I Goe not about ( my Lord ) in this Epistle , either to awake your courage , or instruct your knowledge , but rather to recount vnto you those Rules and Arguments , to which both your owne and your Ancestors actions may giue most true and liuely examples : Therefore howsoeuer I shall be forced like the Dogs on the bankes of Nylus to feed running and but catch heere and there at these dangerous waters , yet if your Lordship shall be pleasd to take them to a constant consideration , I doubt not but they shal deliuer you matter worthy both of your delight and studie .

It is true , that in my former Epistle I haue sleightly pointed at the necessary care which belongs to this military Art , euen in the quietest and most secured times . It behoues me now to shew the necessitie both of the Art and thing it selfe not only at other times , but all times , for it is a profession Sine qua non , and is as old as the world : for as Perfection entred , Flattery followed , and Force draue both out of that blessed habitation . When the world was so poore , that it had but three men only , yet one of them then slew his brother , and as the world grew riper , so force increased , and ( as some of the first Rabbins affirme ) ambitious Lamech slew his grandsire Cain with an arrow , which was euer accounted a military weapon : and although this proue not a lawfull necessitie , yet it infers that when the sword is in the hand of a wicked possessor , then violence and outrage follow and pursue one another , till noble Warre , and his best friend Fortitude either restraine their furie , or punish their trespasse : for this is warre needfull , and hence it comes that the ruling Sword ought euer to be swayd by Iustice arme , for it is the power of the Law which doth reason to all men , and the measure of Right which shares out things by a iust and equall proportion . I confesse it were a note of excellent modestie , if ( as Tullie perswaded ) the Sword would giue place to the Gowne , and it might well be assumed , as greater Hostes ( in their owne houses ) giue precedency to meaner Guests , or as we say of doating parents , that they are content to be made Fooles by the wit of their children . But to ascribe it as a due or right , is not right : for the Gowne can but meditate and say , In Iustice this ought to bee done , when the Sword saith , For Iustice sake this is done .

It is not to be argued but a meere Scholler deserues much better then a meere Souldier , in as much as the head is a wealthier member than the Arme , but the compounded man which consisteth of equall and excellent parts , is farre aboue them both ; for hee sees and doth , knowes and can execute ; An head armelesse , or an Arme headlesse , makes but vp a lame Commander ; Isadas rashnesse finds shame instead of Laurell , and Xerxes Cowardise ( though it know how to cloath the Ocean with Shippes ) runnes from the Persians with reproach and dishonor ; It is true that the Orators in Rome ( by the name of Senators ) did long time sway that Infinite Empire , giuing Lawes to Peace , and Rules to Warre , Kings gouern'd as they commanded , and Generalls fought as they directed . But when Caesar returned to Rome , and was adorned both with knowledg and action , who then durst withstand him ? nay though he affected the Diadem , ( an ambition of all others most hatefull to their natures ) yet who but obeyed him ? did Brutus ? did Cassius ? did Tullie ? did Cato ? did any in the large Beadrole of his fatall Conspirators , by eloquence reclaime him ? no , t was with Ponyards , force euermore must master force , and it is the violent stroke of one nayle which euermore must driue out the other , Caesar was a Cedar , not a Willow , he that would bring him downe must lay the Axe to his roote , not bend his toppe with an Engine ; It is certaine the Romans vs'd all the art of practise , all secresie in Treason , and all the shame in Libells ; they had cunning enough to let the people know Caesars faults and their owne losses , they could put Freedome in his best Garments , and make Profit appeare as gloryous as an Angell , yet all was but as dust scattered in the winde , and t' was only the Stabbe , and nothing but it alone that preuailed , To descend nearer to our owne familiar knowledge , what Senator is there which euer liued , or what Orator that euer pleaded , who giuing Sentence on a delinquent , could by force of his eloquence perswade the wretch to runne himselfe to the Gallowes , put on the noose and leape from the Ladder with Dulce quia sponte , no ; life is a dearer companion to mans nature , and when that is forfeit , the Sherife ( which is his countries Souldior ) must with his armed Band , compell him to the bloody Altar ▪ and as in this , so in all cases whatsoeuer , that are allied to Compulsion , whether it be the execution of writs , obedience to lawes , the setling of Estates and Manners ; where the conscience will not be perswaded , there the Sword must enforce and vse his commandement ; Should forraine enemies vpon false suggested Titles inuad vs , our swords ( vnder God ) must defend vs ? should our Soueraignes loose any part of their lawfull Rights , our Swords are bound to regaine them ? should Traytors like Hydras , increase by killing , yet must the Sword suppresse them ? should Rebells spring like the growth of the Dragons teeth , yet must the Sword consume them ? and should our Neighbours or allies be opprest , or true religion supprest , yet must our Swords maintaine them ? so that we may conclude in all cases whatsoeuer , whether Fas or Nefas , either to strengthen Iustice , or weaken iniury , to guard Vertue , or to combate Vice : yet there is a strong necessity why the Sword should still be required .

