ENGINES Invented to save much Blood and Monies (in these times of War) and to do extraordinary good service▪  
WITH The approbation of the Honourable Major General Skippon, and five of the Committee for the Fortifications of the City of LONDON.  
By Edmond Felton Gent.  
Imprimatur,  
JOHN BOOKER.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Vnderhill at the sign of the Bible in Wood-street, M.DC.XLIV.   

Rayo 〈…〉 d excellent Engines tending to save much blood and moneys in these times of War.  
IT is God's command, No man should seek his own, but every man one another's wealth. A sufficient warrant for any man undertaking in so seeking: and whether I have so sought and can do a general good for this Kingdom, witness two Attestations in this Book, one under the hand● of the honourable Sergeant major General Skippon, the other under the hands of five of the Committee for the Fortifications of the City of London; the originals ready to be produced on demand.  
If any man should go and report to any nation or people, where Gunpowder is not known, that they would cause a great iron bullet of ten or twenty pound weight or more to fly a mile, two or three in the air, it would be answered it were impossible so to do; and also where printing is not known, as impossible that 3 men should perform more in a legible way of writing in one day then an hundred men, and for that it is known to us how it is done, we should slight his judgement should gainsay it.  
And what more impossible to some to conceive how half an Army's victuals may be saved, five parts of six of their pay, all the money that should be laid out for apparelling of them (and the money that should be disbursed for Pikes for half an Army, and some small quantity of Armour that some of them are to have will perform all this.) And this half Army to secure the other half Army from the horse and from Musket-shot. I presume this report would prove to those that know not how it is to be done, as hard as Samsons riddle.  
God's hand is not shortened, he gives as miraculous blessings (by means) to whom he pleases, as well in this age as heretofore; therefore let no man despise means, especially when the commodity thereby is greater than the discommodity, nor ought any man ro question by what means the Lord will end this civil War in this Land; but when good ways and means shall be discovered by any man to subdue the enemy with little bloodshed, may it not be said it is likely to be the means God will end this War by, rather than by equal exposing one another to slaughter, and to resist such means, what is it but a refusing of God's blessing, unless we have a command to the contrary.  
It is not to be questioned, but that the Lord can do infinite things if he please by his absolute power, which he will not do, so John said of him, Mat. 3▪ 9 But it is an actual or a working power which he executeth in governing of the world and the things therein; and it is one thing what God can do where means is wanting, and another thing what he will do by the use of means.  
Had Sir Francis Drake (that ever renowned Gentleman for his rare invention by a fiery Ship) done as I have (for that I have not wherewith to manage my invention as he had) discover his strategem how he could destroy those proud Spaniards, (and their great Armado, that came to make a destruction of the people in this land) it is very likely his success should have been no better than mine, either in the discovery thereof, or dislike by some that would have overpowered him.  
And if it can either be hoped for, or by any likelihood made to appear, that this War should end this Summer by a better way than by such means as it expressed in the Propositions, than ought this way to be slighted, if a better is not known, good reason this way and such like should be accepted of.  
If it should be reckoned how many discommodities belongs to great pieces of Ordnance, in respect of the benefit comes thereby, it would discourage men to use them in field fights: First in respect of the great charge of the piece, his carriage, and the horses to draw them. Secondly, the charge of powder and bullet at one shot. Thirdly, the men to traverse them. Fourthly, the slow marching of them. Fiftly, if weather be foul a day or two, they many times are lodged, which cause the stay of the Army, all which may be helped, as the Propositions (following) declares.  
I will refer such as speak against means, to the first of Judges 19 v. how the enemies of God kept their habitation in the valley, because they had chariots of Iron, but they were driven out of the mountains (by the children of Israel) where they had no such fence, not but that God could have driven them from thence: But the Lord did not always in a miraculous manner destroy his enemies, but by means suffered them to save themselves as the Canaanites did with chariots of iron. To teach us in humane things to look to the means▪ if not, what need men blow, but cast their corn upon the ground, and though God gives the increase he will not give it in the worst way, nor will any wise man so presume, than certainly if we use the best means to save men's lives, we may expect the better success.  
