Encampings and with his best Skill fortefie the same shall vpon any fight draw the Battell into order giue to euery man his place according to lot or Antiquitie and taking his directions from the Colonell shall either Charge Second or bring off according to his discretion with many other Circumstances as Time and occasion shall administer in the mannaging of affaires Lastly it is the Office of the Serieant-Maior to take care of all the Guards and Watches which are about the Regiment and if there bee no greater Officer then himselfe there to giue the Word and to appoint the Corps de Guard and Sentinells if there be a more Superior then from him the Serieant-maior shall receiue it and so giue it to the Captaines and such Inferior Officers as haue the Guard for that instant Many other slighter ceremonies there are which belong to the Serieant-maiors of Regiments but either inclusiuely or plainely they are contained in some one or other of the heads wee haue already argued and therefore I will conclude mine Epistle with this admonition that if the Serieant-maior be as he is intended a man Valiant Learned Quickwitted Wise Experienced and most dutyfull to all his Superiors by whom hee is to bee directed then questionlesse here hee shall finde sufficient either to enlarge or at least to giue his knowledge a moderate vnderstanding TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE GILBERT LORD GERRARD of BROMLEY THE ARGVMENT Of the Lieutenant-Colonell of Foot IT is not much materiall my Lord whether I trouble you with many reasons for my writing since the whole scope of mine intent is amply enough set foorth in the first Epistle nor is it greatly necessary that I pleade any serious excuses since the little knowledge I haue of your Lordship can expect no more mercie then what proceeds from your owne Iudgement It sufficeth me to haue a greedinesse of desire to preserue to the last of time a perpetuitie of that noble Range wherein GOD and the KING hath plac't you that howsoeuer Death Mischance or Barrainnesse which euer labours to locke great Names in Obliuion struggle to make some forgotten yet to all succeeding ages it shall be knowne that once they were and Time hath no Sithe to cut downe or consume them This my Lord may be an Embleme of some loue and that rather craues acceptation then pardon and the subiect it selfe may worke to the bettering of your knowledge and sure in such goodnesse there is no presumption so that I must conclude my complement with this Maxime That Affection is a Present which few noble Spirits haue euer despised The Office of which I am to argue to your Lorship is that of the Lieutenant Colonell of a Foot Regiment the Etymologie of whose Name Foundation and Inuention I will not heere insist on because I shall haue a stronger occasion to discusse it in another Epistle let it suffice me onely in this place to say that the Lieutenant Colonell of Foot is the second Captaine or principall Commaunder ouer a Regiment and had his beginning or first frame from many necessary occasions as first in respect that the Colonell himselfe who is the first Moouer and giuer of life to the whole Regiment hauing but one Body how euer by secondary meanes it causeth motion in many places yet of it selfe it hath euer but abiding in one place at one time nor can but with difficultie and trouble discharge diuers things in diuers places as also in that the Colonell is capable of more great places then one as namely to be a Colonell and also one of the Counsell of Warre that hee may sometimes haue especiall dependance vpon the Generall when peraduenture his Regiment is remooued and farre distant as also that hee may be absent sicke or hurt vnder any of which the Armie must in no wise suffer iniury therefore it is ordained that euery Colonell shall haue his Lieutenant-Colonell who in his absence shall with a full and absolute authoritie sway and gouerne the whole Regiment commaund the Serieant-Maior and all other inferiour Captaines and according to the sway of true Equitie and Iustice obseruing the Lawes and Ordinances of Marshall proceedings shall preserue an harmonious concord cleane throughout the body of his whole commandement The election of this Lieutenant-Colonell ought to be in the Colonel himselfe for where there is not a mutuall agreement and concord amongst and betweene all the superiour Officers but either emulation distrust or a strugling to tread downe new raised aduancement riseth against one another there without all question shall neither true discipline be pursued nor yet prosperitie busie to attend any part of their actions but yet notwithstanding it many times falles out that the Generall preserueth to himselfe the election of these Officers and either by the couenant of power or the consent of the Colonel establiseth such as he thinketh to be most meet for these places but howsoeuer or whosoeuer maketh the election it is meet it bee done with great consideration and iudgement and that euery man should be ranged according to his desert and merit and that neither Affection Ostentation nor Garments should carry away these eminent places but that as men chuse Wines by their strengths and goodnesse so they should elect these by their vertues and noble indeauours placing them there where no particular enuy should shake them and weighing them in so true and euen a Balance that no subtill ierke either of a couetous hand or blind loue may make that seem heauy which indeed is but light ayre or of lesse substance so shall the King bee well serued the kingdom better preserued and honest men the best of all pleased then vpon euery accident of death or change of aduancement men should not like virginall lacks be skipping vp here and there and in euery corner but take a modest due lawfull remooue after the Schoolemens rule who euer did couple Antiquitie and Desert with Preferment and not mens seduced opinions yet with this one generall exception that if any