Advice to a Soldier, IN TWO LETTERS Written to an Officer in The Late English Army, When the War with France WAS EXPECTED AND ONE TO A Commander in the Fleet, IN THE LAST DUTCH WAR, Proper to be Exposed at the Present Time while the PEACE OF CHRISTENDOM (If not the Liberty of it) seems to Be very Short-Lived.  
LONDON, Printed by John Shadd, for John Gay, at the Flying-Horse between St. Dunstans-Church, and Chancery-Lane, 1680.   

A LETTER TO A Young Gentleman, Who by the Mediation of Great Friends, Had Obtained the Grant of a CONSIDERABLE COMMAND In the English Army which Was raised to assist the Dutch and their Confederates AGAINST THE Prevailing Power OF FRANCE, In the Year, 1678.  
My Dear Friend,  
I Do highly approve the resolution you have taken, to serve His Majesty in the Wars, if any happen, it being a Duty which every good Subject owes him; especially the Gentry, who derive all their streams of Honour from that Original Fountain: But it may possibly seem strange, that while all the rest of your Friends are Congratulating your good Fortune, in the preferment proffered you, I only show myself dissatisfied; I will assure you I am so far from envying your promotion, that no Man living does more heartily desire it then myself; It is reality of my Friendship makes me jealous, that preferment is arrived at your Port, before you are ready, before you are fit for it: It is no small or trivial matter which he undertakes who receives a Commission from the King, how light soever you and other young Gentlemen think of it, and I should not be worthy any place in your esteem, if I did not deal very candidly and plainly with you. And in the first place I will tell you, He cannot be a fit Man to Command, who knows not the duty of those that are to obey him.  
I doubt not but you have read Books relating to War, and may understand something of the Theory of it, but all the reading in the Universe, will not enable a Man to perform well, the meanest of the Mechanic Arts; We usually allow seven years' Experience for attaining the skill to make Shoes, etc. and do you believe that the Military Science (upon the success whereof depends the safety or the ruin, the standing or falling of Towns, and Citadels, Kingdoms and Empires,) is to be learned a midst the softnesses and ease of Courts, and rich Cities, and reposing on the laps of Ladies,? or by the imperfect Ideas of a Battle, and a Siege represented in a Play? or at best by a little superficial reading of Commentaries? No, the Art of War is to be attained by other Methods and means more studious, more laborious, more manly: and if you accept of a Command at this time, 'tis odds that you neither efficatiously serve the King, nor yourself; not the King, for the obtaining preferments by favour, without merit, is the greatest discouragement in the World, to Men of low Fortunes and high spirits, and such in times of danger, are the usefullest Men in a Commonwealth; who having served many years in the Wars, and made themselves capable of the greatest Offices, shall all on the sudden find themselves defeated, by such young Gentlemen as you; Although if you come to speedy action, you must necessarily be baffled, and disappoint His Majesty's Service, or else owe your success wholly to chance, for which none but fools will commend you. You cannot serve yourself, because the main thing you aim at is Honour: Now you must know, they lie under a vulgar Error, who think that to have a great Office or great Title, is sufficient to make a Man Honourable. True Honour does not so much consist in possessing great Offices, or great Titles, as in the using those great Titles and discharging those great Offices so, as the Prince may be well and faithfully served, and the public good advanced and promoted.  
Which can never be done by one who wants Experience, unless as I said before; it be by chance, or by the discreeter menage of the under Officers. I will add further, that what miscarriage soever happens under you, will be imputed right or wrong, to your want of conduct, and the credit of all the good service you do, shall be carried away by those of your Officers who have more skill, even then when they do not deserve it. Wherefore my advice is, if you would serve your Prince and your Country, as becomes a good Subject and a Gentleman, if you would bring an addition of Honour to yourself and Family; let your advancement be the reward, rather than the Obligation of your merit. Content yourself for a time, to serve as a private Gentleman, a Volunteer, and you will find, that one years' experience in time of Action, will instruct you better than Twenty Years reading without it. It has been always my manner to express my mind freely, and so I do now, when I assure you I am,  
Your Faithful Friend, London Aug. 20th. 1678.   

A Second Letter to the same young Gentleman, after he had Received his Commission, wherein is chiefly Discoursed the Moral Part of MILITARY DISCIPLINE.  
