A warre-like treatise of the pike, or, Some experimentall resolves, for lessening the number, and disabling the use of the pike in warre with the praise of the musquet and halfe-pike, as also the testimony of Brancatio, concerning the disability of the pike / penn'd for the generall good of our nation, by a well wisher to the compleat musquetier.

SECT. VII. To have as many Pikes as Mus∣quets, or to have such great store of Pikes in an Army is a meanes to bring on the Enemies Horse. (Book 7)

WEapons should be to terrifie, not to encou∣rage an Enemy; to keep him off, not to allure him on: The very Ensignes and Colors have a Terror to amaze, (as King Sa∣lomon hath it) Terrible as an Army with Banners. All war∣like Instruments are dreadfull; the Shield, the Sword, the Trumpet, the very Drums and

Fifes sound and beat feare and horror: for Soldiers are not for sport and jest, but for earnest: neither is Warre to be accoun∣ted as a May-game or Morrice-dance, but as a Plague and Scourge. Therefore in Warres Soldiers use offensive weapons to wound and destroy, such as can strike through the loines of all Opponents. And care is to be had, that as weapons should be made serviceable, so they should be made with all the Art that can be, to usher in death the speediest way.

It was the saying of Queene Elizabeth, That she never fared better, then when she kept the Spa∣niard out at Daggers point: So it may be said in all warres, Tis

never better with our Armies, then when we keep the Enemy at Distance; so that though he hath a desire to make attempts, yet knowing our Forces to be well arm'd, he shell nor dare to make approaches.

The old Grecians had usually the advantage of their Enemies by virtue of their weapons: so 'tis knowne, that the Romans could not have subjugated so many Countries and Provinces had they not had great advan∣tage of warlike Instruments more then of Numbers: And 'tis judg'd by able men, that the Norman Duke at Battle-Abbey won the day, and so the Crowne, by the excellency of his weapons; his Shields being

made large for defence, and ha∣ving a Pike of sharpened Iron without-side to wound and gore; so that they were his Ar∣rowes and Shields that made Harold and so many thousands of our Nation to fall slaine in that place. Invention herein is commendable: who knowes not how Archimides in Syra∣cuce by skilfull Engines by him made and invented, battered the Roman ships so, that Mar∣cellus and all his stout Romans were strucke with amaze? And as worthy of perpetuall memo∣ry is that of King Henry the Eight before the Maiden-town of Bulloigne, which device so daunted the Citizens, that at sight of his Engines they yiel∣ded

themselves and the Towne to the Kings mercy.

Now let us examine whe∣ther or no the Pike be a weapon of that worth and excellency, that it can keepe off the Enemy with any kinde of terror? or whether the multitude of them doth not rather hearten and hasten on the Enemy to assault? First, it is manifest that of it selfe it cannot keepe off neither Pistols nor Musquets: for, in case the Horse pretend an onset are not Commands given out presently to the Divisions of Musquets to draw out certaine files to beat off the horse which are fallen on the Pikes: and cer∣taine it is, that should not the Pikes this way be speedily re∣lieved,

what a fearefull slaugh∣ter would the Enemies Horse make, and what a speedy ha∣vock of our Pikes, without any prejudice to their owne Bodies or danger to their Horses: and cannot their Musquets doe as much? And certainely I should account it but folly in the Ene∣my (if he doth out-strip us in Horse, or in Foot-forces) not to set upon our Pikes: for who can hinder him from taking ad∣vantages? or why should not he make entrance at the wea∣kest place? But now marke the inconvenience that followes: If it be demanded, who beates off their Horse? you will say, our Musquets: then to what purpose serve the Pikes, but to

cause many others to fall for comming in to helpe them? but that's not all neither; for, may not the sudden alteration of a form'd Battell cause an over∣throw of the whole? for while there are Musquets drawn out of all Regiments to relieve the Pikes, doth not their drawing out weaken the strength of that Body out of which they came, which perhaps was before o∣vermatch'd in numbers of the Enemies shot? and what is this but to draw out a great deale of good blood from a Body which may quickly perish for want of it?

