THE SWEDISH DISCIPLINE, RELIGIOUS, CIVILE, AND MILITARY. The first part, in the formes of prayer daily used by those of the Swedish nation, in the Armie. Together with two severall prayers, uttered upon severall occasions by that pious King; which God immediately heard and granted him. The second part, in the excellent orders observed in the Armie; whereof we here present you the articles, by which the Souldiery is governed. The third part, in the Kings commission for levying of a Regiment: his order for drawing up of a private company; of a squadron; and of a brigade: with his manner of enquartering a private regiment; and of an Army Royall; unto which is added the best manner of building and fortifying of a towne of warre. All, in five se

[SWEDISH.]

Published by London printed by John Dawson for Nath: Butter and Nich: Bourne, 1632

About this Item

pp. [viii], 35, [1], 39-90; 43, with four woodcut folding diagrams, inserted at pp. 80, 82, 86 and 88; an uncut copy, with many gatherings unopened; stitched as issued, in contemporary or very early drab wrappers (stained and partly defective; spine no longer present; text a little stained, but mainly in the margins, at beginning and end). First edition with the complete text (see STC) but bound without the two engraved plates (folding maps, referred to in the text) which STC says are 'frequently missing': a check of the four copies at the Bodleian shows that in fact only one of these has both plates one other has one plate only, and the other two are seriously imperfect anyway. Some of the text here is translated from Arma Suecica (1631) by J.P. Abelinus. This copy is in a most interesting state, entirely uncut and largely unopened, bound in what may well be its original drab wrappers: it is very uncommon to find an English book of this date in such condition. The book is a fascinating manual of military discipline, drawing on the theory and practice of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, perhaps the most successful European military commander of his age. As the anonymous author says, 'in the First part, shall you find him Religious, in the Second, Iust: & in the Third, most Sufficient for an every way accomplisht General: Devotion, Iustice & a martiall excellency make up his Discipline'. It is notable that the religious practice is placed at the forefront of good discipline in an army: as the writer says, the Israelites' victories came 'ryding downe upon the triumphant wings of devout prayer', and Constantine carried a tabernacle about with his army. On pp. 4-28 he gives examples of effective prayers to be used by an army on the march, or about to give battle one of them is 'A Prayer of Luther for Souldiers' (pp. 25-6). As evidence for the effectiveness, he gives one of Gustavus's prayers for a wind at sea (p. 33), which was immediately succesful, carrying the Swedish fleet quickly to where it needed to be, 'to the great admiration of the beholders, and the greater defeate of the hopes and purposes of the Imperialists'. The second part (pp. 39-73) concerns day-to-day discipline, but in fact religious practice is again placed first, followed by 150 articles enjoining good discipline and obedience to the King and his commanders, and specifying in great detail how these are to be maintained, in various kinds of courts martial. These are succeeded by a further twenty articles issued by the King more recently, 'upon the unrulinesse of his soldiours in the New Marke of Brandenburg' this section is clearly taken from Arma Suecica. The third part (pp. 75-90) concerns actual military practice: how many men are needed in each company, and what skills they should have, the proper way to lay out a camp, and how to fortify a town. There are four folding diagrams to this part, illustrating such things as the fortifications of Colmar (present-day Kalmar), keyed to illustrate terms such as Counterscarp, Horn-work and False Bray. The author or translator of this work is anonymous: presumably he is not to be identified with 'Sa: Cr.' who contributes a prefatory Latin poem addressed to the King, with an English translation (A4r-v) by the same person. STC 23520.

Seller Inventory # 27884

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE SWEDISH DISCIPLINE, RELIGIOUS, CIVILE, AND MILITARY. The first part, in the formes of prayer daily used by those of the Swedish nation, in the Armie. Together with two severall prayers, uttered upon severall occasions by that pious King; which God immediately heard and granted him. The second part, in the excellent orders observed in the Armie; whereof we here present you the articles, by which the Souldiery is governed. The third part, in the Kings commission for levying of a Regiment: his...
• Publisher: London printed by John Dawson for Nath: Butter and Nich: Bourne
• Publication Date: 1632
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Military