A discourse of military discipline devided into three boockes, declaringe the partes and sufficiencie ordained in a private souldier, and in each officer; servinge in the infantery, till the election and office of the captaine generall; and the laste booke treatinge of fire-wourckes of rare executiones by sea and lande, as alsoe of firtifasions [sic]. Composed by Captaine Gerat Barry Irish.

THE THIRDE CHAP. Treatinge of the Office of Asardgente of a Companie of Infanterie.

IN the election of a Sardgente it is verie requisite for his Majesties service that the Captaine choose one of goode partes, and approoved suficiencie, consistinge in him the moste parte of the observationes of Militarie discipline. For it is his Office to execute the orderes gi∣ven be his Superiores; Wherfore it importeth he be not chosen, by fa∣vor nor affection, hut rather trough his valor and longe experience in warr: Beinge soe chosen it is a greate repose to his Captaine and Alferis, and all other executiones shall have the better success.

It importeth much that he doe reade and vvrite for many respe∣ctes, otherwise hardlie can he vvell performe his office: it importeth alsoe that he be skilfull in martiall matteres, yea and of soe greate im∣portance, that more tollerable it were that all the other Officieres of

the company were it the Captaine him selfe to be rawe men, and of litle experiencie, but the Sardgente not soe, who of necessitie oughte to be of approved partes greate care and punctualitie in executinge the orderes given hy his Superiores, consistinge in the suficiencie and care in him required.

It belongeth to him the devitiones of the squadrones of his Com∣pany, and see that each Souldier do serve with his complet armes as∣sented on him in the Kinges liste, he is to oversee whith care and dili∣gence all disorderes comitted in his Company, and reprehende fa∣ctioneres, and not dismeasure him selfe in the same: but rather with moderation to redresh and a comodate all disorderes, and eavell oca∣tiones which shall occurr. In ranckinge and orderinge each sorte of weapon, there are sundrie maner of, wayes for theyre devitiones, but allwayes let him put eache sorte of weapō by it self. Touchinge they∣re devitiones, and who they shall be ordered, (shall by at lardge de∣clared in the office of the Sardgent Mayor.) Let him be alwayes care∣full in the devition of his pickes, in puttinge or plasinge in the van∣garde, retegarde, and two flankes theyr beste armed corseletes, and the ensigne or culores in the center. But in offeringe of occation, of framinge of a squadron he shall observe the order given be the Sard∣gent Mayor: Sheowinge him selfe with grea•• diligence, and care in a complishinge whate is refered to his chardge, in soe doenge he me∣rite the honor and reputation, and doinge the contrarie, dishonor and shame, wherof resulteth disorderes and loosinge of muche time, and cause of greate discontentemente for not acomplishinge and observinge the orderes given. When ocacation offereth he is to figh∣te as vvel as the reste, choysinge a convenient place that he may re∣turne to his office, for it is verie necessarie that he accomplish the ob∣ligation, of a prudente carefull, and vigilant Souldier. He shall goe galantlie withe a faire millan hedpeece, and an extraordinarie good collet, and a halbart or geneton. But be reason of his overmuch tra∣vell and paines his armes by no meanes oughte to by heavie, for if they be soe, hardlye can he well execute his office.

With care and diligence he shall execute in due time the orderes given by his Superiores, not missinge any pointe therin, and if at one time two or three severall Officeres give him order, let him followe the order given be the higher Officer, if it be not recauled; or that he seethe the occation to be of importance to his Majesties service. He is to have alwayes aboute him a liste of all the Souldieres of his Com∣pany

squadron by squadron, alsoe he is to be carefull to knowe whe∣re every one lodgeth, and whate comarades are togither in eache lodginge, and that for many respectes.

