctiall line nor the vninhabited Tropycks so much feared of our forefathers hath had so much power to consume men as martiall discipline in times of calmnesse hath had strength to reuiue them and like the best Alchymie to make infinites grow from a single seede or proiection To conclude then for the necessity of Warre was neuer accounted a Paradox Armes and Soulderie are the Cronicles of Princes the hazards of Battayles their Theaters and the Iustice of their warlike cause their Honor Perfection and Tryumph so that he which will liue long in mens memory must build this Pyramed whereon his name must stand strong vpright and euen he that will fill his Theater with shouts and plaudyties must grapple with Lyons and Tygers and he that will tryumph in perfection must haue all the foure vertues chaynd to himselfe not to his Charyot so shall his armes bee lawfull and needfull and howsoeuer the curious may account him a meane Captaine yet shall not the whole world produce the Character of a better a more needfull or a more renowned Souldior TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND GRAVE COVNSELLOR EDVVARD Lord ZOVCH Lord Warden of the Cinque ports c. THE ARGVMENT Of the Glorie of a Souldier SInce in the Time past we haue no interest at all and in that of the present we can challenge no more but an Instant how behouefull is it noble Sir for euery man to bee carefull to what ends his Imployments ayme that the expence thereof may returne both an acceptable rent to such as may challenge his Seruice and also some glory to himselfe by leauing behind those parcels which may giue others cause of honest Imitation This my Lord hath directed me into this path which now with all earnestnesse I follow and this emboldeneth mee to send this Epistle to your Lordship to giue you a iust account of my Time Studie and Seruice which as it is not altogether a Stranger so I hope it may a little reuiue againe those thoughts which howsoeuer you may be pleased to lay by yet I know you will neuer vtterly forsake or abandon I haue in the former Epistle shewed the necessary vse both of Warre and the Souldier and that as the maine Columbe of a Common-wealth it keepes all estates vpright and euen Now I am to
himselfe to their execution without an vtter wound to all his directions If the Captaine be commanded to any peece of seruice of what nature soeuer he shall goe to it willingly and cheerefully making good all his superiors directions to the vttermost commandment but not exceeding the limits though intic't with neuer so great hopes for it is not lawfull for him to take vpon him a knowledge which his superior hath concealed from him When his turne commeth to the Captaine of the Watch or Guard he shall send his Serieant to the Serieant Maior to fetch the Word or to some other that hath order for the same and by that Word at night he shall direct all his Sentinels and Corpes de Guards and himselfe in person shall goe the first Round yet receuing the Word not giuing it but when he pleaseth the to search Sentinels or Rounds out of a voluntary disposition then he shall giue the Word and not receiue it He shall be obedient to all the Supreame Officers of the Field to his own Colonell the Liuetenant Colonell and Serieant Maior of his owne Regiment He shal prouide for all necessaries belonging to his company as Money Meate and Munition He shall euer lodge and haue his Tent amongst them feede with them and giue them all the examples of hardnesse and frugaltie To conclude and finish vp this Epistle hee shall bee of a sweete and temperate disposition amongst them intreating aduising instructing and commanding them with all the noble pleasing Language that Nature Art or study can produce and not as men teach Dogges or Bear-wards Apes with Bitts and Blowes for it is an vnmanly and absurd crueltie neither begetting loue nor respect but Ingendring hate and discontentment whereas if he did rightly looke into the true nature of his condition the Father should be no more tender ouer his Children then the noble Captaine ouer his well deseruing Souldier for that will linke and ioyne them together as men made of one peece and as hauing but one head to contriue one heart to encourage one hand to execute and but one soule to flie to Eternity TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM LORD PETER of WRITTLE THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of Horse HOwsoeuer my Lord the question hath been disputable amongst all the greatest Masters of this Military Science whether the Captaine of Foot or the Captaine of Horse should take the prior Precedencie yet I notwithstanding all the Arguments doubtfully discussed on either part and of which I haue also treated in a former Epistle will be contented to submit my selfe to the common and most generall receiued opinion which is that the Horseman though not in particular yet in the ordinary vse ought to receiue the vpper hand in dignitie for in France amongst their Gentlemen at Armes and also amongst the Reisters the Lieutenants albe they haue not place nor voyces in Marshall Courts yet hold themselues in all Rankes equall with Captaines of Foot yet not euery Lieutenant of Horse but some of an espetiall order for it is to be conceiued that in Horse troupes all are not of one lineage as Foot-Companies are but differ in dignitie order and estimation according to the worthinesse of the Armes which the Horseman beareth for in the first times when Horsemen were in the height of their glories the Lieutenant to a Troupe of Gentlemen at Armes was accounted better then a Captaine of an hundred Foot a Lieutenant of Launciers