A Breefe Discourse Concerning the force and effect of all manuall weapons of fire and the disability of the Long Bowe or Archery in respect of others of greater force now in vse With sundrye probable reasons for the verrifying therof the which I haue doone of dutye towards my Soueraigne and Country and for the better satisfaction of all such as are doubtfull of the same Written by Humfrey Barwick Gentleman Souldier Captaine Et Encor plus oultre AT LONDON Printed for Richard Oliffe and are to be solde in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Crane To the right Honourable my very good Lord Henry Carey Baron of Hunsdon Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties housholde Lord gouernour of Barwick Lord warden of the marches for and anenst Scotland Lord Leifetenant of Suffolke and Norfolke Captaine of her Maiesties Gentlemen Pencioners and one of her highnes most honourable priuie Counsell Humfrey Barwick wisheth long continuance in health and honor RIght Honourable hauing read ouer two little Bookes set foorth by two seuerall Knights the one dedicated to the maiestrates of England by Syr Iohn Smith Knight the other by Syr Roger VVilliams Knight also dedicated to the right honourable the Earle of Essex the which two Bookes either dooth or ought to tende both to one purpose and yet neuerthelesse in some speciall pointes therein are such great diuersitie of opinions that it would make men not perceiuing the intent and what thinges are euen to wauer and doubt of the trueth of those causes and considering that they are men both of good account and quality loyall and faithfull to one Soueraigne and also well trauelled whereby they ought to haue the better knowledge in warlike weapons and Marshall Discipline the varietye whereof seemeth to many verye strange Where-vpon I haue at sundry times had conference with diuers persons of sundrye callings touching some parte of the seuerall discourses of the said two Knights wherein I haue found so very many addicted to the opinion of Syr Iohn Smith as touching the commending of the Archerye of England with so many reasons and arguments by him alleadged in that behalfe that many are thereby perswaded that the long Bowe is the onelye weapon of the Worlde for the obtaining of Battailes and victories in these daies with so manye allegations against Muskets Harquebuzies and other weapons of fire as in the same Booke appeereth Syr Roger VVilliams vpon the contrary dooth seeme to except of the Muskets speciallye with the rest of the weapons of fire and partely seeming to proue the long Bowe to be the woorst shot that are vsed in these dayes as by diuers argumēts are set down in the 46. and 47. leafe of his discourse Wherfore may it please your good Lordship to accept of my intent being one of the meanest of a great number that are and hath beene vnder your Lordships gouernement to explaine the matter according to my simple knowledge and experience in this cause and that it maye vnder your Lordships protection be published in the behalfe of your Honors duetifull and obedient Souldiour so shall I thinke my trauell in dooing but my duetye towards her Maiesties Countrye and your Lordship most happilye harboured and in the mean time remain ready to serue and obey at your good Lordships commaundement H. Barwick To all skilfull Captaines and Souldiours who hath had the vse and doo know the force and effect of weapons of war and to all such as are willing to know or vnderstand the true effect thereof Of whome H. B. craueth equall Iudgement ¶ There are three principall causes that dooth giue vnto Conquestes great and happye successe viz. Loyaltie in Subiects Exercises in Armes And perfect intelligence I Doo not a little maruaile what the cause should be that men are so slowe in thinges to so good effect is there any in doubt to do good in causes most requisite dooth not euery Captaine repine and thinke much that dooth knowe the force and effect of all weapons of warre to heare such arguments and so many reasons and deuices to fortefie a matter against all true knowledge and experience what shall we refuse the Cannon and fall to the Ram againe or to knowne weapons more meeter for Sauadge people then for puissaunt Princes that are able to maintaine those of the greatest force or shall we be carried away with affection threatnings or eloquent and sweete woords it is not our partes we must abide the greatest blowes or els what wilbe the issue of the matter shall the blinde leade himselfe or shall we runne into a mischeefe headlong that wee both see and know considering how farre the same dooth differ from the matter alleadged euen so farre that euery priuate Souldiour that knoweth himselfe may iudge it were more then beastly and so stands the case with vs if we doo wilfully or ignorantly forsake that which wee haue so long time made iust triall to be of the greatest force and doo returne to that againe the which we haue so often forsaken for the disabilitie that by triall we haue found therin then are we well woorthy to abide the smart thereof to our own reproche And yet were it but the losse of the thing it selfe the matter were the lesse There are none that in person hath made iust triall of the Archers that euer will if he may choose be partaker with them againe it is but the loue that manye doo beare vnto the same weapons for that in times past they were the best shotte that were and yet were they the cause of more bloodshed then in these daies is vsed and my reason is this that when battailes and great encounters chaunced to fall out by reson that the shot were no more offenciue then by the vse of the long Bowes and Crossebowes the enemies did then commonlye ioyne both with long and shorte weapons as by the dints of two handed Swoordes Battell