Let vs therefore giue the Sword his due , and say it is the eldest sonne of Honor , and let vs giue that Royall Commander his deserued admiration , who though he haue sheathed his owne , and almost all the Swords in Christendome , yet still stands fortified with so powerfull a preparation ; that with them of Colen , the whole world may cry out , it is a madnes to thinke to resist a Prince so good , so wise , and so fortunate ; War neuer had so many Schooles in the time of Troubles , as his Peace hath Academies to expresse the depth of Martiall discipline ; euery man now is more then a master in that braue Art , and Infants and Children as they are going to the schoole , can teach one another the vse of Weapon , March , Motion and Posture ; so that strangers and forraine Nations haue beene heard to say , What will the English doe ? if this continue , euery child like Hercules will be able to kill a Serpent in his Cradle .

But to proceed againe to the necessity of this designe , and to shew that Peace should be nothing else but a foster Nurse vnto Souldiers , take a Suruey of all Gouernments , whether Assirians , Persians , Greekes or Romans , and we shall see that the Peace which they enioyed at home , euer brought them forth those Souldiers which conquered abroad , for Warre is a deuourer , and only desires action , giues little leasure to meditation . Or to come a little nearer to our selues , let vs looke into the deeds of great Henry of France , and we shall see that though the Arsenal of Paris , had in fiue and twenty yeares seene foure mightie preparations yet was the last ( which had inioyd the longest peace ) the greatest and most transendent , being ( as the Duke of Suylly reported ) of that infinite space and largenesse , that the first day it was knit together , it seemed both to promise victory , and to sing the triumph , and the Terror was so great , that it stroke Ielousie into all the Kings friends , and feare amongst his enemies , for the Sword was drawne that might command ; but no man knew to whome it would speake ; power and valour , like thunder in the hand of Iupiter , was ready to fall in a twinckling , yet was no enemy seene , no peace broken , no warre proclaimed . This was the ability of a right peace , and by these helpefull prouisions , he became both feared , beloued and admired : what shall we say of the peace in the Netherlands , but that euery day it hath almost begot them a new army , and euery night intic'd to the Seas an inuincible Nauy ; So that through prouidence they are becommed so infinitely rich , both in the one and the other prouision , that of them may be said , as was said of the Secular Triumphs , Come and see that which was neuer seene , and which no man liueing euer thought to see ; a Nation that stood in need of all , now needed of all , and she that was taught of all , now teaching all others ; this wonder hath peace wrought , and this profit haue they gaind by exercising peace with a hurtlesse Matiall imployment ; I could inferre as much for Spaine , and say that her peace at home , bred her Souldiers to guard her gettings abroad , and that neither the vnwholesomnesse of the Equinoctiall line , nor the vninhabited Tropycks ( so much feared of our forefathers ) hath had so much power to consume men ; as martiall discipline ( in times of calmnesse ) hath had strength to reuiue them , and like the best Alchymie to make infinites grow from a single seede or proiection .

To conclude then , ( for the necessity of Warre was neuer accounted a Paradox ) Armes and Soulderie are the Cronicles of Princes , the hazards of Battayles their Theaters , and the Iustice of their warlike cause their Honor , Perfection and Tryumph ; so that he which will liue long in mens memory , must build this Pyramed whereon his name must stand , strong , vpright and euen ; he that will fill his Theater with shouts and plaudyties , must grapple with Lyons and Tygers , and he that will tryumph in perfection , must haue all the foure vertues chaynd to himselfe , not to his Charyot , so shall his armes bee lawfull and needfull ; and howsoeuer the curious may account him a meane Captaine , yet shall not the whole world produce the Character of a better , a more needfull or a more renowned Souldior .

