The soldiers honour Wherein by divers inferences and gradations it is evinced, that the…The souldiers honour Wherein by diuers inferences and gradations it is euinced, that the…

I know that divers aspersions are cast upon men of this rank, They think that many take armes, Non ut seruiant, sed ut soeviant; not to serve for their Country, but to rage and forage: making their Cote-armour a defence for drinking, whoring, swearing, dicing; and such disorders. As if it were impossible, that a tender conscience should dwell in one bosom with a valiant heart.¹ Olim castra quasi casta dicebantur; quia castratur in ijs libido. The Camp seemed to take the denomination, saith he, from chastity; because in the wars lust was beaten down. But now Venus is gotten into the arms of Mars. Militat omnis amans, & habet sua castra Cupido. Cupid hath displayed his Colours, and pitched his Tent in the midst of the Army; as if it were the only bravery of a Soldier, to drink valiant healths to his Mistress. One writes of the Turks, that though they are the most monstrous beasts at home in peace, and sin even against nature: yet in wars caute & caste vivunt, they live charily and chastely. Not as the Fryers say, Caute si non caste: the Turks are better then the Fryers in this. Vitia sua domi deponunt, saith he: they leave all their naughtiness behind them at home. But he adds withal to our reproach, Christianus assumit: the Christians there take up those vices, as if they found them sown in a pitched field. That there is often, saith he, Gravior turba meretricum, quam militum: it is hard to judge, whether the number of soldiers ⟨p. 23⟩or of harlots be greater. Hence it is said, that Rara fides pietasque viris, qui castra sequuntur. There is so little fidelity and piety in men that follow the wars. These be the common invectives against Soldiers.

I know that diuers aspersions are cast vpon men of this ranke, They thinke that manie take armes, Non vt seruiant, sed vt soeuiant; not to serue for their Countrey, but to rage and forrage: making their Cote-armour a defence for drinking, whoring, swearing, dicing; and such disorders. As if it were imposible, that a tender conscience should dwell in one bosome with a valiant heart.¹ Olim castra quasi casta dicebantur; quia castratur in ijs libido. The Campe seemed to take the denomination, saith hee, from chastitie; because in the warres lust was beaten downe. But now Venus is gotten into the armes of Mars. Militat omnis amans, & habet sua castra Cupido. Cupid hath displayed his Colours, and pitched his Tent in the midst of the Armie; as if it were the onely brauerie of a Souldier, to drinke valiant healths to his Mistresse. One writes of the Turkes, that though they are the most monstrous beasts at home in peace, and sinne euen against nature: yet in warres caute & caste viuunt, they liue charily and chastly. Not as the Fryers say, Caute si non caste: the Turkes are better then the Fryers in this. Vitia sua domi deponunt, saith hee: they leaue all their naughtinesse behind them at home. But he addes withall to our reproch, Christianus assumit: the Christians there take vp those vices, as if they found them sowne in a pitched field. That there is often, saith he, Grauior turba meretricum, quam militum: it is hard to iudge, whether the number of souldiers