without staying by the way then his match well made and dry his stéele and flinte to strike fire his scrues and wormes to serue all for his skowring sticke and for euery tenne souldiers to haue a casting panne For flasks it were better that the vse of them were lefte and in liewe thereof the Spanishe vse which is nowe had with vs for our muskets for it is the best the surest and the readiest that yet hath béene vsed for diuers causes which I omitte least I should bee tedious This Harquebuzier muste yet haue a tuch boxe a purse for his Bullets steele and flint and a priminge Iron for the clearinge of the tuch hole when neede shall require a good Morion with not to high a creast a good shorte sworde of a yarde in blade and dagger of twelue inches in blade with a good girdle and stronge This souldier thus furnished being apt willing and dooth vnderstand what him selfe is in force needeth not to care who he dooth encounter withall béeing but one although he were a man at armes and in groundes of aduantage to be the death of many the which aduantage of groundes is the greatest helpe to all defendantes the which I take to be our partes at this day in England to thinke vpon For these Harquebuziers is the onely weapon that hath beene the greatest cause of the deathes of suche numbers as haue béene of late dayes ouerthrowne in great incounters yea and in small skirmishes by the terrible shot of Pistoliers or Reisters and specially at Saint-quintins and at Graueling the English ships were a great cause of that ouerthrowe But reade the booke of the Commentarie of the sciuile warres of Fraunce and the incounters in the Lowe countries and at the same time that the Frenche Kinge Henrie the seconde incountered with the Emperour Charles at Rentie what was the shot of Harquebuzers there the very morning before the sunne was one hower highe there was 400 Harquebuziers slaine of the French party and drawne out of the shrubs or bushes by the héels the which the French and Spaniardes did striue to obtaine for the better aduantage of a greater matter which was done there that same daye And it was well knowne that of the Spanish partie there was slaine in the same skirmishe almost double the number And after the obtaining of the same bushes or shrubs by the french the Emperor came forward towards the Kings armie being a Fawcon shot the one off the other at which time the Duke of Sauoy hauing the leading of the Uant-garde did descende towardes the saide bushes possessed by the Frenche footemen and the encounter began with such terrible shot of the Spanish Uant-garde and the French footemen that who so euer did see the same may wel say that the shot of the Harquebuziers are moste deadly weapons being in the hands of skilfull men For what with the terrour of the French shot and the braue charge of the French light horse-men the Uantgarde of the Emperor was there ouerthrown and chéefely by the terror of the French shot laid in the bushes as afore is said Againe before Cambraye the armies aforesaide being néere together where the King had staid foure dayes according to his promise for the Emperour It fell out the laste daye the Kinge remooued his Campe at which instant there approched néere vnto the French Campe 2000. horsemen of the best in the Emperors armie accompanied or backed with two thousand Harquebuziers one foote the French being 5000 men at armes archers within Pystol shot of their enemies for the space of foure houres still beholding one another who durst first breake for if the Frenche beeing the greater number had charged the Sapniards then would the two thousand shot haue galled and destroyed the most parte of them to their great detriment and losse wherfore it may be thought that the French would not haue ouer shot themselues so farre as to haue omitted such a daies worke but only for the doubt that they had of the same Harquebuzers so couched in a hollowe way behind the horsemen as aforesayd Againe at the siege of Bouaigne where the French King being in person y ◠Emperor at Namure within eight miles the Kings pleasure was to haue fiue hundred horse to goe as neere to the Emperours Campe as they could to discouer the enemies but it fell so foorth that there were 2000. horsemen enemies abrode at the same time and méeting the one with the other they both pawsed to charge for the most part of the way lay betwixt the riuer of Moose and a great banke so that the French supposed that the whole Campe of the Emperour had beene comming they retired a soft trote their enemies pursued and made after with more speed and the French hauing but onely forty shot horsemen they caused them to light and to defend the straighte at the best aduantage by meanes of those forty shot the 500 horse were saued and came to their Campe without losse Also the very first daye that Bouaigne was besieged the French shotte so freshlye followed the Spaniardes that were sallyed foorth for the mainetenance of their skirmishe that in conclusion they came close to the walles of the towne and there stayed and so without either trench basket or gabyons continued there from eight of the clock in the morning vnto fower in the after-noone in which time there was not any either souldier or townsman that durst looke ouer the walles in so much that the Cannoniers and Pyoners did place theyr ordinaunce without anye more defences for theyr safety then afore is saide so that before fiue of the clocke the frenche foote-men entered and slewe man woman and child or threwe them into Moose which dooth runne close by the wall vpon the one side so were these people all slaine or drowned sauing nine Spaniards that fled into a little towre the which they defended about two howers to the losse of fiue or sixe frenche shot But the nexte day they were all hanged vpon one paire of Gallous that were set vp right against the castle of Denant being little more then halfe a mile distant from Bouaigne wherin was at that time Iulian Romero with 200. of his countrie men who by his and their vallours and force of their shot withstoode the Kinges power thrée dayes to the death of a great nūber of the french which were lost at two assaults and then yéelded by composition The fifth discourse ANd touching the rest of our fierye weapons I will set downe partlie my opinion and when I doo speake of Harquebuzies it is meant by all Calliuers Curriers although the musket be a weapon of greater force then the Harquebuze is of yet generally both on horseback and on foote a Harquebuze dooth serue for both But were the musket to be dealt withall on horsebacke as one foote I woulde then thinke it the best of all manuall weapons that yet
