without staying by the way then his match well made and dry his stéele and flinte to strike fire his scrues and wormes to serue all for his skowring sticke and for euery tenne souldiers to haue a casting panne For flasks it were better that the vse of them were lefte and in liewe thereof the Spanishe vse which is nowe had with vs for our muskets for it is the best the surest and the readiest that yet hath béene vsed for diuers causes which I omitte least I should bee tedious This Harquebuzier muste yet haue a tuch boxe a purse for his Bullets steele and flint and a priminge Iron for the clearinge of the tuch hole when neede shall require a good Morion with not to high a creast a good shorte sworde of a yarde in blade and dagger of twelue inches in blade with a good girdle and stronge This souldier thus furnished being apt willing and dooth vnderstand what him selfe is in force needeth not to care who he dooth encounter withall béeing but one although he were a man at armes and in groundes of aduantage to be the death of many the which aduantage of groundes is the greatest helpe to all defendantes the which I take to be our partes at this day in England to thinke vpon For these Harquebuziers is the onely weapon that hath beene the greatest cause of the deathes of suche numbers as haue béene of late dayes ouerthrowne in great incounters yea and in small skirmishes by the terrible shot of Pistoliers or Reisters and specially at Saint-quintins and at Graueling the English ships were a great cause of that ouerthrowe But reade the booke of the Commentarie of the sciuile warres of Fraunce and the incounters in the Lowe countries and at the same time that the Frenche Kinge Henrie the seconde incountered with the Emperour Charles at Rentie what was the shot of Harquebuzers there the very morning before the sunne was one hower highe there was 400 Harquebuziers slaine of the French party and drawne out of the shrubs or bushes by the héels the which the French and Spaniardes did striue to obtaine for the better aduantage of a greater matter which was done there that same daye And it was well knowne that of the Spanish partie there was slaine in the same skirmishe almost double the number And after the obtaining of the same bushes or shrubs by the french the Emperor came forward towards the Kings armie being a Fawcon shot the one off the other at which time the Duke of Sauoy hauing the leading of the Uant-garde did descende towardes the saide bushes possessed by the Frenche footemen and the encounter began with such terrible shot of the Spanish Uant-garde and the French footemen that who so euer did see the same may wel say that the shot of the Harquebuziers are moste deadly weapons being in the hands of skilfull men For what with the terrour of the French shot and the braue charge of the French light horse-men the Uantgarde of the Emperor was there ouerthrown and chéefely by the terror of the French shot laid in the bushes as afore is said Againe before Cambraye the armies aforesaide being néere together where the King had staid foure dayes according to his promise for the Emperour It fell out the laste daye the Kinge remooued his Campe at which instant there approched néere vnto the French Campe 2000. horsemen of the best in the Emperors armie accompanied or backed with two thousand Harquebuziers one foote the French being 5000 men at armes archers within Pystol shot of their enemies for the space of foure houres still beholding one another who durst first breake for if the Frenche beeing the greater number had charged the Sapniards then would the two thousand shot haue galled and destroyed the most parte of them to their great detriment and losse wherfore it may be thought that the French would not haue ouer shot themselues so farre as to haue omitted such a daies worke but only for the doubt that they had of the same Harquebuzers so couched in a hollowe way behind the horsemen as aforesayd Againe at the siege of Bouaigne where the French King being in person y ◠Emperor at Namure within eight miles the Kings pleasure was to haue fiue hundred horse to goe as neere to the Emperours Campe as they could to discouer the enemies but it fell so foorth that there were 2000. horsemen enemies abrode at the same time and méeting the one with the other they both pawsed to charge for the most part of the way lay betwixt the riuer of Moose and a great banke so that the French supposed that the whole Campe of the Emperour had beene comming they retired a soft trote their enemies pursued and made after with more speed and the French hauing but onely forty shot horsemen they caused them to light and to defend the straighte at the best aduantage by meanes of those forty shot the 500 horse were saued and came to their Campe without losse Also the very first daye that Bouaigne was besieged the French shotte so freshlye followed the Spaniardes that were sallyed foorth for the mainetenance of their skirmishe that in conclusion they came close to the walles of the towne and there stayed and so without either trench basket or gabyons continued there from eight of the clock in the morning vnto fower in the after-noone in which time there was not any either souldier or townsman that durst looke ouer the walles in so much that the Cannoniers and Pyoners did place theyr ordinaunce without anye more defences for theyr safety then afore is saide so that before fiue of the clocke the frenche foote-men entered and slewe man woman and child or threwe them into Moose which dooth runne close by the wall vpon the one side so were these people all slaine or drowned sauing nine Spaniards that fled into a little towre the which they defended about two howers to the losse of fiue or sixe frenche shot But the nexte day they were all hanged vpon one paire of Gallous that were set vp right against the castle of Denant being little more then halfe a mile distant from Bouaigne wherin was at that time Iulian Romero with 200. of his countrie men who by his and their vallours and force of their shot withstoode the Kinges power thrée dayes to the death of a great nūber of the french which were lost at two assaults and then yéelded by composition The fifth discourse ANd touching the rest of our fierye weapons I will set downe partlie my opinion and when I doo speake of Harquebuzies it is meant by all Calliuers Curriers although the musket be a weapon of greater force then the Harquebuze is of yet generally both on horseback and on foote a Harquebuze dooth serue for both But were the musket to be dealt withall on horsebacke as one foote I woulde then thinke it the best of all manuall weapons that yet