man by an extraordinary valour testified in some noble and heroicall exploit should merit farre beyond the compasse of other mens deseruings that then it might bee lawfull for such a man to aspire without enuy and either to passe cheeke by ioll or precede his forerunners as also if any man through his extraordinary Wisdome Iudgement and experience by his laborious study or painfull endeauors should better enable himselfe for the discharge of some places then others of his ranke it were Iniustice not to let him goe before them for both the whole body of the Army by such a strictnesse might want the vse of a notable member and the losse of encouragement by omitting so worthy an example might breed a dulnesse in other excellent spirits to desist from the like perfection when they saw there was no Garland preserued for them but that which was of the lowest and meanest condition And as thus the extraordinary deseruer should
alone that preuailed To descend nearer to our owne familiar knowledge what Senator is there which euer liued or what Orator that euer pleaded who giuing Sentence on a delinquent could by force of his eloquence perswade the wretch to runne himselfe to the Gallowes put on the noose and leape from the Ladder with Dulce quia sponte no life is a dearer companion to mans nature and when that is forfeit the Sherife which is his countries Souldior must with his armed Band compell him to the bloody Altar and as in this so in all cases whatsoeuer that are allied to Compulsion whether it be the execution of writs obedience to lawes the setling of Estates and Manners where the conscience will not be perswaded there the Sword must enforce and vse his commandement Should forraine enemies vpon false suggested Titles inuad vs our swords vnder God must defend vs should our Soueraignes loose any part of their lawfull Rights our Swords are bound to regaine them should Traytors like Hydras increase by killing yet must the Sword suppresse them should Rebells spring like the growth of the Dragons teeth yet must the Sword consume them and should our Neighbours or allies be opprest or true religion supprest yet must our Swords maintaine them so that we may conclude in all cases whatsoeuer whether Fas or Nefas either to strengthen Iustice or weaken iniury to guard Vertue or to combate Vice yet there is a strong necessity why the Sword should still be required Let vs therefore giue the Sword his due and say it is the eldest sonne of Honor and let vs giue that Royall Commander his deserued admiration who though he haue sheathed his owne and almost all the Swords in Christendome yet still stands fortified with so powerfull a preparation that with them of Colen the whole world may cry out it is a madnes to thinke to resist a Prince so good so wise and so fortunate War neuer had so many Schooles in the time of Troubles as his Peace hath Academies to expresse the depth of Martiall discipline euery man now is more then a master in that braue Art and Infants and Children as they are going to the schoole can teach one another the vse of Weapon March Motion and Posture so that strangers and forraine Nations haue beene heard to say What will the English doe if this continue euery child like Hercules will be able to kill a Serpent in his Cradle But to proceed againe to the necessity of this designe and to shew that Peace should be nothing else but a foster Nurse vnto Souldiers take a Suruey of all Gouernments whether Assirians Persians Greekes or Romans and we shall see that the Peace which they enioyed at home euer brought them forth those Souldiers which conquered abroad for Warre is a deuourer and only desires action giues little leasure to meditation Or to come a little nearer to our selues let vs looke into the deeds of great Henry of France and we shall see that though the Arsenal of Paris had in fiue and twenty yeares seene foure mightie preparations yet was the last which had inioyd the longest peace the greatest and most transendent being as the Duke of Suylly reported of that infinite space and largenesse that the first day it was knit together it seemed both to promise victory and to sing the triumph and the Terror was so great that it stroke Ielousie into all the Kings friends and feare amongst his enemies for the Sword was drawne that might command but no man knew to whome it would speake power and valour like thunder in the hand of Iupiter was ready to fall in a twinckling yet was no enemy seene no peace broken no warre proclaimed This was the ability of a right peace and by these helpefull prouisions he became both feared beloued and admired what shall we say of the peace in the Netherlands but that euery day it hath almost begot them a new army and euery night intic'd to the Seas an inuincible Nauy So that through prouidence they are becommed so infinitely rich both in the one and the other prouision that of them may be said as was said of the Secular Triumphs Come and see that which was neuer seene and which no man liueing euer thought to see a Nation that stood in need of all now needed of all and she that was taught of all now teaching all others this wonder hath peace wrought and this profit haue they gaind by exercising peace with a hurtlesse Matiall imployment I could inferre as much for Spaine and say that her peace at home bred her Souldiers to guard her gettings abroad and that neither the vnwholesomnesse of the Equinoctiall line nor the vninhabited Tropycks so much feared of our forefathers hath had so much power to consume men as martiall discipline in times of calmnesse hath had strength to reuiue them and like the best Alchymie to make infinites grow from a single seede or proiection To conclude then for the necessity of Warre was neuer accounted a Paradox Armes and Soulderie are the Cronicles of Princes the hazards of Battayles their Theaters and the Iustice of their warlike cause their Honor Perfection and Tryumph so that he which will liue long in