many kindes of weapons that were antiently in use Now it shall briefly appear to all how un-usefull the Pike is in Military occasions at this present and that in many respects SECT. IV. That the Pike cannot offend or doe Execution AS there is nothing doth more encourage the Enemy to assault so nor is there any thing that doth more dishearten Soldiers to fight valiantly then the knowledge and certainty of a disproportionable disability of Armes and therefore it hath alwaies been counted the best Policy in warre against open Enemies as to take the advantage of Time Place Numbers and Valour so also of warlike Instruments And they have been accounted excellent Commanders who have invented new Stratagems to foyle the Enemy and hence those Armes have been accounted most admirable which can most offend and annoy the adverse Party Now it shall plainly appeare that the Pike cannot effect or doe execution For whereas 't is pretended that they alone keep off the Enemies Horse nothing lesse as shall after be proved and admit they did yet that service was to be accounted defensive onely Now suppose the Enemy invading be either Horse or Foot the former can kill at least 120 yards off the latter at least 400 yards now is the Pike able to kill at either of these distances being 16 foot at most in length and then push'd perhaps with armes of an impotent sickly weake-bodyed Soldier or which is as bad by one that wants skill or courage or both And what more there is not one private Soldier of twenty shall by his utmost strength and skill together runne through a common Corslet nay not through a Buffe-coat which is good to wound mortally and what wisedome or policy is it to have so many standing men in Armes which are not able to kill the Invaders Further hath it not been seene that three or foure good resolute Soldiers with their swords and Buffe-coats only have cut off ten or twelve Pike-heads and come off safe without wounds and purchased to themselves honor and reward For an instance of this The Prince of Orange his Leaguer lying before Scenke-Sconse it so fell out that there was a great uproare betwixt the English and Switzers they being enquarter'd one next to the other the occasion was small being about a stiver or two lost at Cards but the issue had likely to have produced wonder and amazement if by faire perswasions and entreaties both parties had not been pacified for the Tumult began to grow to an intestine Mutiny many men being wounded on both sides so that the English first and Switzers at last call'd to Armes whenas there stood one of the Divisions of the Switzers pikes ready charg'd did not then two Soldiers of Collonell Burlacyes Regiment with their swords only enter by force into that Body and cut off divers Pike-heads and came off againe with three or foure of them in their hands which in fury and great derision they flung againe amongst them with this jeere to boote Oh doe us no harme good men And because other Arguments shall be used Can there be any hopes of much slaughter of the Enemies by our Pike-men when not above three rankes at once can doe any hurt without prejudice and danger to their fellowes more then to their foes which shall be thus proved Admit the Pike be 16 foote long the first Rank indeed have use and liberty of the whole length but then the second Ranke loseth the benefit of three feet and the third Ranke of sixe feet if they stand charg'd at three foot distance Or if upon close-charge at one foot and an halfe distance which though the stronger yet disadvantageous because the Enemies bullets seldom misse then the second Ranke loseth one foot and a halfe and the third three foot at least so that at the best the men being able and skilfull in Armes yet what with the terror of the Alarme the confusion of Rankes by the death of some the time of night when the Enemy may fall on the hazard of wounding in their thrust their own Commanders or Comrades by their close standing sufficiently shew that it is not the Pike that doth the feat For the liberty of the Enemy being horse-men with speed and fury of charging will and doth so puzzell and non-plus the Pikemen that in a Body of Horse varying their motions the Pike must play the Ape of force and in case they faile in variety of Postures for defence all is lost which in a Body so beset with furious Assailants conscious to themselves of their owne insufficiency of Resistance easily yield to their Betters And if the Enemy be Musquetiers who knowes not but that a thousand expert able Fire-men using their utmost skill and advantage are able to reduce two thousand Pikes to their own desired conformity And all this is onely in regard that the Pike cannot answer like for like but is forc'd to suffer the volleys of shot and is no waies able for Replies To proceed SECT. V. That the Pike is unfit for Convoyes ARmies are like great Families must have all sorts of Provision there 's little or no hopes of the long subsistence of that Body which wants Ingresse Egresse and Regresse 't is a dishonour to a Prince not to be able to come to his owne home therefore 't is and alwaies hath been the wisedome of Chiefes to sit downe and enquarter in such places to which there may be a confluence of Trading so that the Campe and Leaguer shall be but like a City removed into the fields every house must have a doore of entrance Yet it often so falls out by the casualty of warres and opposition of Enemies that men cannot alwaies enjoy this liberty For sometimes the Enemy or Neutrall friends blocke up passages and then few men doe desire to goe to that Market where there is nothing to be bought but blowes It hath been knowne that many good Spirits have paid deer for fetching in others Provision it shall appeare in one instance Whenas foure English Regiments lay in Bremeland under the Command of that experienc'd and truly valiant Generall of the English the Lord Morgan at the Long-Line part of the Provision came up the River of Wesar but that which came by Land was conducted by our Soldiers through our owne Horse-quarters who as they were many and neutrall so they were as treacherous for they would usually plunder and pillage our waggons and kill our men if they resisted and all under a pretext of want of pay and that they hoped to requite us in another course So that in plaine termes the first warre in my apprehension was with our seeming friends for our owne victualls too deerely bought But if the Enemy or others doe not hinder yet distance of place difficulty of way time of yeare Covenants of paying want of ready monies Remove of Armies sudden alterations of Princes mindes may cause Convoyes to be full of hazard Else why is it called a
judge our Pikemen fit instruments to beat off such fiery Blades For if the Horse fall on as usually they are the quickest for pursuit and terriblest for charge it cannot be held safe to put our Pikes in the Reare to keepe them off for the Pikes must stand they cannot well come off or follow the other part of the Army unlesse they intend to go backward charg'd and how ridiculous would such a Posture prove so that of force we must send able Fire-men to learne the horse to keep aloofe or else we should seeme very unkinde to our fellowes to leave them to such mortall danger And if so then the old rule is true Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora Two are needlesse where one will serve the turne But it is cleere that the Pikes cannot and therefore the Musquer must Or if as in Germany we had experience of it the Enemy follow with Horse-men and every Horse-man carrying a Musquetier behind him which may be done to win ground of them whom they intend to visit for foure legs will rid more ground then two I desire to know what good our Pikes can doe whenas our Enemy resolves to keepe out of the Pikes reach and yet be within length to effect what they came for So that we if we intend to get off fairely must doe it by placing good stout Musquetiers in our Reare who like Parthians can fight and fly or as we say can give fire and retreat thus had our Army faine to doe when we came off from the Long-live being followed close by the Imperiall Horse each of them bringing a Musquetier with him untill we enquarter'd at the Berke not far from Breme which could not have been perform'd had we not maintain'd our Reere not with Pikes but with stout shot And that was held the best Method in our marching from our Quarters at the Berke along to Stoad for we left 150. or 200. resolute fire-men in a work to finde the Enemy play whilst the maine of our Army gain'd almost a whole dayes journey neither was it a slow March to shew State or refresh the Soldier for our safety lay in our speed but it was quick and hasty so that those which were left behind were of most reputed for lost men and all supposed that had not Captain Hamonds Company received the Enemy comming after us though to the losse almost of all his Soldiers lives that our men had been served with the same sauce the Enemy intending us for slaughter as well as his men