best begin to intrench I seeing him going about the same and notwithstanding I had no acquaintaunce of him and yet knowing that hee had neither serued in Fraunce nor with the Emperour of good will that I bare vnto the seruice I wente vnto him in courteous manner and saide maister Pelham it were verye good for you to beginne at the foote of this hill and runne straight to yonder hillocke whereat he seemed to be offended and saide that I stoode not charged with these matters it was his charge and not mine I was sorie of that I had spoken considering how vncourteouslie he did accept of my good will But how did the matter fall out before tenne daies by leauinge his trenche open the French perceiuing that they might without any let come both on horsebacke and foote and so did wheras it cost the liues of 200. souldiers and Captaine Bartlet taken prisoner with diuers others and at the reskew wherof the L. Gray of Wilton that now is hauing not time to arme him selfe was shotte through the body with a Bullet so that many thousandes haue dyed of lesser woundes then that was And againe at the time that the good Earle Frācis of Bedford was L. Gouernour of Barwicke and L. Warden of y ◠East Marches it chanced amongst other warlike talke procéeding from his L. at dinner time he demaunded of the Captaines there present how many shot a harquebuzier might discharge in one hower one Captaine Brode euen sodainelie did answer and sayd tenne the rest of the Captaines did not reprooue his answer although that they did knowe he was farre short of the matter and I sitting at the table though not to crosse the said Captaine Brode but rather to tell him thereof after dinner the which I did and withall tolde him that it was not so well done as of right he ought to haue done as all the Captaines there present did confesse But the said Captaine Brode to maintaine his said answer sayd that he had said truely and thereupon did offer to wager whereto I did offer there to shoot fortie in the like time single Bullettes foorth of one peece but the Captaine would abide no triall the which I did offer to make And thus may we see that Noble men by wrong information of such as they doo suppose shoulde knowe may be abused The second discourse ANd for further example the two Tresmains they were very proper Gentlemen and had beene in Fraunce foure or fiue yeres during the wars betwixt the Emperour Charles and the French Kinge and it was supposed at their returne into Englande that they had beene trayned in that seruice during theyr abode there but it was not so they neuer did commaund in the feelde neither were they of any other commaunded in any Marticall cause neuerthelesse at their home comminge they were appointed to take charge but what was the end of them both euen death without dooing theyr Prince or country any good to theyr freendes or themselues any praise or reputation Wherefore I wishe all young Gentlemen and others mindinge to doo theyr Prince and countrie good seruice to learne first to obaye and the vse of warlike weapons and not to thinke by reading only to attaine to knowledge without some further experience and that done they may the better proceede according to their callinges to commaund and leade others the better with more commendation for their seruice and for the security of them selues and followers There is no greater greefe can be offered to a Captaine that doth rightly and truely vnderstand what seruice is then to be commanded by his Chieftaine to doo and execute to the contrarye wherein there may be no deniall It is euen so with the skilful souldier vnto his vnskilfull Captaine these thinges I doo perfectly knowe to be true of mine knowledge I will set downe a little further touchinge a matter reported vnto me by men of skil and knowledge concerning a Gentleman who was accounted to be one of the most skilfullest Souldiers in England and in troth he was a maruelous honest Gentleman and offaire conditions but a souldier is neuer iustly tried vnto such time as cause and action hath made due proofe thereof I did once heere S. Richard Lee the fortifier say vnto a counseller in England that it is better for a man to be counted a good souldier in the Court then to be the best souldier in the feelde and not knowen in Courte And nowe to the reported matter It pleased her Maiestie and counsell to sende M. Edward Randall Esquire into Ireland about the tenth yeere of her Maiesties raigne with diuers bandes of footemen for the better garding of some parte of her highnesse countries and subiectes there against such rebellious persons as then pretended to iniure the same and so béeinge placed in Ireland it fell out that either vpon some false report or the ignoraunt aduertisement of such as was put in trust for the discouering of the enemies numbers but howe so euer it was the Collonell commaunded that Captaine Cornewall Captaine Gorlay Captaine Skreuen and Captaine Ward should be ready with their seuerall bandes to march forward as they should bee directed and about two houres before day they did march foorth towardes the enemies At the point of the day before the soune was vp the fewe Englishe horsemen did discouer of the enemies to the number of 3000. horsemen and footemen being very néere vnto our foote men who were in number about 400. with 50. horsemen leade by Captaine Haruy wherevpon our Captaines perceiuing that there was no hope to retire with any safetie by reason the enemies were so many horsemen tooke