Ranke may consist of as many men as you please but a File how euer the Spaniards and Italians vse it vncertaine ought neuer to bee aboue ten persons deepe except it be in marching or especiall seruice where aduantage of the ground requireth the contrary for the first man hauing discharged his Peece may in the space that nine other men shal discharge their Peeces one after another be againe in readynes and make his first place good there to discharge his Peece againe besides it is the readiest and best way for the drawing of Groses and great numbers into any forme whatsoeuer Next hee shall teach them the carriage and vse of their armes especially the Pike for the Musquet is in the Office of the Serieant the manage wherof he shall deuide into these Postures first three standing that is Lay downe your Pike Take vp your pike Order your pike Then sixe marching as Aduance your pike Shoulder your pike Leuell your pike Slope your Pike Checke your pike and Traile your pike and lastly seauen charging as Port ouer hand Port vnder hand Charge ouer hand Charge vnder hand Coutch ouer hand Couch vnder hand Charge against the right foote and draw your Sword ouer arme When these are perfect he shall teach them distance of place in Files and Rankes as when he would haue the Files to march Closest then the distance is pouldron to pouldron or shoulder to shoulder if but Close then the distance is a foote and a halfe man from man If at their Order then the distance is three foote betweene man and man and if at open-Open-Order then the distance sixe foote betweene man and man so likewise in Rankes Closest is at the Swords point Close is at three foote Order at sixe foote and Open-Order at twelue foote Now there be some that vary in the tearmes but not in the distance for they wil haue Close Order open-Open-Order and Double Distance and not the word Closest at all but the scruple is small and may be left to euery Commanders discretion After this he shall teach them March and Motions In the first whereof is little art more then in obseruing truly their Rankes and Files and distance in places For Motions they vary diuersly and some are no Marches as when The Souldier turnes but his face on one hand or other or about Some Motions change place yet no more then a remoouing from one ranke to another or from one File to another in which though some remoue yet others stand stil as in doubling of Rankes or doubling of Files and in this Motion is to be obserued that Rankes when they double to the right hand must euer turne on the left to come to their place againe and if they be doubled to the left hand they must turne on the right hand to come to their pltces againe so likewise Files when they are doubled to any hand by the doubling of Rankes to the contrary hand they are brought to their first place againe and so of Rankes in the same nature To conclude there is another Motion to be taught in which all doe moue and yet none doe March and that is the opening or closing either of Ranks or Files is of great vse when one Ranke should passe through another or the whole body of the Battalion make a Countermarch or when the Battell should bee drawne speedily more of one hand or another Lastly the Lieutenant shall teach his Souldier how to know all the sounds or beatings of the Drumme in which he shall make him obserue not only what the Drumme doth beate but also what time and measure hee keepeth and according to that time and measure so to march slower or faster to charge with greater violence or to come of with more speede also he shall teach them to know when by the Drumme to attend the Captaines directions when to repaire to their Colours and when to doe other duties and as thus by the Drumme in seruice so by his voyce and the words of directions in Trayning he shall make them doe whatsoeuer hee pleaseth and therefore the Liuetenant shall haue perfecttly in his memory all the words of directions which are accustomably spoken As Close your Files To the right hand To the left hand and all these shall be done either Closest Close to Order or open Order Then Open your Files to the right hand To the left hand and these to any order And thus to open or close Rankes and to any Order with this obseruation that Rankes when they open ought to turne to the Reare and open downeward and when they close to close vpward then Files and Rrankes close Files and Rankes open and these to any order also then Double your Files To the right hand To the left Aduance your Files to the right hand to the left Aduance by deuision to right hand or left Files ranke by conuersion to the right hand to the left Files ranke 3. 5. 7. c. Shorten your Files to 5. 8. c. Lengthen your Files to 10. 12. 16. c. Files countermarch to the right hand to the left Double your Rankes to the right hand to the left Rankes file by conuersion to the right hand to the left Rankes ranke 5. 