yet those few men taking the best opportunity in such a desperate straight and having a good guide recover'd our Troopes againe Now what service did our Pikes doe all this while did they not cause our March to be the slower and in case the Enemy had overtaken us as it was generally suspected he would should not our Musquetiers then have been the best defence for our Pike-men and was it not the wish of all that all our Pikes had been Fire-men and had not that Order been observ'd we might have all been cut off before we could have entred into Stoad So that it is evident enough what an hinderance it is to an Army to have the ablest men to be for Pike-men SECT. VII To have as many Pikes as Musquets or to have such great store of Pikes in an Army is a meanes to bring on the Enemies Horse WEapons should be to terrifie not to encourage an Enemy to keep him off not to allure him on The very Ensignes and Colors have a Terror to amaze as King Salomon hath it Terrible as an Army with Banners All warlike Instruments are dreadfull the Shield the Sword the Trumpet the very Drums and Fifes sound and beat feare and horror for Soldiers are not for sport and jest but for earnest neither is Warre to be accounted as a May-game or Morrice-dance but as a Plague and Scourge Therefore in Warres Soldiers use offensive weapons to wound and destroy such as can strike through the loines of all Opponents And care is to be had that as weapons should be made serviceable so they should be made with all the Art that can be to usher in death the speediest way It was the saying of Queene Elizabeth That she never fared better then when she kept the Spaniard out at Daggers point So it may be said in all warres T is never better with our Armies then when we keep the Enemy at Distance so that though he hath a desire to make attempts yet knowing our Forces to be well arm'd he shell nor dare to make approaches The old Grecians had usually the advantage of their Enemies by virtue of their weapons so 't is knowne that the Romans could not have subjugated so many Countries and Provinces had they not had great advantage of warlike Instruments more then of Numbers And 't is judg'd by able men that the Norman Duke at Battle-Abbey won the day and so the Crowne by the excellency of his weapons his Shields being made large for defence and having a Pike of sharpened Iron without-side to wound and gore so that they were his Arrowes and Shields that made Harold and so many thousands of our Nation to fall slaine in that place Invention herein is commendable who knowes not how Archimides in Syracuce by skilfull Engines by him made and invented battered the Roman ships so that Marcellus and all his stout Romans were strucke with amaze And as worthy of perpetuall memory is that of King Henry the Eight before the Maiden-town of Bulloigne which device so daunted the Citizens that at sight of his Engines they yielded themselves and the Towne to the Kings mercy Now let us examine whether or no the Pike be a weapon of that worth and excellency that it can keepe off the Enemy with any kinde of terror or whether the multitude of them doth not rather hearten and hasten on the Enemy to assault First it is manifest that of it selfe it cannot keepe off neither Pistols nor Musquets for in case the Horse pretend an onset are not Commands given out presently to the Divisions of Musquets to draw out certaine files to beat off the horse which are fallen on the Pikes and certaine it is that should not the Pikes this way be speedily relieved what a fearefull slaughter would the Enemies Horse make and what a speedy havock of our Pikes without any prejudice to their owne Bodies or danger to their Horses and cannot their Musquets doe as much And certainely I should account it but folly in the Enemy if he doth out-strip us in Horse or in Foot-forces not to set upon our Pikes for who can hinder him from taking advantages or why should not he make entrance at the weakest place But now marke the inconvenience that followes If it be demanded who beates off their Horse you will say our Musquets then to what purpose serve the Pikes but to cause many others to fall for
coffers hence it is evident that there is a whole weekes pay reserved for the number of 20000. men and 1500l overplus at the rate of 5s the weeke for a Soldiers pay and who can deny but that this course is advantageous to a State But now if any shall say But we will not have Pikes equall for number with Musquets but let there be 15000. Musquets and onely 5000. Pikes yet who knowes not that the rate and charges still holds proportionably For 5000 Pike-mens furniture will amount to as much as will set forth 8000. Musquetiers the charge for the one being after 35s the man comming to 8750l And the cost for 8000. Musquetiers comming after the rate of 22s but to 8800l in all So that there is in arming out 5000. Pikes as much disburs'd as would have set out 8000. Musquetiers within one 50l onely which is nothing Now were not the Musquetiers more necessary it was something to the purpose but if they be not why should their numbers be allowed for advantageous Or if the Pikes be not so excellent Parcatur sumptui 't is then good to save charges or if not yet to lay out monies for those Arms which are most usefull Then secondly when both are ready furnish'd and compleatly arm'd the maintaining the Pike with it's furniture is a great deale more costly than that of the Musquet And though care be had by the Soldier which is rare yet what by casualties and accidents he can scarce ever be at all points ready and then if his furniture doe faile it is harder and costlier to be repaired and mended then the Musquet For proofe hereof is it not manifest that Rainy weather rusts and spoiles a Corslet but not a Musquet or any little blow or sudden touch many times breakes off a Pikes head which makes it altogether unserviceable as also the tases with the hookes buckles and other materialls are quickly broke and then the Corslet is unfitting for defence and unseemly to weare Adde to these inconveniences That to be put upon long and quick Marches in hot Summer weather with Armes compleat as well for Pike as for Corslet and Soldiers are subject and liable to such duties cannot but be wonderfull burthensome and the more by reason of the excessive heat which he is forc'd to suffer being as I may so say imprison'd in his Armes whereas the Musquetier marches with a great deale of liberty and is free and open to the aire which is no small benefit and happinesse to him upon such occasions And as these Armes are more combersome to the Soldier so they are the more chargeable for carriage for they take up and imploy more waggons waggoniers and horses for draught neither can they belayd up so closely or safely as Musquets may And as the Pike out-vies the Musquet for charge and combersomnesse so they cause more losse than Musquets for though there goe as many out yet there come fewer home for let the Officers lay ne're so strict a charge upon the Soldiers for preservation of Armes yet upon advantages and opportunities offered what by their running away and what by their wearines upon long and hot marches and so not recovering the Army againe being often cut off by the Boores or Enemies parties that wait upon such occasions or dying in the place there many Pikes and Corslets are lost daily and miscarry which casualties as they are a weakening to an Army so they prove a losse to the Prince for I suppose the Captaines would be unwilling to answer the charges of all Armes that are lost these waies neither indeed is it fitting that they should for notwithstanding all their care and vigilancy yet these inconveniences doe and will often happen in great Armies and long marches The best course that I know how to remedy this losse and dammage is to furnish the Soldiers with Arms that are cheaper lighter for carriage and such as Soldiers will not be easily perswaded to part withall and them I hold to be good Musquets and half-pikes SECT. IX That if the Pike be still retained yet to have all the Pike-men to be as well experienc'd in the use of the Musquet as of the Pike HAving sufficiently proved the Pike to be unusefull in military occasions in the precedent Sections I now come to shew one Particular which is necessary to be put in practice which is this That in case for the present there shall not be a full discharge of the Pike yet it is fit that all the Pike-men should be expert and able to use the Musquet upon any need or occasion which may be confirmed for these considerations following First that in case our Musquetiers be too few in number for the Enemy that then by this meanes they may have supplies neere them to give them assistance and 't is but equity for one member to relieve another and as much as it can to afford ease and supportment to it's fellow Now 't is not fit that the Musquetier should performe duty oftner or harder then his Comrades which yet he must needs do in marchings Convoyings Sallyings c. except the Pike-man upon