THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD ARMY, etc. BEING A few Hints touching the Gallantry and Fidelity of an ARMY in the Late Wars; Who gave the sole Honour and Glory of all their Achievements to God alone; whom they exalted daily in these Selfdenying Expressions; Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da Gloriam; And, Absque Deo nihil possumus.  
Written by Capt. Tho. Plunket; who was himself in that Army from first to last.  Exod. 15.3. The Lord is a Man of War.— Psal. 24.8. The Lord strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in Battle.— Dan. 2.21, He changeth the Times and the Seasons; he removeth Kings, and setteth up Kings.— Psal-33. 16. There is no King saved by the multitude of an Host.— Not by Might, not by Power; but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts, Zech. 4.6. 
London, Printed in the Year 169●.   

TO THE Sober impartial READER: For to no other I wish this may come.  
AS some may be affected with several things in this little Book, so other: may question the Verity of some extraordinary Passages therein; condemnning them as strange Paradoxes, and therefore incredible Hyperbolical, if not fanatical Fancies. And indeed, I cannot blame them for any just scruple upon that score; because some affirmations herein, especially touching the wonderful Faith, etc. in many Officers of that Army I treat of was never read in any History whatever, except the Bible; nor never heard of in any Army but that, since the Incarnation of Christ. But there are some (if not many) yet alive, which can testify to the Truth of what I have written, that scorn to own me in a Lie, as much as I scorn to write one wittingly; (as I hope I do;) for falsum Benedictum, est malum Mendacium However some will believe nothing, but what comports with their own Humours; for whatever they conceit to be false, must be false, right or wrong, because they conceit it; and whatever they fancy to be true, must needs be true, though never so false. Others again can hardly believe any thing to be true, but what they define should be true; wherein they verify the old Adage, Quod valde volumus, facile credimus, what we earnestly desire, we easily believe. But seeing there want not such, as seem to cavil at, or question the Veracity of some profound mystical Matters in the Sacred Oracles themselves and will own no more of them, than what their Reason is able to comprehend How much mort coarsely then must I expect to be treated, that neither can nor dare pretend to Infallibility; no, not though I were the holiest Saint tha● ever breathed; yet many degrees short of the lowest degree of such seraphica Separates. (Isa. 52.11. 2 Cor. 6.17, 18.) In the mean time, 'tis me thinks a very hard case, that a Man must not, cannot write in behalf of hi● old Friends and Fellow-Soldiers, (though most of them dead,) without incuring the high displeasure of some, whose boundless Envy and Prejudice against brave Men, can never fix a ne plus ultra! Which yet can never offend an Person of a martial, noble, generous Spirit; especially, when there is nothing mentioned, tending to Mischief, or any other Evil, that I can apprehend, from which my Thoughts and Intentions are as far, as the Tropic of Cancer ●● from Capricorn.  
Facile est absentem vincere, qui non repugnat: April. 29. 1690.   

The Character of a good Army, etc.  

The Introduction.  
THat few in our Days war for Excellency, or who should exceed each other in Virtue, (as Zenocles and Euripides are said to have done,) I may without breach of Charity affirm, seeing the greatest Bulk of Mankind is debauched beyond all former Examples, even of all that ever preceded them; yea, they surpass the Deeds of the Wicked, (Jer. 5.28.) Nay, there's scarce any so good as they were Twenty or Thirty Years ago; and which is yet more lamentable, that the Professors of the first Rank come short of those of the second Rank in the former Times.  
War with the Devil and our Lusts, were an holy and necessary War indeed; and a Victory thence emergent, more glorious than all Caesar's and Alexander's Conquests: But alas! the Contention is not now, who shall transcend in Virtue, but who shall excel in Vice; and from hence arise Strifes, Envyings, Wars, and Fightings in the World▪ Jam. 4.1.  
THE Wars of most Earthly Monarches have many times no other Foundation than Pride, Self-will, Tyranny, Usurpation, and Ambition, or other vain Pretences. Nay, some have made War out of mere Stomach, Wantonness, and Fullness of all Things, until by Wars they have been (at length) made to know themselves, and reduced to such a Mean as to keep within the bounds of Reason and Moderation: And hence oame the Adage, That one Sword keeps another in the Sheath; and such a check, I hope, is now intended to impede the growing Greatness and Tyranny of that most Unchristian Nullifidian of France:— Illud est non solum justum, sed etiam necessarium Bellum, cum vi vis illata defenditur. (Cicero.) That is not only a just, but necessary War, when enforcing Force is defended by Force. And though pure necessity and urgency of Affairs, are a sufficient ground of War; yet of all other, that War is the most just and lawful, that is warranted by the Sacred Oracles.  
War is nothing else but a solemn Appeal to God for Justice, when it cannot otherwise be had; or when the Laws, Liberties, and Religion of a Kingdom are in danger to be overthrown, either by a foreign Enemy from abroad, or by a flagitious, treacherous, profane, and potent Adversary at Home.  
That is the most pernicious War, which is founded upon mere Will and Tyranny, springing from a restless, mischievous Desire of ruining some, and of being revenged upon others, for some pretended Injustice, capital Crimes, unknown Provocations, or other specious Pretences: and upon no other Grounds and Reasons, but such as these (so far as I could understand hitherto) proceeds the French Tyrant.  
