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
alleage two the one ancient the other of this time The first is of the Arabians which nation vnder Mahomet that false prophet his successors Halifas conquered a great part of Europe Affrike and Asia were so long as they had but one supreme Halifa or Prince to gouerne the Arabians and al their dominions by them conquered so mighty through their excellent Milicia that no forren Nation durst assaile them But after by their long liuing in peace and great prosperitie in the end through the viciousnes and insufficiencie of one of their supreme Halifas that at that time raigned ouer them fell into reuolt and intestine wars amongst themselues striuing for the supreme throne and gouernement in such sort that in few yeres they did so corrupt and confound their ancient discipline Militarie so weaken themselues by many cōfused battels sackings and spoiles and by diuiding their great Empire into diuers partes vnder diuers Halifas that the Turkes a new Nation who had an excellent Milicia did inuade their dominions and within few yeares brought them into subiection to the Turkie Empire Now the other example which is of our time is Fraunce which kingdome vntill Lewes the eleuenth did serue himselfe with mercinaries had a well ordered Milicia offensiue and defensiue and that chiefly on horsebacke and yet diuers yeares had some reliques and remnants of the same but nowe in this later time the French Nation hauing continued seauen or eight and twenty yeares in ciuile warres amongest themselues they haue so corrupted and confounded all their ancient orders and proceedings in matters Militarie that they haue at this present no shew token nor mention of the same but disorder disobedience and confusion which hath proceeded of the like causes that brought the Arabians and many other Nations through intestine warres to corrupt and confound their Arte and Science Militarie as it shall more particularly appeare by that which followeth I think all men of experience iudgement in matters of warre do know that the first principall thing that is requisite to assemble and forme an armie or armies and to keepe the same in obedience with good effect is treasure to maintaine pay and reward with seuere execution of excellent Lawes Militarie Which what Prince soeuer he be that hath with sufficient Generals other Officers to commaund and gouerne may very well haue a well ordered Milicia by reason that no souldiours well payd and chiefly being subiects to the Prince that they serue can vse any excuses not to obserue all lawes and orders Militarie of Sea or Land Towne Campe or Field Besides that vpon any transgression of orders it is lawfull for the Captains and higher Officers to correct reforme and punish according to the lawes and ordinances Militarie from whence it commeth to passe that euen as the Citizens of a wel ordered Citie through the execution of good lawes ciuil and criminall by excellent gouernors doo liue in great order quietnes and prosperitie without any ciuile dissention Euen so an Armie in the field being well payed prouided for and gouerned doo liue as orderly in towne campe and field without robbing spoiling or otherwise iniuring any other but the common enemie Now to maintaine and continue the same it dooth behoue a King in his kingdome and chieflie in the bodie of the same to be well obeyed that by the quiet obedience of his subiects he may receiue all his customes rents and reuenewes with all other subsidies and aides that of antiquitie his progenitors haue accustomed to receiue with newe supplies of men and munitions from time to time to ranforce his Armie or Armies All which the French Kings through their subiects so often taking Armes and such intestine warres so manie yeares haue so come to want that they haue not had anie meanes possible to maintaine any other but a deformed and disordered Milicia by reason that the Nobilitie and Princes of the bloud vppon diuers legitimate causes by them pretended with their friends and followers taking Armes against them a great part of the reuenewe of the Crowne with all other customes subsidies and aides haue in diuers Cities Townes and Prouinces come to cease and the same to be enioyed by the Kings enemies armed by meanes whereof the French Kings that haue liued in the times of these intestine warres haue not had treasure to pay their Armies whereby to keepe their men of warre in any discipline Besides that by those continuall dissentions they haue lackt a great part of their Nobilitie and subiects to ranforce their Armies The Nobilitie also and Princes of the bloud that haue continued in Armes against their Kings notwithstanding their vsurped reuenewe and treasure of the Crowne haue beene as little or lesse able to pay their men of warre so that all the intestine and ciuill warres that haue continued so manie yeares in France with the slaughter and destruction of such infinite numbers of all sorts of people haue beene maintained and continued tumultuaritie more by spoyle sedition passion and faction than by any pay order and discipline Militarie Whereof it hath come to passe that such Armies as haue serued vnder the French Kings or vnder the Nobilitie that haue continued in armes against them how good Officers gouernors soeuer they had could not haue any certen nor ordered Milicia by reason that through the lacke of certaine pay and no hope of reward for extraordinary deserts it hath come to passe that the souldiors thereby being made voluntary haue obeyed their Captaines no otherwise than hath