his equall and a Lieutenant of Light-horse his next and imediate younger brother and before all Lieutenants of Foot whatsoeuer so in like manner in these our present times a Lieutenant of a Troupe of compleat armed French Pistoliers is reputed better in degree then a Captaine of an hundred Foot a Lieutenant of the late inuented Dragoones being not aboue sixteene inche Barrell and full Musquet bore the Foot-Captaines equall and the Lieutenant of a Troupe of Harquebussiers or Carbines his immediate younger Brother Againe Horsemen challenge the dignitie of their places according to the numbers which they hold in list and according to the manner and forme of raising those numbers for a Captaine of a hundred Horse notwithstanding any former Antiquitie is better then a Captaine of fiftie A Captaine of an hundred and fiftie will euer take place of a Captaine of one hundred and a Captaine of two hundred Horse carry on his left hand a Captaine of an hundred and fiftie Horse and so contrariwise ranking with the Foot fiftie Horse precedes an hundred Foot an hundred horse two hundred foot and so of all numbers whatsoeuer and to this the Horsemen doe adde sundry Reasons saying that a man may as easily raise fiue hundred Foot as fiftie Horse and a thousand Foot as one hundred Horse now if the Captaine raise this Troupe of his owne charges it must needs argue that hee is of greater estate and hath made himselfe liable to a greater charge then any Footman can doe and so consequently deserueth a greater respect from the Magistrate and more serious reuerence from the common people But if the Prince raise the Companies then it includes that he inferres vpon the Horseman the greater Trust and so of necessitie the greater honour Lastly there is required from the Captaine of Horse a greater vnderstanding and a much deeper Consultation in the manage of his affaires then from the Footman which greater Vertue must carry with it the greater Place or else there will be partialitie and not vprightnesse in the Iudgement Touching his Election the Horse-Captaine must haue all those vertuous parts which are acquired in the Foot-Captaine and that with a more larger and fuller measure of perfection in as much as he hath not onely to doe with Man but with Beastes also and must by the excellencie of his owne gouernment tame and bring to obedience both wilde Man wilde Horse and sometimes Boyes wilder then either the one or the other creature And to this Fasickle or bundle of vertues which are needlesse againe to repeat hee must haue one other excellencie added which is as good as great as necessary and as glorious as any of the other and that is he must bee a perfit and absolute Horseman not knowing like one of our Signe-Saint Georges onely how to bestride and sit vpon a horse faire armed without motion but how and in what manner both to mooue himselfe and the horse making an vnreasonable Beast doe reason to all his commaundements and by the motions of his hand legge or body to vnderstand as from a sensible language to performe all things belonging to the mans reasonable pleasure In plainenesse hee shall not onely bee a good Horseman himselfe but also shall with diligence labour to make his whole Troupe good Horsemen teaching them first how to sit vpon their horses in a faire and comely pasture carrying their bodies straight and vpright the right hand bearing his Launce or Pistoll coucht vpon his thigh the left hand with the Bridle raine
vnder the guard of the pommell of the Saddle and the legs close and straight by the horses side with the Toes turned a little inward and the horse standing constantly and firme without rage or distemperance yet in all his beautie and glory his lip alone playing vpon the Curbe his Necke bended his Head couched and the Raines of the Bridle vnstrained which are all the Postures to be vsed in standing still then how to put him foorth either by yeelding of the body or thrusting forward of the mans legs into a short or large trot with all the Postures beforesaid which is as much as is required in marching then how by the euen stroke of both the Spurres to passe into a swift carriere and first to dismount the Launce from the thigh secondly to gather in the arme and to lay open the right elbow bringing the Launce towards the Rest and lastly to lay it vpon the Rest and turne the poynt inward to make good the breach or encounter which three Postures are all that belong to charging then how to gallop the field either in large Rings middle or lesse Rings either on the one or the other hand carying his body euen and straight without bending forward or backward or declining more to one hand then the other and then his Launce being broken to draw foorth his Pistoll with the right hand to raise the cocke and either to charge it if it haue been discharged or to prepare it for a discharge on a second encounter and this is as much as is required in falling off and comming on againe Then how to manage that is vpon a gentle gallop to passe forthright in an euen line to encounter either with the sword or the Battle-axe in which hee is to obserue first his Posture of setting forward and drawing his Sword ouer his Bridle arme then the raising of his arme and carying it close by the side of his body then at the encounter the discharging it vpon the Helmet of the enemy then passing by and hauing broken it to stop gently and vpon the halfe stop to turne swiftly and roundly and then vpon the turne Terra Terra to enter into single combat then lastly how to retire backe or to make the horse flie sidewayes either on the one side or on the other according as the