of vice to giue a liuely spirit to the desire of vertue to maintaine a due proportion in all Offices and to win the constant loue of a Commonwealth with excellent prudence and desert yet without these either in the prince in him that counselleth or in them both no Commonwealth can flourish for the natures of mens wits are threefold that which is principall and sacred can out of his owne iudgement without assistance aduise and execute soundly with all commendable facilitie the second dealeth wisely by direction the third can doe neither the first excellent in it selfe the second laudable by the first the last vnprofitable in all If therefore the prince haue this principall gift then is hee the Sunne to those starres of his Counsell which giue a reasonable light from his influence being a sweet perfection of goodnesse in any Commonwealth And if his Counsellours haue that diuine spirit of Sapience in themselues by Gods ordinance for the weale of his people where the prince hath this second facultie to be directed or perswaded by them yet is that notwithstanding a strong sufficient and good state But if both the Prince and his Counsell hold the substance of all good wisedome in themselues wisely to consult and direct being willing also to be counselled and directed in wisedome without doubt that dominion will flourish and amplifie Contrarily what a wretched and ruinous estate which faileth both in the prince and in his counsell As when God had purposed to destroy the state of Israel he threatened to that nation how children should beare their scepter and feeble persons direct their publicke counsels Which kind of feeblenesse is attributed not vnaptly to foolish and ambicious counsellors whom Salust in one Oration to Caius Iulius Caesar resembleth vnto the superfluous ballase of a ship which as things vnprofitable minimique precij vpon the suddaine violence of any tempest the masters and Officers being puzzled and in distresse hoise first ouer board Neither can it serue that the prince haue all which may be required in himselfe onely but that they which must ayde him in administration of his estate bee furnished with competent knowledge also for as it sufficeth not to keepe the bodie in health by withdrawing all euill humors and infirmities from the head vnlesse the heart with other principall and inward members of the bodie bee semblably with due correspondence attempered in their seuerall functions so doth it not accord that the king being absolute in his parts onely the state also should be safe if his Senatours doe not by some dutifull diligence and proportion of vertues answerable knit all up in perfection For what is hee that can consult and dispatch many serious causes at once and absolutely without helpe Suppose him more found in wisdome and knowledge than Salomon or stronger by three degrees than Hercules yet doth experience in nature teach vs that a necessarie necessitie requireth this election of approoued good Counsellors without which ayde no prince can support the burthen of a kingdome neither can his owne outward sences properly performe those inward Offices which are required towards the ruling of a multitude Besides according with Tacitus No man is so naturally prompt or hath that dexteritie to deale in his owne cause which he shall find in himselfe solliciting for another And in another place Grauissimi principis labores queis orbem terrae capessit egent adminicutis The most serious labours of a prince by which hee winneth the whole earth stand in need of helpes For they to whom much businesse and many people are committed haue much need of counsell Euery good Prince which did formerly gouerne was attended with as many Counsellors as he was with eyes eares and hands Caius Caesar with Quintus Paedius and Cornelius Balbus Augustus with Mecoenas and Agrippa Adrianus with Celsus Saluius and Neratius Marcus Antoninus with Scaeuola Mutianus and Volatianus Seuerus with Papinianus And to be short our late Princes of most fortunate and blessed memorie Queene Elizabeth and your Maiestie with Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Walter Mildemay Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir Francis Walsingham William Lord Burghley Robert Earle of Leycester Robert Cecyll Earle of Salisburie Sir The. Egerton Lord Elesmere and Chancellor Sir Tho. Sackuylle Earle of Dorset now Lord Treasurer with diuerse others And hence is it that Cicero noteth Not with swiftnesse and bodily strength great matters are ordered but with counsell and authoritie Likewise Salust With much reading and hearing I find that all Nations haue beene prosperous so long as iust counsell preuailed with them but being once with partialitie feare and pleasure corrupted presently their wealth wasted their Empire vanished and slaâ—…erie tyrannized vpon them And as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus writeth the cause why Rome so long flourished was That the gouernours of the Empire were directed by Counsels of the Senate not following their owne opinions for by the assembly of wise Counsellors the princes wisedome is encreased As Capitolinus writeth Bonus fit si bonis amicis vtatur That Prince which maketh vse of good friends is made a good Prince By