7. c. Middle men double your front to the right hand to the left Double to both by deuision Rankes countermarch c. as in Files Then faces to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Faces about Wheele by conuersion to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Charge to the right hand to the left to both by deuision Charge to the Front Charge to the Reare Charge to both by deuision then to reduce any of these words to the same Order or Station in which the Souldier stood before they were spoken the word is As you were And herein is to be obserued that in Charging with Pikes halfe the Rankes are but to Charge and the other halfe to carry them aduanced or ported so neare the heads of the formost as they may doe them no anoyance either in Charging or Retiring and they must also obserue when they doe Charge standing to fall backe with the right foote and marching to step forward with the left Thus I haue shewed in a briefe Epistle the large extent of the Liuetenants Office in which if I be either obscure by reason of the compendiousnes thereof or a little confused in snatching here and there at his duties without setling constantly vpon any one I hope your Lordship will call to minde it is an Epistle the lawes whereof alowes me the libertie of familiar speech not of subtill argument and for mine owne part I had rather leaue many nice wits vnsatisfied then your minde cloyed or tyred The end of the Second Decad. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE WILLIAM LORD EVERS THE ARGVMENT Of the Officers of Caualarie IF I could loue Fortune in any thing my worthie Lord I should surely loue her in
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
faining some at last it grew to a custome and what at first with some difficultie they entreated now they began boldly to commaund so that collecting the infinite charge which was saued and the great expedition and also exactnes with which their workes are performed they began to make it penall in any man which should refuse this late but despised vndertakings To which some of our English Commanders more willing for their owne ends to gratifie the Dutch then to prouide for their owne Countrey-mens ease and safety gaue so farre way that now it is a thing vtterly vnrecouerable amongst them for mine owne part I doe know and must euer acknowledge that it is the dutie of euery braue and generous Spirit in cases of great necessitie to imagine that no danger toyle or basenes can be too much where either the glory of God the seruice of his Prince or the safetie of his Countrie is ingaged but in all occasions and at all times to make the well-deseruing Souldier an ordinary packe-horse I cannot but thinke the discipline too strickt and that it doth as it were giue a wound of discouragement to euery generous breast making the sweet delight of the wars turne irkesome and vnpleasing Besides it was neuer yet disputable in any discipline of warre but that Pioners were euer necessary both for the making of Mines Trenches Passages for the carying and recarying of all maner of Engines for placing bridges loading and vnloading of all kind of munition and many other works of importance for which ends they are euer armed with Spades Crowes of yron Leuers Pickaxes Baskets and wheele-barrowes to which whosoeuer shall imploy the necessary Souldier shall be sure euer to want his hand in a more needfull labour Now for the especiall dutie of the Captaine Generall of this Regiment he is first to looke to the keeping of them in good order concord and obedience to see that they haue their pay and intertainment according to their rates in as due and fit manner as any other common Souldiers that they keepe safely and make not away any of the tooles or instruments wherewith they are armed and that they be continually in readinesse vpon euery call for any imployment If the Lord-Marshall the Serieant-Maior or the Trench-Master shall draw the platforme of any Trench whether it be for the fortification of the Campe or for the assailing of any besieged Towne whether it be to bring men to the assault or else to throw vp and countermine any worke of the enemies presently vpon the first summons giuen to the Captaine of the Pioners he shal raise so many of his men as shall be commanded by the Lord Marshall or other superiour Officer and with them armed with all tooles conuenient for the seruice shall march to the head or beginning of the Trench and hauing receiued directions together with the forme and figure of the worke which is to be made hee shall foorthwith take a spade and himselfe dig vp the first turfe and then all the Pioners by that example shall instantly fall to their labor and dig the Trench according to directions during which time he shall be euer with them giuing them all maner of incouragement and prouiding that euery man do his dutie without slacknes neglect or any slouthfull action If he find that the labor be sore and difficult he shall then at his discretion relieue them by bringing new supplies and sending away those that are ouerwearied that they may be againe refreshed and thus he shal without ceasing cause the worke to be continued till euery thing be finished according to the will of the superiour Commander And in this worke is to be obserued that if it be to be done in the face of the enemy and where their shot may freely