Page:Samuel F. Batchelder - Bits of Harvard History (1924).pdf/82

 Provided also, That They exercise themselves in the use of the Fire-lock in the Play-place only, and That, at no other time, but after Evening Prayers.

Provided also, That they behave themselves orderly in their Exercise, & Particularly, That They explode not any of their Fire-Locks in the College Yard, or Elsewhere (Except Vollies in the Field of Exercise).

Provided also, That after their Exercise, They absolutely clear the College of all their Fire-Arms, so that if any fire-lock be found in any Chamber of the College in the Evening or on the next Day, before Evening Prayers, And also if any Breach be made upon any one of the above Articles, Then the Liberty above granted, of Exercising the Fire-lock, shall be immediately prohibited to Them.

Apparently we have here the germination of the first military company at Harvard. Ten years later we find it fully developed. As all nomenclature was then of classical elegance, it was known as the Marti-Mercurian Band—which was, after all, much better than the “Harvard Blues” or the “Langdon Light Infantry”—and its flag, long preserved but now perished, bore the motto “Tam Marti Quam Mercurio.” In 1769 its cap-