their groundes for their best aduantage and aranged their men in good order and incouraging their souldiers to trye their vallures in that parcell of ground of some aduantage and to showe themselues to bee the men that they professed to bée wherupon they made readie their weapons to receiue the enemies Uiolence Now maister Randall the Collonell hauing not perfect sight demaunded how far the enemies were off and what number they were It was told him they were in horsemen and footmen to y ◠number of 3000. euen hard at hand readie to charge the footemen where withall he without eyther taking time to incourage and accompanye his men or to suffer the footmen to giue their volley of shot as reason did require but euen presently put the spurs to his horse and ran into the thickst of the enemies euen at the instant that the Harquebuziers did giue their volley of shot at the enemies insomuch that he was slaine with his owne men and fréends most wilfullye to the great discouragement of the rest had there not béen men both of courage and knowledge in their doinges who in that action did right well trye themselues to be Souldiers for the enemies were there by Gods help their good seruice
with archers but one hurt It dooth appeare that feaw or none hath been slaine with arrowes but great numbers by the fiery shot It is to be thought that the French would haue retyred if the Archers had not come at al. The longer the archers be continued the worse To answere vnto Siâ— 10. S. his 3. questions Sir I. S. his answere not followed but the true obseruation The archer dooth require more time then dooth the firy weapon to shoot the first shoot One of the Tresmaines slain in houering in his charging of footmen A perfect Harquebuzere wil dis charge more Bul lets be the time short or long then any Bowman can doo arrowes All this while the Bow dooth stand without dooing any hurt No man can tel how to fight be fore he see his ground and numbers A Musket shoots more Bullets then a Long bow doth ar rowes The bowe caÌ„not come neere the fiery weapoÌ„ in neere shooting for the firy weapon shootes by rule and the bowe but by gesse Raine doth hinder the bowe and string A 100. for one slaine with fiery weapons So that if death be any anoiance let that suffice Bowes doo but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rust ye things will not enter in to any mean thing with great force All the announces that arrows can giue is but meane stuâ—e to wardes the defence of a kingdom This natioÌ„ is brought vp with the long bowe as a parcell of our cheefest pastime And yet good hope that the firy weapons shalbe better practised in time for without practise they are not coÌ„modious but hurtful The Spaniards are fully practised in the fiery weapons The Spaniards are but peeuishe weeds in respect of this nation if we were trained as they be We are not able to incounter with them without exercising of our weapons but to our losse To make a hâ—rse as Sir 10. S. allow eth One horse man will charge 7. archers and take noo harme nor doo none to them but run throgh their ranks Harquebuziers may not giue any volley of shot saith siâ— I. S. but within 8. 10. or 12 yardes Trials to be made touching Hatquebuziers and ar chers without harme to any But meane arming to defend the fiery shot M. Ewry doth run against the Lord of Grange with a sharp Speare M. Ewry is run throgh the body for want of good ar mour 3. Seuerall noble men slain at one incounter with Pistoll shot at Saint quin tins in Fraunce The Cun stable of Fraunce slaine with a Pistoll before Paris Here is the authors maner of arming Hargolets not Hargolettiers 3. Sorts of horsemen armed all after one sort A Placket The launce being broken the pistol will giue a deadlie blowe The launce a trouble in flying or following the pistol is not so Armors fit for mens bodies and not for great hose as of late hath been vsed Armed pikes to haue 12. pence by day For short weapons meaner arming will serue Halbards are not to be put in the hands of an ignorant person Strong black bils for our plain felowes to be well made To haue in hir Maiesties store 5000. Muskets To haue the best trained for their muskets For training 54. daies in one yeere 3000. Harquebuziers to be trained as the muskets Few can vse both Pistoll and the horse wel at one instant These are but bulwarks flanks curteins to a battell Pikes Halberds Launces Spears are made perfect in sixe daies better than fierie weapons are in 60. daies Touching deuices against such an armie as Sir Iohn Smith doth speake of A woonderful terrible noise of Drums Trumpers The authors answer to the obiection Pyoners A meane to barre the landing of the Spaniards Nothing to be feared in all this but the vncertaintie of the enimies landing Some are sea sicke vnfit to fight 200. Shot put forth to skirmish whiles the laborers do make the trench for the rest Al this would be don before that the enimies could land 2000. men Time to discharge the field peeces If the enimies should land ten thousand this would serue A cart lode of bils for the laborers The enimies shall be terrified after an other maner than with drums or trumpets The sconces would not be kept aboue one day Sconces are but for a time to be kept against the Cannon Fortification A rebell can not stand against the prince in a little kingdome To snub the greedie desire of the Spaniard and to make them fight like sheepe The cause of sicknes hath hindred his discourse Touching the discourse of sir Roger Williams Knight who doth declare the manners of the Spanish wars There were greater matters accomplished in the wars between the Emperor Charles the 5. and Henrie the 2. French king than in the wars between subiects and subiects can be An euill example A good example These things are common in the front townes in France Strange matters not to be written but first to be performed Reasoning without knowledge The knowledge gotten in the wars betweene kings and emperors are more worthie than ciuill wars and more to be learned Le Novv doth mistake two points in his discourse