The character of a true English souldier written by a gentleman of the new-rais'd troops. Gentleman of the new-rais'd troops. 1678 Approx. 11 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A31716 Wing C1998 ESTC R43081 26771043 ocm 26771043 109784 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A31716) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 109784) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1712:23) The character of a true English souldier written by a gentleman of the new-rais'd troops. Gentleman of the new-rais'd troops. 8 p. Printed for D.M., London : 1678. Imperfect: creased stained and cropped, with slight loss of text. Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng England and Wales. -- Army. Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685. 2007-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-01 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-02 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2007-02 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE CHARACTER Of a true ENGLISH SOULDIER . Semper in Bello His maximum periculum est , qui maxime TIMENT . Audacia pro Muro Habetur . Salust . Written by a Gentleman OF THE New-rais'd Troops . With Allowance . Ro. L'Estrange . LONDON : Printed for D. M. 1678. The Character of a true English SOULDIER . A True English Souldier , is a free born Son of Courage , voluntarily put Apprentice to the Art of War : A stock of Heart-oak ▪ fit for Laurels to be grafted on ; or a sprig of Valour , that duely prun'd by Discipline and Experience , sprouts up in time into an Hero. Though he take Pay , you cannot without injustice call him Mercinary : for he serves his King and Country as much out of Inclination as Necessity ; and differs from the common Ruffianly Souldier of fortune , as a Charging horse from a Cart horse , or a Cock of the Game from one of Dunghill breed ; so unlike , that they scarce seem of the same Species : For he scorns the vices as much as the power of his Enemies ; looks upon the Camp as a severe School of Vertue , not a Sanctuary of Debauchery ; and lives like a Christian , though he fights like a Turk . He holds it , next to his Creed , that no Coward can be an honest man ; yet never bloodies his Sword but in the heat of Battel : For in his Quarters he is as peaceable as a Constable , and associates more lovingly with his Comrades , than Monks in a Cloister : The reason is , he is stout , not quarrelsome , and delights to have the Sun behold his Valour , because he resolves to do Actions worthy the Eye of Heaven . He will never be perswaded , that Success can justifie Cruelty , or Victory legitimate a Rape , or a Storming excuse a Sacriledge : Next to Cowardize and a Mutiny , he hates nothing so much as Rudeness to the fair Sex , whose weakness he allows to be their protection ; being so honourably merciful to Women in a surprizal , that the Triumphs of his Civilities can never be equall'd but by those of his Prowess . 'T is true , he is a Lover , but 't is of Danger and Glory , whom he courts ( as Jove did Semele ) in Clouds of Smoak and Thunder ; and appears more brave and lovely to a judicious Ladies eye in a tatter'd Red Coat or suit of Buff ( allow him but his Arms for Trimming ) than your little sprucified man of mode in his powdred Wig and Cloth of Tissue . He is so abhorrent from treacherous Murders or crol-blood-Massacres , that when he looks upon his Enemies dead body in the Field , 't is with a kind of noble pity , no insultation . He attributes the whole glory of a Conquest to God's mercy and his Generals conduct ; and always prepares for Death , though he never fears it . He thinks not out of his own Calling , when he accounts Life a continual Warfare ; and his Prayers then best become him , when , armed Cap a pe , he looks as if he had a designe to take at once both Earth & Heaven by violence . Before an Engagement he signs out some such short , but zealous Ejaculation : Lord , remember me anon , when I shall be too apt to forget thee ! and then falls on as resolutely and unconcern'd as to a Feast . He is so confident of victory , that he always gives the On-set with a Hallo and Shouts of triumph ; and pursues a Charge so furiously , that he is in with his Enemy almost as soon as his Bullet , ready , if that misses , with the Butt end of his Musquet to do Execution . He fears a Sword no more than an Ague ; and counts , the roaring of Cannons and whistling of Small-shot , m●ke as pleasant Musick as the Base and Treble in Consort . His Courage is natural , not borrowed from the Inspirations of Drink , or thrust upon him by the necessity of Despair . 'T is a base and malicious scandal to say , That his Valour ebbs and flows with the condition of his Snapsack , or that he can never fight well unless Beef and Bag-pudding be his Seconds . 