pleased themselues altering and changing their weapons as also themselues out of one band into an other and sometimes horsemen to become footemen and footemen to become horsemen besides their forraging and stragling from their Ensignes without order as also their negligence and lacke of vigilancie in their watches bodies of watches and centinels and by disordering themselues vpon euery light occasion both in battallion squadron and troupe Captaines also haue oftetimes formed or rather deformed their bands both on horsebacke and on foote with armors and weapons new inuented by themselues without controlment different from all orders Militarie The Generals and whole armies also both of the one side and of the other haue very seldome or neuer according to the Arte Militarie lodged themselues in any campe formed but dispersed and scattered by bands in many Townes and Villages with great disorder Besides that both Captaines Souldiors and all other men of warre for lacke of ordinary pay haue liued a great deale more vpon the spoile and misusing of the common people their fellow-subiects and friends than vpon any spoile or annoying of the enemy armed through which great disorders and lack of pietie contrary to all diuine humane lawes it hath come to passe that such Officers Captains and Souldiours that haue serued any long time in such licentious and tumultuarie wars be they subiects or mercenaries can very hardly after be reformed and
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
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
with the other great compertiments of the like weapons of other great bands to forme their squadrons with sleeues wings troupes or forlorne hopes according to the order and direction of the Coronells and Sergeants Maiors than if their bands were smaller either of 300. or vnder that number whereby the compertiments of weapons should be also the smaller thereby in number the greater and so consequently would require a longer time not onlie to drawe out but also to incorporate compertiments with compertiments for the forming of battailes with sleeues wings and forlorne hopes as aforesaid Besides that such great bands both by reason and experience are as readie or rather more readie to bee employed either in whole companies vnder their Captaines and Lieutenants or diuided into parts and Corporolates vnder their Corporals and Sergeants for watches bodies of watches Centinells and all other ordinarie and extraordinarie employments actions Militarie in Camp Towne or Field than anie small bands are Now peraduenture some such as doo not vnderstand this order Militarie of the Princes of Germanie aboue mentioned will say that all the Regiments of footmen Almanes that either the King of Spaine or the French King haue hired and imployed anie waies in their warres haue been but of 300. to an Ensigne which is verie true howbeit the cause thereof hath been that when such Princes haue occasion to employ anie Mercinarie regiments of Almanes they do send their Commissaries into Germanie to hire so manie Coronells as they will haue Regiments in case that they had none before in their ordinarie stipends and pay and those Coronells doo make choise of Captaines for the leauie of their Regiments at their owne pleasures and therefore will accept of no Captaines but of such as will compound with them and buy their Captainship so as the more bands the more Captaines and the more Captaines the more compositions and profite which peraduenture was the cause that moued some chiefe officer or officers vnder the Earle as imitators of the Almane Mercenaries to perswade him to reduce all the great and honorable bands aforesaid into little bands of 150. or 200. thereby to haue the more compositions and sommes of monie at our Lowe Countrie Captains hands some of the which would not let to giue largelie to obtaine Companies intending after by fleecing and ransoming of their soldiers being men of wealth to pay themselues againe with great interest which two or three daies before the breaking vp of the Campe they verie pretilie did begin Howbeit it seemeth that such great Officers and perswaders had little regarde to the profite of the Prince nor yet to the reducing of the Armie with celeritie and dexteritie into squadrons and battailes and other formes Militarie as aforesaid considering that those small bands of 150. or 200. soldiers to an Ensigne did consist of fiue different sorts of weapons viz. Piques Battleaxes Mosquets Harquebuzes and Long Bowes and that therefore euerie one of them was to bee reduced into fiue diuers diuisions which besides the vncomely sight to see so many small compertiments in euerie such little band it would haue required a farre longer time vpon the dailie ordinarie dislodging of an Armie reduced into Vaward Battle and Rereward to haue drawne out so great a number of compertiments out of such a number of little bands than out of bands of 500. to haue drawne a few great compertiments and to haue encorporated and reduced them into anie forme Militarie Now whereas our such men of warre perswaded with the Earle that the Enemie would iudge the greatnes of the Armie by the greatnes of the number of Ensignes and therfore redoubt the more that by the number of such little bands vnder so manie trained Captains the Armie should be so much the more full of men of seruice it argueth the insufficiencie and lack of iudgment of such perswaders For there is no Enemie skilfull in the Arte Militarie that will iudge of the greatnes or smalnes of an Armie in the field by the great