can hinder the Archers from shootinge but I am not of that minde for that the archer lyinge in Campe where as hee maye not lye foorth of his appointed place and hauing not to couer his Bowe nor scantlie his heade then I thinke his bowe to be in danger to dissolue the Glewe in the hornes of the bowe and something hinder his stringe and sheffe of arrowes whereof he dooth make his pillowe but to conclude in this pointe howe shall a man make a stronge argument or aunswer vnto a matter of no substance except he haue helpe by Logike the which for my part these fewe lines may witnesse that it is not my profession Nowe to aunswere the thyrd question which is whether the Bullets of weapons of fyre or the arrowes of archers doo annoy the enemie most which question is friuolous for by the propounding of the question and aunswered by the authour him selfe it dooth carrie a showe in wordes to be taken as a thinge most certaine with such especallye as dooth not vnderstand to the contrarie But with all souldiers Captaines and skilfull Conductors of the warres it is euidently and manifestlie knowen that where as there hath béene one slaine with arrowes there hath béen a hūdred slaine with manual wepons of fire since the vse of the same hath beene practised and rightlie knowen Wherefore if death be annoyaunce to eyther Horse-man or foote-man let this suffise for it is not woundes or small hurtes that daunteth the souldiers where as death is not greatly to be feared as before is declared And where as Sir Iohn Smith dooth saye himselfe that the archers doo hurte and wounde as in the face and places vnarmed yet dooth hee confesse that the same dooth but sometimes kill whereby it may well be vnderstoode to be a thing of small force in respect of the weapons of fire Againe whereas it is sette downe in the same place that the arrowe heades beeinge rustie is the cause that woundes giuen by the same will not heale whereby some will imagine that it is for the beif to haue their arrow heades rustie But truelie I neuer did see any archer in the warres that had any other then such rustie arrowe heades and besides I did not at any time see anie of those archers goe about to mende them and to make them cleane and smooth that thereby the same might the better enter through the doubletes or garmentes of theyr enemies for by common reason and dailie proofe any thinge that is rustie be it Bodkin or Dagger or arrowe heade it will not with great force enter through any meane thing if it were but a meanely bumbasted doblet And I am of that opinion that the doubletes vsed in these dayes are as good a defence against a rustie arrowe as a Target of the best proofe and as touching the heades of the archers arrowes beinge barbed and broade before by reason whereof it can not enter as a smooth sharpe heade would doo therefore it must of necessitie bee that the same heades was deuised for galling of naked horses And doubtlesse the same being of so small force and entring so little waie into the horse should immediatelie fall foorth againe whereas by reason of the barbe it was supposed to stay trouble the horses the more All which annoyaunces are but meane stuffe towardes the defence or inuadinge of a kingdome as by some other argumentes hereafter shall by Gods helpe be showed and prooued But first to conclude with these our archers and of their disabillitie in respect of the seruice of these dayes true it is that before the weapons of fire were inuented and vnknowen as also vntryed to be weapons of great force and effect in all seruice on horse-backe as one foote as before is declared and yet but of late dayes that the same haue beene made publicke in armes and not as yet throughlie and generallie knowen vnto this our Nation as vnto some of the greater calling and to the most of the meaner sorte as the Long-bowe or archer is by reason that we are brought vp therewith euen as a parcell of our chéefe pleasure But yet there is good hope that by reason of suche good prouisions as are made within this realme that in some conuenient time the same may be more vsed and practised then it is and speciallye the Musket the Harquebuze and the Pistoll the which without exercise can not bee commodious or profitable in any good sorte to be answerable against the vsurping enemies the Spaniards who are wholy and fully practised therewith and specially with y ◠Musket and Harquebuze And would it pleased God our Prince and Maiestrates to haue our able men in England to be vsed and trained in the same weapons of fire it would not onely incourage them but also be a great delight to theyr Captaines and leaders the rather to incounter with those wicked enemies or any other And also it wold be a terror to al our enemies that should chance to offer any iniurie to this realme of England or Ireland for wee may assure our selues that it is our want of skill that maketh these forreine enemies the more bolde to