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CHAP. XV. How to reform the Cavallrie.
AS every Common-wealth is supported by reward and punishment, so to reform the Cavallrie (where there is need of reformation) there must be good laws, and good pay: for,a 1.1 to suffer a souldier to fall into want by not giving him competent maintenance, maketh him forget obedi∣ence and discipline. It were therefore better to diminish theirb 1.2 number then their profits: That done, they may easily be brought to a strict observation of discipline and obedience. The laws and articles which ought to be propounded unto them, should comprise all that is to be observed in mi∣litary discipline: for brevitie sake (presupposing all good orders about the service of God, the severe chastising of blasphemers, the strict forbidding of gaming (as the occasion of waste of money, and begetting quarrels) and such like morall institutions) it shall here suffice to touch upon some few of the most necessary for the Cavallrie,
1c 1.3 That no Captain receive any souldiers of another company, or make any officers, without approbation of the Generall; to the end he may take notice of the quality of the person. And that such souldiers as are disabled to undergo the labour of the warre, through age, be removed to some castle, &c. and be provided of some competencie, out of dead payes, or otherwise.
2 That, to avoid thed 1.4 trouble of much baggage, which much slackeneth the motion of the Ca∣vallrie, no man carrie ae 1.5 woman into the field. That no souldier have above one horse of service for his baggage, unlesse some person of qualitie, with whom the Commissarie Generall may dis∣pense. And that no officer of a companie have a waggon, but onely the Captain, and he to have onely one.
3 That rewards and honourable recompenses be established for souldiers of speciall desert, and punishments for sluggards: in particular, about attending the Cornet and obedience to the sound of the trumpet. And that such as forsake the standard (or cornet) whilest it is advanced, be pu∣nished with death. That in fight, when the trumpet soundeth a retreat,g 1.6 whosoever presently re∣tireth not, be punished with severitie. And that the Captain (as oft as the Cornet entereth the Corps-du-guard) himself enter with it, all excuses set aside.
4h 1.7 That the souldiers be kept from straggling here and there, and have the companies ready up∣on all occasions: the officers are bound not to absent themselves from their companies without leave of their superiours.i 1.8 And if any souldier depart without licence, he is to be punished with death.
5 That good order be observed about distribution of bootie; whereof shall be treated in the chapter following.
6k 1.9 That mutinies be prevented: and whosoever is found to have a hand in any, is to be pro∣claimed infamous, and perpetually banished.
7 To the end that these (and what other orders may be thought fitting) be duly observed, the authoritie of the Captain and other officers must be established and confirmed,f 1.10 as also that of the Provost Marshall, according to those rules before-mentioned in the office of the Provost Marshall.