hazards nor yet doe any notable exploit against the Enemy For let any one by experience speak it when any skirmish or set Battell hath in these latter times been ended upon the view of dead carcases have there been found any quantity or great numbers who have received their deaths by the wounds given by Pikes the slaughter being made for the most now with Musquets Carbines Pistols and Swords Now is it fit or just that such chargeable Numbers should be kept on foot for doing nothing in respect of others And the injury is little lesse which they doe to themselves for in any publike service they stand exposed to as much danger nay many times to more then divers others doe for while they are not able to offend they are fit to be offended and though they cannot send death to others yet others can send it to them Now is not this a wrong done to themselves that although they be valorous and able men yet they willingly binde themselves to such Armes as are not offensive and wil rather be killed in them then leave them for others which would much more beat off their foes to the safety perhaps of the whole Army and to the greater security of their owne persons Then lastly The injury is great if strictly considered which they offer to others for whereas they put great confidence in them as I believe they may for matter of courage and faithfulnesse yet they must needs faile their hopes upon necessity in regard the Armes which they use are not able to performe any great service Now their safety consists in the well comming off of the Musquetiers for they failing how long can these hope to stand sure The Enemy will quickly command their throats at his mercy if once the Musquet be foyled And therefore to uphold the forces decaying and lessening 't is fit that at least the Pike-men should have so much art as to know how to handle the Musquet as well as the Pike skill and experience being no burthen to the master and the advantage and benefit which may come by thiâ— practice being so great and waighty Let us now come to answeâ— all the Arguments that are made for the defence of the Pike SECT. X. Answers to the Arguments that have been and that are now made in and for the defence of the Pike in these times I Know I shall not want Opponents for a point of thiâ— Nature at first seemes like a project every man will have an ill conceit of it and as many as can will cry it downe though they know not well what it is or why they doe so As first I suppose Object What 's he that set it out to the world and is never able to prove it or the like To which I answer First That I am Iure Anglico Accademico Sacro Bellico Religioni Principi Patriae Marti Mercurio addictissimus In plaine English more I am not lesse I am not Now why I had need to doe it appeares first In that all the writers of Martiall affairs have kept silence in this one particular and is it not lawfull for me to make a discovery of what may in time conduce to the generall good of our Nation A Mine of Gold is not therefore to be dislik'd because 't was no sooner found out nor is any good thing therfore to be disparag'd because it 's lately disclosed Then secondly knowing by Experience that in forraign services our Nation hath been disabled to performe such execution as they might in regard of the great multitude and extraordinary number of Pikes which are put into our Regiments whereas the Enemy consists most of Musquets and usually out-strips us in Numbers and so hath perform'd more against us then we could against him Now that I am able to prove it let but any Martialist read this Discourse and lay aside all prejudicacy of Opinion I doubt not if he please to speak truth as a true-bred Soldier should doe but that he will allow my Positions to be just and advantageous to publike services To come now to the Arguments which seeme to plead for the necessity of Pikes Arg. 1. Some argue the Pike to be full of Necessity because of it's Antiquity and 't is pitty say they that a weapon which hath been so generally approved of and used with such applause for so many hundreds of yeares should now be left off seeing that it was used in Military occasions before the Musquet was ever thought upon To which I thus reply I will and doe ingenuously confesse that the Pike hath the priviledge of the Musquet in respect of it's Antiquity But that 's no safe conclusion to say that all old things are the best and that 't is pitty to leave off an old Custome meerely because 't is so Indeed where Antiquity holds correspondency with present usefulnes and when old things retaine their former necessity and benefit in after Ages I hold they are not to be slighted but honoured and retained But wherein 't is found by experience that the after-times have out-stript the former and that the latter Inventions are most excellent and usefull then sure 't is no Policy to be tied to the practice of our Fore-fathers For example Was not the Caliver Flasques all in use of late but who knowes not that the Musquet and Bandileeres are now more easie safe and needfull So was not the Lance of prime excellence amongst Horse-men yet now who will not preferre the Carbine and Pistolls So Crosse-bowes were used in Sea-fights but now the thundring bullets of Culvering and Demi-Canons gave discharg'd them The Bow and Arrow what a renowned weapon and for long time how