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
there is in him a generall power of controlment so that should the least want of perfection draw him into contempt it were an vtter losse to his Reputation and an infinite great weakening to the whole Seruice It is then to be vnderstood that if the Regiment or Battalion consist which I wish and whereto all approued Souldiers both auncient and moderne giue allowance of one thousand men deuided into fiue seuerall Companies and each Company holding the contents of two hundred men a peece that then the Serieant-Maior hath his raunge iust in the mid'st two marching before him that is to say the Colonell and the Liuetenant-Colonell and two marching behind him which are the two youngest and Inferior Companies so that two command him and two are commanded by him yet in the absence of the Colonell and Liuetenant-Colonell he then commandeth all the fiue Companies and hath superior command aboue all Captaines and Inferior Officers whatsoeuer being as the Colonell himselfe The Serieant-Maior of a Regiment is the imediate next degree aboue an ordinary Captaine and reputed in all places to precead them as being their elder Brother Now touching the effects of his duty and Office in the Regiment he is as before I said the Marshall of the whole Battalion or Squadron and as the one ruleth and formeth what proportions soeuer he pleaseth of the whole Army so this man deuideth subdeuideth and fashioneth what figures and formes he pleaseth of his owne Regiment and as the Serieant-Maior of the Armie bringeth vp by the appointment of the Marshall great Grosses compounded of sundry Regiments to make vp the forme and figure of the Battell he intendeth so doth this Serieant-Maior of a Regiment bring vp vnto the Serieant-Maior of the Armie either all or part of his Regiment in such forme as hee shall bee appointed to the making vp of the Grosse and greater Body wherein is to be noted that as Serieants of Bands are assistant to the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments for deuiding of perticular Spuadrons Files or halfe Files for the making vp of any Body whether it consist of odde euen broken or whole numbers according to directions so the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments are assistant to the Serieant-Maior of the Armie in bringing vp to him what Deuisions or Bodies soeuer shall bee called for whether they consist of ods euens or any other certaine or vncertaine number for it is a thinge impossible either for Lord-Marshall or the Serieant-Maior of an Army to take vpon him the manage of euery mans perticular company or to do those great and powerful duties which are expected at their hands without some strong sufficient assistance whence it comes that the priuate Captaines by the assistance of the ordinary Serieants keeping their companies or order the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments by the care of the priuate Captaines keeping the Regiments in true forme and the Serieant-Maior of the Army by the skill of the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments being able to forme Grosse Bodies into what figure hee thinkes conuenient the Lord Marshall of the Field may in a trice and vpon the Instant of any word giuen Forme vnforme change or alter any Battell according as either the aduantage of the ground the manner of the enemies marching or any other perticuler occurrent shal administer occasion And that this duty may be performed with all carefull seuerity euery Serieant-Maior of a Regiment either in long marches or otherwise is allowed his hackney to ride on from company to company and to looke that as the Captaines doe range their Companies in an orderly and true forme that so likewise the whole Regiment consist of an euen iust and beautifull proportion and not suffering any man of what degree soeuer either through Pride Stubbornesse Neglect Couetousnes of Pilage or any other dilitory weake excuse to breake or goe out of his Ranke or to disproportion any part of the maine Body by any rude or vncomely Posture but vpon the first apprehension thereof seuearely to rebuke the same and compell a speedie reformation for it is a customary thinge in the warres that men of great Birth and qualitie doe vsually traile Pikes and what through the guard of their Captaines fauor the rashnesse of their owne youthfull wills the presumption of other mens examples and the assuming of an vnnecessary freedome from some other perticuler beholdingnes they grow oft times disorderly and vnruly and will not bee commanded by the ordinary Sergeants or at least the Sergeant dare not command where he knowes admonition will but bring backe contempt to breed a much worse example in this case the Serieant-Maior is presently to arme himselfe with his owne power and to let such offendors know that Blood hath no priuiledge if once it rebell against Obedience and that Gentlemen doe runne backe from their vertue into the Bassenes of euery earthtie condition when they forget that their Commanders haue a Goodnes worthy their Obodience an Authority fit to exercise their Patience and a Knowledge to which they ought to tie their vttermost Diligence Nay it is certaine that a Gentleman cannot expresse Loue in any thing more then in Reuerence Dutie in nothing like Obedience nor Modestie but when hee admires his Commanders Excellence Our Serieant-Maior then being a Captaine and a principall Commander is to roote out enormities and to plant these vertues in euery Souldiers bosome neither will the blood of hot and vntamed Spirits be so apt to boyle ouer and exceede the Bounds of Rreason when they are commanded by a greater then themselues as they are when an Inferior in their owne opinion seekes to restraine them And therefore it behooues the Serieant-Maior in these reprehentions not only to shew his owne but also all other Officers authorities that are below him limming and painting them out in such liuely but dreadfull Colours that hee may strike a terror and feare into all offenders The Serieant Maior of a Regiment vpon all encampments or allodgements of the Armie is to attend the Serieant-Maior of the Field when the Campe is deuided out into Regiments he with his Quarter-Master shall take the Regiment belonging to his Colonell according to his Colonels antiquitie or greatnes of place and first shall demonstrate to the Quarter-Master which way to contriue and cast his maine streets according to the greatnes or littlenes of the ground and the best conuenience for passing in and out then where to place the Colonells Tent and Colours where the Liuetenant Colonells and where his owne and for the rest they are to be referred to the Quarter-Masters discretion If the Regiment shall be remoued far from the Armie either placed in Garrison or to defend or offend some other place then shall the Serieant-Maior both in the Field or otherwise performe both the Office of the Serieant-Maior and of the Marshall shall summon Courts of Warre with the assistance of his fellow Captaines and proceede to triall against offendors shall proportion out all Allodgments and
