❧ laws and Ordinances, set down by ROBERT Earl of LEYCESTER, the Queen's majesties Lieutenant and Captain GENERAL of her army and forces in the Low Countries:  
Meet and fit to be observed by all such as shall serve her MAJESTY under him in the said Countries, and therefore to be published and notified to the whole Army.  
Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queen's most excellent Majesty.   royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT  

Laws and Ordinances set down by Robert Earl of Leycester, the Queen's majesties Lieutenant and Captain General of her Army and Forces in the low Countries: meet and fit to be observed by all such as shall serve her Majesty under him in the said Countries, and therefore to be published and notified to the whole Army.  
FOrasmuch as there is not any governed Estate, which in peace or war can be accounted sure, or preserved from dishonour and ruin, unless it be supported and borne up by justice duly administered, and discipline orderly observed: And for that no man can be so ignorant as not to know, that honour, fame and prosperity, do duly follow that common Wealth or Nation, wherein good laws are established, the Magistrate ministering justice is duly regarded, and the people fearing to offend, are drawn under the rules of justice and obedience: And seeing that martial discipline above all things (proper to men of war) is by us at this time most to be followed, aswell for the advancement of God's glory, as honourably to govern this Army in good order: And lest that the evil inclined (pleading simplicity) should cover any wicked fact by ignorance: Therefore these martial Ordinances and Laws following are established and published, whereby all good minds endeavouring to attain honour, may stand armed, and receive encouragement to persevere in well doing, and such as are inclined to lewdness, be warned from committing offences punishable. Which being embraced with careful respect, and followed with obedience, do promise good order and agreement amongst ourselves, with victory and good events against our enemies.  
1 First, every chief Magistrate, Captain, inferior Officer, Soldier, Pioneer, or what person else receiving her majesties pay in Field or Garrison, shall solemnly swear, and by corporal oath be bound to perform the under written Articles, so far as to each in their several qualities shall appertain: the violating or breaking whereof, is to be punished by the generals direction, according to the quality of the offence.  
2 Forsomuch as the holy Name of our most mighty and invincible GOD, with all reverence ought to be regarded, and that destruction is pronounced to such as blaspheme or abuse the same: it is therefore ordained and commanded, that no person whatsoever, either in common conference or communication, or for any cause whatsoever, shall blaspheme being thus admonished, or take his Name in vain, upon pain of loss of u.s. to the relief of the poor for the first offence: for the second, five days imprisonment: for the third, loss of his place and wages.  
3 And because the continual and unspeakable favours of our Almighty God, by our unthankfulness may be taken from us, and that no good event of any action can be expected, wherein God is not first and principally honoured and served: It is therefore especially ordained and commanded, that all persons whatsoever, shall upon general warning given either by sound of Trumpet or Drum, repair to the place appointed, where the Divine service is to be used, there to hear the same read and preached, unless for the present by sickness or other service he be impeached, upon pain to lose his days wages for the first, two days wages for the second, and so to be increased by the discretion of the judge, and for every such default in the Soldier, aswell the Captain as his inferior officers, to be punished with like penalty.  
4 And seeing it well beseemeth all Christians, especially such as profess the military service, to pass away the time in matters requisite for their profession: And because no time can be more vainly spent, then that which is consumed in unlawful games, besides the breeding of much contention and quarrels: And for that there be many allowable and commendable exercises for all sorts of men to use: Therefore it is straightly commanded, that no private Soldier or inferior Officer shall frequent the playing at Dice and Cards, nor any other unlawful games, upon pain of two days imprisonment for the first time, and for after committing the like, to be further punished by the judges discretion.  
5 And for that it often happeneth, that by permitting of many vagrant and idle women in an army, sundry disorders and horrible abuses are committed: Therefore it is ordained that no man shalt carry into the field, or detain with him in the place of his garrison, any woman whatsoever, other than such as be known to be his lawful wife, or such other women to tend the sick and to serve for launders, as shall be thought meet by the Marshal, upon pain of whipping and banishment.  
6 And insomuch as elementie amongst men of war in some respects is a singular virtue: It is ordained that no man in any part of this service that he shall do, shall lay violent hands upon any woman with child, or lying in childbed, old persons, widows, young virgins, or babes, without especial order from the Magistrate, upon pain of death.  
7 What person soever that shall be commonly given to drunkenness, or riotously behave himself, shall be banished the Army.  
8 Whosoever shall conceal, or in any sort keep secret Treason, any dangerous Conspiracy, or other practice which may be hurtful, and may concern the peril of her majesties person, or of her General, or the estate of this Army, and shall not with all diligence reveal the same either unto the General, or some other Officer of especial trust, shall incur the pains of death with torments.  