occasion afford ease by exchanging his Corslet for a Musquet Secondly Suppose we match and equalize the Enemy in Troopes of Horse then for certain there need not be any divisions of Pikes for what shall they performe when there are none to make opposition against them And by this means we shall much increase our volleyes of shot which are indeed the glory and strength of our Army and the onely instruments to daunt the Enemy Then thirdly Is it not a great benefit to goe often out upon Convoyes and Parties And comes there not profit by freedome of pillaging upon lawfull Command in an Enemies Country And who acts these services but the Fire-lock and Musquetier For the Pike-man may play the part of a good huswife stay at home upon expectation what the Musquet will bring in but cannot fetch in any thing of or by himselfe so that unlesse out of charity the Musquetier be pleas'd to give him some part of his booty he must either buy or else want it which he needed not have done had he been furnish'd with the like weapons this I have knowne to be true in many places where our Leaguer hath been And to speak truth the Boores and Peasants of the Country are not terrified to yield their goods at the command of Pike-men but will and have made resistance even to the losse of our mens lives with their loap-staves and other Country weapons because they have not seene Musquets to force their obedience and subjection And to conclude Doe not Pikemen by being tyed onely to that sort of Armes offer great injury to their Prince to themselves to their fellowes For is it not an injury to take pay and yet doe not halfe so much labour and service as others Why should they be maintain'd with equall pay to Musquetiers whenas they undergoe not halfe such
themselves or horses or both But now the Horse having left off the Lance and using their Pistols and Carbines in place of it which can kill and sinke 120 yards off and above I would desire to know whether it be any wisedome or safety to stand charg'd with Pikes onely against Pistoll bullets for now the Horse having that advantage need not approach so neere as to endanger their owne bodies or their Horses And therefore it is high time for the Pike-men to looke after another weapon which can and will better defend themselves and offend their Enemies then their Pikes can doe That 's for the cleering that objection Arg. 3. There be others that come in with another kind of Argument to supply as indeed they had need the former Tenents For they say 't is true indeed that the Pikes alone of themselves cannot keep off the Horse but being well lined and seconded with shot then they can and therefore they are very necessary in publike services Now marke what the conclusion of this will be For if the Musquetiers beat off the Horse with their shot what service do the Pikes all that while hut onely stand for Cyphers and being unable to offend the Enemy or by themselves to defend their owne are faine to be succoured by the Musquet Now can that be held an usefull and necessary weapon which of it selfe can neither offend the Invader nor yet defend the Manager I proceed Arg. 4. Others maintaine that the Pike is the most valorous kinde of fight and the truest distinguisher of couragious Spirits for say they men are killed by the Musquet a great way off and that now there is little or no man-hood tryed in the Warres because any young stripling may with a Musquet kill the ablest and stoutest man in an Army or such who at handy-blowes suppose with Browne-bills Swords or Pikes would be able to beat downe three or foure such Punies and therefore not the Musquet but the Pike is the couragious manner of fight I shall answer this briefly Is the Pike therefore the more valorous kinde of weapon because it playes closer and neerer then the Musquets usually doe I trow not for the close-fight may be performed by necessity and for certaine that man will never fight stoutly when the Enemy is neere who dare not fight with him when he is at a good distance and I shall ever approve him to be of spirit good enough and man able enough who dare looke his Enemy in the face notwithstanding the great and murthering volleyes of his shot And it hath been seene when young Striplinges have upon Commands gone resolutely forth by Sallies in a dark cold blustring rainy tempestuous night whenas a lusty tall Pike-man hath been glad that he hath had such Armes allotted him which kept him from such dangerous Onsets Nay upon suddaine Alarmes in the Night when the Serjeants have come to fetch men out of all Companies to march out with their usuall word Up Musquetiers up 10. or more out of every Company At these times the lusty and able Pike-man hath said Well I would not be a Musquetier I am glad of my Corslet I had rather lye still in my Quarters let the Musquetiers get the honour I desire it not at such times as this is this hath been the language of the supposed valorous Pike-men and I believe that they spake as they thought Now what hinders but that a young man may have as good a heart as a tall able man of person or limbs Valour as it is not tied or confined to the bulke so neither to the age little men and young men may be vigorous active when great Bodies may be more dull and slow for action the spirits in the one being as I may so say imprisoned desire alwaies to breake out into performances but in the other they have such a spacious liberty within that they never urge to break forth hence 't is commonly seene and allowed for truth that little persons are the most nimble fittest and readiest for any waighty imployment or hazards And againe what matters it whether a man kill or be killed at a great distance or hard by so that he either gives satisfaction to his Enemy or else receives it from him And I say further that suppose the Sword and Pike be such a valorous kinde of fight as is pretended yet before this can be perform'd all parties must be first agreed the Enemy must also be perswaded to leave or lessen his Musquets and come and fight with us neerer hand with Pikes which will prove a difficult point to compasse for what have we to doe to tye or binde our Enemies to be conformable to our practice and customes He I doe verily believe will in such cases be his owne Carver and at his owne free choyce so that if he findes that he prevailes most against us with Musquets hee will not bee brought to use the Pike So that AEnaeas speech to Turnus is out of date Pugnandum est comminus Armis That 's for satisfaction for that Argument Arg. 5. But say some what that 's strange is the Pike unusefull Alas who knowes not but that the Musquetiers may have spent all their powder and shot and then woe unto us if it were not for our Pikes This seemes to be an uncontrolable Argument at the first view but let it be well examined and it will prove otherwise For certaine wise Generalls will not present themselves with their Armies for encounter without sufficient furniture and not one Musquetier of a hundred who is not sped before he have emptied all his charges upon his Enemie And in case all our powder and shot were spent I desire to know what great exploits our Pikes could performe for they would be altogether unfitting to keep off the Enemies bullets How long would they be able to stand it out if once we had done It is certaine that they would be reserved as a remnant for prisoners or else for present slaughter if the Enemy should deny them Quarter for there would be little hopes to see the Enemies shot beaten out of the field by our Pike-men 't would prove a wonder to see or heare of such a kinde of victory purchased by Pikes this would indeed make some plea for them But when or where was ever that heard of Dic quibus in terris So that that Argument is no wayes valid and firme Arg. 6. There be yet others who are very stiffe to prove that the Pike is of singular virtue and excellency in Trenches to keep the Enemy off and to hinder him from entring forceably upon us in our workes Now this was good if it could be made good but in services 't is cleane otherwaies for 't is certaine if the Enemy have a minde to visit us in our Trenches may he not the easlier enter by reason of our Pikes for they stand in the place of a Musquetier and fill up his room and