inuade vpon vs. For if wee were practysed in our weapons as they are they would neuer séeke vs in England nor else where For in respecte of this nation the Spanyardes in deede are but péeuishe wéedes For by experience I doo know that in al the time of the wars continued betwixt the Emperor Charles and Henry the 2. French king the Spaniards were the least accounted off in the field of any other nation whatsoeuer they will doo wel in skirmishes with their shot or in defending of a hold or assaulting of any breach but for any other great incounters you shall heare little of their dooings to any great purpose For the ouerthrowes that were at Saint-quintins and at Graueling was not doon by them though King Phillip bare the name but by the Duke of Sauoy and the Countie Egmond with his Wallons and by the Duke of Brunswick and those Almaigns all which was doone with horsemen insomuch that without exercise of our weapons we shalbe a great deale woorse able to encounter with them but to our great gréefe and losse The 10. Discourse THus hauing spoken of the fierye weapons and the Long bow in which I haue partely shewed mine opinion yet for the better proofe of my allegations heerin declared for that the contrarye is so fixed and rooted in the mindes of many of these our fréends in England that vnlesse it be tried and with action in their sight proued they will in no wise yet be perswaded from their former opinions in y e matter Wherfore I haue thought it my part in respect therof to set downe some course whereby the same maye by action be made manifest vnto all that are doubtfull in that behalfe And thus if it may please our Prince and state to
best begin to intrench I seeing him going about the same and notwithstanding I had no acquaintaunce of him and yet knowing that hee had neither serued in Fraunce nor with the Emperour of good will that I bare vnto the seruice I wente vnto him in courteous manner and saide maister Pelham it were verye good for you to beginne at the foote of this hill and runne straight to yonder hillocke whereat he seemed to be offended and saide that I stoode not charged with these matters it was his charge and not mine I was sorie of that I had spoken considering how vncourteouslie he did accept of my good will But how did the matter fall out before tenne daies by leauinge his trenche open the French perceiuing that they might without any let come both on horsebacke and foote and so did wheras it cost the liues of 200. souldiers and Captaine Bartlet taken prisoner with diuers others and at the reskew wherof the L. Gray of Wilton that now is hauing not time to arme him selfe was shotte through the body with a Bullet so that many thousandes haue dyed of lesser woundes then that was And againe at the time that the good Earle Frācis of Bedford was L. Gouernour of Barwicke and L. Warden of y ◠East Marches it chanced amongst other warlike talke procéeding from his L. at dinner time he demaunded of the Captaines there present how many shot a harquebuzier might discharge in one hower one Captaine Brode euen sodainelie did answer and sayd tenne the rest of the Captaines did not reprooue his answer although that they did knowe he was farre short of the matter and I sitting at the table though not to crosse the said Captaine Brode but rather to tell him thereof after dinner the which I did and withall tolde him that it was not so well done as of right he ought to haue done as all the Captaines there present did confesse But the said Captaine Brode to maintaine his said answer sayd that he had said truely and thereupon did offer to wager whereto I did offer there to shoot fortie in the like time single Bullettes foorth of one peece but the Captaine would abide no triall the which I did offer to make And thus may we see that Noble men by wrong information of such as they doo suppose shoulde knowe may be abused The second discourse ANd for further example the two Tresmains they were very proper Gentlemen and had beene in Fraunce foure or fiue yeres during the wars betwixt the Emperour Charles and the French Kinge and it was supposed at their returne into Englande that they had beene trayned in that seruice during theyr abode there but it was not so they neuer did commaund in the feelde neither were they of any other commaunded in any Marticall cause neuerthelesse at their home comminge they were appointed to take charge but what was the end of them both euen death without dooing theyr Prince or country any good to theyr freendes or themselues any praise or reputation Wherefore I wishe all young Gentlemen and others mindinge to doo theyr Prince and countrie good seruice to learne first to obaye and the vse of warlike weapons and not to thinke by reading only to attaine to knowledge without some further experience and that done they may the better proceede according to their callinges to commaund and leade others the better with more commendation for their seruice and for the security of them selues and followers There is no greater greefe can be offered to a Captaine that doth rightly and truely vnderstand what seruice is then to be commanded by his Chieftaine to doo and execute to the contrarye wherein there may be no deniall It is euen so with the skilful souldier vnto his vnskilfull Captaine these thinges I doo perfectly knowe to be true of mine knowledge I will set downe a little further touchinge a matter reported vnto me by men of skil and knowledge concerning a Gentleman who was accounted to be one of the most skilfullest Souldiers in England and in troth he was a maruelous honest Gentleman and offaire conditions but a souldier is neuer iustly tried vnto such time as cause and action hath made due proofe thereof I did once heere S. Richard Lee the fortifier say vnto a counseller in