Add MS 37667

"A MILITARIE discourse whether it bee better for England to give an Invador present battaile or to temporize and deferr the same": a treatise written to combat the objections made "by a gentleman of good worth," whose "discourse was committed to print" against a former treatise written by the author on the same subject and laid before the Privy Council (f. 2 b). It takes the form partly of a running commentary on the objector's positions, partly of a further exposition of the author's views, and (f. 37) "A certaine readie and orderlie course for the speedie arminge and bringine of men together in the Shire of Kent at an allarum given to the Countree, which by like proportion may bee observed in anie other shire." It was written after 1590 (see a reference to the relief of Paris by the Duke of Parma's army, f. 24) and before the death of Queen Elizabeth. There was an alarm of invasion in 1597 (see a letter to the Lieutenants of Kent and elsewhere in Acts of the Privy Council, 1597-1598, p. 57). The author was possibly a Kentish man and not a professional writer: cf. f. 2 b, "being moved (differentlie from my profession) to take pen in hand and become an author upon occasion." The present MS. is a copy of the middle of the 17th cent., the marginal comments being in a different hand from the text. Other copies are in Harl. MSS.

132 (possibly contemporary) and 4685, f.1 Paper; ff. 39. Folio. Phillipps MS. 12381 (sale-cat. 1908, lot 428). Under the heading of the St. George MSS., etc., 1852, in the Phillipps folio catalogue.

Military Tactics: "A militarie discourse whether it be better for England to give an invador present battaile or to temporize and defer the same": 17th cent.

includes:

• f. 37 County of Kent: Suggestions for arming the men of, in view of an invasion: circ. 1597.
• f. 37 Army; England: Plan for mustering in co. Kent: 17th cent.