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 FOURTHE CHAP. Treatinge of the election and Office of an Alferish of a Companie of Infanterie.

THE chardge and office of an Alferis or Ansign bearer of a Companie of Infanterie is to be reputed as a Cap∣taines leftenant in whose choysinge, his Captaine is to have many and greate considerationes. For not onelie suche a one oughte to by agoo de Souldier, and of boul∣de and valerouse determinationes, but to by his equal if it may be; both in vertue and discresion) because that oftentimes in his absence the govermente of the Company dothe belonge to this Officer; And for as much as the ansigne is the true fundation of the Company, and that in the same consisteth the honor both of his and of his Souldie∣res reputasion. It is necessarie that he, unto whome this office is co∣mitted have in him the a proved partes wissed in a brave Souldier. For the greate truste in him reputed, and that in his Captaines absence he ruleth, and governeth the Companie, and from him the Sardgente and Corporales are to receive the orderes; as they doe from theyre Captaine but the Alferis is not to set at libertie any prisoner withoute consente or licence of his Captaine, or other superior Officeres, ney∣ther is he to give licence to any Souldier to leave the Company. It is necessary to whome this so honorable a chardge is recomended never to a banden it as many brave fellowes have don to theyre perpetuall fame and glorie.

He oughte to goe galante and well armed for many respectes, as in day of battell, or in giveng an assaulte, or in marchinge before his Kinge or C••ptaine generall. In ocationes of fightinge withe his ene∣my, he is to sheow him selfe dreadfull and terrible, with his sowrde in the righte hande, and his culores in the lefte, bravely displaying the same; sheowinge him selfe valiante, and givenge goode examples

to the Souldieres, and animatinge them, he is to live and die in de∣fence of the same, with a resolute mynde and brave determination, as did the Alferis of Oloa in the battell given be Conde Don Gomes, and Don Pedro de Lara, for the queene Uraca of Castilla againste Don A∣lonso Kinge of Aragon hir husband, in whiche they were overcome, and the Conde slayne cutinge of the two handes of this Gentleman to quite him of his culores untill which time he never yealded, after which cruell woundes he embrased his culores betwext his armes, and as did an Alferis Tudesco in the incounter which Kinge Don Fernando de Napoles had with the Frence and Dutch, with his righte hande cutt of, and the leifte sore wounded; and findinge that he coulde doe no more, greepte the culores with his teeth, and toucke houlde at the same till he was slaine. In garison the day that he is to enter unto the watch with his Company; that morninge he is to putt or displaye his culores in his windowe, that it mighte be seene by the Souldieres of his Company, for a true token that that nighte he shall inter the watch, and in settinge the watch he oughte not to disarme him selfe till the gates be shutt, nor in Campan̄a till the wourde be given, and all thinges provided. His Souldieres oughte to imitate him beinge therunto bounde, he givinge them allwayes goode examples and in∣structiones.

He oughte to honor and respecte his Captaine, and a complish his orderes with love and punctualitie, beinge therunto bounde, for the honor don unto him, which his father beinge Captaine coulde doe no more, for no greater honor coulde he give then referinge to his chardge the Kinges culores. Wherfore the Alferis is to forbeare with his Captaine in many disputes which happen, rather then sheowe him selfe ungratefull, as some unconsiderate fellowes doe. The verie same woulde he wish to him self if he came to that dingnitie and chardge, he is to make muche of the drummeres, and fifes because he may by sure to finde them when ocation is offered, and that he and the Captaine shall see them contented for feare they run a way, con∣cideringe the greate neede he hath of them.

