CHAP. VI.
Whether it be best to choose you men out of the Cities, or Country.
THose Authors who have writ any thing of this Nature, do agree unanimously that the best choice is in the Country where they are inur'd to difficulty and labour; acquainted more with the Sun than the shade, accustomed to the Spade and the Plough, and to carry burdens, without any shifting, or mutiny. But Because our Armies do consist of Horse as well as Foot, my advice is, that the Horse be raised in the Cities, and the Foot in the Country.
Were I to raise a new Army, I would choose them betwixt seventeen, and forty; were I only to recruit an old one, I would have them always of seventeen.
I will tell you, were I to raise an Army, or settle a Militia where there was none before, it would be necessary to make choice of the most apt and experienced that I could find (provided their age was sutable to the War) to instruct them as I shall direct. But if I were to raise men to recruit and reinforce an Army that was grown weak, I would take none above seventeen, because those who are there already will be able to teach them.
You say well but I would Arm, and Officer, and exercise, and Order them in a way I know not whether you be acquainted with in your Country.
I think you are in a mistake to say a wise man can be against training of Soul∣diers: a man may be thought wise, ('tis possible) and be no such thing.
The ill success which those Trained-bands have always had, is a great argument of the truth of that opinion.
Have a care the fault was not more in you, than in them; of which perhaps you may be convinced before I have done my discourse.
You will do us a very great favour. But I will tell you first, in what it is this Militia is condemn'd, that you may afterwards justifie it the better.