A WARRANT SENT From the LORD MAIOR and ALDERMEN, to all the trained Bands in London, and the Liberties thereof.
ALSO A true Platforme of Captaine GIFFORD, shewing how to plant Ordnance and batter by night.
LIKEWISE, The Quality of a Serjeant-Major, with such Arts and Sciences as appertaine unto his place.
Published by especiall Command.
LONDON, Septemb. 23. Printed for Francis Coules. 1642.
By the Maior.
WHEREAS great Complaint is made unto me by the Captaines of the trained Bands within this City, That when they are commanded forth, upon service of this City, for the more safety therof, a very small number of men inrolled do make their appearance; and that some of them apearing, do depart from their colours before they be lodged, in contempt and great neglect of the said service; these are therfore to will and require you in His Majesties 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 severall Precincts, and give commandment that all such as are inrolled by the Captains within your Ward, doe immediately, after warning given by the beat of the Drumb, repair to their Colours, and place of Rendevouz, with their competent armes, and that none of them depart thence without leave of their Captaine; and that [Page 2] from time to time notice be taken of all such souldiers so inrolled, as shall absent themselves from performing that their service; and that the names of such delinquents, and what defects shalbe found, be returned unto mee in writing, to the end such course may be taken with them as to Justice shall appertaine. And hereof I require you not to faile, as you will answer the contrary at your perill.
How to make a shot at a Hill or Valley by a Quadrant, and specially if the mark be further then the Peece will reach on a straight line.
AT a Hill mount the Peece 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 Peeces being laid right in the day, plumb the middle of the Mouth and Breech of each Peece with a right line and plummet; and where the lead falleth, stick a smal 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 Peece, 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 peece both on the line and quadrant, [Page 4] as formerly, and take the just height of the two plummets lines fastened to the mouth and breech with a peece of waxe, which you may do by a close lanthorne.
How to plant Ordnance by night.
FIrst, Goe 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 vnto the mark, which must be done, then take your Astrolobe, holding it in your Thumbe by the Ring, and turn the Athilieday vntill you may see the mark through the two sights therof; And see what degree it cuts, the same must you note in the Table Book. Then in a darke night bring your Ordnance between the two stakes, and tye a line to your two stakes, and plumbe the mouth and breech of the peece upon the line, and turne the peece up and downe, vntill the plummet line of the Quadrant doe fall upon [Page 5] the degree and place, and the Athilieday did point vnto and the Astrolobe. If you will have more peeces then one, you must drive more Pins of each side of the first line, or parallell the middle line, at 10 foot distance, and allow for every 200 yards between the peece and the marke 4 Inches at the breech, provided that the lines be true paralleld every way.
The Quality of a Serjeant Major.
FIrst, valour, Resolution and experience, wise, discreet, of quick conceipt and understanding, of a modest and temperate behaviour both in life and diet; void of rashnesse and selfe-wilfulnesse; he must have an able body to indure any hardnesse; he must be just in his doing, affable, void of pride, vain-glory, or covetousnesse: he should have knowledge in Arithmetick, Geometry, Cosmography, Astronomy; to speake sundry languages, to be a good Engineere.
Then to know the goodnesse of the powder; which is to be known three manner of wayes.
1. It must taste sharpe, but not salt.
2. It must look blewish, but not black.
3. It must burn with a sudden puffe, and nothing to remaine afterwards but a whitish [Page 6] smoke, which will scale off in drie scales.
To be skilfull in shooting Peeces of Ordnance; in the lading of them with powder and shot; the proportion of the metall to a pound of the shot, as thus: If 200, then the weight of the shot in powder: if 300, one ninth part more; if 175, then one ninth part more: if 150, two ninth parts lesse: if 100, one third part lesse: the Ordnance to stand in a rich ground, as the wheels bee not one nimbler then another.