9 No man shall have speech or conference, send message, deliver or receive letters to or from the enemy, or any his confederates, either secretly or openly, without manifesting the same presently unto the General or Marshal, or having former authority so to do, upon pain of death.  
10 No man being in this service shall departed the Camp or place of Garrison for any cause whatsoever, without the General's especial Passport, or other head Officer authorized, upon pain of death.  
11 No man shall break out or leave the order of his rank, being once ordered in the field by the Marshal or Sergeant Maior, without some great occasion first made known unto the said Officer, upon pain of loss either of life or limb, at the discretion of the General or of the Marshal.  
12 No man appointed to watch or ward, shall shun or departed the place, neither shall sleep, or neglect his duty therein, especially after the watch is set and the word given, unless he be orderly relieved, or for some great occasion enforced, with licence of his Captain or Officer, upon pain of death.  
13 No man shall bewray the watchword to the enemy or to any other, or give any other word than is delivered by the Officer, upon pain of death with torment.  
14 No man shall raise any mutiny, or procure unlawful assemblies upon private, secret, or hidden purpose, whereby to disturb the peace and quiet of the Army, upon pain of death.  
15 No man shall lift up his weapon against the Magistrate, his Captain or Officer, upon pain of death.  
16 No man shall quarrel, brawl, or make any affray within the Camp or Town of garrison, upon old malice, or new occasion whatsoever, but shall complain to the Officer, who is to decide the cause & punish the party offending, upon pain of loss of life or limb, at the discretion of the General or Marshal.  
17 And whereas sundry nations are to serve with us in these wars, so as through diversity of languages occasion of many controversies may arise or happen to grow: It is therefore ordained, that if any person of English nation shall find himself aggrieved with any wrong proffered him by any foreigner, that then without proffering further revenge he shall signify the same unto his Captain or other officer, whereby order may be taken so, as no further quarrel grow thereof, but that quietness in all respects may be preserved, upon pain of such punishment as the head officers shall think meet, either by loss of life or limb.  
18 No man appointed to the defence of any Breach, Trench, or Straight, either Captain or Soldier, shall willingly leave it, or upon any false or imagined cause or excuse shall absent himself from the place, without sufficient warrant, upon pain of death.  
19 No Captain, officer, or other person, shall receive or entertain any other man's Soldier or servant, without consent of his former Captain or Master, neither shall entice an other man's Soldier from him, upon pain of loss of a Months wages, and to restore the party to his former Captain or Master.  
20 No man shall enroll his name under two Captains, nor muster in several companies at one time, or otherwise pass in another man's name, or lend Armour, weapon, or other furniture upon the muster day, whereby to abuse her Majesty, and weaken the present service, upon pain of a months imprisonment, and banishment.  
21 No man shall embezzle or diminish any of his Armour, weapon and furniture, which is appointed him by his Captain, unless he can prove that he lost the same in service. And that no man shall take in pawn any Soldiers weapon or furniture, upon pain to the Soldier of loss of his place, and to the other that shall take it in pawn, the loss of the double value.  
22 No man shall play away, engage, or lend away his furniture, but shall always keep his Armour and weapon clean and serviceable, upon pain of being discharged.  
23 No man shall deceitfully take away his companions provision, victuals, or furniture, upon pain of imprisonment.  
24 No person traveling, lodging, or abiding in any the Towns or Countries of her majesties friends or Allies, shall in any wise exact or take by force from the people either victual or other their goods whatsoever, without present payment, or other sufficient order to the just satisfaction of the party, upon pain of death.  
25 No man shall forestall any victuals brought for the Camp or place of garrison, but suffer the same peaceably to come into the Market place, there to be rated and priced by the Marshal or his officer, before he buy the same, upon pain of death.  
26 No man shall rob or spoil any Shop or Tent, or any victualler or Merchant coming for relief of the Camp or garrison, but in all good sort shall entertain and defend them, upon pain of death.  
27 No Soldier commanded at any time to take victuals for certain days, shall exceed the same days, or spend the same otherwise then according to the proportion and time allowed him, upon pain of imprisonment, or other such punishment as the lawful officers shall appoint.  
28 No man shall distress or spoil any person standing on her majesties party, or being under the General's protection, upon pain of death.  
29 No man shall disobey or transgress any Proclamation made by Drum or Trumpet, set forth by the General, upon such pain as he shall set forth.  
30 No man shall resist the Provost or his other officer in apprehending of any malefactor, but if need require, shall aid and assist him therein, or otherwise if by such occasion any escape be made, it is ordained that every person by whose default the escape was committed, shall suffer like punishment that the parties so escaped should have endured.  