their Counsels likewise saith Otho the Emperour in Tacitus is the goodnesse and wisedome of princes opened also Salust calleth Prosperitatem regis famam Consiliarij The kings prosperitie to depend vpon the Counsellors fame and so by good inuersion the fame of a Counsellour to depend vpon the kings prosperitie But it is needlesse to stand so much vpon the necessitie thereof being so well knowne to the weakest iudgement A Counsell therefore according to Bodin is a lawfull congregation or assembly of choise persons which aduise the king in times of peace and warre how to gouerne the Commonwealth and as Furio Ceriolano defineth them Counsellors are apt persons chosen for fit businesse in whom there is required good sufficiencie towards the administration of all matters debated in Counsels Demosthenes therefore calleth consultation The chapiter and constancie the base of all vertues I will particularly speake in my third booke of Offices somwhat concerning the Councels of England and hauing in these Offices occasion generally to touch the secret councels of a state also I will breifely write what I haue in part gathered concerning the strict and priuat councell of France omitting the councell at large which is called the Grand Counsell consisting vpon the L. Chauncellour to whom with the maisters of the Requests for their more ease and expedition in publicke businesse with which theyformerly were much entangled king Charles the eight added seuenteene councelours spirituall and temporall After whom his successor Lewes the 12 superadded one prelate and two more counsellours fulfilling the number of 20 besides two secretaries whereof one did serue in place of an actuarie it being further ordayned that these should keepe six moneths continually together in councell betwixt seuen and ten in the forenoone and after dinner betwixt three and fiue houres This Senate therfore which the French king doth
intollerable subsidies for if such publicke businesses in a Commonwealth oppresse the prince which according to the best iudgements being great and multiplied doe through prudent consultation foresight and caution ioyfully propagate all Soueraigne empire then must it necessarily follow that a generall aid be ministred by the commons for their generall good least otherwise the publicke treasure be through want of such tributarie supplies drawne to the bottome whereas it ought continually to bee multiplied and cherished Etenim qui rempublicam gubernabunt consulere debebunt vt earum rerum copia sit quae sunt necessariae Which if they do carefully respect sildome or neuer shall any vehement cause happen to them of exaction And therefore that good and charitable Emperour Traiane vtterly disallowing and detesting all compulsion and priuie pinches in those cases Fiscum lienem vocauit quod eo scilicet crescente artus reliqui cōtabescunt Howbeit that sentence in some cases to me seemeth more verely physicall according to the letter than morally philosophicall answering to the sence And therefore partafrugaliter tuendo many such inconueniences are preuented Magis etenim dedecus est parta amittere quāomninò nō paruisse This treasure therfore ought to be cherished the cherishing wherof is principally found in cutting off all idle and superfluous expences for therein it doth as well encrease by sauing as receiuing It likewise augmenteth by the bold and industrious valour of them which make great and honourable aduentures as well by land seruice as nauall for their countries glorie returning after a long laborious and chargeable voyage loaden with treasure and commodities So did the noble Romane Aemilius bring from the Macedonians which spoyle was so rich and great that it eased the people of Rome many yeares after from tributes of which hostile booties he was knowne not to bring any thing to his priuate houses or hampers sauing onely the renoume of his triumphs and victories which how well he demerited is witnessed in noble historie Such excellent and precious countreymen should be furnished at the common charge with ships men armes and prouision that they might exercise themselues in those seruices which should increase and magnifie the Commonwealth I may not forgett Sir Francis Drake so much remembred and acknowledged through the whole world which he cōpassed for his noble skill and industrious fortitude who did both much benefit magnifie the state of this land being not borne of any very noble parentage Howbeit that his working good spirit and better fortunes alwaies incited him to some honourable interprise which in the late raigne of blessed Queene Elizabeth brought much coine and bullion of gold and siluer vnto the princes treasures somewhat out of hostile spoyles from the Spaniards taken by that euer renowmed Earle of Cumberland in his nauall voyages To whom at this day we shall find few comparable for their painfull aduētures equiualuable with the trauels either of Crist. Colombo or Hernando Cortez if you will superadde therunto that excellēt fortune and natiue valour which alwayes accompanied and winged their heroicall enterprises I might speake here of Sir Thomas Candish of Sir Humfrey Gilbert but hauing mentioned Sir Francis Drake in him is comprised so much as they could deserue