My Dear Friend,  
IT seems before my Letter came to your hands, you had received the Commission, from which I was too late endeavouring to dissuade you; The wisest Men do many things in their Lives, which they are sorry for when done, but cannot undo without greater disadvantage: This Act of yours I look on to be one of those; It was the desire of Honour made you take a Commission, and though now you wish it had been deferred till another time; yet since you have put your hand to the Blow, you must not look back, you cannot lay it down without shame, without disparagement. Therefore I will give you such General advice as I can; for particular or practical you know I do not pretend to.  
It will be impossible for you at first, to conceal your unskilfulness in Arms, from your Men, and therefore all attempts of that Nature, will be fruitless and ridiculous; Wherefore it will be your best way to own it, to such of your Officers as are ingenious, and do not think it any disparagement to learn of your Inferiors. It is no shame not to know that which one has not had the opportunity of Learning: but it is scandalous to profess knowledge and remain ignorant.  
In regard your Experience in Martial Matters is green, as well as your Years, it will be needful that you use all the helps you can, to make some amends for that defect.  
And first, I would have you get intimately acquainted with some of the best of our English Officers, especially some of those who have been either on the side of France, or Holland, or both Engaged in the present War of Christendom; and by a frequent converse with them, and by your own heedful Observation, you may the sooner make a good improvement of your time; And you would do well to get yourself provided with some of the best Books, describing the modern way of Military Discipline, for Books are great assistances to those who every day compare their reading and practice.  
When you have made a choice of persons with whom you intent to be intimate, be careful you are not by any of them drawn into private or particular quarrels; And if any such accident happens in your presence between others endeavour what you can to compose, not widen the breach: If the difference grow so high, that nothing less than a Duel, can reconcile the feud in point of Honour, make them sensible what a shame it is for Men of true merit, to receive the Laws of Honour from faint Effeminates, the Hectors and Huffs of the Town, who possess none themselves, but what they are indebted for, to their Schools of Honour and Morality, the Playhouses; Ask with what Justice they can expect the Kings pay, or hope for his favour or his pardon, while they show such contempt of him and his Laws, and hazard their Lives in a quarrel, destructive to his service. Remind them that the French, the great promoters of duelling in a more pusillanimous Age, having now shaken off former fooleries, and put on the bravery of a Warlike People, look on that Man who offers to lend a Challenge, as a fellow fit to be kicked by their Foot boys, and that's the usual way the Gentry of France think themselves obliged in Honour to answer him. He who charges most briskly at the Head of his Troops; He who first mounts the Enemy's Wall, and he who is for wardest in attacking their Fortifications, are the only Men among them, who now obtain the Title, and the esteem of Honourable.  
But if you meet with any so fond of false Honour, so false to the principles of Loyalty and true Glory, that no reason can divert them, even in a Foreign Country, from a●●●●ing the Enemy, by diminishing our strength, and making factions in our own party; let them alone by themselves to destroy one another, for 'tis pity they should live, and 'tis pity they should die, by any worthier hands than those of the Hangman or their own.  
If you would ever arrive at greater preferment than you have, or deserve that which His Majesty has already bestowed, you must be beholden for it chiefly to the valour and affection of your Soldiers; therefore endeavour what you can to get them their pay in due season; and if that cannot be done, at least let them see that it is not your fault; observe and abhor the example of some others who detain the Soldier's Wages, the price of their blood, and throw it away on the turn of a die, or spend it profusely on their pride and their Lusts.  
Despise all base ways of enriching yourself, either by cheating the King with false Musters, or defrauding or abbridging your Men any part of their due; such practices have been the undoing of many a good Cause, and are so far more worthy a Gallows, then common Robberies, by how much the loss of a Battle is more considerable than the loss of a Bag of Money, and the ruin of the public, then that of a private single person. Consider, your Men are equal sharers in the danger though not in the profit or Honour. of the War; and that as you are the head, they are the body, containing beside the Trunk, the usefullest Members, Hands, Arms, Legs, and Feet, without whose executive power, all your contriving faculties will prove insignificant; so that you must not think you discharge the duty of a good, or prudent Commander, when you only show yourself bold, and bring them on bravely to Battle; your care must be both before and afterwards, to see that they have as wholesome food, (and Physic when ●●●eeds) and as good Quarters as the place will afford: And since English constitutions, cannot so easily endure Famine, as the People born, and bred up in less plentiful Countries; You must make it a principal part of your endeavours, to have them sufficiently provided, and when upon any action, your under Officers or other, have deserved well, you ought to use your interest to get them encouraged and promoted.  