play vpon them that then ere the Pioners begin to dig they shall plant barrels and great vessels fil'd with earth and plac't in double rowes before them vnder whose guard or the guard of some other wall hill mount or gabion they shal begin to dig til they haue couered themselues in the earth then they are past perill and may proceed to work at their pleasures and whensoeuer they either come from their work or go vnto their worke still their Colours must flie before them for the Captaine of Pioners is as capable of Colours as any other Captaine whatsoeuer and may beare them mixt with the Ensigne of the kingdome in what maner himselfe pleaseth As thus he bringeth them to the digging of Trenches Mines so also it is his dutie to bring them to the making of Bulwarks or Mounts placed vpon Angles some lading carying the earth in barrels baskets and wheele-barrows by which are framed the Trauesses or flankers of the Bulwarke the Orechion which is the guard or shoulder of the Bulwark the Curtaine which is the Front the Counterfront which are the Spurrs the Pestils or Parapets the entrance in out and the place for the Artillery some ramming some knocking in piles to fasten the earth and some cutting vp turfe sods with which to assure the groundwork and as in these so in all other matters of Fortifications these Pioners are of very necessary vse and the Captain shal be sure to haue them euer ready vpon any moment of warning as either when any new workes are to be framed or any old repaired for albe these Fortifications of earth are better resisters of the Cannon then those of stone worke and both make lesse ruines and also are lesse assailable yet they are but of short continuance and will quickly decay by reason of the loosenesse of the mould if they be not continually visited with carefull eyes and presently mended by artificiall good workmen To conclude it is the office of the Captaine of the Pioners to see his Regiment euer quartered as neere vnto the munition as is possible both because they are properly appertaining thereunto being the men to carry and recarry to load and vnload the same as also because all the necessary tooles and Engines wherwith they worke and which they must daily alter according to the alteration of their labors are stored and preserued in the same This is the substance and effect of this office the which howsoeuer a greater knowledge may cloath in a great number of more wordes yet I dare assure your Lordship they will still but arriue at the same end and though the Garment may bee somewhat better to looke on yet it will be little more easie more in fashion or longer lasting TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HIS SINGVLAR GOOD LORD HENRY LORD GRAY of GROOBY THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of Foot EVery one my Lord is so great a louer of his owne designes that he is easie to be flatterd with any hope that can lend beauty to the same yet I hope it shall not so fare with me in this Epistle for since you haue with all felicitie linckt in Marriage with that sweetest
himselfe to their execution without an vtter wound to all his directions If the Captaine be commanded to any peece of seruice of what nature soeuer he shall goe to it willingly and cheerefully making good all his superiors directions to the vttermost commandment but not exceeding the limits though intic't with neuer so great hopes for it is not lawfull for him to take vpon him a knowledge which his superior hath concealed from him When his turne commeth to the Captaine of the Watch or Guard he shall send his Serieant to the Serieant Maior to fetch the Word or to some other that hath order for the same and by that Word at night he shall direct all his Sentinels and Corpes de Guards and himselfe in person shall goe the first Round yet receuing the Word not giuing it but when he pleaseth the to search Sentinels or Rounds out of a voluntary disposition then he shall giue the Word and not receiue it He shall be obedient to all the Supreame Officers of the Field to his own Colonell the Liuetenant Colonell and Serieant Maior of his owne Regiment He shal prouide for all necessaries belonging to his company as Money Meate and Munition He shall euer lodge and haue his Tent amongst them feede with them and giue them all the examples of hardnesse and frugaltie To conclude and finish vp this Epistle hee shall bee of a sweete and temperate disposition amongst them intreating aduising instructing and commanding them with all the noble pleasing Language that Nature Art or study can produce and not as men teach Dogges or Bear-wards Apes with Bitts and Blowes for it is an vnmanly and absurd crueltie neither begetting loue nor respect but Ingendring hate and discontentment whereas if he did rightly looke into the true nature of his condition the Father should be no more tender ouer his Children then the noble Captaine ouer his well deseruing Souldier for that will linke and ioyne them together as men made of one peece and as hauing but one head to contriue one heart to encourage one hand to execute and but one soule to flie to Eternity TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILLIAM LORD PETER of WRITTLE THE ARGVMENT Of the Captaine of Horse HOwsoeuer my Lord the question hath been disputable amongst all the greatest Masters of this Military Science whether the Captaine of Foot or the Captaine of Horse should take the prior Precedencie yet I notwithstanding all the Arguments doubtfully discussed on either part and of which I haue also treated in a former Epistle will be contented to submit my selfe to the common and most generall receiued opinion which is that the Horseman though not in particular yet in the ordinary vse ought to receiue the vpper hand in dignitie for in France amongst their Gentlemen at Armes and also amongst the Reisters the Lieutenants albe they haue not place nor voyces in Marshall Courts yet hold themselues in all Rankes equall with Captaines of Foot yet not euery Lieutenant of Horse but some of an espetiall order for it is to be conceiued that in Horse troupes all are not of one lineage as Foot-Companies are but differ in dignitie order and estimation according to the worthinesse of the Armes which the Horseman beareth for in the first times when Horsemen were in the height of their glories the Lieutenant to a Troupe of Gentlemen at Armes was accounted better then a Captaine of an hundred Foot a Lieutenant of Launciers his equall and a Lieutenant of Light-horse his next and imediate younger brother and before all Lieutenants of Foot whatsoeuer so in like manner in these our present times a Lieutenant of a Troupe of compleat armed French Pistoliers is reputed better in degree then a Captaine of an hundred Foot a Lieutenant of the late inuented Dragoones being not aboue sixteene inche Barrell and full Musquet bore the Foot-Captaines equall and the Lieutenant of a Troupe of Harquebussiers or Carbines his immediate younger Brother Againe Horsemen challenge the dignitie of their places according to the numbers which they hold in list and according to the manner and forme of raising those numbers for a Captaine of a hundred Horse notwithstanding any former Antiquitie is better then a Captaine of fiftie A Captaine of an hundred and fiftie will euer take place of a Captaine of one hundred and a Captaine of two hundred Horse carry on his left hand a Captaine of an hundred and fiftie Horse and so contrariwise ranking with the Foot fiftie Horse precedes an hundred Foot an hundred horse two hundred foot and so of all numbers whatsoeuer and to this the Horsemen doe adde sundry Reasons saying that a man may as easily raise fiue hundred Foot as fiftie Horse and a thousand Foot as one hundred Horse now if the Captaine raise this Troupe of his owne charges it must needs argue that hee is of greater estate and hath made himselfe liable to a greater charge then any Footman can doe and so consequently deserueth a greater respect from the Magistrate and more serious reuerence from the common people But if the Prince raise the Companies then it includes that he inferres vpon the Horseman the greater Trust and so of necessitie the greater honour Lastly there is required from the Captaine of Horse a greater vnderstanding and a much deeper Consultation in the manage of his affaires then from the Footman which greater Vertue must carry with it the greater Place or else there will be partialitie and not vprightnesse in the Iudgement Touching his Election the Horse-Captaine must haue all those vertuous parts which are acquired in the Foot-Captaine and that with a more larger and fuller measure of perfection in as much as he hath not onely to doe with Man but with Beastes also and must by the excellencie of his owne gouernment tame and bring to obedience both wilde Man wilde Horse and sometimes Boyes wilder then either the one or the other creature And to this Fasickle or bundle of vertues which are needlesse againe to repeat hee must haue one other excellencie added which is as good as great as necessary and as glorious as any of the other and that is he must bee a perfit and absolute Horseman not knowing like one of our Signe-Saint Georges onely how to bestride and sit vpon a horse faire armed without motion but how and in what manner both to mooue himselfe and the horse making an vnreasonable Beast doe reason to all his commaundements and by the motions of his hand legge or body to vnderstand as from a sensible language to performe all things belonging to the mans reasonable pleasure In plainenesse hee shall not onely bee a good Horseman himselfe but also shall with diligence labour to make his whole Troupe good Horsemen teaching them first how to sit vpon their horses in a faire and comely pasture carrying their bodies straight and vpright the right hand bearing his Launce or Pistoll coucht vpon his thigh the left hand with the Bridle raine