terrible how victorious yet not at all now used but for recreation though much more may be said for that then for the Pike So that it is plaine that the Pike is not therefore to be still used only because it is so ancient a kinde of weapon But that as occasions vary so it may be either not us'd so much or else not at all Arg. 2. There be divers that plead for the Pike because it doth say they keepe off the Enemies Horse and this they verily conclude is undeniable nay some are so confident of the truth of this that they have hereby disclosed to men of experience and tryall that they them selves never were in any reall service hereupon they conclude the Pike to be as good and necessary in earnest as it seemes to be in jest Well I shall easily remove this strongly received Opinion This is surely grounded upon Tradition and true it is that in former times when the winged Cavalry were fenc'd with sword and lance onely then the Pike had that virtue to keepe off their invading Horse because the Lance was made 4. feet shorter then the Pike the Pike being 16. and the Lance being but 12 foot long So that of necessity if the horsmen intended execution upon them they could not choose but hazard
judge our Pikemen fit instruments to beat off such fiery Blades For if the Horse fall on as usually they are the quickest for pursuit and terriblest for charge it cannot be held safe to put our Pikes in the Reare to keepe them off for the Pikes must stand they cannot well come off or follow the other part of the Army unlesse they intend to go backward charg'd and how ridiculous would such a Posture prove so that of force we must send able Fire-men to learne the horse to keep aloofe or else we should seeme very unkinde to our fellowes to leave them to such mortall danger And if so then the old rule is true Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora Two are needlesse where one will serve the turne But it is cleere that the Pikes cannot and therefore the Musquer must Or if as in Germany we had experience of it the Enemy follow with Horse-men and every Horse-man carrying a Musquetier behind him which may be done to win ground of them whom they intend to visit for foure legs will rid more ground then two I desire to know what good our Pikes can doe whenas our Enemy resolves to keepe out of the Pikes reach and yet be within length to effect what they came for So that we if we intend to get off fairely must doe it by placing good stout Musquetiers in our Reare who like Parthians can fight and fly or as we say can give fire and retreat thus had our Army faine to doe when we came off from the Long-live being followed close by the Imperiall Horse each of them bringing a Musquetier with him untill we enquarter'd at the Berke not far from Breme which could not have been perform'd had we not maintain'd our Reere not with Pikes but with stout shot And that was held the best Method in our marching from our Quarters at the Berke along to Stoad for we left 150. or 200. resolute fire-men in a work to finde the Enemy play whilst the maine of our Army gain'd almost a whole dayes journey neither was it a slow March to shew State or refresh the Soldier for our safety lay in our speed but it was quick and hasty so that those which were left behind were of most reputed for lost men and all supposed that had not Captain Hamonds Company received the Enemy comming after us though to the losse almost of all his Soldiers lives that our men had been served with the same sauce the Enemy intending us for slaughter as well as his men yet those few men taking the best opportunity in such a desperate straight and having a good guide recover'd our Troopes againe Now what service did our Pikes doe all this while did they not cause our March to be the slower and in case the Enemy had overtaken us as it was generally suspected he would should not our Musquetiers then have been the best defence for our Pike-men and was it not the wish of all that all our Pikes had been Fire-men and had not that Order been observ'd we might have all been cut off before we could have entred into Stoad So that it is evident enough what an hinderance it is to an Army to have the ablest men to be for Pike-men SECT. VII To have as many Pikes as Musquets or to have such great store of Pikes in an Army is a meanes to bring on the Enemies Horse WEapons should be to terrifie not to encourage an Enemy to keep him off not to allure him on The very Ensignes and Colors have a Terror to amaze as King Salomon hath it Terrible as an Army with Banners All warlike Instruments are dreadfull the Shield the Sword the Trumpet the very Drums and Fifes sound and beat feare and horror for Soldiers are not for sport and jest but for earnest neither is Warre to be accounted as a May-game or Morrice-dance but as a Plague and Scourge Therefore in Warres Soldiers use offensive weapons to wound and destroy such as can strike through the loines of all Opponents And care is to be had that as weapons should be made serviceable so they should be made with all the Art that can be to usher in death the speediest way It was the saying of Queene Elizabeth That she never fared better then when she kept the Spaniard out at Daggers point So it may be said in all warres T is never better with our Armies then when we keep the Enemy at Distance so that though he