31 No man shall molest or trouble any person being under his own regiment, or the leading of any other, once placed by the Marshal forrier, or Harbinger in the Camp or Town, but quietly to permit and suffer every one to enjoy his several room or lodging, unless it be by mutual consent and agreement, neither shall any man lodge out of his captains quarter without licence, upon pain of imprisonment.  
32 No man contrary to order shall set on fire or burn any house, milne, or corn, nor at dislodging or removing shall set the Camp on fire, without special commandment from the General or other head Officer present, upon pain of death.  
33 No man without great occasion shall make any Alarm, but if any chance to arise, then shall every man presently repair in all haste unto his appointed place, unless some true excusable cause do hinder him, upon pain of death.  
34 No man shall harbour or receive into his lodging any person being a stranger, or of our own nation not being enroled in her majesties pay, but shall presently acquaint the General or Marshal with his name, country, the time of his coming, and business, upon pain of imprisonment, and loss of his place and wages.  
35 No man shall talk or have conversation with any Trumpeter or Drummer of the enemies, or other sent in message, but such as be appointed by the General, upon pain of death.  
36 No man shall attend upon the carriages, but such as are appointed to that charge, neither linger, or loiter behind with them to ride or ease themselves, unless it be such as by sickness, hurts, or other infirmities known to the officers, to be permitted so, upon pain of imprisonment, and loss of wages.  
37 No man shall attempt to go a foraging, without the officer appointed for that purpose deliver them a sufficient guard for their defence, upon pain of death.  
38 No Captain shall send forth any men to do any enterprise, without knowledge of the General, or chief officer appointed thereunto, upon pain of loss of his place.  
39 All private Captains, being no head Officers, shall watch and ward with their Ensigns, unless it be by special leave, upon pain of the loss of a months pay, and for the second time, loss of his place.  
40 Every Soldier shall present such prisoners as are taken, to their Captain immediately at their return to the Camp, and none shall either kill them, or licence them to departed, without commandment or leave from the General, or other head Officer thereunto appointed, upon pain of being disarmed, and banished the Campe.  
41 Every Soldier at all times in service shallbe obedient and faithful, aswell to their Captains as other inferior Officers, and not to refuse direction of any under whom they are appointed to serve, upon pain of imprisonment, and loss of a months wages.  
42 Every man shall support and defend his own Ensign both night and day, and shall resort unto the same upon the first warning, and not departed until it be brought into safety, upon pain of death.  
43 Every soldier shall diligently observe and learn the sound of Drums, mischiefs, and Trumpets, to the end he may know how to answer the same in his service.  
44 No man shall slaughter or kill any beast of what nature soever within the Camp or Garrison, but in such places as are appointed for that purpose, nor shall suffer the garbage to remain unburied, neither shall any man trouble or defile the waters adjoining, but in the lower part of the stream some good distance from the Camp, upon pain of imprisonment.  
45 No man shall ease himself or defile the Camp or Town of Garrison, save in such places as is appointed for that purpose, upon pain of imprisonment, and such further punishment, as shall be thought meet by the chief Officers.  
46 No Captain shall sell or ransom his prisoner without licence of the General, and shall not suffer them to departed without making the high Marshal privy to the same, upon pain of loss of his prisoner, and imprisonment.  
47 If any man do take a prisoner or booty, he shall immediately after he is returned unto the Camp or Town of Garrison, make his Captain or Governor acquainted therewith, and the Captain shall declare the same unto the Marshal, who every eight days shall make certificate thereof unto the General, upon pain of imprisonment, and further punishment as the General shall set down.  
48 In Marching by the fields, no man at the putting up of any Hare, or any other beast shall make any shout or cry, whereby to disquiet or stay the rest of the bands, but to use all quietness and silence in their march, upon pain of imprisonment.  
49 No man shall give up or deliver unto the enemies any place left to his charge or keeping, upon pain of death.  
50 If any man fly to the enemies, or be taken upon his departure towards them, he shall suffer death.  
51 Any Captain finding any Soldier of what band or company so ever, which hath transgressed any of these Laws and Ordinances, may take him and bring him unto the Marshal to be punished.  
52 That whosoever shall be enroled into pay after the oath be ministered to others and he not present, and if afterwards he shall transgress any of these Ordinances, he shall be as well punishable by virtue of these Articles, as if he had been present at the first.  
53 That no Captain shall receive or enrol any person into his pay under him, but that he cause the said Soldier to receive the oath, as is set down in the first Article; upon pain to the Captain for not observing the same, of loss of a months pay.  
54 That no person whatsoever shall pass by any other way either in Town or Camp, but at the ordinary gates and passages, upon pain of death.  
55 All other offences and Acts that may tend to disorder, not comprised within these Articles, shallbe subject to such manner of punishment, as the Lieutenant General shall inflict upon them, as if it had been specially expressed and set down.