Office ranging euery Battalion euen that of the Liuetenant-generall or Colonell-generall of the Foote himselfe in such marshall order as shall be fit for any warlike imployment whether it be marching fighting incamping beseigeing assaulting or retiring all which paine the Colonell-generall taketh both for a fauor and a debt and returneth him for requitall all his best fauours and endeuors for the aduancement of any serious occasion which concerneth his person This Colonell-generall hath the mannage and gouernment of all publique and priuate affaires of the whole Army on foote whether it be in Battle Campe Ranging and disposing of all manner of persons according to his will and pleasure giuing the honor and dignitie of places in all dangerous seruices as he thinketh to be most conuenient he sendeth foorth great or small parties for Skirmishes or other publique encounters as seemeth best liking to himselfe and grants vnto them reliefes and seconds when he thinkes occasion fit and what numbers he holdeth best proportionable for the effect of the seruice It is in his power to regard and prouide for all the necessary and fit accomodations which belong vnto the Foote Armie whether it be Munition Victualls Apparrell or any necessarie thing belonging either to the nourishment of life or the generall defence of the persons as intrenchments fortifications places of approach sallies and all other aduantages or disaduantages which may either be defensiue or offensiue to his party or in the like case much auailing or much annoying the enemie and in any of these designes where either he shall heare complaint for slacknesse of duty or the performance of true care he is to call the offenders before him and to giue reprehension or punishment by imprisonment or other defaulâ—ation of pay as shall seeme best to his discretion but if the offence be capitall and of any extreame nature then he is to referre the partyes to a Martiall Court which Court he hath power to call at his best pleasure and there see all Delinquents punished according to the nature of their offences As thus he hath the generall punishment of crimes and calling in question of all iniuries within the Foote Armie so is he likewise to bee the author of all concord tranquillitie within the circuiets of his commands and to that end if any differences or deuisions shall fall out betweene any of the great and supreame Officers in the Armie or between Captaine and Captaine or Captaine and priuate Gentleman whether it concerne place matter of Honor vsurpation of Office disobedience or any other crime he shall out of his authority so it bee before the Generall taketh notice thereof call the parties before him and iudicially heare the whole proceedings either reconciling and making euen the controuersie or else referring it vnto the Generall or a Marshall Court according as the nature of the Busines requireth These are the most materiall things belonging to this great and eminent place which being honorably pursued there is no doubt but he shall gaine the loue of all good men and raise vnto himselfe pillars of glorious report which shall keepe his name to eternitie TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT LORD DORMIR of WING THE ARGVMENT Of the Lieutenant Generall of Horse THis Discourse my Lord which I am enioyned to tender to your Goodnesse to your hopes is but a due Rent belonging to the great place to which God and your Birth hath called you and therefore I send it for your Reading for your disposing yet for the vse of all men especially those which stand affected to the imitation of noble and most heroicall designes your Lordship is young your Lordship is hopefull beleeue it Youth and Hope or hopefull youth cannot spend houres that are free for Recreation in a more wholsome or truely delightfull Study for mine owne part I can ascribe little merit in the workmanship it is the matter it selfe which must commend the building Breuitie I know will a little deface it for indeed a volume were too scant a Map for so worthy a Subiect but as it is it must now bee your Lordships yet for your noble fathers sake with whom I was much acquainted beleeue it hopefull Sir no more it then the Authour which hopes he shall euer loue you As the Colonell-generall hath a principall and supreame command ouer all the Infantrie or Foot-companies disposing and gouerning them in all proceedings according to the strict rule of true Marshall Discipline so the Lieutenant-Generall of the Horse hath the eminent controll and commandement of all the Cauallerie or Horse-Regiments of what nature or composition soeuer This great Officer ought to bee touching the election of his particular person no lesse then the former great Commaunder of the Foot that is to say a noble man both of Blood and Vertue truely descended from great and Heroicall parents the memory of whose former actions may as in a liuing Chronicle suruiue and continue to succeeding times in the hopes and forward promises of the sonnes most flourishing vertues neither is this Blood and Vertue to bee vnaccompanied with excellent parts as Valour Wisedome Temperance and Experience nay indeed in this mans nature may bee required as much and as many vertues as in the Generall himselfe onely in the matter of Experience if Blood Honour and the Princes fauour fortifie and giue countenance to the commandment there may be some dispensation for we haue beheld in our owne times not one but diuers examples thereof as if we looke but vpon the very first leafe of the History which speakes the life of the noble Earle of Essex for in my conscience hee did not imagine hee liued vntill hee entred into the warres we shall find that euen at his first approch to the warres when he went vnder the Earle of Leicester into the Low Countreys he discharged this place with all honour all admiration and was without doubt Infinitely worthy of the same for he was sonne in law to the Generall highly recommended by the Queenes Maiestie and a man borne of a Millitary noble and renowned father and although he were at that time but twenty yeeres of age yet he was of that Infinite greatnesse of spirit and had a minde so excellently compounded of all maner of vertuous inclinations was so great a louer of Iustice and in him selfe so much bound to the perfections of Temperance and Iudgement that neuer man ruld in a place or came off from a place with more honour and lesse enuie for he held as it were a continuall trading with the elder and more experienst Souldiers framing all his affrayres by their aduices and by his Affabilitie and Bounty though his estate could neuer boast of Infinites wanne such respect and loue amongst all men that neither time nor the powerfulnesse of any great wrath was euer able to find a tombe in which to inclose his memorie But some will say this president is rare and may not inferre an authoritie but I say no
giue and receiue the word that is to say that Rounder which receiueth the word his cōpanion to the contrary partie shal giue the word so that on both sides the word shal be both giuen and taken one of each party hauing the swords point at his bosome for whosoeuer receiueth the word must draw his sword and he that deliuereth it must tender against it his bosome for the maner of the encounter it is thus the first discouerer calleth Qui-va-la the other reply The Round the first answereth the Round also then they meet a little distance asunder and hee that first discouered receiues the word and his Companion giues it and so à conuerso Now if the Rounders be sent out so early in the night that they meet the Captaine of the watch who should go the first Round then of him they must take notice both one after another deliuer him the word and so doing reuerence passe along To conclude and finish vp this dutie of the Rounder if they shall in their round meet either with the Generall of the Army or the Gouernour of the garrison vndisguised and like himselfe in all parts both of person and attendants so that without excuse they must know him then to him they shal giue the word also but to no other whatsoeuer more then such as are before specified no not to his owne Captaine nor to the Captaine of the watch after the first Round is performed and of these Rounders there must bee at least two or more in euery Squadron who performing this dutie twice or thrice euery night or as necessity shall requier will no doubt both keepe the Watches in good order bring much safetie to the Armie In some places they haue Round houses where the Captaine of the watch and all the Rounders together remaine all night who setteth out his Rounders each halfe houre or houre according to the space of the Round TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IOHN LORD DARCY OF the North his very good LORD THE ARGVMENT Of the Clerke and Harbenger THe great Respects which many Ties both of Blood and Fauour haue bound me daily to acknowledge to your Lordship are as so many alarumes to awaken me in the depth of my Meditation and to pronounce vnto me how vnworthy I were if in this Cattalogue of Martiall designes I should omit the memory of your name and Honor I doe know the Studie you affect and when it shall please either God or the Kingdome to call you to the practise I doubt not but there will be found in you such a Readinesse of Will and such an ability both of Person and Courage that all the lost or consumed Epitaphs of your noble Progenitors shall as new Texted Records be read a farre off in your Honorable disposition till when I beseech your Lordshipe Anchor one houre vpon this Epistle and howsoeuer the words be roughly and plainely thrust together yet shall the matter giue you content for it brings with it a witnesse of certaine knowledge and the mind of a writer which without flattery will euer honor and loue you The Clerke of a Band in a Company of well disciplin'd Souldiers being a man worthily worthy of the place and Office which hee holdeth I cannot fo fitly compare to any thing as to an honest Steward of a noble and well gouernd Family for their faithfull cares and seruices are knit and made vp almost of one and the same Members each being drawne by his Industrie fore-sight and prouidence to haue a care of his Commanders honor and profit and of the weale and good estate of all those which haue any dependance vpon them It is true that in the Clerke of a Band is not required much Souldiery or Martiall vnderstanding for he is rather to bee a pen-man then a Sword-man yet by all meanes no Coward for that slauish feare is a great weakener of honesty and a discouerer of deceitfull paths which he must by all meanes auoyd it teacheth him how to flatter the world to disesteeme all the lawes of true friendship to addulterate only with his owne pleasures and to make of himselfe to himselfe both a Mistris and a prodigall Seruant he that feares to die can neuer bee Master of a good Conscienee and when that is hackneyd vpon either by Couetousnes or Pride there is no respect of persons but all things are sweete which bring him gaine though in the vildest manner that may be Let the Clerke of the Band then by all meanes be chosen a man of great honestie and Integrety discreete and ciuill in his behauiour of temperate qualitie and modest countenance hauing in him a certaine Grauity or face of authority which may euen challenge and as it were command both loue and respect from the Souldier he must of necessity be a good pen-man writing a swift legible and readie hand he ought to haue good skill in Arithmaticke and the knowledge both of whole and broken Numbers at the worst he must be prefit in casting al manner of accounts and able in Merchantlike manner to keepe the account betweene debtor and creditor If he haue the Lattin tongue he is a Treasure but if to it also the vnderstanding of other Languages he is an inestimable Iuell for so he shall be able to trucke with strangers for the benefit of the Company and also to Interpret and take charge of Prisoners when any are taken It is the Office and duty of this Clarke to keepe the Rolls and muster Bookes conteining the names and surnames of the whole Company and these hee shall haue in sundry and diuers manners as in one Booke or Roll according to the Armes and weapons which they carry sorting euery seuerall Armes by themselues as first all the Officers in their true Rankes then all the Pikes and short weapons then the Musquets and Harquebusses or bastard Musquets if there be any In another Booke or Rolle all their names according to their Squadrons hauing the Officers of euery Squadron first then the Gentlemen and lastly the common Souldier and in the third Booke or Rolle all their names as they March in their owne perticular Battalia and according to the dignity of their places so that when the Muster-master or Captaine shall come to make a generall call of the Campany he may deliuer them the first Booke If it be to goe to the watch and to reckon any one Squadron he may deliuer the second Booke and if it be to question or find out any one perticular man as he stands in the Grosse whether he haue quit his place or remaine according to dutie that then hee may vse the third and last Booke and of these hee shall neuer be without sundry Coppies of which first Booke he may tender one to the Muster-master when he is commanded another to his Captaine a third to his Lieutenant and a fourth for himselfe which hee ought to keepe as a president for in it hee shall enrolle all Souldiers
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
all kind of Armes and is to see the necessitie of euery Regiment supplied To conclude he must be a generall Father ouer all the Armie and to prouide the good of the Souldiers as for his naturall children he is to heare the complaints of all the inferior Serieant-maiors of Regiments and to see that they may haue speedy dispatches This is the greatest substance and the most materiall parts which depend vpon this great Officer which his owne vnderstanding may amplifie according to the administration of occasions so that fixing knowledge and vse together the world will become rich by his help and others much fortified by his encouragements TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD KNIVET OF ESGRIG THE ARGVMENT Of the Colonell Generall DAnger euer my good Lord stands at the doore where Intermedling enters and hardly shal a man either tarry or returne but some mischeife still will bee tripping at his heeles especially when men meddle with great mens businesses which is like the paring of a Lyons claw where if the least cut procure paine it is ten to one but the cutter is made guilty of his owne distruction I confesse I am ascended into a Subiect beyond mine experience yet on this side my reading so that as it may bee dangerous for me to resolue any thing in them from mine owne Iudgment yet it shal be thanks worthy in me to write their owne their equal Authority Necessities require hazard sometimes and since it is needfull that I speake something both of this and the other subiects following let me not be blamed if modestly I tempt reprehension your Lordship is one of the oldest fixed Starres within the Spheare of our Court to a better experience I cannot flie vnder a nobler Nature I cannot suffer be pleased then to reade this poore Briefe and how euer in low words it treat of high things yet when the meaning shall be truely expounded nothing shall bee found but an honest admiration fixt vpon all Heroicall vertue The Colonell-generall of the Infantrie or as some call him the Liuetenant-Generall of the Foote ought to bee a man of noble descent high place and great authority both in vertue and prudence for hee hath a Supreame and especiall commandment ouer all the Foote Bands which are contained within the whole Armie and when he is chosen according to desert and merit he is then presupposed to be a man of Infinite experience and iudgement being the eldest and principallest Souldier in all the armie which hath not a place of greater precedence except by some extraodinary merit which is almost gotten within the Ranke of miracles he be out gone by some of his latter and much younger Companions for it is certaine that no Generall can without the Cloud of much enuy giue a precedency away from so many worthy and renowned Colonels but vpon rare desert or in case of some superexcellent perfection This doubtlesse was the rule of the first World when men imagined that Honour lay in the hands and not in the Bloud and when such as had the bestowing of these places being mearely men without any other addition could looke no way but forward that is to the obiect on which they had fixed their contentments or downeward to the meanes wherby they might compasse their Ambitions euen then when Honour was so temporary and mortall that any Frowne Thunder or Lightening of Greatnesse could kill split and vtterly consume it But in these latter Times since Wisdome maryed to Diuinitie began to build vp this goodly Temple of true Honor whose eies are so cleere and truly set that she can locke backward to see what she was vpward to finde the cause from whence true glory proceedeth since men came to know on whom to depend and whom to thanke since Honor came to gaine the eternitie of an hereditary right and that all tittles and tenures were false and sophisticate but such as mearely depended on heauen since this I say was knowne and approued all these great and materiall Offices haue had another manner of disposing and this place of a Colonell-Generall of a Foote Armie hath beene and is many times bestowed vpon younge Princes and Noble men who inuited by the powerfulnesse of their vertues haue betaken themselues vnto the warres and euen at their first entrances haue had these places conferred vpon them as in the occurrents of all estates we may see many present examples sometimes for a protection and countenance to the cause taken in hand and an inciting and stirring vp other men which haue dependance on those great persons to aspeedy immitation and following of their courses and sometimes to gratefie the great deeds and beneficences of their famous progenitors or else as a Schoole or Accademie wherein Nobilitie being to be brought vp in all the waies of perfection they haue these formes or Rankes of proceedings allowed for their exhaltation nor is it without good Ground of Reason for howsoeuer the Office carry in it a great preheminence or supreame authority yet in the execution thereof there is little expected from the person more then countenance of the place and a noble ciuill Gouernment the sway and effect thereof being fully and in all perfection to be discharged by the Serieant-maior generall the Colonels and the vnder Officers belonging to their Regiments So that I inferre although this place for honors sake and the aduancememt of a braue deseruer might properly apertaine to an ancient graue and well deseruing Souldier yet also to giue merit to a fresh and faire springing hope and to keepe the Flowers of true honor in their nature luster it may with as good right be bestowed vpon Princely and Noble personages in whom there is a liuing hope of many forme great actions though at the beginning they be punies in the warres and haue nothing but the Theoricke knowledge to commend their fortunes To this Colonell-generall the Serieant-Maior of the Armie all Colonels of Foote and with them all priuate Captaines of Foote and their Inferior Officers must continually bee obedient for they are as it were Liuetenants and Substitutes vnder him taking at his hands all orders and directions by which to mannage the whole Armie and therefore it is the Office and duty of the Colonell-generall daily and at speciall appointed times to call the Serieant-maior and the Colonels of the Foote companies vnto him and with them as with the best Councellors of estate to confer and reason of all matters appertaining to his place and Office taking from them that sound aduice and instruction which coopling and mixing with his owne noble determinations may make all his directions most sound and perfect And that he may imploy nothing more then his noble countenance and fauour to euery warlike proceeding the Serieant-maior is pleased to take vpon him all bodily labors and to ride vp and downe the Army with his directions and to see all things performed which any way appertaines to his great Place and
