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 [Page 2]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 [Page 3]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 cōpar'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 [Page 4]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 [Page 5]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 shalbe.

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, [Page 6]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, [Page 7]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 hand­breadths, [Page 8]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 [Page 9]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 shalbe 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 [Page 10]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 [Page 11]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.

LEt the Fire-shafts haue one end feathered and shaped, af­ter the manner of an ordinary arrow, and the other end fitted with a pipe of latten, ten inched long or more, at discretion, a bearded head of iron fast glued into it, with a socket of wood, & a touch-hole made close by it, with some little reuerse to stop the arrow from piercing so deepe into a mans cloaths, the flanques of a horse, or other marke of easie passage, as to choake the fire. The shaft may be made fast within the pipe (if men so please) with hard waxe; which melting as the pipe groweth hote, will make it very difficult to draw the arrow from where it lights.

Arrowes to make a blaze by night, as also those that are to shoote into the sailes of a ship or an enemies tent, must haue the touch-hole within an inch of the shaft, and the reuerse a little aboue the touch-hole, to stay the arrow while the marke takes fire.

The pipe must be filled with this mixture bruised very smal & hard ram'd in; Gunpowder & salt-peeter a like proportion, & brimstone halfe so much, with some small quantity of camphir (if men please) to make it operate more strongly where the mark is wet. If the mixture burne too quicke, adde brimstone; if too slowe, adde powder.

To stop the touch-hole that the mixture runne not forth, & to take fire when you meane to shoote, seeth cotten-candlewicke in vineger and gunpowder bruised very small; and when it is throughly soaked and well dryed, take a small quantity (rolled a little in the former mixture) and stop the touch-hole therewith.

The Fire-shaft being made, and filled in this manner, take the Bowe with a match well lighted into your left hand, after the manner of Musquettiers; then hold the Arrow ready nocked in the Bowe, after the manner of Archers. Lastly, give fire, returne your match, and deliuer the Arrow.