Warre and deep-amazing Alarmes yet when I call to mind the excellencie of your Noble Blood and see how it springs out of the two heroicke Fountaines of Rutland and Willoughbie the first whereof Nature and dutie commands me to honour the other the goodnes of their owne vertues me thinks I see that strong promise of great Spirit within you that it seemes to say If the great Henrie of France playing amongst the Boyes of Pau was at ten yeares old chosen for a Generall why not you at as young be fit for Souldierly cogitations doubtlesse you are doublesse you will be and in that assurance I am bold to knocke at your eare with this short and plaine Epistle which when you haue pleased to reade if you finde nothing in it for your present vse then lay it by t is ten to one but ere an age or lesse be consumed you shall find occasion to reuiew it and though you finde nothing absolute and rare yet something there may be in it worthy your obseruation and knowledge The next degree or Station aboue the two Officers last named and who also is a dependant vpon the Master of the Ordnance taking from him most of his commands and directions is the Trench-master who by some and not vnproperly is called the Engine-master the qualitie of whose Office consisteth generally in matter of Fortifications Immurings and â—ntrenchments for he is both to fortifie the Campe and also to make the approches It is he that must communicate and mixe Art and Nature so well together that lending to either the perfections which it wanteth 〈◊〉 â—…kes the vniuersall Body of his worke absolute and impregnable for as Nature in some places may bee a great assistance vnto him for the perfecting of his worke so Art in other places must either take all authoritie vpon her or the whole worke bee left naked and weake to any approch or assault of the enemy so that in this Officer or Trench-master must bee a knowledge at the first apprehension or viewing how much Nature can any way helpe him in his worke and how much Art is necessary to the bringing of Nature to the fulnesse of perfection for it is to be vnderstood that Nature is a good houswife and saueth much charges in all Fortifications when Art is a prodigal and lauisheth out both coine and mens labours therefore in this mans Office is required a good husbanding of both their conditions and a finishing of the purpose he goeth about at as easie and small a charge as may be He is an Officer at whose hands are required a two fold dutie the one of Safetie the other of Hurt or Annoyance for to his friends he must be a strength and safeguard and to his enemies a plague and mischiefe It is requisite that in his election he be chosen a man of learning and experience especially skilfull in the Mathematickes and all Geometricall rules and proportions and that he haue the authority of long practise sound knowledge to countenance and defend whatsoeuer hee vndertaketh for in his Braine and Brest and the strength of his profession consisteth the safetie of the whole Armie which is lodg'd within the compasse of his intrenchments for his Art must be their wall of defence and by the square of his iudgement is their securitie lost or made perfect When therefore the plot of Ground for emcamping is appointed and chosen out by the Lord Marshall and that the Quarter-master hath deuided it into sundry large quarters for the generall receit of the whole Armie then shall the Trench-master forthwith stake out the vttermost verge and extreamest part thereof for the best aduantage of the Campe and the greatest hurt and annoyance that can be to the enemy which done according to the best proportions which will agree with the nature of the ground and those formes into which the Marshall and Quarter-masters haue formed the Campe he shall draw his Intrenchments and Fortifications girdling and surrounding the same in such manner about that the enemy may in no wise make any attempt thereupon without his certaine losse and hindrance and making all his approches and entrances to the Campe with such intricate Art and vnder such Guards and defences of its owne strength that the enemy may neither haue hope nor abilitie at any time to giue vpon the same but when hee shall returne backe repulst and laden both with shame and dishonour I haue in mine owne experience knowne some principall great Commanders as namely Sir William Pelham a noble and renowned Souldier who was Lord Marshall in my Lord of Leicesters time in the Low countries and after him Sir Francis Vere who both by experience and obseruation were wonderfully skilfull in this kind and notwithstanding both of them had most excellent Officers vnder them and men of exceeding rare knowledge in these practises yet in these great important affaires of Fortifications and Assurances in guarding of the Campe they still performed all things by their owne proper Commaund and directions neither could any danger how eminent or certaine soeuer either in the viewes approches or discouery of places fit to be fortified deterre or keepe them backe but notwithstanding they both receiued many great and almost deadly wounds yet still they performed those seruices in their owne persons But this was the perfection of their knowledge and the absolute rarenesse of their courage which is not alwaies found out in men of their high place and commaundement therefore it is expedient that in euery Army there should be this