mens memory must build this Pyramed whereon his name must stand strong vpright and euen he that will fill his Theater with shouts and plaudyties must grapple with Lyons and Tygers and he that will tryumph in perfection must haue all the foure vertues chaynd to himselfe not to his Charyot so shall his armes bee lawfull and needfull and howsoeuer the curious may account him a meane Captaine yet shall not the whole world produce the Character of a better a more needfull or a more renowned Souldior TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND GRAVE COVNSELLOR EDVVARD Lord ZOVCH Lord Warden of the Cinque ports c. THE ARGVMENT Of the Glorie of a Souldier SInce in the Time past we haue no interest at all and in that of the present we can challenge no more but an Instant how behouefull is it noble Sir for euery man to bee carefull to what ends his Imployments ayme that the expence thereof may returne both an acceptable rent to such as may challenge his Seruice and also some glory to himselfe by leauing behind those parcels which may giue others cause of honest Imitation This my Lord hath directed me into this path which now with all earnestnesse I follow and this emboldeneth mee to send this Epistle to your Lordship to giue you a iust account of my Time Studie and Seruice which as it is not altogether a Stranger so I hope it may a little reuiue againe those thoughts which howsoeuer you may be pleased to lay by yet I know you will neuer vtterly forsake or abandon I haue in the former Epistle shewed the necessary vse both of Warre and the Souldier and that as the maine Columbe of a Common-wealth it keepes all estates vpright and euen Now I am to
his companions and as he is in a place aboue them so in the merit thereof to exceede them and both in Marches Skirmishes and euery other occurrent of warre to be vnto them an example and president Touching the perticular duty of this Lanspesado and what he is to exercise in his place first it is to be vnderstood that he is the Captaine or Leader of that File which is next in true degree below his Corporall of whose Squadron he holdeth his place and is to giue them all examples of good ready and perfit seruice leading them on vpon the enemie in such sort as he is commanded withall courage counning and dexterity and bringing them off with equall care good order and discresion He is to looke that euery Souldier within his Command or Deuision haue his armes neate cleane and well scowred that he be furnished with all Implements and accoutrements belonging vnto the weapon wherewith he serueth as Powder Match Bullet Armes and all things else whatsoeuer which belongeth either to the Musquet or any other weapon hee is to giue the Souldiers encouragement and to make any thing facile and easie vnto them which shall trouble their mindes or seeme hard and doubtfull as also to hold them in the perseuerance of good actions and to declare the honor and worth that is in Diligence and Obedience he is to aduertise and giue notice vnto his Commander if he vnderstand of any malecontents or men whose spirits are apt to muteny and sedition or whose speach and language tendeth therevnto hee is also to discouer all manner of thefts or purloynings whether of victualls or other matter and any Iniury whatsoeuer which shall be done betweene peason and person for he being within the Cammarade or fellowship and a man of equall quality and ranke more then the name and shaddow of his place and feeding and lodging continually amongst them It is intended considering the freenes of such mens thoughts how vnapt they are to conceale what they imagine that nothing can be done or pretended to which he shall not be preuie of what nature soeuer the mischeife be if he be discreete honest he shall be watchfull and diligent to listen after all alarmes and when hee heareth any to awaken and rouse vp those of his Deuision and to see that they issue not rudely or vnprouided but with their armes about them in a decent and necessary fashion and to his vttermost power doe all thinges that may bring on or further the seruice In their watch they are Deputy Corporals and when the Corporall is absent the Lanspesado shall take his place command the Guard appoint set forth relieue Sentinels he shall take the word receiue Prisoners taken in the watch deliuer them ouer vnto his Superior Officer indeede doe all things whatsoeuer which belongs to the Corporall and to this end as in his owne place so in the Corporalls also he shall be pregnant and ready the substance whereof followeth in the next insuing Epistle lastly it is his duty to instruct his Deuision in all the rudiments which belongs to their places as well in the manage of their Armes as in the comely and well keeping of the same and to that end hee shall shew them how to keepe their Armours weapons from Rust with what Ingredience how to take their Pieces assunder and to make them cleane and when need is how to vnbreech them he shall if need be cast their Bullets for them dry their powder and haue alwayes spare match in a readines or at least instruct them how to doe it themselues for that shall be to him some ease and to them a greater profit Thus hauing shewed the duty of this Officer I will now returne to his vse which though it consist in many things and all without any extraordinary charge yet the greatest vse of all is when Battalions are deuided or subdeuided into many petty fractions then this Inferior Officer who in a greater Body would be Ignorant in this lesser Body will bee as knowing as any Officer can be And superior Officers who command Battalions Regiments Companies and Squadrons hauing many vnder their commands cannot attend to reuisite and looke into Files and halfe Squadrons or see being farre remoued whether they stand in their true and perfit distance in this case this Officer is as helpefull as any to them which command in cheife and obserues all proportions qualities and motions both of such as