the field hath consisted of farre greater numbers and forces of footmen than horsemen and that some other ordinarie Captaines also whose charges haue consisted onlie of footmen haue presentlie vpon their squadrons formed and approach or sight of the Enemie mounted vppon horses of swift Carrires and either haue accompanied their footmen vpon the flankes or rereward being so well mounted or els haue put themselues into some bands of horsmen as though it were against their reputation to serue on foote amongst their soldiers or rather as it may be thought that vppon anie hard accident they might be readie leauing their soldiers to the slaughter to saue themselues rather with the force of their heeles and spurres than with any of sword which amongst manie other hath been one special cause that there haue been so great numbers of soldiers at diuers times consumed and slaine and neuer anie Chieftaine nor any other of our such men of warre Which their newe discipline is such a mockerie and so contrarie to all order Militarie as that such are not to bee accoumpted worthie to take the charge of men nor yet to bee reckoned amongst the number of soldiers And whereas also all great Captaines Chieftaines and men of charge haue holden for a Maxime to preserue by all meanes possible the liues of their soldiers and not to employ and hazard them vppon euerie light occasion and therewithall to esteeme the preseruation of the liues of a verie fewe of their soldiers before the killing of great numbers of their enemies Euen so contrariwise the new discipline of some of our men of warre in the Lowe Countries hath been to send and employe their soldiers into manie daungerous and vaine exploites and seruices without any reason Militarie hauing sure regard to their owne safeties as though they desired and hoped to haue more gaine and profite by the dead paies of their soldiers slaine than encrease of reputation by the atchieuing and preuailing in anie such enterprises Besides that it hath been sometimes a practise by some of our such men of warre when they haue borne anie hatred or malice to such as haue serued vnder them to deuise some dangerous enterprise of purpose to employ theÌ„ in from whence they might hardly escape with their liues to the intent that they might hit two markes at one shoote that is take reuenge of such as they hated and gaine the dead paies of such as were there slaine which was an infernall inuention And this I would not haue set downe if I had not heard it most constantlie affirmed by some of those themselues that haue been of purpose sent to such banquets and haue with great daunger escaped out of such enterprises And whereas there is nothing more requisite to keepe men of warre in obedience and discipline than pay and good vsage of their Chieftaines Coronells Captaines and other Officers which hath been the cause that in all well ordered warres both ancient and moderne the Generalls Chieftaines and Captaines haue alwaies vsed to procure and liberallie to pay or to see the same paied to their soldiers without defrauding them of any part thereof so some of our such men of warre haue in those warres procured pay for their soldiers but when they haue obtained and receiued it they haue vsed diuers waies to defraude them of the same but chieflie two speciallie to be noted of the which the first hath been that presently vpon the receipt of their pay or els that they haue been assured that they should receiue the same within a day or two daies after they haue presentlie deuised some verie daungerous enterprise to employ their bands and companies in to make proofe how manie in such exploytes should leese their liues that they might enrich themselues by their dead pâ—ies during which employments some of our such chiefe men of warre that deuised the same remained in great townes feasting banquetting and carowsing with their dames And their second policie and practise hath been that they haue plainlie kept and conuerted or rather peruerted a great part thereof to their owne vses lodging their soldiers dispersed and stragling in Villages and in stead of pay haue suffered them to goe alla picoree that was to robbe and spoyle the Boores their friends whereupon it came to passe that the Boores fearing such mercenaries more than their enemies did arme themselues and stoode vpon their gardes in such sort that at times it cost the liues of a great number of our braue Nation And for Captaines diuerse wayes to become Merchants and chiefly in selling their bandes one to an other as also in letting them to farme for a yearely rent vnto their Lieutenants as if they were flockes of milch Ewes it hath beene too often put in practise And whereas also all Generalls and Chiefetaines of all Nations of anie iudgement vpon the approch of any Citie Towne or place fortified haue vsed to approch the same with trenches crosse-trenches gabions and diuerse other ordinary and extraordinary inuentions according vnto the scituation of the ground for the preseruing and sauing of the liues of their Souldiors and that they haue not offered to giue any assault vntill by the battery and effect of great Ordinaunce planted vppon 〈◊〉 Caueleeres by vs called Mounts or by battery from the counterscarfe cut and opened the flankers of the bulwarkes platformes and reuelins haue beene taken away and the Artillerie of the inward Mounts dismounted and a sufficient breach in the Curtine made assaultable with the drie or wet ditches filled to take away the effectes of Casamates as also to make the entrance of the Souldiors into the ditches and breach more easie and with lesse daunger and otherwise with great order of their Armies of horsemen and footemen reduced into 〈◊〉 Squadrons and other formes for the garde of their Campes and Field So contrariwise our such men of warre being ignorant of all discipline Militarie haue bene so prodigall of the liues of their Souldiors that they haue diuers times sent them as it were to the butchery to giue assault to certaine skonces and other such fortifications without any such order of approach or taking away any flankers or making any breach Besides that in this later time I meane within these very fewe yeares most grosely and ignorantly in the time of Winter with some thousandes of our braue English people they laie shooting off gunnes diuers weekes against some great Towne well fortified with a broad and a large riuer nauigable being betwixt them without anie other wayes besieging of it their Campe lying in a wet moorish ground where their soldiors in their watches and centinels stoode to the mid legges in dyrt myre with frost snow raine and mysts and small store of victuall and at their dislodging from thence did dislodge stragling by bands without any chiefetaine to direct and gouerne them All which disorders cost the liues of some thousands of our gallant English Nation the dead payes of the which
it selfe or by deriuation to affoord conuenient words to vtter our minds in matters of that qualitie But that which is more strange these our such new fantasied men of warre doo despise and scorne our auncient arming of our selues both on horseback and on foote saying that wee armed our selues in times past with too much armour or peeces of yron as they terme it And therefore their footmen piquers they doo allowe for verie well armed when they weare their burgonets their collars their cuirasses and their backs without either pouldrons vambraces gauntlets or tasses Their Horsemen also and themselues seruing on horsebacke with Launces or any other weapon they thinke verie well armed with some kind of head-peece a collar a deformed high long bellied breast and a backe at the proofe but as for pouldrons vambraces gauntlets tasses cuisses and greues they hold all for superfluous The imitating of which their vnsoldierlike and fond arming cost that noble worthie Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney his life by not wearing his cuisses who in the opinion of diuers Gentlemen that sawe him hurt with a Mosquet shot if he had that day worne his cuisses the bullet had not broken his thigh bone by reason that the chiefe force of the bullet before the blowe was in a manner past Besides that it is a great encouragement to al forraine Nations their Enemies that are better armed to encounter with them and their soldiers that they see so ill armed And as their ill arming is an encouraging to the Enemie so it is vnto them a discouragement and a great disaduantage For in case anie horseman or footman piquer so ill armed should bee wounded on the thigh or chieflie on the arme or hand either with Launce Pique Sword or any other weapon his fighting for that day were marred besides that by such wounds receiued he is put in hazard either to bee slaine or taken And to the same effect it hath been a maxime in all ages amongst all great Capraines and skilfull soldiers that the well arming of horsmen and footmen is a great encouragement vnto them to fight valiantlie whereas contrariwise being euill armed it is a great discouragement vnto them encountring with well armed men and most commonlie through wounds receiued the verie occasion that doth make them to turne their backes And as they doo mistake the conuenient arming of horsemen and footmen so they also mistake the weaponing of them for whereas Swords of conuenient length forme and substance haue been in all ages esteemed by all warlike Nations of al other sorts of weapons the last weapon of refuge both for horsemen and footmen by reason that when al their other weapons in fight haue failed them either by breaking losse or otherwise they then haue presentlie betaken themselues to their short arming Swords and Daggers as to the last weapons of great effect execution for all Martiall actions so our such men of warre contrarie to the auncient order and vse Militarie doo now a daies preferre and allowe that armed men Piquers should rather weare Rapiers of a yard and a quarter long the blades or more than strong short arming Swords little considering or not vnderstanding that a squadrō of armed men in the field being readie to encounter with another squadron their Enemies ought to streighten and close themselues by frunt and flanckes and that after they haue giuen their first thrush with their Piques and being come to