dye it is manifest that this weapon cannot choose but be of singular use for if managed with a stout heart and a strong arme it will force passage through the bodies of the Enemy there being no resistance made against the Assailants but with eminent danger of the Defendants lives 5. Soldiers desire such weapons usually which stand them in the most generall stead and such as they can use in any place or upon any service Now 't is certaine that the Musquet and halfe-Pike are of that generall use that they may be practis'd and managed upon all Convoyes skirmishes Retreats Sallies Onslaughts c. For Convoyes no safer posture for the Musquetier can be then to be impaled within such fences and Barricadoes and 't is impossible that any troopes of Horse can enter before the Musquetiers can so fortifie themselves for 't is no great toyle or difficulty but may quickly and speedily be performed and can vary alter or change any way as the Enemy shall wheele about so that the Reere may be as safe as the Front and the Flanks as either And as it is good for Convoyes so 't is excellent in skirmishes for it fights with quicknesse advantage and safety and if they please to maintain their ground who can force them to leave it or if they be minded to retreat who can gaine any thing by the pursuit So that the Musquetiers thus armed goe on with advantage fight with terror and retreat with honor So for Sallies and Onslaughts which are desperate kinde of services none goe out with so much hopes to speed as men so guarded being as I may justifie it two Soldiers in one person And there is no such spur to make Soldiers valorous in Execution as the the knowledg of the advantage they have of their Enemies by the excellency of their weapons Briefly for the 〈◊〉 of this is better for Practice than Discourse It cannot be denied but that the Musquet and halfe-Pike is easily purchas'd and as quickly for exercise to be learned any Soldier may as soone be expert in the use of it as he can of Musquet and Rest nay sooner if his Corporall or Commander have any skill to drill him to it And I say let any one that either doubts of or objects any thing against the excellency and benefit of this kinde of weapon give but that Martiall Plot of ground the Artillery Garden a visit and he shall and may receive ample satisfaction to all his demands For 't is not to be questioned but that the present and after-times wâ—â—â— speake in praise of and justifie the Invention as rare and as yet I am sure by none paralelld And 't is to be wish'd that it was once generally knowne to our Nation for the practice of it would prove wondrous advantageous This I have spoken without flattery for I would not doe so Noble and Heroick a Soldier as the Inventor is nor yet my selfe that injury Flattery being no waies compatible either to our or their Profession But I thought it an injury to so worthy a Member if notwithstanding all hit labour and ingenuity together with his charges either He or the Weapon should have been slighted or forgotten It being a high degree of base Ingratitude not to be thankfull for such generall benefits But I have done leaving both his dextrous Invention and this Discourse to men of judgment in Armes SECT. XII The Testimony of Brancatio that famous Commander concerning the disability of the Pike In his Art Military Pag. 7. THE Pike is the evident ruine of those that trust in is others defend it though it bethought to defend others for it offends not neither neere nor farre off Again p. 8. 10. The Turks use not the Pike nor will be brought to practise it because it is the most unserviceable Arms used in field Champain as by infallible experience and by the great manifold and too late victories gained over those Christians who too much trusted in that weapon is manifestly knowne So was the K. of Portugal overthrown in Affrick by having grand squadrons of Pikes and so the vast divisions of High-dutch and Switzers Pikemen have rendred the Italian Regiments weaker then they would haue been with Harquebuziers and Charles the 8. K. of France brought the first Pikes into Italy And pag. 105. lib. 5. he saith This settled Opinion and so maintained even to this present is in my opinion false and of no moment with pardon to those whom it may concerne for that the Pike is the weakest Armes in the field how many soever they be and much worse against the Turkes and other Nations more powerfull in Horse for which they are held to be good which is not against Christians and the reason is this The pike offends not a far off nor neere except wee come to the incounter it cannot make great way nor pursue an Enemy when it retires cannot make you master of the field they cannot be divided from their squadrons nor pillage with terror they cannot force a street guard a passage speedily give a Camisado of a sudden escarmouch or to make an assalt and to use diligence on a March with other feates of warre And p. 106. he saith That for these last 40 yeeres the Turkes have gain'd upon the Hungarians other Christians sempre in Ongaria because they placed onely great divisions of Switzish and High Dutch Pike-men to keepe off the Turkish vast troopes of Horse being armed with Harquebuzes and Pistols so that by this meanes that Nation is almost brought under the Turkish slavery So that battell of Ceresola renders a good proof of the weaknes of the Pike-service And Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony in Almaigne and Peter Strozzi in Tuscany were defeated in regard of their abundance of Pikes Likewise Paul the 4 at Rome so also at the battell of S. Quintines and the Marshall of Termes I say nothing saith he of the Army of the Lord Cherche nor of the battell of Dreus in France and of Moncountor all which proved fatall to their Leaders and were despised by their Enemies because their mainest bodies were none but Pikes Thus this great Warriour gives his judgement of this weapon the Pike which to a wise Commander is of great authority FINIS
should doe I should and doe verily suppose them to have been good and vertuous men for it seemes so by their comming first to be instructed then secondly for asking such a question which might informe them how they might be honest and religious and thirdly because St. Iohn did not any wayes increpate or chide them as elsewhere he did the Scribes and Pharisees and I am sure he would not have spared to have told them their owne had he known them to have been peccant Therfore 't is plaine that good Discipline hath not onely been enjoyned unto but also observed by the inferior Soldier Then thirdly what hinders Soldiers to be well governed and conscionable men when they are alwayes next dore to death now 't is known that the remembrance of the shortnesse of life and the certainty of death and Judgement to come is and hath been a main incitement to goodnesse and hath wrought mainely upon mens hearts witnesse that disputation of Temperance Righteousnesse and of the Judgement to come which that Divine Doctor of the Gentiles had before the Governour Felix who though an Heathen yet was so struck and convinced at the matter that he trembled at the hearing of it and dismissed the Orator till another time So that I see not but that the Soldier as well as the Commander may be vertuous and religious Secondly as the Calling is worthy and excellent so 't is as necessary For how should a Prince be able to defend his own Right but by such instruments How should he offend him that hath wronged him his Allies or his Territories but by the Soldiers valour These are necessary in times of warre for the punishment of Rebells or other Enemies necessary in times of Peace to be in readines upon all extremities they are necessary by Sea necessary by Land for warre is not tyed or confined to one place alone but sometimes on one sometimes in the other somtimes by both Necessary in Frontiers against Invaders necessary in Field to get victory to their Prince 'T is hard for a State to be long in safety where the helmet and musquet are cashierd old Rome could never so long have triumphed over the world had she not maintained her legions of old Soldiers but when she slighted these marke what one hath spoken of her The Roman State did then begin to shrinke When they began to Court to Coach and Drinke How quickly will Effeminacy and Cowardize surprize a Nation without exercises or imployments for warre To preserve the power of the Turkish Empire they alwaies make choyce of their Emperor who is naturally addicted to warres Grave Maurice the Prince of Orange had wont to say that he was naked when he was not enquartered amongst the old English Regiments As 't is injustice without great cause to begin warre so 't is as little Policy to let the sword rust I cannot see how long the plough could subsist in quietnesse nor yet the Master reape his corne with joy if he was not defended by the sword 't is held wisedome to have the plough going within and the Soldier marching without a right Soldier is the joy of the Farmer the defence of the City the shield for Learning the credit of his Nation and the glory of his Prince And what though the times be not alwaies for their present service and imployment A wise man I hold may lay up his sword but I shall not count him so who breakes it it is good alwayes to have as in all other occasions good store before-hand so also in this for Soldiers are not like Poets who are so borne but they are made by long and dangerous hazards and experience it is not one Summers march or twice or thrice drilling by his Corporall nor yet his great oaths will qualifie him for present service they were the veterani milites that stood it out a winter leaguer with hard duty will freeze the courage of such as are not experienced Though their charge runs high for the Prince yet when He pleaseth to use