Axes and Billes with Leade malles whereby the fight continued vnto the last end of the one party but in these daies where the weapons of fire hath beene rightlye vsed it hath beene scarselye seene that either Pike or Halberd hath come to ioyne at any time before the one partie did turne their faces by reason of the terrible force of the great and small shot the which by skilfull conductors of the same haue been placed vpon their enemies by vauntage of grounds or otherwise as time and place hath serued And for that I haue heard so many seuerall opinions as is aforesaide I thought it my parte and duety to set downe my opinion and knowledge the which I haue learned by vsing of diuers seuerall weapons in times of seruice as well on horseback as on foot and the rather for the better satisfaction of those not vnderstanding how requisite it is to bee resolued in those pointes not thinking in all my life to haue doone any such matter but vpon this occasion the which I am
effect but become vnprofitable I would wish that such armed Pykes should be taught to holde their pykes rather two parts of thrée before their hands to set them in the ground vnder his right foot and to hold them low right against the brest of the horse and not against the head of the horse nor the brest of the man for the horse hauing a chieffront and also the man well armed the pyke can do no harme at all Some may alledge and saie that if the horse be armed vpon the front he is also armed vpon the brest but I saie that there is ten to one armed more vpon the head then vpon the petron and if it be that the horse were armed vpon the brest it is nothing so strong as the chieffront is by halfe And notwithstanding that I haue spoken of diuers incounters and ouerthrowes giuen betwéen the Emperour Charles the fift and Henrie the second French King yet haue I left vnremembred the most braue battaile offered by the French King vnto the Emperour néere vnto Valentian where the saide King did cause all his footemen to bée deuided into thrée battailes and so being aranged and reduced into the form of battails the Uauntgarde being led by the Duke of Vandosme accompanied with the Counte of Ringraue with his Almaines for the bodie of his battaile The King himselfe in the maine being all French the Fronte whereof was a hundreth and fiftie ninetie in flanke besides shot the forme and manner whereof was in other sort then in Machiauell or Stuard or any other Printed battailes as yet hath béene set foorth and published Then was there in the Rearegard ten thousand Swisers conducted by the constable Memorance the footmen were in number 35000. in horsemen 12000. in pyoners 6000. with 30. péeces of great Ordinance al which numbers being most perfectly imbattailed in a plaine field of thrée miles at the least in the narrowest place without either hedge or ditch woode or bushes And being thus placed with the caualrie vpon their left hand and vpon the right hand a strait or gill and betwéene both the armies a faire plaine grounde and thus being placed in the face of the enemies the Canons enterchangeably did go and come through both the armies and yet no great matters performed by reason that the Emperors campe was intrenched with huge and high trenches And the King séeing that the Emperour would not come foorth of his inclosed campe caused his numbers to turne their faces and to march towards his campe againe after diuers skirmishes doone by the light Horsemen and after that the Kings battailes had marched a myle homewards the Harquebuziers discharged their péeces one battaile after another in such sort that with the gallant soundes of the Trumpets and Drums being such and the voice of the armie calling Battailie Battailie that if I should héere make report what I heard and did sée it would not with the most séeme credible therefore I will omit Some will imagine that the plot that I haue herein made wherein there is placed the figure of twelue féelde péeces that it is some skonce or forte but my meaning is that the same might bée as a trench cast with pioners for the safetie of the fiue thousand shot the better to defend them from the danger of the enemies artillerie the which might otherwise annoy them from their great ships and also to be néere their enemies if any should lande as I trust neuer any shall do to offend vs. I haue good will to set downe the manner of the kings battaile aboue spoken of in forme as it was the which I wil omit for this time for some cause it was the onely and most braue thing that euer I did sée although at diuers times I haue séene as many togither and more and whosoeuer did not sée the same I dare auouch that in this age within Europe the like hath not béen séene of any DIuers and sondrie opinions haue been deliuered about the burning of this Treatise wherby the Author hath bidden the bitter censures of others onely to his priuate friends the truth thereof hath been manifest but now that it may generally appeere that there was no such matter conteined in the same as was supposed nor other then by him set downe of dutie and loue to his Countrey and Souereigne to confirme the which he hath at his own charges caused the same to be newly Reprinted before which time it pleased some of the best calling to carrie a more better opinion of the same then by others is deemed so that now in conclusion he praieth of the Marshallest equall iudgement and of the Learned pardon Faults escaped Folio 2. line 6. read 40. fol. 5. line 32. read mine owne knowledge in diuers places lieftenants reade leutenants fol. 16. pag. 2. line 9. read Harbebuziers or archers be most readiest FINIS The woorthy Earle of Pembrook Admirall Satylyon The Castle of Guynes besieged Townes won in one summer by the french K. H. 2. The french Nacion expelled foorthe