follow or such as front with him for indeed the motions in Files I can compare to nothing more fitly then to the dauncing of the old measures in which if there be a good Leader that by his eare can truely distinguish the sound of the Instrument and knowes when to double or single forward backward sideway and on either hand or when to begin and when to end that then it much skills not what the followers counnings be So in Files if there be a perfit Leader but tractable obseruers hardly can any Ignorāce do hurt in the motiō but here me thinks an old Souldier that loues not booke knowledge pulls me by the eare and saies what haue all warrs these distinctions or haue these places beene from the beginning beleeue it I haue beene in seruices where if you should speake of Decario or Lanspesado they would take it for some heathen Greeke or a more dangerous language to which I answer that indeed they are not vsed in all warrs much lesse in euery company but I dare with constancie affirme that the best vnderstanders in Martiall Discipline doe with all seuerity both vse them and apply themselues vnto them finding them so necessary and behouefull that where there is a neglect or disdaine thereof there without all question the company hath a wound and the whole Armie wants if not more yet one feature of an excellent beautie Some latter writers haue giuen this name a farre different interpretation calling them voluntary Lieutenants or Knights of Saint Georges Squadron and applying them to the duties of a Gentleman of the companie or a Rounder but it is only a fancie and I haue already shewed what they are and what depends vpon them therefore in mine Epistle I will auoid disputation and only conclude that what I haue writ mine experience hath seene and what I affirme all readings will allow to haue the best authoritie TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD WINDSOR OF BRADNAM THE ARGVMENT Of the Corporall LEt it not my Lord be offensiue if for an houre or lesse I begge you from your more serious thoughts to vouchsafe the reading of this blunt Epistle for beleeue it noble Sir there must bee an Affection to your Goodnesse to moue me and some hope in the labour that this seruice will Inne the time you spend in the traffique or else questionlesse I should wish my selfe halfe lost and the papers consumed howsoeuer it is Warre which is the Garland of Nobilitie and though time be
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
frame his Gabions Parapets Tenazas Tyzeras Dients and Casamats how to make his Ports or Gates and in what sort to fortifie them with Draw-bridges Rastels Senacenescas or Portcluyses then where to make his Terraplene or places of Retrait and lastly how to modell and smooth out the Campania raza or plaine Champaine without all the workes beforesaid by which the enemy may haue no ground of aduantage wherby to disturbe the Campe Towne Fort or other place which hee hath fortified To conclude it is the office of this Trench or Engine-master to be skilfull and experienced in all manner of Plots and Platformes whatsoeuer and that he is able by his owne vnderstanding and industry to accommodate apply himselfe to any kind of Situation or piece of ground whatsoeuer knowing how either to fortifie or supplant it vpon the first view being therto called either by his place or any especiall commandement In France two Noblemen of great and good Blood the one called Count Pedro of Normandy and the other the Lord of Brey haue been exceeding famous much commended for the singularitie of their knowledge in this excellent Art and in our Nation I doubt not but those two I first spake of namely General Vere and Marshall Pelham are notable Presidents to all ages that shall follow of the rare and hidden perfection which is contained in the same or should the dulnesse of our last times grow so blockish or stupid as to forget men of their Fame and Merit yet to doe this Iland honor I could reuine the names of two others who in this Art haue not been ouerrunne by any strangers that is to say the two honorable Knights Sir Richard Hansard and Sir Iosias Bodley being both famous Schollers expert Souldiers and rare Mathematicians and indeed hauing had that exquisite benefit by Trauel that few in their daies could outstrip them especially Sir Richard Hansard who in the warres of Hungary Poland Transyluania had reaped that knowledge and experience which brought backe to his King and Countrie a large and plentiful tribute and to himselfe a most worthy and fit imployment Neither was the other much inferior who in all the warres of his time was neuer out of action but so ioyned his studie with practise and experience that hee bound his Countrey infinitely vnto him and howsoeuer respected yet questionlesse none euer yet better deserued I could here enter into a very large field and find a world of excellent plants which grew and flourished in this Art as namely Dexter Diggs Smith and many others who were good Schollers most excellent Mathematicians and rare Enginiers but the discourse of their works would aske rather a whole Volume then the last part of this short Epistle Let it then suffice that the Trench-master or Engineir of whom I haue intreated hauing the perfections already recited and to them added a speciall circumspction to regard both the outward and inward situation of places and how to prouide remedies against euery annoyance whether it consist in Altitudes Longitudes or Latitudes or in any other frame or forme whatsoeuer that then without all question he is a man of skill and whensoeuer he is called vpon by any especiall commandement he may without amazement take vpon him the Protection of the Armie TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDMOND LORD SHEFFIELD OF BVTTERVVICK THE ARGVMENT Of the Wagon-Master THe warrs my much honored Lord hath long since both by Sea and Land challenged you for a noble Master neither hath Peace at any time made you