there is in him a generall power of controlment so that should the least want of perfection draw him into contempt it were an vtter losse to his Reputation and an infinite great weakening to the whole Seruice It is then to be vnderstood that if the Regiment or Battalion consist which I wish and whereto all approued Souldiers both auncient and moderne giue allowance of one thousand men deuided into fiue seuerall Companies and each Company holding the contents of two hundred men a peece that then the Serieant-Maior hath his raunge iust in the mid'st two marching before him that is to say the Colonell and the Liuetenant-Colonell and two marching behind him which are the two youngest and Inferior Companies so that two command him and two are commanded by him yet in the absence of the Colonell and Liuetenant-Colonell he then commandeth all the fiue Companies and hath superior command aboue all Captaines and Inferior Officers whatsoeuer being as the Colonell himselfe The Serieant-Maior of a Regiment is the imediate next degree aboue an ordinary Captaine and reputed in all places to precead them as being their elder Brother Now touching the effects of his duty and Office in the Regiment he is as before I said the Marshall of the whole Battalion or Squadron and as the one ruleth and formeth what proportions soeuer he pleaseth of the whole Army so this man deuideth subdeuideth and fashioneth what figures and formes he pleaseth of his owne Regiment and as the Serieant-Maior of the Armie bringeth vp by the appointment of the Marshall great Grosses compounded of sundry Regiments to make vp the forme and figure of the Battell he intendeth so doth this Serieant-Maior of a Regiment bring vp vnto the Serieant-Maior of the Armie either all or part of his Regiment in such forme as hee shall bee appointed to the making vp of the Grosse and greater Body wherein is to be noted that as Serieants of Bands are assistant to the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments for deuiding of perticular Spuadrons Files or halfe Files for the making vp of any Body whether it consist of odde euen broken or whole numbers according to directions so the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments are assistant to the Serieant-Maior of the Armie in bringing vp to him what Deuisions or Bodies soeuer shall bee called for whether they consist of ods euens or any other certaine or vncertaine number for it is a thinge impossible either for Lord-Marshall or the Serieant-Maior of an Army to take vpon him the manage of euery mans perticular company or to do those great and powerful duties which are expected at their hands without some strong sufficient assistance whence it comes that the priuate Captaines by the assistance of the ordinary Serieants keeping their companies or order the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments by the care of the priuate Captaines keeping the Regiments in true forme and the Serieant-Maior of the Army by the skill of the Serieant-Maiors of Regiments being able to forme Grosse Bodies into what figure hee thinkes conuenient the Lord Marshall of the Field may in a trice and vpon the Instant of any word giuen Forme vnforme change or alter any Battell according as either the aduantage of the ground the manner of the enemies marching or any other perticuler occurrent shal administer occasion And that this duty may be performed with all carefull seuerity euery Serieant-Maior of a Regiment either in long marches or otherwise is allowed his hackney to ride on from company to company and to looke that as the Captaines doe range their Companies in an orderly and true forme that so likewise the whole Regiment consist of an euen iust and beautifull proportion and not suffering any man of what degree soeuer either through Pride Stubbornesse Neglect Couetousnes of Pilage or any other dilitory weake excuse to breake or goe out of his Ranke or to disproportion any part of the maine Body by any rude or vncomely Posture but vpon the first apprehension thereof seuearely to rebuke the same and compell a speedie reformation for it is a customary thinge in the warres that men of great Birth and qualitie doe vsually traile Pikes and what through the guard of their Captaines fauor the rashnesse of their owne youthfull wills the presumption of other mens examples and the assuming of an vnnecessary freedome from some other perticuler beholdingnes they grow oft times disorderly and vnruly and will not bee commanded by the ordinary Sergeants or at least the Sergeant dare not command where he knowes admonition will but bring backe contempt to breed a much worse example in this case the Serieant-Maior is presently to arme himselfe with his owne power and to let such offendors know that Blood hath no priuiledge if once it rebell against Obedience and that Gentlemen doe runne backe from their vertue into the Bassenes of euery earthtie condition when they forget that their Commanders haue a Goodnes worthy their Obodience an Authority fit to exercise their Patience and a Knowledge to which they ought to tie their vttermost Diligence Nay it is certaine that a Gentleman cannot expresse Loue in any thing more then in Reuerence Dutie in nothing like Obedience nor Modestie but when hee admires his Commanders Excellence Our Serieant-Maior then being a Captaine and a principall Commander is to roote out enormities and to plant these vertues in euery Souldiers bosome neither will