Meditations upon a siege. By H. P.

MEDITATION 24.

Of Pallisadoes.

PALLISADOES are flat stakes driven three or foure foote deepe into the earth, and made sharp at the top; and they have somtimes spikes of iron driven through neere the toppe, or turned back againe like hookes to catch off their apparell that would climbe over them: they are driven in some of them into the earth on the outside of a mote, where they stand upright like a pale round about the mote, some of them into the sides of the workes and bat∣teries in a continued rowe with the points outwards; and where the workes

are high, there is a double rowe of them, to hinder the enemie from clymbing up when he comes to storme, and to beare off the scaleing ladders from the workes. For these, as for other occasions, it is easilie discern'd. that of all other trades Carpenters, and smithes are essentiall to a garrison, it cannot subsist without them. Which they know so well, that they value their labours accordingly, and see most excessive rates upon those that are most necessitated for to use them. A base, and wicked practice, though very com∣mon, and which savours little of a man, lesse of a christian. Humanitie teaches men to shew a chearefullnesse to help in the time of need: and charitie, to afford that helpe at easier rates then at other times, and to consider, not so much the neede men have of our assistance, as the ill condition they are in to buy it at too high a price. But we sing these lessons unto them, whose eares are deafe to coun∣saile, their breasts meere strangers to compassion, and their rude mindes un∣capeable of civill, or of sacred culture▪ Artisans, and mechanicks have commonly

a genius by themselves quite of another ayre from other men, and you shall not find amongst them one of a thousand, varying in disposition from his fellow, or made (in the least degree that can be imagin'd) of a better mould. Their eyes are all fixt upon their profit, and you shall not drive them from their hold, or make them turne one haires breadth from their bias, to doe any thing out of pittie, or out of conscience. A true souldier can∣not converse with them without indig∣nation: for then him, nothing is more generous, then them, nothing more base. And that may well be reckoned one of the miseries of warre, that necessitie should enforce a noble spirit to take their assistance, which he can neither want with safetie, nor have for reason. And, which must needs trouble him more, he hath not that refuge left, to cudgell them into manners, or beate sense into them: for if he once doe so, the first opportuni∣tie they have to depart, he heares of them no more, but hath his businesse left in the suddes, when it concernes him most to have it finished. But it is the wisdom of

a Commander not to see what he cannot helpe, and not to check at those distastes, which after a contest he shall be forced to swallow upon worse conditions. Scorne, and neglect are the best fense against these annoyances, and a resolution not to let his undertakings stand, how ever unrea∣sonable, or unconscionable they be, in de∣manding excessive rates, or in their sloath∣full doing of the worke whom he is con∣strayn'd to use. Their sinne be to them∣selves, his patience is his honor, which triumphs over their unworthinesse, and will carrie him without perturbation to his noble ends, in spight of all discourage∣ments from them, which can never doe him wrong, because they never come un∣expected.