'Tis amazing to consider, how many wicked Armies in a wicked Cause have prospered (for a Time) in all Ages, against such as have been far more innocent, more just and righteous than themselves every way, both in their Practices and the Cause they fought for, the Reasons whereof being wholly absconded from vulgar Capacities; yea, many times from the wisest Men, and greatest Politicians: For secret Things belong to God; and those infernal Arms (as I may justly style them, consideratis considerandis,) have been led by such Wretches, as they are themselves; like Head, like Body; like Officers, like Soldiers; and it is a kind of Sin to spare such Animals, such Beasts of Prey, when Providence offers them to be cut off; yea, the Prophet saith, Cursed be he that keepeth back his Sword from Blood (Jer. 48.10.) and you know what became of King Saul for sparing Amalek. I suppose the Prophet meant the Blood of bloody, implacable, inveterate, proud Persecutors and Destroyer's of God's People, as Moab was then, hinted in that Chapter of Jeremiah, and other Texts: And also such plundering, massacring, murdering Miscreants as the French Dragoons, and other such, whether atheistical, mercenary, treacherous Protestants, (for there are such Beasts in Nature,) or Jesuitical Papists; and such crafty wicked Foxes must in our days be attacked with great Care and Circumspection.  
Against an Enemy in War, discreet delays are commendable, when Necessity and Reason require it; otherwise, delays are very dangerous and foolish, especially when thereby a fair Opportunity is lost of doing somewhat upon, or gaining some Advantage against the Adversary: And this kind of Cunctation, may proceed sometimes, either from Treachery or Cowardice in the chief Leaders or some of them; sometimes, through the preposterous, irregular Conduct of ignorant, unexperienced Commanders; sometimes again through Infatuation, as a just Judgement of God, for Reasons best known to himself: And perhaps, one Reason may be, either because the chief Commander or Commanders depend solely and wholly upon their own Skill, Policy, Courage and Conduct for a Victory, exclusive of Divine Assistance, or upon the Number or Valour of their Soldiers, or both; yea, many great Armies have been overthrown merely upon this Account; that is, in trusting more to themselves than in the help of God: And he tells us plainly by the Mouth of his Prophet, that they are accursed which trust in the strength and numbers of Men;— Cursed be he that trusteth in Man, and maketh Flesh his Arm, etc. Jer. 17.5, 6, 7, 8.  
Such Commanders have been always censured, either for Traitors, Fools, or Cowards, that declined fight the Enemy, when an Opportunity, joined with a probability of gaining a Victory has been offered them. No valiant Commander (trusting in God) was ever yet in love with delays; his Faith and Hope in the Lord of Hosts making him as bold as a Lion; therefore rather delights in downright Blows, than wand'ring in the devious Paths of intricate, impracticable Policy; or ranging in the untrodden, uncertain Mazes of groundless, ineffectual, procrastinating Counsels, especially when necessity and urgency of Affairs call for Celerity and Expedition.  
I knew a great Commander in the late Wars, that suffered much in his Reputation among the older and wiser sort of Captains, for his dull and slow Methods against the Adversary, at several Places, where he had been entrapped and befooled by them; and though he had the good luck to escape with his Brigade without Destruction, yet not without loss and shame enough sometimes: And for all this, to give him his due, he was inferior to none for personal Valour. But because his Conduct (as I said) and manner of ordering Matters, when near, or in sight of the Enemy, was so remiss, cold, careless, heavyheaded, and himself always inapprehensive of imminent Danger, when there was a real Cause to be very solicitous, and highly concerned, (and I could name where, and when that was,) made divers old Officers say, they did not care to go with him, upon any Service, against a potent Enemy.  
Oliver Cromwell, though a wise and wary General, yet he could never away with Cunctation, always impatient of delays, especially when in sight of the Adversary; believing and knowing by Experience, that Celerity effected more than Force itself sometimes; and he never failed of Victory, up Hill or down Hill, few or many; no, nor was scarcely ever foiled in his greatest and and most dangerous Undertake, having Ways and Methods of fight peculiar to himself; in many things, contrary to the Courses and Counsels of other Generals, whereof his strong Faith and invincible Courage were the principal: As to the first, it was very strange to all Men, and his Army themselves, that the day before the Battle at Worcester, he commanded several Parties of Horse to several Bridges and Passes, whither he supposed his flying Enemies would run to escape him the next day, and where they were stopped, and taken by the said Parties in Front, and others in the Rear, as if he had been sure of the Victory beforehand, as it seems he was indeed; nay, he said as much to many Officers of his Army, that very Morning before he began to fight. And would often cry out, Oh! if we had but Faith, these Men would be but Bread for us, meaning the Adversary. Yea, a day or two before Preston-Fight in Lancashire, in Aug. 1648. he ordered the Lord Grey, and Captain Widmerpool with their Troops, to watch the Northern Roads of Cheshire and Staffordshire, conjecturing the Scottish Horse would run that Way when he had routed them, whereof he made no doubt, (though he had but 8000 against their 28000, as they themselves gave out,) and so it came to pass accordingly; for at uttoxater in Staffordshire, the said Lord Grey met, fought with, and routed Duke Hamilton's Body of Horse, and took himself Prisoner, with many more.  