Lordship shall euer finde an honest and faithfull Seruice TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND VVELL DISPOSED LORD RICHARD LEONARD Lord Dacres of Hurst-monciaux THE ARGVMENT Of Leuying of Souldiers THere is hardly a greater action or of more importance in a Common wealth my noble Lord then that of Leuying of Souldiers because Armies are the Strengths of Nations the Saftie of Kings and the Scourge of oppressors for by them wee take possession of our rights with them we trample and tread vpon iniury and through them we find the ready path which leades to peace and Tranquility so that in leuying making of these Infinite Bodies if a true care and proportion be not held in euery member there will grow disorder and deformitie in the shape and so consequently weakenesse by which there will be wanting both ability to performe and fortunate successe which is the Crowne and glory of euery Conquest It is to be vnderstood therefore that all Leuyes whatsoeuer of Souldiers are directly from the Kings and what Subiect soeuer shall dare to leuye men for any warrelike purpose without his especiall authority runnes not only into the danger of life but the losse both of his goods and honor whence it comes that the Prince being moued to these martiall occasions giues his power either to the Lords of his priuy Counsell to his Viceroyes Presidents to his Lords Liuetenants or other commissioners such as shall seeme best in his wisdome to leuye such Colonyes Bands or companyes as shall be meete for his vse and seruice and herein from him only as the principall fountaine must first of all be deriued the strength of their authority and after according to the letter of their Commission they may substitute and appoint such ministers vnder them for this purpose as shall seeme best in their discretions inlarging and restrayning according to the limitation of the Graunt which was first receiued from his Maiestie whether it be to the Captaines themselues who are to receiue the men leuyed to their Officers or other especiall commissioners according to Custome and order In all which there ought to bee great faithfulnesse and diligence vsed and honest men able men and as neare as may be valiant men should be chosen and that without partiality malice iniury or distemperance Now for the manner of leuying of Souldiers with vs here in England it is done two manner of wayes that is to say either by the sound of the Drumme or by presse If it be by the sound of the Drumme then it is a Commission granted for all such as will voluntarily of their owne free wills thrâ—st themselues vnder such a Captaines command and so receiuing his presse mony he is as firmely vnder his commandment as if he had beene prest by any stricter Commission and this way of leuying of Souldiers is generally vsed ouer the most partes of Christendome But if it bee any especiall presse then there commeth a Commission from the Lords of the Counsell to the Lords Liuetenants Deputie Liuetenants or other nominated Commissioners for musters which declaring the number of men manner of leuye and place of Rendeuous they presently direct their warrants to the cheife Constables of hundreds and the chiefe Constables their warrants to the petty Constables of Townes and hamlets which petty Constables doe at the day appointed bring bofore the Commissioners so many able and sufficient men as they were charged within their warrants from them the Lord Lieutenant his Deputie or other Commissioners chuse and presse out by giuing to euery man twelue pence in currant money so many as shall make vp the number contained in his Commission these men so prest he deliuereth ouer either to the Captaine or his Officers or to some other Conductor to be brought to the Rendeuous at the time perfixed together with conduct money at the rate of eight pence a day for their charges and either Clad Armed or vnarmed according to the words of the Commission This hath beene the auncient manner of leuying and raysing Souldiers in our Kingdome nor doe I thinke that any wisdome can finde out another way which can promise more equitie or faire dealing especially as long as the execution of these Commissions are performed by the Lieutenants themselues who generally are great Princes and men of that singuler vertue and goodnes that both the loue they beare their Countryes and the care they haue of their owne honors makes them scorne to exprsse either Spleene or Reuenge in so poore a busines But when these Commissions come out of their fingers and are disperced vnto many and amongst them factions and dissentions doe arise then one striues to defend one part another another one will shew his malice in thrusting forward another his power in detayning backe one will haue his reuenge satisfied another will haue his pitty admired that to conclude little equitie can be perceiued in their proceedings and lesse vertue arises from the fruits of their elections for many times the decreped and vnfit are pact'd to the warrs the able are kept at home who laughing in their sleeues pray for continuance of those larrs by which he sits at home and sleepes out vexations here might a man finde out many other grieuances as the protections of liueryes the friendship of bribes and the suite of By-standers all which doe often make the King ill serued and beleeue it in cases of great consequence these perticular humors crosse great designes O how excellent were it if in these common businesses men would set a part all priuate affections and but only regard the King and his seruice and study as they ought only the aduancement thereof then should we see as Virgill saith Pollio's returne and the golden Age would be restored againe to vs and our Children But this is O Vtinam a wish that vanisheth assoone as it is breathed and therefore I could wish that in these Inferior Commissions which goe to a generallity their might be a mixt powre that is to say to the Commissioners and Captaines and that ioyntly they would set a part all partiality for the Commissioners which are Gouernors of the Country best know the estate thereof and what is most wholesome for the generall Body though of what belongs to the warres many of them are vtterly ignorant and so the Captaine which best knowes what belongs to the warres and must with the hazard of his life lead those men euen vnto the face of the enemie he likewise may be vnskilfull in the wants of the Country so that compounding an honest Body of them both there can be neither knowledge nor perfection wanting Experience hath long time since taught me this that when the Captaine is not in Commission he may say and informe what hee pleaseth but the Commissioners will performe what they list for they haue voyces which will drowne him and a deafenesse which hee cannot open whereas bearing with them an equall authority then his thunder must
also carrie his Bullet bagge in which hee shall beare his Moulds to cast his Bullets also his Wormes with which he shall cleare his peece when at any time it is cloid either by mischance or ignorance and his Screwes with which he shall vnloose euery vice-pinne or engine about the Musquet when he either intends to take it in peeces or else to scowie it to mend any thing that is out of frame or otherwise to vnbreech it and lastly he shall carrie in it his priming yron being a small artificiall wiar with which he shall clense and keepe open the touch-hole of his peece so as the priming powder may enter in and make the peece goe off vpon the first touch of any sparke with which it encounters all this perfitted he shall bee armed with a good and very sufficient musquet being of as neate and nimble a cast as can bee made prouided it bee strong cleane wrought and of a good temper of yron the Barrell must bee in length foure foot and a halfe and the bore according to the size of a full Musquet and tried by the gage or allowance of the Tower of London the Stocke must be straight cleane and smoothe wrought without knots or flawes in any part but especially towards the lower end the extreamest part at the nether end below the breech should be at least eight inches in depth flat and smoothe so as if the peece happen a little to recoyle yet it may not offend the Souldiers body and the wood of which these Stockes are made would be either good Wallnut-tree good Peare-tree or some other fast firme and smoothe light wood which is neither apt through the shortnesse of the graine quickly to breake nor yet through the largenesse to split or riue in sunder you must haue regard that the barrell be smooth euen and not galled within that it carry the full bore equally cleane throughout and not carry Musquet bore at the top and hardly Harquebusse in the bottome for it is an abuse too frequent amongst our Gun-makers and the effect is nothing else but deceit and the peece of such a bore is hardly so good as a Pistoll see that the pan be tight and the touch-hole vnworne for if it bee otherwise the one will scatter and lose the powder the other will blow backe in the Souldiers face or else recoyle and doe greater mischiefe and on the contrary part if the hole be too little the powder will want passage and the piece will hardly go off without much toyle and great losse of labour see that the breech be strong and close all the screwes and pinnes about it fast and sure the scowring stick straight round smooth and headed with a rammer of yron sutable to the bore of the peece let the Cocks and Trickers be nimble to goe and come for as concerning Seares they are vtterly out of date and the Inconueniences are found in our daily experience for vpon euery motion or touch of the Souldiers garments they are apt to make the piece flie off before there is occasion killing sometimes him that marcheth behind sometimes him that is before sometimes sets fire on him that beares it and sometimes wounds his Officer that comes to giue him direction so that for these and the like mischiefs they are vtterly forbidden neither is the charge of a Tricker greater then that of a Seare and whosoeuer shall bee drawne to reformation there wil be found little or no ods at all in the bargain only the stupidity and blockishnesse of our ignorant wilfull Plebeians is so great that but with huge difficultie they can neuer be brought to relish any alteration especially if there be but the value of one penny betwixt them and their first custome or that any debausht fellow who hath either runne from his Colours beene an vnder-slaue to a Sutlers boy and now for his last refuge keeps a Tipling house in the Countrey for men of his equall qualitie If he I say will but affirme what they surmise it is not the wisedome of Nestor nor the experience of Caesar no not Apollos Oracle which is able to change any part of their resolution to this I haue been a pregnant witnesse and at this I haue often smiled chiefly when I haue seene some of more eminent condition how well they could be pleased to be flattered in their owne yet a false opinion But to returne againe to the arming of this Souldier he shall haue for his right hand a handsome Rest of Ash or other light wood with an yron pike in the nether end and an halfe hoope of yron aboue to lay the Musquet in when hee rests it and double strong strings shall be fastened neere thereunto to put ouer the left arme when at any time the Souldier shall haue occasion to traile the same Now as touching the length of these Rests there is not any certaine quantitie thereof for howsoeuer generally they are foure foot and vpward yet they should be according to the stature of the partie which beares them carrying the Musquet so euen that hee may in a comely manner discharge at a leuell without very much bending either of his shoulders or bodie Lastly if about his necke hee haue a piece of Buffe or quilted leather cut in the proportion of a large Gorget and extending to the vttermost poynts of his shoulders he shall finde both profit and ease therby for it will both saue his garments from wearing with the Musquet and also make the burthen lesse and more easie To conclude then for the Bastard Musquet which differeth nothing from the full Musquet but in the bore onely and the charges which must be made sutable to the bore they are of excellent vse for they carrie as farre as the full Musquet and pearce as deepe though their bore be lesse and their lightnesse and nimblenesse to those which are weaker and of much lesse abler bodies is such an ease and comfort that they are able both to hold out in Marches and in Seruice with any man how strong or potent soeuer Now for their arming it is in all poynts like that of the full Musquet without any difference for as their Seruice is alike so alike are their Accoutrements and what adornes the one is as seemely and becomming for the other so that it shall be needlesse to wade further in this Discourse but leaue the rest to the discretion of the Captaine in whose power it is to alter and dispose of his Armes according to his owne will and the rule of his Iudgement TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND IVDICIOVS EMANVELL SCROOP Lord SCROOP of Bolton and Lo President of the North. THE ARGVMENT Of the Arming of Pikes SInce my Lord you are by his Maiesties fauor the Viceroy or President of your Country on whom all these Military actions depend I cannot be perswaded but any thing which comes cloathed with this Title and carrying the Badge of experimented Truth shall find from you