ioyne with their enemies frunt to frunt and face to face and therefore the vse execution of the piques of the formost rancks being past they must presentlie betake themselues to the vse of their Swords and Daggers which they cannot with any celeritie draw if the blades of their Swords be so lōg for in troth armed men in such actiōs being in their rancks so close one to another by flanckes cannot draw their Swords if the blades of them be aboue the lēgth of three quarters of a yard or a little more besies that Swords being so long doo worke in a manner no effect neither with blowes nor thrusts where the is so great as in such actions it is as also that Rapier blades being so narrow and of so small substance and made of a verie hard temper to fight in priuat fraies in lighting with any blow vpon armour do presently breake and so become vnprofitable Horsemen also chieflie Lances wearing their Swords by their sides as Soldiors ought to doo cannot readily drawe them without letting fall their bridles out of their left handes if their Swords be aboue the length of three quarters of a yard or a yard at the most yet that too lōg All which cōsidered their opinion of such long Swords or Rapiers to be worne either by horsmen or footmen armed is very ignorāt Long heauie Daggers also with great brauling Ale-house hilts which were neuer vsed but for priuate fraies and braules and that within lesse than these fortie yeres since which time through lōg peace we haue forgotten all orders and discipline Militarie they doo no waies disallow nor find fault withall but rather allowe them for their Souldiors to weare than short arming Daggers of conuenient forme substance without hilts or with little short crosses of nine or ten inches the blades such as not onely our braue Ancestors but al other warlike Nations both in warre and peace did weare and vse By the which they euidently shew that they do very litle consider how ouer-burdensome and combersome such Alehouse Daggers are for all sorts of Souldiors both horsemen and footmen as also how vnfit they are to be vsed with the point and thrust by Soldiors Piquers or Halbardiers against their enemies in squadron Where by proofe reason and experience in al battailes and other encounters the nerenesse and prease being so great short strong and light arming daggers are more maniable and of greater executiō amongst al sorts of armed men than such long deformed Daggers as aforesaid Piques also which are the strength of the field as well against horsemen as footemen they doo allowe of diuers lengths so that they seeme long hauing no regarde to their vniformitie of length nor whether they bee portable or maniable thorough their too much wood or no whereby they shewe the little skil they haue in the vse of that weapon considering that Piquers being reduced into squadron to fight should haue all their piques of one equall and proportionate length to the intent that all the ranckes being closed by frunt and flanckes either to charge an other squadron of Piquers their Enemies or to receiue and repulse a charge of Launces all the points of the Piques of euerie rancke carrying one equalitie and so diuerse ranckes being incorporated by frunt and flancke with their Piques bent against their Enemies may altogether giue a greater blowe to the repulsing either of horsemen or footemen than if they were of diuerse lengths like Organe pipes and
they did a hundred two hundred or three hundred yeres past when our Archers wrought so wonderfull effects not onlie against the men at Armes of France and other wel armed Nations but also against the shot and volees of armed Crosse-bowers who as they were verie skilfull with that weapon in those daies so were they no waies inferiour to the shot of Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers of these our daies A briefe comparison betwixt Reisters Carabins or Argolettiers so much vsed in forren parts in these our dayes Crosse-bowers and Archers on horsebacke which were vsed by the English and diuers other Nations many yeares past With mine opinion also concerning which of those weapons are of greatest effect for seruices in the field DIuers of our English Captains and Gentlemen that haue serued in the 〈◊〉 warres of the Lowe Countries or peraduenture some time in the ciuill warres of France do so praise and magnifie the shot of Carabins or Argolettiers as they terme them and of Reisters which are Pistollettiers that they will not admit any shot on horsebacke to be comparable vnto them imitating therein diuers forren Nations that in these dayes doe vse those weapons on horseback In which their opinions I doe not meane to touch them with any blame because I do not remember any Nation in these West parts of Christendome that doe vse at this present anie other Howbeit when I come to consider of such shot on horsebacke as hath bene vsed in times past which are the Long-Bowe and the Crosse-bowe and that there be some principall Gentlemen and Captaines of diuerse Nations yet aliue that haue seen them vsed in the field as namely of our English that graue and most experienced Gentleman sir Iames Crofte that I do compare the vnreadines imperfections and small effectes of the weapons of fire aforesaid with the readinesse perfections and great effectes of Crosse-bowes and Long-bowes I doo in mine opinion greatly prefer those two ancient weapons on horseback before the said weapōs of fire for al seruices in the field And because it may appeare vnto such Gentlemen as may peraduēture reade this my opinion how in what sort I would haue such Archers Crosse-bowers to be horsed armed and weaponed I will first make mention thereof and after briefly proceed to the fortifieng prouing of mine opiniō by diuers reasons All the Crosse-bowers on horsebacke vnder sufficient conductours well skilled in that weapon I would they should haue Crossebowes of two pound and a halfe of the best sort with crooked gaffles hanging at their strong girdles after the manner of Germanie that they might on horsebacke bend their Crossebowes the more easily and readily with foure and twentie quarrells in a case well and fitly set at their saddle pommells mounted vpon good cold geldings of meane size themselues armed with good murrians of the Spanish fashion vpon their heades collars light and short wasted cuirasses and backes with sleeues of maile or chained with maile or else that they should be armed with murrians light and easie Brigandines and sleeues chained with maile with broad short swords by their sides of not aboue a yarde in length and short daggers The Archers on horsebacke vnder their Captaines or conductours skilful in Archerie I would likewise haue mounted vpon good quiet geldings of meane size with deepe steele skulles in very narrowe brimbd hats well stuffed for the easines of their heades and either iackes of maile according to the ancient manner when they were called Loricati Sagittarij or else light and easie brigandines or at the least Ilet-holed doublets verie easie and well fitted to their bodies their sleeues chained with maile with broad short swordes and short daggers their Bowes of good Yeugh long and well nocked and backed and all their strings well whipt with sheafes of foure and twentie arrowes apeece with shooting gloues and bracers after the manner of our Archers in times past And all these both Archers and Crosse-bowers I woulde haue them to be well practised that they might knowe how to discharge their arrowes and quarrells gallopping vpon the hand and in all other motions of their horses and the Crosse-bowers to bend againe with great readines And diuers bandes beeing thus horsed armed weaponed and exercised as also reduced into little bandes of fifties vnder sufficient conductours and other Officers skilfull in those weapons should in mine opinion be able to performe greater seruices in the field either against horsemen or footmen than any of the forenamed weapons of fire on horsebacke considering that both Archers and Crosse-bowers may with their arrowes and quarrells very certainly wound or kill in their points blancks either horsmen or footmen that are in esquadron or troupe two or three scores off and rouing sixe seauen or eight scores may greatly mischiefe and annoy the enemie whereas the Argolettiers and Pistolettiers are not to worke any effect against esquadrons or troupes of horsemen or footmen aboue ten or fifteene yards off at the furthest and if it be enemie to enemie single then they are not to discharge their peeces aboue three or foure yards off vnlesse they will faile foure times before they hit once so vncertaine are those weapons of fire the iudgement whereof because this mine opinion may seeme strange to such as doo not knowe the imperfections of those weapons of fire on horsebacke I referre vnto any Captaines or Conductors of those weapons either Italians Spaniards or French that haue bene vsed to receiue the pay of Emperours or Kings and if it be of the Pistolettiers then to the Reisters themselues Besides whose iudgements by all reason it may appeare that if the shot of Harquebuzrie on foote in their distances in the field be so vncertaine as I haue in my former discourse declared then of necessitie it must be a great deale more vncertaine vpon horsebacke where by euery motion stirring of their horses although they be very quiet they shall in a manner as often hit Barnacles flying in the ayre as hurt or kill any horses or men vnlesse they be very thicke and wonderfull neere Besides that the charging of their peeces on horsebacke be it with flaskes cartages or charges is so vncertaine as they shall as often spill their powder besides the mouthes of their peeces and faile of their chargings as charge the same And also putting their touch-powder into the pannes of their peeces although there be no winde to disperse the same yet vpon euery motion of their horses they are ready to powre the powder beside their pannes And if their peeces be Petronells then if their stones should happen to breake or not to stand right in their cockes whereby they should faile to strike iust vpon the wheeles being fire-lockes or vpon the hammers or steeles if they be Snap-hances or being of match if their matches be not good and stiffe and well set in their serpentines or cockes they also shall faile in