His constant manner was, before he entered upon Action, first earnestly to implore the direction, and help of God in Prayer, with all his Officers; then to deliberate, and when once resolved how to proceed, and what to do, he fell on like a storm of Hail, and clap of Thunder, through thick and thin, Horse and Foot, though his Enemy out-numbered him never so much: Yea, his Charges were so fierce and furious, that the Devil could not stop him, as Prince Rupert, and others used to say of him, (and which he knew, and felt many times by woeful Experience,) so that he carried all before him, and to be sure, made room wherever he came: But I fear Envy will peck at me for saying this little of my renowned General; yet I must say a little more of him, and his Army too. I must confess, I ever hated and scorned to trample upon the Ashes of any valiant Man or Men, be otherwise what they will, yea, though Enemies; which rather becomes Men of base, low, sordid Spirits, than generous Souls, who scorn and abhor such dirty, sneaking, pitiful ways of degrading▪ and vilifying Persons of Honour and Worth; who (with me) will honour the Memory of a brave and noble Enemy, as well as of a worthy Friend. I ever loved a Soldier as a Soldier, as I have been myself: In the mean time, take notice that I meddle not with the grounds of Quarrels, nor the Cause contended for in those days.  
When Ireland was all lost from the Parliament, and in the Power of the adverse Party, in the year 1649. only Dublin and London-Derry excepted; yet that brave Oliver, landing there only with 10000 Men, did great things in few weeks, and great Wonders in few months, in setting all Friends and Protestants at liberty, and freed them from all fears of Enemies in a very short time: Now this being only matter of History, methinks none should be offended at it, seeing it is nothing but the Truth. And you know 'tis alone with God to save by few, as by many, 1 Sam. 14.6. 2 Chron. 14.11. For there is no King saved by the multitude of an Host, Psal. 33.16, 17. And that's the strongest side where God is, be they never so few, Experientia docet.   

Now for his Army.  
And such an Army, as never was the like in all the World, for all Virtues, I dare swear it: They were always true and faithful to their Trust, and as valiant upon all Adventures; let the Service be never so difficult or dangerous, they made nothing of it. They did not say, Go you, and go you; no, but come Lads, let us on, on, on, in the Name of the Lord of Hosts: And in truth, they went on to a Battle, yea, to many Battles, and Attacks, as if to a Banquet; and calling upon God, while their Enemies were cursing and damning, (which is still in fashion.) When they went to storm any great Town or City, they were not in the least concerned; but fell on with such alacrity and liveliness of Mind, as if they had been sure to conquer beforehand. Many Cities, Towns, Forts, and Castles they took by pure Valour, with very little, or no loss at all sometimes; nay, their very Enemies, would say of them (and they said true) that they made but a Play and Sport of Fight: Yea, the soberest of them have said of that Army, That they should never beat them, unless God would stand Neuter; and you know what that implies. They never lay still in Summer, nor sneaked into Winter-Quarters, while there was an Enemy in the Field, or a considerable Garrison untaken, scorning to lie still, and take Pay for nothing; no, but were often upon Service, even in the deep of Winter; not seeking to lengthen out the War for their own private ends, but very earnest to put an end thereto, which is never found in mercenary Armies, who use to say,— If we catch the Hare this Summer, we shall have none to hunt the next.  
The Commission Officers of that Army, were sober, chaste, temperate, religious Men, free from all sorts of Debaucheries, kind to their Soldiers, very just in paying them, and as severe in punishing Misdemeanours, whereby they were both beloved and feared; very punctual and discreet in composing Differences between their Soldiers and Landlords, etc. there was neither Plundering, Cursing, Swearing, Whoring, Drunkenness, nor any such Vices to be found amongst them. Most of their Soldiers, if not all of them, were civiller, and soberer in all their Carriages and Behaviour, than the Officers of other Armies; a great rarity, never the like seen in any Army but that alone, nor, I think, never will be again. They were exercised most commonly on Muster-days; and in handling Arms, they were second to no Army that ever was; most of their Captains being very expert in such Matters, many of them having been Members of the famous Military Company of London, where they learned the first Rudiments of War. They never stood upon Numbers against an Enemy; but whether few or many, 'twas all one to them in their greatest Attempts: For as in Oral Disputes, it is not Numbers, but strength of Arguments that prevail against the Opponents; so in Warlike Disputes, it is not numbers of Men, but the force of Courage and Resolution in a few, that prevails against a numerous potent Enemy, whereof they had many Experiences; as for instance, at Dunbar Fight, there was but 5000 of them fought, and routed almost 30000 in half an hour's time, and all the way up-hill; though now they, and such as they are scorned, and not thought worthy to be employed, because they cannot pronounce Shibboleth, (Judg. 12.6.) nor say, Crows are white; which they will never do, while they continue to black as they are. Verbum sat.  Rebus in adversis animum submittere noli. 
In the Month of June, 1657. 400● of that Army routed 16000 near Dunkirk, led by Don John of Austria, and the D. of Y. while the French Horse (which should have seconded them) looked on, and never stirred till the Spanish Army fled, and then (O brave, then!) they cried, Sa, Sa, Sa, Sa! for they are very valiant against a Flying Enemy.  
