Selected quad for the lemma: war_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
war_n	bullet_n	great_a	piece_n	2,015	5	9.9190	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12567	Certain discourses, vvritten by Sir Iohn Smythe, Knight: concerning the formes and effects of diuers sorts of weapons, and other verie important matters militarie, greatlie mistaken by diuers of our men of warre in these daies; and chiefly, of the mosquet, the caliuer and the long-bow; as also, of the great sufficiencie, excellencie, and wonderful effects of archers: with many notable examples and other particularities, by him presented to the nobilitie of this realme, & published for the benefite of this his natiue countrie of England	Smythe, John, Sir, ca. 1534-1607.	1590 (1590)	STC 22883; ESTC S117657	85,512	138

the Enemie in the heate of sommer will grow so weake that thereby they will leese their force and effects Whereunto I answere that this obiection is a new fancie and a verie dreame contrary to all ancient and moderne experience of English Archers whose Bowes being made of that excellēt wood of Yewgh doo neuer so decay in strength neither by hotte nor wett weather nor yet by often shooting in them but that they will with arrowes wound and sometymes kill both men horses a greater distance off then the shott and bullets of Harquebuziers and Caliuer 〈…〉 employed and vsed in the open fields by skilfull Conductours and Leaders by reason of the wonderfull failings and vncertainties of those and all other weapons of fire maniable diuers of the particularities wherof I haue before in this dicourse made manifest Also they do further alledge that vpon an inuasion of foraine dominions beyond the seas the weapons and furniture of Archers as of Bowes sheafes of arrowes and bowstrings can not be found and prouided where Archerie is not vsed whereas contrariwise all kinds of munition belonging to the weapons of fire are easie to be found and prouided in all foraine dominions Which is as much as if they should say that if an Armie of fiue and twentie or thirtie thousand of our English nation vnder some sufficient Generall were sent to inuade France and disembarking in Normandie and winning Newhauen and Roan should straight march to Paris which is no more thā diuers Kings of England and their Generalls haue done where after some encountres and skirmishes the Armie comming to lack powder and shott they should with facilitie for money prouide the same in the hart of the Enemies Countrie where all the Townes in which that prouision is to bee had are fortified which is a verie mockerie and dreame to bee thought on But some of our such men of warre peraduenture will further alledge that they might haue the same prouision by the way of conuoy either from Newhauen or Roan in case they were possessed of those Townes whereunto it is to bee answered that first the conuoy had need to bee verie strong besides that there is no man of anie consideration and iudgement but that doth verie well knowe that Mosquets Harquebuzes powder match and lead are as heauie and a great deale more heauie to bee carried than Bowes sheafes of arrowes and bowstrings are Besides that by such their ignorant obiections they doo euidentlie shew that they haue not read nor heard or els for lacke of reason not beleeued the proceedings of the notable Kings of England in their inuasions of France and other Dominions for if they had they would not then doubt but that a King of England or his Lieutenant generall inuading forraine dominions would vpon such an enterprise carrie all sorts of munition belonging to Archers to serue them for many battailes and great encounters as well as King Edward the third and Henrie the fift and their Lieutenants generall did whose Armies did sometimes consist of nine or ten thousand al