Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/148

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32
DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF

When I came to town, I dined at Mr. Harbord's. Sir Henry Capel told me that we should always have

    quality: in councils of war be delivered his opinion freely, and maintained it with due zeal: but, how positive soever be was in it, if the council of war overruled it, even though he was not convinced by it, yet to all others he justified it, and executed bis part with the same zeal as if his own opinion had prevailed."—Burnet's History, iv., 170. Mackay published a work called "Rules of War for the Infantry, ordered to be observed by their majesty's subjects encountering with the enemy on the day of battle," which concludes with this proof of his deeply pious and religious feeling. "Lastly, when all dispositions are made, and the army waiting for the signal to move towards the enemy, both officers and soldiers ought seriously to recommend (together with their souls and bodies) the care and protection of the cause for which they so freely expose their lives to God, who overruleth the deliberations and councils, designs and enterprises, of his creatures, and of whose blessings alone the success of all undertakings doth depend, which they may do in these, or in like words. 'A Prayer.—O Almighty King of Kings, and Lord of Hosts, which, by the angels thereunto appointed, doth minister both war and peace. Thou rulest and commandest all things, and sittest on the throne judging right; and therefore we would make our addresses to Thy divine Majesty in this our necessity, that Thou wouldest take us and our cause into Thine own hand, and judge between us and our. enemies. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us, for Thou givest not always the battle to the strong, but canst save by many and by few. O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance, but hear us, thy poor servants, begging mercy and imploring Thy help, and that Thou wouldest be a defence against the enemy. Make it appear that Thou art our Saviour and Mighty Deliverer. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."—Mackay's Memoirs.