Every Regiment had an able sound Preacher for their Chaplain; so that every day in the Week, while they lay encamped, there was a Sermon or two to be heard, and always thronged with Officers and Soldiers, besides private Prayers in the Tents of divers Colonels and Captains among themselves; and which was their practice all along: And therefore I can truly say, That no City or Corporation in the World could match them in all things, especially for Civility and Piety: Yea, they conquered more with their Prayers, than with their Swords; I say, the weight of their Faith and Prayers were heavier than the strength of their Arms, in repressing their Adversaries: They prayed them down, as well as fought them down. Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts, Zech. 4.6. But some (I know beforehand) will make a mock to this, or they have lost their old wont; and no wonder, since Clergymen have done the like, even at Scripture-Phrases, and so they will at what I shall now deliver, viz.  
In August, 1650. not long before Dunbar-Fight, the then Governor of Edinborough-Castle, (viz, the Laird Dundass) a sober Gentleman, hearing of, and also beholding and observing with his Prospective-Glass, the Order and Religious Exercises of that Army, as they lay encamped on a place called Penthland-Hills, about a mile from the said Castle, was so affected therewith, that he cried out to those about him, Oh! there's no prevailing against a praying Army, And for my own particular part, I can, and must declare, that I learned more good in that Army, than ever I did in all my Life before; yea, many blessed God that ever they came into it, for the same Reasons; for it was a Nursery of good Manners, and a Seminary of Virtue and Piety; in both which, I am sure, they transcended both the Universities, for all they style themselves the Two Great Lights of England: But methinks their Lights are grown very dim of late Years, or how comes it to pass that there is so much of the works of Darkness practised among them, viz. Vice and Wickedness? especially in the junior sort, which ought to be inspected by their Seniors, and would be, had they the true Light of the Grace and Spirit of God within them.  
Hundreds of Soldiers have at least been civilised, only by being in that Army, which before were rude Fellows, as many of them confessed, and chief through the good Examples and Encouragements of their sober religious Officers.  
In the Year 1652. that Army made a free and voluntary Collection among themselves, both Officers and Soldiers, towards the encouragement of Ministers, to Preach the Gospel to the Natives in New-England, which amounted to many Hundreds of Pounds, if not some Thousands; the least that any Soldier gave in our Regiment, was 2 s. many of them gave 3 s. and 5 s. a man. The Company wherein I was then a Lieutenant, gave, with their Officers, 25 l. 15 s. and 6 d. By which you may guests at the rest. Such a great and noble Donative, especially for such noble and pious Ends, I never read nor heard of in any Army but that: No, no, other Armies have other and better ways to dispose of their Moneys, than to such vain Fanatical ends, especially their Officers, for, there must go tantum per mensem to the winking Whore; tantum per mensem to the teeming Whore; tantum per mensem to the finest Whore; and many other Tantums and Items, to keep the Kids abroad in Terra incognita, etc. O rare Faggot-mongers! who in their way of Trading, surpass the Brown Devil of Abbington.  
I can take it upon my Oath, that I never knew, nor never heard of any Commission-Officer in Oliver's (wherein I was fifteen years, and before that, four years in the Wars in Ireland and England) that was in the least guilty of Whoredom; no, nor so much as suspected, except Lieutenant W— of our Regiment; though nothing of that kind was ever proved against him, being only matter of Suspicion, proceeding from some joking talkative Soldiers; and though this was all, yet it hindered his Preferment all along; for he never was Captain wh●le Goffe. and Morley were Colonels, and that was till the Restitution of Charles the Second.  
God always sides with the best, though fewest in number; for, seeing the World loves its own, (Joh, 15.18, 19) and hates such in whom there is any thing of God; and not only so, but join hand in hand against them, seeking their ruin if possible; (for, Pares cum Paribus facile congregantur;) so, God, by a parity of Reason, must needs love his own People too, as he doth indeed; yea, many degrees above what the World can do theirs. And though that little Army (little comparatively) was scorned, despised and hated of the world, and are still; yet in spite of the world, their Bow abode in strength, and the Arms of their hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; because they sought him earnestly, frequently, fervently, and constantly, all along, (till they were betrayed at last by—) trusting more in the Lord of Hosts, than in their own strength, valour, and policy; to which I was an Eye-witness many years; and (plus valet unus oculatus testis, quam mille auriti;) and the Words, Absque Deo nihil possumus, were always in their mouths, and their constant Motto, and ever shall be mine; for, without the help of God, the greatest Army in the world can do nothing, though they have the best cause in the world; no, not against a despicable Enemy.  
England is owing to that Army, or part of them, (next under God) for the noble and profitable Island of Jamaica, etc. though even such as grow rich by trading there, can scarce give them one good word for their pains, and loss of their Lives; Monstrous Ingratitude! Ingratus qui beneficium accepisse se negat, quod accepit. Yea, Ingratus qui id dissimulat, etc.  