distinct and especial officer both for the generall safetie of the Souldier that hee may march without hazard to the approches outward skirts of the campe which as it were outfaceth the enemy and also being there may be defended against any Sallies Stratagems or other annoyances as also to haue a freedome of power to mount their Ordnance at pleasure and to make Mounts to receiue the Artillery also to raise Caualiers to digge Mines vnder earth or running Trenches to any Curtaine or Bulwarke whereby either the whole frame or at least the Orâ—chion Tronera or Pendent may bee molested or destroyed beside a world of other new deuices both to secure the camp and repulse the enemy when he shall vndertake any attempt against it This officer must haue a ready and pregnant skill in casting out the true proportion of all manner of Trenches forming the depths and breadths thereof according to Art and the imployment for which they were first framed It behoues him to know how to forme and modell out all sorts of Bulwarks making them large and massie how to make election of his earth for toughnesse and firmenesse how to ramme it pile it and in case the mould be light and subtill then in what sort to temper and mixe it and to bring it to a body that shall be tough closse and sollid then how to cast his ditches both about and betweene each seuerall Bulwark how to
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
a Dauid in valour a Solomon in wisdome and an Ezekias in zeale making the world know what a great Iudgement can doe in a great Fortune a great modestie in a great power and a victorious arme in a renowned Triumph To be briefe this Generall is he which ought to be a Godly man a Good man Great Mercifull Wise Happy most Honor'd and most Worthy which howsoeuer some may imagine to be a man sooner found in Eutopia then any of our owne discouered Kingdomes yet doubtlesse many such there are and at least so neare as can be such a man for this place ought euer to be elected Touching the power of his Commandment let it suffice me briefely to say that as he commands all so the commandments which belong vnto all are truely his and he vnto the whole Armie must be the cheife and principall Moouer Touching his Skill and Gouerment in direction in preuention and in Marshall Discipline it ought to be so Illustrate and Shining and so able to inchant with the felicities of his Fortunes that not only his owne people but all that farre or neere stood to gaze on his proceedings how euer the wind blow vncertainly or his course seeme doubtfull yet with all willingnesse might be proud to Imbarque themselues in that vessell whose Pilot in gouerning the Helme was so aboue wonder that euen the Seas as a second Neptune seemd euer to obey him And hence it appeares that hee ought to bee a Souldier euen from his Cradle running through or at least respecting euery place and distinction of Office from the lowest Sentinell to the last great place of his present abiding and that not in one kind but in both also Horse and Foote making vp as it were one singuler Arte with both their perfections and coupling together euery Nerue so with Studie and Obseuation that all things may appeare easie and within the leuell of his Conquest to this end his power must be absolute and vnrestrained that flying with vnpinion'd wings it may seeme to be hid within the Skie of the greatest Actions In which way nothing can prosper him so much as Pietie and Religion for fearing God it will not only pull vpon him a blessing but administer to his people noble examples His Birth howeuer Plato be differing in opinion fearing least the regard of Blood should drownd the regard of vertue ought to be Noble for the great Spirit neuer declines but when it turnes backe on persecution it is they and only they which climbe by sure or safe Stayres Lower Fortunes when they rise commonly either Iumpe and bound vp too suddenly or stride and climbe so vnaduisedly that danger tripping at their heeles shame often thrustes them downe with a thousand disgraces but if they get vp by a true and direct way then they ennoble themselues nor doth Honor lose any grace when hee placeth Merit aboue him This Officer would be of ripe and vnderstanding yeares for youth is traueling but hath not attained to the iourney of experience and age how able soeuer it compound the minde yet it still must lodge in a Weake and Impotent body His features and proportion ought to bee comely and delightfull for models are better and with more delight taken from faire Structures then Ruinous buildings and his Speach would be gracefull pleasant and succinc't for in the warres it is a vertuous charme and accounted the most wholesomest Inchantment To conclude he ought to haue a principall regard of his owne safetie for Generals when too freely they thrust themselues into dangers are not carelesse of their owne but of the health of the Armie and the trespasse is made against the publique when any rashnesse hales the priuate into danger let him therefore only outbraue danger not wooe it let him with a bold for head and face fired with Courage a heart discreete and a minde that can preuent what Fortune dare to threaten not run into but resist hazards so shall he excell in good Fortunes and the world shall confesse that nothing he attempts but is assisted with Glory Grauetie Iudgement and Bouldnesse The end of the fift and last Decad.