And if to feed men to maintain life we use the best way, though troublesome to man and horse, why should we not use the best means to save the lives of men. The shallower the corn is sown the worse will it be for the husbandman. So likewise the more unprovided a General goeth to the wars, the worse will his success be, if any fear it not, let them go with clubs and swords, so shall much money be saved, but I believe we shall find none so hardy, but if those that withstandeth means were themselves exposed to the war, they would be glad of means to keep them from the horse, and to be secured from musket-shot.  
The use of means is not hurtful nor offends God, when it tends to good, but the use of means may be said to be hurtful, when we use it against God's command, or when we put too much carnal confidence therein, as the Israelites did in the Ark, when they carried it to the battle, trusting more therein than they did in God, which caused the Lord to give both them and it into the hands of their enemies for their vain confidence, but to use lawful means with prayer and a trust in God for a good success, I presume it is lawful. Let me use the freedom to declare by these presents, that I have been very strongly opposed (by some) for above this two years, that not any thing I can do for the good of the State takes success. And if it were required, why I should be so maliced, they that do so or are the Authors thereof can show no just cause, unless my seeking for the good of the State be the cause, or the good service my late father did, who had a place under the great Seal of England to seize on part of the Papists estates, to the use of the Crown, if they would not be conformable to the laws of the land, or in suing in the right of the Crown and for my own due kept from me by powerful hands.  
Or for what my late brother did (to the late Duke of Buckingham) who was willing to lose his life for the Kingdom's good, or in respect of my adversary Sir Henry Spiller knight, against whom I have been in suits more than this twenty years in the right of the Crown and for my own due, being a great estate, but could not obtain Justice against my adversary, so powerful he was in friends and purse, by whose wicked do my late father and myself have been ruined: or for that some fears by these Engines the wars will too soon be made an end of. For some of these causes or the like, it is certain I am by some both privately opposed and forestalled from doing that good I can for the State, who by themselves or their Instruments, run about the City to disgrace me and my undertake for the Kingdom's good, but to my face they will not so vent their malice: and if such were not guided more by spleen and malice than by the Word of God, they would tremble at the reward the Lord threatens slanderers with, Rev. 22. 15.  
But would it please the right Honourable the House of Commons to hear my opposers against me, and what they can say, and hear me to clear myself, and for what I can do for the Kingdom's good, they will choose rather to be absent than present, than what belief is to be given to slanderers and depravers of a man behind his back.  
One asked Trajan the Emperor how he made so good choice of Councillors and friends, he replied that his good hap came hereof, that he choose them neither covetous men, nor liars, for they in whom covetousness and lying ha●h any place, cannot love perfectly, and where there is not true love for a States good, there must needs be dissimulation, from such both in Church and Commonwealth it shall be my prayer to the Lord to be delivered from.  
And when men that can do good service for the State, shall be slighted and neglected, what is it but to discourage men to be acting for the Kingdom's good and encourage men to fawning and flattery; I have not sought as many have for their own ends, my chiefest seeking (as it is generally known) was to have my first Engine accepted of, to help the English in Ireland, and to have the other accepted of here, for the quieting of the State, and saving of men's lives, to which some things of great consequence may be added. And for thus endeavouring the States good, I have spent myself out of means and am much in debt.  
And were these Engines put in practice (in such ways it hath pleased God to give me knowledge of) and that I may have the ordering of the●, I trust in the Lord they will prove successful for the good of the King and Kingdom.  
I confess it had been fit this business should have been carried in a privater way, and that it might have so been, I have l●ft no means unattempted and seeing I cannot by any means attain it, is the cause I thus publish it, to encourage all men who are well affected for the States good to be furtherers hereof; and that I can do other good service were I enabled, some Gentlemen of known and approved fidelity can certify, if requested, who refused not to give their oath for secrecy, which I could not obtain of others, and if men in such a business and of so great concernment for the Kingdomed, fear to trust themselves, I see no cause why I should trust them.  