the blood of hot and vntamed Spirits be so apt to boyle ouer and exceede the Bounds of Rreason when they are commanded by a greater then themselues as they are when an Inferior in their owne opinion seekes to restraine them And therefore it behooues the Serieant-Maior in these reprehentions not only to shew his owne but also all other Officers authorities that are below him limming and painting them out in such liuely but dreadfull Colours that hee may strike a terror and feare into all offenders The Serieant Maior of a Regiment vpon all encampments or allodgements of the Armie is to attend the Serieant-Maior of the Field when the Campe is deuided out into Regiments he with his Quarter-Master shall take the Regiment belonging to his Colonell according to his Colonels antiquitie or greatnes of place and first shall demonstrate to the Quarter-Master which way to contriue and cast his maine streets according to the greatnes or littlenes of the ground and the best conuenience for passing in and out then where to place the Colonells Tent and Colours where the Liuetenant Colonells and where his owne and for the rest they are to be referred to the Quarter-Masters discretion If the Regiment shall be remoued far from the Armie either placed in Garrison or to defend or offend some other place then shall the Serieant-Maior both in the Field or otherwise performe both the Office of the Serieant-Maior and of the Marshall shall summon Courts of Warre with the assistance of his fellow Captaines and proceede to triall against offendors shall proportion out all Allodgments and
foure Corporals of the Field THe weakest knowledge my Lord that one man can get of another is that of the Eye for it is shallow and can sinke no deeper then the vtmost skin vncertaine and apt to change with euery infirmitie and imperfect being swayed by the violence and furie of passion the Eare is a much better Intelligencer and doth more truely declare our minds to others and others to our selues so that being the principall Sence both of Instruction and Friendship wee ought in all our designes to labour for its greatest satisfaction I am my Lord a stranger to your Eye with your Eare I would faine Insinuate and though I can bring you but a plaine and dull sound yet questionlesse if you please to examine the notes aright how euer you find little Musicke yet you shall relish a great deale of concord of which the latter is more sweet though the other be more cunning but whatsoeuer it be yours it must now be for so my vow hath made it so doth the Range and Ranke of your noble place commaund it The next great Officers preceding the former and vpon whose Range I am in this place hapned are the Foure Corporals of the Field who haue their dependance only vpon the Serieant-maior and are called his Coadiutors or Assistants being according to the manner custome of our late moderne warres in number but foure and no more who for their election ought to bee Gentlemen of great Dexteritie Knowledge and Iudgement such as haue at least been Captaines in other times and for their preferments are aduanced to these places wherein they haue no particular commands of any particular Companies which doe peculiarly belong to themselues but haue a generall charge and care of the whole Army they ought to bee men of great respect and estimation hauing gotten that authoritie of Trust and Beliefe amongst the common Souldiers through the prosperity of their affaires that whatsoeuer they command or direct may bee performed with a kind of religious seueritie as matters of high worth and importance for in an Army there cannot be a greater blemish then when these men shall come within the compasse of contempt or misdoubting Besides if these noble parts should be absent which are required in men of this high place and qualitie the disrepute not only seazeth vpon them but vpon the Serieant-maior also whēce it commeth that although the Generall himselfe doth many times take vpon him the nomination and election of these Officers yet particularly they doe belong only to the Serieant-maior for as the whole Army is to him but one entire and full Company so are these Corporal 's his inferiour Officers by whose skill and conduct he gouerneth and disposeth of the whole Bodie Touching the particular duties belonging to their place they are continually in all occasions of Action to accompany and attend vpon the Serieant-maior who being a man of infinit imployment as hauing a body that must bee almost in all places and that at one instant and a voyce which like thunder must bee heard neere farre off and indeed through euery corner yet for as much as his materiall body cannot be so transported therefore he hath these foure Gentlemen his Coadiutors or Substitutes who being dispersed at the foure corners of the Army doe as the foure winds ouer the world carry and conuay his directions ouer all the Army which that it may be done with more fulnesse of perfection the Serieant maior shall with these foure Corporals of the field from time to time continually consult communicat both his proper Authoritie and also the greatnesse of his affaires