forget either her Goodnes or Necessity for in your worthy Viceroyshipe when nothing but Oliues were planted about euery mans habitation yet then you kept the Laurell in remembrance and by errecting a Schoole of warre in your Gouernment shewed Peace how excellent a thing it was still to keepe War as her most trustiest seruant This noble Sir hath incouraged me to dispatch this Epistle vnto you and to entreat you when it shall bring a blunt Souldiers salutation to conceiue that notwithstanding the Barbarous opinion of the contrariety of Armes and Learning making it almost a worke of Impossibility to lodge them both together in one person yet it is but an vnreasonable Paradox and rather taken from those which know Furie then such as would vnderstand Courage to which though your honord selfe be to your selfe the best witnes being a possessor both of the one and the other vertue yet will I labour to aproue in this volume that as Mars and Mercurie there cannot liue together two more faithfull or fayrer Companions The succeeding Office to which this Epistle directs me is that of the Waggon-master or Carriage-Master being an Inferior Officer belonging to the Liuetenant Generall of the Horse of whose election there ought to be a great and especiall care for he ought to be a man of exceeding good Consideration and Trust well staied in manners and discreete in all his actions for to his charge is deliuered the conduct and guard of all the Baggage and Necessaries belonging to the whole Armie which being either purloyned by Knaues sackt by the Enemie or any wayes dismembred and lost by negligence of his eie or care of well looking vnto the Souldier is spoyled both of his foode and eternall comforts and being made a prey to all extreamity his life is in a manner forfeited and the armie weakened to the great losse of their affaires the dishonor of the Generall vnder whose conduct they remained whence it comes that this Officer ought to be chosen with a more then ordinary strictnes and the care to be vsed therein should weigh an equall ballance with any Officer of his nature and condition nay in some cases more or lesse according to the consequence of his affaires and occasions for in long and tedious marches in an enemies Country that is poore and wasted or barreine and depopulate so that there is neither hope of supplie nor assurance of any Foode or Comfort there is this Officer of great import and without the assistance of his place the armie can but a little while continue either in strength or abilitie for it is his partage and charge that must calme all rough and vnwholesome Seasons must make barren places fruitfull and indeede must find furniture and reliefe for all the aduersities either of Time or Fortune But in good and plentifull Countries where the seasons are milde and pleasant the Haruest ripe and swelling Townes peopled and euery corner as it were a Storehouse of wholesome Foode and Raiment there the Souldier may bee more bold and though this Officer bee wanting yet may the Souldier still be his owne puruior and day by day replenish both his body and knapsacke with all matters necessary for his owne accomodation besides in these plentifull and well peopled places where there is no want of any thing but that which should make abundance infinite there the Armie shall euer haue great resort of Victuallers Vianders Sutlers and all
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
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
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
place in Scouts Forragings and vpon all needfull discoueries and the effect of their principall Seruice is to defend and make good all passages ouer Riuers as Foards Bridges Mill-dames and the like all Strait wayes Hills Valleyes and other places of Retraite they may vpon occasion alight from their horses and serue on foot spoyling all Forragers and Pillagers assayling Troupes in their lodgings and when they finde themselues drawing into any inconuenience they may presently mount againe and retyre into their safety But if they be so farre engaged that they cannot well come off then must the armed Pistoleirs come in and assist them and therefore in this case the Colonell is to foresee that in the composion of his Regiment the Dragoones be chosen from the ablest nimblest and most actiue men that can be got being of that dexteritie and quicknes of spirit that they may be able to vault to and from their Horses at pleasure and to carry their Pieces so close guarded in their left hands that in performing of any of these suddaine actions there may bee found neither trouble nor hinderance lasty when they haue performed their duties they shall then retyre behind the Pistoliers and there prepare themselues againe for a new onset It is also a speciall care belonging to this Colonel to giue directions for the daily trayning and teaching of his Regiment especially if they serue with fire on Horsebacke for if a man be neuer so good a Horseman and yet but an ill Shot or if he be neuer so good a Shot and yet but an ill Horseman there will be such disparity and vntowardnesse in his actions that all his labour will be to little and no purpose let therefore diligence and practise good opportunity and good instructions make the Souldier exquisite in what he vndertaketh and it will bring honor to the Colonell and benefit to the generall Seruice And that the Seruice may be the more effectually performed it is requisite that the Colonell haue euer attending vpon his person as his dayly and houshold seruants an excellent Smith or Farryer who shall euer be furnished with Horse-shooes nayles and drugges both for inward and outward applycations a very good Sadler and all things belonging to his occupation and a skilfull rough Rider that may tame and reclayme stubborne Iades and instruct the Souldier how and in what manner to become a resonable Horseman Last of all it is the Colonels duty to haue a perfect