hath a desire to make attempts yet knowing our Forces to be well arm'd he shell nor dare to make approaches The old Grecians had usually the advantage of their Enemies by virtue of their weapons so 't is knowne that the Romans could not have subjugated so many Countries and Provinces had they not had great advantage of warlike Instruments more then of Numbers And 't is judg'd by able men that the Norman Duke at Battle-Abbey won the day and so the Crowne by the excellency of his weapons his Shields being made large for defence and having a Pike of sharpened Iron without-side to wound and gore so that they were his Arrowes and Shields that made Harold and so many thousands of our Nation to fall slaine in that place Invention herein is commendable who knowes not how Archimides in Syracuce by skilfull Engines by him made and invented battered the Roman ships so that Marcellus and all his stout Romans were strucke with amaze And as worthy of perpetuall memory is that of King Henry the Eight before the Maiden-town of Bulloigne which device so daunted the Citizens that at sight of his Engines they yielded themselves and the Towne to the Kings mercy Now let us examine whether or no the Pike be a weapon of that worth and excellency that it can keepe off the Enemy with any kinde of terror or whether the multitude of them doth not rather hearten and hasten on the Enemy to assault First it is manifest that of it selfe it cannot keepe off neither Pistols nor Musquets for in case the Horse pretend an onset are not Commands given out presently to the Divisions of Musquets to draw out certaine files to beat off the horse which are fallen on the Pikes and certaine it is that should not the Pikes this way be speedily relieved what a fearefull slaughter would the Enemies Horse make and what a speedy havock of our Pikes without any prejudice to their owne Bodies or danger to their Horses and cannot their Musquets doe as much And certainely I should account it but folly in the Enemy if he doth out-strip us in Horse or in Foot-forces not to set upon our Pikes for who can hinder him from taking advantages or why should not he make entrance at the weakest place But now marke the inconvenience that followes If it be demanded who beates off their Horse you will say our Musquets then to what purpose serve the Pikes but to cause many others to fall for
comming in to helpe them but that 's not all neither for may not the sudden alteration of a form'd Battell cause an overthrow of the whole for while there are Musquets drawn out of all Regiments to relieve the Pikes doth not their drawing out weaken the strength of that Body out of which they came which perhaps was before overmatch'd in numbers of the Enemies shot and what is this but to draw out a great deale of good blood from a Body which may quickly perish for want of it But yet further if it be said our Pikes keepe off or beat off the Enemies Horse why then doe they retreat for our Musquets or why doe they not set upon our Musquetiers or why need there be such sending for our Musquets to free the Pikes for they were set upon and were in danger not the Musquets and they were not able of themselves to spoile the Enemy or safeguard themselves Now I shall easily prove all this to be true by this demonstration Admit we come 700. men into the field thus ordered 300. Pikes 300. Musquetiers and 100. Horse The Enemy also comes with 700. but he hath no Pikes but embattles with 500. shot and 200. Horsmen will any now conclude that because we are as many in Number as they and as old experienc'd resolute Soldiers as they caeterisque paribus that therefore thus ordered we are able to maintaine fight with them That we are not I will prove First the Enemy hath 100. Horse to play with ours and another 100. to play upon our Pikes or to joyne with their other Troope to rout our Horsmen which to all likelyhood they may being joyn'd in one being 200. for 100. which if they doe may they not then entertaine service against our Pikes who at that pinch must be relieved for they cannot helpe themselves against Pistol bullets but must fall down shot in their Rankes and Files without our ayd Now the Enemy surmounts our numbers in shot when we are at most being 500. to 300. Admit we send 100. from 300. Musquetiers which are as few as can be sent against such a power of Horse but indeed too many to be sent from their fellowes hath not the Enemy great advantage to be 500. Musquetiers against 200. or else may he not spare an 100. of his Musquets to play against ours who are sent to relieve our Pike-men and yet have the better against us being still 400. against 200. and also be as able to foyle our Pikes as before Or admit secondly that we have 400. Musquets 200. Pikes and 100. Horse and that the Enemy hath 600. Musquets and 100. Horse Are we in this state able to oppose them It shall appeare briefly that we are not Grant that our Horse answer theirs yet may they not draw out 100. of their shot to foyle our Pikes which will presently be effected and yet have to all probability the better of our Musquetiers being 500. against 400. Now in both these cases if we be overcome and beaten as what hopes are there else but that we shall I demand who were the cause Let us suppose no defect in the Officers for matter of Direction or Incouragement nor any other advantage