them they will quickly bring in all costs and charges or else dye for the cause Who now would hold them unfitting or unnecessary to be imployed and maintained who will willingly meet death i' th' face for the honour and profit of their Master It was wittily jested by the Marquesse Spinola concerning the old English in the Low-Countries when he heard one of his Lords term them old Dogs 't is true said he they are so and if it was not for such old bitten Curres I would quickly worry the Vnited Provinces 'T is well when the Generall can say he hath as many Soldiers as men 't was a sharpe one of him who told a Lord Generall who brought a great multitude of raw and unexpert Soldiers into the field Sir I see abundance of Serving-men but no Soldiers I could if I pleased be large in this Theame but I intend brevity for Soldiers delight more in Actions than words Lastly that this Calling is warrantable who can doubt it seeing the God of Heaven approves it hath not He appointed it for a punishment unto the Nations He gave Nebuchadnezzar hire and wages for his service which he performed for him St. Iohn Baptist did not disallow of the Soldlers Calling who came to him but onely gave them cautious directions as not to doe violence and to be content with their wages Was it not lawfull why then have Kings and Princes in all ages who were wise and holy men used it and have prospered And if it shall be objected that therefore K. David should not build the Temple because he had shed blood and had been a warriour That 's not principally meant of the blood of Gods enemies or his owne but spoken of the blood of Vriiah which was kill'd with many more of his Seconds by Davids councel and direction If any shall say that sucking children and Innocents of young yeares are murthered in warres as well as others What 's that to the purpose Is not the case of pestilence and warre in this point alike Where God commands the Rule to be generall 't is no safety to put in exceptions Saul smarted for his foolish and indirect mercy shewed to the Amalekites Certainly warre is lawfull in respect of the Cause Gods worship or Religions defence 't is warrantable in respect of the effect working what Heaven decreed and who dare question the Actions supreme 't is questionlesse good because Heaven commands it being good why may it not be undertaken It is justly allowable in respect of the end being Gods glory the Churches prosperity the Kingdomes peace the subjugating of Enemies the establishment and confirmation of Right and Justice with divers other consequences needfull just and pious Though there be an old law Bellum quasi minime bellum that 's either the taunt of some Satyricall fancy or beggerly Poet or else spoken of that warre which is injustum .i. unlawfull and unrighteous So that
nor that nor all the phantastique conceits of Anabaptists against warre under the Gospell can any wayes disparage that high heroick generous noble and honorable Calling allowed by God and followed by the best of men in all Ages SECT. II. What men are fittest to choose for Soldiers THere hath been no small controversie and dispute about this Subject And for certaine the advantage or disadvantage of foiling the Enemy consists much in making choice of Soldiers ex quolibet pigno non fit Mercurius All Spirits are not borne under the Planet of Mars nor all Conditions fit to follow Drums and Trumpets Let not the Soldier be nomine infamis for 't is certain frustranea erit Executio cum debilis fuerit Electio Some with Zerxes care not what valour be in the men so that they abound in numbers and multitudes But is not this to set chaffe to encounter the winde or as to appoint Hares against Lions It is not the number but the vertue and valor that gaine Conquest and who march to the field of victory through slaughtered carkases who knowes not how often few numbers of the English Regiments have not onely affronted but also overthrowne great Armies of the French and that even in the heart and bowells of all France whenas the French have been as good as five for one a mighty odds to all probability had there not been great difference in the courage of the Combitants and did not that noble and never to be forgotten Christian Soldier the renowned Scanderberg with an handfull of his Epirots not onely defend themselves and their Province from the insulting threats and menaces of the great Turke but upon all affronts offered did also bravely revenge themselves by overthrowing those huge and vast Armies which were sent against them by the Turkish Sultan And it hath not onely been so by Land but also by Sea Have not great Navies been dispersed and scattered by small numbers Witnesse that unparaleld Sea-fight betwixt the Christians and Turkes in the Levant for though the Christian General Don Iohn of Austria with the Venetians and others were great in numbers yet the Turke farre surmounted them but in conclusion what a fearefull slaughter did the Christians make of them and what a famous victory was obtained over them And how often have great Navies of Spaniards been queld and conquered by a few English little ships by the valor of our Commanders such as were Clifford Frobisher Cavendish Haukins Drake who when they met made the Spaniards know that though they had gotten yet they should not dare to keepe their Indian Gold but yield themselves and it to their conquering swords And is it not true that 4 or 5 Merchant ships of London well appointed for Sea dare not onely look upon but also grapple with three times so many of the Turkes and whence is this next to the providence of Almighty God who can overthrow with few as well as with many and who is the sole giver of all victory it may be accounted that it is the valour and expertnesse of the Soldiers an ounce of Steele being worth a pound of Lead and a few Lions better than a great company of Stagges So that certaine it is that it much concernes a State to make choice in times of need of such Spirits as are naturally the fittest for that great imployment of warre The colder Climates have usually produced the terriblest Soldiers and the Country hath commonly yielded hardier men for all hazards than populous Cities they being for the most part too tenderly and effeminately bred As well Vegetius observes it Aptiorem armis esse Plebem Rusticam quae sub Dio labore nutritur solis patiens umbrae negligens Balnearum nesciens deliciarum ignara simplicis animi parvo contenta duratis membris ad tolerantiam omnis laboris cui gestare ferrum fossam ducere onus ferre consuetudo de Rure est .i. The Countrey men are more apt for Armes who are hardly and laboriously bred patient of heat not regarding shades or shelters ignorant of Bathes not given to Luxury honest and simple of heart content with little whose joyntes and members are rough and tough to undergoe all worke who are inured to carry iron to make ditches to beare burthens And as Horace hath it that the Country young men not the Citizens of Rome conquered Hanniball but as he Sed Rusticorum mascula militum Proles .i. Great Hanniball was beaten downe By the sturdy Country-Cowne And Pliny confirmes the same Rusticae Tribus saith he laudatissimae Vrbanae verò in quas transferri ignominiae esset probro .i. Country clownes are most commendable for warlike imployment but Citizens are given to idlenesse sloth c. I should approve of the choice Black-smiths Carpenters Masons Plough-men Butchers Sawyers and all other rough and laborious Trades especially such who use their limbes most forceably at worke In Cities choice may be made of Car-men Porters Watermen Wine-Coopers Roape-makers Dyars with Brewers servants and Attendants amongst which many able lusty strong and hardy men may be found fit for service As for Shoo-makers Tailors Ostlers Chamberlains Tapsters Coach men Foot-men Weavers cashierd Serving-men Fidlers Vintners-Journy-men c. though these may be better spared both for their great numbers and uselesnesse at home than the former yet they are held not so good to fight or to endure the hardnesse of the warres as the former yet from the mixture of both there may be a compleat Army gathered up Amongst the Nations of Europe 't is held that the French be too hasty to offer injuries but too light to hold on against stout resistancies most count the Cavallery of France better than the Infantry they being for the most part well bred for the saddle The Italian is much degenerate and Rome in stead of sending forth Consuls and Legions of stout Soldiers sends out Friars Monkes and Jesuites The High-Dutch unlesse mixt with other Nations are of themselves too dull and slow The Dane much like the Low-Dutch drowzy and is so farre from being excellent by himselfe that neither of them are good with others hence is it that both of them in any occasion are forced to be beholden to other Nations as to the English Scots French Wallons and Switzers nay the Low-Dutch trust not any of their frontier Garrisons with companies of their own Nation alone as well knowing how easily they would yield upon furious assaults they are so wary at Sea that usually they man their ships with English Scots and French have they not maintained them selves at home by others valor for many yeares and gain'd from their Enemy In their Western Plantations where they have effected any thing against the Spaniard or hold any thing safely now is it not by other mens hearts more than their owne The Swede and Pole are much alike yet 't is thought that the Pole is the better horse-man and the Swede the stouter footman however the long