The Impunity of wicked, bold, presumptuous Soldiers in an Army, must needs be highly offensive to God, who will certainly require it at the hands of their Officers another day (perhaps in the day of Battle,) who had power to punish, and restrain their Vices, but did not: But, alas! How can they punish Soldiers for that whereof themselves are guilty, and perhaps in a higher degree? If one single Sin, of one Achan, brought down the wrath of God upon the whole Army of Israel, and was the cause of that shameful Rout near Ai, (Josh. 7.) then surely such impudent monstrous Sinnings, both for quantity and quality, now perpetrated in the very face of Heaven, as it were in defiance thereof, and especially upon the Lord's Days, and that, by many thousands of achan's, Young and Old, Males and Females, of all Degrees and Qualities, in Army, City, Town, Court, and Country, will, I fear, make not only a Rout, but a Rent amongst us, a Rending and Tearing inpieces, by some heavy stroke of the impending just Judgements of the righteous God. I say, the remissness of Magistrates, as well as neglects of the Army-Officers, not punishing, but rather, in a manner tolerating all sorts of iniquity, will be accounted for at the great day, to be sure; but few of them think of that Day in earnest: Yea, they put the evil day far off, i. e. a day of trouble and misery in this Life; especially such as drink wine in Bowls, but are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph, Amos 6.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc. the poor distressed Protestants in Ireland. etc. And now is the time, and has been for many years last passed, that he that departs from evil, any Vice or Wickedness, maketh himself a prey, Isa 59.15. For the wicked still, still, walk on on every side; and one reason of it you have in Psal. 12.8. Things were not thus, neither in Army, City, nor Country, in the days of yore; no, because the Officers of the one, and the Magistrates of the other, had a zeal for God, and a zeal against whatever was offensive to God; and such a zeal now would (I am sure) be accounted Phanaticism, by many who think themselves better Christians than any they are pleased to style fanatics: Yea, by some in holy Orders (as they call it;) for many of that Tribe have found fault with such kind of Austerities (as they term punishing Vice,) lest their dear dalilah's should be discovered, and themselves exposed: Mean time, the perishing world lies in wickedness, like a dead Dog in a Ditch; but God will be known by his Judgements amongst them, in a short time; and which is worse, they shall be turned into Hell, and all that forget God. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the wicked be judged in thy sight; Put them in fear, O Lord, that the Nations may know themselves to be but men, Psal. 9.16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Yea, let them know, that thou, whose Name alone is Jehovah, art the most High over all the Earth, Psal. 83.18.  
As Christ hath purchased all Good for some, and some Good for all; so, all aught to lay out their best endeavours towards the advancement of his Cause, Gospel, Interest, and Glory in this world, according to their power. And if the former of these did not in a special manner make it their main business, while in the world, they should walk very unworthy of such great Favours as the holy Jesus hath purchased for them in both worlds: But certainly they are not, they cannot be so brutish, as to neglect, or slight over so great, so necessary a Duty.  
Now, if I should affirm, that the chiefest Ends and Aims of the Old Army, especially of such as had the chief Conduct thereof, tended to the same purposes, I doubt many would be very angry, and perhaps be so much transported with envy, as to judge it a capital crime in me, for asserting it, and worthy of punishment: but I can, I will, and must affirm it, come what will come; because it is nothing but what I know to be Truth: Though I deny not, but they had their failings and imperfections as well as other Christians; for otherwise, they would be more than Men; and yet they were something more than mere men; but as much as could be rationally expected from men, for the Ends aforesaid, was really intended by them, in their several Capacities, yet never was any Army in this world, more hated of the world than they were, and are still, because they were not like the world, in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, etc. Rom. 13.13. yea, cursed them, because they would not eat and drink themselves to death, as they did.  
— Praesens malejudicat aetas,  
Judicium melius posteritatis erit.  
Although many of this Age scorn and vilify that renowned Army, yet I am persuaded their Successors will think and speak more favourably of them; in whose behalf and commendation I could write much more, but I should thereby offend the prejudicated Reader, as I have in what hath been said already; therefore I shall add but little more myself, and that in the close of this Book, referring you in the mean time to the perusal of the following Account and Character given of them, by an eminent Minister, one of the Chaplains belonging to General Fairfax in those days, which he Published about the time of Oxford-Siege, 1646, which is now Forty three years the last June: And because it is quite lost and forgot; and I having it by me, in Print, could not be quiet till I gave it a second Birth, or once again expose it to public view; only I must supersede divers Words, Sentences, and several Lines therein, fearing the Times will not bear them; for, I would be cautious in giving offence, especially to those in Authority; believing, that it is beneath their Wisdom and Grandeur, the Eminency and Sublimity of their Stations, to stoop so low, as to be concerned or offended with such a harmless, Nude Narrative as this is; reflecting neither upon their Persons or Proceed, which hitherto have been just and honourable. And as I have not writ these things without caution; so shall I not mention my Rulers without Reverence, at any time, as occasion serves.  
Vivant Rex & Regina.  
TETRASTICHON  
De Rege.  
Lex sine Rege, velut Lumen sine Sole fuisset;  
Rex sine Lege, velut Sol sine Luce foret.  
Grex Regem primo legit, Rex cum Grege Legem  
Condidit; hinc Legem Rex regit, atque Gregem.   

And this following is the Character which the aforesaid Minister gives of that Army.  
