THe cost , incumbrance , and small auayle of Corslets for Field or Fortresse in our moderne Warres , may be sufficiently knowne to all experienced men in the profession of Armes ; yet dare I not auow , that Bowes and fiery Arrowes would be more seruiceable in all occasions , because the preualent custome of receiued traditions , is much more plausible than reason . Onely I will lay downe some probable ( though but imaginary ) effects of the one , and some seeming ( if not experimented ) defects of the other ; till time adde forme and farther credit to the Essay .

My Ouerture is no mysterious subtile Artifice , all that can recommend it , is the employment : but if any man be pleased to proue the demonstration , I doubt not of his patience in reading this discourse . Where first I would aduise by way of Preface ( because by some experience I haue learned , how hardly men are drawne to fence themselues against they see not what ) that no train'd Souldier arme himselfe by any Argument of mine against the publike institution of prouisionary Corslets . For those who haue ill neighbours ( which no so blest estate as ours can euer bee without ) must suite themselues ( if better may not be ) with Armes of like defence ; lest enemies inuited by their nakednesse , attempt the depriuation of their liberties , together with the effusion of their bloud .

I know not the iust price of a seruiceable Corslet at this time ; but sure I thinke it farre exceedes the charge of all that furniture an Archer stands in need off . Besides the daily perquisites when ere they are employed , of oyling , buckles , thongs ; small things , but very necessary , and which sometimes can scarce be had for money . Their weight ( I confesse ) is little to an able man , and the fashion not much vneasie for him that hath them shaped to his own proportion : but when slender fare , and hard lodging abate mens strength , and that the shape of body must bee constrained within the Corslet ( as commonly men see in seruice ; ) and amongst train'd Souldiers ( where the Master to his seruant , or the Father to his sonne deliuer Armes as they haue made them for themselues , or for some other of more vnequall stature ) then not to speak of the ridiculous shew they sometimes make , the incumbrance is so great that hardly any patience can indure it long . They foule & fret mens cloathes , & adde extremities to the excesse of cold and heate : so that in Winter men are loath to put them on , and in Summer they throw them off in spite of all command . The helpe is , on a march to put them into Carts , where either much time must bee spent ( too precious ) to pack them vp in order ; or they must ( as commonly they are ) be thrown together on heapes , that when they are taken off again vpon occasion , they are so bruised , broken , and confusedly disioynted , that men which put them on seeme rather restrained in irons , than harnessed with an armor of defence . And though this inconuenience be lesse sensible in Holland ( where sea and intersection of many waters yeelds conuenient transportation by boate , almost to euery town ) yet the proofe they haue had euen there , may serue to iustifie the truth of what men finde in other parts .

If Armours were all musket-proofe , and men well able to endure them , their vse were excellent for many purposes : but such men scarsly find we amongst many to guard a pettardier , or make discouery on a Counterscarp ; works of quick dispatch compar'd with marches , breaches , or field-skirmishes . But light armours ( as we now haue them ) though compleate with head-peece , tassets , gauntlets , will be of no defence against an enemy that mingles bullets with his Arrowes : for I seek not to perswade the vse of Bowes in steed of Guns , but that by due accouplement of both , more hands might in lesse roome bee brought to fight at once ; a part of chiefest excellence in marshalling of men .