conueniēt that he haue a different counter-signe by which he may be knowne and receiued when at any time he hapneth to returne and againe if he doe happen to come off with safety he must be wondrous carefull that all his relations and informations be most certaine true for to be either so far transported with feare that he cannot distinguish sounds or so dull with amazement that his eies cannot deserne constant and cleere obiects by which meanes he giues a confused Intelligence there is nothing but dishonor which will redound to himselfe and losse hinderance to those vnto whom he would tender al his best endeauors like Considius who imployd in these affaires by a mistake of his eyes and bringing vnto Caesar a false and contrary message made in one moment a shipwracke of that Fame and Reputation which he had beene thirty yeares in gaining both vnder Sylla and Crassus for all other ordinary Sentinels of which I spake in the former part of this Epistle being thus but in the first degree of a common Souldier there is from them expected no more but common duties neither is there any more trust or affiance in them then necessity inforceth but if he be a man of valor wisdome apprehension care obseruatiō shewing in himselfe an abilitie both to doe and indure there is no doubt but his Captaine except he be too much vnthankefull will take notice of his vertues and quickly aduance him to better estimation The Sentinell and whole Corps de guard shall march to their place of watch armed at all parts according to the right belonging to the weapon he carieth and their relieuing those which had the watch before them shall performe their duties withall secresie and silence Of these Sentinels there would be at least twenty in euery Squadron for vpon many occasions many are set forth and being but relieued three or foure times in a night yet euery one will haue worke enough and no mans hand shal be empty It hath beene an argument with some that the Rounder passing within eight or ten paces of the Sentinell that he may passe by with a Salute only without giuing the word that the Sentinell may permit and suffer the same but it is an erronious opinion and doth not agree with good discipline for hee that is one of the eies of the Armie and vtterly fordidden during his time of watch to acknowledg any creature whatsoeuer whether he come from the Campe or from the Towne from the friend or from the enemie for wayes passages in the night doe not distinguish persons he that stands to guard stands to suspect and the tolleration of one escape may draw on a million If the formost single Sentinell shall stay any passenger he shal neither call his Corporall nor demand of him the word but hauing staid him he shal bring him to the double Sentinell and they shall call the Corporall who shall receiue it To conclude this Epistle it hath beene the manner of the Spanish discipline in their warrs to let the Sentinell haue the word so that he doth receiue it both of the Rounders and other passengers but how dangerous hurtfull it hath beene vnto them that exployt of Sir Roger Williams of noble memory and Sir Martin Skinke when they attempted their passage to Venlow will most worthily witnes where in stead of giuing the word they tooke the word and slew the Sentinels and made their passage good euen to the Tent of the Generall the noble Duke of Parma whom they made flie out of his bedde in his shirt and had they not had other ends which did guid them it was supposed at that instant they might haue taken him prisoner This I shew that to this inferior place should be attributed no greater priuiledge then is conuenient for being the meanest amongst the meanest it is enough if their eies and eares doe their duties for their tongues it is too nimble an engine and should be laden with no more poyze then it might beare without either trouble or danger TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRIE SOMERSET LORD HERBERT of Chepstow Heire Apparant to the Earledome of Worcester THE ARGVMENT Of the Rounder MOst honourd and worthy Lord so great is the renowne of your thrice noble father and so precious vnto me the consideration of that ancient excellent and happy stocke from whence you take your deriuation that were there nothing in me but Dulnesse Lead yet I could not but kindle in my heart some sparks of admiration and willing flames of affectionate loue to your seruice so oft as I read the story of your forefathers excellencies in the goodly Table of your owne liuing vertues Be pleased then noble Sir to whose blood I am not vtterly a stranger to cast your eye ouer this my rough weake labour though it be a descant set to the Drumme and not to the Violl yet I hope it shal beat so tuneably into euery right and perfit courage that by the working effects thereof many shall be drawne from their neglect of martiall Intendments and my selfe both reuiued and rewarded when I shall giue my heart some hope that I haue exprest the loue and dutie I beare to your Name and Honour The word Ronda which both in Spanish and Italian doth signifie a Rounder is taken in the plurall number for a certaine select company of Gentlemen or well deseruing Souldiers who for the merit of their Seruice exprest in their valour and obedience and the honest and faithfull performance of those inferiour duties which are liable to the first entrance of euery common Souldier haue beene aduanced by their Captaine from the title of a common man to be a Gentleman of a Companie the priuiledge whereof doth not onely free and discharge him from the humble and meaner duties as that of the Sentinell and the like but doth also exhaust and raise vp his entertainement therein making a difference betweene them and the vulgar persons and these be called Gentlemen Rounders or Gentlemen of the Round whose dutie and office is to visit the Corps du guards the Sentinels Scouts Watches at sundry houres in the night to cause them to obserue the lawes statutes and ordinances of the armie and to see whether they bee vigilant and ready so as no surprise Sally priuate Iniury or other secret Stratagem be wrought or performed against the body of the Armie and for this cause they walke continually round about from Sentinell to Sentinell and from Guard to Guard If it be in a Garrison round about the walles of the towne and if in a Campe then round about the fortification thereof either within or without and through euery passage which approcheth to the same by meanes of which circular course or round walke which they vndertake they haue the name of Rounders or a Gentleman of the Round These are in the immediate next degree before the Sentinell and howsoeuer the Captaine hath power in his owne
extremities When the Corporals Squadron goes forth to serue vpon the face of the enemy he shall himselfe leade the principall Fyle and by his example both make them come on with all brauery and by his obseruations make them most diligently obserue all the commands of their Superiours he must not allow any to set his foot before him or to outstrip him in courage prouided he exceed not the bounds of discretion neither must any expresse the knowledge of command more then himselfe for he must equally vnderstand both how to obey how to command therwithal it must be mixt with such a tēperance that he must neither ouerdoe nor vnderdoe lest he vtterly vndoe for the one shewes Rashnes and the other Basenesse both which are faults of that extremitie as they neuer haue power to issue forth but still punishment ouertakes them It is likewise a part of his dutie if he be a Shot to obserue that none of his Squadron discharge too soone or amazedly without aduise for then they seldome hit and men are naturally so prone to come to an end of their feare and trouble that the fault of leisure is seldome perceiued besides when they discharge before the enemy be come within the distance of point-blank they not onely lose their labour but giue the enemy leaue to approch without danger and so are either put to rout or else performe some greater inconuenience for this manner of too early discharging discouers an vnnaturall feare and where that is neither can Aduise nor true Leuell be taken but as it is the child of Confusion so confused are all things which either mixe or come neere it To conclude when men discharge their shot with leisure and discretion and that the volley goes wholly and entirely together when leuell is truly taken and the Obiect not supposed but constantly perceiued then doth ten Shot more good then an hundred and the example and wounds which proceed from so strong a Resolution more shakes the hearts of the enemy then all the fires affrights or noises that Gunns Arts or mens voices can vtter and that this may be performed with better perfection the Corporall shall teach his Squadron how to giue their peeces their full lading and how to ramme in their Bullets to the best aduantage of the blow so that all things concurring in a decent and artificiall forme together the Discipline may be so absolute that no newe Curiositie or Inuention can start vp to amend it Infinite much might a knowing Experience write of this mans Place and Office and of the variation of opinions touching the same but my desire is to draw as neere as I can to our best moderne Practise and to that discipline which is most frequent in our Nation that whosoeuer shall come to apparell his mind in these Instructions may not walk forth py-bald and Antiquely suited but in such an habit as all his Countrey-men may know him allow him and indeed imitate him all other I account but gaudie Boskage or idle Crotesco worke on which whensoeuer a man fixes his eye though he finde Art and Proportion in the knots trayles and deuices yet if hee gaze on the Faces and Figures he shall find them gastly vgly halfe maimed and out of all comely proportion TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD VVENTVVORTH of Nettlesteed THE ARGVMENT The Office of a Serieant I Could wish my good Lord that this Epistle which I dedicate to the name and honor of your noble House had in it as great a hope of eternity as your vertues for then I know not so much as enuy would rise vp against it but it would last beyond all Times find no end or period either in Age Rust or the worlds Consumption but all humaine writings are mortall mine I know is borne weake and sickly therefore since it cannot liue as it would yet shall it last as longe as it can and euen to the last gaspe affirme that your owne worth hath cald me and the honor of your house bound me to the dedication of this seruice To discribe then the Office of an ordinary Serieant of a Band it is to be allowed that he is one of the most needfull and ought to be one of the most heedfull instruments in the whole Armie and indeed his name Importeth no lesse which I take to be Seruians He hath in the body of the company no Raunge at all but is extrauagant and going vp and downe to ouersee all Raunges his command how euer it be generally disposed would in perticular consist of two Squadrons which are fifty men or more at discretion and may propperly bee called a Serieancie which though it be a new tearme yet it is not vnfit They ought for their election and qualities of minde to be valiant expert vigilant and diligent For his armes howsoeuer some allow him a Corslet the apurtenances yet with vs except in assaults a Scalados he hath only a good Sword and a faire Halbert which is a short and ready weapon apt for him to mannage and handle in any place of straitenes or other inconuenience with it he keepeth all the Band in order and maketh them in Marching Standing and all motions to keepe their Rankes and Files in an euen comely and true proportion and if any be so incorrigible or absurd that admonition will not reclaime him then with that weapon hee may enforce him and by turning the blunt end towards him shew hee might strike yet forbeares for but in fatall cases should a Souldier bee stricken as in the face of the enemie when one mans disorder might hazard the whole Battaile in that case the Seriant may kill him for one may put in Rout tenne ten an hundred and an hundred ten thousand he is when the the Drumms beate the Colours flie the Souldiers are gathered together to see euery man raunged in his true place according to the nature of his weapon drawing vp the Files and placing them in square or other proportion according to the direction of his Captaine If any loose Files of shot goe forth to serue the Serieant is to be their leader except by an especiall commandment a superior Officer be appointed He is the Herauld or Pursuiuant belonging to the Captaine for he carrieth all his messages directions and commandments to the company and assoone as the word is giuen sees it effected and performed he must carry of and on in all Skirmishes according to directions men that are spent or hurt and hee bringeth in new supplies to releiue them He must be Hic et vbique ready vpon any matter of consequence to goe euen to the Generall and to declare vnto him all proceedings and hee ought to haue that vnderstanding to giue a good account vpon demaund of perticultars he is to fetch the watchword from the Serieant Maior or other supreame Officer and to carry it to the Captaine he is also to deliuer it to the Corporalls and that with
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
Warre and deep-amazing Alarmes yet when I call to mind the excellencie of your Noble Blood and see how it springs out of the two heroicke Fountaines of Rutland and Willoughbie the first whereof Nature and dutie commands me to honour the other the goodnes of their owne vertues me thinks I see that strong promise of great Spirit within you that it seemes to say If the great Henrie of France playing amongst the Boyes of Pau was at ten yeares old chosen for a Generall why not you at as young be fit for Souldierly cogitations doubtlesse you are doublesse you will be and in that assurance I am bold to knocke at your eare with this short and plaine Epistle which when you haue pleased to reade if you finde nothing in it for your present vse then lay it by t is ten to one but ere an age or lesse be consumed you shall find occasion to reuiew it and though you finde nothing absolute and rare yet something there may be in it worthy your obseruation and knowledge The next degree or Station aboue the two Officers last named and who also is a dependant vpon the Master of the Ordnance taking from him most of his commands and directions is the Trench-master who by some and not vnproperly is called the Engine-master the qualitie of whose Office consisteth generally in matter of Fortifications Immurings and â—ntrenchments for he is both to fortifie the Campe and also to make the approches It is he that must communicate and mixe Art and Nature so well together that lending to either the perfections which it wanteth 〈◊〉 â—…kes the vniuersall Body of his worke absolute and impregnable for as Nature in some places may bee a great assistance vnto him for the perfecting of his worke so Art in other places must either take all authoritie vpon her or the whole worke bee left naked and weake to any approch or assault of the enemy so that in this Officer or Trench-master must bee a knowledge at the first apprehension or viewing how much Nature can any way helpe him in his worke and how much Art is necessary to the bringing of Nature to the fulnesse of perfection for it is to be vnderstood that Nature is a good houswife and saueth much charges in all Fortifications when Art is a prodigal and lauisheth out both coine and mens labours therefore in this mans Office is required a good husbanding of both their conditions and a finishing of the purpose he goeth about at as easie and small a charge as may be He is an Officer at whose hands are required a two fold dutie the one of Safetie the other of Hurt or Annoyance for to his friends he must be a strength and safeguard and to his enemies a plague and mischiefe It is requisite that in his election he be chosen a man of learning and experience especially skilfull in the Mathematickes and all Geometricall rules and proportions and that he haue the authority of long practise sound knowledge to countenance and defend whatsoeuer hee vndertaketh for in his Braine and Brest and the strength of his profession consisteth the safetie of the whole Armie which is lodg'd within the compasse of his intrenchments for his Art must be their wall of defence and by the square of his iudgement is their securitie lost or made perfect When therefore the plot of Ground for emcamping is appointed and chosen out by the Lord Marshall and that the Quarter-master hath deuided it into sundry large quarters for the generall receit of the whole Armie then shall the Trench-master forthwith stake out the vttermost verge and extreamest part thereof for the best aduantage of the Campe and the greatest hurt and annoyance that can be to the enemy which done according to the best proportions which will agree with the nature of the ground and those formes into which the Marshall and Quarter-masters haue formed the Campe he shall draw his Intrenchments and Fortifications girdling and surrounding the same in such manner about that the enemy may in no wise make any attempt thereupon without his certaine losse and hindrance and making all his approches and entrances to the Campe with such intricate Art and vnder such Guards and defences of its owne strength that the enemy may neither haue hope nor abilitie at any time to giue vpon the same but when hee shall returne backe repulst and laden both with shame and dishonour I haue in mine owne experience knowne some principall great Commanders as namely Sir William Pelham a noble and renowned Souldier who was Lord Marshall in my Lord of Leicesters time in the Low countries and after him Sir Francis Vere who both by experience and obseruation were wonderfully skilfull in this kind and notwithstanding both of them had most excellent Officers vnder them and men of exceeding rare knowledge in these practises yet in these great important affaires of Fortifications and Assurances in guarding of the Campe they still performed all things by their owne proper Commaund and directions neither could any danger how eminent or certaine soeuer either in the viewes approches or discouery of places fit to be fortified deterre or keepe them backe but notwithstanding they both receiued many great and almost deadly wounds yet still they performed those seruices in their owne persons But this was the perfection of their knowledge and the absolute rarenesse of their courage which is not alwaies found out in men of their high place and commaundement therefore it is expedient that in euery Army there should be this distinct and especial officer both for the generall safetie of the Souldier that hee may march without hazard to the approches outward skirts of the campe which as it were outfaceth the enemy and also being there may be defended against any Sallies Stratagems or other annoyances as also to haue a freedome of power to mount their Ordnance at pleasure and to make Mounts to receiue the Artillery also to raise Caualiers to digge Mines vnder earth or running Trenches to any Curtaine or Bulwarke whereby either the whole frame or at least the Orâ—chion Tronera or Pendent may bee molested or destroyed beside a world of other new deuices both to secure the camp and repulse the enemy when he shall vndertake any attempt against it This officer must haue a ready and pregnant skill in casting out the true proportion of all manner of Trenches forming the depths and breadths thereof according to Art and the imployment for which they were first framed It behoues him to know how to forme and modell out all sorts of Bulwarks making them large and massie how to make election of his earth for toughnesse and firmenesse how to ramme it pile it and in case the mould be light and subtill then in what sort to temper and mixe it and to bring it to a body that shall be tough closse and sollid then how to cast his ditches both about and betweene each seuerall Bulwark how to