I Find my Heart stirred within me, to testify to the world what I know in mine own experience (saith he) touching the Army under the Command of that worthy and faithful General, Sir Thomas Fairfax; and that, because I am not ignorant of the great Undervaluing, Despising and Reproaching of it, by many, even of those whose Blood runs warm in their Veins, and who enjoy all the Comforts they have in the world, through the Faithfulness, Diligence, Activity, Labours, Hunger, Thirst, Cold, Weariness, Watch, Marching, Engagements, Storming, Wounds, and Blood of these Men, Instruments of God's own choosing, and calling forth to his foot, for great Services, which after-ages will wonder and stand amazed at, as well as at the vile Ingratitude of this Age, to such Instruments as these, for which God will not hold it guiltless. This then, for mine own part I am most confident of, that there are as many Gracious and Godly Christians in that Army, as in any Gatherings together of Men in all the World again; Men, full of Faith and the Spirit, and the admirable Endowments of it. More particularly, there are these six things most remarkable in that despised Army.  
1. Their Unity: which is admirable; it being more the Unity of Christians, than of Men; more an Unity in the Spirit, than in the Flesh; in the Father and Son, than in themselves; and this hath been one great Means of their great Successes; they being all, both in Counsel and Action, but as one man; they are knit up together as in one Bundle, and so could not be broken; but have broken all their Opposites. Many of their Matters of greatest moment, have been carried in Council with that Unity, that sometimes not so much as one hath contradicted.  
2. Their Humility: which hath been admirable, as well as the former; for, after great and glorious Victories, to the wonder of the Kingdom, and of the World, when mighty men did flee apace, and the men of Valour ran away like Women; yet I have never heard any of the worthy and godly Commanders or Officers to say, I did this, or that; or to boast of his own Counsel or Valour, or to attribute any thing to himself, or any body else, of what God had done; but every one to say, This was the Lord's own do, and it is marvellous in our eyes; and, it was not our own Sword, or Bow, but the Lord's right hand, and his Arm, and the Light of his Countenance. And they have been most willing to be nothing themselves, that God might be all. And this hath been one Means to keep them humble; because, though God hath been much with them, yet the World hath been much against them; not so much for their own sakes, who were true and faithful; but for God's sake in them; because there is more of God among these men, than among other men.  
3. Their Faith: There are many in the Army, men of great and precious Faith; through which, they have wrought righteousness, obtained Promises, etc.— Through this Faith they have fought Battles, pursued their Enemies, etc.— Through Faith they have entered strong Cities, etc.— And I can truly and particularly say, (let them that will needs be offended, stumble and fall at it,) that Bristol (among other Places) was conquered by Faith, more than by Force, i. e. it was conquered in their hearts, before ever they stretched forth their hands against it, etc. Through Faith, one of them chased Ten, and Ten put an hundred to flight; and an Hundred a Thousand: And this was performed in the very Letter of it, etc.— Many more Instances I could relate of the power of Faith in that Army; but that I should thereby grieve and afflict many too much.  
4. The Spirit of Prayer: And this the Lord hath poured forth upon many of them in great measure; not only upon many of the chief Commanders, but on very many of the inferior Officers, and Troopers; some of whom, I have by accident heard praying with that Faith, and Familiarity with God, that I have stood wondering at the Grace. They never undertook any thing of weight, but God was always sought to of them again and again; and they have found God near to them in all things they have called upon him for; yea, God hath been found of them, while yet they have been seeking him, &c,—  
5, The special Presence of God with them. I have seen more of the Presence of God in that Army, than amongst any People that ever I conversed with in all my Life; for there hath been a very sensible Presence of God with them; they have seen his go, and observed his footsteps, etc. [Here I skip seven Lines, though harmless enough; but some can call the Fox's Ears Horns;] How often hath fearfulness and trembling taken hold upon the Enemy? and the stout men been at a loss for their— and the men of might for their hands? etc. [Three Lines more omitted.] Every Battle wherein they fought, they prevailed. [Two Lines more omitted.] because God was with them; (I doubt this will be called Treason:) this shall be written for the Generations to come; but this Atheistical, Papistical Generation will not bear it; because there is so much of God in it, though 43 yers since,) seeing so many of this present Generation so little regard it; and the People that are to be born shall praise the Lord.  
6. The Sixth remarkable thing in this Army, is, Their Faithfulness to the State, etc.— How have they gone up and down in weariness and labours, dangers and deaths, to do the Work? When was it that they sat idle? Have they not as soon as one Battle was fought, prepared to another? as soon as one City was taken, advanced to another? and gone on till all be reduced; that Peace might be hastened to the Kingdom, if it were the Will of God, and not come as a Snail, but on eagle's wings? Have they not been active all the winter long, in a most cold and frosty season, that continued for two Months together? (viz. all December and January,) beating the Enemy out of the Field, and taking their strong holds, when other Armies use to lie still? [I knew some that came not into a Bed 14 Months together.] Have they taken the Pay of Idleness, or lived the Life of Luxury? Have they sought to lengthen the War for their own advantage? Have they not made even a short work? I challenge all the former Generations of the world to stand forth, and to show so much work of this kind, done in so little time; and by all these Successes have they ever been lifted up, as to make proud Demands? [Eight Lines more omitted here.] Nay, I declare this to all the Kingdom, that, as God hath made them glorious in doing, so he hath made them contented to be perfect by suffering, if it be the will of God. And most confident I am, that though some men for private Ends and Interests, are murmuring, and others speaking out against this Army, as the perverse Israelites against Moses and Aaron, yet the Lord in his due time, will take away the reproach of all his People therein  
This I have spoken in truth and sincerity to the Kingdom; and, to that Army I shall say, Who is like unto thee, O People, saved by the Lord? who is the Shield of thy help, and the Sword of thine Excellency; and thine Enemies shall be found Liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places, Deut. 33.29.  