vse of all mercenarie Coronels both Almanes and Italians that haue been hired into the seruices of forraine Princes vpon all important occasions to consult with their Sergeants Maiors and certeine other Captaines and Officers for the well ordring and gouerning of their Regiments Euen so contrariwise some of our chiefe men of warre that haue had great charges in the Lowe Countrie warres haue not onelie contemned and disdained to haue anie counsell about them or to take counsell of some of their Captaines and other Officers but haue also spoken to the blame and reproach of some notable and very sufficient Generalls of this time because they haue vsed in all important matters to consult with their Counsellors saying that they were therefore verie simple men and that they were able to doo nothing of themselues but onlie by the aduise of Counsell By the which our such men of warre haue not onelie shewed a wonderfull ouerweening and lacke of discretion in those their vaine and fond opinions but also haue in the gouernment of their charges which was altogether of their owne heads shewed themselues as fond and voide of all reason and order Militarie Also whereas all wise and sufficient Generalls and Coronels haue alwaies had speciall regard when the Enemie hath not been neere at hand that their Sergeants Maiors Captaines other Officers should oftentimes in the field reduce their bands regiments into diuers formes and to teach their soldiers all orders Militarie with the vse of their weapons in euerie degree time and place as also how to lodge in their quarters orderlie and therewithall to vnderstand the orders of watches bodies of watches centinells rounds and counterrounds with many other matters Militarie whereby they might be made prompt and readie to encounter with the Enemie so contrariwise our such men of warre in the Lowe Countries did very seldome or rather neuer instruct nor teach their soldiers any such matter whereby it hath come to passe that their old soldiers Piquers with their piques Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers with their weapons of fire haue in certaine trainings here in England shewed and vsed such Matiches as they haue giuen occasion to bee scorned and laughed at by such old Captaines of experience as haue seene their doings And whereas also all men of warre in times past haue had speciall care that all their soldiers should be fitlie apparelled and armed according to the different weapons that all sorts of their soldiers did vse and that they should not lacke any of their weapons nor any part or peece of their armours but that the same should be by them fitlie and aptlie worne and from time to time kept cleane and neate So contrariwise some of our such men of warre haue holden these matters for such trifles that they haue had so little care thereof that they haue been contented to suffer their soldiers to goe euill weaponed and worse armed and many of them without any kind of armour at all and in their apparell all to be totterd and torne and some of them bare legged or bare footed like roges a thing neuer before heard off in any age that men of warre and chieflie the English nation going to the aide of a forraine Nation and the countrie and people wonderfull rich and plentifull in all abundance and their Captaines themselues verie gallant in apparell and their purses full of gold that their soldiers should be in such poore and miserable estate Also whereas it hath been the vse of all great Captaines and Chieftaines vpon anie long march enterprise intended with all foresight prouidence to prouide plentie of victuall and all other things necessarie for the sustenance of all their soldiers euen to the meanest least of accompt as also of great store and plentie of powder shot with some ouerplus of weapons of diuers sorts for al accidents employments with al other things requisite So some of our such men of warre vpon their occasions of marches and enterprises haue prouided plentie of victuall onlie for themselues and their followers suffering their bands regimēts to straggle spoyle the people of the Countrie oftentimes to their owne mischiefe in the rest to take their aduentures and sometimes to starue or at least to be driuen to great extremitie of hūger Besides that for powder shot and ouerplus of weapōs they haue prouided no more than that which their soldiers haue carried about them which haue been with great scarcitie which doth argue their small care of the health safetie of their soldiers their little intention to doo any great hurt to the enemie and therewithall a great ignorance in the Art and Science Militarie And whereas also in all well ordered Milicias the commendation and sufficiencie of all Generalls Coronells Captaines and other Officers hath consisted in knowing how to command gouerne and order their Armies Regiments bands and companies and to winne the loue of their soldiers by taking great care of their healths and safeties as also by all examples of vertue and worthines not onlie by instruction but also by action in their owne persons venturing their liues in all actions against the enemie amongst them and therewithall accompting of them in sicknes and health or wounds receiued as of their owne children and that all Coronells and Captaines of horsemen according to all discipline haue vsed to serue amongst their horsemen on horsebacke and that all Coronells and Captaines of footmen yea euen the verie Lieutenants generalls and Kings themselues if their Armies and forces of the field haue consisted more of footmen than of horsemen haue alwaies vsed by all discipline Militarie vppon the occasion of anie battaile to put their horses from them and to serue on foote and to venter their liues in the former rankes Euen so contrariwise the new discipline of some of our chiefe men of warre of the Lowe Countries hath been neuer to winne nor procure the loue of their soldiers by anie affabilitie or fauour shewed vnto them nor yet by anie care taking for their healthes and safeties and vpon anie accidents of sicknes or wounds receiued they haue presentlie disesteemed them as base and vile creatures neuer comming amongst them neither in sicknes nor health but onlie vppon occasion of seruice and for anie instruction or examples of vertue and worthines in the actions of their owne persons to be shewed amongst their soldiers it hath not been their delight nor profession and for them to haue imitated the great and famous Captaines of al other times both ancient and moderne in venturing their liues amongst their soldiers as aforesaid according to their Milicia that hath consisted more of footmen than of horsemen it hath been contrarie to their newe discipline which hath not permitted that they should learne anie thing of anie great Captaines but onelie of themselues whereof it hath come to passe that some of our such chiefe men of warre in the Low Countries whose strength in
discent and fall euen to the verie nailing of their feete to the ground which with the terrible comming of the arrowes in the eyes and sight both of horsemen footmen causeth in thē a wonderful feare terror Whereas contrarywise Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers with their weapons of fire do no wayes terrifie neither horses nor men that are but foure or fiue tymes vsed to their crackes smoke and noyse vnlesse by great chaunce they happen to be striken with bullets and the reason is this that the bullets being discharged are inuisible and therefore doo no wayes terrifie the sight whereof it commeth to passe that when horses and men that haue been in three or foure skirmishes do see that they receiue no hurt neither by the fire smoke nor noise nor that in manie thousands of Harquebuze and Mosquet shot there are not twentie men slaine nor hurt they grow after to be farre lesse in doubt of those weapons of fire thā of Piques Halbards Launces swords Howbeit the volees of Archers arrowes flying together in the ayre as thick as haile do not onely terrifie and amaze in most terrible sort the eares eyes and harts both of horses and men with the noyse and sight of their comming but they also in their discents doo not leaue in a whole squadron of horsemen nor footemen although they be in motion somuch as one man nor horse vnstrikē and wounded with diuers arrowes if the number of the Archers be answerable to the number of the squadron And therfore for the experience that both I and manie others both Noblemen Gentlemen and great Captaines of many nations that I haue serued amongst haue had of the small effect of weapons of fire in the field with the reasons and differences before alledged for my part I will neuer doubt to aduenture my life or many liues if I had them amongst eight thousand Archers complet well chosen and appointed and there withall prouided furnished with great store of sheafes of arrowes as also with a good ouerplus of Bowes and Bowstrings against twentie thousand of the best Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers that are in Christendome For this I know as it is before declared that Harquebuziers if they be led by skilfull Conductours are not to giue anie volees of shot aboue three or foure scores 〈…〉 nor Mosquettiers any volees of bullets aboue eight ten or twelue scores at anie squadrōs of horsemen or footmen in motion and yet that too farre vnlesse their leaders doo thinck rather to terrifie their Enemies with smoke and noyse than with anie hurt of the bullets Whereas Archers reduced into their conuenient formes being in so great numbers as aforesaid doo dimme the light of the sunne darken the ayre and couer the earth with their volees of arrowes eight nine ten and eleuen scores distant from them in such sort as no numbers of Mosquettiers Harquebuziers or Argolettiers nor yet squadrons of Launces nor of footemen being so ill armed as in these dayes they are shalbe found able to abide the incredible terrour of the shot of such infinite numbers of arrowes For there is no doubt but that Archers with their volees of arrowes will wound kill or hurt aboue an hundred men and horses for euerie one that shalbe slaine or hurt by the volees of so great numbers of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers as are before mentioned Now whereas our such men of warre do further dishable