Fish Beefe Bacon Meale Pease or any other prouision which according to warrants from the Superior Officers nominating the number of men in list of euery company he shall deliuer out proportionably according to such a rate for euery man Per diem and being stil assured to keepe his proportions within the compasse of the Souldiers common allowance of ordinary lendings as for example If the Souldiers lendings be after the Rate of Three Shillings by the weeke then shall the victuall-master allow him victualls at the rate of foure pence by the day and a penny for drinke which amounts to two shillings and eleauen pence the weeke the remainder when the Captaine commeth to rekcon with the Treasurer by the Victuallers certificates shall or at least should be an arrerage due to the Souldier and thus according to the proportion of any wages and in this expending of victualls it is to be supposed that euery Victuall-Master ought to accommodate his victualls vnto the place in which they are spent as if it be in Garison or setled Campe then hee shall spend those victualls which are worst for carriage and most troublesome for the Souldier to dresse as Butter Bread Fish or the like except his plenty be great and then he may let them haue two daies flesh as ether Beefe or Bacon for Sundaies and Thursdaies two daies Butter as on Monday Tuesday one day Cheese as Wensday and two dayes Fish as Friday and Satterday But if it be in Marching or Iourneying then hee shall giue them the victuals which is most easie for carriage and the longest lasting as Bisket Beefe ready boyld Cheese or the like Now for the proportions how much conueniently may sustaine a man a day though they must be rated according to the plenty of the store and the prizes by which they are attained yet for example sake and according to the experience of those warres which I haue seene halfe a pound of Bisket and halfe a pound of Butter hath beene at fit daies proportion for one man or a pound of Bread and halfe a pound of Beefe or else Bacon a full daies proportion or otherwise halfe a pound of Bisket and a pound of Cheese likewise a pound of Bisket and a Poore-Iohn betweene two men for one day or two pound of Bisket and a Haberdine betweene foure men for one day is a great proportion halfe a pound of Bisket and foure herrings is one mans allowance for one day and so is a quart of Pease boyld or a pint of Rice with the ordinary allowance of Bisket The Victuall-Master whilst he is in the friend Country may send forth his warrants or potents for the bringing in of all manner of victualls at their ordinary prizes and in such manner if the Souldier receiue his wages in money he shall retaile it backe without aduantage for no exaction in any wise should be taken on the Souldier especially in case of foode for it is the nourisher of his strength and courage and that being abated he can neither march well nor fight well as thus victualls are brought in by the Friend so being in the enemies Land it is the Office of the Victuler to consider the qualitie and season of the place for if the Country it selfe be rich and well furnished and therewithall suddenly Inuaded no doubt but great plenty of prouisions will be found vpon which it is his Office to ceaze and withall care to see it ordered and preserued for the best benefit and vse of the Armie and to that end hee is continually to haue attending on him in good pay at least sixe Substitutes or vnder Officers to keepe accounts and deliuer out prouisions besides good and sufficient Bakers Butchers Fishmongers Hucsters and Coopers besides Porters and luggage Carriers to rummage and order things according to his directions and doubtlesse it is found in the warres that there is greater husbandry in preseruing things then in prouiding since plenty and scarcity are these two extreames which oftest doe make Souldiers Wastfull For in Abundance it is the nature of course bred creatures to imagine that the spring hath no bottome and in the time of penury assoone as the chearefulnesse of reliefe but once shines vpon them presently the greedinesse of their natures falls into such excesse that nothing but Ryot and Drunkennes is made the Steward of their expences This only is to be cured by this worthy Officer for his fit distribution makes the one moderate and his skilfull preseruations makes the other discreete And indeede to speake the truth a wise and iudicious Victuall-Master which knowes by Powdering Turning Cleansing and Drying how to keepe his victualls sound and sweete from Moulding Sowering Rotting or Stinking is the Souldiers best Phisition and giues him nothing but what brings health to his body pleasure to his tast and contentment to his minde This Officer must be both for himselfe and others a skilfull and cunning Auditor keeping his Bookes and Reckonings faithfully and iustly both betweene himselfe and the Treasurer for generall and great receits betweene all such as shall bring in prouisions and his vnder victuallers but aboue all betweene his owne conscience and the Souldiers wants whom vnder so many Colours he may wring that vnlesse his owne soule speake vnto him there is no other Argus that can spie out his mischieues Therefore for the preuention of all wrongs and that no cunning may walke in Truths vppermost Garment there is strictly required at this Officers hands a solemne and religious Oath by which hee is bound to serue Iustly vprightly and truely in his place hauing alwaies his Bookes of account in a readines that whensoeuer he shall bee called vpon either by the Generall or Treasurer hee may with all diligence make knowne the vttermost depth of his actions and declare his faithfulnesse and integritie both to his Prince his Country and the Armie in which he serueth neither shall he be more carefull of himselfe then of his Clerkes and Inferior ministers prouiding that they as himselfe doe Iustly in all things and that Iniurie and Extortion lye not Bed rid or sicke in his Office which if he performe as he ought then is he a noble and renowned Officer and howsoeuer his mortall part dye yet shall the memory of his Immortall Goodnes suruiue as long as any Souldier holds his remembrance TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE DVDLEY LORD NORTH his very good Lord. THE ARGVMENT Of the Prouost-Marshall I Bring to you my deare Lord in the tribute of this short Epistle two great Homages which I owe the one to the memory of your noble Grandfather to whose honourable fauours I was infinitly bound in my Seruice to the late Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory and the other to your worthy selfe from whom I haue euer receiued that respect which not to acknowledge would hang as a Sereine or rotting Mildew vpon any thankfull nature be pleased then to heare it speake at your best leasure and though it
haue neuer so rude an vtterance yet you shal find it beares a worthy affection both to your Name and Honor. The Office vpon which I touch in this place my best Lord is that of the Prouost-Marshall which howsoeuer the Generall through his greatnes and priority of place hath power to confirme and appoint yet commonly the Gentleman which is designed therunto is alwaies nominated and recommended by the Lord Marshall of the field being his vnder Officer and one vnto whom is deliuered the charge and keeping of all Delinquents and criminall offenders whatsoeuer This Office I haue seene in mine experience to carry a double and two-fold estimation yet rather out of corruption then true ground men iudging of the good or euill thereof according to the worthinesse or vnworthinesse of the partie which held it the honest wise vnderstanding man swaying it with Reputation and Renowne The foolish base and contemptible person ordering it with a regard of as much or more Imputation But all this is fault in Election not in Place for it is certaine the Office in it selfe is both worthy necessary and good a calling fit for a Gentleman of Blood and qualitie and a degree wherein a man may expresse any vertue to the life both with applause and admiration It is also of great profit and aduauncement which inferres Merit and there is knit vnto it a singular Trust which must euer allow of much Faith and Wisdome I cannot compare it in our ciuill gouernment to any office neerer then that of our Vnder-Sherifes which howsoeuer the prouerbe is Twise an Vnder-Sherise euer a Knaue yet it is but corruption that makes good the Adage for I know many honest men that many yeares haue had the place yet many times better then a world of those which contemne it But to proceed the Gentleman which should be elected to this place of Prouost-Marshall would bee a man of great Iudgement and Experience in all Martiall Discipline well seene in the lawes and ordinances of the Campe and such a one as knew well the vse benefit and necessitie of all things belonging either vnto Food or Raiment he should bee a louer of Iustice impartiall in his dealings and free from the transportation of Passions he should haue an eare that contemptuously could beat backe not furiously drinke in Slander and rayling language hee should haue an eye that could gaze on all obiects without winking and an heart full of discreet compassion but not toucht with foolish or melting pitie In briefe he ought to be only the Lawes seruant and indeed to challenge no more in himselfe then so much as exprest to her his obedience For the nature of his Office hee is first the great and principall Gaoler of the Armie hauing power to detaine and keepe prisoner whosoeuer shal be committed vnto him by lawfull authoritie and though some contemptuously haue cal'd him the Hangman or executioner of the Army yet it is not so but as our Sheriffes of Counties are bound to find slaues for such needfull vses so he by his place is obliged to find men and other implements for all such occasions and to that end hath allowance for many attendants of all sorts and conditions and many Substitutes which are called Vnder-Prouosts who haue likewise allowance of attendants to dispatch any execution how suddenly soeuer commanded and to that end it is not lawfull for the Vnder-Prouosts to goe at any time without Halters Wit hs or strangling cords of Match euer about them The Pruoust-Marshall hath the charge of all manner of tortures as Gyues Shackels Bolts Chaines Bilbowes Manacles Whips and the like and may by his Ministers vse them either in case of Iudgement or Commandement from a Marshall Court or otherwise vpon vnrulinesse at his owne discretion hee is by his officers to see all places of Execution prepared and furnished with Engins fitting to the Iudgement whether it bee Gallowes Gybbets Scaffolds Pillories Stocks or Strappadoes or any other Engine which is set vp for terrour and affright to such as behold it This Officer hath the guard and keeping of all such Prisoners as are taken in the warres till they be either ransomed exchanged or by the General otherwise disposed in this case the nobler his vsage is the greater will the praise be of his humanitie vertue If any Drums or Trumpets shal happen to come from the enemy they are by the Prouest marshall to be entertained accommodated and prouided vnlesse it shall please the Lord Marshall himselfe otherwise to dispose of them And that all these duties before said may with more efficacie and lustre be performed hee shall haue his Quarter in the strongest and most securest part of all the Armie and in all Marches he is also to haue the place of greatest safetie for the assurance of his Prisoners Moreouer it is the Office of the Prouost-Marshall by authoritie of the Lord Marshal to guard with a good Conuoy of men both to the camp in the camp and from the camp all maner of Victualers Vianders Marchants and others which bring any prouisions to the campe and assoone as they are entred he shall rate and set prize in a reasonable indifferent maner vpon all their goods and secures them from the insolence of the Soldier prouiding that no man take any thing from them without payment hee also looks to the proportions of true Weights and Measures and reconciles any difference in buying and selling for which labour he hath of the Prouidadors or Marchants the Hides and Tongues of all manner of cattell that are kill'd and euery weeke sixpence a piece in money numbred for their stalles which sixpence a weeke he is accountable for vnto the Lord Marshall for to him that fee is belonging It is likewise the Office of the Prouost-Marshall to see that the Market-place of the Campe bee once in two dayes swept and kept sweet and cleane that all garbage and filthinesse bee burnt and consumed that no man doe the office of nature but in places conuenient and that in the whole Campe or Garrison there may not be any thing which may turne to a generall annoyance The Prouost-Marshall must haue an especiall care to the keeping of the peace and to apprehend the least occasion which may tend to the breach of the same hee must preuent all Mutinies Quarrels and disorders and that no such vnciuill dissention may haue strength to out-face or withstand the power of his command hee shall euer haue attending about him a guard of his vnder Prouosts and seruants who with short truncheons in their hands according vnto Military forme shall enforce obedience to any lawfull commandement which proceedeth from him and hauing taken them in their actuall transgressions to commit them to Prison or the Bolts as the nature or euill example of the crime deserueth for it is a dutie expected at this Officers hands to be a ready suppressor of all vice and disorder and to bee a maintenance
and aduauncer of all those which haue any semblance or likenesse with an honest sober and ciuill inclination whence it behooueth him to haue a ready and quick iudging eye between the good and bad so that he may in an early houre restraine all immoderat and vnlawfull Gaine and rather compell the Cut-throat to kill himselfe with enuy then to consume others with the rust and canker of his vnsatisfied Couetousnesse It is also a maine point in this Officers dutie to discouer the lurking subtilties of treacherous Spies and by learning the true interpretation of mens Words lookes manners formes and habits of apparell to bee able to turne the inside of their hearts outward and to pull out that little deuill of malicious deceit though he lye hid in neuer so darke a corner and truly a better seruice cannot be done nor is there any Art sooner learned if a man will apply his knowledge but seriously thereunto To conclude the last dutie of the Prouost-Mashall is after the Watch is set at night to suruey the Army and see if it remaine calme and still and that no disorderly noyses or tumults keepe any part of it awake and not silent and in this suruey if he encounter with any immoderat fires or superfluous candle-lights he shall cause them to be put out and extinguished or if he heare in Sutlers cabins or other harbors any Drunkards Tobacco takers or other vnruly persons whose noise is both offensiue to the Campe and giueth to others an euill example he shall presently suppresse them and make them depart or else vpon grosser disorder commit them for besides the vndecency and vnfitnesse of the action such clamors and noises are more then hurtfull in a Campe epecially being any thing neere where the Sentinell standeth for it is an interruption and hindrance through which he cannot possibly discharge his dutie Thus I haue briefly runne ouer all the maine points in which the duty of this Officer doth consist and though not with those amplifications and inlargements which might be required in a greater and more spacious Volume to which no law in this Art of writing will allow me yet I know like a reasonable handsome picture your Lordship may if you please iudge by it of euery feature in the liuing proportion which if nobly you vouchsafe to doe you pay mee the greatest Interest my loue can wish and I will studie more and more to bee your seruant TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE GEORGE BRIDGES LORD CHANDOIS THE ARGVMENT Of the Judge-Marshall You are my noble and worthy Lord happie in your owne growing fruitfulnesse to all goodnesse happy in your descent from your Parents noble vertues and happy in the hopes of all that doe or shall depend vpon you whence I make bold to send you this poore Epistle as an acknowledgment of my seruice not to plead merit but to signifie my wishes to the prosperitie of your Spring and flourishing beginning If you please to reade it you shall finde nothing in it that is vncomely if you neglect it yet is it the figure of such an affection as wisht it for your seruice how euer I know your goodnes and dare boldly knocke thereat for I know it is a Gate that must not be shut against any honest or worthy endeauour The Subiect whereof I intend to intreate in this Epistle is of the Iudge-Marshall or as some call him by the old Roman name the Praetor or Iudge in all Martiall causes This is a renowned and reuerend Officer as some suppose attendant but as I confidently imagine rather an assistant to the Lord Marshall for he is not alwaies designed nominated and appointed by the Generall or Lord Marshall but oftner by the King himselfe and his Regall authoritie which greatnesse in election proues the dignitie and worthines of his place for it is a rule in all the Titles of Honor whatsoeuer that as that is the greatest which riseth immediatly from God and not from the King