A Breefe Discourse Concerning the force and effect of all manuall weapons of fire and the disability of the Long Bowe or Archery in respect of others of greater force now in vse With sundrye probable reasons for the verrifying therof the which I haue doone of dutye towards my Soueraigne and Country and for the better satisfaction of all such as are doubtfull of the same Written by Humfrey Barwick Gentleman Souldier Captaine Et Encor plus oultre AT LONDON Printed for Richard Oliffe and are to be solde in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Crane To the right Honourable my very good Lord Henry Carey Baron of Hunsdon Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties housholde Lord gouernour of Barwick Lord warden of the marches for and anenst Scotland Lord Leifetenant of Suffolke and Norfolke Captaine of her Maiesties Gentlemen Pencioners and one of her highnes most honourable priuie Counsell Humfrey Barwick wisheth long continuance in health and honor RIght Honourable hauing read ouer two little Bookes set foorth by two seuerall Knights the one dedicated to the maiestrates of England by Syr Iohn Smith Knight the other by Syr Roger VVilliams Knight also dedicated to the right honourable the Earle of Essex the which two Bookes either dooth or ought to tende both to one purpose and yet neuerthelesse in some speciall pointes therein are such great diuersitie of opinions that it would make men not perceiuing the intent and what thinges are euen to wauer and doubt of the trueth of those causes and considering that they are men both of good account and quality loyall and faithfull to one Soueraigne and also well trauelled whereby they ought to haue the better knowledge in warlike weapons and Marshall Discipline the varietye whereof seemeth to many verye strange Where-vpon I haue at sundry times had conference with diuers persons of sundrye callings touching some parte of the seuerall discourses of the said two Knights wherein I haue found so very many addicted to the opinion of Syr Iohn Smith as touching the commending of the Archerye of England with so many reasons and arguments by him alleadged in that behalfe that many are thereby perswaded that the long Bowe is the onelye weapon of the Worlde for the obtaining of Battailes and victories in these daies with so manye allegations against Muskets Harquebuzies and other weapons of fire as in the same Booke appeereth Syr Roger VVilliams vpon the contrary dooth seeme to except of the Muskets speciallye with the rest of the weapons of fire and partely seeming to proue the long Bowe to be the woorst shot that are vsed in these dayes as by diuers argumēts are set down in the 46. and 47. leafe of his discourse Wherfore may it please your good Lordship to accept of my intent being one of the meanest of a great number that are and hath beene vnder your Lordships gouernement to explaine the matter according to my simple knowledge and experience in this cause and that it maye vnder your Lordships protection be published in the behalfe of your Honors duetifull and obedient Souldiour so shall I thinke my trauell in dooing but my duetye towards her Maiesties Countrye and your Lordship most happilye harboured and in the mean time remain ready to serue and obey at your good Lordships commaundement H. Barwick To all skilfull Captaines and Souldiours who hath had the vse and doo know the force and effect of weapons of war and to all such as are willing to know or vnderstand the true effect thereof Of whome H. B. craueth equall Iudgement ¶ There are three principall causes that dooth giue vnto Conquestes great and happye successe viz. Loyaltie in Subiects Exercises in Armes And perfect intelligence I Doo not a little maruaile what the cause should be that men are so slowe in thinges to so good effect is there any in doubt to do good in causes most requisite dooth not euery Captaine repine and thinke much that dooth knowe the force and effect of all weapons of warre to heare such arguments and so many reasons and deuices to fortefie a matter against all true knowledge and experience what shall we refuse the Cannon and fall to the Ram againe or to knowne weapons more meeter for Sauadge people then for puissaunt Princes that are able to maintaine those of the greatest force or shall we be carried away with affection threatnings or eloquent and sweete woords it is not our partes we must abide the greatest blowes or els what wilbe the issue of the matter shall the blinde leade himselfe or shall we runne into a mischeefe headlong that wee both see and know considering how farre the same dooth differ from the matter alleadged euen so farre that euery priuate Souldiour that knoweth himselfe may iudge it were more then beastly and so stands the case with vs if we doo wilfully or ignorantly forsake that which wee haue so long time made iust triall to be of the greatest force and doo returne to that againe the which we haue so often forsaken for the disabilitie that by triall we haue found therin then are we well woorthy to abide the smart thereof to our own reproche And yet were it but the losse of the thing it selfe the matter were the lesse There are none that in person hath made iust triall of the Archers that euer will if he may choose be partaker with them againe it is but the loue that manye doo beare vnto the same weapons for that in times past they were the best shotte that were and yet were they the cause of more bloodshed then in these daies is vsed and my reason is this that when battailes and great encounters chaunced to fall out by reson that the shot were no more offenciue then by the vse of the long Bowes and Crossebowes the enemies did then commonlye ioyne both with long and shorte weapons as by the dints of two handed Swoordes Battell Axes and Billes with Leade malles whereby the fight continued vnto the last end of the one party but in these daies where the weapons of fire hath beene rightlye vsed it hath beene scarselye seene that either Pike or Halberd hath come to ioyne at any time before the one partie did turne their faces by reason of the terrible force of the great and small shot the which by skilfull conductors of the same haue been placed vpon their enemies by vauntage of grounds or otherwise as time and place hath serued And for that I haue heard so many seuerall opinions as is aforesaide I thought it my parte and duety to set downe my opinion and knowledge the which I haue learned by vsing of diuers seuerall weapons in times of seruice as well on horseback as on foot and the rather for the better satisfaction of those not vnderstanding how requisite it is to bee resolued in those pointes not thinking in all my life to haue doone any such matter but vpon this occasion the which I am
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
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
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