Practical Manual of Artillery

On the office of the Accountant of the Artillery. Chap. VI.

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THE office of the Accountant is to take note of all the men, both officials and those of service, who serve in the state of the artillery, with the number of horses and wagons, and to know very particularly the salary that each one of them earns. This person, by order and decree of the General of the Artillery, must always make the payment orders or vouchers, both for money and for all other munitions that are dispensed in the operation. Always reserving, however, in his power the aforementioned orders, to be able (if requested) to render an account to the supreme officials of the army. The salary of this Accountant was 40 crowns per month, and 10 crowns for one of his officials. However, in Lombardy, with the war ceasing, the Majesty of the Catholic King pays no more than 20 crowns per month to his Artillery Accountant.

On the office of the General Inspector of the Artillery. Chap. VII.

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THIS office of General Inspector is of great utility and importance to the Prince, as it is a general office over the entire enterprise, and it includes the visual inspection of all things that are dispensed in the state of the artillery. First, it pertains to him to be present with the other officials at the taking of the muster of everyone, and to see if there are as many men, and as many horses and service wagons, as the King pays in that army. To see also if these men, horses, and wagons are fit and sufficient to serve in the enterprise; to see if the munitions are dispensed for the benefit of the enterprise with good order and without any fraud; and that they are not stolen or alienated outside the army in any way. To see also if, when the due provision is made and the aforementioned munitions are bought, and all other things pertaining to the artillery, they are of that goodness and quality that is required to be able to be used in the enterprise, and to see and understand all the prices. That each of these things costs and is worth. To see if the horses and wagons are sound and strong, fit to be used comfortably. And finding them to be useless, to command that they provide others more sufficient for the service, and for that time to suspend their ordinary pay. To see also if all the payment orders made by the Accountant are by order of the General of the Artillery, and for him to sign them also with his own hand. To see that those salaries which are assigned by the General of the Artillery to those men who serve in the artillery are not defrauded by their officials, but rather that they are paid to each one of them entirely in cash (as they say) and by his own hand. The pay of this Inspector is 40 crowns per month, and 10 crowns to his official, as we said of the Accountant. However, one must know that this office has not always been used in past armies; but in the armies of the Catholic Majesty, it is used and held as an office of great necessity and importance in time of war.

On the office of the Paymaster of the Artillery. Chap. VIII.

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THE Paymaster, or Treasurer of the Artillery, regarding his office, has nothing else to do but solicit money to pay the people and all the other expenses that are made regarding the state of the artillery, and to pay them to everyone on payday, and to receive into his power all the payment orders or vouchers for money, sent by the General of the Artillery, signed by him and by the Accountant and Inspector of it; and by virtue of those, his discharge for the money received from the Prince or from his General Treasurer will be made. The salary of this Paymaster was in conformity with that of the other officials; however, with the war ceased, he is given 20 crowns of pay per month.

The General of the Artillery in all the wars of France, Germany, and Guelders never had any perquisites of his own and specified, except that when some city, castle, or land was taken, against which his battery had been planted, all the artillery, with the arms and munitions,