and making them as his especiall Counsellors by whose experience and skill all his endeauors are to be assisted neither shall he alone doe them this particular honor in himselfe but also make all Captaines and inferior Officers in the Army both to hold their persons in reuerence and also to performe their commaundements with care respect and diligence These Corporals of the field then being knowne Officers of this eminence in the fild are to carry the directions of the Serieant-maior ouerall the Army and whether it march stand still or fight they are to passe from place to place and see performed whatsoeuer shall proceed either from him or the Lord Marshall sometimes bringing vp Regiments and ioyning them into greater bodies somtimes deuiding and lessening them into smaller parts sometimes sorting and drawing one weapon from another disposing the Pikes one way and the Shot another sometimes culling out speciall Bands for speciall purposes either for Wings Forlornes or else to entertaine or relieue Skirmishes and sometimes disposing of Guards for the safetie of the Munition and Baggage all which as they are to performe them onely by directions and not the authority of their owne iudgements so likewise they shal doe them speedily faithfully and valiantly And as thus they are vpon the dayes of battell or when any necessary preparation is to be made continuall drummes in the eares of the Foot-companies so vpon commandement likewise they must bee shrill Trumpets to sound to the Horse-troups also drawing them either one way or other according as they shall be commanded whether it bee in framing any great Body or battel or in separating Regiments sending some to guard the great Ordnance some to answere the enemies Horsemen some to charge vpon the Pikes and some to scowre off on round about the field to spie all aduantages and see in what part the enemy is most weakened And that all these things may be done almost as soone as spoken it is meet that all these foure Corporals of the Field bee exceeding well mounted of most nimble swift tough and well winded horses by the assistance of which in a trice they may passe from one place to another seeing euery one of their cōmandments put in execution before they passe to another direction and heerein is to be obserued that these foure Corporals are to bee obeyed in all their commandements with as great feruency and respect as any other superior Officer whatsoeuer for indeed they are no other then their voices nay sometimes the voyce of the Generall or the King himselfe These Corporals haue the raunging of Battels and the shaping or proportioning of the figure according to the Serieant-maiors demonstration distributing themselues as it shal please the Serieant-maior or Lord Marshall to appoint to sundry weapons one bringing vp Pikes another Shot a third the great Ordnance and the fourth the Pioners or Myners one shall send the Men at Armes one way another shall send the Pistoliers another way a third shall giue directions to the Carbines and a fourth shall place the Dragoones where their seruice may be most conuenient Thus shall euery man haue his hands full the enemy continually bee assailed and offended and Order at no time either shooke or broken Neither shall these Officers alone in the action and heat of Battell haue only regard to the
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
all kind of Armes and is to see the necessitie of euery Regiment supplied To conclude he must be a generall Father ouer all the Armie and to prouide the good of the Souldiers as for his naturall children he is to heare the complaints of all the inferior Serieant-maiors of Regiments and to see that they may haue speedy dispatches This is the greatest substance and the most materiall parts which depend vpon this great Officer which his owne vnderstanding may amplifie according to the administration of occasions so that fixing knowledge and vse together the world will become rich by his help and others much fortified by his encouragements TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD KNIVET OF ESGRIG THE ARGVMENT Of the Colonell Generall DAnger euer my good Lord stands at the doore where Intermedling enters and hardly shal a man either tarry or returne but some mischeife still will bee tripping at his heeles especially when men meddle with great mens businesses which is like the paring of a Lyons claw where if the least cut procure paine it is ten to one but the cutter is made guilty of his owne distruction I confesse I am ascended into a Subiect beyond mine experience yet on this side my reading so that as it may bee dangerous for me to resolue any thing in them from mine owne Iudgment yet it shal be thanks worthy in me to write their owne their equal Authority Necessities require hazard sometimes and since it is needfull that I speake something both of this and the other subiects following let me not be blamed if modestly I tempt reprehension your Lordship is one of the oldest fixed Starres within the Spheare of our Court to a better experience I cannot flie vnder a nobler Nature I cannot suffer be pleased