or small number of Ensignes or peeces of Taffata but by the frunts and flancks of the squadrons marching and chieflie by good espialls or by prisoners taken And as for the dismissing and cassing of the Knights and Esquiers that were Captains of such honorable Companies that such Lowe Countrie Captaines might haue supplied their places vpon the diuiding of those great bands into hundreds and fifties or into two hundreds I thinke it had been a great deale more meete for the reasons before alledged that all the whole Armie if it had been farre greater than it was for the defence of the realme should haue been reduced into great bands of fiue hundreds vnder the charge of Knights and Esquiers well chosen and of great worship in their Countries and that a great part of our such Lowe Countrie Captaines 〈◊〉 neuer knewe what discipline Militarie ment nor yet what it is to command and gouerne as it may well appeare by their infinite disorders in the Lowe Countries should haue been distributed and placed throughout those great bands as Sergeants or Ensigne bearers vnder such discreet and worshipfull Gentlemen to the intent that they might first learne to obey before they should haue authoritie to commaund and gouerne the Yeomanrie of England Now whereas I haue heard of some of our auncient and most sufficient Captaines that our English milicia of footmen manie yeares past did consist of bands but of 100. to an Ensigne and that I haue likewise heard by diuers old and notable Captaines Italians that the Italian milicia also before the Emperour Charles as also in the beginning of his time did consist of bands of footmen but of 100. to an Ensigne and that those bands of hundreds did consist euerie one of them but of one sort of weapon as amongst the Italians of a hundred Piques sauing that of that number there were a verie fewe partisans for the garding of their Ensignes and of a hundred Harquebuziers so our bands of hundreds did also consist of 100. Archers of 100. Battleaxes without composing them of diuers sorts of weapons according to the moderne vse which certainlie in mine opinion sauing onelie for the encrease of the charges of the Prince was a verie conuenient order considering that euerie sort of weapon being reduced into bands by themselues without compertiments of diuers sorts of weapons in anie one band vnles it had been of Battleaxes with Piques because those two sorts of weapons are to enter into the bodie of a squadrō would haue wrought that the Sergeants Maiors and other Officers of the field might with great facilitie and celeritie haue reduced anie meane Armie into manie formes of battailes both to march and fight as also that they might haue been lodged in their quarters with great order and readines in a Campe or Campes formed Now whereas our such men of warre did perswade with the Earle for the reducing of the great bands of
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
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
themselues by frunt and flanckes then the Archers are to giue their volees of arrowes at the Enemie approaching within eight nine tenne or eleuen scores and to performe the same they ought not to haue anie other weapon placed before them that may anie waies take away their sights to direct their arrowes towards the Enemies faces but as they were placed their sights had not onlie been taken away vppon such an action with the smoake of the shot and with so manie ranckes and Ensignes closed in frunt and flanckes as were before them but also the most of their volees of arrowes should haue flien through the taffaties of the Ensignes and haue glaunced or lighted vpon the piques either cleauing them or beating them downe besides that to the Archers great disaduātage they should haue lost a great part of their ground in giuing their volees of arrowes at their Enemies by reason of the distance so manie ranckes of other weapons being before them which most grosse and ignorant errors by them committed in their reducing of Archers contrarie to all science Militarie with manie other their disorders which I omit doo manifestly shew their lack of skill insufficiēcie any waies to controll or find fault with that most excellēt renowmed weapō Now therfore I will proceede to the ancient and orderlie forming vse of Archers that hath been vsed of great antiquitie by the notable Kings great Captaines of our English nation who with the grace of God and merueilous effect of that most singular weapō haue atchieued so manie and so wōderfull victories against both Pagans Christiās The ancient order of reducing Archers into forme by our most skilfull and warlike ancestours was into hearses that is broad in frunt and narrow in flanck as for example if there were fiue and twenty thirtie fiue and thirtie or more or fewer Archers in frunt the flancks did consist but of seuen or eight rancks at the most and the reason was this that if they had placed anie more ranckes than seuen or eight the hinder ranckes of Archers should haue lost a great deale of ground in the volees of their arrowes at their Enemies considering the conuenient and proportionate distances betwixt rancke and rancke and ranckes before them as also that the sight of the hinder ranckes should haue bene taken away by so manie former ranckes from directing their volees of arrowes towardes their Enemies faces And whereas the small skil of our such mē of warre at Tilbury did as it were locke vp all the Archers depriuing them of all vse and effect of their arrowes our auncestours had so great experience of the