He shall and oughte diligentlie to reprehende and procure to dri∣ve oute of the Company all factioneres if they doe not a mindd, as theeves, dronkardes, quarleres, and revolteres for they are moste discomodiouse for his Majesties service; besides they doe noe goode, butt are rather dangerouse. For they are meanes to learne others theyr office, and moste odious kinde of life; and drawe them to imita∣te there base factes. He is to be verie carefull in all ocationes of mar∣chinge and imbattellinge, to instructe his Souldieres to punctually keepe theyre ranckes observe distance and file, to handell well and serve with theyre armes, and to be verie varie to instructe suche as are ingnorante: Whiche for the moste parte resulteth of the litle suffi∣ciencie and care of some Sardgentes chosen be favor or affection. For wee see that some Souldieres of longe time have served, and knovved not who to handell theyre armes, nor serve with the same in time of neede, which resulte of the litle regarde suche persones have of they∣re honor, and litle hope to by advaunced troughe theyre goode par∣tes: But in thies occationes and in many more the Sardgente beinge one that knowethe who to complie well with his dutie and office, can redress thies greate faultes. Butt oherwise he beinge unable, yo∣ve shall finde under his chardge some Souldieres that in cominge be∣fore ther enemy, when occation offer; they neyther knowe howe to handell theyre armes, nor serve with the same as before spoken. To prevente thies and many more faultes, the Captaine beinge vigilan∣te and prudente, ought to by in formed of everie thinge in particu∣lar, of his inferior Officeres, and he beinge carefull he can prevente eache particular, and see them redreste in due time. Soe shall he be the more respected and beloved be the honorable Souldieres of his Companie, and shall with the more resolutiō fall on his enemy when occation is offered, and alsoe shall manifeste his care and affection in his Majesties service.

If he shall of his owne motive a prehende any Souldier and ac∣quaintinge his Captanie there with, or any other Superior; Let him in no case, put him at libertie, but afterwardes it apertaineth to him to procure his libertie, by faire meanes.

Let him by no meanes displace any Souldier from his lodginge to put an o ther in his place, for it lieth not in his power withoute li∣cence

of his Captaine for he hath no auctoritie to drive one oute, and to accommodate an other in his place, besides it is an ocation of greate discontentemente, excepte he put him oute for disorderes co∣mited betwexte him, and his hoste or comarades; for that lodginge is given him by the Prince, and if he be driven oute for an unjuste cause and makinge his complainte to the Master de campe or Colo∣nell he shall give him licence to chāge his place into an o ther Com∣pany for the wronge don unto him, and his Captaine may by juste∣ly reprehended for not ministringe justice. He shall permit noe Soul∣dier to put of his armes enteringe into the watch till the Alferis firste be disarmed. In garison the wourde is not to be given, till the gates be shutt, nor in campana til the houre apointed be the Sardgent mayor to sett the sinteries, and that to be verie late. Till this houre all ough∣te to be in armes. In givinge the wourde in all places of importance. It is moste required that itt be given with greate silence for many re∣spectes. In receivinge the wourde from his superior Officere••▪ let him be carefull not to forget the same, besides that it is discom••diouse for his Majesties service, and it shall by toughte that suche a ••aulte shall resulte of the litle care in him.

Interinge into a cittie towne or place where he shall inter with his Company, he oughte to visite and knowe where the ••inte••ies shall be placed, and the course of the roundes, as shall be a pointed and or dayned be the Sardgent mayor, alsoe he shall with greate punctuali∣tie and care procure to a complish and execute in due time all the orderes given be the Sardgent mayor, that therby he may by the mo∣re honored and affected, besides that it is his obligation.

Let him beware not to be cruell nor inviouse to his Souldieres which is a token of a bad inclination and nature, and of Officeres of litle vertue. If by chance he shoulde by angrie with any Souldier of his, (in turninge his backe he is to forget that furie) and afterwardes sheowe him selfe amiable and lovinge, and soe they cominge to the knoledge of his homoures, they shall have the more eare not to an∣ger him; and if other wise he sheowe him selfe rigorouse, and inclined to be revenged, tbey will run away, and he shall fall into disgrace, and shall be hated by his Captaine.

Let him be no meanes presume to slashe or cutt Souldieres with his swourde, exepte uppon juste occationes in his Majesties service, and specially in disputes of plea, or any other particular quarell of his owne. In suche and semblable ocationes let him looke wel to him

self, for the Souldier in such a particular oweth him but litle respecte or none at all beinge therunto constrained, for a Souldier is to defen∣de his life and honor for whiche none can blame him beinge of force thereunto constrayned.