CHAP. I. Concerning the Artillery and the Military Gardens, together with the Private Meetings, in and about the City of LONDON.
THe great delight in handling of Arms in Military Exercises, makes the City of London and the Suburbs thereof famous through the whole World, by reason, as I conceive, of those two great Nurse∣ries or Academies of Military Discipline, the Artillery and Military Garden, from whom, as out of pure Fountains, all other our Pri∣vate Meetings (as of Townditch, and Cripplegate, &c.) are derived.
The Artillery Gardens deserves the first place, in respect it is the greatest Meet∣ing, from whence, as it were out of a Nursery, have been transplanted many able knowing Souldiers both at home and in foraign Countries, to the great honour of our Nation.
The Military Garden is famous likewise for the great improvement of divers worthy persons of quality daily thither resorting, whose excellent skill in Mili∣tary Exercises hath raised many of them to high preferment here at home, and to places of honourable command abroad. The Captains in chief of these Acade∣mies are Major General Skippon, and Major Henry Tyllier, which later was the first that ever shewed in the Military Garden (of which I am a member) the march∣ing of the Souldiers in a Regimental way; whose great pains amongst us deserves much honour and high commendation; shewing unto us such variety of matter in a Souldier-like way, as was never before seen by any member thereof.
Not to eclipse the fore-mentioned Private Meetings in London, but to give them that due which belongs unto them, they likewise are of great honour and fame for their frequent exercising of their Souldiers in the handling of their Arms, whether it be of the Pike or Musket, and instructing them in the knowledge of Drilling, and drawing up of Companies, and Bodies of men, furnishing both King∣doms with able knowing Souldiers. My hearty wishes therefore are, that all and e∣very one of them may be propt up, and supported to all ages, that when need shall require, we may draw from these Fountains such skilful and experienced Com∣manders and Officers as may be, as it were, a Bulwark to this our Nation.
Not to dwell any longer upon this discourse, I come therefore briefly to set forth several Exercises (formerly practised by me amongst those loving Gentle∣men of Town-ditch) according to the usual numbers there appearing, whether they be great or small, practised for the most part with 24 or 32 men, and some∣times (although seldom) with 64 men, unless it were upon general days, when they were drawn forth into the field; at such times, perhaps, there might be an appearance of greater numbers, as 120 and upwards.
My purpose therefore is to pitch upon, and to make use of all and every one