so those are the next best which rise immediately from the King and not by a second from the Kings Commission but letting passe the curiossity in his appointment let it suffice vs that his place is of great Reuerence and respect and the man which ought to be elected thereunto should be a person of sincere and holy life Learned Religious and of a sound and approued knowledge in matters of Iustice and Equitie he should haue a conscience like an Innocent and spotlesse Virgin delicate quicke and tender yet fit to receiue no impression or stampe but that of goodnes for he hath to doe with the bloods and liues of men and no addulterate censure committed against them but pulles with incessant cries vengeance from heauen to consume the Author I haue knowne in mine owne experience called to to this place both reuerend and famous Diuines and sometimes learned and worthy Ciuilians either of which haue discharged the place withall contentment and admiration mannaging all their actions both with a Religious feare of Gods Indgements and a carefull duty to the preseruation of Iustice but yet if a man had libertie to wish in this place the fulnesse of perfection me thinkes a man that had the mixture of both these excellent qualities were sure of the best composition and would farre exceede the single Ingredian that is to say either Diuine Ciuilian or a Ciuill-Diuine would farre surpasse a smple Diuine or simple Ciuilian It cannot be denied but in as much as the Ciuill Law hath the greatest sway in all marshall crimes controuersies therefore it is necessary the Iudge of these errors should be learned in that profession so on the other side since there is no constant path but it may walke whither soeuer the Conscience please to giude it there is a strong necessity that Religion and Diuine knowledge come in for an assistance least by a small mistake the flatterd Conscience may goe awry and then there is no fall but into a Precipice Diuers I confesse haue written Military and Marshall lawes and of all those not any with a more worthy or memorable approbation then our Reuerend and learned Doctor Sutolife whom I long knew in the wars and much reuerenced for his infinite vertues being a man so able and vncontrolable through the merit of his owne rare experience that few comes neare none equals him yet he I know will modestly confesse that those lawes cannot alwaies be certaine in all places for Generalls themselues continually taking vpon them to make new lawes aptest and fittest for the present Times find sometimes those things which were imagined most fit at other times to bee held the most inconuenient and what was at one time most dangerous at another time is most sufferable and wholesome so that still there must be a Quere left as our Common Lawyers tearme it and there is no constant Law but the Iudges Conscience for all manner of occasions maine Trespasses only excepted as Treasons Conspiracies Contempt of Officers
Cowardise Theft and the like all which by setled rules are euermore most seuearely punnished so that to a well mixed Law to haue a Iudge of a better mixed temper is the best election that can bee found out by any noble and well tried Iudgement Times in the Warres makes the nature of Offences differ for I haue seene a man who for stealing of a Hat or such a trifle nay for going but out of his Quarter or breaking his array hath beene kild or hang'd vp Imediately when at another time great fellonies haue beene committed but yet escaped horrible offences pardoned and grosse Iniuries highly praised this hath beene the working of Times and the Conscience of the Iudge neither will I stand in this place to argue either the one or the others greater goodnesse The Praetor or Iudge-Marshall being thus chosen his place and Office is the same almost in effect and qualitie which they carry in our ciuill Citties and Townes whom we call by the names of Recorders for as those are the Mouthes Iudgements and Censures of the Supreame Magistrate which we call Maior Baily or Alderman condemning or acquitting all such as are brought before them for any criminall offence of what nature or condition soeuer because it is supposed the higher Magistrate is not learned in the Misterie and Science of the Lawes So is this Praetor or Iudge-Marshall the voice Censure and opinion of the Lord Marshall of the Armie hauing full power and authority to drawe vp Ingrosse and pronounce all Sentences and Processes drawne agreed vpon in a Marshall Court against any Delinquent or Capitall offender whatsoeuer and for that cause he hath his seate and place in all Marshall Courts next vnder the Lord-marshall where he sitteth and heareth all complaints euidences and proofes which are brought in against any criminall offendor taking ample notes thereof and reducing them into heads both for his owne and all the other Captaines helpes which are Iudges in the same Court which being heard at large and vpon solemne oath he then calleth in the offendor and against him layeth all the Inferences Accusations and Imputations which had formerly beene alleadged together with the proofes and assertions receiuing the Delinquents ample and full answer to the same with all those testimonies and excuses which he can produce which done and the offending partie withdrawne the Praetor discourseth to all the Court his opinion of all he hath heard what agreeth with the lawes and what standeth against them discussing all doubtfull questions and truely and sincearely declaring how far the nature of the Offence extendeth of which when his speach is ended he craueth their Iudgement Then the puny Captaine first and so successiuely all the rest one after another giue their opinions of the nature of the offence and what punnishment it deserueth then in conclusion the Lord marshall himselfe if he be present giueth the finall sentence which finished the Praetor causeth the sentence to be drawne which being read by him to the whole Table to that effect which the Lord-marshall pronounced immediately the Prisoner is called for againe vnto whome after the Praetor in a solemne and learned Oration hath ript vp the qualitie and pernitiousnes of his sinne and the excellencie of the Lawes in cutting off the crueltie of such sinnes and then sawdering vp the wounds of a torne and declacerat Conscience with diuine and wholesome counsell forthwith he shall reade vnto him the full tenor of his sentence in such sort as it is there written and then deliuer it into the hands of the Prouost-marshall to see it put in execution And in this manner hee shall deale with all other controuersies whatsoeuer obseruing still to keepe in affaire and large Booke handsomely ingrost vp all Complaints Proceedings and Sentences whatsoeuer which shall passe before him as well for his owne discharge as the honor of the Court and satisfaction of all such as shall haue occasion vpon any controuersie or question to search or ouer-looke the same And this is the greatest part and effect of the Iudge-Marshalls Office in our Courts of warre though in other Countries they haue further imployments as the answering of forreigne Messengers the drawing of Proclamations controule of victuallers and the like yet since for these we haue other perticular and distinct Officers I will impose no more vpon this then his due place challengeth but only conclude thus That if hee discharge his place rightly in manner and forme as it is discribed he shall questionlesse doe to himselfe a great honor and performe a most acceptable worke both to God the world and all good Christians TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRY CARIE LORD HVNSDON now VISCOVNT ROCHFORD THE ARGVMENT Of the Scout-Master THough I am my Lord a stranger to your person yet in as much as you are descended from the blood of the Ancient Great and Noble Somerset to that I may draw necre for shelter It hath many times shadowed our House and though the Frosts of Time and Fortune bite neuer so cruelly yet will not all the leaues I hope shed Be then pleased Sir that I may solicite you to read this Epistle the tale is plaine for it comes from a Souldier It is true for I haue Experience to beare me witnes and that it is modest feare not for a Gentleman sent it Concerning this Office of the Scout-master or Captaine of the Vant-currers there haue been many variable disputations touching his dependancie nor is the reconcilement setled or made perfect in all mens opinions some fixing him vpon the Lord Marshall some on the Generall of the Horse and some on the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse and indeed some on none but as a publike Officer of great and eminent importance to subsist onely of himselfe True it is that the last opinion is most strong if we draw into consideration the varietie and change of his duties for they are so many and so diuers that indeed he cannot be sayd to depend of any one but of all and may be truely called The Campes generall Seruant yet if we come to particulars and put those many duties into seuerall Balances we shall find that the weightiest of all belongs to the Lord Marshall It is certaine he is beholden to the superiour Officers of the Horse for his Guard so are they likewise to him for his Discoueries but the most important matters and secrets of his knowledge that is the Lord Marshals if on any then on him he must fix his dependance Touching the election of this Officer he ought to be a man of infinit great Valour and Iudgement very skilfull in the knowledge of the Countrey wherein he serueth a good Cosmographer and describer of the situations of places and such a one as by his eye can suddenly frame vnto himselfe a Map of whatsoeuer he discouereth Two things he must especially beware of Rashnesse and Credulitie for the first with many dangers will continually make spoyle of his
strong a long and almost an vnrefellable disputation therein but it shall suffice my silence shall pleade me guiltie of yeelding vnto them and I must and will euer confesse that the Romans were great Souldiers and accomplisht mightie and heroicall Actions yet with this Protestation I will vndauntedly conclude mine Epistle That at this day the Art and Discipline of Warre is as absolute and perfect amongst vs as euer it was amongst the old Romans TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE OLIVER LORD SAINT-IOHN OF BLETSOE THE ARGVMENT Of the Liuetenant of the Ordnance HE that shall shippe himselfe my Lord vpon so great a discouery as in this worke I haue vndertaken and stands bound to satisfie so many noble persons as I haue made mine Aduentures must though hee borrow much from Knowledge yet begge a great deale more from Hope and as he passes some great Seas with Assurance so hee must passe others by Chaunce In the latter whereof though he be euer accompaned with feare and doubt yet being happily past and finding some end of his purpose It he makes a Iewell to crowne his voyage your Lorship is an Ocean and I must aduenture to saile vpon your patience with this Epistle If I passe cleere as I doubt not for fame reports you learned you shall make me much happier then I am by your knowledge and your selfe a little richer by one poore mans affection This Office and Officer of whose nature I am to discourse to your Lordship we call the Liuetenant of the Ordnance or vnder Captaine of the Artillery and is indeede no lesse then the Substitute or immediate next in command and authority to the Master of the Ordnance or Great Captaine of the Artillerie a man which for his ellection ought to haue many singuler good parts as Learning Wisdome Valour Temperance and all the spacious degrees of an honest and worthy frugalitie He ought to be a Souldier from his Cradle for he can haue no experience to old nor indeed is there any experience either young or old which once in his life will not come within the compasse of his necessity he had neede be more then a Freeman for though they may deale with any Trade yet he must deale with all Trades and therefore aboue all studies the Mathematicks are fittest for his reading to conclude if he be but Industrious and honest the one will shew him skill the other vse and both together will make him a subiect fit for these vndertakings The Office of the Ordnance is of that great and singuler importance that few in the armie exceede it and indeede so weighty as with great difficulty any one man is able to passe through and fully to discharge it whence it comes that there are allowed vnto him many assistants especially one aboue the rest who being next to himselfe we call by the name of his Liuetenant and in truth whatsoeuer may belong to the care of the Master all that is euer within the compasse of his authority also for not only in his absence doth he carry the generall care of all proceedings within that perticular affaire but also in his presence hath a particuler reference to the ordering of many duties which as burthens too grose and heauie are remoued from the Master to the Liuetenants shoulders and therefore it is requisite that wheresoeuer the Master of the Ordnance is absent there the Liuetenant be euer present as if the Master be in the Campe then must the Liuetenant bee at the Breach or Curtaine if thee Master bee at the Breach then the Liuetenant at the Store-house the mine or some other place of necessarie Imploiment and indeed the Offices doe so necessarily depend one vpon another that the perfection of this mans duty can hardly bee deserned till with the other which is the greater it bee arteficially compared and therefore in the Office of the Master of the Ordnance this Office of the Liuetenant shall be made more plaine and easie But to proceede this Officer hath vnder him many Inferior Officers as Master-Gunners Canoniers Waggon-master the Furrier and diuerse Clerkes besides Gun-makers and Carriage makers and others of meaner dependance so that he is as a middle man betweene the Master of the Ordnance and his Inferior Officers giuing an account to one and taking account from others and by reason of his more generall cōmercement with those men who haue their only dependance on him and finde all their necessities relieued by him he hath a more liberall and free power both to heare from them and see in them many negligences and escapes which the Master can in no wise behold and which it is his duty and place to see reformed either by his owne power or by complaint to the Master who is not to dispute or craue Testimonie in any thing which the Liuetenant shall declare vnto him It is the Office of this Liuetenant to see that both the Master Gunner and all his vnder Gunners doe their duties in obseruing and mannageing their Peeces in mounting dismounting in their diligence in charging and discharging lading leueling and whatsoeuer else belongs to their art and cunning and to the end that his eie may bee of more force both in the finding out and mending of all errors which shall come within the compasse of his knowledge it is very conuenient that he himselfe be skilfull and expert in the same knowledge so as vpon euery error or fault discerned he may bee able not only to correct and controule but also to instruct and teach the Ignorant how and in what manner to amend any escape in what sort soeuer committed It is his especiall duty to see that his Store-house or place of change be continually furnished withall manner of prouisions both for Artilerie Munision and all sorts of Armes both offensiue and defensiue as Ordnance ready mounted with all their cooplements Ornaments Tires and necessaries which belong vnto the same as Cannons for Batterie from the least to the greatest size as from sixe to tenne inches in board or height and carrying bullet from forty foure to seauenty pound weight demie-Cannons which carry bullet from twenty foure to thirtie pound weight Culluerins from sixteene to twenty pound Demie-Culluerines Faulcons Faulconets and Sakers Quintalls of Cannon-powder and other powder and Oxe hides to couer and defend the same Shot of Iron Leade and stone in great quantitie and for all manner of Peeces Match in great abundance Iron shouells Mattocks Pickaxes Axes Hatchets Hookes Planks Boards Maunds Baskets Nailes for Tyers and all other purposes Sawes Sledges Iron barres Crowes Augers Engines for all purposes Chargers Ladles Rammers Spunges Chaines Cart-clouts Weights all sorts of Smiths tooles Horse-shoos and Nailes Cordage Coffers Candles Lanthorns Ceare-cloathes Soape Tarre soft Grease Scalling ladders beside a world of other things which are needlesse to resite and yet depend on the Ordnance He shall haue also in store all manner of small shott as Musquets Dragoones Pistolls and the like with