This is all, except above twenty Lines omitted, for fear of offending; which yet cannot be excepted against as untrue; and this Character being such as myself (and many more) can truly testify; I cannot therefore but once again affirm, that there was never such an Army in the whole World; Jew, nor Christian, as that was, for all Virtues; especially, for Justice, Temperance, Sobriety, Chastity, Humanity, Morality, and Piety. It is seldom that God prospers a wicked debauched Army, unless against such as they are themselves; and that is, the wicked chastising the ungodly, which are as two Pitchers dashing against one another, till both are broken, the Conqueror coming off many times with as great loss as the Conquered: But very rarely doth God honour such wicked Armies in doing any great good for his Church, or make them special Instruments in carrying on his own work in the world, directly, because they are neither Spirited nor Principled for such a glorious undertaking, nor in the least fitted for it: No, it is the Sons of Zion that he employs chief and directly, next under himself, in the hehalf of Zion; others only by the by; serving as a Thorn-bush to stop a gap for a while, to keep out the wild Boars and the Foxes from tearing his Vine too much, (Cant. 2.15. Psal. 80.13) at other times, sets them to beating of the Bush, for his own Fowlers to catch the Birds; as the Earl of Essex his Army did for Fairfax his civil religious Army in those days. Though God hath often for Sin, punished, and almost ruined his own people in their temporal Concerns in all Ages, by wicked men; as the Jews, by the Assyrians, Syrians, Philistians, Babylonians, and other barbarous Nations of old, in the Ten Persecutions of the Christians under Rome Pagan; and many times since that, by Rome Papal; and now of late, the Protestants in France: But when Ephraim is against Manasses, and Manasses against Ephraim, and both against Judah, viz. the true Gospel, or Scripture-reformed Church; this is sad indeed, and a greater Argument of divine displeasure against them, or some of them, than when the worst of men are let lose upon them; from both which Calamities I pray God deliver and keep these Nations; wherein may the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard lie down with the Kid, the Lion with the Calf, and the Child play on the hole of the Asp, etc. (Isa. 11.6, 7, 8, 9) I say, God continue all sorts of Protestants in peace and unity among themselves, and labour to beware of the Jesuits dividing Principles, and the Devil's divided foot, and other Incendiaries, and treacherous Dealers, viz. false, selfended, self-interested Protestants, and Clergymen too. I say, if we have not a great care of these Miscreants, and keep peace and concord among ourselves, we shall without a miracle, be made a prey to the common Enemy, which daily wisheth and watcheth for an opportunity to ruin us; which they cannot do, but by dividing us.  
And now the time is come at last, that most people begin to think of, and to know the worth of that Army, by the want of it; and would they not in these perilous, treacherous times, prise such another? But their Equals in all things, are not easily to be found; yet God can raise up, and qualify others of this present Age, to do his work as well as they, as I hope he will; but if they should prove indeed like the old praying Army, in virtue and piety, they would be scorned, mocked, and abhorred of all the sorts of wicked men: For Oliver's Army, because they could not live like Debauchees of the world in their days, nor tread in their hellish steps, On, how were they hated of all the drunken, whoring, swearing, cursing damning crew of Great Britain? Whose Rai●ings they answered with silence and contempt, and passed by them with an honourable scorn. What Christian knows not, that the world always hates most, where there is most of God; yea, men may give a shrewd guess where there is most of God, by observing where the greatest hatred of the world lies. It was certainly the humility of that Army in giving God the Glory of all their victories, that chief made them so successful and invincible. Never did I hear the most valiant of them all, (and I am sure most of them were so,) speak one word tending to magnify themselves: No, but attributed all to the outstretched Arm of the Lord of Hosts, the great God of Battles, as you heard before; neither after so many wonderful Victories, did they domineer or insult over any; no, not over their conquered Enemies; but carried it friendly, civilly, and courteously towards all men, friends and foes, in City, Town, and Country; insomuch that many thousands, which before were their bitter Enemies, became their constant Friends, and so won them to their own side; whereof the then Long-Parliament, etc. were not a little sensible; while the Officers of other Armies played the Devil, in swearing, cursing, whoring, drinking, plundering, and abusing the Country where ever they came, never regarding whether they were Friends or Foes; which hardened the hearts of the People against them; and you may be sure, their Soldiers were not behind them in all sorts of wickedness; and how could they be otherwise, when they were taught to be so, by the evil examples of their own Commanders.  
Now seeing I have said thus much in behalf of that renowned Army, it will not (I hope) offend the Reader, if I set down the Names of their Chief Leaders, which I have kept in memory ever since the new Model in the beginning of that Year of Wonders, 1645; being then in General Fairfax's Regiment of Foot, in Captain Bland's Company, a brave stout man, of a bold, daring Courage and Carriage in the face of the fiercest Enemy; and most of them were so; who would nevertheless cry out still, Nothing without God Absque Deo nihil possumus.  

A True List of the Chief Commanders of the Parliament's Army in the Year 1645, etc.  
Regiments of Horse. 

Gen. Fairfax.  