Some men I know haue Armours in so great esteem , that they thinke for a Souldier to quit his sword , is ( in extremities ) a fault more pardonable , than to cast away his Corslet : their reason is , that though it be bad to lose his weapon of assault , yet much more desperately ill to abandon all the meanes of selfe-defence . And examples they alleage that in former times , one Souldier was punished for casting away his Target though hee kept his Sword : and another was rewarded , for that in like extremitie he left his Sword & kept his Target . But if Corslets hold no proportion with the weapons of our modern wars ; if Muskets , Carrabines , Pistols , all predomine , then are they now no instruments of selfe-defence , but meere impediments . And if any wil obiect the aduantage of Pike-men armd against a stand of vnarmd Pikes , I referre me to the testimony of old Souldiers , how often in their life time they haue seen a firme ( I say a firme ) encounter in the field , twixt Piles and Pikes . And yet if so it happen , I know not whether the bodies free agilitie on the one side , or the temper of an armour on the other , would yeeld a better meanes of preseruation . But sure I thinke it is our chiefest disaduantage , that they so seldom entershock ; for the thigh-bone , shin-bone , & the armes of English , longer than of French , and much lesse foggy than of Duch , to take large strides , and retch and winde themselues into all postures , makes much for vs at push of Pike ; as doth like feature of our Limbes ( more apt than of our neighbours ) to practise shooting in the Long-bow . Therefore what I speake in generall of Corslets extends not wholly vnto Pikes : for some of them may bee of vse in open field to supply the intermission of Arrowes , as bowes might serue to counterguard the slow dispatch of Muskettiers , in trauersing to shoote and charge againe .

There was a time when Launces were esteemed seruiceable , as Corslets at this day : but by discourse & farther triall , men haue found that they are bootlesse in our Wars ; & time with better discourse may worke the same effect in that I treate off . Meane while the practice of the bow may be receiued , though we retain the vse of the Corslet ; for if the one bee small incumbrance on the body , the other will be little burthen at the backe , and if to rest the left hand on the pike , inable men to draw a stronger bowe , that ingenious deuice of scruing both together will be best ; otherwise to lay the pikes ( in time of seruice ) not longst the fyles ( as vsually men doe ) but thwart the rankes , will be no let at all to the Archier , but help to keep him in an euen front , and so they will lye ready to take vp againe when time shal be .

Now if the fire-shafrs which are proposed , bee of that efficacy which I pretend , no fairer engine was there euer vsed in warre ; the cost not great , the incumbrance none at all : they are neate , portable , and so mannageable , that euen children may make their sport with them , and youths of any growth may doe good seruice , making their practice onely with the common arrowes ; than which , there can bee no more noble recreation . But if at festiuall times , a Bull ( in stead of bayting him with dogges ) were tyed at stake , or sheweld in with Archiers , conueniently placed vpon a Common , or other spacious place ; men might then make triall with their fire-shafts ( a braue and manlike sport ) where happely the madding of the enraged beast ( besides inuring men to conflict ) would teach some profitable stratagem for warre .

Whateuer martiall feates by land are left recorded of our nation in old times , haue been most commonly atchieued by vertue of the Bowe ; which vertue may be artificially renewed , if a grounded apprehension that bullets are more mortall , take not from vs all consideration , that arrowes may not onely bee deliuered more speedily , more safely , and in greater numbers at once ; but also will flee farther ( shot at randon ) than bullets reach point-blanke . Aduantages , which well obserued , will frustrate all the efficacy , by depriuing men of the vse of whatsomeuer other weapon : for Bow-men placed behind a Paraper , a stand of Pikes , or mannuple of Musquettiers , may showre down such incessant drops of fire , like Sodoms raine , vpon an enemie , as will not onely annoy the Pikes , and rout the Horse , but altogether disable the Musquettier ; as may be gathered by the suppositions which comparatiuely I shall lay downe in that which followes : insisting only vpon the regular imbattelling of men , and leauing to discretion the difference of accidentall formes , according to the variety of occurrents .

The form of a regular Squadron , whose body consists of Corslets , leaues a great space of ground before it voide ; and as much more supplied with idle hands , and those idle hands exposed to ineuitable hazzard . The whole space before the Corslets , is , and must necessarily be left voide ; lest the Musquettiers wearied , wanting munition , or otherwise ouercharged by any sudden incursion of Horse , should hastily make retrait vpon the front of their owne Corslets , and so depriue themselues of their owne defence : for in that case the Corslets are no refuge .