of Winde or Sun or Ground yet who may not easily perceive that our great numbers of Pikes did procure our overthrow and ruine For what offence did our Pikes or could they doe none Nay they were not onely unable to offend but as unfit to defend so that in plaine troth they neither did hurt to the Enemy nor good to themselves this is as true in an Army consisting of many Thousands as in one of certaine Hundreds And certainly our Forces may at all times defend themselves and effect more against Enemies for the glory of our Nation if they shall increase their Musquetiers and lessen or take away their Pikes for the Imperiall forces scarce have any nor doe Soldiers desire to be troubled with that kinde of weapon all are proud of their musquets which yield more command to them than Pikes and bring in more plenty of pillage Now briefly for the second It may appeare to all that our multitude of Pikes hearten the Enemy to charge for will it not be an incouragement to fight against such who onely take but cannot give wounds whenas the Enemy perceives that he can come on or goe off without danger of death to himselfe and by discharging at his pleasure sinke his Adversary even at his best posture for resistance for may it not be said of the Pike-man that he would have kill'd his Enemy if his Pike would have reach'd him or if he could have come at him This was that that made the Imperiall forces so desperately often set upon our work because they knew it for certaine that wee usually man'd them with as many Pikes as Musquets But I suppose I have spoken enough of this to satisfie any judicious Soldier And it is wished that our Officers would augment their Musquetiers they would finde that in any service they would be able to performe more than other waies they can or formerly have done and it must needs give spirit to the Leaders when they know that they have no cyphers but all such Blades as thunder out death to their Enemies at large distance It would prove also to the Honor of their Prince and Credit of themselves SECT. VIII To have equall numbers of Pikes to Musquets or to have such great numbers of them is a great Charge and a Losse to the Prince that sets them forth THough there be sundry Arguments to confirme this subject yet I hold this not to be the least For considering the care that every one in particular ought to have towards the good of his Prince it 's held that those which are intrusted in publike services of warre are bound especially to study and lay downe conclusions how they may keep their Soveraigne freest from dammages seeing all the members strive and endeavour to defend their Head and for certaine such may be termed Cauponantes Bellum who ayme rather at their private gaines than their Princes benefit Now it shall plainely appear that it is a great charge to a State to set forth as many Pikes as Musquets in publike services against an Enemy For first the price of the furniture for a Pike-man runnes higher then that of a Musquetier the one is and may be compleatly now put in Armes fit for service for betwixt 22s or 24s at most the other scarce under the rate of 35s even for the meanest and slightest sort of Armour Now suppose the Army going out consists of 20000. men halfe Musquetiers and halfe Pikemen the charge to the Prince for Musquets will amount to if valued at 22s the head 11000l or if at 24s the man to 12000l But the charge for Pikes at 25s apeece will rise to the summe of 17500l at the lowest so that had they all been Musquetiers there had been 5500l saved to the Princes
themselves or horses or both But now the Horse having left off the Lance and using their Pistols and Carbines in place of it which can kill and sinke 120 yards off and above I would desire to know whether it be any wisedome or safety to stand charg'd with Pikes onely against Pistoll bullets for now the Horse having that advantage need not approach so neere as to endanger their owne bodies or their Horses And therefore it is high time for the Pike-men to looke after another weapon which can and will better defend themselves and offend their Enemies then their Pikes can doe That 's for the cleering that objection Arg. 3. There be others that come in with another kind of Argument to supply as indeed they had need the former Tenents For they say 't is true indeed that the Pikes alone of themselves cannot keep off the Horse but being well lined and seconded with shot then they can and therefore they are very necessary in publike services Now marke what the conclusion of this will be For if the Musquetiers beat off the Horse with their shot what service do the Pikes all that while hut onely stand for Cyphers and being unable to offend the Enemy or by themselves to defend their owne are faine to be succoured by the Musquet Now can that be held an usefull and necessary weapon which of it selfe can neither offend the Invader nor yet defend the Manager I proceed Arg. 4. Others maintaine that the Pike is the most valorous kinde of fight and the truest distinguisher of couragious Spirits for say they men are killed by the Musquet a great way off and that now there is little or no man-hood tryed in the Warres because any young stripling may with a Musquet kill the ablest and stoutest man in an Army or such who at handy-blowes suppose with Browne-bills Swords or Pikes would be able