Diuers other gallant gentlemen borne here in England amongst vs which being yet young and aliue haue percase some fortunes in store to make them as glorious in such seruices as any that euer trauailed My meaning is not here that by the direptions piracies depredations of cities or nations confederated and vnited which is meerely dishonest and vnprofitable to farce and gorge vp the common Treasuries for so much as it withstandeth all reason and humane policie with true colour emblazoning the violation and breach of peace and amitie which vndoubtedly bringeth a most lamentable confusion with it vnto those princes and Commonweales in their estâtes that are both agents and patients in these cases but onely with the spoyles of maleuolent mischieuous and professed enemies by whose oppression their whole state is weakened and in whose weakenesse our forces are confirmed such as cannot be more malicious or mortall aduersaries for any violence which wee can offer vnto them Treasures gotten from such ambitious and maleuolent people are laudable and magnifie the state of our kingdomes Such verely were the spoiles which Lucius Mummius Collegue in Censorship to Paulus Aemylius aforesaid brought from the state of a most opulent and braue citie by which atchieuements Cicero noteth in his Offices that Mummius was not a penny the wealthier in his owne priuate purse than before Adde hereunto not vnlike in magnificence though their fortunes were vnequall the condition of that sometimes right noble and vnfortunate Lord of good memorie Robert Earle of Essex after his expedition to Cales By which example in himselfe hee made knowne to the couetous captaines of his time and vnto those which had heard of his victories that true glorie was meerely the subiect and substance of his seruice which hee shared with his countrey treasure the meede of his militarie men which hee magnificently distributed amongst them And certainely there is not any thing which more to life representeth the noble conditions and natures of gallant souldiers in highest militarie reputation than either their great victories and spoyles or their calamities and disfortunes for the bearing of themselues equall and the same in both extremities without insolence or abiection clearely manifesteth to the world their vertues Neither can any thing be more precious and amiable in the sight of people than a magnificent and bountifull magistrate Hunc enim maximé populus admiratur qui pecunia non mouetur quod in quo viro perspectum sit hunc dignum spectatu arbitramur c. Such princes therefore vndoubtedly win a generall good opinion and admiration in seeming to despise those treasures and pleasures which some weake princes and all vulgar persons hold precious howbeit with such a negligent semblance as neither prodigalitie may preiudice their estates nor their negligence by not seeking out honourable means to maintaine that excellent good fame may diuert all lawfull and commendable helpes for the support thereof This Office amongst diuerse otherwayes to weaken it is laid open to those massie charges which the prince vndergoeth in his warres and from the fountaine thereof all inferiour Treasurers of armies garrisons nauies and prouinces with such like are continually serued It is therefore most reasonable considering so many riuers are supplied therewith that diligent circumspection bee required to preserue the Spring alwayes full by beneuolent and due retribution of waters through those siluer pipes which may without stop cheerefully conuey them to that fountaine from the calme riuers of the Commonwealth redispensing them with a carefull kind of beneficence to the common good and tranquilitie This fountaine must be kept alwayes if not full yet not neere drie least by defect of the slenderest vaine branching from it
his breast fitting himselfe with all his martiall furniture to fight and ouer his battailes brandished victorie with his owne sword Where it is also written That hee like a Lyon demeaned himselfe in the conflict or as a Lyons whelpe roaring after his prey What a glorious appearance shall it bee to the poore militant members of Christs Gospell when they shall see your Grace like the Sunne in his glorie rising and as a bridegroome with a countenance like the Cedars of Lebanon comming out of his chamber amongst them to be their victorious guide sent from God to giue them victorie in battaile against the enemies of his annoynted who though Fraunce bee called most Christian and Spaine the most Catholicke king yet is our Brittaine Lord the annoynted of our holy one of Israel the valiant and most faithfull champion and defender of the faith and Gospell of Christ Iesus who when time shall serue like a gyant will ioy to runne his course when the Lord of his hoasts shall put it in his heart to giue a terrible allarum to his enemies Then shall he throw downe from their proud horses the stubborne blasphemous Gog and Magog which as the souldiors of Sathan and Lucifer scomefully subsannate the blessed names and mysteries of our sweete Messias the God of righteousnesse or like a diuine Dauid against the proud brazen-headed Philistine of Gath who reuiled the hoast of the liuing God The flesh of which reprobates shall be cast out to