A good Commander will use his Soldiers, just as a good Father uses his Children; and he who governs otherwise, through Covetousness, Negligence, Pride, or Ill-nature, shall never get any great Honour himself, nor ever do any service considerable, for his King or Country.  
But though I would have you love your Men well, because you can do nothing without them, I would not have you spoil them with over much kindness. It is the wise dispensing of rewards, and Punishments which keeps the World in good Order. They never had their business well done, who through an excess of goodness, reward mean services too highly: or punish great miscarriages too lightly. Therefore as you must take care of the Back, and the Belly, the Pay and Provision of your Soldiers, so you ought to be very severe in your Discipline: The two former will gain you the Love of your Men, the later their fear, and all mixed together, produce complete Obedience. Or, to express it better in the Marshal phrase, Pay well, and hang well, makes a good Soldier.  
The frequent Company of Women, and the tippling strong Liquors, debilitate both the mind and body of a Soldier, rendering him soft and effeminate, lazy, and sickly, unapt and unfit for Heroic exploits. Restrain therefore as much as may be, the debaucheries of your Men, and be careful to refrain your own, and take this along with you for a General Rule; That, when you teach your Men to live innocent, you do at the same time make them valiant.  
To the end you may with greater facility effect so good a Design, you ought to be always attended with a good Chaplain; And if I were worthy to advise your General, I would beg him to be as careful in the choice of his Chaplains, as his Captains. Nay, I would adventure to say they are as necessary: and many times have done, and may again, as largely contribute towards the obtaining happy successes. And now there is as great an occasion for able Divines in our Army and Navy, as ever there was, since England professed Christianity. For the Fops of this Age. under the notion of Wits, endeavour to Buffoon Religion out of Countenance; talk Blasphemy and Atheism, in common Discourse, speak Treason against the Majesty of Heaven, (a crime which no Prince upon Earth will endure, at an easier rate then mortal punishment.) And so while nothing is allowed for fashionable wit, which is not Atheistical, or profane, or impudently immodest; the young Gentry (fond of that foolish humour called witty) are in a fair way to be debauched. For what shall restrain their exorbitancies, who have learned to despise the supernal Power?) and by their ill example, a door is set wide open, to let in among the vulgar, all the lewdnesses and immoralities in the World.  
Therefore you should choose for a Chaplain, a man reserved in his Life, grave in his deportment, fixed in his principles, and faithful to his Prince; one that will not be abashed when fools deride him; one that will not be afraid to exhort and reprove, as occasion requires; One that is patient enough to endure scorn and reproach, and bold enough to oppose himself against the greatest Torrent of impiety. And then you ought to show him respect, as unto the Messenger of God, and to see that the Marshal Laws relating to Religion, and good Order, be put in Execution; which truly of late have been just so observed, as if they had been purposely made to be broken. If you begin the good example, you shall hardly need to compel your Men to follow: They will be ashamed to be vicious, if their Commander be virtuous; And shame is a more effectual way to reform Vice, then pecuniary penalties, or corporal pains.  
By this means the lives of many Men will be saved, who otherwise to support their vices, neglect their duty, commit Thefts, and Robberies, and Rapes, and the like; and bring themselves under the lash of Martial Law, great punishments and ignominious Deaths.  
You should be as frequent and regular, at your public Prayers, as time and your affairs will permit; especially neglect it not before a Battle, or other great undertaking. For Prayer by a strange and secret influence, (which none can tell but they who use it.) brings from Heaven new Life, and vigour, and courage, to the most weak and timorous.  
And now I have happened to speak of courage that necessary qualification in a Soldier, I will give you my opinion what it is, and whence it usually arises.  