Archers and not aboue foure or fiue thousand armed men on horsebacke and on foote which Princes and their Lieutenants did neuer omit according to their milicia to carrie great plentie of sheafes of Arrowes Bowes and all other things requisite aswell for their Archers as for their armed men and all other effects Besides that by that their simple and fond obiection they do discouer that they haue very seldome or neuer seene an Armie royall march in the field for if they had they then would verie well know that there is no puissant Armie formed either to inuade or defend that doth consist of a well ordered milicia that doth not in the publique carriages of the Camp ordinarylie carrie all kindes of munitions of weapons and armours offensiue and defensiue with all other munitions and necessaries requisite for all purposes for the publique employments and vse of Camp Towne and field Now whereas some of our aforesaid men of warre do further alledge rather vpon fancie than vpon anie souldiourlyke reasons and experience manie vaine and friuolous obiections partlie against the Bowes as aforesaid but chieflie against the Archers that do vse them how good soeuer they be saying that Archers when they haue lyen some long tyme in Camp in the field will become so decayd in strength either by sicknes or otherwise that they will not be able to draw their Bowes and worke that effect that Archers should do whereas contrarywise Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers will giue as great blowes with their bulletts out of their peeces being decayd in strength by long lying in Camp or sickenes as if they were whole Thereunto I answere that true it is that the small loue that such men of warre as they are haue borne to their souldiours in the Low Countries allowing them nothing but prouand and lodging them in Churches vpon the bare stones and pauements aswell in winter as in sommer with manie other their abuses and disorders contrarie to all discipline militarie haue made most of their souldiours vnfit and vnable to vse any sort of weapons as soldiers should do in the field howbeit in fauour of Archers to conuince their simple and ignorant opinions I say that if Harquebuziers happen to be decayd in strength by sicknes or that by long lying in Camp in the field they shall happē to haue anie ache or aches in their necks shoulders armes backs thighs leggs or feet although that they be otherwise hart whole enough shalbe as litle or rather lesse able in seruices in the field to performe the effect of Harquebuziers than Archers the effect of Archers for Harquebuziers in such seruices must be lythe in all their ioints and sinewes that they may stoupe to their peeces trauerse their grounds now retiring hauing discharged giuing place to their fellowes and then aduancing againe giuing their fellowes retiring tyme againe to charge with such agilitie and dexteritie that they may be readie vpon euery opportunitie to stoupe and take euery litle aduantage of hillocks bancks vines trenches shrubbes or anie such like besides that they must haue their armes and shoulders verie sound to carrie their peeces firme in their dischargings at the Enemie as also to vse their scouring sticks and charge againe which effects they are no wayes able to performe if they be grown weak by lying in the field or if they haue achs or cricks in anie part of their limbes as aforesaid Mosquettiers also it doth behoue to be strong and puissant of body without sicknes achs or other impediments and euerie way sound of wind and limbe for if they be decayd in strength of body by lying in the field or that they haue anie impediments of cricks or aches in their necks shoulders armes backs thighs or leggs it is not possible that they should be able to vse their Mosquets in the field to the annoyance of their Enemies