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
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
or the other manner These as they receiue no pay so they passe no Musters neither are they tied to any strictnesse of any particular dutie but as free and noble Gentlemen may bestow their houres in any honourable fashion They may onely claime the benefit of the Generals Table and a principall respect both from the greatest and the lesser Commanders for thereby there is not onely brought a sweetnesse both to their expence and hazards but also it giueth a notable incouragement to others to pursue the like course and so become more enabled to performe excellent things when either their King or Countrey shall haue cause to imploy them And for mine owne part I haue seene when in the necessitie of affaires and when the approch of the enemy hath awakened a double Regard to preuent danger that these voluntary Gentlemen haue beene more diligent in Watches and more seuere in performing all manner of duties then any mercenary Souldier whatsoeuer in which they haue shewed both a singular affection to the profession they had vndertaken made themselues a great deale more able and perfit and lastly breed both a delight in the well deseruing and a shame and reproach to those Sluggards whose Cowardise and Sloth hath to the by-standers administred any euill examples Voluntaries may challenge in all Marches the most honourable and principall places of the Battell which are vnder commaundement as in the morning vpon the point or head of the Vauntguard and at night vpon retrait at the foot or last part of the Reare If it be in priuate Companies they ought in curtesie to haue the leading of the principal Files to be in the Reare or amongst the Middle men and Subdiuision at their owne election for wheresoeuer they march they are euer a grace to the Battalia and both by their courage and example make euen the dullest apt for to follow their imitation Voluntaries were wont to be but some few especiall persons in an Armie and were accounted Rara Auis in terris but in these our latter succeeding times when Generals haue out of popularitie been lesse sparing of Honour and more prodigall then their forefathers in bestowing all manner of martiall Bounties what through the enticement of Loue the hope of Aduancement and the incantation of Knighthood the number of them hath been infinitly increased so that the mixture being wonderfully vnproper and the Priuiledges which they assumed needlesse and without distinction they haue bred such a confusion that in Marching Fighting Lodging nay not so much but in Victualing they haue rather brought foorth the fruits of Trouble and disorder then either ease or perfection to any part of the Armie and of this both Fraunce and England haue tasted in a very large measure the first inforcing the King to erect his Blanch-Cornet the other seeing imbarqued both for Cadiz and the Islands a Regiment of Voluntaries farre surmounting any other through the whole Armie some led by their owne ambition some by their wiues and some as they say dogges goe to Church onely for company without either noble end or almost a tollerable purpose for as they were led on by vaine glory so commonly they were followed by want and finished with disgrace and dishonor for their pride for the most part made them foes to Discipline and their feares and follies kept them in such an extrauagant course that as well might a man rule a herd of wild Bulles as a Band of such vnruly Colts in whom was neither wisdome order nor discretion And to make this good I dare affirme that in one seruice I saw a whole afternoone spent by excellent Commanders in putting two hundred Voluntaries into order and yet all labor lost nor was at any time seene to the number of fiftie that stood in their true places I haue seene them also when they haue been to march into the field so pusled for want of knowledge where to place themselues or their vassals and so offensiue to the Generall by an vndecent crowding and thronging about him that the particular Officers of the field as the Scout-masters and Corporals of the field were neither able to approach to receiue direction nor yet able to passe into the armie to deliuer aduertisements where had the company of Voluntaries been competent and orderly they might then haue bin instructed that the best places had bin neerest to the best persons and in cases of attempts the likeliest to encounter and meet with the enemy But how these may truly bee called Voluntaries I know not for euery one that is able to suite his bodie in rich clothes vnlesse he likewise apparell his minde in an obedient and formable fashion in neither worthy the name priuiledges nor respects which are due to men of this supposed Vertue It is therefore to bee vnderstood that the noble Voluntary indeed ought to be a man of Vertue and Iudgement Noble in his carriage and ready to giue all maner of good examples he ought to keepe a table at his owne charge both for the entertainment of such by whose discourse he might reape profit and also for an ease to the General whose bounty might otherwise be stretcht vnto too high a reckoning and to conclude they ought to be but few in number and those of principall regard and estimation for this fluxe is a torrent which drowneth and ouerwhelmeth both Discipline and Order and from hence it hath come to passe that I haue knowne diuers discreet Generals which haue both proclaimed and inserted in their Articles that no man of what condition soeuer without his speciall licence but vpon paine of death within such a limitation of time should either inroll himselfe vnder some one or other Captaines colours or else to depart from the Armie by which meanes the multitude of Voluntaries were lessened and none allowed but such as were of the Generals owne election a course questionlesse full of great prouidence for by that meanes many weake Troupes and Companies were made strong much disorder was preuented and a generall beauty grace was spread through the whole armie no man hath receiued losse in his entertainement vnnecessary checks haue been taken away and the benefit of the Voluntaries bountie hath done good through the whole armie where as to haue erected whole Troupes or new Companies onely of Voluntaries if the State should take exceptions thereat and denie the entertainement then must the Captaines vndergoe either checke and losse or others meanes must be shortned to draw his within compasse Thus I haue shewed the Nature the Honour the Vse the Benefit and the Offence of Voluntaries of which I know your Lordship in your owne noble Experience haue had a sufficient triall so that to detaine you with any longer Relation were but to ouerdoe what I onely striue to doe in the best perfection and therefore I will here knit vp mine Epistle with this Protestation That if in it you will be pleasd to discerne my loue in that loue your
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