Courage is either Active, or Passive, and both are as useful for a Soldier as a Sword and a Target. Active is that which does prompt and excite a Man, to the undertaking and attempting great and hazardous Erterprises. And passive is a certain even temper and frame of mind, which dangerous accidents cannot discompose, or divert from his intended purpose. On the contrary, fear amazes and distracts, and disappoints the wisest Counsels, and most deliberate Designs; hurrying Men into the danger they think to avoid, or into greater; as the Hart in the Fable, to escape the Dogs, sought shelter in the Lion's Den; so it commonly happens in Battles, that those Men are killed in flight, who by keeping the Field might have won the victory; and 'tis frequent for a Coward who runs away from a Sword, to stumble upon a halter.  
Inconsiderate rashness, is by some Men called courage, when it produces the like effect, but is intruth no better than madness, and I intent only to speak of that courage which is the product of reason.  
True courage springs from a contempt of Death, or an opinion that one shall not die. Contempt of Death arises from a confidence in God's Mercy, or a consideration of Honour, or both. Confidence in God's Mercy will naturally grow as the fruit and effect of a good and virtuous Life, and those 〈◊〉 will be afraid of ●●●king, who are and who believe themselves 〈…〉 under the sacred Protection of Almighty God. And 〈…〉 Honour (or the thirst after Public Fame for well ●●ing) is added, I think there is all which is necessary to make a man truly courageous. Honour by itself, (I mean a great Title, or public applause) is but an empty Name, (not valued by wise Men save only when it comes as the just reward of virtue, the fruit of worthy performances) and the apprehension of Death and Damnation, are two weighty things, when nothing but that empty Name is put in the balance against them; Now there are but a few Atheists in the World so through paced, as to have totally extinguished the fears of a future being; however they may boast of it when no danger seems to be near them: I have seen some of those Gallants, who talk nothing but Honour in the middle of a Sea-Fight, look as silly as Sheep, and sneak themselves behind the Mainmast.  
But the far greater Number of those who go to the Wars, are persuaded they shall not be killed, and that opinion is the cause of their courage, which having a foundation so liable to uncertainty, is easily overturned by a little adverse fortune: For when the Battle grows hot, when Death presents itself in diversity of shapes; when one loses a Leg, and another both his Arms, and a third is shot off in the middle: When Men and Horses confusedly come tumbling down together, and a Man's best friends lie bleeding by his side, than that confidence which was groundless vanishes of it's own accord, and quickly follows disorder and rout, and down right running away.  
No Man can promise himself before a Battle, that he shall be alive afterwards, and every prudent man should be provided, not only for that which must, but as near as one can, for that which may happen. I mean every prudent Man should think it may be his turn to be killed as soon as another, and therefore should endeavour before hand to keep himself from all horrid, flagitious enormous crimes, such as hinder one in times of greatest danger, from ask or hoping for God's Mercy, and make a valiant Man turn Coward.  
I have insisted the more on this particular, because we have lived to see the best King, having the best cause in the World, ruined by his own rebellious Subjects, towards which ruin, I have been told of the irregularities of some of the Loyal Party, did in a great measure contribute.  
And because it is reported, by some and believed by many, that Piety and Devotion, Virtue and Religion, are only to be found amongst those who are dissenters from, or Enemies to the Church of England. I would persuade you my dear friend, by your own practice, to endeavour the contradicting that wicked assertion: I would fain have you as eminent for your Piety, as your Native bravery, and let one add reputation to the other. King David among the Jews, Scipio African among the Romans, and King Henry the Fifth among the English, were in their times, the most Pious, and most prosperous Generals in the World.  
It is very convenient, I think I may say necessary, that your Men be possessed with the Justice of the Cause they Fight for: Let them be told by your Chaplain this truth, that they are doing God's work, by endeavouring to restore those to right who suffer wrong, to bring an Universal Peace to Christendom, and preserve it from falling into the slavery, wherewith at this time it seems to be threatened, to put an end to that blood and slaughter, ruin and devastation, which it has for several Years past, suffered under.  
You may also do well at convenient times, to relate to your Officers and Men, the great things their Ancestors formerly performed in France, and be stirring them up to alike Emulation: But I cannot by any means approve of their policy, who persuade their Men to despise their Enemies; Instead of that, I would have you let them know, that they are not now to Fight against France, lulled a sleep by a long Peace, and drowned in the pleasures of ease and idleness; but against France awakened, grown watchful & wise, against Men whom a long War has made Martial, and taught to be as good Soldiers, perhaps as are in the World, and against Men who have taken the strongest Towns in Christendom, with greater facility, and defended them with greater obstinacy, than any of their Enemies, with whom they have hitherto been contending.  