aduantage of fight shall giue him occasion and in all these to vse the posture of vpright and constant cariage both of body and weapon which no words but practise is able to deliuer to an ignorant vnderstander For the generall parts of this Captaines dutie as much as concerneth the ciuill gouernment of his company they are all those which belong to the Captaine of Foot only with an augmentation of care in as much as he hath to prouide both for Man and Beast and therfore it is his Office after the wholsome accommodation of his men to looke to the best prouisions which may be had for his horse according to the nature and necessitie of the place in which he liueth as if it be grasse hay straw forrage dry corne raw corne pulse or the like and of these to know which is most wholesome which vnwholesome and accordingly to moderate and temperat the diet of his horses As if he haue good dry hay wholesome grasse or drie corne he may then suffer his horses to feed liberally to rest from trauell if occasion be and to water as oft as he please but if he haue nothing for his horse but Forage raw corne or pulse hee shall then let them feed sparingly giue much exercise and water not aboue once in a day it is also meet that he know the nature of all horse foods to preuent surfet and diseases in his horses as that sweet Hay is nourishing Straw extreme binding and Forage cooling and loosning Wheat nourisheth much but soone cloyeth a horse dry Barley or old Mault breedeth the heart-burning in a horse and will if he eat much make him subiect to tyring Rye will force him to shoot scowre and indeed makes a horse weake and sicke but Beanes Pease and Oates so they be sweet and dry are the most wholesome and naturall for a horse but if otherwise they breed the Belly-ake Bots and other foule diseases and therefore to preuent all mischiefes bee sure if you can to giue them rather vnthrasht then thrasht for the straw will correct many euils which would else follow To conclude for all priuat duties belonging to this Captaine as for his Enrolling Mustering receit of Pay distribution of Victuals Quartering taking of his true Range and Place obedience to his supreme Officers and all things else whatsoeuer belongeth to his particular person they are the same quantities only excepted which belong to the Captaine of Foot and in that Epistle may be read and vnderstood by any diligent or skilfull Interpretation TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND HIS NOBLE LORD HENRY LORD DANVERS of DANT-SEY THE ARGVMENT Of the Serieant Maior of a Regiment WHen my Lord I saw you in the warres fighting and bleeding your noble courage commanded my tongue to praise you but when wounded my selfe I felt your bounty and fauour you then compelld my heart to loue you O let me to these two bring you a thrid though plaine yet an honest and faithfull Seruant and that is this short Epistle which if you shall please to reade then shall you nobly binde my Tongue my heart and pen euer to serue you The Sacrifice I send you is Warre in it I know you haue beene well pleased the Altar from whence it arises is mine Affection Honor should not dispise it and the Place to which I would haue it ariue is your good Opinion where if it find harbour like a plummet cast into a faire calme Sea from one poore prick it shall driue many large and plentifull Circkles The course into which by this warlike range I am now conducted brings me in this place to fixe vpon the Office of the Serieant-Maior of a Regiment or Squadron of men compounded of sundry Companies being as it were a little deminitiue Battell or Colonie ouer which the Colonell is as Generall the Liuetenant Colonell as Liuetenant Generall the Serieant-Maior as Marshall and the rest of the Captaines as the Inferior Commanders The Serieant-Maior of a Regiment is euer some especiall Captaine of most approoued and noble desert as it were outstriping and running before the rest either in Experience Vnderstanding Valour or else which is least accountable in the Colonells perticuler affection and so hath giuen vnto him this place of precedencie and commandment before the rest of the Inferior Captaines It is true that hee ought very carefully to be chosen both in respect of his Wisdome and Temperance but especially for his skill and experience for there is much more required from him then from an ordinary Captaine and touching the reuerence of his place he ought to be a man of eminent note both beloued and feared for
place in Scouts Forragings and vpon all needfull discoueries and the effect of their principall Seruice is to defend and make good all passages ouer Riuers as Foards Bridges Mill-dames and the like all Strait wayes Hills Valleyes and other places of Retraite they may vpon occasion alight from their horses and serue on foot spoyling all Forragers and Pillagers assayling Troupes in their lodgings and when they finde themselues drawing into any inconuenience they may presently mount againe and retyre into their safety But if they be so farre engaged that they cannot well come off then must the armed Pistoleirs come in and assist them and therefore in this case the Colonell is to foresee that in the composion of his Regiment the Dragoones be chosen from the ablest nimblest and most actiue men that can be got being of that dexteritie and quicknes of spirit that they may be able to vault to and from their Horses at pleasure and to carry their Pieces so close guarded in their left hands that in performing of any of these suddaine actions there may bee found neither trouble nor hinderance lasty when they haue performed their duties they shall