of Scotland The L. W. Gray M. Pelham intrencheth and is offended without cause The L. Arthur Gray sore wounded Francis E. of Bedford Captaine Brode his answer vnaduisedly made 40. Single Bullets to bee shotte forth of a Caliuer in one houre The two Treâ—smaynes To learne first to obay the better shall you konwe howe to command Knowledge and ignoraunce A reported matter It is better to haue the name in the court then to performe in the fielde Collonell Randall hauing not perfect sight Edward Randall wilfully slaine through his own ouersight The valiant Captaines not remem bred in the Cronicles True prow es and foolish hardines Touching ignorance To haue regarde to whome great charges are giuen The Battaile at Tilbury It is good that Bands of footmen and horse men be of diuers num bers for diuers causes Deuiding of bands dooth wea ken the same The proper showes of weapons for foot bands The Duke of Guise was the first that did inuent them Harquebuze in the hands of ignoraunt men are rather hurtfull then coÌ„modious A Harquebuzer neede not being perfect to incounter a man at armes 400. Harquebuzers slaine in one mor ning The shot of Harquebuzers are most deadly weapons if they be in the handes of skilfull men A batterie plased with out trenche or gabyon Man womaÌ„ and childe slaine or drowned Peeces of more force to defende holdes then Muskets No armors can defend against the Musket being neere hand No impedimentes where as skilful soldiers are Point blaÌ„ke and not point and blancke Touching a good and skilfull Canonere It is not needfull to answere vn to so many recited reasons Nothing doon by the archers but many haue been seene lye dead with Harqubuze and Pistoll Archers are rather an incouragement then hurtful vnto a resolute souldier There was many archers at Leeth and good place to haue tried them 448. Slaine at Lieth at one assaulte Not one slaine at Lecth
then that the defendants shoulde bée aduertised where the most méetest place for their vessels were for the landing of their men and so soone as the first boats should direct their course towards the land I would put foorth of my number two hundred shotte close to the lowe water marke and there attende the approch as néere to offende them as could be all as loose shot abroad vpon the sands who with a little retiring in good order should kéepe the enemies occupied vntill such time as from the same 200. shot I would in one halfe hower cast a trench in the Sands towards the lande into which the rest of the shot should descende to backe the two hundred first and with some of the labourers aforesaid drawe downe the said féelde-péeces as by this figure may be séene Thus before the enemies could land two thousand men I would not doubt but all this would be performed so that if I thought good to breake foorth before the Boates should returne for moe men I would do so if not I would plie the skirmish with some moe fresh shot and lie close with the whole regiment if the enemies were not aboue fower thousand vnto that they were 6000. or 8000. and then would I take the vantage of the winde from before the féelde péeces so that so soone as the defendants were so néere that their vollie of shot were deliuered euen foorthwith would I discharge the féeld péeces right vpon the enemies and thereupon would I run vpon them with Halberds and Swords and dispatch those against the rest should come or at the least put them to swimming And thus vsing the matter it should mooue our Sea-men to buckle the better with them vpon their great Bulworks the Galliasses the which may not start from their course and this being performed in this sort I woulde not let if the enemies shoulde lande at the first ten thousand of their best men the which I thinke is as manie as can well lande at one vault for as I saide before they will haue some impediment by sickenesse or other waies There is no doubt but these aforesaid defendants cannot bée without the companie of some Gentelmen well mounted who woulde not forbeare to put forewarde themselues and the rest séeing so great opportunitie as that woulde bée and the labourers hauing perfourmed their workes woulde serue with a Carte loade of Bils to some effect in so much that wée should within two howers terrifie them after an other manner then they should do vnto vs with their Drums and Trumpets or their two Bases afore-ship in their vessels of Oares The 15. Discourse ANd now to the insconcing as it is termed of late by the Lowe-countrie men with manie other such like it is a verie bad Sconce that cannot holde foorth a péece of a day for longer I would not wish the same to be maintained in this respect but for the daie of landing and in the night to leaue the same and to drawe all to one force there to abide them vpon grounds of the best aduantage if our first attempt should not preuaile by not knowing the place of the enemies landing or other waies for those Sconces are but to defend some straightes or passages where enemies might other waies come vpon the sodaine to doe some exploite and so retire againe but against the Cannon or such a force as is able to abide the féelde they are to small purpose there were the like betwixt vs and the French Pale néere vnto Arde in Fraunce when Callis was English as Anderne bulwarcke Iones bulwarcke Boyts bulwarcke Harrowe bulwarcke and Henowayes bulwarcke apperteining to the Flemings néere Anderwike and Graueling But as concerning Fortifications to be rightlie made vpon such situations as are by nature strong is a thing most necessarie for the safetie or defence of any kingdome that can be possible as by proofe sufficient it may be séene in the Lowe countrie or Fraunce Some may alledge that it is dangerous for sundrie causes yet were it better to put it vpon that hazard than into the