SInce in the Time past we haue no interest at all , and in that of the present we can challenge no more but an Instant , how behouefull is it ( noble Sir ) for euery man to bee carefull to what ends his Imployments ayme , that the expence thereof may returne both an acceptable rent to such as may challenge his Seruice , and also some glory to himselfe , by leauing behind those parcels which may giue others cause of honest Imitation . This ( my Lord ) hath directed me into this path which now ( with all earnestnesse ) I follow , and this emboldeneth mee to send this Epistle to your Lordship , to giue you a iust account of my Time , Studie , and Seruice , which as it is not altogether a Stranger , so I hope it may a little reuiue againe those thoughts , which howsoeuer you may be pleased to lay by , yet I know you will neuer vtterly forsake or abandon .

I haue in the former Epistle shewed the necessary vse both of Warre , and the Souldier , and that as the maine Columbe of a Common-wealth , it keepes all estates vpright and euen . Now I am to ascend to the Glorie thereof , then which there is not any flame of profession whatsoeuer that can aspire beyond it , or of the goodnesse of his fires make a Starre more fixed and enduring : for as all Arts are sooner attained then this , by quiet studie , warme ease , and sound rest , neither perplexing the mind , nor putting the body in danger : so the Souldier ( whose ends are euer high and great ) findes difficultie in all his designes , dangers in his attempts , and death both the Crown and Song of his Conquest and Triumph : nor are they sutable to any particular proportion , but euen married and allied to euery warlike action ; as , whether with Alexander he seeke the conquest of the world , or with Hanibal striue but to defend a particular citie : for Souldiers cannot march farre sitting still , nor compasse much with poore endeauors , as their aymes are great , so must be their actions and as their desires are infinite , such must be their dangers : which considered , it must necessarily follow , that their glory ought farre to exceed all others . Souldiers are for the most part men of great and incomparable Spirits , which is such a glorious Garment , and so precious a Iewell wherewith to adorne Vertue , that it sets her forth in the highest degree of all excellencie and perfection , where on the contrary , base , low , little and straight minds , who haue nothing of price in them but life , not any thing wise but their feares , nor any Bountie more than a continuall affection to worldly riches . These are in no sort fit for emploiments of this Martiall and high nature . The true Souldier takes Scipio for his example , and is like him , spare of speech and euer musing ; lookes vpon Salust , and with him is secret in his counsels , but open in his actions ; and admires Furius Camillus , with whom hee is neither puffed vp by any successe in Fortune , nor yet abashed or deiected , though his designes runne neuer so desperately to ruine and disorder . Hence it comes , that the greatest Princes stile all men of Warre their Fellow-Souldiers ; and the meanest amongst them ( in the way of Vassailage ) disdaine to serue the greatest persons , well may they serue vnder them , but cannot be truly said to serue them : their hands they may commaund to vse the Sword , not to carry a Trencher ; their minds they may inflame with courage , not quench with flattery ; and their bodies they may sacrifice to Glory , but not offer vp either to their Lusts , Pride , or Ambitions .

All Warres are either Offensiue or Defensiue , to inuade others , or preserue themselues , either of which no man ought to vndertake but for a glorious purpose . To God belongeth our actions , to him therefore and his Glorie ought all Warre to bee dedicate : For Warres offensiue or Inuading , they must euer be either to plant Gods Name and Christian Religion amongst vs , or else to regaine those Rights and Dominions , which ( formerly being giuen from God ) haue been iniuriously taken and withheld from the true and lawfull owners : and of this we haue plentifull examples in holy Writ , both in the Stories of Moses , Iosua , Dauid , and the Maccabees , of which ( if wee should speake particularly ) some haue been commaunded by Gods owne mouth to make warres , to destroy , yea to take no Truce , but to kill euery liuing Soule : others haue themselues assumed Armes , to these ends , and by these examples ; and some haue regained their vniust losses by a lawfull Warre , vnder a diuine authoritie . As these , so other great mindes ( though much lesse in true holy knowledge , and with a much scanter Warrant ) furnished with great successe , haue imbarked themselues into great actions , and preposing humane ends , as Scales to their high Thoughts , haue become gloriously victorious in the world ; as Ninus in the first age , Cyrus in the second , Alexander in the third , and Caesar in the fourth : all these haue had glorious ends , and famous Names , and their memory will continue whilst Time hath continuance . But when I fixe them against the Sun-shine of Christian and godly Captaines , such as was our first Richard in the Holy land , Burbon before Rome , Great Henrie of Fraunce against the League , or our renowned Henries of England pulling their Birth-rights from such as vsurped them : then me thinks like new Starres they are either lost at their first finding , or like eclipsed lights haue in themselues no beautie but such as is borrowed .