our Archers saying that they are to worke in a maner no effect neither against horsemen nor footemen and that Archers are not able in the field to abide the terrour of the shot of Mosquettiers nor Harquebuziers with manie other vaine and fond obiections contrarie to all reason and experience certenlie it is not to be thought strange in them considering that as their ouerweening and presumption hath extended to shew their lacke of skill in manie other matters militarie before mentioned that they pretended to haue most knowledge of as namely in the mistaking of the conueniencie of diuers sortes of weapōs in their due times and places with manie other verie important matters before mentioned so in these matters of our Archerie it is not to be meruailed at that they do so groselie erre in their fond opinions conceiued and alledged against the excellent effects of that weapon of the which they neuer had any experience nor yet doo know how to order them as it did verie euidentlie appeare to all men of iudgement that saw their disorderlie placing of Archers in the battles they formed at Tilbury this last sommer 1588. where the Earle of Leycester being Lieutenant generall of the Armie assembled for the defence of the Realme commaunded all such men of warre as were the chief Officers of the Army vnder him to consider of some excellent order and formes of battle that should be presented within three or foure dayes after in the presence and sight of the Queene her Councel and Nobilitie at which tyme some of the chief Officers of the Camp that of long tyme had serued in the Low Coūtries being there assembled to forme three battles a Vaward Battle and Rereward with wings sleeues squares troupes according to their best skill that warning had bin giuen them of the Queenes cōming so long before and therfore had consulted how to reduce them into most strong and beautifull forme that they could to haue giuen battle if the Enemie had bin there they with many terrible othes and cursings and bannings of Archers and their Bowes partlie for the hatred they bare to that weapon but chiefly as I think and as it after appeared because they knew not where to place them in the end after long and much a doo they placed certen ranckes of Archers in the middest of their squadrons of Piques behind the Ensignes seuen rancks of Archers they placed behind vpon the verie backe of the battle and all the rest they reduced into sleeues close by the flanks of their three battailes of which sleeues some of them were of fiue in a rancke and some three in a rancke and because they should bee surelie garded with shot they reduced sleeues or rather squadrons of Caliuer shot close to the flanckes of the Archers of which sleeues of Caliuer shot some were of nine and twentie in a rancke other of fifteene in a rancke and the smallest sleeues of eleuen in a rancke which to all men of anie iudgement in matters Militarie might bee a wonderfull scorne and mockerie For in case that they should in that forme haue marched against the Enemie to haue giuen battaile they themselues by their fond and vnskilfull placing of the Archers had taken away the whole effect of the volees of their arrowes For it is to bee vnderstood that when anie squadrons of Piquers doo approach with intent to giue battaile and ioyne with other squadrōs of Piquers or to receiue a charge of horsemen they all vpright their piques and doo close
footmen into small companies of one hundred and fiftie as is before declared so did they likewise perswade with him to reduce all those small bands into little Regiments of one thousand vnder euerie Coronell by which their perswasions they did verie manifestlie shewe that they vnderstood verie little for what causes and reasons Regiments were first instituted and since amongst manie Nations continued howbeit I doo perswade my selfe by that which I haue heard partlie from their own speaches partlie also from others of verie great credite that in all their proceedings in matters of warre they do rather followe the newe fashions of the disordered warres of France and the Lowe Countries vnder the States than anie reason and experience Militarie For in troth bands of horsemen and footmen of which Armies doo consist were at the first reduced into Regiments for diuers causes and chieflie for fiue The first that they might be the better the more orderlie gouerned and the more readie vpon all occasions to be commaunded and imployed The second that they might be the better and the more conuenientlie lodged in their quarters The third that they might bee the more orderlie and readilie placed in their watches bodies of watches and Centinells The fourth that they might for the defence of their Camp be the more readilie reduced into diuers puissant bodies of squadron by themselues with sleeues and wings in the places of assemblie And the fift that vpon the dislodging of an Armie reduced into Vaward Battle and Rereward diuers Regiments might the more orderlie and readilie incorporate and reduce themselues into three mightie battailes or more according to the order and direction of the Lieutenant generall or high Marshall of the field or els of the Sergeant Maior Maior by some called the Sergeant Maior generall Now the Launce-knights Almanes which is the Nation of Christendome most skilfull of all others that euer I sawe to performe these actions and effects before declared with manie other matters Militarie both for the Campe field to the intent to performe al such actions with the more celeritie and dexteritie haue vsed of great antiquitie to forme all their Regiments of footmen of tenne Ensignes to euerie Regiment and so they did vse manie yeares past when euerie one of their Regiments did consist of fiue thousand soldiers at which time their bands did consist of fiue hundred to euerie Ensigne And of later yeares they reduced their Regiments to bee of foure thousand and their bands to be of foure hundred to an Ensigne And last of all their Regiments to bee of three thousand and so their bands to bee of three hundred to euerie Companie which doth at this present continue vnles it bee in the publique seruices of the Empire against the common Enemie the Turke or in their owne priuate seruices as is before declared Now if our such perswaders before mentioned were of so great consideration and iudgement as they would seeme to be they would verie well know that great Regiments of fiue foure or three thousands that doo consist of great bands of fiue foure or three hundreds are a great deale more readie to be commaunded and gouerned and therewithall to performe all actions Militarie with a great deale more celeritie and dexteritie than if they were reduced into little Regiments of thousands small bands of hundreds and fifties And that may be with great facilitie considered by the like comparisons and reasons which I haue before alleaged that great bands of fiue hundreds and so consequentlie by the like reasons of foure or three hundreds are more readie to bee reduced into forme and imployed in all important seruices with more celeritie dexteritie than small bands of hundreds and fifties or two hundreds are Besides all which by forming of such small Regiments of one thousand the Prince doth consume a farre greater pay than by forming of great Regiments of fiue foure or three thousand by reason of the great number of officers which are encreased by such great nuÌ„bers of little Regiments And for further proofe and confirmation of euerie forementioned particularitie I were able to alleadge manie more reasons if it were not to auoide prolixitie Howbeit peraduenture it may now be said vnto me that the Tercios of the Spaniards that haue serued manie yeares in the Lowe Countries doo consist some of them but of twelue hundred and others of fifteene hundred and some of more and others of fewer which I confesse to bee true but that hath proceeded of this that they are not entire Tercios nor neuer were since they were drawne out of such principalities where they before were resident as for example when the Duke of Alba was to come out of Italie with his Armie to suppresse the intestine tumults of the Lowe Countries the whole Tercios of Sicilie Naples Sardenâ—a and Lumbardy were not drawne out of those gouernmeÌ„ts but certen great parts of them which notwithstanding were called by the names of Tercios with additions of the names of the gouernments principalities from whence they came as though they had bin entire whereas in troth they were but certen great parts of those Tercios For a Tercio is not to bee holden for compleate of anie smaller number than of 3000. soldiers according to the ordinarie regiments of Italians Wallons and other Nations that are in these daies of the like number Caliuers and Mosquets for seruices in the field they extoll and magnifie and chieflie Mosquets perswading as much as they can all Magistrates and men of accompt that battailes and victories in these our daies are to bee obtained chieflie by the force and excellencie of those weapons and that the forraine Enemie seeking to inuade vs in anie Hauen with a Nauie and Armie royall should with foure or fiue thousand Mosquettiers and some Caliuerers bee repulsed and kept from landing And that certen Sconces by them deuised without anie Bulwarks Flanckers Trauesses Mounts Platformes wet or drie Ditches in forme with Counterscarps or any other good forme of fortification but onelie raised and formed with earth turfe trench and certen poynts angles and indents should bee able to hold out the Enemie landed some three or foure daies vntill the force of three or foure shires were assembled They also doo further attribute such excellencie vnto Mosquets that no squadrons of horsemen or footmen what number soeuer they haue of Archers are anie waies able to abide the volees and terrour of that weapon being in great numbers within 20. or 24. scores but that they must of necessitie bee dismembred and broken To the weapon of Caliuers before mentioned they also giue exceeding commendation for skirmishes and encounters in the field saying that they may skirmish with that weapon 10. or 12 scores of to the great terrour and hurt of the Enemie Vpon which excellent effects by them attributed to the aforenamed weapons of fire they haue perswaded as much as doth in them lie that all our bands of