hands of a stranger And againe this Realme is so little a thing that a rebell can not stande against the Prince as by examples a great manie it may be prooued And for good Scituations we haue diuers in England vpon the coast most in danger that are very strong by nature whereof I will name those the which I do knowe The first is Hartlepoole Skarborough Kingston vpon Hull Boston Linne Portsmouth and the Isle of Dogs néere vnto Greenwich there is not within my knowledge any such parcell of ground in this Realme all things considered being well fortified it were sufficient to snub the greedie desire of the ambitious Spaniards and to make them fight like shéepe whereas at Antwerpe they fought like Lions for no doubt a poore souldiers manner is to venter ten liues if it might be for gold and iewels before all other things whatsoeuer Now hauing roughly run ouer some part of the discourse of Sir Iohn Smith Knight as concerning my opinion touching armour and weapons specially and with some other small matters as the forme of the said discourse hath giuen me occasion and for the rest I haue omitted thinking this to be sufficient as concerning the vse of weapons the which is the greatest and chiefe cause that hath mooued me héereunto séeing such great difference of opinions in the beginning of this treatise is something touched but not so largely as willingly I would haue done if my health would haue permitted wherefore againe I do right hartily wish that al true English harts and mindes may with perfect loue and curtesie ioine togither and confer of these causes of so great importance friendly and as dutifull and naturall subiects best can deuise and rather to instruct each other than any way to contend considering how much the same doth concerne the safetie of our déere Soueraigne Country Commonwealth and our owne estates and let the end trie the troth of all parties for howsoeuer we do flatter our selues or be supported by friends the end will iustly trie what the behauiour hath béene either in vertue and vallor or in vice and vanities c. The 16. discourse ANd now to remember some things touching the discourse of Sir Roger Williams Knight who doth for the most part of his said discourse make relation of the manner and vse of the Spanish wars as touching the long continuance of their armies and how they do diuide the same and how they do diuide their horsemen and footemen the order of their marching and besieging of holds the maner of their assaulting of breaches and his opinion in the goodnes of diuers sorts of horsemen and footemen and their armours and weapons and the difference betwéene the goodnes of the one and the other wherein I finde no new deuise either in gouernment or orders but in times past and
driuen vnto for diuers causes not altogither for want of experience in the thing it selfe but for want of knowledge how to parfect the same in the setting down being vnlearned saue only to write a very simple stile it may be thought in me a presumption yet for that the thing is laudable and tendeth to no other end then for the triall of so good a cause as this is the which all good Subiects are bound to fauour wherein I doo with a cleere conscience protest not willinglye to offend any partie or parties vnder the Sunne of what qualitie or calling soeuer he or they be I am not to treat of any matter of auncient times but as some occasion may cause me for proofe but only within my owne knowledge or at the least recorded or to be prooued And for that I entred to be a Souldier at the age of 18. yeeres which was the second yeere of tht good and godly King Edward the 6. at which time our English Archers were in force and greatly vsed and Harquebuziers not as then common For the first that euer had any whole band in England was Syr Peeter Mewtas Knight who had as I doo remember the charge of 500. halfe Hakes the which were but mean stuffe in comparison of those that are now in vse and at that time there were not in most bands of 100. men aboue 10. or 15. and in many none at all sauing Captain Hugh Smith who had in Guymes 100. Harquebuziers sauing 10. or 12. of other weapons insomuch that the perfection of them were not as then in England knowen to any purpose nor yet vnto this daye but with few in respect that the sa 〈…〉 is in other countries neere vnto vs which I would wish might be as well in England as elsewhere for those weapons of fire are not to be vsed without exercising of the same to any good purpose for seruice vpon the suddaine but being once throughlye practised it is an excellent weapon and next vnto the Musket as in place heerafter shalbe showne It may be thought by some Captaines of late experience for that I haue not entred into these troublesome toyles in the Low Cuntries or the ciuill warres in Fraunce that I cannot haue that experience knowledge as others haue wherunto I answere that when I was young I did seeke to serue both in England Fraunce and Scotland to that end I might the better doo my Prince and Countrye seruice and also to sustaine myselfe who otherwaies was not able to liue as I did desire to doo wheras I learned to know the vse of most weapons of warre both for Horsemen and footmen that are or haue beene vsed in this age with as good Schoolemaisters as any Italian Spaniard or Wallon whatsoeuer hath been or now is And further I hope I maye without offence set downe the seueral paies that in my own Princes seruice I haue receiued for my own person The first pay that I had was 6. pence per diem for 3 months after that 8. pence per diem 16. pence per diem 20. pence per diem 2. shillings per diem 4. shillings per diem charge after 4. shillings per diem charge after 6. shillings per diem charge after 8. shillings per diem charge after 14. shillings per diem In all which