Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 11.

Enter the Lady Victoria with a great Company of Women, after a Table of Brass carried before her, she stands upon the heap of Turfs, and another Woman that carried the Table, wherein the Laws and Rules are inscribed; she bids her read them.

REader.

Noble Heroicks, these are the Laws our Generalless hath caused to be inscribed and read for every one to observe and keep.

First, Be it known, observed and practised, that no woman that is able to bear Arms, shall go unarmed, having Arms to wear, but shall wear them at all times, but when they put them off to change their linnen; they shall Sleep, Eat and Rest, and march with them on their Bodies.

Lady Victoria.

Give me leave Noble Heroicks to declare the reason of this Law or Command, as to wear an Iron or Steel Habit, and to be so con∣stantly worn, is, that your Arms should not feel heavy, or be troublesome or painfull for want of use, as they will be when you shall have an occasion to put them on; and certainly, for want of practice, more Masculine Souldiers are overcome by their Arms, than by their Enemies, for the unaccustomed∣ness makes them so unwieldy, as they can neither defend themselves, nor assault their Foes, whereas Custome will make them feel as light, as their Skins on their Flesh, or their Flesh on their Bones, nay Custome hath that force, as they will feel as if their Bodies were Naked, when as their Arms are off, and as Custome makes the Cold and peircing Ayr to have no power over the naked Bodyes of men, for in cold Countreys as well as hot, men have been accustomed to go naked, and have felt no more harm, nor so much, by the cold, than those that are warmly Cloathed, so Custome will make your Arms seem as light as if you had none on, when for want of use their waight will seem heavy, their several pieces troublesome and incombersome, as their Gorg••ts will seem to press down their Shoulders, their Back and Breast-plates and the rest of the several pieces to cut their waste, to pinch their Body, to bind their Thighes, to ty their Arms, and their Headpiece to hinder their breath, to darken their sight, and to stop their hearing, and all for want of ••se and Custome; but enough of this, read on.

Reader.

Secondly, Be it known, observed and practised, that every Com∣pany must watch by turns, whether they have Enemyes neer or no, and at all times, and whosoever Drinks any thing but Water, or Eats any thing but Bread, all the time they are on the watch shall be punished with fasting.

Lady Victoria.

Give me leave to declare the reason of this Law, the reason is, that stronge Drinks, and nourishing meats send many vapours to the Brain, which vapours are like several Keys, which lock up the Senses so fast, as neither loud noises, bright lights, nor strong sents can enter either at the Ears, Eyes, or Nostrils, insomuch as many times their Enemies send Death to break them asunder.

Reader.

Thirdly, Be it known, observed and practised, that none of the Troopers march over Corn Fields if it can be avoided, unless the Enemy should be behind, and then the more spoil the better.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that it were a great imprudence to de∣stroy through a careless march of Horse and Foot, that which would serve to feed and nourish us in the Winter time, and in our Winter Quarters, when it is laid in the Barns and Granaries, by the labour and the industry of the Farmers.

Reader.

Fourthly, Be it known, observed and practised, that none shall plunder those things which are waighty of carriage, unless it be for safety or necessity.

Lady Victoria.

The reason is of this, that all that is heavy in the carriage is a hindrance in our march.

Reader.

Fiftly, Be it known, observed and practised, that no Souldiers shall play at any Game for money or drink, but only for meat to eat.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that those that play for drink, the winners will be drunk, and those that are drunk are unfit for service; be∣sides, many disorders are caused by drunkenness; and to play for money, the losers grow Cholerick, and quarrels proceed therefrom, which quarrels many times cause great mutinies through their side taking, and factious parties, besides, having lost their money and not their Appetites, they be∣come weak and faint for want of that nourishing food, their money should get them, having nothing left to buy them victuals withall; besides, it forces them to forrage further about, where by straggling far from the body of the Army, they are subject to be catch'd by the Enemy, but when they play for meat their winnings nourish their Bodies, making them strong and vigo∣rous, and when their Appetites are satisfied, and their Stomacks are fill'd, their humours are pleasant, and their minds couragious; besides, it is the Nature of most Creatures, either to distribute or at least to leave the re∣maining pieces to the next takers, so that the losers may have a share with the winners, and part of what was their own again.

Reader.

Sixtly, Be it known, observed and practised, that no Captains or Collonels, shall advance beyond their Company, Troop, Regiment or Brigade, but keep in the middle of the first rank, and the Lieutenant, or Lieutenant Collonel to come behind in the last rank.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that Collonels and Captains going a space before their Troops, Companies or Regiments, for to encourage and lead on their Souldiers, do ill to set themselves as marks for the Ene∣my to shoot at, and if the Chief Commanders should be kill'd, the Com∣mon Souldiers would have but faint hearts to fight, but for the most part they will run away, as being affraid and ashamed to see the Enemy, when their Chief Commander is kill'd, and if they have no Officer or Commander behind them, the Common Souldiers will be apt to run away, having no worthy witnesses or Judges, to view and condemn their base Cowardly acti∣ons, which otherwise they are ashamed of, chusing rather to fight their Ene∣mies than to make known their fears.