In my opinion the contempt of a crafty Enemy is one of the greatest advantages you can give him, and he who Commands valiant Men, as the English are, need not be afraid to make them sensible of danger; it will rather serve to inflame, then abate their natural courage; Whereas if they be taught to slight their Enemy, they will be apt to think of a Victory without Labour, without dangers such an imagination will teach them to be careless & carelessness will lay them open to inevitable ruin and destruction. But you must not dwell too long on this Subject, you must put them in mind, that although the French are politic & powerful, they are yet very far from invincible, their courage will give way, when attacked by Men of Resolution, who are not afraid of dying: (the truth whereof appears by the shock and disappointment they lately received before Mons.) And achievements against them, will be so much more glorious, by how much they seem more difficult and dangerous.  
Remember your Soldiers how unkindly the French used some of their fellows, who had faithfully served them many years, and to whom they owed a good part of their success; Use any Arguments which may heighten their courage, or whet revenge, to a sharp and a vigorous prosecution; and always let them know, they are in a place where they must owe their safety and success, and the very bread they eat, only to the effects of their own valour, and vigilance.  
The season for Act on this year, is now almost over, however you should not be absent from your Men oftener, or longer than you need, although you have nothing for them to do; for vulgar minds are generally busy, and depraved, and will rather be contriving ill then doing nothing: It will therefore be an Act worthy your prudence, to exercise them at convenient times, (above what is usual) in Matches at Leaping, Running, Wrestling, Shooting at Marks, or any other manly and innocent sports, which may render them healthy, and hardy, and give them no leisure to study mutinies, or other mischief.  
If thus by your example, by the strictness of your Discipline, by the veneration you show Religion, by the encouragement you afford the Dispenser of it, you can persuade or compel your Men to live well and temperate, you will find when you come to Fight, that Soldiers so well paid and provided for, so kindly used, and so strictly Disciplined, and prudently managed, will enter Trenches, mount Walls, and Fortifications, endure steadily the Shock of Enemies, run upon the mouths of Cannons, and perform Actions becoming gallant Men, even such as seem to others impossible.  

For your own Part.  
As long as you have a Superior Commander, you must be a punctual Observer of Orders, and when you are employed on any particular Design, endeavout to get your Orders in Writing, so may you best avoid committing mistakes, and best secure yourself from fathering the mistakes of other Men. In any thing, especially if the hazard be eminent, never attempt less than you are Commanded, and without a very good reason, do not attempt more, for in such case, if it succeed well, you shall only share the Honour, but if ill, you shall bear all the blame by yourself.  
In a word, when it depends on your choice, be wary in undertaking, speedy in prosecuting your Design. Caution in Resolution, and quickness in Execution, being the two greatest Characters of a Wise Man.  
Thus my dear Friend I have touched upon several particulars, which I did not think of, when I first set pen to paper, and doubt I have too much exceeded the limits of a modest Letter, and perhaps a great part, if not all of it, will be rendered useless to you, by a General Peace, which is the end of His Majesty's arming, and if it can be had on safe and reasonable terms without more contending, is that which all good Men ought to wish and pray for. If it happen otherwise, I shall then venture to write you something else, in another strain, which for the present is not convenient. I hope you will accept kindly, what is kindly intended, from  
Your Faithful Friend, and Servant. Aug. 30th. 1678.    

A LETTER Written by an unknown hand Whereof many Copies were dispersed among the COMMANDERS OF THE English Fleet, in the YEAR, 1673.  
Dear Cousin,  
GOing yesterday to your Father's House, partly to see him, but chiefly to learn when he heard from you, and what news was lately from the Fleet, he told me you were in health, the Fleet near ready to Sail, and then showed me a Letter he was just sending to you, wherein (among other things) I found these words.  
Have a care of yourself, be not foolhardy by venturing too far into the Fight there are Ships enough to beat the Dutch without years; and Captains enough in the Fleet, who will prudently show you the way to keep farthest off when danger is nighest; and than you need not fear the aspersion of a Coward as long as you have good Company: Therefore I say again be wisely cautious, for your death would certainly break the heart of my Daughter and bring my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.  