aduauncement of payes credit I did neuer make sute nor require any of the same paies sauing my first paye of 6. pence per diem but they were all bestowed vpon mee either by the Prince or by those who had the next place without sute either of myselfe or of any other in my behalf my entertainment in the French Kings seruice was such as none of our nation for a footman euer had only captain Lampton excepted who after hee was discharged from his band of footmen became a priuat Souldier in the foote bands of Fraunce and had great allowance for his owne person and seruants I haue been offered in Fraunce better pay and greater aduauncement then euer I had or desired I was promised by the King of Spaine to haue a pencion of 200. Crownes by yeere to be paide vnto me in England for my seruice doone vnto him at St. Quintins but before I could come from whence I was prisoner his Queen was dead and hee againe married to the French Kinges Daughter and at my return from my troubles in Fraunce I was answered that the King was gone who did promise the said pencion and the Queene was dead wherefore the promise was not to be perfourmed I required letters into Spaine to the King I was answered that it was no time as then but when time serued I should haue letters of Sertificate and so the cause grue worse then before and so as yet I had nothing This haue I set down to th'end that those who doo not knowe me may the better vnderstand that I doo not write or speake by reading or heare-say but by experience only Wherfore I doo hartely wish that we may growe all to one perfect knowledge without contending in any point so far differing from all true knowledge and experience and let the times past rest with such weapons and engines as in those daies were the best and yet but trifles in respect of things now in vse As for example was not our olde Castles and Towers sufficient to defend against all Rams and engins in those daies vsed wheras in these times there is hardly any deuice of fortification will serue against the force of the Cannons Was not that famous King Edward the third constrained to lye before Callice 13. or 14. moneths for that he wanted the vse of the Cannon the which in foure or fiue daies was lost with the force of the same and other fiery weapons some may say it was lost by treason but those that doo know any thing doo perceiue how that was doon And again was not Iack and Sallet within our remembrance thought to be sufficient for arming of Souldiours and further concerning our simple arming in times past notwithstanding that Syr Iohn Smith dooth affirme that men were as well armed in times past as now present which for example looke into the Histories the 11. yeere of Edward the fourth where it appeareth that Robert Basset Alderman of London and the Recorder there was thought to be well armed being both armed with Iacks to defend the Cittie against that Rebell Bastard Neuell a man would think that being an Alderman if Armours had beene as then in such store as now they are that the Alderman would haue had one for himselfe and another for the Recorder Againe did not the Duke of Bedford arme the most parte of his Souldiours with tanned leather for the cheefe partes of their bodies at such time as he was commaunded by that prudent Prince Henry the 7. the 2. yeere of his raigne to encounter with that Rebell the L. Louell whereas now by reason of the force of weapons neither horse nor
man is able to beare armours sufficient to defend their bodies from death wheras in the former times afore mentioned woundes was the worst to haue been doubted touching the force of all their Archers as by that manner of arming it seemeth most certaine I wish without offence that all the Spanish shot were archers as good as euer were in England to that end our nation might once ioyne with them for any harme that the arrowes could do they would soon returne to gather grapes in Spaine Why should not Spaniards being owners of that pleasant wood the Yewe become Bowmen and Archers they are artificiallye sufficient and they haue and doo seeke by all meanes possible that their ambition may be made complete There is no doubt but mighty Princes would haue them either of their own Subiects or of hierlings if they were but halfe so good as in the opinion of sir Iohn Smith they are thought to be And thus by these simple reasons the which cannot iustlye be denyed it maye appeare how thinges in times past and now in these our times doo differ which may and will I hope in time be better considered off My intent is to no other effect but only to explane the matter so far differing by the discourses of the saide two Knights in declaring my opinion touching the same I might the rather be blamed heerin as no doubt I shall be of some halfe Latinists for want of congruitie in my dooings but neuerthelesse I will not let for all those to proceed with this seeing that in all this time none doth frame to set downe something touching the matter before rehearsed I hope I may as a labourer take vpon me to dig forth the stones from the Rockes and to leaue the same in more readines for the woorkmen to hewe and pullish to a greater perfection It dooth cause me to remember one Cornelius a Gentleman and a Souldiour in the French Kings seruice who could haue plaide of a Lute or a Gitterne excellent well but his conditions was such that if the best Lord or Lady in Fraunce had requested him to haue plaied hee would not haue doon it the reason was that he doubted that he should haue been taken for some foolish Musition and yet was he to be brought to haue plaied without intreatye as thus if any of his acquaintance had taken the Lute or Gittern in hand the worse that he or they had played the sooner would Cornelius haue taken the same foorth of his freends