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Henry Hexam Principals of the Art Militaire 1637- Officers of a Company of foot
Duties of a LieutenantFirst, it may be demanded, why is so called, and the reason wherefore his name given to him. A lieutenant then is a French word, compounded of the Lieu a place, and tenant of the present tense, which signifies in English, holding, or keeping, from whence he takes his name, and is much, as if one should say, a Lieutenant is he, which holds up, and supplieth the place of his Captain or Governor. He is also called in the German tongue Lieutenhaupt, which is as much to say, as having the charge, or office over men: because the in the absence of his superior, or his Captain, his office, and quality important as much, as if the Governor, or Captain, were present himself, and therefore Lieutenant, being a name rightly imposed upon him, he is to take care, order, & govern the company, and ought to be honoured, obeyed, and respected, as if the Captain himself were present. hence it is also, that a King has his viceroy, a Prince his administrator, a potentate his Marshall, or Chancellor, a lord his Steward, and a Colonel, or Governor, his Lieutenant Colonel, or Lieutenant Governor. A lieutenant then must be an able, sufficient man, capable of his charge, and experienced in the wars, understanding the duty of a Captain, because he is to execute it in his absence, and to be an ease unto him. He is to receive all orders, charges, and commissions form his Captain, assuming no authority to himself, unless in the absence of his Captain: for it is certain that every military charge, ought to go by order, and to be received from his superior commander. When it is required, he is to give his Captain wise counsel, and to advise, and consult with him for the good of the company, especially in the time of action, and in matters of importance. He ought also by his command, to appease quarrels, between soldiers, and soldiers, not to be partial, or favour one man more than another: for itis a point of justice, to compose a quarrel, and to give his satisfaction to the party interested, in so doing, he shall support his command, and gain himself reputation. But in a matter of importance, he ought to acquaint he Captain therewith, that he may punish the offender, by committing him either to prison, or causing him to give satisfaction to the gentleman or soldier wronged, and that for the avoiding of blood shed. A Lieutenant also must know how far his authority extends in the presence of his Captain, and that his Captains honour, and reputation ought to be as tender, and dear unto him as his own. In his Captains absence, he is to govern the company well, to take care that it be duely exercised, to command the inferior officers, as the sergeants and corporals to do their duties, to make them teach the soldiers the perfect use of their arms, that when they shall come to be exercised by his Captain, or himself, they may be in readiness. When his Captain exercises his company himself, his place is then the rear of the company, so see that the words of command which is given by his captain in the front, be duely performed, and executed by the soldiers in the rear of the company, and in his absence to lead it, in the front to the guards, and paradoe, and to see that every soldier does their duty upon their guards, and thus much briefly for a Lieutenant. |
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