late yeares erected for the defence of the Realme should bee filled with manie Mosquettiers and Caliuerers and fewe Piques and for short weapons being Bils which I call Battleaxes they make small accompt Now for answere to some of these vnsoldierlike opinions I say that if anie such as doo hold that wonderfull opinion of the effects of Mosquettiers how good soldiers soeuer they thinke themselues were at anie Hauen in England with fiue or sixe thousand of the best Mosquettiers that they euer saw of our English nation without 〈…〉 of horsemen and footmen of other weapons to backe them I thinke they would worke verie small effect against the Enemie landing although they had ensconsed themselues as they terme it in such Sconses as they and their Enginers formed this last sommer 1588. vppon the Sea coasts of Suffolke and in Essex and Kent on both sides of the riuer of Thames For if they should see a Nauie with an Armie of thirtie or fortie thousand men besides seamen and such as should be left for the gard of the shipps vnder some notable and sufficient General enter into anie capable Hauen of England with wind and weather fit for their purpose with intention to inuade which God forbid they should finde themselues in their opinions wonderfullie deceiued For this they are to knowe that such a Generall being with his whole Nauie entred into such a Hauen doth take order before that proclamatiō be made throughout all his shipps and vessells that no man vpon paine of death being landed shall straggle or stray abroad but all soldiers to reduce themselues with all celeritie vnder their Ensignes which done a Cannon is discharged out of the Generalls ship which is a warning for all Captaines Officers and Soldiers to arme themselues and to take their weapons And vppon the second Cannon discharged the Captaines and Ensign-bearers with their Ensignes in their hands with such cōuenient numbers of Mosquettiers Harquebuziers Piquers and Halbarders as the long boates Shallops Fregatts Azabres and other such vessells of oares lying readie at the shipps sides are capable of doo enter into them euerie long boate hauing two Bases afore-ship readie charged and gunners readie to discharge them Then vpon the third Cannon discharged all the long boates and vessells of oares for the landing of men do rowe with all furie towards the land with a wonderfull terrible noise of trompets drommes Now if our such men of warre with their Mosquettiers would giue their volees of Mosquet shot vppon these shipboates full of men with intent to destroye great numbers of them being so thicke and so manie they shall finde that discharging their Mosquet shot from higher grounds downwards into the sea which by the Italians are called Botti di ficco accompted of all other dischargings most vncertaine as also by the ouermuch distance and continuall motion of the ship-boates rowing and with the swelling of the salt water how calme soeuer it bee made more vncertaine they shall shoote verie vncertainlie therefore work verie little or no effect to the destroying of their enemies or anie waies to keepe thē from landing Besides that the Enemies out of such their shipps as are neerest vnto them will discharge Cannon Culuerin and Saker shot to the terrifying of them so as their ship-boates in despight of their Mosquets comming to land and they presentlie sending certen troupes of Harquebuziers with some Halbarders vnder their conductors to skirmish and entertaine the Mosquettiers whilest the Piquers and other weapons doo reduce themselues into forme vnder their Ensignes they shall finde in the space of three or foure houres aboue twelue or fifteene thousand men landed who then taking some ground of aduantage to fortifie and to place their victuall powder and all sorts of munitions they with all speede possible do proceed to the landing of their Artillerie and Munitions with all the rest of their Armie both of horsemen and footmen Which being by them performed they presentlie make their approach vpon their indented Sconce not with anie crooked or crosse trenches gabions nor mounts according to the order of approaching and battering of places in forme fortified but with other inuentions gardable against Mosquet shot that peraduenture our such men of warre are ignorant of as also with Mosquet and Harquebuze shot with piques and halfe piques swords and targets and with ladders if it be needful in such terrible sort as that great number of our vnskilfull Mosquettiers and Caliuerers within their Sconce would be found scarse able to abide the first charge and assault seeing so puissant an Enemie landed And I doubt rather when they should see with what terrour the Enemies doo approach the land and the small annoyance that they with their Mosquet shot should worke vppon them that they would scarse abide the landing of the first boates full of soldiers without abandoning both Sconce and shore to the Enemie And whereas our such men of warre the last sommer had manie deuises in their heads of ensconcing of Sconces for the defence of diuers Hauens if they were men of vnderstanding in fortification as they would seeme to be they might verie well know that there is a great difference betwixt the scituations and natures of the drie grounds of England and those of Holland Frizeland and other such low and flat Countries full of riuers great ditches marishes and wet grounds where they may ensconce themselues with small cost within little Ilands or vpon poynts meetings of riuers or elswhere by the opening of sluces and dykes or cutting of banckes and trenches they may enuiron themselues with water on euerie side The best sort of which Sconces being more strong by nature and scituation than by anie arte or forme of fortification may in those parts resist and hold out a weake or an vnskilfull Enemie some long while but such their ensconcings in the drie grounds vpon the Hauens of England are to small purpose to hold out a puissant Enemie if he should land or anie waies to keepe him from landing And therfore I conclude that such fortifications in England are verie skornes and mockeries and would be rather profitable for the Enemie landed than anie waies to annoy or to resist the Enemie Besides all which before alleaged it is further to bee noted that a puissant and mightie Enemie that in the time of sommer intendeth the inuasion of forraine dominions by sea to the intent to giue battaile and subdue doth not alwaies binde himselfe to land his Armie in a Hauen but sometimes vpon an open coast and shoare if the sea without hidden rockes and flatts be deepe and the wind and weather faire hauing commoditie by the depth of the sea to approach his Nauie and to cast ancker in open roade neere vnto a commodious shoare countrie to land and march vpon So as it behoueth all such Princes as doubt the inuasion of their dominions by sea not onlie to expect and prouide for the
resisting of the Enemie in their Ports and Hauens but also to haue as great regard to some such open and commodious shoares as are before mentioned Which cannot be performed 〈◊〉 with ensconcing of Sconces 〈…〉 but onelie with a great and extraordinarie wisedome and with the valiant hands of a puissant Armie and Campe formed Now whereas they attribute such excellencie vnto Mosquettiers with their Mosquets that being in great numbers and backed with some squadrons of Piques they are able 20 or 24. scores off to break and dismember squadrons both of horsemen and footmen True it is that Mosquets being in the hands of skilful Mosquettiers are of great effect for diuers purposes and that kinde of weapon of that length with restes and so ranforced was first vsed in Italie aboue 60. yeares past as I haue diuers times heard auncient Captaines of the Italian and Spanish Nation say and that at that time they were employed for the defence of places fortified as also out of trenches against places fortified being besieged which were the verie naturall places and of greatest effect for that weapon howbeit since that time they haue been vsed in most Armies in the field both on horsebacke and on foote but chieflie on foote but neuer in anie great number vntill the Duke of Alba came to gouerne the Lowe Countries who greatlie encreased the nuÌ„ber of that weapon for soldiers on foote To the which encrease of Mosquettiers he long before had perswaded with the Emperour Charles howbeit he could neuer bring it to passe because there were diuers great notable Captaines such as the Marquesse of Guast Don Fernando Gonzaga Iuan Baptista Castaldo Antonio Dorea and the Marquesse of Marinâ—an with diuers other principall men of his councell of warre that did vtterlie mislike the encreasement of that weapon for the field as too burdensome and heauie for soldiers to vse in battailes or great encounters but for within townes besieged or out of trenches against places fortified they did greatlie allow of them But the Duke at this time being Lieutenant generall and absolute Gouernour in the Lowe Countries as aforesaid seeing the numbers of Rutters in all Armies encreased and that the most of those Rutters as also that manie Captaines and Officers of footmen were armed at the proofe of the Harquebuze he to the intent to frustrate the resistance of their armours did encrease his numbers of Mosquettiers the blowes of the bullets of which no armours wearable can resist And this I haue heard of diuers auncient Captaines both Italians and Spaniards who did rather allowe of the opinion of those great Captaines than of the Duke of Albas so great encreasing of that weapoÌ„ Since whose time the Duke of Parma after the death of the Commendador and Don Iuan d' Austria being appoynted by the King of Spaine to bee Lieutenant generall and gouernour there seeing the greatest part of the Lowe Countries reuolted and lost through Don Iuan d' Austrias composition that he was therfore to recouer citie after citie and towne after towne because they were all fortified more or lesse and that when he had won them he must keepe defend them with garrisons for the which two effects of winning defending of townes places fortified that kind of weapoÌ„ being verie excellent he encreased his Mosquettiers to a farre greater number as I haue heard than the Duke of Alba euer had Howbeit I knowe that