the foules of the ayre for their names are not written in the booke of life Howbeit your Grace vnited with a continuall peace and loue vnto the princes of Christendome in a bond which cannot easily be broken signifieth that vniuersall peace which should happen immediately before the great day of the Lord. And therefore as in the reigne of Octauian Augustus vpon the birth of our Messias the voyce of a blessed Angell was heard singing Gloria deo in excelsis in terris pax cum hominibus bona volunt◅s so in the conclusion of this Christian age which seemeth very neere her end your Grace may liue to see that happie time of our deliuerance as the second and last Octauius but manifoldly more blessed in this Euangelicall treasure than hee was for what can these great and fatall coniunctions of the Planets and those wonderfull eclipses which happened immediately before and since your Graces imitation to this Crowne portend but a great mutation or vniuersall gaole deliuerance of our soules Certaine it is to be thought that some strange mutation is at hand either by grieuous warres in some parts or by diuolutions or dissolutions of empires but if by warres then I beseech Christ that I may most auspiciously augure against the enemies of his Gospell or if in happie peace then that it may to your Maiesties endlesse glorie continue which your Highnesse hath alreadie so fruitfully and confidently laboured effected amongst all Christian princes Which blessed league if it shall hold what hope then remaineth but that the golden time of our glorification is come to the dore when this our bridegroome and bride as I said shall come with the virgines that be her fellowes conducted into the royall pallace prepared for him before the beginning of the world Which blessed couple incorporate in your Maiesties sacred person shall ioyfully mount at sound of the trumpet attended with those three wise virgins whose lamps are full of oyle lighted to whō it shall be opened whē they knock faithfully faith guiding hope hope cōducting charitie but charitie being the most full of grace and fauour glorifying them both for in her as S. Paule sayth is the lawfulfilled and through her are multitudes of misdeeds couered c. Which being sweetest of the three sisters will doubtlessely conduct your Grace by the right hand because through her the peace and vnion amongst all that professe themselues the members of Christ is fruitfully wrought and continually sought by your Highnesse so that vpon this second great Sabboath bringing with it a generall rest from all our earthly labours and a perpetuall consolation in our endlesse praises and thankesgiuing vnto God when Gloria shall be sung in Excelsis againe Pax also shall be found in Terris and that author thereof vnder God shall be brought into the melodious chamber of that all good all great and all holy bridegroome mentioned in the blessed Gospell presenting before him a flocke well washed cleane without infection and sanctified readie for glorification that they may with their faithfull shepheard sit at the Lambes supper in the holy citie new Ierusalem where shall be no more night neither light of the Sunne For the Lord giueth them light and they shall reigne for euer more Happie shall they be found which watch and blessed that are accompanied with those three wise virgins for your Grace like the true Lyon shall be found with your eyes open to wait and attend vpon that King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Lyon of Iudah I haue spoken my priuate condition considered sufficiently to make knowne the iust and godly grounds of this vnion fearing if I should meddle further with some cautelous and captious positions suppositions or oppositions in these cases not onely to be condemned of arrogant presumption which is most detestable in all good iudgement and knowledge but also to be venemously scourged with the malicious snakes of enuie Modestie therefore enioyneth mee to restraine my forwardnesse in further discourse hereof howbeit in a man that sitteth on the seate of Magistracie this were honest fortitude to maintaine vijs modis quibuscunque without any feare or respect of man discharging his dutie towards God and declaring his dearest affection vnto that Commonweale by which hee liberally breatheth and hath his free being by the promulgation and faithfull ouerture of his reason and knowledge in those points remaining It shall therefore suffice least I be taken with some suddaine conuulsion to diue no deeper into this Ocean of concealed treasure but onely to be satisfied in that my reason hath alreadie with the eyes of intelligence beheld the bottome and ground of this blessed vnitie which by God is composed of the rich pearle and golden sand of goodnesse and felicitie wishing to them that are enabled with knowledge and authoritie and which ought not to be mooued with the passions of feare or affection to bring vp from the bottome some grounds of this hidden treasure that the misbeleeuing ignorant if any be scrupelous or doubtfull may see beleeue and embrace this happinesse for they whom it befitteth best to ◅ppe vp furrowes in the mountaiues being seated vpon them may best shew their eloquence and vertues impulsiue in laying open to the sonne that which hath bene so long concealed if occasion herafter shall seeme to require the same With me that am the meanest of a million vnder your Highnesses rod it sitteth well to plough in the valleyes where euery