then retyre behind the Pistoliers and there prepare themselues againe for a new onset It is also a speciall care belonging to this Colonel to giue directions for the daily trayning and teaching of his Regiment especially if they serue with fire on Horsebacke for if a man be neuer so good a Horseman and yet but an ill Shot or if he be neuer so good a Shot and yet but an ill Horseman there will be such disparity and vntowardnesse in his actions that all his labour will be to little and no purpose let therefore diligence and practise good opportunity and good instructions make the Souldier exquisite in what he vndertaketh and it will bring honor to the Colonell and benefit to the generall Seruice And that the Seruice may be the more effectually performed it is requisite that the Colonell haue euer attending vpon his person as his dayly and houshold seruants an excellent Smith or Farryer who shall euer be furnished with Horse-shooes nayles and drugges both for inward and outward applycations a very good Sadler and all things belonging to his occupation and a skilfull rough Rider that may tame and reclayme stubborne Iades and instruct the Souldier how and in what manner to become a resonable Horseman Last of all it is the Colonels duty to haue a perfect Rolle of all the Bands within his Regiment as well Officers as others seeing them mounted and armed and then giuing allowance to their sufficiency hee shall giue directions for the disposing of the Troopes From him or his Substitute the Trumpets shall take all commandements and whensoeuer the Regiment riseth the Colonels Cornet shall first flie abrord to which all the rest shall repaire and from him shall receiue order for their imployment whether it be to Watch to Scour to discouer or else to relieue others He shall appoint such as shall guard the Lord Marshall the Forrage-Master and the Victuallers He shall dispose the manner of all Skirmishes and so place his Troupes that one may second the other in such wise that if any be repulst yet being relieued they may haue time to regather themselues into order and either mainetaine a second onset or retire backe againe into their owne strength This is the full effect of the Colonels Office that commandeth Horse and these things with the rest which belong to the Colonell of Foote being seriously obserued his place shall be fulfilled with much renowne and his person adorned with vndying Honor. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD ARVNDEL of WARDER THE ARGVMENT Of the Serieant-Maior Generall THe affaires my Lord of my poore Fortunes haue euer been hindrances to my Studie so that howsoeuer I might in my nature affect it yet still by Fortune I haue been debarred that happie felicitie so that your Lordship can expect from me but rude and vnpolisht Gatherings yet such as they are I tender them freely boldly All men speake you Noble that perswades mee and you are an owner of Willoughbies Blood of which my poore selfe am also a sharer and that almost seales vnto mee a deed of assurance and you are the much honoured kinsman of my dearest respected kinsman worthy Sir Perciual Willoughbie to whose loue I am so much bound that I cannot study a better Rent then to doe you seruice all these together bring this Epistle vnto you which great Sir I beseech you be pleased to reade the little I can get I am no niggard of nor was I euer more desirous to gather then willing to distribute to the good of my Countrey Many I know this way might Alexander-like giue talents but they thinke the World not worthy so much and if the World would imbrace their Mites it is an almes too poore for rich Reputations so that hence they are silent yet still I keepe on my Pilgrimage you are one of the Saints to whose Altar I am vowed and though I haue but a poore Root to offer thereon yet I will lay it downe with as great confidence as if it were a Snow-white Bull crown'd with Garlands knowing that nothing makes Giftes great but good mens Acceptations This great and renowned Office of the Serieant-maior Generall is so large spacious that to lend but one word to euery great article which necessarily depends vpon his knowledge would aske more paper then I haue bestowed on all which haue gone before him and therfore as Geographers doe I must intreat your Lordship in a little pricke to suruey a great kingdome To speake then first of his election the power thereof commonly remaineth in the Generall and the care therof ought to be more then of any of the former for being the generall Minister of an entire Armie and hauing his authoritie and vse extending it selfe into all manner of Marchings Imbattellings and Encampings we need say no more of his person but this he should bee a man both inward and outward of a most absolute perfection His place is before all Captaines and Colonels except the Colonell Generall for they receiue their directions from him he from the other his Actions and Imployments are euer for the most part in the face of the enemy and the greatest vse or necessitie of his person is euer in the places of most certaine danger It behoueth him to be exceeding Skilfull in the framing of Battalions which some define to be a congregation or multitude of men placed in such an orderly forme that they may come to fight without hindring one another whereby euery hand being necessarily imployed they may attaine to the end of their purpose which is glory and conquest so that to his charge is left the framing of the proportion the gouerment in marching and the order in fighting In his Brayne there ought to be at least in his bosome or some other conuenient place must be a