But yet further; if it be said our Pikes keepe off, or beat off the Enemies Horse, why then

doe they retreat for our Mus∣quets? or why doe they not set upon our Musquetiers? or why need there be such sending for our Musquets to free the Pikes? for they were set upon, and were in danger, not the Mus∣quets: and they were not able of themselves to spoile the Ene∣my, or safeguard themselves. Now I shall easily prove all this to be true, by this demonstra∣tion.

Admit we come 700. men into the field, thus ordered: 300. Pikes, 300. Musquetiers, and 100. Horse: The Enemy also comes with 700. but he hath no Pikes, but embattles with 500. shot, and 200. Hors∣men; will any now conclude,

that because we are as many in Number as they, and as old, ex∣perienc'd, resolute Soldiers as they, caeterisque paribus, that therefore thus ordered, we are able to maintaine fight with them? That we are not, I will prove.

First, the Enemy hath 100. Horse to play with ours, and another 100. to play upon our Pikes, or to joyne with their o∣ther Troope to rout our Hors∣men, which to all likelyhood they may being joyn'd in one, being 200. for 100. which if they doe, may they not then entertaine service against our Pikes, who at that pinch must be relieved, for they cannot helpe themselves against Pistol

bullets, but must fall down shot in their Rankes and Files, with∣out our ayd: Now the Enemy surmounts our numbers in shot when we are at most, being 500. to 300. Admit we send 100. from 300. Musquetiers, (which are as few as can be sent against such a power of Horse) but indeed too many to be sent from their fellowes; hath not the Enemy great advantage to be 500. Musquetiers against 200. or else may he not spare an 100. of his Musquets to play against ours who are sent to re∣lieve our Pike-men, and yet have the better against us, being still 400. against 200. and also be as able to foyle our Pikes as before.

Or admit, secondly, that we have 400. Musquets, 200. Pikes and 100. Horse: and that the Enemy hath 600. Musquets, and 100. Horse: Are we in this state able to oppose them? It shall appeare briefly that we are not. Grant that our Horse answer theirs, yet may they not draw out 100. of their shot to foyle our Pikes, which will pre∣sently be effected, and yet have (to all probability) the better of our Musquetiers, being 500. against 400.

Now, in both these cases, if we be overcome and beaten, (as what hopes are there else, but that we shall?) I demand who were the cause? Let us sup∣pose no defect in the Officers

for matter of Direction or In∣couragement; (nor any other advantage of Winde, or Sun, or Ground:) yet who may not easily perceive, that our great numbers of Pikes did procure our overthrow and ruine? For, what offence did our Pikes, or could they doe? none: Nay, they were not onely unable to offend, but as unfit to defend: so, that in plaine troth, they neither did hurt to the Enemy, nor good to themselves: this is as true in an Army consisting of many Thousands, as in one of certaine Hundreds. And certainly, our Forces may at all times defend themselves, and effect more against Enemies for the glory of our Nation, if they

shall increase their Musquetiers, and lessen or take away their Pikes; for the Imperiall forces scarce have any: nor doe Sol∣diers desire to be troubled with that kinde of weapon; all are proud of their musquets, which yield more command to them than Pikes, and bring in more plenty of pillage.

Now briefly, for the second, It may appeare to all, that our multitude of Pikes hearten the Enemy to charge: for, will it not be an incouragement, to fight against such who onely take, but cannot give wounds, whenas the Enemy perceives that he can come on, or goe off without danger of death to himselfe, and by discharging

at his pleasure sinke his Adver∣sary even at his best posture for resistance: for, may it not be said of the Pike-man, that he would have kill'd his Enemy if his Pike would have reach'd him, or if he could have come at him? This was that that made the Imperiall forces so despe∣rately often set upon our work because they knew it for cer∣taine, that wee usually man'd them with as many Pikes as Musquets. But I suppose I have spoken enough of this to satis¦fie any judicious Soldier: And it is wished, that our Officers would augment their Musque∣tiers, they would finde that in any service they would be able to performe more than other

waies they can, or formerly have done: and it must needs give spirit to the Leaders, when they know that they have no cyphers, but all such Blades as thunder out death to their E∣nemies at large distance: It would prove also to the Honor of their Prince, and Credit of themselves.