hands and thereon would haue plaide right pleasantly And so now I doubt not but euen at the firste blush we shall haue a Cornelius to set these instruments in better tune in all their wants and imperfections by mee for want of learning and knowledge committed and left vnperfourmed so shal I be glad to haue giuen an occasion to so good effect H. Barwick Certaine discourses written by Humfry Barwicke Gentleman with his opinion concerning the seuerall discourses written by S. Iohn Smith and S. Roger Williams Knightes and of their contrarie opinions touching Muskets and other fierie we apons and the long-bowe with diuers other pointes of war by some others afore time mistaken FFirst I will begin in this my sayd discourse to remember one of the examples that S. Iohn Smith dooth set downe in his discourse for proofe of Archers to bee weapons of force And thus he saith at the time of King Henry the eight of famous memorie lying in Campe before Turwin there was a Conuoy to goe from Guynes to the saide Campe of Munition and Uictualles and all the Frenche Captaines of Picardie Varmendois hauing intelligence thereof did assemble all their men at Armes and Launces of those Prouinces with some number of shot also of Harquebuzers Cros-bowers and attended the English Conuoy in an ambush more then a league beyond the town of Ard towards Turwin where encountering with the english light horsemen y ◠vantcarreres then did ouerthrowe them which beeing perceiued by the Captaines of the Conuoy then presentlye indused their carriages into a conueniente fourme and placing conuenient numbers of Archers vnto two open places before and behinde and forcing all other places betwixt cariage and cariages where the Frenche Launces might haue anye entraunce after a long fight and many charges by the men at armes of Fraunce and their shot giuen the terrible effecte of the volley of Arrowes was such that a great number of their horses were wounded or slaine and one of their chiefe Captaines called Monsieur de Plesse lifting vp his sworde to strike was shot in at the arme-hole through his Gosset of Maile and there slaine with many other french gentlemen and others of good accounte in suche sorte that the Frenche did farre excéede the Englishe in number were that day repulsed and ouerthrowne by the excellencie of archers c. If Sir Iohn Smith doo giue credite vnto olde maister Candwell and thereupon set downe as abouesaid he may in that pointe be deceiued as for example doo but reade Hollinsheades Cronicle the fifth yéere of H. 8. folio 817. vpon B. how the same fell out contrarie Againe at solemne masse where the power of Scotlande to the number of 15000. minding to iuade the West borders of England and so being in the English ground in a mistie morning about twelue miles distaunce from the Scottishe power there was vpon the warning of the Beaken comming from the Baronrie of Kendall about two hundreth Archers and notwithstanding the Scots nor Archers did not méete by tenne miles yet was it reported and yet is saide that the Archers was the cause that y e Scots were that day ouerthrowne wheras there was no such matter touching the said Archers but true it is that the Scots was there ouerthrowne their whole power in effect as Iedeon ouerthrew Gods enemies y ◠Scots were 44. to one English man I could rehearse more but this maye suffise being doon in H. 8. his daies And whereas Sir Iohn Smith doth rehearse manye and sundrye exsamples of victories and ouerthrowes giuen by the force and effect of Archers some aboue 2000. yéeres since and some 200 yéeres since and the most betwixt these times but what hath béene doone since the perfect knowledge of fire weapons hath béen in vse and wheras Manuell the Emperour of Constantinople had in his armour or Target the number of 30. arrowes sticking one Harquebuze or Musket shot would haue dispatched the matter wherby men may sée that it is but our owne opinions and grounded affection that our countrymen doo beare vnto the same weapon in respect that the same was the best shotte in auntient time when others of greater force were vnknowne we haue the like estmation of the Long Bow as the Irish haue of their Darts the Dansker of their Hatchets and as the Scotch men haue had of their Speares all which are more méeter for Sauadge people or poore Potentates who are not able to maintain others of
arrowe and but with Quarels few but with Harquebuze and Pistoll shot I haue been at seuerall times where 20000. hath béene slaiue outright besides manie wounded and maimed I haue made a long rehearsal of this ouerthrow at Buckhole the rather for that I finde it not set down in any other place by any of these our late Chroniclers but many matters of smaller effect then that I haue béene at manye greater matters but neuer at anie done with more good will or better courage either of Captaine or souldier For albeit that we were cléerely vnarmed and the enemy well armed yet we might haue chosen to haue set vpon them or to haue left them where they were And now where I left touching archers with their Long-bowes The 8. discourse LEt vs consider iustlie of sir Iohn Smithes words although he dooth giue the Long-bowe manie great and excellent commendations yet when hée commeth to account of the full force thereof he saieth that it dooth most wonderfully with the noyse thereof terrefie the enemy and so foorth and also dooth confesse that it dooth but sometime kill I refer that point to all good souldiers iudgement there is none worthy to be a soldier that dooth not thinke to be a Captaine in time by his valour knowledge and good behauiour And what is he that is of that minde or that dooth feare any woundes so that life may be in little or no daunger I doo firmely beleeue that it is rather an encouragement to a resolute