if they set their hearts vpon righteousnesse and call vpon the name of the most highest For vnto this precious gift of temperance their nature is most neare because their braines are lesse prouoked by the distemperature of their inferior irascible and concupiscentiall parts The complection therfore most eligible is sanguine aubourne haire of a meane stature vertuously instructed healthfull and long liued And these vnlesse some other defect or violence against nature peruert the same are for the most part endowed with much wisedome and wit of which excellent kind we read in the bookes of the Kings that king Dauid was as faire and ruddie with a comely countenance body well shaped of a meane stature Howbeit we find that he many times through those concupiscenciall motions was excited to sinne yet had God so blessed him that he did not loose that habite of vertue which was put vpon him with that blessing when choise was first made of him to be the seruant of God and vicegerent to rule his chosen people In election of counsellors according to Pliny it was obserued that no man vnder thirtie yeeres of age should be permitted to consult in principall causes of the Commonwealth nor men very aged as after the terme of sixtie yeeres according to Vâ—…rro Which Seneca likewise confirmeth limiting the seruice of soldiers to fiftie yeeres and of Senators to sixtie Per legem annariam For according to that Law the Romanes well knew when they might in respect of their yeeres sue to be Tribunes Quaestors Dictators Consuls or in other offices as it was limited appearing by this of the Poet Ovid. Finit aque certis Legibus est atas vnde petatur honos That age by which men may sue for honors or promotions is confined within certaine Lawes For if in respect of their experience by many yeeres old men be regarded it must be respected that by course of nature they be timerous suspicious incredulous couetous and so much more froward and fearefull as they bee more wasted in yeeres impatient of labour and paine obliuious by which defect diuers occasions are neglected talkatiue obstinate in opinion their vnderstanding dull their heate which is the spurre of action wasted Yong men are likewise void of experience much subiect to vicious affections and pleasures of nature to passions and perturbations of minde so distracted with heat of youth heedlesse temeritie and surcuidrie that they cannot obserue any temper in grauitie neither will the people cleaue vnto their counsells And as that excellent Morallist Seneca writte Iuuenile vitium est regere non posse impetum It is a vice naturally graffed in youth not sufficiently to bridle appetite Men therefore of middle age are to be chosen whose humours are plausible and temperate whose inward affections are delayed with some experience and discretion which can dispose remember and execute matters with a proportionable strength courage and grauitie whose memorie will richly serue them for things past whose vnderstanding to iudge of things present according to truth and whose imagination participating of them both can presage or prouide things to come such men are importuned with thronging multitudes for counsell and are to be chosen as I set downe before by the prince himselfe vpon good experience had of their sufficiencies Yong men admitted to that place are fitly called abortiue counsellors and certaine of theÌ„ like summer fruits of the first season soone ripe fit for the administration of weightie matters but naturally decay quickly some long before they be come to be sound in iudgment but hauing attained perfection in knowledge are the men indeed fitt for aucthoritie most excellent aboue others their wisdome continuing long with them yeelding a faire and commendable light euen to the last spiracle of their naturall life so long as the least droppe of oyle is remaining in their earthly lampes As that most reuerende Father in Christ Iohn Whytgift late Archbishop of Canterbury and the right sage and euer-worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill declared long after the terme of sixtie yeeres euen to the last period of their breath Such yong towardly plants as are like by the gifts of nature and pleasantnesse of their wit to proue fit in time for such seruice must first be diligenly taught in Schooles and Vniuersities after good knowledge in arts commended with honest and faithfull Tutors attending them into forreine countries there to note and learne good fashions of people with their Languages and such things as I spoke of before in peregrination and then towardes the three or foure and twentieth yere of their age when firmer strength may beare it exercised and practised some-deale in the warres which is a great glory to noble yong spirits and groundeth them in the loue of vertue when armes are exercised with a perfect heroicall resolution and to good purposes as Cicero writeth Prima est adolescenti commendatio ad gloriam si qua ex bellicis rebus compaâ—…ari potest The best honour of a yong man proceedeth from his