Rolle of all the Bands within his Regiment as well Officers as others seeing them mounted and armed and then giuing allowance to their sufficiency hee shall giue directions for the disposing of the Troopes From him or his Substitute the Trumpets shall take all commandements and whensoeuer the Regiment riseth the Colonels Cornet shall first flie abrord to which all the rest shall repaire and from him shall receiue order for their imployment whether it be to Watch to Scour to discouer or else to relieue others He shall appoint such as shall guard the Lord Marshall the Forrage-Master and the Victuallers He shall dispose the manner of all Skirmishes and so place his Troupes that one may second the other in such wise that if any be repulst yet being relieued they may haue time to regather themselues into order and either mainetaine a second onset or retire backe againe into their owne strength This is the full effect of the Colonels Office that commandeth Horse and these things with the rest which belong to the Colonell of Foote being seriously obserued his place shall be fulfilled with much renowne and his person adorned with vndying Honor. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD ARVNDEL of WARDER THE ARGVMENT Of the Serieant-Maior Generall THe affaires my Lord of my poore Fortunes haue euer been hindrances to my Studie so that howsoeuer I might in my nature affect it yet still by Fortune I haue been debarred that happie felicitie so that your Lordship can expect from me but rude and vnpolisht Gatherings yet such as they are I tender them freely boldly All men speake you Noble that perswades mee and you are an owner of Willoughbies Blood of which my poore selfe am also a sharer and that almost seales vnto mee a deed of assurance and you are the much honoured kinsman of my dearest respected kinsman worthy Sir Perciual Willoughbie to whose loue I am so much bound that I cannot study a better Rent then to doe you seruice all these together bring this Epistle vnto you which great Sir I beseech you be pleased to reade the little I can get I am no niggard of nor was I euer more desirous to gather then willing to distribute to the good of my Countrey Many I know this way might Alexander-like giue talents but they thinke the World not worthy so much and if the World would imbrace their Mites it is an almes too poore for rich Reputations so that hence they are silent yet still I keepe on my Pilgrimage you are one of the Saints to whose Altar I am vowed and though I haue but a poore Root to offer thereon yet I will lay it downe with as great confidence as if it were a Snow-white Bull crown'd with Garlands knowing that nothing makes Giftes great but good mens Acceptations This great and renowned Office of the Serieant-maior Generall is so large spacious that to lend but one word to euery great article which necessarily depends vpon his knowledge would aske more paper then I haue bestowed on all which haue gone before him and therfore as Geographers doe I must intreat your Lordship in a little pricke to suruey a great kingdome To speake then first of his election the power thereof commonly remaineth in the Generall and the care therof ought to be more then of any of the former for being the generall Minister of an entire Armie and hauing his authoritie and vse extending it selfe into all manner of Marchings Imbattellings and Encampings we need say no more of his person but this he should bee a man both inward and outward of a most absolute perfection His place is before all Captaines and Colonels except the Colonell Generall for they receiue their directions from him he from the other his Actions and Imployments are euer for the most part in the face of the enemy and the greatest vse or necessitie of his person is euer in the places of most certaine danger It behoueth him to be exceeding Skilfull in the framing of Battalions which some define to be a congregation or multitude of men placed in such an orderly forme that they may come to fight without hindring one another whereby euery hand being necessarily imployed they may attaine to the end of their purpose which is glory and conquest so that to his charge is left the framing of the proportion the gouerment in marching and the order in fighting In his Brayne there ought to be at least in his bosome or some other conuenient place must be a
cattalogue of the iust number of the Army together with the true sortment and diuision of euery weapon and in his memory he must euer carry ready framed the formes and proportions of sundry Battailes as quadrats or squares the equall or vnequall Tryangles diamunds and the like any of which he is to sorte fashion to the Grounde according as the necessity of the place requireth euer regarding to giue those Formes the greatest preheminence which are able still to bring the most hands to fight at one instant without disorder or trouble as in the champayne the broade Square is best the bastard or base square where there is aduantage of hedge diche water wood or marrish and the vnequall and imperfect proportion in Straytes amongst Hylls and Mountaines or in craggie or rockie places It is his place to take away all disorder from vnruly and Ignorant souldiers by letting them vnderstand the constant and true place of euery Ensigne as which shall make vp the first rankes Square or diuision which the second which the third and so of the rest wherein although some doe alow a constant rule yet many times it varieth vppon lot and may better be referred to the Serieant-maiors discretion who is to prouide that not the companies which challenge it by right but the companies which are euer best armed be still put into the vangard he shall after he hath framed his Battaile of pykes lyne them with shot on eytherside and not so onely but he shall also haue sundry loose wings of Short trouping by them in a pretty distance remote which shall euer be ready to entertayne any skirmish and keepe the