all manner of Implements belonging vnto them either for Horse or Foote also all sorts of Launces Pikes Murrions Corslets Swords Daggers Girdles Hangers Bandeleers Bulletbagges Flaskes and Touch-boxes for Horsemen Carbines or Petronells and indeede generally all manner of Armes whatsoeuer for it were an infinite thing in this short Epistle to reckon vp all which appertaines to this great Office Now as this Store house is to bee furnished with all these seuerall prouisions so likewise it is to be accomodated with men of all the seuerall Trades belonging to such prouisions as Mine-masters Smiths Founders Coopers Carpenters Wheele-wrights and the like all which as they are vnder the Guard of the Liuetenant of the Ordnance so it is his Office to see them prouided of all maner of necessaries belonging to their Trades which by vertue of his warrants or potents hee shall raise from any man that is owner thereof being a friend at such Rates and Prizes as by the Master of the Ordnance shall be appointed and also he shall call vpon the pay-Master of the Artillery if any defect shall bee in that behalfe for the true payment of all wages to all these or any other which are vnder his commandment and if the defect bee in the Treasurer he shall then enforme the Master of the Ordnance and from him receiue order for the redresse of the same and then hee shall also ouersee that the Clerke of the Ordnance doe truely and faithfully keepe an account both of the paies and all other charges belonging to the Office by Libranzas or Tickets sent either from the Master of the Ordnance himselfe or else from his Liuetenant and lastly he shall see that the Puruior generall which some call the Committie of the Ordnance doe make al his prouisions whether it be of Bastiments or other necessaries depending either vpon the Office or the people appeteining vnto the Office in a good and sufficient manner without either Crueltie or remisnesse neither offending the Friend from whom he raiseth these profits by any vniust and vnlawfull exactions nor yet wronging the place by want of such necessary commodities either through his slacknes in duty Bribery or any other soft-hearted or pratiall forbearance To conclude this Epistle because I shall haue ocasion to amplifie it a great deale more in the office of the Master of the Ordnance it is the Office of the Liuetenant of the Ordnance to deliuer vnto euery Captaine or his Officer whom he shall appoint for that purpose vpon Iust and approued defects or vpon warrant from the Master of the Ordnance all manner of supplies of Armes and Munition whatsoeuer whether belonging to the Pike Musquet or any other weapon whatsoeuer as also Powder Match Bullet or Lead according to the nature of his prouisions and the same so deliuered shal defalke out of the Captaines Count reckoning by the returne of his certificate into the hands of the Treasurer vnder Treasurer or their deputies Many other things depend vpon this Office but these are the most materiall and from them by an easie exposition may be reduced all the rest so that I may very well cast Anchor here and rest till by the course of Time and my purpose in these proceedings I be inforced to saile into a much larger Ocean The end of the third Decad. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD THEOPHILVS HOWARD of VVALDEN Heire apparant to the Earledome of Suffolke THE ARGVMENT Of the Muster-Master in Warre I Know my Lord that to expresse you as you are in the true dignitie of your place were to set you farre before the first in this great Range for as you are the Sonne of an Earle so you stand vpon an higher Scale and by the curtesie of our Land moue where you may behold these moue below you But when I consider how I haue formerly made bold with a noble Peere of your owne Ranke I meane the Heire of the Noble house of Worcester and finde that as you are Earles sonnes and so walke before in Curtesie so you are Barons and by that true right sit in the Vpper House of Parliament which other Earles sonnes cannot doe I could not but conceiue that this smaller lampe gaue the clearer light and that by placing you in this Range I darkened not but did much rather adde to your splendor by shewing that as you may march amongst the sonnes of Earles in case of Triumph so you may sit amongst the Peeres of the land in matter of Iustice It is farre from me to dreame of any abatement in your Greatnesse for so farre haue I been bound to the noble goodnesse of your thrise worthy Father that I must protest from the plaine truth of an vnspotted affection if I were able to adde or bring one sparke of glory to the Altar of your great Name I would doe it with all fulnesse all swiftnesse though the malice of the whole world as a greedy torrent lay ready to ouerwhelme me But to proceed to the discourse at which mine occasion now pointeth It is the Office of the Muster-master of which there are two kinds the one in Warre the other in Peace and howsoeuer they agree in name yet in nature they haue little coherence but since it is of the first as namely the Muster-master in Warre vpon whom now I must discourse I will omit all circumstance and disputation and plainly fal to the discussing of his Office First touching the nature of the person himselse it is certaine that for the most part Muster-masters in the warres are very odious vnto Captaines for in seruing of his Prince truly and in mustering stricktly he wipeth much vndue profit from the Captaine and spoyleth him of those payes which it may be he had hop'd should haue relieued many of his necessities on the other side if the Muster-master doe conniue blance at faults either for affection or profit then must he necessarily be an euill seruant to the State and the end of all his worke can be nothing but disgrace and reprehension so that I conclude it is the honest Muster-master and the honest Captaine which must agree and liue in a wholesome concord together the Captaine being carefull as neere as in him lies to keepe his Company strong and according to couenant and the Muster-master abiding a considerat man free from corruption neither standing too punctually on small trifles nor yet so wilfully blind as not to see errors that are grosse and palpable let vprightnes therefore be done on all sides for to discourse of Iniuries might instruct or open a way vnto Iniury so shall the Prince be well serued the Captaine better payed and the Muster-master best of all reputed Touching the election of a Muster-master for the warres he would be a man of good reckning and account a man honest discreet vpright and one that feareth God he should be an able man both in Person Knowledge and Substance and indeed ought to see all equitie and Iustice performed
said if hee discharge with an vpright and vnpartiall conscience I dare be bold to affirme before your Lordship that a better member of his ranke and place is hardly to be found in the Armie TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD WOTTON of BRAKING MALHIEARD THE ARGVMENT The Office of the Quarter-Master Generall WHen my good Lord I call to mind the Nobilitie and Antiquitie of your honord Name which I euer loued and the excellency of your disposition which I cannot chuse but admire preâ—ently mee thinks all my hast is but slow which drawes me to this duty But when I bring into my consideration your learning wisedome and experience then me thinkes mistrust in mine owne strength makes euery thing too nimble and I feare I flie vnto you with those errors vpon my wings which reason tells me I might better haue concealed But you are good you are noble and they haue long since told me the vanitie of my feares since what I write being cloathed in a knowne Truth and publique Benefit to which you haue euer beene a support euer a maintenance nothing can come to your hands which shall not returne crowned with your fauours In this hope armed I send forth my weake Epistle and howseouer strictnes of opinion may search out how to finde some naked places by which to assault it yet great Lord let it but finde the shaddow of your fauour and beleeue it then I will not feare the greatest enuy which can rise against it The Office my Lord of a Quarter-Master-Generall in an Armie is of no small Importance but ought to carry Greatnes in himselfe greatnesse in his place and greatnesse in the least shadow of his smalest duty and howsoeuer he hath much correspondence and as it were adhering to a kind of dependance vpon the Lord Marshall and the Serieant Maior-Generall of the Field yet is he of an absolute and powerfull authority and howsoeuer he receiue from them matter whereupon to worke yet are the duties of his place absosute in himselfe and rather subiect to aduice and assistance then to any controlement He ought in his ellection to be a man of great respect and reuerence in the Armie full of sound knowledge in Marshall Discipline and excellently well read in diuers of the liberall Sciences especially Arithmeticke Geometrie and Astronomie besides a pregnant vnderstanding in the Art of Suruey or the measuring of Grounds and drawing them into sundry partitions being able vpon view to take the best aduantage thereof for any singuler purpose especially for the allodgement or accomodation of men in the easiest and safest manner that may be The first maine part of his duty is when the Lord-Marshall goeth forth to make ellection of the ground whereon to encampe the Armie to summon together all the Inferior Quarter-Masters belonging to euerie seuerall Regiment and those Quarter-Masters to call together euery Furrier or Harbenger belonging to each seuerall Band or Company and being attended on by these in as comely an equipage as may bee to attend vpon the Lord-Marshall to the place where he intendeth to place the Campe and after the ground is a littell superficially suruaid and as it were pointed out by the Marshalls eie the Quarter-Master-generall then with the assistance of the Scout-Master shall ride about that peece of ground which the Marshall had first appointed out and suruaying euery aduantage and situation of the same finding out where the approches are fittest to be made and where the fortyfications are most necessarie to be raised He is first to deliuer his opinion thereof to the Lord-Marshall together with all the commodities and discommodities which he shall perceiue to depend vpon the place so that after due consultation had thereof by the Lord Marshall and his assistants presently the forme of the entrenchment shall be staked out the limits of the Market-place appointed and the Site of the Generalls Tent measured forth and laid according to the best comoditie of the place which performed the Quarter-master-generall shall deuide the whole ground into as many large bodies and great maine streets as there are seuerall Regiments conteined in the Armie and according to the dignitie of their places allot out quarters for euery Regiment whither they be Horse or Foote and in such places as are most conuenient for the ease strength sweetnesse and safeguard of the Armie and knowing by the number of men conteined in euery Regiment how much ground will serue to receiue them without pestring or annoying one another and so as their lodgings may receiue them and their Armes with all conueniencie each man shall haue sufficiencie and no man too much and in this manner of quartering he shall first assigne the place for the Generalls pauilion and place of assembly then the market place and place for munition then all the horse and foote in their seuerall Regiments then the victulers the waggons and all manner of Baggage giuing to each their distinct places and deuiding one quarter from another by conuenient and large streetes which assoone as he hath done then the inferior Quarter-masters of the perticuler Regiments shall deuide those large quarters which were allotted them by the Quarter-master-generall into lesser streets and in them shall lodge euery company by it selfe giuing to the Colonell of the Regiment the first and especiall place to the Liuetenant Colonell the second the Serieant Maior of the Regiment the third and so to euery Captaine afterward according to his antiquitie so that when euery man is acomodated and hath his Tent or Cabine pitcht vp the whole Campe may be like an vniforme and handsome built Cittie without any confusion or disorder and the Streets passing in such wise one into another that one company may come vnto another and one Regiment passe by another and all approach into the Market-place or place of generall assemblie either vpon an Allarme or other commandment without disturbance trouble or amazement one to another and againe in quartering thus of the Armie the Quarter-master-Generall shall seriously obserue to quarter the Munition euer in the strongest and securest place of the whole Armie as also the place of assembly which is to aunswer all allarmes and is the Rendeuous vpon euery amazement of the entire Armie it shall both haue as much strength as the nature of the place can affoard it and also some other arteficiall guard whereby to rebate and driue backe the fury of the enemie Againe if the Armie be compounded of many seuerall Nations it is the care and duty of the Quarter master Generall to quarter euery Nation by it selfe and to deale so equally and indifferently betweene one nation and another suiting their accommodations with such an euen and well proportioned hand that no exception or dislike may be taken of any part but all men receiuing their Indifferent content there may arise no cause of Muteny or Emulation which euer is most aptest to spring from these or the like grounds as I could recite
a world of Instances would either leasure or the limits of my paper allow it It is true that all grounds doe not giue equall strength and therefore assoone as the Lord Marshall hath appointed out the most commodious place whereon to fixe the Campe it is then the Quarter-master-Generals duty to share and deuide it into the seuerall perticulars as hath beene before shewed and in those deuisions he shall as nere as conueniently hee can deuide all those naturall strengths in such wise that euery Supreame Offcer may participate something thereof and what is wanting in the worke of nature to leaue it to be supplied by art through the diligence of the Trench-master or Engne-master to whose charge it aperteineth Now for the generall Marshalling or Quartering of a Campe that I may giue a little taste or essay thereof it is to be vndrestood that in the Center or mid point of the Campe shall bee first lodged the Generalls Sanderd and nere vnto it his Pauilion from whence shall bee deriued two maine great streets each crossing the other then vpon one side of the Generall shall be quartered the Lord Marshall on the other side the Treasurer with extraordinary Gentlemen of high Ranke whether Embassadors or others on the third side shall be quartered the Munition and on the fourth shall lie the Market-place and these foure streets shall butt on the foure corners as South North East and West In a Streete behinde the Generall shall be quartered the Liuetenant Generall of the Horse behind the Lord Marshall the Liuetenant Generall of the Foote and behind the Munition the Master of the Ordnance and the Serieant Maior of the Horse and Foote according to their Ranke and antiquitie of Commandments behind them the Victuallers Butchers Cookes Bakers and the like behind them carriage horses draught Oxen and Cattell for the Campe and behind them the Waggons Waggoners Carters Laborers and Pioners and in a Quarter opposite against them the Gunners and Officers of the Ordnance all the Carpenters Wheele-wrights Smiths and Labourers and in another quarter opposite to them are quartered all the Armorers Cutlers and other Tradesmen belonging to the Store as also Tailors Shoomakers and the like then lastly about the outmost verge or outer Ring of the Campe yet within the fortification is as a guard placed all the great Ordnance vpon a Vaamure of earth arteficially cast vp before them then the general IntrenchmeÌ„t of the Campe shall be about threescore or fourescore paces without the Ordnance which shall not be drawne into any euen line but into as many angles as may be And thus your Lordship hath a briefe Fac simile of the Quarter-Masters Office which though it be not so exact in euery Geometricall proportion as Art could wish it yet is it I hope drawne into so neaâ—e a resemblance that no eie but may Iudge of that which is perfect when his reading or experience shall at any time encounter with it TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE FRANCIS LORD RVSSELL of THORNHAVGH THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of the Pioners THe infinit bond my deare respected Lord in which I stood euer bound to your thrice noble father and the happy memory of your hardly to bee equal'd grandfather who in his life time was one of the greatest pillars which supported our poore House are inducements so strong to call vp my seruice to attend you that besides the generall Obligation of the worke yet in mine owne nature I could not suffer this Epistle to escape you but as it necessarily fals vpon your noble Range so I must earnestly beseech your Lordship to imagine that howsoeuer it lispe or stammer out a plaine and homely salutation yet it wishes you as many true and worthie felicities as the best Art can number or the smoothest tongue with the delicatest Rhetoricke can declare The Office on which mine Anchor in this place taketh hold is my good Lord that which we call in the warres the Captain or chiefe commander of the Pioners who of himselfe is a man of good regard and esteeme and one in whom there ought to be all the Gentlemanlie best parts of a good Soldier for by how much his command is ouer a raskally rude ragged and vnciuill regiment of barbarous and ill-taught people by so much should his Temperance vertue more exceed that he might tame and frame their minds to a ciuill obedience then which no labour can be more thankfull vnto God nor pleasing vnto men being the onely testimony of a sound iudgement and the worke of the best desired examples It is true that these Pioners are a confused masse of labouring people brought vp only to digge and delue the earth without any ciuill nourture or indeed decent humanitie and therefore are not reckoned Souldiers neither come neere by many degrees either to that list or reputation but are so farre contrary to all things which haue any shew of honor that it is one amongst the punishments of criminals when any common Souldier shall commit a sleight offence sauouring either of carelesnes slouthfulnes or basenes then presently to take away his Sword and make him a Pioner which in times past I haue knowen so hatefull and intollerable to euery quick and vnderstanding spirit that they would with more alacrity haue run to the Racke the Bolts or Strappado nay euen to death it selfe rather then to this mortall as they supposed it degradation such contempt was the poore Pioner in and so disgracefull appeard that change to the Souldier yet questionlesse this I must affirme that at all approches mounts trenches and vnderminings the poore Pioner is in as great danger as often slaine and both comes on vpon his worke and goes off from his worke with as doubtfull and as great hazards as any man in the Army of what place or ranke soeuer only it is the bare opinion without ground which makes it vile the meannesse of their condition for the seruice it selfe is both noble and necessary nor can an Army be or subsist without them And hence it hath come to passe that in these our latter warres especially in the Low countries and vnder the commaund of the most excellent Prince of Orange to take away this ill grounded opinion of the basenesse of Pioners and to saue an infinit matter of expence which otherwise must haue been disburst vpon these particular prouisions they haue caused all their common souldiers in generall to turne Pioners making them weare both Swords Spades which questionles at first they drew on by gentle politike and smooth degrees as in some great case of necessitie where present assurance would allow no stay but that all men must be imployed and to this doubtlesse some great Commaunder with his owne hand gaue the first example or else they were inticed by the promise of some extraordinary allowance as what is it with which profit will not make most men dispence so that in the end finding many of these oceasions and