the Duke of Alba had more cause to vse Mosquettiers in seruices of the field vpon diuers occasions than anie of his successors gouernours of those Prouinces euer had by reason of the often inuasions of Counte Lodowick the Prince of Orange and others and therefore he being as he was a great Captaine and of great experience and skill in all discipline and science Militarie did vse to conferre with his Coronells and Maestros de Campo and Sergeants Maiors of the vse of all weapons in their due times and places and of their distances in euerie sort as of verie important matters belonging to the Arte Militarie in such wise as there was not anie Captaine Alferez Sergeant of band or Cabo de Esquadra that did not knowe both by instruction and practise the particular operations and effects of all weapons and chieflie of the Mosquet and Harquebuze in which two weapons the Spaniards haue been accompted of manie yeares to bee most perfect and skilfull in such sort as there were not anie Captaines or Leaders in his Milicia so ignoraÌ„t that would permit their Mosquettiers to giue anie volees from their restes either at horsemen or footmen in march or anie motion aboue 8. or 10. scores at the farthest because they knewe both by instruction and experience that with that weapon being for diuers causes verie vncertaine they should in discharging farther of haue wrought verie small or none effect to the anoyance of their Enemies For although the Mosquet ranforced and well charged with good powder would carrie a full bullet poynt and blancke 24. or 30. scores doth it therefore followe that they should giue volees of Mosquet shot 20. or 24. scores of whereas in failing to take their iust sight at poynt and blancke no more but the length of a corne their bullets doo worke as much effect against the Moone as against the Enemie that they shoote at Besides that in so great a distance of ground how truelie soeuer they take their sights at poynt and blancke the ayre doth worke verie great effect with their bullets that are lower by a bore than the height of their peeces to carrie them from the marke or markes that they are shot at As also that by proofe they may finde that in giuing their volees of Mosquet shot but onlie twelue scores at either horsemen or footmen that are in motion they shall worke no great annoyance by reason that the bullets being so much lower than the heigth of their peeces as is aforesaid doo naturallie mount and flie vncertainlie Besides that no Mosquettiers in actions of the field can haue the time to charge their peeces and take their sights at poynt and blancke as they may being within trenches or from out of Bulwarkes Curtins and Rampiers in places fortified where with great leisure they may charge their peeces with full bullets and charges and shoot from verie certeine rests as it were de man puesto as the Spaniards call it By which reasons and experiences of the vse of that weapon in the field the lacke of experience and iudgement in our such men of warre that talke of 24. or 20. scores like nouices and VisonÌ„os may verie euidentlie appeare and giue occasion to anie such as haue seene the true effects thereof to thinke that they neuer sawe anie important matter performed with that kind of weapon in the field Now whereas they giue so great commendation to the Caliuer that with that kind of weapon soldiers may giue volees of shot in the plaine fields 10. or
12. scores off to the great annoyance both of horsemen and footmen To that I answere that it is a verie vnsoldierlike opinion and contrarie to all experience and vse of old soldiers and chieflie of the old bands of Italians Spaniards Wallons who by long experience do better knowe what effects both Harquebuzes and Mosquets of all heighthes doo work than they doo And because that by cōtinuall experience they know the wonderfull vncertaintie of those kinds of weapons in the field they will neuer skirmish nor otherwise giue anie volee aboue 10.20.30 or 40. paces off at the farthest although it bee at a whole squadron or troupe of horsemen or footmen sauing that true it is that the old soldiers Harquebuziers Spaniards seeing their enemies in the field some 8.9 or 10. scores off by the commandement of their officers doo sometimes giue a verie fewe shot at their enemies with no other intent but to abuse and procure them to giue their volees with all furie that thereby they may spend their powder and bullets heate their peeces and worke no effect whereby they still keeping the force of their shot may after giue their whole volees at their enemies approaching within 10.15 or 20. paces and for that effect the Spaniards doo vse this phrase disparese de lexos para atraher y engan̄ar bobos which our such men of warre may truelie confesse if euer they sawe and encountred with anie puissant numbers of those Nations in the field Now because they doo so much mistake the effects of those two weapons of fire the Mosquet and Caliuer attributing such excellencie vnto them for the field as is not to be performed with them thereby to bring our Magistrates and the better sort of our people Nation into misliking of our ancient weapon the Long Bowe wishing the vtter extinguishing of that kind of weapon as vnprofitable and of none effect for the warrs of these our daies I will set down the perfections and imperfections both of the Mosquet Caliuer and the Long Bowe attributing vnto each one of them the true effects that by commō experience and reason haue been and may be wrought with euerie sort of them in the field that by comparing the perfections imperfections and effects of the soldiers and their weapons of fire with the perfections imperfections and effects of the Archers their Bowes all men of consideration and iudgement bee they soldiers or men of peace may iudge which of those three sorts of weapons are of greatest effect for battailes and great encounters and other actions in the field and not in places fortified And therefore beginning with Harquebuzes by many miscalled Caliuers which Harquebuzes if they bee well ranforced and the Cannons of them not aboue a yard in length and the bore bullets not too great with stocks of good forme I think them to be verie maniable weapons for such soldiers as are well practised do know how to vse them do worke most effect in woods and whereas vines or shrubs do grow from behind old ruined walls as also whereas there be trenches deepe waies bancks hills rocks or hedges or anie other couert where they may lie close and finde anie thing to serue them for rests to discharge their peeces from and so vpon the sodaine giuing volee after volee are of great seruice chiefly for ambushes being faire weather ouer head And also in the plaine fields two or three ranckes of them being placed almost close to the frunt of a squadron of piques and likewise vpon the flanckes and backe of the same squadron are of good effect to giue their volees at a squadron or diuers squadrons of Launces charging the piques and that they must performe altogether vpon their right knees frō vnder the piques which must garde them against the charge of the Launces But they must take heede that they doo not giue their volee at the horsemen till they come within eight tenne or twelue 〈◊〉 and not eight tenne or twelue scores as our such men of warre do fondly talke and teach and in that sort they may worke verie good effect if their peeces bee charged as they ought to be If two squadrons of Piquers also should come to ioyne and charge the one the other certeine nūbers of Harquebuziers being reduced into sleeues wings and troupes vpon the flanckes and corners of a squadron are of good effect giuing their volees not too farre off so long as there are no horsemen in the field to breake them Harquebuziers also being reduced into wings and little squares and troupes in the field aduanced and retired with some societies or Cameradas of loose shot are of good effect for skirmishes against the like weapons and against Mosquettiers so that they be backed with Piques Halbards or Battleaxes and that in that kind of action they doo not discharge their peeces aboue thirtie fortie or fiftie yards or three score at the most and that with great order and discretion And these are the chiefe effects of that kind of weapon Now as for Mosquettiers with their long ranforced and heauie peeces of great munition and bullet they doo worke verie good effect in the like places and seasons sauing that they are not to be imployed as loose shot in skirmishes howbeit the verie proper and apt places for Mosquettiers in the field is to be reduced into sleeues wings broad squares or troupes to flancke a 〈…〉 of armed men or to defend a straight For those kind of soldiers hauing their Mosquets long ranforced and of great munition and bullet clapping their peeces vppon their forkes may shoote with some certaintie from of those rests to the annoyance and mischiefe of well armed men be they on horseback or on foote howbeit for the skirmish they worke little effect by reason that the soldiers being in continuall motions and troubled with heauie peeces of great length as also with their forkes hanging vppon their fingers cannot vse their Mosquets with so much readines and dexteritie as the Harquebuziers their Harquebuzes being a great deale more light and short and without forkes And to vse their peeces without restes as some of our such men of warre doo permit them when they come newe to the field lustie and strong is contrarie to the vse of that weapon because they performe no effect against the Enemie by reason they are not able how strong soeuer they bee to beare their Mosquets with their left armes at anie point and blancke being in continuall motions besides that it is the next way to make them lame in their armes shoulders and backes Two ranckes of Mosquettiers also beeing reduced before the frunt of a squadron of piques kneeling vppon their knees and encouered with piques and vsing their Mosquets as skilfull soldiers should doo maie worke the like effect or better against a squadron of Launces charging than three ranckes of Harquebuziers can doo But they must take heed that they giue not
