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Henry Hexam Principals of the Art Militaire 1637- Officers of a Company of foot
Duties of a Captain.Every company has a head, a captain who in the German tongue is rightly call a Hauptman, a head man from the word Haupt, which signifies a head, and from the Latin word caput, from whence the name Captain is derived in the French, English and Dutch. for, as the head is the principal member that governs and rules the body, and unto which all other members are subordinate: so likewise the officers and soldiers of a company, ought to govern, and carry themselves, according to the charge and command of their Captain. A Captain then having so honourable a place, as to be the chief of a company, ought to be very capable of his charge, and as he ought to carry himself with authority & gravity in the point of his command, that he may be so obeyed, feared, and respected of his soldiers :so should he also carry himself towards them, as a loving, and kind father (seeing they must live and die together) in paying them regularly, in helping, and relieving them in their wants, necessities, and sicknesses, neither must he be given to covetousness in keeping back from them that which is their due. And as he is to love, countenance, and to make much of such soldiers of his company, as carrying themselves bravely and stoutly in the face of their enemy which deserve well, seeking by all means to advance such, it will give encouragement to others to do the like: so ought he also to punish vice severely, quarrellers, and offenders, for the good and example of others. A Captain should also be religious, loyal to his prince & country, that he serves, just, temperate, liberal, wise and discreet, valiant in the field before the face of his enemy: Valiant in towns and forts besieged, and for his honour, never to give consent in yielding up any place, till it be past relief, and that there is no profitability to hold it any longer. A Captain also ought to instruct, & inform his soldiers in the point of their duties, to train them up, and to exercise them well in the use of their arms, as well himself as the officers that are under him, and to see that they readily obey, and execute his commands, which is the life of war, and one of the principal things, required both in a Captain and a soldier.
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