faining some at last it grew to a custome and what at first with some difficultie they entreated now they began boldly to commaund so that collecting the infinite charge which was saued and the great expedition and also exactnes with which their workes are performed they began to make it penall in any man which should refuse this late but despised vndertakings To which some of our English Commanders more willing for their owne ends to gratifie the Dutch then to prouide for their owne Countrey-mens ease and safety gaue so farre way that now it is a thing vtterly vnrecouerable amongst them for mine owne part I doe know and must euer acknowledge that it is the dutie of euery braue and generous Spirit in cases of great necessitie to imagine that no danger toyle or basenes can be too much where either the glory of God the seruice of his Prince or the safetie of his Countrie is ingaged but in all occasions and at all times to make the well-deseruing Souldier an ordinary packe-horse I cannot but thinke the discipline too strickt and that it doth as it were giue a wound of discouragement to euery generous breast making the sweet delight of the wars turne irkesome and vnpleasing Besides it was neuer yet disputable in any discipline of warre but that Pioners were euer necessary both for the making of Mines Trenches Passages for the carying and recarying of all maner of Engines for placing bridges loading and vnloading of all kind of munition and many other works of importance for which ends they are euer armed with Spades Crowes of yron Leuers Pickaxes Baskets and wheele-barrowes to which whosoeuer shall imploy the necessary Souldier shall be sure euer to want his hand in a more needfull labour Now for the especiall dutie of the Captaine Generall of this Regiment he is first to looke to the keeping of them in good order concord and obedience to see that they haue their pay and intertainment according to their rates in as due and fit manner as any other common Souldiers that they keepe safely and make not away any of the tooles or instruments wherewith they are armed and that they be continually in readinesse vpon euery call for any imployment If the Lord-Marshall the Serieant-Maior or the Trench-Master shall draw the platforme of any Trench whether it be for the fortification of the Campe or for the assailing of any besieged Towne whether it be to bring men to the assault or else to throw vp and countermine any worke of the enemies presently vpon the first summons giuen to the Captaine of the Pioners he shal raise so many of his men as shall be commanded by the Lord Marshall or other superiour Officer and with them armed with all tooles conuenient for the seruice shall march to the head or beginning of the Trench and hauing receiued directions together with the forme and figure of the worke which is to be made hee shall foorthwith take a spade and himselfe dig vp the first turfe and then all the Pioners by that example shall instantly fall to their labor and dig the Trench according to directions during which time he shall be euer with them giuing them all maner of incouragement and prouiding that euery man do his dutie without slacknes neglect or any slouthfull action If he find that the labor be sore and difficult he shall then at his discretion relieue them by bringing new supplies and sending away those that are ouerwearied that they may be againe refreshed and thus he shal without ceasing cause the worke to be continued till euery thing be finished according to the will of the superiour Commander And in this worke is to be obserued that if it be to be done in the face of the enemy and where their shot may freely play vpon them that then ere the Pioners begin to dig they shall plant barrels and great vessels fil'd with earth and plac't in double rowes before them vnder whose guard or the guard of some other wall hill mount or gabion they shal begin to dig til they haue couered themselues in the earth then they are past perill and may proceed to work at their pleasures and whensoeuer they either come from their work or go vnto their worke still their Colours must flie before them for the Captaine of Pioners is as capable of Colours as any other Captaine whatsoeuer and may beare them mixt with the Ensigne of the kingdome in what maner himselfe pleaseth As thus he bringeth them to the digging of Trenches Mines so also it is his dutie to bring them to the making of Bulwarks or Mounts placed vpon Angles some lading carying the earth in barrels baskets and wheele-barrows by which are framed the Trauesses or flankers of the Bulwarke the Orechion which is the guard or shoulder of the Bulwark the Curtaine which is the Front the Counterfront which are the Spurrs the Pestils or Parapets the entrance in out and the place for the Artillery some ramming some knocking in piles to fasten the earth and some cutting vp turfe sods with which to assure the groundwork and as in these so in all other matters of Fortifications these Pioners are of very necessary vse and the Captain shal be sure to haue them euer ready vpon any moment of warning as either when any new workes are to be framed or any old repaired for albe these Fortifications of earth are better resisters of the Cannon then those of stone worke and both make lesse ruines and also are lesse assailable yet they are but of short continuance and will quickly decay by reason of the loosenesse of the mould if they be not continually visited with carefull eyes and presently mended by artificiall good workmen To conclude it is the office of the Captaine of the Pioners to see his Regiment euer quartered as neere vnto the munition as is possible both because they are properly appertaining thereunto being the men to carry and recarry to load and vnload the same as also because all the necessary tooles and Engines wherwith they worke and which they must daily alter according to the alteration of their labors are stored and preserued in the same This is the substance and effect of this office the which howsoeuer a greater knowledge may cloath in a great number of more wordes yet I dare assure your Lordship they will still but arriue at the same end and though the Garment may bee somewhat better to looke on yet it will be little more easie more in fashion or longer lasting TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HIS SINGVLAR GOOD LORD HENRY LORD GRAY of GROOBY THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of Foot EVery one my Lord is so great a louer of his owne designes that he is easie to be flatterd with any hope that can lend beauty to the same yet I hope it shall not so fare with me in this Epistle for since you haue with all felicitie linckt in Marriage with that sweetest
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
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
valor or men of high Birth and Ranke may in a short space of time asscend to command a Colonels place in the Field yet may Learning Iudgement Secresie and diuers other vertues without which a Preuie Counsellor cannot subsist be so farre remoued and distant from his nature that it were a sinne against Safetie to admit such trust to his Bosome so on the other side men of meaner and lower aduancement who are not capable of those high places in the Armies may yet be much apter to aduice and haue a better and stronger Fort wherein to keepe secrets from perishing then those of an higher calling and therefore not without good warrant are many times chosen and admitted to this noble place of Trust and preferment But in consideration that the Armie consisteth of so many seuerall great Commanders their is no likelihood but in so frequent and plentifull a choice a man may finde enow to supply this Roome without disparagment wrong or exception neither neede it be intended that any such shall be without an eminent place since men of Godly vertuous and experienced vnderstandings who are True Secret Liberall and of Free mindes are euer aptest for the best places of what nature soeuer Thus Alexander tooke Parmenio Clytus and all the oldest of his Father Phillips Commanders to aduise and strengthen him in all his warlike occasions thus Caesar held Cato that by his aduise he might ruine Pompey thus Anthony preuailed during the life of Publicola thus Augustus held himselfe fortunate in the counsels of Dollobella but what neede I stand on these forraigne Instances wee see enow to point at within our owne remembrance did not Philip the second of Spaine giue to Don Iohn Duke of Austria that braue Souldier Don Lewis de Zuniga to counsell him in all Marshall occasions and did not our Edward the third doe the like for his Sonne the Blacke Prince when hee chose for his Councellors the Earles of Warwicke Suffolke Salisburie and Oxford by the strength of whose aduice in the Battle of Poyteirs he not only ouerthrew all the flowers of France but also tooke Iohn their King and Philip his sonne Prisoners Infinite are the Examples to proue the necessitie and excellencie of a graue and aduised Councell and as aboundant the Rcords of their perishing who despising Councell haue runne rashly and headlong on guided by nothing but their owne opinions for so did Crassus when he brought himselfe eleauen Legions to be sacrifised in Parthia thus did Tiberius Gracchus when he had his braines dasht out in the Capitoll and thus did Caius Gracchus who was made a bloody sacrifice on the top of mount Auentine for the much aduised tempting of his fortune To conclude this point then there is nothing more necessary then a sufficent Councell of Warre for they are more auaileable in Marshall Discipline then either Armor or weapons more braue exploits haue been acheiued by wisdome and policie then euer could be brought vnder by violence and darring To speake then generally of this especiall and priuate Councell of Warre and who in common Intendement are according to the generall custome of Nations supposed meetest to succeed and Rise vnto the same they are these especiall Officers following who by vertue of their first places are euer capable of this second because none of lesse merit and desert may or ought to assume vnto the sway and command of the first dignity Of these Priuy Counsellors the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse hath the first place the Lord Marshall hath the second the Master of the Ordnance the third the Treasurer of the Warres the fourth and the Master de Campo who is the eldest Colonell in the Field the fift but if the number of Councellors arise to any greater extent then they are chosen out of other great personages of eminence and worth at the discretion of the Generall as for the Colonels of the Infantrie they are as before I said of a Counsell extrauagant concerning mater domestique but for such as are either forraigne or priuate they haue no medling at all This priuie Counsell of Warre are to deale in matters that are profound dangerous and difficult and are to argue and dispute them with sound vnderstandings and cleare iudgements whence it comes that men of meane capassites vnder valued Thoughts are excluded from these aproaches and none lycenced to ascend thereunto but such as haue high spirits vnrestrained thoughts and Princely cogitations which vertues in what Cabinet soeuer they be found though the outside be neuer so plaine and simple yet is the Iewell so rare and precious that Kings disdaine not to weare them neither ought men to faile in bestowing of them their due Praise and Reuerence The end of the fourth Decad. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE CHARLES LORD STANHOP of HARINGTON THE ARGVMENT Of the Colonell of Foot TRauell my Lord as a famous Diuine of our Church affirmes perfecteth Wisdome and Obseruation is the perfection of Trauell either of which when they are neglected or despised a man may returne home to his Countrey like a stall-fed oxe to the Market with a thicke ribbe but a leane forehead and how euer his body may bee couered with fat and faire clothing yet will his mind bee emptie thinne and naked That I may not bee guiltie of this carelesnesse I haue in this Epistle presumed to call your Lordship to bee a witnesse of some part of my Obseruations wherein if breuitie make mee appeare more sleight then the grauitie of the Subiect would require my hope is you will bee pleased to conceiue that it is onely an Epistle no serious discourse to which I stand engaged The matter at which my Penne in this place arriueth is the Office of the Colonell of a Foot Regiment who amongst the old Romans was called the Tribune or Ruler of the common people and commanded a Tertio or Regiment the name Colonell is but moderne and new and little longer then since the dayes of Charles the fift Francis the French King and our Henrie the eight of England who called those Colonels whom the old Spaniards called Maistres de campo and were such as had the commandement of two three or more Captaines vnder them yet in the first times it was not so but these whom we call Colonels were then called Dux or Duces which signifieth Leaders or Directors and of these amongst the Romans there were three seuerall kindes as first Duces Militares and were ordinarily those which continually marched with the Armies and had the charge of one thousand men the second Duces Prouinciales who commanded all the Souldiers within one prouince and the third were Duces Limitanei who had the commaundement of all those Souldiers who liued vpon the Marches or Frontiers of Countries bordering vpon the enemy and were to withstand all maner of assaults and forraine Incursions For the Regiment or full number of men which euery Colonell should command they are exceeding diuers and
Sinewes of the Warres which by any lauishnes of an open and vnrestrained hand will soone dissipate and consume away without returne of Benefit to the Kings seruice preferment to him who liueth vpon vnfit Gaines or Honor to him whose hand was guided with a blind imagination But if he arriue at the vice of Couetousnesse which is the roote of all mischeiues Infinite must the Calamities be which will grow from his Branches as coosnage in the multiplicitie of supposed fees extortion in loanes before hand vnmeasurable vsurie vpon euery due summe contrarie to the very rule of the Deuills prerogatiue besides a most generall defrauding of the Prince with false accounts vniust supposed debts and a world of other desceptions that he ought to be rich there is nothing more necessary both because he may be the better able to make account and render satisfaction in case the Diuell and Couetousnes drawne him to disorder as also by his credit and reputation to bee able to take vp and raise new summes if the Treasure chance not to come in according to expectation Now lastly that he ought to be compassionate and full of mercy I appeale to the conscience of euery poore Commander and Souldier who If hee should out of the cruelty of a currish disposition bind himselfe to pay nothing but that which were due nor any thing before it is due would without all question perish sometimes for want of foode if too great a seuerity were obserued It is therefore fit that out of a clement and gentle disposition the Treasurer be pittifull to such as want and notwithstanding they haue nothing due at the present yet to lend a conuenient portion and in the future time to repay himselfe againe for beleeue it from these small fauours at the Treasurers hands doe arise singuler good fruits to the Souldiers as sometimes a preuention of dispaire a forestalling of Murthers Thefts and Pillages a quenching of mutenies Enuie and repinings with a world of the like into which men are apt to imbarque themselues when they are grownd and gnawne with calamitie and want and haue in them neither patience nor discourse out of which to find any resistance The Treasurer must haue vnder him many Subtreasurers and inferior Officers all which ought to be exceeding skilfull in Audit and matter of account of which some are to keepe a diligent account of his receits charges where with he may be burdned standeth accountant others of his disbursments layings out keeping true bookes of account betweene the vpper Treasurer and all Officers of receits through the whole Armie hauing the acquittances of euery Regiment by themselues and faire bookes of record by which to approue euery acquittance Ouer these Inferior