wonderfull effect of that weapon that they placed their hearses of Archers either before the frunt of their armed footmen or ells in wings vpō the corners of their battailes and sometymes both in frunt wings And in this sort they placed them in the face of the mē at armes of France all other braue horsmen of foraine Natiōs who in those dayes were far better armed thā any Natiōs in these our daies are And yet with this good order the wonderfull effect of our Archerie and arrowes was such that flying in the ayre as thick as snowe with a terrible noyse much like a tempestuous wind preceding a tempest they did leaue no disarmed place of horse or man vnstriken and wounded as may well appeare by manie battailes and victories and namelie by the battaile of Crecy that kind Edward the third and Prince Edward his sonne wonne against king Phillip of France where the said king Phillip had eight or ten thousand men at armes and fifteen thousand Genoüeses Crossebowers which were no wayes inferiour for seruices in the field to the Mosquettiers of this tyme with so puissant an Armie also on horseback and on foote verie well armed and appointed of diuers Nations that they were six at the least for euerie one of the English in which battaile were slaine eleuen Princes and twelue hundred Knightes besides thirtie thousand soldiers of all Nations And the wonderfull effect and terrour of the shot of arrowes was that day such as neither the Frēch king with his men at armes nor yet anie other of his great Captaines with their braue and well armed bandes of horsemen of diuers Nations were able to enter and breake the Archers although they had no piques stakes banckes nor trenches to gard thē but being in the plaine and open fields the Archers with their volees of arrowes did breake both horsmen and footmen wounding or killing both horses and men in such sort that the French King himselfe being in great perrill had his horse with the shot of arrowes slaine vnder him By which example and diuers others that I will hereafter alledge it may be apparāt to anie man that is possessed with the grace of God and therefore of sound iudgement that Archers being in great numbers and reduced into the forme of hearses or double hearses as wings to a battaile or squadron of piques that they may the more conuenientlie giue their volees of arrowes need not to bee garded with piques nor yet stakes as some talke of the battaile of Agincourt but they themselues are most braue Piquers for as a squadron of Piquers well formed doo with their piques in their hands worke great effect in resisting a charge of Launces or by encountring with another squadron of Piquers their Enemies so the arrowes of braue Archers reduced into hearses being deliuered out of their Bowes doo become so terrible piques in the eyes and sight of the horses as also in lighting vppon their shafrons cranets or steele pectorells or being not barbed vpon their bare faces and euerie disarmed part that the horses with the huzzing striking and vnaccustomed noise with the blowes and wounding of the arrowes doo flie backe and athwart the one the other in such sort as no force of spurres can make them to goe anie further against the Archers but that they doo disorder and ouerthrowe one another Besides that against squadrons of armed footmen the volees of arrowes flying in the ayre and comming in their eyes and sights as thick as haile and lighting vppon their faces and euerie other disarmed part doo so amaze them that they come to loose their ranckes disorder themselues before they can come to ioyne with another squadron of armed men their Enemies and also with their terror doo wonderfully confuse and confound the greatest and brauest Captaines in their directions and commandements As it may verie well appeare not onelie by the battaile of Crecy before mentioned but also by the battaile of Poictiers where certeine yeares after the same Prince Edward that was at the battaile of Crecy with King Edward his father hauing not in his whole Armie aboue eight thousand English and Gascoignes of the which there were sixe thousand Archers and two thousand armed men ouerthrewe King Iohn of France that valiant Prince who at that battaile
haue been in times past ordained and established for the exercise and maintenance of the same will growe to bee forgotten and in a manner vtterlie extinguished which if through the negligence of the better sort of our Nation imitating and following the simple and ignorant opinions of our such vnskilfull men of warre it should come to passe it doth in mine opinion argue nothing more than that God hath withdrawne his hand and all right iudgment in matters Militarie from vs and that in time to come vpon any great warre either offenciue or defenciue we shall when it is too late repent the same greatlie to the hazard and perill of our Prince Countrie and Nation The consideration whereof for the great loue that I haue alwaies borne and doo still according to my duetie beare to the Crowne and Realme of England and English Nation was the first and principall cause that mooued me to take these discourses in hand to the intent to aduise perswade as much as in my power and small abilitie is the Nobilitie Magistrates and better sort of our Nation with all care and diligence to reuiue and put in execution the auncient statutes prouided and established for the encrease and exercise of the youth of England in Archerie that as God of his great goodnes hath blessed our Nation with a wonderfull aptnes and dexteritie in that weapon more than any other Nation that I haue