warres in Germany have flesh'd them both The Spaniard usually is held to schoole or Trades till 14 or 16 yeeres old and ever after for the musquet and to speake truth he hath valour enough to make attempts and to get ground and he wants it not to hold it he is fit for heat cold hunger or thirst yet he is better for land then sea and better to hold a Fort then to fight in field Now for certaine without any disparagement to other Nations 't is known that there is not a truer bred spirit for war by land or by sea then the English for who ever affronted them without sufficient proofe of their ability especially if they pleased to call in their Seconds to accompany them What Country of Christendome hath not felt the force of their steele and the Turkes at sea confesse it that they had rather deale with any Nation then the English So that if they be well ordered and kept in by the rules of good Discipline they feare not the faces or forces of their stoutest foes and have one singular virtue beyond any other Nation for they are alwaies willing to goe on and though at first stoutly resisted yet will as resolutely undertake the action the second time though it be to meet death it selfe in the face To be briefe most men would have Soldiers to partake more of the Country then the City to be sturdy and stiffe rather then courteous and affable I would have them stout hardy temperate watchfull patient faithfull obedient religious for an an Army of such persons is most likely to prove to the honour of their Prince and glory of their Nation SECT. III. What weapons are the fittest for Soldiers and that the Pike is not of consequence in these times WIse Commanders have alwaies had great care to have their forces both Horse and Foot to be well and compleatly furnished with the most serviceable Armes and weapons for 't is good Policy to take all advantages in field especially against such Enemies who neither take nor give faire Quarter such as are Dragooners Gravats with some partees of Freebooers and Hannovers against whom any sort of murthering weapons may be used However for the generality of weapons most men will approve of them best which have these five properties First they should be Defensive against Assaults fit and able to safeguard the persons of those Soldiers who beare them into the field these make the Enemy loath to come on and encourage our Soldiers to make attempt by this course many great Armies have been discomfited In this regard the Spaniard is much to be commended for he still keeps himselfe in his Armes but above all others the Turkes are vigilant this way for they in their march against Enemies move like a compleat Armory for variety and choice of weapons Our Nation of late hath been much to blame who against all Orders have many times for the enjoying a little ease cast away their Armes for the present though after strictly and severely punished by their Officers for their fault and though they have been by this course unfit to have made Resistance if any occasion should have been offered Secondly 't is not enough to have weapons for a Defence unlesse also they can Offend the former respecting the good of our owne persons these ayming at the annoying and destroying our Enemies 't is the end of warre to weaken his forces and to subjugate his Armies by cutting off and lessening his numbers and therefore those weapons must needs be counted excellent which are fit to bring to passe our intended desires herein the Polish and Hungarian horsemen are commendable it is to be supposed they have learn'd that Custome from their neighbouring Enemy the Turk And indeed defensive weapons may be used in times of Peace but offensive are the best for warre why need men goe forth to kill their Enemies except they be allowed such instruments as can perform the deed Then thirdly 't is good as to have weapons so qualified so also is it as convenient to have them light and portable 't is not to be expected that a Soldier can fight stoutly upon the suddaine whenas by long marches and hot weather he is tired under his Armes Soldiers should take a pleasure in beareing them but they should not be burthened under them Hereupon 't is thought that Buffe-coats came so much in request because they are so easie and comely and if good as fit for defence as common Corslets The High-Dutch and Imperiall forces are excellently well accommodated with nimble Armes being most of them proper able persons and also furnished with very light Musquets Fourthly though these three things be fit to be in Soldiers weapons yet they are then far better when they come from the hands of the Artificer dextrously and sufficiently tempred and made to effect which there is no better inducement then to see that the Labourers be paid their wages good and certaine Pay being the spurre to Work-men to make their work compleat and serviceable and for certain when they are truly payed if they faile in the delivering in good Armes they are then liable to severe punishment by the Magistrate and are fit to be made Examples and discarded their places with Ignominy and disgrace Our Army was ill provided for swords those which were delivered to the Soldiers being so brittle that with any blow almost they would breake to peeces there is no Nation that may have better then our owne if care be had we having first excellent matter and secondly as expert Artificers to give them forme as any Nation nay in many respects farre better Then lastly weapons should be so made that they may be with conveniency and as much as can be with advantage too used in all places and at all times for their chiefest virtue is in their generality of use Hereupon the short strong Sword is held better then the long Rapier or as the Switzer useth two-handed swords the Musquet and Fire-lock are held excellent because seldome can an Army be so instraightned but that Soldiers may use these with terror and advantage these are good for all convoyes marchings intrenchings pillagings onslaughts neere or farre off they are easie of carriage terrible in their execution doing their message quickly and throughly as after shall be proved And though the Musquet be but of late Invention yet none that ever went before it was more approved and commended nor was any weapon except the sword onely so generally received of all Nations as the Musquet hath been Now for certaine the Pike hath been of great repute in former times also yet in these latter losing much of it 's antient authority as being experimentally known for true that it is not of an offensive virtue against professed Enemies for it's antiquity is not a sufficient argument to tye our times to conformity to the practice of the former after-Ages having altered and changed nay quite left off
Convoy but because 't is cum Via Vita for way and life and who are indeed more exposed to dangers then Convoyers being men whose lives hang upon Waggon wheeles or as I may say truly Persons who alwaies carry their lives in their hands Now whosoever rightly conceives the necessity of Convoyes in Armies and what a great charge is laid upon the undertakers For sometimes they bring along great treasure as the pay for the whole Army sometimes they undertake the protection of some great Prince or Commander sometimes they bring Commissions and letters of Intelligence for the safety of the whole Body may easily conclude that seeing their way doth often lye through the Enemies Countries they had need to pick men of singular valour admirable courage and choice dexterity for feates of Armes and such as goe with Armes fitting to offend upon all assaults and occasions such as shall any wayes at any time dare to make approaches Now it is plaine that the Pike-men are altogether unfit for such high service as this is not that any can question or disparage their valour or skill but their unfitnesse for that imloyment which is thus proved to all First from the place where they may be set upon if it should be in a Wood amongst trees as such places are fittest for and fullest of Pillagers and Freebooters for Ambush I would faine know how the Pike could be in such places charg'd without a great deale of incombrance in regard of the branches of trees which would hinder them to use their Postures If secondly it should be upon the passage of some Bridge were not 100 good fire-locks able to keepe that passage against 500. Pikes and pillage at their pleasure If the place be a Narrow lane set with hedges Bullets will force their passage through whereas Pikes