England that it is better for a man to be counted a good souldier in the Court then to be the best souldier in the feelde and not knowen in Courte And nowe to the reported matter It pleased her Maiestie and counsell to sende M. Edward Randall Esquire into Ireland about the tenth yeere of her Maiesties raigne with diuers bandes of footemen for the better garding of some parte of her highnesse countries and subiectes there against such rebellious persons as then pretended to iniure the same and so béeinge placed in Ireland it fell out that either vpon some false report or the ignoraunt aduertisement of such as was put in trust for the discouering of the enemies numbers but howe so euer it was the Collonell commaunded that Captaine Cornewall Captaine Gorlay Captaine Skreuen and Captaine Ward should be ready with their seuerall bandes to march forward as they should bee directed and about two houres before day they did march foorth towardes the enemies At the point of the day before the soune was vp the fewe Englishe horsemen did discouer of the enemies to the number of 3000. horsemen and footemen being very néere vnto our foote men who were in number about 400. with 50. horsemen leade by Captaine Haruy wherevpon our Captaines perceiuing that there was no hope to retire with any safetie by reason the enemies were so many horsemen tooke their groundes for their best aduantage and aranged their men in good order and incouraging their souldiers to trye their vallures in that parcell of ground of some aduantage and to showe themselues to bee the men that they professed to bée wherupon they made readie their weapons to receiue the enemies Uiolence Now maister Randall the Collonell hauing not perfect sight demaunded how far the enemies were off and what number they were It was told him they were in horsemen and footmen to y ◠number of 3000. euen hard at hand readie to charge the footemen where withall he without eyther taking time to incourage and accompanye his men or to suffer the footmen to giue their volley of shot as reason did require but euen presently put the spurs to his horse and ran into the thickst of the enemies euen at the instant that the Harquebuziers did giue their volley of shot at the enemies insomuch that he was slaine with his owne men and fréends most wilfullye to the great discouragement of the rest had there not béen men both of courage and knowledge in their doinges who in that action did right well trye themselues to be Souldiers for the enemies were there by Gods help their good seruice
haue beene deuised and inuented and not onely in defendinge of holdes and trenches but also in the plaine feelde for Battels and great incounters yea and to backe the smaller shot in skirmishe to great purpose For within holdes or trenches there may be vsed as the maner is péeces of better force and more to offend the enemies then muskets as Fauconits Robinets and Organpipes all these bée but light peeces are mounted vpon carriages and the greatest may bee remooued with two or thrée men which is the Fauconit al along the rampiers and euer new and new small lowpes made that the enemies shall not discerne the same before the shooting thereof which may not be done but vpon good occasion and also there be other peeces to be set vpon Blockes and to be remooued in like manner as Bases of diuers sorts and Harquebuze with crooks otherwise called Hagbuts a crooke the name come of the hooke of the same which is to be holden fast to a stocke or stone for recoyling But to the musket againe The musketes are weapons of great force and at this day bothe with leaders and followers much feared for fewe or no Armours will or can defend the force thereof being néerehand which is as well a terror to the best armed as to the meanest it will kill the armed of proofe at ten skore yardes the common armours at twenty score and the vnarmed at thirty skore being well vsed in bullet and tried powder And where as it is alledged in S. Iohn Smithes booke of many and sundry imperfections incidente vnto the same weapons of muskets and Haquebuzies as in dankishnes of powder or matche the smalnes of their bullets being not equal for the bore of the same peeces with diuers other impediments as there is to be seene who so listes to looke which are no impedimentes where skilfull souldiers hath the vsing of the same péeces And for the cause of raynie weather by him aleadged if it bee such a great wet that all things are wet then is it as bad for y â— one partie as for the other Let the seruice rest or fall to it with hand strokes An other obiection is made in the same booke against all knowledge and experience and that is touching the taking leuell at their marke or marks whereat they shoot as being so far inferior vnto the Long-bow in that respect as though there were no coÌ„parison to be made therein To the which I aunswer both of my owne knowledge and by common experience for that I my selfe did vse my bowe vnto my ag of 17. yeeres and could haue shot therewith right wel and so from my bow to my Harquebuze and after that I had vsed the same but 4. or 5. monthes I would haue shot at any marke at buts short or long or banke with the best bow-man in England for all that I had and so shal I as yet doo for a good wager or at the leaste some scholler of mine And as it is there termed point and blancke I neuer heard but that it is tearmed point blancke but I will not stand vpon tearmes for either haue I and many moe such plaine fellowes misued our tearmes in that point or else I am in the â—ight But as touching the certaintie of shooting at markes or enemies let it be with Harquebuze or musket considered but with the archer himselfe Whether a Cros-bowe or a Long-bowe in a Tyller shoot more certainely either at marke or pricke then dooth the Long-bowe that from the hand of the bow-man is deliuered and then I thinke it will be allowed that when the Harquebuze or Musket doo take the leuel from the button of his sight vnto the pin in the fore ende of his péece that he may shoote with more and surer leuell then can either loose Long-bowe Tiller-bowe or Cros-bowe and specially the Musket who hath his rest to stay his péece vpon right stedfastly And whereas it is set down also by S. Iohn Smith that it is not méete that any Harquebuziers should discharge or shoot but within 8. 