perfection in armes And according to Plato Liberum hominem maxinè decet armoruÌ„ disciplina equitatio c. Martiall discipline and horseman-ship most honoureth a Gentleman By these meanes hauing well broken the inordinate heate of youth with some manly moderation and experience they may be chosen if the Prince thinke it fit into counsell imployed in publike affares of policie till sixtie yeeres be past and then let them take leaue of their Prince returning to their quiet for the better purifying and rectifying of their consciences seeking after their soules health studying how to die a blessed death and hauing their honors and reuenues enlarged by the Princes great bene ficence towards them The Soueraigne which is the fountaine of these counsels needeth not any rules concerning his apport or carriage in administration of graue and weightie businesses of his kingdomes and state for so much as it should bee presupposed that all the wise consultations and actions of his immediate ministers issue from him as being the fountaine or Loadstarre of their direction in whom all glorie which is attained by the mature deliberations and seruices of them that attend his counsels remaineth And therefore I craue pardon herein if vnhapily some shall imagine me so foolishly presumptuous as to prescribe rules of policie for any princes not hauing sufficient in my selfe to serue those priuate purposes that are required in a single man of meane condition for well I know QuaÌ„ difficile atque asperuÌ„ sit consiliuÌ„ regi aut imperatori dare postremo cuiquam mort alium cuius opes in excelso sunt quippe cum illiâ—… consultoruÌ„ copia sunt I know that it is difficult and harsh to minister counsell vnto a King or Emperor or to any mortall man whose riches are huge and honorable because such persons are plentifully furnished with choise of counsellors Onely this in briefe the respects importing his princely care
change the watch-word at his pleasure Hee declareth his opinion to the Leiutenant vpon any enterprise what number of horse and foot are competent therefore that they may be by the Coronels chosen out for the execution of any designe the the Lord Leiutenant giuing direction who shall haue the generall charge of such seruice All intelligence brought by the scurriers or pyoners taken in espiall or neere the campe are first brought vnto the Lord high Marischall and by him made knowen vnto the Lord Leiutenant and that the Lord Marischall may be the readier found out one of his pages beareth before him a coroneâ—… of his armes or deuise It resteth in his iudgement to determine of all prisoners taken which are forfeited forthwith vnto him if they that surprise them do not presently present them to his Lordship which likewise are punished at his discretion the third part of all booties got is his by right of that office He likewise prouideth that the slaughters of beasts and other easements of the souldiers be not made to the annoyance of the Campe seeing that euery souldier pay for his victuals that he taketh looking that all such prisoners as are committed to the Marischalsie be well vsed punishing quarrellous or mutinous persons theeuish souldiers treasons according to the lawes of armes in that case prouided which are by direction from him faire written in articles and fixed vpon the Marischalsies gate or on some other more conspicuous place in the campe or quarter so that they may be generally published From him proceed all proclamations by voyce of Herauld with a trumpet in the Lord Leiutenants name He seeth the watches as captaines rounders centrenels to stay their due times vntill their drums or triumpets discharge their watches he looketh that quietnesse and silence be kept in the campe vpon setting of the great watch after the warning peece be discharged through him are all honourable and dishonorable actions and exploits of persons to their immortall shame or good fame recorded in perpetuall historie for example he likewise accompaned with the Coronels Generall of horse and foote with the master of the Ordinance and Sergeant maior vieweth the ground where most aduantage in their discreet iudgements may be found for placing or abiding with their troupes on horse and foot and for the most auaileable planting of their Artillerie with such cunning lures as may bring forward the enemies being neere to that place of aduantage In time of battell he serueth on foot with the Sergeant maior when the campe shall moue his trumpet giueth the summons by notice thereof all other trumpets soone after sound a flourish at the L. Leiutenants lodging to the discharge He likewise towards the assieging of any cities or forts appointeth what strength of men and munition what numbers of horse foot are required for he taketh first a perfect view of the place and then prescribeth a forme how to plant the campe with most aduantage against it setting downe where the trenches must be made hauing acquainted first the Lord Leiutenant therewith He directeth the campe-master in his forme and order of encamping and what number of campes should bee made in euery quarter instructing likewise the trench-master in the maner breadth and depth of his trenches for the most safetie towards battery by night or otherwise