He is to garde his culores well in all places, and tacke a speciall ca∣re of the same. Let it be before theyre eyes that they may see itt, for the watch is not a pointed for his person, but for the securitie of his culores▪ hardly can they give a compte of the same exepte they see itt, neyther doth the Souldier vvell a complish his obligation excepte itt be soe. It is necessary that he by a man of goode partes, verteuse, of

goode govermente and examples; for thies are required in him, for in the absence of the Captaine the govermente of the Company a per∣teineth to him. For he is to give the orderes, and directiones to the Sardgent, Corporalles, and Souldieres of his Company; for one to dishardge well this office it cā be with the greater facilitie and aucto∣ritie, havinge exercised himselfe in the manadgeinge, practice, and executinge of other offices and degrees; and douptles it doth further and helpe him in his executiones, that he findeth greater ease in redu∣cinge unto perfection whatesoever shall be recomēded to his chard∣ge; though he can not sometimes but file the smarte of his overmu∣che travaile, care, and punctualitie. Yett is he vvel pleased and con∣tented, seeinge that his chardge is vvell governed and a complished.

The office of an Alferis or Ansigne bearer is an honorable chardge, and in the muster he is not to empatch him self in the same nor sitt, neyther take, chardge of listinge or vvritinge, excepte urgente ne∣cessitie constraine him thereunto. For itt a pertaineth to the furiell, he is still to be armed with his vanable in hande duringe the time his Company passeth muster; allwayes lookinge to his coloures, and or∣daine to garde the same vvith the firste Souldieres of his Company, that shall pass muster, and soe succescivelie shall be releeved by those that folowe one after an other, and the Sardgent is to procure that the Company pass in order, and vvith speede as they are called by the Comessary, for beinge therunto bounde; and eache one shall attend in a complishinge his obligation, that thinges may be the better orde∣red and dulie finished as it is required.

It is necessarie knoweth the houses vvhere his Company, doth lodge, and the comarades of each lodginge, and nowe and then to vi∣site them, and informe vvho they live; that thereby he may the better knowe the qualitie goode and badd conditiones of each; that thereby each one mighte be honored and prefered a cordinge as he deser∣veth. He is alsoe bound to qualifie bee faire meanes some disputes vvhich happen betwexte them, and the Sardgente; for vvhiche dispu∣tes sometimes when it comes to the Captaines eares, he is alsoe offen∣ded vvith them. To prevēte the one and the other the Alferis ough∣te to visite them and to by a mediator to pascify all; and specially to satisfie and contente the Souldieres, so that they may have no ocation to run a vvay. For if every Officer fall uppon them and none take theyre parte they muste of force by grived; and perhapes run a way. Wherfore it is necessary and untill that the Alferis be carefull as a me∣diator

to a peace thies contraversies. It is verie necessarie he be a Cō∣panied still with goode comarades, men chosen of goode behavioure valerouse, and of brave and resolute determinationes, for none is mo∣re bounde to have suche comarades then he; for in offeringe of oca∣tiones of inconuteres a saultes or battell with the enemy they are to assiste and keepe him with a more willenge minde, in the assaulte or winninge of a any towne or forte of emportance, he is not to putt his colours in any place till the furie of the enemy be wholie vanquised▪ orderlie and prudentlie a comodated and prevented, and when all the furie is paste and dulie prevented, he shall putt in his coloures in∣to his lodginge, and display the same in the windowe nexte unto the streete, that the Captaine, Officereres, and Souldieres may note, and marcke where the coloures are; to repaire unto with speede when o catiō offereth. And alwayes let him be verie carefull to ordaine a good garde for the same, and that he him selfe shall looke well thereunto. Let him take a special care that covetousenes nor disordered a petites doe ouerkome or master him. When all is setled and pasified quarte∣res shal be devided and a pointed for each Regimente whiche shall be sente in due time be the Sardgent mayor, or his a judante.

In o cation of framinge of squadrones incounteres or assaultes with the enemy, he is to cary his coloures displayed, and passinge be the Captaine generall, he is to advance it bowinge the pointe some wha∣te downe wardes, but if he pass by the Kinge or Prince he is to bowe almoste to the grounde one of his knees a difference from the gene∣rall, and in passinge by the blessed Sacramente he is to kneele on be the his knees, and with the coloures to the grounde sheowinge greate reverence unto the same, and all his Company in like manner, and theyre armes laied on the grounde till the blessed Sacramente pass, vvithoute stirenge till they see theyre Alferis rise upp, and that when the Sacramente is vvholie paste, duringe whiche time they are to kee∣pe silence.