soldier rather to approche towards them then anie way to shunne them For in troth when I was in the french Kings seruice amongst the olde bandes of footemen I did greatly commende the force of the Long-bowe but how was I answered to be shorte euen thus Non non Anglois vostre cause est bien salle car dieu nous a donnes moyen de vous encountrer apres vnautre sorte que en temps passe No no English man saith he your case is become fowle for God hath giuen vs meanes to encounter with you after an other sorte then in times past for nowe saith he the weakest of vs are able to giue greater wounds then the greatest and strongest archer you haue when I replyed as sir Iohn Smith often dooth that the number of arrowes dooth come so thicke that it was lyke vnto haile well saith he but it is not to be feared as that weapon that dooth kill where it lightes for saith he when I doo marche directlye vpon them and seeing them comming I doo stoupe a little with my head to that ende my Burgonet shall saue my face and seeing the same arrowes lighting vpon my heade peece or vpon my brest pouldrons or vambraces and so séeing the same to be of no more force nor hurtfull then doo I with lesse feare then before boldelye aduaunce forwardes to encounter with them But these are but arguments of small effect and rather to showe the opinion of the french souldiers then for any iust proofe of the matter it is requesit that by our owne knowledge it be truely cōsidered of for as I haue saide before touchinge the English seruice at Bolloigne and Guisnes with all the great Garrisons there of long time kept which was to our Princes an infinite charge and specially Bolloigne with the members and fortifications And not withstanding there were as many stronge and able archers in the same Garrisons as in all Christendome there were none better for that number Let it bee considered what was by them done at any time of seruice within those fiue yéeres that it was English or at Guisnes or Callice during the same time And nowe to a latter time as in the seconde yéere of the Queenes Maiesties most happie raigne that nowe is at the siedge of Lieth where there was verie manie archers as of Yorkeshire Lancashire Cheshire Nottingham-shire and Darbishire there was as good place to haue tried them as was in anie place of late dayes but I knowe that there was no good proofe made to the commendations of archerie or of the Long-bowe And I may the more certainlie speake it for this cause It was my chaunce at the conclusion of the peace and the yeelding vp of the towne of Lieth to méete with diuers of my acquaintaunce beeinge French-men amongest the rest I mette with a Gentleman and an olde souldier who serued in the same company that I was off amongest the footemen in Fraunce whose name was Mounsieur de Sentan whose vallour and honest conditions I did perfectlie knowe so much the better for that we were both vnder one Corporall and lodged together and frequented at meate and tablinge long togeather in so much that in respect of the great curtesie that I found at his handes in Fraunce I partlie considered of at Lieth after diuers speeches past betwixt him and me I demaunded two questions of him The first was to know how many of our souldiers were slaine at the Skale or Saltie by vs giuen he answered that there were slaine 448. I demaunded howe he did knowe the same hee aunswered that the Gouernour of Lieth dyd commaunde that all the vppermost garmentes of the slaine men of the English partie shoulde bée brought into the market place and there to bée counted which was done as he affirmed and there were found sayd he so many as aforesayd Secondly remembring the wordes of the frenchmen before rehearsed at the time of my béeing in Fraunce touchinge archers I demaunded of this Sentan howe manye were slaine with Arrowes from the beginning of the siedge vnto that daye he answered not one sauing said he that one who was shot betwixt the shoulder and the bodie and that with the heat of his body when the arrow was pulled foorth the head stuck behinde and came not forth together wherfore the Surgion was constrained to cut the man to recouer the head of the arrow and so the man still lay vpon y e amendement of his wound Now by this and other before rehearsed and héereafter to be rehearsed it dooth and may appéere that by Harquebuzes great numbers haue come to their deaths and either fewe or none with arrowes or archery And now touching the seruice doon at that time that New-hauen was kept the 5. yéere of her Maiestie by the Earle of Warwick let the Cronicle or those y ◠yet doo liue make account who were there slaine with the force or dent of arrowes And albeit that it was so that in the skirmish before the towne of Newhauen that Sir Iohn Smith speaketh of in the 37. leafe of his discourse it may be supposed that the French hauing continued long in Skirmishe whereby their pouder and bullets were spent and besides being néere vnto the Towne and in danger of the great Ordinance were of themselues willing to retire if the fourescore Archers had not come at all I sée no reporte in the histories made touching the same