temper with fire a conuenient quantitie of waxe rosen and fine tallowe together in such sort that rubbing their Bowes with a verie little thereof laid vpon a wollen cloath it did conserue them in all perfection against all weather of heate frost and wet and the strings beeing made of verie good hempe with a kinde of waterglewe to resist wet and moysture and the same strings beeing by the Archers themselues with fine threed well whipt did also verie seldome breake but if anie such strings in time of seruice did happen to breake the soldiers Archers had alwaies in readines a couple of strings more readie whipt and fitted to their Bowes to clappe on in an instant And this I haue heard of diuers Yeomen that haue serued as soldiers Archers in the field And now hauing before in this discourse declared all the greatest and most perfect effects of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers for seruices in the field and but a part of the imperfections of them and their weapons of fire because there are many more which for breuities sake I haue omitted and that I haue last of all declared that the imperfections of the Bowe do consist onelie in the breaking of the Bowe and bow-string because that Archers if they bee well chosen and sound of limbes their weapons doo not permit anie such accidentall imperfections and failings in them as the forenamed weapons of fire doo in the soldiers that doo handle and vse them which hath alreadie appeared and shall after in this discourse bee made more manifest I will now therefore proceed to the consideration and examining of three most important things in the which al effects of Mosquettiers Harquebuziers and Archers and their weapons do consist and that is whether Mosquettiers or Harquebuziers with their weapons of fire or Archers with their Bowes and sheafes of arrowes vpon all occasions in the field bee most readie with all dexteritie and celeritie to execute the effects of their weapons by discharging and giuing volees at their Enemies The second is whether the Archers with their weapons or the other soldiers with their weapons of fire doo faile least to shoote discharge and giue their volees And the third is whether by reason and common experience the bullets of weapons of fire in the field or the arrowes of Archers doo annoye the Enemies most bee they horsemen or footmen To the first I think that there is no man of any experience in the aforenamed weapons that will denie but that Archers are able to discharge foure or fiue arrowes apeece before the Harquebuziers shall bee readie to discharge one bullet I meane the Harquebuziers beginning to charge when the Archers doo begin to take their arrowes to shoote The reason is this because good Harquebuziers are first to charge their peeces with powder by one of three waies the first which is best is out of the mouthes and charges of their flaskes the second is by certeine charges filled with powder which Harquebuziers doo weare or carrie diuers waies and the third is by cartages with the which they doo charge their peeces both with powder and bullet all at one time and yet by which of all these waies soeuer or anie other they do charge them they must if they bee good Harquebuziers vse with their scouring sticks to thrust a quantitie of paper or felt or something els both before but chieflie after their bullets to keepe them close to the powder to the intent that their bullets vpon no accidents may fall out or at least lie loose vnrestrained from the powder as also that their peeces may carrie the further poynt and blancke and their bullets giue the greater blowes which done they must presentlie put touchpowder into their pans and their matches into their cocks or serpentines al which to performe requireth a good time Whereas the Archers in the field continuallie hauing their Bowes bent haue no more to doo but to drawe their arrowes out of their cases and sheafes to nocke them in their Bowes to drawe them to the heads and shoote all which is performed almost in an instant Now to the second Archers haue no accidents nor impediments to hinder them from the performance and execution of their dischargings and volees whereby they should anie waies faile to discharge the same vnles their Bowes or bowstrings should breake whereas Harquebuziers haue not onlie the same let in case their peeces by ouercharging or ouerheating or crackes or rifts doo breake but also if that through the negligence of the Harquebuziers the powder with the which they charge their peeces by anie accident haue receiued anie wet or moysture or that through the lacke of the closenes of their flaskes the ayre of some moyst weather hath penetrated and entered into the flaskes and caused the powder to giue and danke by meanes whereof the Harquebuziers giuing fire with their matches 〈◊〉 serpentines to the touchpowder oftentimes their peeces doo not discharge or sometimes lieth sissing in the touchhole or peece vntill the Harquebuziers haue lost their poynt and blanke and then peraduenture in vaine doo goe off The touchpowder in the touch-boxes also if either by the negligence of the Harquebuziers as aforesaid or by the fault of the touch-boxes through the moystnes of the weather the powder hath giuen and become dancke then oftentimes the powder will take no fire whereby the Harquebuziers doo not onlie faile of their dischargeings but also become vnprofitable till they haue dried or chaunged the same Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers also in powring touchpowder into their pannes the winde if it bee great will blowe and disperse the same in such sort that they shall verie often faile to discharge their peeces and so likewise if Harquebuziers in putting their matches into their serpentines do faile to set them of a conuenient length that therby they may strike iust in the powder and pannes but that they doo set the same too long whereby the matches if they be anie thing too lythe do hang downeward and with the comming downe and stroke of the cockes they fall double and short of the pannes and powder or if the same matches by anie accident haue receiued outwardlie anie wett or moisture then the coales doo burne inward leauing a beard outward so as thereby although the endes thereof doo light in the middest of the pannes and powder yet the same doo giue no fire to the towchpowder By all which aforesaid meanes and accidentes with diuers others both Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers do faile to discharge their peeces of all which imperfections and other accidentes Archers with their Bowes are voyde So as by all reason and experience it is most manifest that Archers are foure tymes more readie to giue their volees of arrowes than Harquebuziers or Mosquettiers their volees of bulletts Besides all which vnreadynesses and failings before mentioned if in the tyme of anie battle great encountre or skirmish the weather doth happen to raine haile or snow the aforenamed weapons
of fire can worke no effect because the same doth not onelie wett the powder in their pannes and touch holes but also doth wet the match put out or at least dampe the fire and doth marre the powder in their flaskes and towchboxes vnlesse the souldiours haue very good prouision and besides be wonderfull carefull with their saltenbergs or mandillions to encouer and preserue the same Whereas contrariwise neither haile raine nor snowe can let or hinder the Archers from shooting and working great effects with their arrowes All which argueth proueth a singular aduantage and excellencie of Archers and their weapons aboue al Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers with their weapons of fire Now peraduenture some not skilled in the perfections and imperfections of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers will say that they haue seene the soldiers of those weapons of fire charge and discharge with a great deale more celeritie than I haue before mentioned whereunto I answer that although it be verie commendable for all Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers to knowe how to charge and discharge apace with all other particularities belonging to weapons of fire yet such Harquebuziers or Mosquettiers as do vse to charge discharge so fast are the worst of all others For by often experience such soldiers for hast do cōmonly charge their peeces with vncertaine charges of powder do neither vse with their scouring sticks to thrust paper nor anie thing els betwixt their powder bullets nor yet after their bullets to restraine keepe close the same whereby their dischargings against the enemie might be the more effectuall besides that in their dischargeings they take no kind of sight at poinct blank nor yet at the ends of their peeces but doo discharge at a venture wherby it commeth to passe that such quick and hastie Harquebuziers doo worke no other effect but spend powder match shot and heate their peeces oftentimes to their owne mischiefes and therefore in troth are more meete to scarre Crowes in a corne field vnles they reforme themselues than with anie weapons of fire to be employed against the Enemie And now to the third and last which is whether by reason and commō experience the bullets of weapons of fire in the field or the arrowes of Archers doo annoye the Enemies most be they horsemen or footmen I thinke it superfluous againe to reiterate and set downe the different aduauntages and chiefe effects of Harquebuziers Mosquettiers and Archers because I haue alreadie made them so manifest as also that the Reader hereafter shall see in manie parts of this discourse diuers reasons manie notable examples and experiences that Archers in the field doo farre exceed and excell all Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers in terrifying wounding and killing both horses and men And therefore wil onlie in this place answere one obiection which I haue diuers times heard alleaged in commendation of the effects of weapons of fire and the dishabling of the effects of Archers and that is there are manie that haue reported that the blowes of the bullets of Mosquets and Harquebuziers are no lesse than death to such as they light vpon whereas contrariwise the blowes of arrowes doo but onelie gall or lightlie wound which in troth is greatlie mistaken by all such as doo hold that opinion For that by common experience it hath been seene in all skirmishes and great encounters that for euerie one that hath been slaine