The character of a true English souldier written by a gentleman of the new-rais'd troops.

The Character of a true English SOULDIER.

A True English Souldier, is a free born Son of Courage, voluntarily put Apprentice to the Art of War: A stock of Heart∣oak▪ fit for Laurels to be grafted on; or a sprig of Valour, that duely prun'd by Discipline and Experience, sprouts up in time into an Hero. Though he take Pay, you cannot without inju∣stice call him Mercinary: for he serves his King and Country as much out of Inclination as Ne∣cessity; and differs from the common Ruffianly Souldier of fortune, as a Charging horse from a Cart horse, or a Cock of the Game from one of Dunghill breed; so unlike, that they scarce seem of the same Species: For he scorns the vices as much as the power of his Enemies; looks upon the Camp as a severe School of Vertue, not a San∣ctuary of Debauchery; and lives like a Christian, though he fights like a Turk. He holds it, next to his Creed, that no Coward can be an honest man;

yet never bloodies his Sword but in the heat of Battel: For in his Quarters he is as peaceable as a Constable, and associates more lovingly with his Comrades, than Monks in a Cloister: The reason is, he is stout, not quarrelsome, and delights to have the Sun behold his Valour, because he re∣solves to do Actions worthy the Eye of Heaven. He will never be perswaded, that Success can justifie Cruelty, or Victory legitimate a Rape, or a Storming excuse a Sacriledge: Next to Cow∣ardize and a Mutiny, he hates nothing so much as Rudeness to the fair Sex, whose weakness he allows to be their protection; being so honourably merciful to Women in a surprizal, that the Tri∣umphs of his Civilities can never be equall'd but by those of his Prowess. 'Tis true, he is a Lover, but 'tis of Danger and Glory, whom he courts (as Jove did Semele) in Clouds of Smoak and Thunder; and appears more brave and lovely to a judicious Ladies eye in a tatter'd Red Coat or suit of Buff (allow him but his Arms for Trimming) than your little sprucified man of mode in his powdred Wig and Cloth of Tissue.

He is so abhorrent from treacherous Murders or crol-blood-Massacres, that when he looks upon his Enemies dead body in the Field, 'tis with a kind of noble pity, no insultation. He attri∣butes the whole glory of a Conquest to God's mercy and his Generals conduct; and always pre∣pares for Death, though he never fears it. He thinks not out of his own Calling, when he ac∣counts Life a continual Warfare; and his Prayers

then best become him, when, armed Cap a pe, he looks as if he had a designe to take at once both Earth & Heaven by violence. Before an Engage∣ment he signs out some such short, but zealous Ejaculation: Lord, remember me anon, when I shall be too apt to forget thee! and then falls on as resolutely and unconcern'd as to a Feast. He is so confident of victory, that he always gives the On-set with a Hallo and Shouts of triumph; and pursues a Charge so furiously, that he is in with his Enemy almost as soon as his Bullet, ready, if that misses, with the Butt end of his Musquet to do Execution. He fears a Sword no more than an Ague; and counts, the roaring of Cannons and whistling of Small-shot, m••ke as pleasant Musick as the Base and Treble in Consort. His Courage is natural, not borrowed from the Inspirations of Drink, or thrust upon him by the necessity of Despair. 'Tis a base and malicious scandal to say, That his Valour ebbs and flows with the con∣dition of his Snapsack, or that he can never fight well unless Beef and Bag-pudding be his Seconds. 'Tis true, the Fertility of his Country has inur'd him to a plentiful Diet, and he would willingly have his body in good plight, to keep pace with the vigor of his mind: Yet he can endure the most pinching Necessities, and, led on by Honour, will hold out a Campagne, though Hunger and Cold march never so close in the same File with him. He is true Steel, which may be bent by violence, but in a minute return to its former posture. Thus he may be overcome, but never conquer'd:

for he will Rally after the Tenth Repulse, and pluck Victory back by the wing, when she is flying away to the Enemy. Besiege him never so strictly, so long as the Air is not shut up from him, his heart faints not: for, like Hannibal, he always either finds a way, or makes it.