10. or 12. yards at the most I wonder what manner of souldier that shold bee that within pointe blancke of his weapon be it musket or Harquebuze that should misse the bredth of a trencher and these are my reasons which consisteth in two pointes First as touchinge a good and skilfull Cannonier notwithstandinge that his Cannon dooth recoyle sixe or eight foote hee will not faile the compasse of a yarde of his marke beeinge within pointe blancke Secondly the fowler who dooth shoote without a rest many times and hath his péece charged with small haile shot if he be perfecte wil not faile to kil a Mallard yea sometimes halfe a dozen if they sit néere together or right vpon his leuell within fiftie yardes Then much lesse will the skilfull Harquebuzier or Muskettier misse the hitting of a man And againe there is not so simple a souldier that cannot make an estimation how farre his marke is without his leuell that is without pointe blanck and so giue his weapon that vantage as the distaunce doothe require And so I omitte to answer vnto the rest alleadged for the slendernes of them thinking this sufficient to prooue my argumentes manifest enough vnto all that dooth knowe the vse of weapons of war and for such as are ignorant let them learne of them that dooth truely know them The sixt discourse prouing the Long-bowe to be farre inferiour vnto the firie weapons ANd now to y â— Long-bow so highly commended by S. Iohn Smith by so many sundrye recited arguments and proofes by him alleadged in his saide booke as therein is declared and set foorth in so many seuerall places that I think it is not néedfull or requisite to answere vnto the most parte thereof But as the olde prouerb is that good things néede no praising therefore as neere as God will giue me leaue I shall set downe my opinion and knowledge without either affection or hatred to y e same The time that I firste entred into the warres was at Boleigne where there were a thousand fiue hundreth or thereabouts in the same Towne and Fortes there néere adioyning and although I serued there some fiue or sixe moneths yet did I not at any time during my abode there sée them altogether at any one instant vnto such time as the same was deliuered vnto the French king al which numbers came from thence to Callice in good order of march and I seruing in Guines vnder sir Iohn Wallop Knight went to sée them and beholding them well in diuers respects I thought that in all England there were not so many in any one shire to be found of the like comelines and shape of bodye and notwithstanding that the most parte of them were archers I did neuer sée or heard of any thing by them doon with their Long bowes to any great effect But many haue I séene
lye dead in diuers skirmishes and incounters betwéene the Englishe in those Fortes and the French in Garrison in the Fort called Mon pleasure and mon gardenet right ouer against our Fortes and holds there And where as I serued in Guynes as afore is said in a band that were all Harquebuzieres sauing fourtéen persons there was also another Band of Souldiers vnder one Captain Basset who had no Harquebuzeres in his Band hee was an Essex man toward the Earle of Oxford and the two bands serued oftentimes together in diuers skirmishes and ouerthrowes betwixt y ◠Garrison of Guines and Arde and amongst many other both before y e towne of Arde and at other times néere vnto the Castle of Guines where triall was to haue béene made twice or thrice in a wéeke of all manner of warlike weapons and the sufficiencie therof to haue beene iustly proued and amongst many other of greater force in numbers I will heare set downe the manner of one incounter doon by the Garrison of Guynes The 7. Discourse IT fell out that Sir Iohn Wallop Knight of th'order of the Garter who had gotten intelligence by his espialles that the Frenchmen would come into the English grounds vpon a night wherevpon as soone as the gates was shut he sent foorth his Gentleman Porter to commaund the Captaines to put in readines their Bands all sauing one that should continue within the towne for watching and warding vntill their returne back which was doone accordingly and according to the time appointed they did march foorth of the Towne 400. footemen and 25. horsemen and being not halfe a myle from the Towne there fell such a huge raine and tempest that the Captaines consented together to returne home to the Towne againe and so did Sir Iohn Wallop was a lame man and could neither ride nor go but in a litter as he was carried and yet in his directions most perfect The Frenchmen being abroad and had laine in couert all the same morning about ten of the clock in the foorenoone the Cattle of the English inhabitants being all abroad and suspecting no enemies the French horsemen brake vpon the villages from Mewnam Bridge close by the marrishe side and droue away great numbers of Cattle and Sheepe not comming neere vnto Guines by two miles and when they had gotten that they could they returned towardes Hambletewe and so after that they were foorth of the sight of the day watche of Hams and Guynes the Garrison of Hambletewe and them of Arde there parted their bootie and so returned towards their Garrisons In the meane time Sir Iohn Wallop had