dead in the field by the shot of Mosquer or Harquebuze there haue been foure that haue not died by the hurts of such weapōs of fire although some of them haue remained euer after maimed and some not Whereas by true experience Archers with their arrowes doo not onlie greatlie wound but also sometimes kill both horses and men in such sort as they neuer depart out of the field aliue as it shall hereafter appeare by diuers auncient as also moderne examples Besides that I and diuers other Gentlemen of our Nation yet liuing that were in France in King Edward the sixts time and also diuers times since haue manie times heard French Captaines and Gentlemen attribute al the former victories of the English against themselues their ancestors the French more to the effect of our Archers than to anie extraordinarie valiancie of our Nation and therewithall further report and say that they did thinke that the English Archers did vse to poyson their arrowe heads because that of great numbers of the French Nation that many times had been wounded or hurt with arrowes verie fewe had escaped with their liues by reason that their wounds did so impostume that they could not be cured In which their cōceipts they did greatlie erre because in troth those impostumations proceeded of nothing els but of the verie rust of the arrowe heads that remained ranckling within their wounds and therefore by the common experience of our auncient Enemies that we haue so often vanquished not onlie the great but also the small wounds of our arrowes haue been alwaies found to bee more daungerous and hard to be cured than the fire of anie shot vnpoysoned Besides all which it is to bee noted that horses in the field being wounded or but lightlie hurt with arrowes they through the great paine that vppon euerie motion they doo feele in their flesh vaines and sinewes by the shaking of the Arrowes with their barbed heads hanging in them do presentlie fall a yerking flinging and leaping as if they were mad in such sort as be it in squardron or in troupe they do disorder one an other and neuer leaue vntill they haue throwne and cast their masters Whereas contrariwise horses that are in their vitall partes hurt with bulletts or that the bones of their legges shoulders or backs be broken they do presently fall down or otherwise although they be strikē cleane through or that the bulletts do still remaine in them they after the first shrinck at the entring of the bullett doo passe their Carrire as though they had verie litle or no hurt And this of the hurting of horses with bulletts both I my selfe and all others do know that haue seene any actions performed in the field And the other of the great disordering of horses with the hurts of our English arrowes I haue read in diuers histories and also heard reported by diuers Gentlemen of our nation that haue seene the same But now because I haue diuers times heard manie vaine obiections obiected by some of our Captaines of the Low Countries against Archers to the disgracing and dishabling of them and their weapons in comparison of Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers and their weapons of fire I will with the helpe of almightie God answere as manie of them as shall fall into my memorie and therefore will begin with one of their litle fancies that they doo alledge against the Longbow and so proceed to their greater and greatest obiections Among manie other their fancies they do alledge that the Archers bowes being by them vsed against
their peeces being so wonderfull heauie and they troubled with the carrying and vse of their rests and loden with their other ordinarie and heauie furniture if they be anie wayes decayd as aforesaid and therefore are become vnprofitable for seruices in the field whereas Archers that are not troubled with so heauie weapons and furniture as the Mosquettiers nor bound by the effects of their weapons to any such nimblenes stoupings and agilities as Harquebuziers are may very well draw their Bowes if they be sound without aches frō the girdle vpward what aches soeuer they haue from that part downward so long as they are able to march as fast as armed men Piquers because that according to the ancient and true vse of that weapon they are to be vsed rather for battles and great encountres than for light skirmishes Armed men also Piquers and Halbarders will bee verie vnable to march in the field armed with their weapons if they bee decaied in strength of bodie by long lying in the Campe or by sicknes or that they haue any aches or cricks in their limmes besides that vpon such diseases they will be a great deale lesse able to encounter with their enemies in the field vpon anie occasion of battaile or great encounter and to vse their piques and other weapons as armed men should doo in such actions All which rightlie considered their vnconsiderate speaches and enablings of Mosquettiers Harquebuziers and disabling of Archers vpon the accidents and occasions aforesaid doth argue their insufficiencies in matters militarie because such as pretend to bee men of warre or old soldiers should not speake rashlie and as the Frenchman saith a la volee but with consideration reason and iudgement for otherwise how long soeuer they haue serued in warres it may bee rightlie deemed that they haue spent their times employed themselues more to some other base and vile occupations than to the consideration exercises of matters Militarie Moreouer they obiect against Archers that men in this age are not so mightie and strong of bodie as they haue been in former ages and therefore cannot shoote so strong and work so good effects with their arrowes as their forefathers haue done in times past which is as friuolous an obiection as all the rest and the reason is this that they may see by experience if they list throughout England as also amongst other Nations as manie sonnes as tall or taller than their fathers or bigger and stronger as they shall see lower slenderer and weaker Now peraduenture with more troth some may say that the subiects of England within these thirtie or fortie yeares haue not had so much exercise in Archerie as their forefathers in times past were wont to haue whereby it commeth to passe that Archers in number are greatlie decaied which I confesse to bee verie true howbeit that hath chieflie proceeded through the great fault and negligence of sorts of Magistrates who hauing excellent statute and penall lawes established in other kings times for the increase and maintenance of Archerie and that boyes from their young yeares should bee taught the exercise and vse of the Bowe that being come to mans state they might bee the better able to serue their Prince and Countrie with that kinde of weapon haue so neglected or rather contemned the due performance execution of those lawes that a great deale more through their owne fault than through the fault of the people it is now come to passe that the Realme hath so fewe good Archers which their negligence or contempt whether it hath proceeded of that they haue been carried into the fancies of liking the aforesaid weapons of fire because they fill mens eares and eyes with such terrible fire smoake and noyse or els that they haue been perswaded thereunto by some old new-fangled men of warre that do neither vnderstand the true effects of Mosquetterie Harquebuzerie nor Archerie I wot not But this I knowe that if that weapon hereafter shall come to be forgotten and extinguished through the negligence and lacke of good execution of such good lawes that whereas in times past we were wont to giue battaile and fight with our Enemies with a weapon so terrible vnto them that they neuer had anie vse or skill of but onelie to their mischiefe and therefore of great aduauntage for vs and wherein our people and Nation of a singular gift of God as it were by a naturall inclination with good execution of lawes came to be so perfect excellent without anie publique cost charges either to King or Realme we shall then vpon anie occasion of warre offensiue or defensiue bee driuen to fight with them with their owne weapons to our great disaduantage that is with the Harquebuze and Mosquet in the which they had and haue continual practise and exercise by reason that they are in the continent where euerie kingdome and state doth ioyne one to another without anie partition of sea and therefore driuen to keepe continuall garrisons and exercises of warre whereas wee contrariwise liuing in long peace without anie such exercises Militarie vpon the occasion of a warre as aforesaid must leauie and enroll new soldiers and goe about to traine and exercise them with those weapons that they neuer handled before when wee should goe to fight and giue battaile to the Enemies Armie that is of old soldiers of long time trained and exercised in those weapons Now these weapons the Long Bowes which our such men of warre haue so much condemned being in the hands of such soldiers Archers as can well vse them are weapons of singular aduantage and effect for battailes and great encounters both against horsemen and footmen and chieflie being so euill armed as all Nations in these our daies both on horsebacke and on foot are because that the Bowe is a weapon wonderfull readie in all seasons both of faire foule weather which Mosquets and Harquebuzes are not and doth wound gall and kill both horses and men if the arrowes doo light vpon anie disarmed parts of them besides that the Archers being good they doo direct their arrowes in the shooting of them out of their Bowes with a great deale more certaintie being within eight nine tenne or eleuen scores than anie Harquebuziers or Mosquettiers how good soeuer they bee can doo in a much neerer distance by reason that Mosquettiers Harquebuziers failing in their points and blancke doo neither kill nor hurt vnlesse it happen as the blind man shooting at the Crowe besides that in their points and blancke through the imperfections before declared they doo verie seldome hit whereas contrariwise the arrowes doo not onelie wound and sometimes kill in their points and blank but also in their discents fall for if in their discents they light not vpon the Enemies faces yet in their lower discents they light either vpon their breasts bellies codpeeces thighes knees or legges and in their lowest