But I can not see how they could be ordered or how they would obey
with the punctuality that war demands, if the punishment of offenses,
disobedience, and other acts that are criminal in soldiers, were not
in charge of the military judges. In Ytalia and Flandes, the Spanish
soldiers have only one judge, namely, the commander of the army; for
although the masters-of-camp judge in the first instance in cases, that
is only exercised by them when away from the commander-in-chief. Will
your Majesty please order this matter to be examined and declare your
pleasure therein; also in what pertains to the soldiers of forts and
the other paid men in them, for I do not know whether your Majesty
has hitherto given the jurisdiction in the first instance to the
castellans by special decree. Likewise I do not know whether it has
been declared as to whom pertains the trial in the first instance of
the men in the galleys who have a general or lieutenant, or of their
soldiers; or to whom pertains the trial of those who are generally
added to and embarked on the galleys from the companies of this camp.
It is also necessary to know who shall try in the first instance the
sailors and officers of ships, and those who work at ship-trades,
inasmuch as they have no commander or admiral, nor any lieutenant
of mine, in such charge, to whom it is committed by any decree of
your Majesty. The same doubt exists in regard to the artillerymen,
who now have a general of the artillery, as your Majesty has ordered
one to be appointed; and if, when that office is lacking or suspended,
it [_i.
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