Battayle from disquiet also he shall seriously prouide for the safety of his shot when the enemies horse aboundeth much by drawing out certaine ranks of pykes proportionable to the loose vnguarded shot vnder whose safety vpon euery extremity they shall retyer and then againe make good their places till the seruice be finished It is the Serieant-maior Generals office vpon any day of Battayle to goe to the Generall or Colonell Generall and from one of them to take his directions knowing whether the Generall will haue his owne Regiment to haue the vant-guard or no or otherwise the Battayle or reare which resolued he shall then atend the Lord Marshall to the ellection of the field In which it behotueth the Serieant-maior to be very skilfull in the situation of the Country and to know the distance of places and the difficulties of euery passage with all the seuerall circumstances which shall depend vppon the same as well for the guard and safety of his owne as for the hindrance and anoyance of the enemy so that althings being assured he may then cause the Drumme-maior to beate a remoue and all the Captaines being assembled to the place of armes he shall thence by the directions of the Lord Marshall draw forth the Battayle disposing euery Commander into the places which are most conuenient and framing his Maniples and diuisions sutable to the passages through which they are to march yet by no meanes into a lesse then a third or else fourth part of the front and keeping euery diuision iust tenne deepe and neither more nor lesse and herein he shall haue respect that in drawing vp the Maniples to make an entyre Battayle the Ensignes may fall into their due places as namely the Generalls vppon the head the Lieutenant generall the Lord Marshall the Master of the Ordnance the Treasurer the Colonell general and the Serieant-maior Generall one ranke within the Battell the Colonels of the Infantiue a ranke behinde them and the Captaines a rank behind them He shall haue an especiall care for the safe garding of the munition baggage placing it either before behind or on any side where the enemy is least suspected It is at his discretion to make stands which some call Altoes or Hallts when and at what time he please whereby the souldier may be refresht when he is weary with trauell and it must be done in places fit and commodious for the same as where there is cleane running water some shelter yet a large prospect so as no souldier may offer to straggle but the Officers may both perceiue him reprehend him Now that all these duties may be the better performed this Officer is intended to be euer on Horsebacke yet not vpon a horse of warre but rather vpon a comely and nimble Hackney on which he may ride in amongst the Ranks passe from File to File seeing euery man to performe his dutie in a carefull and modest manner and herein is to be obserued that if in his passages to fro he doe happen to encounter or meet with the Generall although on foot yet shall not the Serieant-maior alight from his Horse but keepe his seat for it is his particular preheminence neither shall he dismount at any time in the day of battel for any such errour is a cloud betwixt him and glory for being on foot he is no more then one man but mounted on horsebacke and assisting with directions he supplieth the places of many hundreds his Armour must be light and nimble being the same pieces which belong to a Foot-Captaine and in his right hand he shall beare a Trunchion with which hee may correct any man that wilfully offendeth as also with it to seperate vnruly horses carriage or baggage which troubles the Battalions or to demonstrat and point out to any thing which he commandeth his ordinary place is neere the person of the Generall or the Colonell generall for from them hee must take many instructions if any Squadrons or maine Bodies be broken hee is to bring Supplies and sawder them vp againe he is called the Guide of the Battel and therfore to looke that all things succeed rightly When the Army is encampt hee giueth the first directions for the Corps de guards charge for the Sentinels it is he that reacknowledgeth the Quarters and taking his orders from the Lord Marshall prouideth for the generall safty of all the Armie as the Watch the Ward the Scout Guard for the Munition Entrenchments and the like of all which I haue entreated something in the former Offices The Serieant-maior is first to take notice of alarmes of all kinds and to examine the causes then to giue information to the Generall and Lord Marshall and so to proceed according to order It is a very landable dutie in the Serieant-maior Generall if in the day of Battell he select and appoint a certaine number of Souldiers who from time to time shall draw forth the hurt maimed and slaine parties which else would trouble the Squadrons and to conuey them to cure or other place for other purpose It is his office to appoint the orders and formes of Camisados and Ambuscados to direct the place where the order how and the manner and forme of Silence he ought to awaken and stirre vp the Generall to the prouision of
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