'T is true , the Fertility of his Country has inur'd him to a plentiful Diet , and he would willingly have his body in good plight , to keep pace with the vigor of his mind : Yet he can endure the most pinching Necessities , and , led on by Honour , will hold out a Campagne , though Hunger and Cold march never so close in the same File with him . He is true Steel , which may be bent by violence , but in a minute return to its former posture . Thus he may be overcome , but never conquer'd : for he will Rally after the Tenth Repulse , and pluck Victory back by the wing , when she is flying away to the Enemy . Besiege him never so strictly , so long as the Air is not shut up from him , his heart faints not : for , like Hannibal , he always either finds a way , or makes it . But Valor and endurance of Hardships are but two parts of a Souldier ; that which compleats him is Obedience ; in which our true Englishman is singularly exemplary ; never did any so much slight his Enemy , and so revere his Chief . The Roman Legions could not boast a Spirit at once so fierce and so docile , that could overflow the Field with mote impetuosity , and retire to his place in the Camp with less appearance of having ever gone out . The respect he bears his Officers , is more powerful than the Right of Life and Death they have over him . He is more apprehensive of their Anger , than of the Law Martial and Ordinances of War : for he obeys for love , not fear ; and resents their displeasure more terribly than any punishment . He disputes no Orders , but executes them ; and will charge up to a Cannons mouth , or make a Scalado th●ough showers of Bullets , and the midst of Flames naked , if his Country's Honour , or his Generals Command require it . Thus far we have seen him in his private capacity , now behold him when Merit has intituled him to a COMMAND ; you shall finde in his action neither a cowardly or heavy coldness , nor a rash precipitate vehemence ; though he doth nothing meanly , yet he doth nothing with violence , but softly makes haste , and advances with an insensible motion . He cherishes his Souldiers as tenderly as a Father his Children , and had rather save one of their Lives , than kill ten of his Enemies . He does not train by the Book , dully reckoning up so many Postures of the Pike and Musquet , as if he were counting a Game at Noddy ; but , having a perfect Idea of the whole Art Military , Theorick and Practick , instructs every one according to his capacity , and prefers or punishes with a just respect to Merit . He endures equal toil with the meanest Souldier ; is the first in giving a Charge , and the last in retiring his Foot. From his Example they all take fire , as one Torch lighteth many . He hath learn'd as well to make use of a Victory , as obtain it ; for then , pursuing his Enemies like a Whirlwind , he carries all before him , being assured that is the time to compleat their Ruine , when they have lost Force , Wisdom , Courage , and Reputation . He is the universal Genius that actuates all under his charge , and moves them , as the Intelligences , without tiring themselves , are said to turn about the Coelestial Spheres . Observe how with his Eyes he leads the whole Army ! How a nod of his Head keeps thousands in their Duty ! How onely his presence establisheth Order , and drives away confusion ! He knows in War there is no admitting of a second errour , the first and least fault being sufficient to ruine an Army ; he therefore makes it his business to prevent faults , not to pardon them ; and makes those that are Precedents of Disorder , Mutiny , Negligence , or Cowardize , repair their offence to the whole , by being Examples of his Justice . His Loyalty to his Prince , and his Love to his Sou●diers , are essential parts of his Soul ; he would neither betray the one , nor defraud the other for a greater Empire than Caesars ; little seeming affronts at home cannot disoblige him ; nor mighty Offers from abroad draw him to a Compliance : He scorns Honour purchased by dishonourable means , is Shot free against the Enemies golden Bullets , and impenetrable to Vanity , as well as Fear and Avarice . He at once subverts discovered endeavours , and guards himself from hidden Artifices . Neither the Poison brought from afar , nor the neighbouring corrupted Air , nor Stranger , nor Friend , nor Hopes , nor Fears , nor Threats , nor Flatteries , have power to change the goodness of his Constitution ; or warp him from his duty . He scorns to make a Trade of War by prolonging it unnecessarily for his own profit or reputation , yet maintains it is never to be given o're but on one of these three , conditions : An honourable and well assured Peace , absolute Victory , or an honest Death . But I remember our Noble Souldier's life is Action ; he hates many words ; and I am willing enough to comply with his Humour : for when I have said all I can , 't is onely his own Sword that can truely write his Character . FINIS .