This space before the Corslets being then so left voide , & the mannuples of Musquettiers being drawn forth to skirmish on the flanques , in any imaginable manner ; the Corslets are but so many idle handes , yet stand exposed to great mortality during the skirmish of the Musquettiers : for Corslets are no musquet-proofe , nor dare the Musquettiers draw forth so far before , as to leaue them out of reach of the enemies musquet , lest by some sudden fury of Horse , themselues should be ouer-run ere they could make an orderly retrait . But suppose they make an orderly retrait ( for continuall motion and agitation , with often bruising of the Musquet against their bodies ( if nothing else ) will force them at the length to make retrait ) the succour they shall finde on the flanques , or in the reare of the Corslets , will assuredly be very small ; for the enemies Horse aduancing forward , and discharging vpon a Carico , will in short time so dishearten the Corslets , wounding and maiming in the face , and armes , and other bared parts ( if not through the verie Corslet ) the formost & brauest of them , that the rest men may beleeue wil easily giue ground , and open ranks to an vtter ouerthrow . Or admit at the best , that our Musquetties so discomfit the enemies that we put them to retrait , I say not , that our Corslets will then serue vs for no vse ; but a prudent Commander , I thinke , will either hold his aduantage with Musquettiers , or pursue it to an execution with his Horse ; and then no weapon to the single sword , though pistols , pikes , and euen musquet stockes , are sometimes instruments of execution .

For a fortresse , the chiefest vse of Corslets that I know , is at an assault after battery , where ( as well within as without ) they haue beene vsually employed amongst other weapons . Whether they or other weapons be in that case more seruiceable , I need not to contend ; it is sufficient that assault and battery is almost euery where layed aside . They without make their approches vnderground to the ditch , and throw the ditch if it be dry ; and if it haue water , they passe a gallery to the wall of the fortresse , and there myne and blow vp , gaining their ground by hand-breadths , and employ their Ordnance only against the flanquers , and to cleare the Curtens ; for experience hath taught that this way ( though more slow ) makes an assured passage with lesse cost and losse of men ; chiefly of those most able bodies and valiant spirits , which at an assault were commonly employed on both sides . And this which hath been said of Corslets without , may shew their small auaile within a fortresse ; where the ordinary defence is countermine , retrenchment , fire-workes and guns . As for Corslets in a sally , if the Musquettiers passe not the Rampar & Reualins , the vse is very little ; and if they passe beyond , it is no more than hath beene said before in field-seruice .

These are the deficiences that some years since took vp my imagination , and made me consider , whether by the subuention of some other more proportionable engine , the subalterne and slow discharging of the Musquet , might not bee secur'd against the sudden fury and swift incursion of the Horse ; as also whether the voide ground and vacant time might not be more seruiceably supplyed with fighting hands : and my opinion was , that if the arrow could be so enforced with fire-workes , as might giue no impediment to the flight & quick deliuery , the thing were found . But hauing my self no skill in fire-works ( had not mine owne ouer-aboundant leisure inuited mee since that , to tamper somewhat in such kinde of engenry ) I had layed aside my conceipt of long-bowes , which I now communicate ; beginning as before , with the examination of their benefit for the body of a squadron in field-seruice : where it is euident that the Musquetters may be placed before the front with a mutuall defence ; for as the Musquettiers are defended by the arrowes from ouer their heads against the enemies horse , so the Archiers are defended by the bodies of the Musquettiers ( who are in no more danger , but yeeld more shelter than before ) against the enemies bullets ; and , which is the chiefest aduantage in fight , all hands shal be employed at once : for at the same time with the Musquettiers , the Archers may shoot ouer such vollies of fiery arrowes , as shall ( though lesse mortall ) giue an enemy no lesse occasion to looke about him than the bullers . Or because a totall innouation of armes and order may seem too hazzardous , where the liues of men and honor of the field are layed at stake ; if the fire-shafts , I speak of , flee but tweluescore yards ( and I know by some good proofe , that they will flee more than fourteen , from any practis'd arme of common strength ) the Archiers may be placed behind foure ranks of Corslets ( as many as at once can charge their Pikes to purpose ) and from thence without impediment to any of their own ( either Pikes or Musquettiers ) performe as much as hath been said before . And if the store an Archier beares about him , will not suffice to maintaine the fight throughout , one horse for euery hundred bowmen , will beare munition as much as will serue the turne ; and when all failes , they haue their Pike & Head-piece to defend themselues ; for these a man may march withall , besides his bowe and arrowes very easily .