Lieut. General.  
Commiss. General.  
Col. Fleetwood.  
Col. Rossiter, Sir Edw,  
Col. Sheaffield.  
Col. Butler.  
Col. Rich.  
Col. Scroop.  
Col. Graves.  
Col. Pie, Sir Robert.  
Col. Disbrow. 12 Regim.    
Regiments of Foot. 

The General.  
Major Gen. Skippon.  
Col. Hareley, Sir Edw.  
Col. Rainsborough.  
Col. Montague.  
Col. Hammond.  
Col. Pickering.  
Col. Waller, Sir Hardress.  
Col. Weldon.  
Col. Ingoldsby.  
Col. Herbert.  
Col. Fortescue. 12 Regim.     
In each Regiment of Horse, 600. In each of Foot, 1200. besides all Officers. Also,  
Col. Okey's Dragoons, Ten Troops, 1000 Men, besides garrisons, and divers independent Troops, and Companies; but this was the Marching Army, which did such wonders.  
I can assure you, there was neither Tinker, nor Cobbler among all these, as some would have it. Neither did I ever know, or directly hear of any such that were Commission-Officers, but one or two in all that Army, and I knew most of them: But what if there had been twenty such? I know no reason why they should be jeered by their lawful Trades and Callings, especially, so long as they were brave Fellows, as many of them have been, to my knowledge; yea, transcending both in Worth and Valour, some that would be thought great Gentlemen; But for all this, C Hewson, though indeed a Shoemaker, they will needs have to be a Cobbler: suppose it were so; yet, where was there a stouter & braver man in England, among the Bullets than he was? Col. Pride, a Brewer, he must be called the Dray-man; Col. Barksted, a Goldsmith, styled only the Bodkin-maker, out of mere malice; and so of others: If they were such sorry Fellows as they are represented by swearing Cowards, than the more shame it is for such Hectoring Gallants to be trampled unner foot by them in the late Wars; during which time, though our Regiment had been in forty Battles, Fights. Skirmishes, Storming, etc. yet, in all of them, we lost not above 150 Soldiers, and but three Commission-Officers, viz. Ensign Morris, killed at Sherborn-Castle in , Aug. 1645. Capt. Hatfield, at Preston-Fight, Aug. 164●. and Capt. Hammond, at Edinburgh-Castle, Decemb. 1650. The two last were worthy men indeed, both as Christians and Soldiers. But if People must needs be still disparaging valiant men, only for their Trades, and mean Extractions, pray let them read and consider the subsequent List; and then perhaps they will not so much malign such of their own Country that get Honour by Valour, viz.  

Agathocles, King of Sicilia, a Potter's Son.  
Iphycrates, Athenian General, a Cobler's Son.  
Eumenes, one of Alexander's Generals, a Carter's Son.  
Pertinax, Roman Emperor, a Weaver's Son.  
Dioclesian, Rom. Emperor, a Book-binder's Son.  
Valentinian, Rom. Emperor, a poor Rope-maker's Son.  
Probus, Rom. Emperor, a Gardener's Son.  
Marcus Aurelius, Rom. Emp. a Cloth-weaver's Son.  
Maximinus, Rom. Emperor, a Black-Smith's Son.  
Sabienus, Rom. Emperor, a poor Shepherd's Son.  
Brimislaus, King of Bohemia, a Ploughman.  
Pope Sixtus 4. a poor Sea-man's Son.  
Pope John 22. a Shoe-maker's Son.   Omnis Potestas à Deo est. 
You see now, what great things God can do for, and by mean men, as well as others; and for aught I know, blind Hewson the Cobbler, (as they will have it,) might be as good a Man as the Pope's Father: I am sure he was a better Christian than either of them, who this Year was Lieut. Col. to Col. Pickering, 1645.  
To conclude, some are born to Honour, others snatch at it; some receive it from their Parents, others get it by their Achievements; it runs to some in their Blood, others rise to it by their Worth and Virtue, be their Parts and Abilities: 'Tis better to get Honour by honourable Deeds, than to buy Honour; to make ourselves honourable, than to be made honourable: It is easy to inherit Honour, but hard to attain Honour, (See Caryl upon Job, p. 1373.)  
He that makes Honour his chief End, his Honour will soon have an End. As Honour is no Bar against Infamy, so 'tis not a great Place, or Title, that makes a man Honourable; but the man himself makes the Place so, if virtuous.  
Noble Extraction, without noble Qualities, is rather a Disgrace than a Glory; for the Worth of our Progenitors is none of ours: No, 'tis our own Worth that must make us honourable. Then, what Abjects are they that beg and buy Titles of Honour, which other Gallants have got by Pimping? In fine, strive not to get Honour, but to deserve Honour; but the Courses taken by some, will never do it. Our chiefest Aim should be to promote the Honour and Glory of God above all things; for without him we can do nothing. Those that honour him, he will honour; and they that despise him, shall be lightly esteemed; (1 Sam. 2.30.) As many great Men and Monarches have been, and some are now, at this very day; which should Alarm others, and make them consider what are the chief and true Ends of Government, and wherefore it is that God hath put such great Power into their Hands; which if they do not exert according to his Will, he will have his Will on them, one way or other. O Jacobe!  Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da Gloriam.  
FINIS.