I had scarce patience to read out so much without tearing the Letter in a thousand pieces, and I could not forbear such Language as did but ill agree with the friendship between us: If you are (said I) so mighty fond of your Son, send for him home presently, and let him run no other danger, than what he may meet in a London Tavern, or Bawdy-house; when he has a mind to Fight let Bowls be his Bullets, and broad Oaths and Curses his Gunpowder: at other times, let him have nothing else to do but treat his Wife, or, as the fashion is, his Wench, at the Playhouse, Hyde-park, or Spring-Garden. As soon as I had vented my passion and grew calm, I so far convinced your Father of his fault, that himself burned his Letter; and desired me to write one, more suitable to my own inclination.  
According to that little notice I have taken of Sea-matters, I think our Captains in general (and you among the rest) rather need a Spur then a Curb, when you are going to Fight: and therefore quite contrary to the former advice, I will set before your eyes, the justice and the danger that attends a Cowardly-Commander.  
1. He robs the King and Kingdom, not only of the Money himself receives, but likewise of so much as the whole charge of the Ship, with provisions and wages amounts to, by rendering the same of no use, just when it should do the King Service; he murders all those gallant Men, which are slain by the Enemy, and loses those Ships which fall into their hands for want of being well seconded; he betrays his own Party to the Enemy, by keeping back the expected assistance, and the weakening of us and the helping of them is all one; Nay, as if he had received a bribe to do mischief, he fires both over and into the Ships of his Friends, so helping both ways to bring them to ruin he completes in himself the Character of a Traitor. By these means it is our Battles are lost, or at best so balanced when they might have been won, that after a Fight the Enemy sooner than we, are again in a condition of disputing the Victory. No common High-way-robber, is half so great a Rogue, as that Officer who takes wages, and dares not, or does not Fight bravely when there is an occasion.  
2. As he largely contributes to the loss of the Battle so he hazards doubly his own loss: For it is observable, (I am sure in Land-Fights) that where one is killed standing stiffly his ground, five are destroyed in the running away; and I am told in your Sea-Fights too, you lose most Men when you fight at greatest distance from the Enemy: But then besides the danger of the Enemy, the Coward has more reason to be afraid of his Friends, they being likely to hate him the most, who before had the best esteem of him; and a Gallows may easily catch him at home whom a Bullet abroad could not reach. So that to him may be well applied our Saviour's saying, He that will save his Life shall lose it.  
3. His fear impeaches the Divine Providence, which chiefly Glories to exercise itself in times and places of most eminent hazard; I know some valiant Men who have come off unwounded from the heat of at least twenty Battles; God oftentimes makes those places safest where we apprehend the most danger and those most dangerous we think most secure. Thus my dear Cousin you see, a Coward with a Commission, is neither a good Subject, a good Christian, nor a good or wise Man in any sense, but must be of necessity a Traitor to the King, a thief to his Country, a Murderer of his own Party, and consequently detested of God and Man. Consult therefore your own heart, and if fear dwell at bottom, do not cozen any longer the King's expectation, lest by staying another Battle, you let all the World be witness of that shame which yet may be easily hid. You may find fair excuses enough to lay down your Commission, and the Prince can find Men enough to take it up, who better deserve it. But if you will stay and Fight resolve to Fight bravely, so as you may do service to the King and gain yourself lasting reputation.  
If there have happened any disgust between you and any other Commander in the Fleet, either for wrongs really received, or supposed, or because he being a Man of less desert, is preferred, and advanced before you: Consider that a fraction of the parts, tends fairly to the ruin of the whole; and that your safety, and success, does chiefly depend on your Unity, and a right understanding. If therefore you would be thought faithful to the King, if you would not be found false to your Country, let all private quarrels die; or at least go to sleep till the public ones are decided.  
In the mean time assist one another, by all manner of kind Offices, as often as it lies in your power, let the Enemy only feel the effects of your indignation, and make it appear by the greatness of your Actions, that you are the Man of most merit.  
Where Duty bids go, never stay for the example of any others, but rather strive all you can to make yourself their example. In a good Cause God prospers best the bold Adventurer; let gallant resolution lead the Van, and glorious Victory shall bring up the Rear.  
Sheerness, July 16th. 1673.  
FINIS.