then to reade this poore Briefe and how euer in low words it treat of high things yet when the meaning shall be truely expounded nothing shall bee found but an honest admiration fixt vpon all Heroicall vertue The Colonell-generall of the Infantrie or as some call him the Liuetenant-Generall of the Foote ought to bee a man of noble descent high place and great authority both in vertue and prudence for hee hath a Supreame and especiall commandment ouer all the Foote Bands which are contained within the whole Armie and when he is chosen according to desert and merit he is then presupposed to be a man of Infinite experience and iudgement being the eldest and principallest Souldier in all the armie which hath not a place of greater precedence except by some extraodinary merit which is almost gotten within the Ranke of miracles he be out gone by some of his latter and much younger Companions for it is certaine that no Generall can without the Cloud of much enuy giue a precedency away from so many worthy and renowned Colonels but vpon rare desert or in case of some superexcellent perfection This doubtlesse was the rule of the first World when men imagined that Honour lay in the hands and not in the Bloud and when such as had the bestowing of these places being mearely men without any other addition could looke no way but forward that is to the obiect on which they had fixed their contentments or downeward to the meanes wherby they might compasse their Ambitions euen then when Honour was so temporary and mortall that any Frowne Thunder or Lightening of Greatnesse could kill split and vtterly consume it But in these latter Times since Wisdome maryed to Diuinitie began to build vp this goodly Temple of true Honor whose eies are so cleere and truly set that she can locke backward to see what she was vpward to finde the cause from whence true glory proceedeth since men came to know on whom to depend and whom to thanke since Honor came to gaine the eternitie of an hereditary right and that all tittles and tenures were false and sophisticate but such as mearely depended on heauen since this I say was knowne and approued all these great and materiall Offices haue had another manner of disposing and this place of a Colonell-Generall of a Foote Armie hath beene and is many times bestowed vpon younge Princes and Noble men who inuited by the powerfulnesse of their vertues haue betaken themselues vnto the warres and euen at their first entrances haue had these places conferred vpon them as in the occurrents of all estates we may see many present examples sometimes for a protection and countenance to the cause taken in hand and an inciting and stirring vp other men which haue dependance on those great persons to aspeedy immitation and following of their courses and sometimes to gratefie the great deeds and beneficences of their famous progenitors or else as a Schoole or Accademie wherein Nobilitie being to be brought vp in all the waies of perfection they haue these formes or Rankes of proceedings allowed for their exhaltation nor is it without good Ground of Reason for howsoeuer the Office carry in it a great preheminence or supreame authority yet in the execution thereof there is little expected from the person more then countenance of the place and a noble ciuill Gouernment the sway and effect thereof being fully and in all perfection to be discharged by the Serieant-maior generall the Colonels and the vnder Officers belonging to their Regiments So that I inferre although this place for honors sake and the aduancememt of a braue deseruer might properly apertaine to an ancient graue and well deseruing Souldier yet also to giue merit to a fresh and faire springing hope and to keepe the Flowers of true honor in their nature luster it may with as good right be bestowed vpon Princely and Noble personages in whom there is a liuing hope of many forme great actions though at the beginning they be punies in the warres and haue nothing but the Theoricke knowledge to commend their fortunes To this Colonell-generall the Serieant-Maior of the Armie all Colonels of Foote and with them all priuate Captaines of Foote and their Inferior Officers must continually bee obedient for they are as it were Liuetenants and Substitutes vnder him taking at his hands all orders and directions by which to mannage the whole Armie and therefore it is the Office and duty of the Colonell-generall daily and at speciall appointed times to call the Serieant-maior and the Colonels of the Foote companies vnto him and with them as with the best Councellors of estate to confer and reason of all matters appertaining to his place and Office taking from them that sound aduice and instruction which coopling and mixing with his owne noble determinations may make all his directions most sound and perfect And that he may imploy nothing more then his noble countenance and fauour to euery warlike proceeding the Serieant-maior is pleased to take vpon him all bodily labors and to ride vp and downe the Army with his directions and to see all things performed which any way appertaines to his great Place and