their volee of shot at the Launces anie greater distance off than fifteene or twentie yards because they may shoote the more certeinlie and not faile to light either vpon the horses or men And now hauing declared the chiefe effects of both those sorts of weapons I will proceed to the imperfections and common accidents of them both as also of the better sort of such soldiers as do handle and vse those weapons of what Nation soeuer they be All Harquebuziers in skirmishes or great encounters or being reduced into anie forme doo commonlie discharge their peeces without taking anie certeine sight at poynt and blanck and out of their poynt and blancke they doo neither kill nor hurt 〈…〉 If Harquebuziers also or Mosquettiers in taking their sights doo faile but the length of a wheate corne in the heighth of their point and blancke they worke no●● effect at the marks that they shoote at although they bee verie great and in case they doo take their sights at iust poynt blanke yet by reason that their bullets are lower by 〈◊〉 boares than the heighth of their peeces the said bullets doo naturallie mount and flie vncertainlie and wide from the marke or markes that they are shot at and the further in distance the more they faile The Harquebuze Mosquet also being discharged but seuen or eight shootes in hast doo growe hote and then doo worke small effect but daunger to the soldiers that doo occupie them If the powder also with the which they are charged bee not well corned and with sufficient quantitie of saltpeter and kept verie drie it furreth the peeces and carrieth the bullets poynt and blanke but a little way and manie times goe not off at all The match also if it bee not of verie good substance well wrought and verie well twisted and kept verie drie whereby the cole of the same may be hard and good it giueth no fire to the touchpowder besides that if the touchpowder bee not drie it taketh no fire how good soeuer the cole of the match be The Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers also charging their peeces in anie actions of the field if in mouing or trauersing their grounds they do not looke well to the keeping vp of the mouthes of their peeces but that by anie chaunce the ends of them doo goe anie thing downward the bullets that are smaller by 〈◊〉 boare than the heighth of the cannons of their peeces doo fall to the ground wherevpon it happeneth that manie Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers thrusting nothing after their bullets to keep them close to the powder doo in vaine discharge the powder without the bullets Also if harquebuziers or mosquettiers do not cōtinually keepe their peeces cleane without moysture or rust and also take great heed that they do not ouercharge thē they either put their peeces in hazard of breaking or els themselues to bee ouerthrowne with the reculing of them Or if Harquebuziers or Mosquettiers in charging their peeces do not charge them with conuenient and full charges and chieflie the Harquebuziers and that the powder bee verie good and drie as also that they doo with their scouring stickes thrust either paper or felt or something els betweene the powder and the bullets or at the least after the bullets whereby the whole charges of powder being restrained may take fire and giue the more force to the bullets likewise restrained they performe but smal effect for such Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers as charging their peeces in actions of the field doo not vse to put anie thing betweene the powder and the bullets nor yet after the bullets to keepe the powder and bullets firme and close together doo discharge much of the powder whole out of the mouthes of their peeces vnfired vnlesse the powder bee merueilous drie and good for bullets for the field being smaller and lower as is aforesaid than the heighths of the peeces by 〈…〉 bore the first powder within the Cannons next vnto the touch hole taking fire doth driue out the bullets with the powder next vnto the bullets vnfired because that both the powder and bullets doo lie loose vnrestrained by meanes whereof the bullets doo neither worke that effect in their distances of point and blancke that otherwise they would doo nor yet in the force of their blowes Besides all which defaults defects neither the Harquebuze nor the Mosquet in wet weather in the field doo worke anie effect All which so manie imperfections of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers as are before declared with manie others that I omit are the causes that vpon manie great skirmishes and encounters that haue been verie hot and continued manie houres with newe supplies on euerie side it hath often happened that in discharging on both sides manie thousands of bullets within three foure or fiue scores and neerer there hath not been on both sides slaine and hurt with bullets thirtie men which greatlie argueth the insufficiēcie of those kinds of weapons for battailes and great encounters So as it is to bee noted that such of our men of warre as doo giue so singular commendations and praises to the effects of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers as also to those weapons and doo not knowe all their imperfections and failings before declared with manie more doo shewe that they haue had verie little experience of those weapons in the field nor yet that they themselues doo knowe how to handle and vse them and therefore doo talke like nouices they wot not what Moreouer concerning the insufficiencie of those weapons of fire it is farther to bee noted that if there be anie number of horsemen either Launces or Stradiotts in the field where Mosquettiers or Harquebuziers are in action and that they haue no horsemen on their side to answere them that it doth then behoue the shot with al celeritie to reduce themselues vnder the gard of their squadrons of piques or if the number of them bee so great that the squadrons of piques cannot encouer them the ouerplus must retire themselues to some such grounds of aduantages as the horsemen may not be able to come to charge thē for in case they should abide in the plaine field not encouered with piques nor garded with anie ground of aduauntage a thousand braue Launces or Stradiotts were able to breake three thousand of the best Mosquettiers or Harquebuziers of anie Nation And now to the perfections and imperfections of our auncient weapon the Long Bowe comparing the different effectes and aduauntages of that weapon with the aforenamed weapons of fire The imperfections of the Long bowe doo consist onlie in the breaking of the Bowe or bowstring for the which in times past when there was great accompt made of Archerie there was speciall care had that all Liueray or warre Bowes being of the wood of Yewgh were longer than now they vse them and so verie well backed and nocked that they seldome or neuer brake Besides that the Archers did vse to

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

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

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 nūber 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 Marin●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 weapō 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 weapō 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 ignorāt 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 Vison̄os 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