greater testimonie of his Wisedome and Experience then of any other practise whatsoeuer for to what purpose were experience if the fruit thereof doe not appeare and shine in his actions wherefore it is the strength of this mans dutie to put all things in execution with great care diligence and vigilance and by a naturall and secret instinct to find out and re-acknowledge the natures dispositions and inclinations of all the enemies Commaunders and to finde which are Bold which Rash which Fearefull which Wise and which Inconsiderat that by making his applications sutable to their imperfections hee may attaine to the ends of his purposes with much greater ease many times with much lesse losse or bloody effusion A world of other obseruations are required in this great mans Office but in as much as they are in as neere a linke of alliance to the absolute Generall himselfe I will heere knit vp this Epistle and referre the rest as a binding Fillet with which to circle and gird together the next following and last concluding Epistle TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE EDVVARD LORD MONTAGVE OF BOVGHTON THE ARGVMENT Of the Generall IT falls out many times my Lord that the minde like a couragious Hauke which plies her wings labours to get vp high into the Aire if still it be ouerlaid with its owne toile must of necessitie in the end either flag her wings or stoope to a faulse prey not being able to doe any thinge because it hath done too much For too prodigall an expence of Spirits makes the minde heartlesse Nay some I haue knowne of that weakenesse of temper that but to thinke of that which they must doe hath taken away all abilitie to doe what they should But of these infirmities I hope your Lordship shall acquit me for as a chearefull hope was the first Author of mine vndertakings so heare an assured comfort in your noble acceptance to whose Blood and House I must euer acknowledge a particuler debt of seruice I doubt not but will fixe a worthy Seale to the end of my labors I know many might haue done this worke sooner better but since they are pleased to sit with foulded vp aimes and only studdie how to be rid of Time let it not be imputed to me error or arrogance that I haue writ my knowledge for though it adde nothing to a full growne strength yet I doubt not but it may giue nourishment to the young and sickly Being come to the last Confines of this Militarie discourse I am in this place to handle the particuler duties and vertues of an absolute Generall or the only one great and entier Commander ouer an Armie Royall wherein is to be vnderstood that the name or title of Generall as it is respectiuely in it selfe is to be taken diuers and sundry waies for some are absolute and without seconds as were the foure principall monarches of the world to wit the Assirrian the Persian the Gretian and the Roman some not altogether so absolute yet depending vpon one and the same authoritie as for example Iulius Caesar who notwithstanding he was but at first a seruant to the Seuant yet aspiring to the height of his ambition the greatest stile that hee affected was but to be Imperater which signifieth a Generall and the most glorious Title at this day which any Prince can attaine is but Generall yet this great Diamond is still more Glorious and Sparkling according to the Wealth and Arte in the setting for an absolute Soueraigne being made Generall ouer many Princes and many Nations and going to a holy Warre against the enemies of God and sinceare Religion he is esteemed the best and most renowned Generall of all others Next him is the absolute King which holdeth dependance on none but leadeth forth his owne Battels and people to defend his Rights against Rebels Intruding Iniurers or vnlawfull Vsurpers then the Heires apparent vnto absolute Kings as our Blacke Prince Philip Dolphin of France and Philip sonne to Charles the fift of Spaine or the like and lastly lawfull Generals made by absolute Princes as the Duke of Austria in Spaine the Dukes of Burgundy and Guyse in France Pembroke Sussex Leicester and Essex in England and of these Generals there are also a diuers kinde grounding the greatnes of their places from the greatnesse of their Commissions being Stiled some by the name of Generals as our Leicester was in the Low-Countries some Liuetenants without the addition of Generall as the Earle of Essex was in Ireland and some Liuetenant-Generals as the Earle of Ormund was in the same Kingdome the Lord Grey and diuers others for it is a Rule amongst Princes to qualifie these Titles according as either Factions or Iealousies shal guid them nay sometimes to Ioyne two Generals in one Commision as Norris Drake into Portingall and the Earle of Essex and the Earle of Nottingham into Spaine For the vertues which are to be acquired in the brest of this vnlimited Commander howeuer some would seeke to bring them into a proportionable number yet I affirme that questionlesse he ought to haue All without limitation no vertue excepted and the vices which hee must shunne should likewise be All and no vice accepted this is hee which ought to be loued and obeyed at home and redoubted and admired abroad He ought to gouerne the courages of the greatest and the wills of the meanest In matters that are declyning and desperat his constancy ought to be Inuincible and his valour so firme that with amazement hee might stricke dead the hearts of his enemies and make the very weapons drop out of the hand of the most resolued opposers it is he that ought to be darling of Fortune and to whom Chance should offer as a Sacrifice both Townes Castles and Prouinces as if they had beene taken in Nettes and throwne at his feete as lawfull Tributs and yet not to imagine that this Body yeelded a greater shaddow after then before his Victories he must not robbe the Gods of their heads to fixe them on his owne Statues but like the Sunne shine indifferently to all men only appeare terrible and scortch the proud rash and ouer curious Gazers his Inclination as it must only bend to Armes yet it must not looke awry from learning he must inure his body to trauell and feede his mind with paine pleasure at one instant howsoeuer Fortune at any time shall dart aduerse accidents against him yet must his resolution maintaine so strong a Guard about him that she may confesse his spirit greater then her violence and his Wisdome beyond the Stratagems of her seuearest designes he must haue Wisdome to maintaine the Flowre of his vertue that it wither not before it haue brought forth the expected fruits and Care to keepe that Oliue branch euer greene which he shall purchase with the price of Blood hazard of his life and the losse of the goodliest and most flourishing yeares of his age he ought to bee