My trust hath already been too much abused, for one Young a Carpenter near Cripplegate, (lately deceased) hearing I could make the Engine expressed in my Propositions, desired a friend of his to bring him acquainted with me, which he did, and when I had told him I had caused an Engine to be made to keep the foot from the horse, and also from musket-shot, which said Engine some of the City Commanders had seen, yet would he not believe such an Engine could be made, till he went to Major General Browne, who certified him he had seen the Engine that would keep the foot from the horse; and before I would tell him how it was to be made, I enjoined him to secrecy (for that▪ I discovered somewhat more to him then formerly I had) who most deceitfully in my absence makes three of the Engines (but knew not how to make the breast-worke) brings them publicly through the streets to his Excellency's house the Earl of Essex, and there as publicly were they seen in the first Court. This man presently after (as I was told) was made Captain of the Engineers, and I the inventor slighted. His neighbours in Ship-yard by Cripplegate, knows I was every day for a fortnight with him, giving him▪ directions to make the said Engine, which he could not do, but in my absence got better workmen than himself to make the above said Engines; and the said Carpenter told one Mr Daulman, one of the Common-council, he had instructions from me to make the Engine, and so Mr Daulman told a friend of mine.  
Which said Engine shortly after was made at Oxford, but not in so good a way as this is, nor so marchable with men, nor had they breast-works but of boards and iron plates (which mine have not) against which should a bullet be shot out of a piece of Ordnance, and hit that breast-worke, the splinters of the wood and iron, would do fare more hurt than the bullet.  
There was about 20 of the said Engines made at Oxford, and from thence carried to Gloster to go up to the walls: And had not his Excellency the Earl of Essex so happily arrived to raise that siege (as he did) it was reported by some of the Army, the City was in great fear to be taken thereby, most of which said Engines the besiegers burnt, because they should not be taken. And this is the benefit comes by publishing good inventions, which ought to be kept with all secrecy, which I always desired, for the prevention of which I could wish there were a Committee, of approved skill and honesty to take oath of secrecy not to discover any rare invention, and tide by the said oath to deliver the truth of their knowledge, what they conceive thereof, so shall good inventions, not only be kept secret for the good of the State, and men encouraged in their undertake, if recompensed for their pains and charges, as I have heard the custom is in the State of Venice.  
There is (I hear) now again some few breast-works made in this City by a Commander to go upon service, which will do a hundred times more mischief (in the discovery) than good, when any man intends to repair a great house, that is almost ruined, he will not go to repair it with a few men, lest it fall to the ground in the repairing, much less can a kingdom be brought to a settlement that is divided by war by small and weak means, or by a few Engines be they never so excellent, but by extraordinary good means, if well followed it may, then why should a little hinder what much may effect.  
I could have much more enlarged myself in way of just complaints, or most forcible inducements to ingratiate my service and endeavours, but these times rather require actions then discourse, the sum of which action is thus contracted in the following Propositions.  

Propositions of Edmond Felton, Gentleman,  
WHo hath invented and made an Engine for war, which will keep the horse from the foot, and secure the Musketeers from all shot but of Ordnance, and much secure them from small shot out of Ordnance, and it's ten to one a shot out of a piece of Ordnance hits the said Engine, two Engines supplies the place of a 100 Pike-men, taking up 7 or 10 yards in length, and will also go in as narrow a pla●● as a Coach (as occasion serves) and in fair ways two men may manage one Engine at pleasure, if otherwise four or six Musketeers may lay their Muskets on the Engine and run it before them with more ease than to carry their Muskets, and thus may their fellow-soldiers ease them every hour or half hour, twenty of the said Engines supply the place of a thousand Pike-men, whose pay with the Officers is above 400 pound a week, hereby would be saved all the money should be laid for appareling of those soldiers, there will likewise be saved five parts of six of their pay, and the first weeks pay those one▪ thousand Soldiers with their Officers are to have, will make the said twenty Engines, then is there also saved all the Arms a Regiment of Pike-men are to have, which will be some hundred pounds, and the sixth part of the pay those soldiers are to have will maintain the said Engines, pay the men that shall manage them, and wagons to carry the breast-works of them, if so thought fit, or provision may be made that one hundred Dragooners with their horses may draw one hundred of the said Engines after▪ them, if the ways prove very bad, and 3 hundred (or more) of the said Engines with the breast-works may be made in a month or little more.  