cannot And if the ground be spacious and champaigne gives it not the more compasse and liberty to the Enemy to come off or on and to keep distance untill the Pikes be either most shot or kil'd for in such places what are the Pike-men upon their charge but even standing markes to be hit the sooner Then secondly from the time that the Enemy may fall on If first in the night what a confusion will there be for every man first to finde his owne Armes and then what a deale of toyle to put them on And if in the day time are not the Pikes fit onely to take wounds but not able to give any Now can they be held fit to safe-guard others who cannot helpe or relieve themselves And thirdly Is not the Pike-man as unfit for Convoyes in respect of swift Marches For Convoyes upon Intelligence of any Enemies approach will haste away for safety and shelter now the Pike is not good for speed and as they cannot goe apace from so nor can they pursue with any speed an Enemy when he hath affronted them so that as they have been powerfull to purchase their booty they have as large liberty to goe off with their prizes without feare of surprize or pursuit And as the Pike is full of disadvantage in respect of place time and marching so lastly is it as insufficient in some cases to returne to their own leaguer againe For if any Enemy hath heard of their marching by may he not with a few Musquetiers block up their passage for returne so that their Generall had need to send out another Convoy of Fire-men to bring home his Pikes againe or else he must give them for lost or bee forc'd to ransome them who if they had been Musquetiers would have been able to have freed themselves And to conclude In an Army mix'd of Musquets and Pikes why should not the one as well as the other performe services and run equall hazards seeing they are all alike ingag'd and interested in the same cause which yet they cannot For the Pike is so farre unfitting for any present service upon the Enemy that after ten a clock at night he is not reputed to be a sufficient Sentinell especially in any out-workes as Halfe-moones Horne-workes c. For all the Alarum he can give must be by word of mouth which at many times especially if there be any distance betwixt his Centinels place and the Corps-du-Guard or else if the winde be high and blustring or contrary as many times it may be cannot be well perform'd And is not that a poore course to have 20000. men in field and onely all or at least the hardest service to be done by 10000. To what end need their persons be there whenas they stand us in little or no stead for certaine great are the inconveniences that have issued in publike services by having either equall numbers or such great store of Pikes with Musquets But to goe on to other Arguments SECT. VI What a great disadvantage it is to have all the properest men to carry Pikes BY Counsell saith King Salomon make warre 't is indeed the Hinge of great services none are likely to be well manag'd without Policy and Advice It hath been alwaies determin'd by able Commanders to have strong hardy lusty couragious and active men to be set forth for Soldiers and thereupon 't is thought fit by Great States to give liberty to servants and Apprentices to use publike exercises of Recreation as Leaping Running Wrestling Pitching the barre Riding Swimming Fencing c. in the times of Peace that in the times of warre they may choose men of lively and active spirits to doe their King and Country service Which course cannot be by discreet men reproved But the mistake followes that when such men are appointed for service and chosen for war then the Officers make choice of the tallest and to all likelyhood of the strongest men to be for Pike-men Now 't is certaine were the weapons as serviceable as the men it might be good in consequence but here 't is cleane otherwise for the men though apt and ready for service are yet mainely disabled by the Armes they are injoyned to use for to speake plainly what reason is it while that others can send the messengers of Death to their Enemies at a large distance Pikes onely cannot and while others are discharging their Bullets these may stand and looke on onely not being able to doe any thing Now it shall plainly appeare what a great disadvantage it is to an Army to tye such able men to such a kinde of weapon which cannot affront an insulting foe for doth it not spurre on the Enemy to take the advantage whenas he knowes we cannot hurt him and will he not have matter enough to laugh at to see our Pikes stand charg'd and to sinke down shot in their Rankes by their Pistols or Musquets and no waies able to answer like for like as is plaine in this Instance Whenas the Town of Stoade was beleaguer'd by the forces of Count Tilly and others and defended by the English for a good while we kept many
Outworkes and Scoutes without the walls It so fell out that many Musquetiers being imployed in other services and being by reason of the perfidiousnesse of the Citizens forced at all times to leave a sufficient number within lest they should have betrayed the Towne that there were an 100. or an 150. Pike-men able stout expert and well arm'd appointed with some few Musquetiers to keepe a Scout not farre from the Towne whereas 't was thought there was little or no danger to be feared came it not to passe that the Enemy roving about to spy all advantages march'd that very night against that Scoute which was mann'd chiefly with Pikes the Alarme was taken first by one of our Pike-men by the sight of a Dogge which as he supposed and so all the rest came not alone which proved true for presently the Enemy gave fire and hearing but one or two discharge from the Scout supposed that we had either left the worke or else were asleepe and so unable to resist 't was true that when the Enemy had twice or thrice furiously given fire our men did retreate towards the towne but upon notice given to our Generall they were charg'd to maintaine and defend the worke and to beat out the enemy againe so they going on did by their sudden returne and the darknesse of the night terrifie the Enemy so that they left their easie gotten purchase for a time supposing that either we had increased our numbers or else might have some plot to encompasse them in but hearing no further pursuit made a stand and upon advice set upon the Scoute the second time wherein they made a fearefull slaughter casting our men which were shot into the fire one upon another kill'd and burn'd all that stood it out shot divers of them who cast away their Armes to save themselves by swimming so that we lost most or almost all our men Now was not this an unequall fight to set Pikes against Musquets And had these men had Musquets they would have defended that worke against double so many Musquetiers comming on This was much lamented but the losse was unrecoverable Nor yet will any impute any indiscretion to our Generall for this Act could not at that time have been remedied most of our Musquetiers doing daily service in all places both within and without the Towne and halfe our forces almost if not altogether were Pikes who when they perceiv'd how that the heat of duties lay all upon the Musquet did all of them very well like of their weapon because it freed them from the most dangerous and forlorne places which inconvenience as soone as it was so deerly understood was remedied and most of our Pike-men were urg'd to use the Musquet and such as did not were adjudged to be Cowards as indeed they deserved And it must needs be a great disadvantage to an Army to be so set forth whenas first the Musquetiers cannot amount to those numbers that otherwaies they would and so in case the Enemy outvy us in numbers as usually they doe how hard service must needs lie upon the small quantity of Musquetiers that we have and if they be daily forc'd to fight what help or assistance can they expect from their fellow Pikes in regard that though they would yet they could not relieve in respect of their Armes And it hath done and will cause great complaints and murmurings dayly amongst Soldiers whenas the Musquetiers perceive that the Pikes usually are like men priviledg'd or exempted from Sallies Convoyes Skirmishes Onslaughts all dangerous and tedious Enterprizes especially to beat out an Enemy from a worke or to gaine a passage and keep it for in all these and many other the like services the Pike may rest in his Quarters and onely the Musqùet must out if we meane to speed in what we undertake may it not produce heart-burnings amongst Soldiers to see some in a manner doing nothing while the whole heat of the day lies upon and is undergone by others Now seeing the service doth equally concerne all why should not eevery sworne servant doe his taske Brieflly concluding that the highest and chiefest service for Honour is either going on against an Enemy or lying downe before him or else retreating from him it shall appeare to all that in all these Considerations our great number of Pikes is a gret disadvantage to us For