Harquebuze and the Petronels all as one and these should be for these kindes of Light horsemen And if that I were well and strongly mounted and thought that I should at any seruice encounter with footmen I would haue a placket to clap vpon my brest of the like proofe as aforesaid And as touching men at armes and Launces their manner of arming is common except the Launce would haue as some will a Pistoll of a meane length that when as the Launce is broken and he entred amongst his enimies may yet therwith giue a deadly blowe or hauing broken his Launce and shall yet be put to retire it is good to defend himselfe from being taken as for example the Reister who in retiring wounded the late Duke of Guise in the face in the chase or else he had béen slaine or taken or if a man should be in chase either following or retiring for the better spéed of both the Launce is a great hinderance to the spéede of the horse where the Pistoll is none but either to the defendant a preseruer or to the followers to mooue his aduersarie to yéeld and so standeth the case in this respect The 12. discourse ANd now to the arming of footemen I would wish within hir Maiesties store in Corselets for footmen ouer and besides all those common and priuate armors placed in shires to be 5000. of such good proofe and shape as no nation should haue better with good and strong Burgonets to arme close to a mans head not ouer high crested a good coller and an easie wide enough with Cuirasse well brested and not too flat with good Taises broad aboue and narrow downward according to the shape of a mans bodie and not for great hose as of late daies haue béen vsed faire Poldrands with the turning ioint and Uambrases with Gantlets for all these 5000. a good strong sword of a yarde in blade and no hilts but crosse onely a dagger of ten or twelue inches in blade and the like crosse hilt for weapons a faire Pike well armed with chéekes a yard déepe of eightéene foote in length and a Pistolet at his girdle All these armed pikes should be allowed twelue pence the day who should be for the most part gentlemen and those should neuer be called vpon but vpon some great occasion For Halbards or Billes meaner arming will serue as burgonets cuirats with Taises and Poldrands and no Uambrases he shall the better haue his armes at liberty to lay about him and to haue swords and daggers as the armed pykes I wish no Halbards into the hands of any that hath no skill to vse the same for it is a weapon that can abide no blowes as the Bill wil do but yet in the hands of officers such as hath skill how to vse the same it is a very good weapon but the same must be handled delicately with the push onely and quickly drawne backe the cause that the French officers do vse them with such long staues and pykes is to encounter with the Lance-knights who do vse being Sargiants of foote-bandes to carrie verie good long swordes or Slaugh swordes But for our common countrie men not vsed to handle a halbard as aforesaid I woulde wish him to haue a good strong black Bill wide in the socket to receiue a strong Staffe the heade thicke in the backe with a strong pyke in the backe and point sharpe edged and thus much touching these kinds of armed men I thinke them in my opinion to be sufficiently armed and weaponed for the seruice if occasion be offered And not withstanding that I haue spoken some thing touching the Harquebuziers how that I wish them to be furnished yet for that I am in hand with the same I will set downe my opinion touching the fiery weapons The 13. Discourse THe Muskets are weapons of great force and effect in all seruice on foote whatsoeuer they will helpe to great purpose And whatsoeuer numbers be furnished into the shires in Englande I would wish her Maiesties store to remaine still furnished with 5000. of the best Muskets that could be made and rather of a little bigger bore then these common Musquets that be sold in the countrie and so being well prooued and tried to be sure and not ouer churlish in recoyling the which consisteth much in making the vice in the bréech for when that is short whereby any of the powder doth lie behinde the tuch hole then will they recoyle very much but being well made and also furnished they will not I would wish that from among al the Captains in England that there should be chosen foorth of their numbers the most apte and able both in strength and knowledge 5000. men that by the said captains could be chosen and those being well chosen should be trained fiue daies in euery month in the yéere sauing December Ianuarie and Februarie to that ende they should be perfect in that weapon and those should also be in the same pay and to the same effect that the 5000. pykes should serue for And for Harquebuziers I would wish 3000. of those to be as wel chosen trained and furnished as the Muskets are in their kinde Now do we yet want 1500. Pistolliers to be well mounted and furnished and as perfectly trained as the Harquebuziers or Muskettiers both how to vse their horses as also their weapons For as there be many that can ride vse a horse well so is there manie that can shoote a Pistoll and yet but few that can rightly vse both togither for he that will bée a Pistollier must vse his horse to know it whereby he do not feare neither the cracke nor the fire and that doone he must learne to occupie his bridle hande his Pistoll and his spurs in due time and forme all at one instant All these numbers do not yet amount vnto 15000. for these are but as it were Bulwarks flanks and curtains to an armie and yet woulde these be to a better purpose than fortie thousande not trained and the matter through this Realme were no great charge And as for the armed pikes and halberds launces and speares are better to be made perfect in sixe daies than the fiery weapons are in 60. daies The 14. Discourse ANd now hauing spoken of such things as haue come to my memory the most part whereof I haue had the vse off I will by Gods helpe and the fauor of authority procéed a little further touching deuices and giue my opinion as concerning the defence of the landing of such an armie as sir Iohn Smith doth speake off in the 10. 11. 12. and 13. leafe of his saide discourse where he doth saie in this maner viz. NOw saith he for answere vnto some of these vnsoldierlike opinions I saie that if any such as do holde that woonderfull opinion of the effects of Muskettiers how good Souldiers soeuer they