vnderstanding that the Captains wēt not forth according to his direction wherfore he sent to commaund them to come before him to answer their cause but before the Captains did come the Larum was throughout the Countrye and the day watch strooke the Larum and off went a Cannon to giue the rest of the Countrie warning and foorth with the Captains and Souldiers issued foorth and with their weapons only without any armour at all the Bell continued striking the Larum so hotlye that euery man thought the enemy had béen at the Towne gates insomuch that the gouernour him selfe came foorth and there meeting with some of the Captains so be called them for not perfourming his directions that he sware by Gods mother which was his common oath that they were all cowardly knaues and durste not look a Frenchman in the face wherwith the Captains were sore greeued but in this meane space there came a Horseman from Sindercase Church who had séene all the demeanor of the French and declared that one part were going towards Hambletewe and th'other towards Arde the Captains and the Souldiers hearing this neuer staide but made towards a place called Buckhole or Buckhold they ran by 20. and 10. and more and lesse vntill they came néere to the open where the French were newlye come through the the woods with the Cattle and bootie and tooke their grounds of aduauntage and put their footmen in their best order and their horsemen vpon their left hand and by that time the French were wel set in their orders the English were about 280. footemen that were come together and 9. horsemen but before that the English could come into the ground where those French had imbatled themselues there was a hedge wherin was a gappe that 3. in a rank could not passe through the same whereof we stoode in doubt that the horsemen would haue charged vs before we had past the said straight but they suffered vs quietly to come through the same there needed no Sargeant for euery man as fast as hee could pace fell into his ranke which was seauen and then we had to ascend towards the enemy who stood vpon a Linch of a banck 2. yards high y e horsmen stood at y e end of the same Linch vpon whom we straight directed our shot the French shot off their peeces in effect vpon our flanke and ouershot vs in manner but we let flye amongst their horsemen so full in their faces that they to goe it was no néede to bid them spur and so many as were not slain went cléer away the footemen stayed vntill we came to ioyne Pyke to Pyke and at the last they began to shrink and thought to haue saued themselues being so néer the wood but we pursued them so fast that few did scape by flight and so they thrue away their Pikes and fled towardes the wood but we kild 117. of the footmen and fiue horses and took Mounsier de Outings Liefetenant to the Gouernor of Arde and one other Horseman and 69. Prisoners with the armour and weapon of the rest that were slaine the bootie went cleere away for before we had done and put our selues in good order againe to march home the bootie was neere Arde gates and Sir Iohn aduertised by some that were in the day watche that the French and our men were togeather for the smoke of the shot might well bee seene he wished that we had béene at home for all his land said hée But when newes was brought him by one Muse one of the nine horsemen that he shoulde cause his cooke to prouide his supper for Monsieur de Outings would sup with him a great sorte more of his partakers then the gouernor was right glad and was sorie that he had so be called the Captaines This was done aboute Nouember in the 3. yéere of Edward the sixt by my Captain Hugh Smith and Captaine Thomas Sibell Captaine Matson and Captaine Basset with 268. footemen and 9. horsemen The french were 87. horsemen led by Captaine Pelowes and 340 footemen led by the L. of Outings in this incounter we lost but fiue men yet diuers hurt but recouered all well againe amongest these there was 35. Bow-men whereof there was one slaine but not one slaine by the archers nor to my knowledge I neuer sawe any slaine out right with an
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
thinke themselues were at any hauen in England with fiue or sixe thousand of the best muskettiers that they euer sawe of our English nation without an armie of horsemen and footemen of other weapons to backe them I thinke they would worke verie small effect against the enimies landing although they had insconced themselues c. I will omit to rehearse the whole set downe by sir Iohn Smith but the principall effects as thus If they should see an armie of thirtie or fortie thousand men besides sea men and such as should be left for the garding of the ships vnder some notable and sufficient Generall enter into any capable hauen in England with winde and weather fit for the purpose with intention to inuade as God forbid they should finde themselues c. For vpon the discharging of the third Cannon saith he all the longboates and vessels of oares for the landing of men do rowe with all furie towards the land with a woonderfull terrible noise of trumpets drums Now if our such men of warre with their Muskettiers would giue their vollies of Musket shot vpon these ship-boates full of men with intent to destroy great numbers of them being so thicke and so many they shall finde that discharging their musket shot from the higher grounds downe into the sea which by the Italians are called Botti di ficco accounted of all other the most vncertaine c. That insomuch that in despite of this insconcing musquetiers the enemies will land and approch their indented Sconce not with any crosse trench gabyons nor mounts according to the order of approching and battering of places in forme fortified but with other inuentions gardable against musket