A WARRANT SENT From the LORD MAYOR and ALDERMEN, to all the trained Bands in London, and the Liberties thereof.  
ALSO A true Platform of Captain GIFFORD, showing how to plant Ordnance and batter by night.  
LIKEWISE, The Quality of a Serjeant-Major, with such Arts and Sciences as appertain unto his place.  
Published by especial Command.  
LONDON, Septemb. 23. Printed for Francis Coules. 1642.   

By the Mayor.  
WHEREAS great Complaint is made unto me by the Captains of the trained Bands within this City, That when they are commanded forth, upon service of this City, for the more safety thereof, a very small number of men enrolled do make their appearance; and that some of them apearing, do departed from their colours before they be lodged, in contempt and great neglect of the said service; these are therefore to will and require you in His Majesty's name, forthwith upon sight hereof to call before you all and every the Constables within your Ward, and give them strict Charge, to repair to the Houses in their several Precincts, and give commandment that all such as are enrolled by the Captains within your Ward, do immediately, after warning given by the beat of the Drumb, repair to their Colours, and place of Rendezvouz, with their competent arms, and that none of them departed thence without leave of their Captain; and that from time to time notice be taken of all such soldiers so enrolled, as shall absent themselves from performing that their service; and that the names of such delinquents, and what defects shallbe found, be returned unto me in writing, to the end such course may be taken with them as to Justice shall appertain. And hereof I require you not to fail, as you will answer the contrary at your peril.  
MICHAEL,   



How to make a shot at a Hill or Valley by a Quadrant, and specially if the mark be further than the Piece will reach on a strait line.  
AT a Hill mount the Piece to so many degrees above point-blank, as may reach the mark, and add to that the difference of degrees in height between your station and the mark.   

How to batter by night.  
ALL the Pieces being laid right in the day, plumb the middle of the Mouth and Breech of each Piece with a right line and plummet; and where the lead falleth, stick a small pin in each place, unto which pin tie a small line, and extend it somewhat further, then take a large quadrant, being fashioned to a Rule, and put the Ruler into the mouth of the Piece, laying it unto his true height to the mark, and note the degrees in a Book. And if you mean to batter at night, plumb the piece both on the line and quadrant, as formerly, and take the just height of the two plummets lines fastened to the mouth and breech with a piece of wax, which you may do by a close lantern.   

How to plant Ordnance by night.  
FIrst, Go to the place by day where you mean to plant your Ordnance; and take two Iron pinns with you and a beetle to drive them, and seeing the ground fit for your purpose drive in one of your stakes, and going backward about 20 foot stand as you may see the mark you mean to shoot at over the top of the stake you drove in, and in that very place drive in your other stake; And going a little backward, view whether the two stakes stand in one right line unto the mark, which must be done, then take your Astrolabe, holding it in your Thumb by the Ring, and turn the Athilieday until you may see the mark through the two sights thereof; And see what degree it cuts, the same must you note in the Table Book. Then in a dark night bring your Ordnance between the two stakes, and tie a line to your two stakes, and plumb the mouth and breech of the piece upon the line, and turn the piece up and down, until the plummet line of the Quadrant do fall upon the degree and place, and the Athilieday did point unto and the Astrolabe. If you will have more pieces than one, you must drive more Pins of each side of the first line, or parallel the middle line, at 10 foot distance, and allow for every 200 yards between the piece and the mark 4 Inches at the breech, provided that the lines be true paralleled every way.    

The Quality of a Sergeant Major.  
FIrst, valour, Resolution and experience, wise, discreet, of quick conceit and understanding, of a modest and temperate behaviour both in life and diet; void of rashness and selfe-wilfulnesse; he must have an able body to endure any hardness; he must be just in his doing, affable, void of pride, vainglory, or covetousness: he should have knowledge in Arithmetic, Geometry, Cosmography, Astronomy; to speak sundry languages, to be a good Engineer.  
Then to know the goodness of the powder; which is to be known three manner of ways.  
1. It must taste sharp, but not salt.  
2. It must look bluish, but not black.  
3. It must burn with a sudden puff, and nothing to remain afterwards but a whitish smoke, which will scale off in dry scales.  
To be skilful in shooting Pieces of Ordnance; in the lading of them with powder and shot; the proportion of the metal to a pound of the shot, as thus: If 200, than the weight of the shot in powder: if 300, one ninth part more; if 175, than one ninth part more: if 150, two ninth parts less: if 100, one third part less: the Ordnance to stand in a rich ground, as the wheels be not one nimbler than another.    
FINIS.