Reader.

Seventhly, Be it known, observed and practised, that none of the Army ly in Garrison Towns, but be always intrenched abroad.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that Towns breed or beget a ten∣derness of Bodies, and laziness of limbs, luxurious Appetites, and soften the natural dispositions, which renderness, luxury, effeminacy, and laziness,

corrupts and spoils martial discipline, whereas the open Fields, and casting up trenches makes Souldiers more hardy, laborious and carefull, as being more watchfull.

Eightly, Be it known, observed and practised, that none unless visibly sick to be idle, but imployed in some Masculine action, as when not imploy∣ed against an Enemy; and that they are not imployed about the works, forts or trenches, but have spare time to imploy themselves, in throwing the Bar, Tripping, Wrastling, Running, Vaulting, Riding, and the like exercise.

Reader.

Ninthly, Be it known, observed and practised, that every Com∣mander when free from the Enemies surprizals, shall train their men thrice a week at least, nay every day if they can spare so much time, as putting their Souldiers into several ranks, files and figures, in several Bodies apart, changing into several places, and the like.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that the Souldiers may be expert and ready, and not be ignorant when they encounter their Enemies, for many a Battel is lost more through the ignorance of the Souldiers, not being well and carefully train'd by their Commanders, or having such Commanders that know not how to train or draw them up, there are more Battels I say lost thus, than for want of men or courage.

Reader.

Tenthly, Be it known, observed and practised, that every Morn∣ing when Incamp'd, that every Commander shall make and offer in the midst of his Souldiers a Prayer to Mars, another to Pallas, a third to For∣tune, and a fourth to Fame; these Prayers to be presented to these Gods and Goddesses with great Ceremony, both from the Commander and Common Souldiers.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that Ceremony strikes a reverence and respect into every breast, raising up a devotion in every heart, and devo∣tion makes obedience, and obedience keeps order, and order is the strength and life to an Army, State, or Common-wealth; and as for the Prayers presented to these particular Gods and Goddess, is, that Mars would give us courage and strength, Pallas give us prudent conduct, Fortune give us Victory, and Fame give us Glory and Renown.

Reader.

Eleventhly, Be it known, observed and practised, that the most experienced, practiz'd, and ingenioust Commanders shall preach twice a week of Martial Discipline, also those errours that have been committed in former Wars, and what advantages have been taken, to be cited in their Sermons, as also what was gain'd or lost by meer Fortune.

Reader.

Twelfthly, Be it known, observed and practised, that when the Army marches, that the Souldiers shall sing in their march the heroical actions done in former times by heroical women.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that the remembrance of the actions of gallant persons inflames the Spirit to the like, and begets a courage to a like action, and the reason of singing of heroical actions only of women, is that we are women our selves.

Reader.

Thirteenthly, Be it known, observed and submitted to, that no Council shall be call'd, but that all affairs be ordered and judged by the Generalless her self.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that all great Councils, as of many persons, confounds judgments, for most being of several opinions, and hold∣ing strongly and stifly, nay obstinately thereunto, as every one thinking them∣selves

wisest, cause a division, and wheresoever a division is there can be no finall conclusion.

Reader.

Fourteenthly, Be it known, observed and practised, that none of this Effeminate Army admits of the Company of men, whilst they are in Arms or Warlike actions, not so much as to exchange words, without the Generalless her leave or privilege thereto.

Lady Victoria.

The reason of this is, that men are apt to corrupt the no∣ble minds of women, and to alter their gallant, worthy, and wise resoluti∣ons, with their flattering words, and pleasing and subtil insinuations, and if they have any Authority over them, as Husbands, Fathers, Brothers, or the like, they are apt to fright them with threats into a slavish obedience; yet there shall be chosen some of the most inferiour of this Female Army, to go into the Masculine Army, to learn their designs, and give us intelligence of their removals, that we may order our incampings and removings according as we shall think best; but these women shall neither be of the Body of our Army, nor keep amongst the Army, nor come within the Trenches, but ly without the works in Huts, which shall be set up for that purpose.

Reader.

Lastly, Whosoever shall break any of these Laws or Orders, shall be put to Death, and those that do not keep them strictly, shall be severely punished.

Lady Victoria.

But I am to advise you Noble Heroicks, that though I would not have a general Council call'd to trouble our designs in War with tedious disputes, and unnecessary objections, and over cautious doubts, yet in case of life and death, there shall be a Jury chosen to sit and judge their Cau∣ses, and the whole Army shall give their votes, and the most voices shall ei∣ther condemn, or reprieve, or save them, lest I should hereafter be only call'd in question, and not the rest, as being not accessary thereunto; and now you have heard these Laws or Orders, you may assent or dissent therefrom as you please, if you assent, declare it by setting your hands thereto, if you dissent, declare it by word of mouth, and the Tables shall be broken.

All the women.

We assent, and will set our hands thereto.

Exeunt.