considering what flancks or buttresses may conueniently be taken away and if they be flanked where they may soonest and safest approach what course best serueth in case they cannot get entrance by plaine meanes to distresse their flanckes by minings or counterminings if the ground will serue if not so then by scaladoes or stratagems of strange excellent deuise with other meanes which haue been or may be done with most commendation and securitie for such a purpose Beatus Rhenanus thinketh that Mariscallus is called of Marca an old word signifying a horse Budaeus calleth them Marischals quasi maiores Iudges sitting on horse-back The office of Marischals according to Vincentius Lupanus is castris locum eligere ac milites in officio continere in quos vitae necis potestatem habent To choose a place for lodging of the Armie to keepe the souldiers in order and office ouer whose liues and deaths they haue power The knowledge and persecution of militarie crymes likewise the doome of punishment of out-lawes and of such souldiors as without honest and lawfull leaue depart the Campe and are not present at musters and times limited vnto them also the defaults of scoutes escurriers espials traytors fugitiues watch breakers such as forsake the spoyle sacke hauocke with all actions personall of souldiors in priuate quarrels are censured by the Marischal in our warres as in France by the Constable who hath caryed before him a sword with a point fashioned like a Lillie The office of the Coronell generall on foote disposeth his Armies by direction from the Lord Leiutenant into competent battels according to the grosse number he directeth the Captaines in their charge what and how many long or short weapons in euery Band or Companie they should haue in what forme order the armies must march which the sergeant maior by direction from him seeth performed From him is a scroll sent to the gouernours of euery battell containing their seuerall charges hee certifieth the remouals of Campes vnto them for the more readinesse of souldiers by the sound of drums or trumpets all armies being distributed into Regiments of Battels are with their Coronels vnder his command Vpon any seruice he ioyneth in directions with the L. Marischall in choise of the ground and his place of seruice is in the middest of the battell with the L. Generall Ouer all our English battels there are Gouernors appointed which are at command vnder the Coronell generall or his Leiutenant These Gouernours appoint euery captaine to send his Harbenger vnto the Campe-master to take notice of the place and order of their quartering or if in Campe of their Tentpitching declaring where how the souldiers should make Cabbines foreseeing withall that they doe not hastily nor confusedly come into their quarters but take their places orderly and ciuilly being directed by their Harbingers His Leiutenant looketh to the Captaines of the watch the Rounders and the Centrenels to fit themselues to their dueties by direction from the Lord Marischall If any foot-spiall be taken by them him they bring to the L. Marischall to the Coronell Generall or to the L. Leiutenant himself The Leiutenant Coronell vpon seruice taketh place in the vaward with the Sergeant maior His speciall care which bindeth him in the same termes with the L. Leiutenant generall is to see that his souldiers vnder his charge proue not effeminate impatient of paines and perill that they shew not more valour in words then weapons that they spoyle not their owne fellowes in Armes that they leaue not themselues open for a praie to the enemie without discipline order gouernment
after the state of his prince and countrey which if the captaines doe neglect ought to be with due seueritie punished in them We read that Moyses who was a carefull warrior against the Egyptians did send out sâ—…outs centrenels and escurriers and that Iosua that diuine and triumphant captaine purposing the destruction of Ierico sent espials which were lodged in Rhahabs house When Saul had pitched in Hachilah before Ieshimon Dauid sent espials out of the wildernesse which brought tidings of his approach There is a kind of souldiers which are chiefe men of the nobler sort vsed amongst the Frenchmen which in that Realme are by common and ancient custome in time of speciall seruice to maintaine themselues and seruants in those warres three moneths the Frenchmen call them Banne and Retrobanne Which as Procopius saith Romani bannum signum dixerunt bandoferum ducis belli signum ferentem the Romanes did call this word bannum that which we call ensigne and Bandoferus him which beareth the captaines ensigne from thence should seeme that anciently the name of ensignes were called banners wherein certaine emblemes and armorie of the noble leaders and captaines were knowen and distinguished from others also when any publike edict was diuulged or proclaimed it was called Bannire in bannum soluere which signifieth as much as to set it to the view and knowledge of the whole hoast Likewise the creation of knights according to their deserts after the warres being many and of diuers orders I will not insist vpon because they be so well known The creation of knights bannerets which is vnder the princes standard being