But Valor and endurance of Hardships are but two parts of a Souldier; that which compleats him is Obedience; in which our true Englishman is singularly exemplary; never did any so much slight his Enemy, and so revere his Chief. The Roman Legions could not boast a Spirit at once so fierce and so docile, that could overflow the Field with mote impetuosity, and retire to his place in the Camp with less appearance of having ever gone out. The respect he bears his Officers, is more powerful than the Right of Life and Death they have over him. He is more apprehensive of their Anger, than of the Law Martial and Ordi∣nances of War: for he obeys for love, not fear; and resents their displeasure more terribly than any punishment. He disputes no Orders, but ex∣ecutes them; and will charge up to a Cannons mouth, or make a Scalado th••ough showers of Bullets, and the midst of Flames naked, if his Country's Honour, or his Generals Command re∣quire it.

Thus far we have seen him in his private ca∣pacity, now behold him when Merit has intituled him to a COMMAND; you shall finde in his action neither a cowardly or heavy coldness, nor

a rash precipitate vehemence; though he doth nothing meanly, yet he doth nothing with vio∣lence, but softly makes haste, and advances with an insensible motion. He cherishes his Souldiers as tenderly as a Father his Children, and had ra∣ther save one of their Lives, than kill ten of his Enemies. He does not train by the Book, dully reckoning up so many Postures of the Pike and Musquet, as if he were counting a Game at Nod∣dy; but, having a perfect Idea of the whole Art Military, Theorick and Practick, instructs every one according to his capacity, and prefers or pu∣nishes with a just respect to Merit. He endures equal toil with the meanest Souldier; is the first in giving a Charge, and the last in retiring his Foot. From his Example they all take fire, as one Torch lighteth many. He hath learn'd as well to make use of a Victory, as obtain it; for then, pursuing his Enemies like a Whirlwind, he carries all before him, being assured that is the time to compleat their Ruine, when they have lost Force, Wisdom, Courage, and Reputation. He is the universal Genius that actuates all under his charge, and moves them, as the Intelligences, without tiring themselves, are said to turn about the Coelestial Spheres. Observe how with his Eyes he leads the whole Army! How a nod of his Head keeps thousands in their Duty! How onely his presence establisheth Order, and drives away confusion! He knows in War there is no admitting of a second errour, the first and least fault being sufficient to ruine an Army; he there∣fore

makes it his business to prevent faults, not to pardon them; and makes those that are Prece∣dents of Disorder, Mutiny, Negligence, or Cow∣ardize, repair their offence to the whole, by being Examples of his Justice.

His Loyalty to his Prince, and his Love to his Sou••diers, are essential parts of his Soul; he would neither betray the one, nor defraud the other for a greater Empire than Caesars; little seeming affronts at home cannot disoblige him; nor mighty Offers from abroad draw him to a Compliance: He scorns Honour purchased by dishonourable means, is Shot free against the Ene∣mies golden Bullets, and impenetrable to Vanity, as well as Fear and Avarice. He at once subverts discovered endeavours, and guards himself from hidden Artifices. Neither the Poison brought from afar, nor the neighbouring corrupted Air, nor Stranger, nor Friend, nor Hopes, nor Fears, nor Threats, nor Flatteries, have power to change the goodness of his Constitution; or warp him from his duty.

He scorns to make a Trade of War by pro∣longing it unnecessarily for his own profit or re∣putation, yet maintains it is never to be given o're but on one of these three, conditions: An honou∣rable and well assured Peace, absolute Victory, or an honest Death.

But I remember our Noble Souldier's life is Action; he hates many words; and I am willing enough to comply with his Humour: for when I have said all I can, 'tis onely his own Sword that can truely write his Character.

FINIS.