One hundred Engines supplies the place of five thousand Pike-men, and takes up in Front 350. or 500 yards, and march as fast as the Army can march in Summer time. Thus may an Army in a short time be overtaken though ten or twenty mile off, if they have their Artillery with them, and at what advantage the pursuing Army shall please, constraining them to fight or fly. If they shall bid battle the odds will be great against them, if fly than will their Artillery be taken.  
There may be made two running Sconces with some of the said Engines to flank at each wing of the Battalia to prevent the horse from wheeling about to fall upon the rear, in each of which Sconces 3. or 400 Musketeers may be placed to shoot every way, and Drakes and other Ordnance may be securely placed in the intervails, and other good helps to secure the Engines that they cannot be taken.  
The benefit of this running breast-work are first, the soldiers with them may suddenly entrench themselves; hereby much money weekly will be saved in Pionars pick Axes, Spades and Wagons to carry them. Secondly the said Engines will be a great ease to the City and Country, in victuals and lodging. Thirdly, in saving of men's lives. Fourthly, these Engines will encourage faint hearted soldiers to fight, who shall not fear routing by the Enemy's horse. Fiftly the soldiers may fight hereby, though much wet fall, and also shelter themselves from great rains. Sixtly, hereby much horse may be saved, for 3000. horse with 8000 Musketeers, and a 100 Engines, will do better service than 6000 horse and 16000 foot without the said Engines, which 3000 horse shall not need to be put upon service, but when the enemies are routed.  
Hereby in horse some 1000 pounds weekly may be saved, other excellent helps may be added to the said Engines.  
And it is often seen that soldiers are fearful to fight against the Enemy, when they see the horsemen encouraged to charge resolutely, but where these Engines are in front, they will discourage both horse and foot to come on, and much more discourage them, when the Battalia are flanked with the said Engines.  
The most and best services consists either to defend or assail passages by water or by straits, or to assail Towns, Forts or Fortresses, for which the Musketeers with this running breast-worke are the most excellent. And also hereby siege may be laid to any place; And likewise a siege raised from any place (if not) the besiegers in a short time (by the help of the said Engines) may be subdued.  
The Pike is counted the chiefest weapon to defend and to enter a breach; If so approved on with naked men, much more to be approved on with breast-works, which will secure the Musketeers from small shot, forcing securely on a breach; though the Enemies near that place are furnished both with shot and short weapons.  
Major General Skippons Attestation.  
Having seen an Engine of this bearer Mr Edmond Felton which was of three tire of ten Muskets in a tire, to shoot Arrows withal, and being requested by him to signify what I thought thereof, I could do no less but testify that if the said Engine were completely made up, it would do very great Execution and be of very good use and service. Octob. 20. 1642.  
Ph. Skippon.  
The said Engine Major General Skippon saw 6 months before the date hereof in the Artillery Garden.  
Whereas Edmond Felton Gent. hath of late discovered (unto us the Committee for the Fortifications of the City of London) how an Engine (of his invention) will secure the foot from the horse, and the Soldiers from Musquet-shot, which Engine in fair ways two men may manage at pleasure, for the seeing of which we appointed some of the said Committee to see and try the said Engine, (which hath hanging breast-works,) and it was shot at about 40 paces from it, the Musqueteeres ramming in powder and bullet in their Muskets, with full bandoliers of powder, yet could not the shot pierce through the said brest-worke, which we who were appointed did see, and so reported to the rest of the Committee; And being requested by the said▪ Edmond Felton so to certify under our hands, of the truth of what was seen and reported of, we have done accordingly, witness our hands the 14th of March, 1643.  
The said Engine was seen and tried the 19th of February. 1643. 

Richard Bateman,  
Christopher Park,  
Thomas noel,  
james Sto●y.  
Peter Mills.     
FINIS.