Officers the high Treasurer is with a carefull eie to looke prouiding by all meanes that they take not extraordinary fees or by any arteficiall flatterie or promise of fauors incite free Spirits to inlarge or increase their fees making the hundred penny which I know not by what right the challenge sometimes sixe pence and sometimes twelue pence more then the true Sum amounts to for indeed all is extortion or at least an vsurie of an vnlawfull creation Besides it is neither lawfull for the high Treasurer himselfe nor for any of his ministers to Intermeddle with the buying of Captaines accounts or reckonings or to take aduantage of their prodigalities and lauish humors of expence for it is most certaine that howeuer it make rich Treasures yet it will be suer to make miserable Souldiers for the particuler vnthriftinesse of the Captaine will like a leaprosie dispearse it selfe and corrupt the blood of the whole company for it is ordinarily noted in the warres that the Thriftie Captaine hath commonly the warmest clad men but the Beggerly or Bare Captaine hardly any but a ragged Regiment It is a thing most iust honorable and fit in Princes to pay duely for the least failing is a Scourge that whippes forward Inconueniences and Treasurers in the warres if they get but the colour of excuse from the Princes forgetfulnesse know as the prouerbe saith with a wet finger where to finde Oppression and then fornicating with that cloud beget practises and cruelties worsethen ten thousand Centaurs The Treasurer is to command from the Muster-master-generall a perfect List or Rule of all Commanders Colonels Captaines and Officers with their full allowances as they stand rated by the Prince Generall or Councell of State together with a certificate of all checks and defalcations which is both a rule for the Captaine what to receiue and an authority to the Treasurer what to pay neither is the Treasurer alone to be gouerned by the certificate of the Muster-master only but also he is to require the certificates of the Master of the Ordnance the Victuall-master and Prouant-master that a iust and equall due may bee held betweene the Generall and his Souldiers It is againe the Office of the Treasurer to receiue all Tribuits Taxes Tailliages and Impositions which shall be imposd and laid vppon any Citties Townes or Countries where any Conquest is made or other booty of Treasure is got or to be gotten It is hee that receiueth all moneyes which the Collegates or assistants in the warres doe contribute or which by any other contract is brought into the Armie He hath the Superintendancie or ouerlooking ouer all Victuallers and Prouaunt-masters belonging to the Campe and to such places whither Treasure cannot with conueniencie be conuaid thither he doth appoint what victuallers shall passe and with what victuales for the reliefe of Souldiers till they doe returne where their pay with the defalcations may againe be restored To conclude this eminent and great Officer with his dependants and Subtreasurers as the Purueyor-generall Victuall-master Pay-master Clerks and others ought to bee carefull that contentment bee giuen from the best to the meanest Creature in the Armie remembring that the foode of words and Aire are of such crude and hard disgestion that they are not only dangerous to mans life but also breed in men such wicked and euill Spirits that the plague and mortalitie of a consuming Rancon hardly euer after departs from their bosomes But the worthy and renowned Officer that knowes his true dutie and doth it hee that feares God doth the will of his King and giues comfort to his poore distressed bretheren beleeue it that man whilst bee wanders on the earth is a fauorite in the Court of Heauen and the King of Kings will tell him Those that Honor me I will Honor. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD NOWEL of BROOKE THE ARGVMENT Of the Master of the Ordnance MAns Nature my Lord I know is exceeding greedie of Newes and new things and indeed so violent in that way that it had rather faine then want and the force of the obiect is so great that whilst it fils the mouthes of many it possesses the soules of some and brings admiration to all this great thing
fortie at the least ouer which charge vnder the Master of the Ordnance should be a Captain of the Boats two Ship-wrights a Master-Carpenter to planke them twentie Saylers and Calkers a Guard of Horsemen to conduct them two Smiths and their men to haue charge of the Iron-works a Master of the Cables Anchors and Graplings a Wheel-wright and certaine Carters to driue the Carriage The Master of the Ordnance appointeth vnder his hand-writing the numbers and proportions of all maner of prouisions of Munition which shall attend the Armie and deliuereth it to the Lieutenant the Lieutenant seeth them prouided and distributed to the inferiour Officers and the inferiour Officers keepe them in charge and dispose or deliuer them out as they shall receiue warrant either from the Master of the Ordnance or his Lieutenant Vnder the command of the Master of the Ordnance is the Cariage-master the Clerke of the Cariages the Harbenger the Steward the Gil-master a Prouost two Carpenters two Farriers and all the Carters Horse Oxen and all that draw any kind of Munition and he or his inferiour Officers doe not onely proportion out what weight euery Cariage shall draw but also what number of cattell shall bee in euery draught according to the weight with which they are laden as to draw a Cannon thirtie beasts a Demy-cannon twenty beasts a Culuerin foure and twentie beastes a Saker twelue beasts and so of the rest answerable to their bignesse eight beasts in Cart with two wheeles will draw twentie hundred weight in a Waggon with foure wheeles thirtie or fortie hundred weight and so likewise answerable to the same proportions and to the Carriages the Master of the Ordnance shall allow a competent number of attendants to lade and vnlade the Carriages and last of all shall see that a reuerend and good order be kept both in the prouision keeping and disposing of all things whatsoeuer hath beene already rehearsed so shall he crowne himselfe with all the glories which are due to his place and make the truth of his renowne a large and easie Staire by which to climbe to the highest aduancement TO THE MOST HONORABLE AND NOBLE LORD IOHN DIGBY Lord of SHERBORNE Vice-chamberlaine to his Maiestie and one of his most Honourable Priuy-Councell THE ARGVMENT Of the Lord Marshall THere be two things most noble Lord which aboue all others doe most weaken and distracte the Sense of the painefulest writer that is a Serious and deepe Subiect and a learned and well Iudging Eare at both which I am arriued in this Epistle for the matter being Warre howeuer neglected by Ignorance yet amongst the best knowledges hath beene of sacred estimation and your noble Eare to whom I consecrate these much vnpolisht and Rude gatherings hath so longe beene fed with all the excellencies which Art is able in his best Trimme either to inuent or adorne that there is nothing can possibly proceed from me if it haue any good Season which hath not long before beene more gloriously lodged in your owne most Noble Experience Blame me not then honord Sir if I a little shake in this Dedication hauing mine owne wants to leade me and your vertues to amaze me the action may very well become my feare yet if out of your greater goodnesse you shall be pleased to giue strength to mine attempt I doubt not but that courage shall awaken in me some new industesie which may proue worthy both of your view and Studie The Lord Marshall of an Armie aboue all other Officers ought to be a most approued Souldier for howsoeuer in the greatnesse of other great places in the warres there may be a dispensation of skill Countenance and Vertue being as requisite as Knowledge Iudgement yet in this Office it may not be so for this man aboue all others hath the greatest place of action and direction in all the Armie and howsoeuer he hath more to command then any yet all they haue no power to dispence or lessen the least dutie belonging to his person for howsoeuer the Generall or Liuetenant-Generall may precede him in place yet they ought not in knowledge since both themselues and the whole Armie both Horse and Foote are bound to moue only by his direction and though to the Generall who is his Commander hee may not say this or that you must doe yet he may say here and in this place your Honor ought to stand and therefore what manner of man this great person ought to be for Wisdome Temperance Valour and Vertue euery one is better able to discribe and Iudge then to finde out a person sutable to the imployment Next the Generall the Lord Marshall hath the supreame command of the whole Field and therefore his Trumpet is first in the morning to discharge the Watch and his Troope ought first of all to bee mounted for it is an honor which the Armie alloweth him by reason of the infinit paines which he taketh in his owne perticuler person neither shall his Troope Watch or Ward but are discharged of that duty by reason of their other more serious occasions After He and his Troope are mounted he marcheth to the outmost borders of the Campe and there makes a stanst till the whole Armie be Ranged neither quits his place till the last man be on foote He is himselfe in all things both assistant and directiue to the Generall of the Horse and the Serieant-Maior All the day longe he is tied to no Battalion but at his owne pleasure may bestow his owne person sometimes accompaning the Generall sometimes leading his owne Troope and indeed alwayes where the greatest occasion of necessity is and where the enemie is most likely to assaile and aduenture for his place is most honorable and where honor is there should be his residence As his person so his Troope also is not tied to any especiall or certaine place but may varie and alter as danger and honor shall giue occasion still supplying whatsoeuer is weakest and as a prepared Champion must continually bee ready to entertaine the enemie vpon all his approaches at night vpon retraits the Reare is his place and he bringeth it vp with courage and safetie then being come to the Campe he stayeth till euery man be dismounted and the whole Armie lodged and then he with his Troope dismounteth he taketh oder for the Scouts aduiseth with the Serieant Maior for the Guards vieweth the strengths of the Campe and seeth there be no decay in the ditches or entrenchments The Lord Marshall is the supreame and only powerfull Iudge in all causes of Life and Death in criminall offences and controuersies of all manner of natures and prouideth for the due execution of all the Lawes Bandos Articles and Institutions which shall be appointed by the Generall to be obserued and to see due punishment executed for any breach of the same whence it proceeds that he ought to be exceeding well read and learned in all Marshall Lawes the customes
of Countries the degrees of Honor and the distributions of Bloods places and imployments and that he may the better proceed in these affaires he is to bee assisted with diuers learned and experienc't Officers vnder him as the Iudge Marshall and Prouost-Marshall of whose Offices I haue already written an Auditor and two Clerkes the vnder Prouosts Gaoylers and Executioners Corigidors or Beadles to punnish the Infragantie or vnruly and twenty or thirty Gentlemen for a continuall Guard about him The Iudge-Marshall is to assist him in all difficult curious interpretations of the lawes and in deciding such controuersies as shall happen in the taking of prisoners in the flying of Colours and in sitting in Marshall Courts according to the dignity of places he is to direct the Scout-Master in all his proceeding and to receiue from him all the Intelligences and obseruations which he hath found out in his discoueries and to deliuer vnto him any other instructions which had formerly beene neglected It is the Office of the Lord Marshall to giue order to the Master of the Ordnance both for his march and for his passage both where when and which way all his prouisions shall goe for the best aduantage and safetie and at the planting of Artillerie or making of Batteries the Marshall is to ouersee the proceedings and to giue directions vpon any doubt or misaduenture he is to giue order vnto the Victuall-master Waggon-master and all Officers of their natures both for their allodgments Stores and all other necessarie accomodations and against all violences or iniuries which shall bee offerd them hee is to see a carefull and speedy Reformation When the Armie is to bee incamped in any new place the Serieant-maior-generall the Quarter-master-generall the Serieant-maiors of Regiments the Scout-master and all inferior Quarter-masters with a sufficient Guard of the best Horsemen are to attend him and hee out of his owne power with the modest aduise of the Serieant-maior-generall the Quarter-master-generall and the Scout-master-generall shall assigne the place wherein the Campe shall be pitched the manner forme and proportion it shall carry the bounds it shall containe and the distinction of euery place and commoditie aduantage strength or discommoditie which it shall please him to annexe vnto the same and according to his pleasure and demonstration so shall the Quarter-master-generall see it deuided leauing the intrenchment to the Trench-master and the other Inferior deuisions to the Serieant-maior-generall the Serieant-maiors of Regiments and to their Quarter-masters It is in the power of his Office also after the Armie is incamped hauing taken a view of all the Posts and Guards of the Campe to appoint all the Regiments in what manner they shall place their Corps de Guards the Scouts Sentinels so as no man may passe either in or out but to be continually vpon their discouery and likewise to prouide for all other Reparations Fortifications and Srengths which are to be made for the safetie of the whole Armie And as thus in the constant setling of the Armie so in the Marching and remouing thereof the Lord Marshall is to haue an especiall regard to his strength and abilitie to encounter with the Enemie whether it be meete to enter into the face of Battell or no or whether the times be ripe for matters of execution or else to deferre and keepe of all occasions of encounters In which if he find himselfe the weaker Hee shall then order his Marches through Rockie Mountanous and as ill accessible places as he can finde out thereby to adde a naturall strength to his Armie so as the Enemie may in no wise assault him and still to haue the lighter sort of Horsemen to March so neare vnto the Enemie that continually vpon euery alteration hee may haue a speedy notice of any particuler preparation but if the necessitie of the march be through Champains Plaines where the nature of the ground affoardeth no assistance then the Lord Marshall must by all politique deuises make his Caualrie or Horse Armie appeare so great and innumerable as is possible which being the greatest executioners in such Victories will not a little amaze and distract the Enemie in his approaches and so of the contrary part reputing himselfe the stronger he is to obserue all aduantages and by the discouerie of his Scouts to take oportunitie and to charge at the best aduantage Lastly as in Encamping and Marching so he is to hold especiall regards in the remouing of the Campe whether it be by night or day In which as the day remoue is audacious and bold without any respect of ceremonie so must the night Remoue be full of Policie Silence and great Diligence and the march or good array to be held with all care and Industry for this manner of Remoue is but one haire difference from flight and therefore it requireth all the skill and art of the Marshall and all the care and obedience that can be required in the Souldier for it is a Rule in Martiall Discipline that no Remoue by night can be absolutely secure and then being done without securitie it must needs Inferre necessitie and that necessitie requireth all the strength which can bee comprehended either in Art or Valour Into a world of other accourrens I could runne in this vnlimited Office but I imagine I haue already touched the most materiall and therefore he that shall applie the strength of his endeauours to performe as much as is already deliuered though he cannot asscence to the highest Spheare in euery curious apprehension yet beleeue it he shall rest in such an excellent middle which indeed is the best path that none can or shall receiue more scorne then those which dare to be his Scorners TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE FVLKE GREVILE LORD BROOKE Chancellor of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer and of his Maiesties most houourable Priuie Councell THE ARGVMENT Of the Lieutenant-Generall AFter so long a progresse my Lord as I haue held in these Discourses of the nature of the Warres no maruell though my minde bee taken vp with Wearinesse with Dulnesse but the first is an offence and I ought not to entertaine it the latter is a benefit and so agreeing with my nature that I see not how I can refuse it for howsoeuer we call it a Disease yet I find it still taketh vp its lodging in a retired Imagination where vanities are expulst or at least contemned If therefore that sollid humour shall take any thing from the cheerefulnesse which I ought to expresse in these substantiall and high places be your Lordship pleased to conceiue it is no sencelesse dowsinesse but rather a painfulnesse in my nature which though I cannot euery way resist yet I will striue as much as I can to adorne both to giue your Lordship and also the world that debt of contentment which I know I am owing This high place of which I am to entreat being the of Lieutenant-Generall is diuersly vnderstood as when