seene heard or read of throughout the vniuersall world so that wee may not through the friuolous and vaine perswasions of a fewe vnskilfull and ignorant men in these our daies as vnthankfull neglect that great and especiall goodnes of almightie God and singular gift that he hath endued vs withall but that wee doo with all care and diligence beleeue and imitate the great experience of our most worthie Auncestors that in diuers ages with the aduauntage of that most excellent weapon haue atchieued such and so many wonderfull and miraculous victories against diuers Nations both Christians and Pagans As also that we doo giue credite to the greatest Captaines of our Nation and diuers other Nations that haue liued in our time some of the which being yet aliue and of principall sort and calling haue seene the mightie works and wonderfull effects of our English Archers and therefore with all right iudgement reiecting all newe fancies and toyes that we doo embrace and esteeme that singular weapon to bee the chiefe and principall of all others for battailes victories and conquests And now to make an end I doo againe as I did in the beginning of my discourse notifie that mine intention hath no waies extended by any thing in my discourses contained to touch the reputation or honor of any Noblemen nor Gentlemen of noble or worshipfull houses nor yet any others of worthie minds that haue entred into those Low Countrie seruices rather to win reputation knowledge and honor than for any hope or desire of spoyle or greedie gaine but onelie such of our men of warre as neglecting and contemning all true honor discipline Militarie haue brought in amongst vs a most shamefull and detestable arte and discipline of carowsing and drunkennes turning all matters Militarie to their own profite and gaine neglecting to loue and to win the loue of their soldiers vnder their gouernments charges making in a manner no accompt of them nor of their liues in such sort as by their euill conduction staruing and consuming great numbers and many thousands of our most braue English people as also by their infinite other disorders they haue made a farre greater warre vpon the Crowne and Realme of England and English Nation than any waies vpon the enemies of our Countrie Honor gloria in excelsis Deo omnipotenti sempiterno incomprehensibili Amen No Noble nor worthie men anie waies intended to be touched in this discourse Vaine innouation of our ancient termes of warre They fondlie scorne our ancient manner of arming Their mistaking of swords Their mistaking of daggers I would wish that all the piques throghout England that are for the field shold be reduced into one vniformitie of lēgth that is either to seuenteene foote long by the rule or else to eighteene foote and not aboue which are two foote longer thā the Spaniardes do vse in their milicia therewithall I wold haue them to be made so light of very good wood that they shold be both portable and maniable which many of our piques at this present are not * Their mistaking of piques Their mistaking of Halbards Their mistaking of the conuenient heighth and length of Caliuers Harquebuzes of conuenient heighth and length ranforced better thā the ordinarie long and heauie Caliuers Their mistaking of small bands to bee better than great The reasons and causes wherefore the Princes of Germanie doo vse great bands of 500. in their seruices of the Empire The cause wherefore the mercinarie Almane Coronells doo vse small bands of 300. in the seruice of forrain Princes Their mistaking of small Regiments to be better than great Their vaine opinions of the effect of Caliuers Mosquets A vaine opinion of insconsing of Sconces in the drie grounds of England An vnsoldierlike opinion of the effects of Mosquets for seruices in the field Mosquettiers on horsebacke were vsed in the Emperour Charles and Henrie the French Kings times to flank a square of Launces and to giue a volee at another square of Laūces their enemies and they did vse to weare halfe cuirasses with rests of yron to pull forward or put backward to discharge their Mosquets frō If Mosquettiers may giue effectuall volees 24. scores of as it is fondlie reported then some number of Archers being chosen that could with their flights shoote 24. or 20. scores as there be manie that can may by the same reason giue volees of flights at their enemies 18. scores of which both the one the other are mockeries to bee thought of because there is no weapon in the field effectuall further than to a conuenient and certen distance This phrase may be interpreted discharge a farre of to draw on and deceiue dotterells The proper times and places for Harquebuziers The most apt and proper places for Mosquettiers to worke good effect The imperfections and vncertainties of the Harquebuze and Mosquet Verie few hurt in skirmishes with Harquebuze shot in the field Another great insufficiencie of Harquebuziers and Mosquettiers in the field Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers not able to abide the charge of Launces nor Stradiotts The imperfections of the Long Bowe Archers doo farre exceede and excell all Mosquettiers and Harquebuziers in three most principall effects A wrong opinion conceiued by the French Captaines and Gentlemen of our English Archers An obiection against Bowes contrary to all experience Another vaine obiection contrarie to all experience and vse militarie By this obiection they discouer that they neuer sawe any Armie royall march in the field An obiection that they
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