shot that peraduenture our such men of warre are ignorant of as also with musket shot c. Insomuch that our such men of war as he saith would not scarcely abide the landing of the first boate ful of soldiers without abandoning both sconce and shore vnto the enemies Whereunto I say that if any such forren enimies should pretend to land héere in England as of late the Spaniards would haue done as it was thought the which by Gods prouidence and the indeuour of our valiant Seamen were preuented and dispersed to their losse and reproch Wherefore I am fully perswaded that if the like occasion should be offered although that they were more in number than is spoken of with the most sufficient Generall being but a man that by the same grace and helpe aforesaid and with the supply of the fiue thousand Muskettiers and Harquebuziers with 500. Pyoners and twelue Fawcons and Fawconets to assist our Seamen with such Gentlemen as would accompany the same there is no doubt but it would suffise to be such a barre against those enemies that they should not be able to touch our shoares in England chiefely if it should so come to passe as sir Iohn Smith doth alledge that the banks were high aboue the Sea it were so much the woorse for the enemies to assaile the same fiue to one as for example the banks being high as aforesaid y e enemies must either haue ladders to climb foorth of their tottering boates or else som of their owne friends or fellowes to drawe them vp with pykes the which I would thinke by all reason that our muskettiers harquebuziers and laborers with the blacke bill should right well serue their turne in that behalfe to their destruction and repulse For whereas the enemies must of necessity stand vpright in their vessels of oares at the full showe to their great annoiance and also shall not be able to giue their vollies of shot with any such certainty as shall our muskettiers who shall lie close vpon the shoares with a small trench before them and shall néede to shew nothing but their heads and weapons aboue the same which trench may be made in halfe an houre with the pioners aforesaid And againe if the hauen be full that the bankes and water be in maner equall then may our field péeces with muskettiers cleanse the hauen at the verie first vollie being discréetly deliuered and in due time that is first the fielde péeces at 12. score yards and the muskets at eight score the harquebuziers at fower score and so by these dooings euery péece both great and small should haue time to recharge before the enemies coulde touch the shores and to be readie againe to giue them their welcome to their faces But I do not beléeue that the enemies would abide the second welcome being thus vsed And besides all this I doubt nothing lesse but that her Maiesties armie by sea wil be as readie to attend vpon them as aforetime they haue done and with a greater desire to deale with them than at the first they had by reason of some wants c. And so being still beating at the buttocks of the enimies with the like aduantage as before they did So that our Sea-men kéeping them occupied in their reregard I doubt not but this number aforesaide may with small losse stay their landing Now I feare nothing of this to be performed but for the vncertainty of the place of their pretended landing for otherwise I had rather be one of the defendants vpon the land of the 5000. shot with the assistance aforesaide than to be one of 50000. to approch the shores for some must staie to defende their ships against our Nauie againe some are so Sea-sicke that they are for a space vnfit to fight and for the vncertaine taking their leuell to shoot either their Base or Musquet being vpon the swelling water and our defendants vpon the firme land where they may shoote with the best aduantage There is great difference in diuers respects c. And againe whereas Sir Iohn Smith doth further alleadge besides all which before is alleaged saieng That if a puisante and mightie Enemie that in the time of Sommer intendeth the inuasion of forraine Dominions by Sea to the intent to giue battle and subdue doth not alwaies bende himselfe to land his armie in a hauen but sometime vpon an open coast and shoare if the Sea without hidden rockes and flattes be deepe and the winde and weather faire hauing commoditie by the deepe of the sea to approch his Nauie and to cast anker in open rode neere vnto a commodious shore to land and march vpon c. The which armie saith he cannot be repulsed neither with insconsing of sconces nor yet with any well ordered fortification but onely with a great and extraordinary wisedome and with the valiant hands of a puisant armie and a campe formed Whereunto I saie as before if the certaintie of their landing might be knowne it were no matter for in my opinion they should be as well letted vpon the open coast as in the hauen And let it fall out that the same shoulde be at a dead lowe water and a mile distant from the shore I would wish
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
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