displayed is the most honorable knighthood in the field for they be called equiâ—…es redubitati twise knighted for their martiall prowesse such as in honor of warre and for their noble atchieuments by militarie worthinesse attaine knighthoods of collers such as the Cheualliers sans â—…proch deuised by Lewis the eleuenth at Ambois 1469. of the first Institution being thirtie sixe Nobles of the Realme and since more according to the Kings pleasure and such Noble men his friendes of other nations as for their valour in seruing him in his warres are invested to that honor at this day Likewise the order of Saint George instituted by King Edward the third the ceremonies whereof being so well knowne and celebrated at Windsor I let passe with that Order of the golden Fleece which Philip Duke of Burgundie instituted at Dijoun in France which King Philip of Spaine and the Emperor Randolph by right of the Emperor Charles the fift whose mother was heire of that Dutchie at this day retaine as their order of honorable Knighthood and all these noble Orders with diuers of like fashion first deuised as a reward and mâ—…d of their militarie vertues and in that respect the Romanes did bestow vpon their worthiest captaines and militarie commanders horse and furniture with rich caparisons bracelets chaines girdles and crownes of pure gold lanâ—…es with other warlike habilimenâ—… and armorie such as Cicinius Dentatus receiued of theÌ„ for his fortitude shewed in their waâ—…es which were golden spurres and a sword with the kings personall embrace as our 〈◊〉 of honour are created at this day The most famous and best renowned souldiers that in our times haue bene noted were Ambrose Dudley the old Earle of Warwike Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex the three brethren of that honourable race of Ricot the two noble and vnfortunate Earles of Essex both deceased the father and sonne the Lord Willoughbie late Gouernour of Barwicke Sir Roger Williams Sir Philip Sydney who singeth in heauen crowned both with martiall and ciuill girlands Sir Thomas Morgan but there haue bene so manie and yet are of gallant heroicall spirits aliue amongst vs that it were infinite to reckon and would rather bring one into suspition of that fault for which I detest to conuerse in the houses of great princes then any wayâ—…s answere to the worthinesse of them whom I commemorate And heere least I might vnhappilie seeme too curious or tedious will I knit vp my labours satisfying my selfe with a little taste of some principles in euery counsell forasmuch as if I should write all that ought in these discourses to be set downe it would be both infinite in regard of the matter and needelesse if your Grace respect the learneder writings of others not crauing more then beneuolence for my voluntarie liberalitie which is the best treasure that a double pouertie proceeding from my single fortunes in ward and exterior affordeth From the profane multitude full of error and confusion whose opinions distand from veritie so farre as England according to 〈◊〉 tables is diuided from the Indies I will appeale by protestation that they which leane vpon vaine hope and idle counsels which threaten and disdaine sea-stormes slouthfully wallowing in their warme beddes at land and which in tempestuous times are immeasurably blasted with ignominious feare and pusillanimitie may not bee taken for equall iudges of my studies How meane my matter is how naked my sentences how little my trauels how bare my knowledge I must acknowledge that I know neither is it written in arrogancie and it is well spoken that nothing can be spoken which hath not beene first spoken and I will pray that my studies being published may not be forespoken with iâ—…enomed tongues swolne too great for their mouthes but to them that are iust and truely noble I will simply submit them such as they bee with all modesty heartily loathing as I still professe without and within all ostentation and hypocrisie All Glorie be to the blessed seede of all in all immortall perfection of incomprehensible goodnesse euerlastingly raigning in that vnconceiueable power of saluation by miraculous faith inanimate in the true charitable roote of the ineffable Trinitie mistically reueiled in omnipotent vnitie FINIS Imprinted at London by Adam Islip 1606. Barth Cassan. in 〈◊〉 terâ—… partis catal gâ—…or mundi Bart. Cassan. 78. consid 12. partis catal glor mundi Il. Prencipe cap. 18 commâ—… se debbe osseruar la fede Office of Treasurers Lib. 52. Cap. 16. de Mag. Romanorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Barth Cass cons. 13. 7. partis cat gloriae mundi Geo. Bened. in Repet cap. Rayn in verb. Bonus de curtili Lib. 4. 7. Cap. 16. de Mag. vet Pop. Ro. Vinâ—…ent Lupan Annal. lib. 3. Arist. in Polit. Cap. 1. de re Peâ—… Plin. lib. 18. cap. 3. Plin. lib. 1. Lib. 2. Oss. Cic. 2. Oâ—… Cic. 2. Off. In vita Iuliani Salust bell Iugurth lib. George Clifford Cic. Off. 1. Barth Cassan. 32 Consid. 6. partis Catol glor muÌ„di Oratio Philippi in Senat. ex Salust Edw. 2. Cor. Tac. lib. 13. Annalium Ioh. Tilius lib â—…m de rebugall Nicolo Maâ—… il preu cap. 16. De liberalita miseria c. Ad Caes de Rep. ordinanda Lib. 3. ad Heren Lib. 2. de innent Plato lib. 20. Charmides siue de temp