to beat downe three or foure such Punies and therefore not the Musquet but the Pike is the couragious manner of fight I shall answer this briefly Is the Pike therefore the more valorous kinde of weapon because it playes closer and neerer then the Musquets usually doe I trow not for the close-fight may be performed by necessity and for certaine that man will never fight stoutly when the Enemy is neere who dare not fight with him when he is at a good distance and I shall ever approve him to be of spirit good enough and man able enough who dare looke his Enemy in the face notwithstanding the great and murthering volleyes of his shot And it hath been seene when young Striplinges have upon Commands gone resolutely forth by Sallies in a dark cold blustring rainy tempestuous night whenas a lusty tall Pike-man hath been glad that he hath had such Armes allotted him which kept him from such dangerous Onsets Nay upon suddaine Alarmes in the Night when the Serjeants have come to fetch men out of all Companies to march out with their usuall word Up Musquetiers up 10. or more out of every Company At these times the lusty and able Pike-man hath said Well I would not be a Musquetier I am glad of my Corslet I had rather lye still in my Quarters let the Musquetiers get the honour I desire it not at such times as this is this hath been the language of the supposed valorous Pike-men and I believe that they spake as they thought Now what hinders but that a young man may have as good a heart as a tall able man of person or limbs Valour as it is not tied or confined to the bulke so neither to the age little men and young men may be vigorous active when great Bodies may be more dull and slow for action the spirits in the one being as I may so say imprisoned desire alwaies to breake out into performances but in the other they have such a spacious liberty within that they never urge to break forth hence 't is commonly seene and allowed for truth that little persons are the most nimble fittest and readiest for any waighty imployment or hazards And againe what matters it whether a man kill or be killed at a great distance or hard by so that he either gives satisfaction to his Enemy or else receives it from him And I say further that suppose the Sword and Pike be such a valorous kinde of fight as is pretended yet before this can be perform'd all parties must be first agreed the Enemy must also be perswaded to leave or lessen his Musquets and come and fight with us neerer hand with Pikes which will prove a difficult point to compasse for what have we to doe to tye or binde our Enemies to be conformable to our practice and customes He I doe verily believe will in such cases be his owne Carver and at his owne free choyce so that if he findes that he prevailes most against us with Musquets hee will not bee brought to use the Pike So that AEnaeas speech to Turnus is out of date Pugnandum est comminus Armis That 's for satisfaction for that Argument Arg. 5. But say some what that 's strange is the Pike unusefull Alas who knowes not but that the Musquetiers may have spent all their powder and shot and then woe unto us if it were not for our Pikes This seemes to be an uncontrolable Argument at the first view but let it be well examined and it will prove otherwise For certaine wise Generalls will not present themselves with their Armies for encounter without sufficient furniture and not one Musquetier of a hundred who is not sped before he have emptied all his charges upon his Enemie And in case all our powder and shot were spent I desire to know what great exploits our Pikes could performe for they would be altogether unfitting to keep off the Enemies bullets How long would they be able to stand it out if once we had done It is certaine that they would be reserved as a remnant for prisoners or else for present slaughter if the Enemy should deny them Quarter for there would be little hopes to see the Enemies shot beaten out of the field by our Pike-men 't would prove a wonder to see or heare of such a kinde of victory purchased by Pikes this would indeed make some plea for them But when or where was ever that heard of Dic quibus in terris So that that Argument is no wayes valid and firme Arg. 6. There be yet others who are very stiffe to prove that the Pike is of singular virtue and excellency in Trenches to keep the Enemy off and to hinder him from entring forceably upon us in our workes Now this was good if it could be made good but in services 't is cleane otherwaies for 't is certaine if the Enemy have a minde to visit us in our Trenches may he not the easlier enter by reason of our Pikes for they stand in the place of a Musquetier and fill up his room and