first suppose that we are marching against the Enemy any one of experience knowes that there will fall out sundry skirmishes and Salutes much playing by Partees as well of ours as of their men before we can come to take a view of their Body in grosse or they of ours Now this cannot be done by Pike-men for the fight is yet at distance and so unfit for them 't is quickly and suddenly done and usually in such places where the Pike-man will scarce have liberty to manage his arms and to speake truth what was it but to expose the lives of so many Pikes to the mercy of the Enemies shot if they should be set out and doth not the Enemy by such discover that we either are but few Musquetiers or else we would never have begun the fight with Pikes And I may justly speake it that those who carry Pikes intend not to hurt the Enemy untill they have parlyed with him for though they may be ready and resolv'd to fight a great way off yet they cannot untill they come close up to them which priviledge I believe the Enemy being Musquets will not afford them Then secondly if it be to lie against an Enemy in case we keepe any watch in Outworks as for the better safeguard of the Army we usually doe then if the watch be set with 200. men halfe of them Musquetiers and halfe of them Pikes if any service be perform'd I doe account that it must be all done by the Musquets for to what purpose should the Pikes hazard themselves whenas they are not within reach to offend so that I suppose excepting onely their doing service by standing Centinell that there are but 100 in the place to beat the Enemy and therefore it hath been seen in service even in Trenches when the Musquetier hath been giving fire furiously upon the Enemy that the Pikes have sate safe in the Trenches taking Tobacco or telling tales as though the matter had not any wayes concerned them And lastly if it be to make a Retreat from an Enemy which includes a great deal of honor valor and skill for it must not be done dishonorably confusedly or cowardly especially if the Enemy pursue but with good Intelligence resolved Hearts and singular Policy for Cowards run away but valiant and wise Soldiers make retreats from a Foe Is it not manifest that even at this time also the Pike proves disadvantageous for 't is to be concluded and resolved that the Enemy following will not make assaults upon us with Pikes but with Musquets Carbines and Pistols and will any man of experience
yet cannot doe any thing against an Enemy unlesse at a proportion'd distance onely Now if indeed the Enemies Musquets had but power to kill at the like then the Pike might effect his desire against him but who knowes not but that the Enemy may stand off and yet send death to the Pikes in case they shew their heads above the Trenches Arg. 7. In the last place there be many that hold that the Pikes are of singular use now because there is much mention made of them in Sacred Writ for say they for certaine they would not have been used by such men and recorded in such a place had they not had admirable virtue for management This seemes to carry weight and force with it and 't is certaine that often mention is made of the Pike or Speare and Speare-men Iob speaking of the great Leviathan sayes that the Sword cannot touch him nor will he rise for the speare nor Habergeon And the Prophet David hath it The multitude of the Speare-men and such as delight in warre And that Convoy which the chiefe Captaine sent along with St. Paul to bring him safe to Faelix had 200 soldiers 70 Horse-men and 200 Speare-men And our blessed Lords side was pierced with a Speare All this is true and yet it will not make for the Pike now For though it was then used it may first be doubted whether they were the same in forme as ours are some reading Darts for Speares But admit they were yet 't is unquestionable but that they were maintained by others also so that both parties used them in fight and so there was no disadvantage in them but they might be serviceable if they that manag'd them wanted neither skill nor courage and in this respect there may be as much said for the use of great Shields and Bucklers yet they are not used nor desired unles by some persons of great eminency and quality who have them carried by their Pages more for state then use Secondly we see that the face of warre and forme of weapons alter almost every day every Nation striving to out-strip each other in excellency of weapons So that if it be found that other weapons are more forceable and prevalent in services then Pikes or Spears 't is not to be denyed but that they may be left and others intertained So that as Horace said of old words Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula si volet usus may be said of Pikes After times having priviledge to use what weapons they finde most necessary for Defence and Offence that being true that if one kind of meat will not serve the stomach any wise man will make choice of another and if one kinde of toole will not perfect our worke we may use and chuse that which will So having answered all the Arguments that are urged for the defence of the Pike I will shut up this Tract with a Compendious discourse of the Musquet and halfe-Pike wherein it shall appeare to all that please to read it how usefull and excellent a weapon it is to be managed by one person and that with great ease and safety as shall appeare SECT. XI A compendious and briefe Commendation of the compleat and expert use of the Musquet and halfe-Pike I Thought it not unfitting to end this Subject with adding some praise and commendation to that lately invented weapon of Musquet and halfe-Pike above others that are yet extant And I doe it the rather because it may be as an incitement to our Nation to exercise themselves in this kinde of Armes And though it cannot plead Antiquity yet it may Safety and Usefulnes The latenes of it's invention being no disablement or disparagement for service being now with ease and publike applause exercised by generous and heroick Martiall Spirits There is not any that ever saw the management of it but was ready to maintaine it if he had any skill in or affection unto Warlike exercises And I believe I may justly say it that there can scarce be a fairer conjunction of Offensive and Defensive weapons to bee practis'd by one Soldier with such ease and pleasure as the Musquet and halfe-Pike For what could not without a great deale of combersomnes before be practis'd by Pikes and Musquets may this way be perform'd by one person with more safety and lesse danger and hazard to the Defendant The benefit of it may be perceived in these particulars following 1. It saves a great deale of charges laid out in Armes and Pikes for a Soldier may be furnish'd with these for as little as will buy a Pike so that by this meanes all the charge for Corslets and Head-pieces may bee saved which in great Armies will amount to a mighty summe of money and yet doe as much service for the Prince as they could before 2. Those weapons must needs be excellent which are so advantageous to the Prince for what need there be any Pike-men whenas the Musquetier thus armed and accoutred is able of himselfe to make good their roome for he by this weapon is able at all times to keepe off the Horse if they should offer assaults and yet give fire as well as otherwise and be as ready for any sudden execution Now in the other though it should be said that to Pike-men keepe the Horse from running furiously upon our Rankes and Files yet it cannot be denyed but their own persons are indanger'd by the Enemies volleyes of shot In this the Horse are kept off and the persons of the Soldiers secure and able to revenge themselves freely upon their Adversaries So that it is plaine that there may be as much service done by 1000. Soldiers thus accommodated as there could before by so many more armed with Pikes 3. As 't is advantageous in the two former respects so is it as good for ease and safety to the Musquetier for upon any occasion his halfe-pike may stand in stead for a Rest and that used with comelinesse and decency with gracefulnes and nimblenesse upon all postures as the Rest may or can be managed so that if a Rest be accounted comely decent gracefull and nimble for a Musquetier the same may the half-plke because it hath all these qualifications but yet it is not onely serviceable as a Rest but it is also full of safety to his person for a Division of Musquetiers cannot be entred upon by any Horse-forces because they stand barricadoed as it were within so many steel'd Pallizadoes and may by a little retreat give fire to the utter destroying of such as shall dare to affront them they being so made that they are fitting to fasten in any earth and so light that they are carriagable in any place and to any man of Armes usefull upon almost all occasions 4. Whereas most opposition stoutest resistances and greatest hazards are made in entring breaches for usually most blood is spent there in defence and offence every one there ayming either to gaine or