ouerthrown and put to slaughter and flight to their great praise Now if this be true as it is supposed I doo think that it is against reason that the same should be accompted a matter woorthy of the praise that by the Cronicles is set downe and to leaue vnremembred the valiant Captaines that was the iust cause of the déed and victorie obtained I doo not set this downe for any mallice that euer I did beare vnto M. Randall for I did euer for his curtesie both loue him and thought well of all his good spéech and dooings vntill this fact was committed and for that I haue heard some of good acount say that his dooinges in the same was valourous I am not of that minde but it is for the most parte holden for valour with such as doo not vnderstand what true valour is when in troth it is but very foolish hardines without any discretion at all And thus much haue I said as touching ignorance as well in the greatest who haue receiued their knowledge by wrong informations as the meaner who dooth not regarde what they doo take in hand through the like offence A man might make a long role but this is some parte to shew that it is necessary to look vnto whom such great charges are committed to be men well able to discharge the same not in woords but in action so shall it the better fall out for our Princes seruice and defence of the Realme The third Discourse AS for the disorders in the Low Cuntries it is sufficientlye spoken off in the discourse of Sir Iohn Smith and as concerning the battell at Tilburye in Anno. 1588. I haue heard diuers reportes therof the which if they be true there was some cause to finde faulte But as touching the Archers they were placed in my opinion in the place most fit for them for the best was to be placed in the front and the woorst in the rereward And as concerning great or small Bandes of footmen my opinion is this that it is necessarye for foote-bands or bands of horsemen to be of diuers numbers for sundrye causes First for that there are Captaines who are better able to gouerne fiue hundred then some othoers are to guern two hundred Againe if there happen some péece of seruice to be doone which one hundred maye doo it is more then néedeth to send two or thrée hundreds to do the same or peraduenture there cannot be spared so manye If therefore there should be sent one hundreth from another hundreth if in both the places seruice should come in hand the two hundreth so parted shall be the weaker in both the partes by deuiding the Officers As for example I haue the charge of 200. footmen my commaunder commaunds me to set foorth of my band of 200. one hundred to keepe a straight or passage or such like it is reason that either my Lieftenaunt or my selfe doo goe with them if in the mean time occasion of seruice be offered both my two hundreds are by this means weakned And so dooth the matter fall out if a parcell of seruice should be doon where 500. should be imployed therunto it were better that one sufficient Captaine tooke in hand to doo the same with his onlye band then to send two Captains for two may be of diuers opinions and so may differ whereby the seruice is oftentimes hindred So is it in my opinion not amisse that there be in a great Army 100. 200. 300. 400. 500. or 600. The Frenchmen doo vse when a noble man hath 600. footmen in charge to haue two Ensignes and two Lieftenants foure Sargeants and 8. Corporalles for commonlye they doo vse 300. to one Ensigne in Campe time but the Countie of Creance had in the seruice against Charles the 5. the charge of 600. footmen And for the numbers to be admitted vnder Collonels it standeth in the same state as dooth the Captains before mentioned for a worthye personage that is able to gouern aright would I wish to haue vnder his charge 3000. men a mener 2000. and the least 1000 so should they the more properly serue vpon seuerall occasions as the Captaines maye in their estates doo But one thing I doo wish that the Collonelles should take such order with their Captaines that euery seuerall band be armed and weaponed alike according to their proportion so shal it be a great furtheraunce at the time that the Armye shall be reduced into battaile and put in order to fight without any confusion or trouble to the Corporalles of the fielde or to the Sargeants maiors but with great ease maye embattaile them vpon the sodaine if they were in number 20000. footmen Thus much after my mean skil and vnderstanding haue I set down as concerning Collonels and Captaines referring the same to my betters and Captains of greater experience and knowledge to allow or disalow at their pleasure And further concerning the proportion of weapons afore mencioned I wish to euery hundred 35. armed Pikes 30. Muskets 20 Calyuers and 15. Billes Halberds or Partesants my reason is this that I would haue so much to offend as to defend for as by common experience that those Swissers and Almaines whose hierlings soeuer they be the chéefe cause wherefore they are retained are but to fortefie the bodies of their battailes as defendants and therfore are most sure and strong But as for the offenciue which be the shot next vnto the Horsemen they must be of other nations and men of more agillitie of bodye then either Swisser or Launce-Knight And now to the declaration of our weapons IT is supposed by many that the weapon called commonly a Caliuer is another thinge then a Harquebuze whereas in troath it is not but onely a Harquebuze sauing that it is of a greater circuite or Bullet then the other is of wherfore the French man dooth cal it a péece de Calibre which is as much as to say a péece of bigger circute The fourth discourse ANd nowe for that the Harquebuze was the first weapon that I did vse I will therefore say some thing touching the same it is a weapon moste offenciue that as yet euer was inuented for all maner of seruice as well on horsebacke as one foote and in the handes of a skilfull souldier well practised and trained with the vse thereof a most terrible and deadly weapon But this I muste néedes confesse that in the handes of an ignoraunt person neither apte nor willing to vse the same as of right it ought to be it is rather hurtfull then commodious For whosoeuer shall take in hand to vse the same weapon must take as it were a delighte in the well vsing thereof First to kéepe the same cleane and cléere as well within as without and to haue his molde to cast his Bullets as round as is possible and the same well pared to that ende it may fall close to the powder