Now because I am fallen into discourse of arranging men in squadron , I may without detracting from any authorised discipline , or from the more approued customes of our graduated martialists ( for I will propound it but in case that long bowes be receiued in stead of Corslets ) shew how in my opinion the Musquettiers may most commodiously shift station in a skirmish ; and open place for ranks that follow , & consequently for the whole body ( Bows aswell as Musquettiers ) to giue or gaine ground on an enemy , insensibly . And that I may be the better vnderstood , I will expresse my selfe by a supposed mannuple of thirty Musquettiers , fiue in file and fixe in front ; the formost ranke whereof hauing discharged , shall seuer it selfe by three in file on either flanque , so leauing space voide for the next succeeding ranke to aduance in euen front with the former of those files ; where they likewise hauing discharged their musquets , shall file themselues on either flanque as did the first , leauing like open way for them that follow to draw forward . By which order of succession , the first ranke will haue leasure to charge again & resume his former place , without retiring to the reare of all , as usually they do , and as indeed is requisite when they will giue ground : for then the first ranke hauing discharged , may turne away ( three on each flanque ) vnto the reare , & there rally themselues : the rest , each after other doing the like , and taking place behind , till the whole ground wheron they first began to skirmish be left voide , and the way left free againe for the formost ranke , without aduancing to discharge anew . This I think sufficient to explaine my meaning ; I will therefore now proceed to shew the benefit of fire-shafts for a fortresse . where they seem to mee incomparably vsefull as well within as without : for they may be shot from behind a brest of defence , without discouering any part of our body to the enemy . No enemy can so shelter himselfe in his approches , but that these fire-shafts may fall vpon him . They will put to great trouble and hazzard the Cannoniers that plye the Artillery on batteries , where bullets cannot hit them . They will serue to set on fire the enemies tents and cabening . And the blaze of them in the night will in all likelihood make such discouery , that Musquettiers standing ready to leuell where they fall , may aime at the enemy as by day , & keep perdues , engeniers , workmen , and those that watch by night in such continuall awe , as will greatly hinder , if not wholly driue them from their watch and labour . Yea with reason it may be thought they will facilitate all attempts by night ; for the eie of enemie will be so dazelled , and his body so clearely discerned by the multitudes of them , that men may boldly assaile an enemy by night , and safely make retrait in all occasions .

Manie other , and indeed indeterminable are the vses that by coniecture may be drawne from such like arrowes shot out of the long-bowe , both by sea and land ; in particular to depriue an enemy of the vse of his sailes at a great distance ; for the canuas will take fire like tinder , and vanish by enforcement of the winde in sudden flame , if any arrow fasten in it , as among many some assuredly will do . I may therefore say , that as other parts of that munition which hath been patternd out from heauen in former times , haue in this latter age beene neerly resembled by ordinarie meanes on earth with great effect ; as thundring hailestones by shooting bullets , and making whole townes brimstone , salt , and burning like the ouerthrow of the foure cities , by mynes of powder , consisting of brimstone , salt-peeter , and burnt coale ; so this newer imitation of sharpe arrowes with coales of Iuniper , and of mingling hailestones with coales of fire ( both which wee reade of ) may be found in the practice ( for ease and variety of vse ) to be of great importance : and in that opinion I recommend it to the welfare of my Country , whose peculiar weapon of aduantage it will be ; at least for to supply our want of Horse , which we neither can transport to forraine employment in conuenient numbers , nor are by nature so enclin'd to tend with art and industry , as other of our neighbours doe .