dye it is manifest that this weapon cannot choose but be of singular use for if managed with a stout heart and a strong arme it will force passage through the bodies of the Enemy there being no resistance made against the Assailants but with eminent danger of the Defendants lives 5. Soldiers desire such weapons usually which stand them in the most generall stead and such as they can use in any place or upon any service Now 't is certaine that the Musquet and halfe-Pike are of that generall use that they may be practis'd and managed upon all Convoyes skirmishes Retreats Sallies Onslaughts c. For Convoyes no safer posture for the Musquetier can be then to be impaled within such fences and Barricadoes and 't is impossible that any troopes of Horse can enter before the Musquetiers can so fortifie themselves for 't is no great toyle or difficulty but may quickly and speedily be performed and can vary alter or change any way as the Enemy shall wheele about so that the Reere may be as safe as the Front and the Flanks as either And as it is good for Convoyes so 't is excellent in skirmishes for it fights with quicknesse advantage and safety and if they please to maintain their ground who can force them to leave it or if they be minded to retreat who can gaine any thing by the pursuit So that the Musquetiers thus armed goe on with advantage fight with terror and retreat with honor So for Sallies and Onslaughts which are desperate kinde of services none goe out with so much hopes to speed as men so guarded being as I may justifie it two Soldiers in one person And there is no such spur to make Soldiers valorous in Execution as the the knowledg of the advantage they have of their Enemies by the excellency of their weapons Briefly for the 〈◊〉 of this is better for Practice than Discourse It cannot be denied but that the Musquet and halfe-Pike is easily purchas'd and as quickly for exercise to be learned any Soldier may as soone be expert in the use of it as he can of Musquet and Rest nay sooner if his Corporall or Commander have any skill to drill him to it And I say let any one that either doubts of or objects any thing against the excellency and benefit of this kinde of weapon give but that Martiall Plot of ground the Artillery Garden a visit and he shall and may receive ample satisfaction to all his demands For 't is not to be questioned but that the present and after-times wâ—â—â— speake in praise of and justifie the Invention as rare and as yet I am sure by none paralelld And 't is to be wish'd that it was once generally knowne to our Nation for the practice of it would prove wondrous advantageous This I have spoken without flattery for I would not doe so Noble and Heroick a Soldier as the Inventor is nor yet my selfe that injury Flattery being no waies compatible either to our or their Profession But I thought it an injury to so worthy a Member if notwithstanding all hit labour and ingenuity together with his charges either He or the Weapon should have been slighted or forgotten It being a high degree of base Ingratitude not to be thankfull for such generall benefits But I have done leaving both his dextrous Invention and this Discourse to men of judgment in Armes SECT. XII The Testimony of Brancatio that famous Commander concerning the disability of the Pike In his Art Military Pag. 7. THE Pike is the evident ruine of those that trust in is others defend it though it bethought to defend others for it offends not neither neere nor farre off Again p. 8. 10. The Turks use not the Pike nor will be brought to practise it because it is the most unserviceable Arms used in field Champain as by infallible experience and by the great manifold and too late victories gained over those Christians who too much trusted in that weapon is manifestly knowne So was the K. of Portugal overthrown in Affrick by having grand squadrons of Pikes and so the vast divisions of High-dutch and Switzers Pikemen have rendred the Italian Regiments weaker then they would haue been with Harquebuziers and Charles the 8. K. of France brought the first Pikes into Italy And pag. 105. lib. 5. he saith This settled Opinion and so maintained even to this present is in my opinion false and of no moment with pardon to those whom it may concerne for that the Pike is the weakest Armes in the field how many soever they be and much worse against the Turkes and other Nations more powerfull in Horse for which they are held to be good which is not against Christians and the reason is this The pike offends not a far off nor neere except wee come to the incounter it cannot make great way nor pursue an Enemy when it retires cannot make you master of the field they cannot be divided from their squadrons nor pillage with terror they cannot force a street guard a passage speedily give a Camisado of a sudden escarmouch or to make an assalt and to use diligence on a March with other feates of warre And p. 106. he saith That for these last 40 yeeres the Turkes have gain'd upon the Hungarians other Christians sempre in Ongaria because they placed onely great divisions of Switzish and High Dutch Pike-men to keepe off the Turkish vast troopes of Horse being armed with Harquebuzes and Pistols so that by this meanes that Nation is almost brought under the Turkish slavery So that battell of Ceresola renders a good proof of the weaknes of the Pike-service And Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxony in Almaigne and Peter Strozzi in Tuscany were defeated in regard of their abundance of Pikes Likewise Paul the 4 at Rome so also at the battell of S. Quintines and the Marshall of Termes I say nothing saith he of the Army of the Lord Cherche nor of the battell of Dreus in France and of Moncountor all which proved fatall to their Leaders and were despised by their Enemies because their mainest bodies were none but Pikes Thus this great Warriour gives his judgement of this weapon the Pike which to a wise Commander is of great authority FINIS