The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Of Armour and Munition. Cap. 12.

HOw well or how strongly our countrey hath béene furnished in tymes past with armor and artillery, it lyeth not in me as of my selfe to make rehearsall. Yet that it lac∣ked both in the late tyme of Quéene Mary not onely thexperience of myne elders, but also the talke of certaine Spaniards, not yet forgotten, dyd leaue some manifest notice. Vpon the first I néede not stand, for few wil denye it. For the seconde I haue hearde that when one of the greatest péeres of Spaine e∣spyed our nakednesse in this behalfe, and did solemnely vtter in no obscure place, that it shoulde be an easie matter in shorte tyme to cōquere England bycause it wanted armor, his words were thē not so rashly vttered, as they were pollitickly noted. For albeit that for the present tyme theyr efficacie was dis∣sembled, and semblaunce made as though he spake but meryly, yet at the very enteraunce of thys our gracious Quéene vnto the pos∣session of the Crowne, they were so proui∣dently called to remembrance; and such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 die reformation sought of all handes for the redresse of this incōuenience, that our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was sooner furnished wyth armour and munition, from diuers partes of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (beside great plentie that was forged here•••• home) then our enemies could get vnderstā∣ding of any such prouision to be made. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this pollicie also was the no small hope c••••∣ceyued by Spanyardes vtterly cut of, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of open friendes being nowe become our ••••∣crete enemies, and thereto watching a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wherein to atchieue some heauie exploite a∣gaynst vs and our countrye, dyd there vpon chaunge their purposes, whereby Englande obtayned rest, that otherwyse might haue ben sure of sharp & cruel wars. Thus a Spa∣nish worde vttered by one man at one time▪ ouerthrew or at y^e leastwise hindered sun•••••• priuy practises of many at another. In times past the chiefe force of Englande consisted in their lōg bowes, but now we haue in maner generally giuen ouer that kinde of artillerie and for long bowes in déede doe practize to shoote compasse for our pastime: which kinde of shooting can neuer yeld any smart stroke nor beate downe our enemies as our coun∣try men were woont to doe, at euery time •…•…f néede. Certes the Frenchmen and Rutt•••••• •…•…eriding our new archerie in respect of their corslets, will not let in open skirmish yf 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leysure serue to turne vp their tailes and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shoote Englishe, and all bycause our strong shooting is decayed and layed in bedde. But if some of our English men nowe lyued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 serued king Edward the third in his warr•••• with Fraunce, the bréeche of such a Ver•••••• should haue béene nailed to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with one arrow & an other fethered in his bowels before he shoulde haue turned about to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who shotte the first. But as our shooting 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thus in maner vtterly decayed amōg vs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way, so our countrie men were skilful in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other poyntes as in shooting in small Pieces, the Cal•…•…uer, and handling of the Pyke, in the seuerall vses whereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are become very experte. Our armour ••••••∣fereth not from that of other nations, & th••••∣fore consisteth of corslets, almaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shirtes of mayle, Iackes quilted and couered ouer wyth leather, fustien o•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 thicke plates of yron that are fowed in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same, and of which there is no towne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…∣lage that hath not hir conuenient furniture. The sayd armour and munition also 〈…〉〈…〉 in one seuerall place appoynted by the ••••••∣sent of the whole parish, where it is alwayes ready to be had and worne within an houres warning. Sometime also it is occupyed 〈◊〉〈◊〉

pl••••seth the Magistrate, eyther to view the a••••••men and take note of the wel kéeping of the same, or finally to sée those that are inrol∣led to exercise eache one his seuerall weapon according to his appointment. Certes there is almost no village so poore in Englande (be it neuer so small) that hath not sufficient fur∣niture in a readines to set forth thrée or foure soldiors, or one archer, one gunner, one pike & a byll man at the least. No there is not so much wanting as their verye lyueries and cappes, which are lest to be accounted of, if any haste required. What store of ••••••nition & armour the Quéenes maiestie hath in hir store houses, it lyeth not in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to yelde ac∣compt, sith I suppose the same to be infinite. And where as it was com••••••ily sayde after the losse of Calais that Englande should ne∣uer recouer their Ordinance, there left, that same is at this time prooued false, sith euen some of the same persons doe now confesse, that thys lande was neuer better furnished wyth these thinges in any kinges dayes that raigned since the conquest. As for the armou∣ries of diuers of the Nobilitie (wherof I also haue séene a part) they are so well furnished wyth in some one Barons custodie, that I haue séene thrée score corslets at once, beside calyuers, handgunnes, bowes, sheiefes of arrowes, pykes, bylles, pollaxes, flaskes, touchboxes, targettes. &c. the verye sight wherof appalled my courage, what would y^e wearing of some of thē haue done this trow you, if I should vse them in the field. I would write here of our maner of going to y^e wars, but what hath the long blacke gowne to doe with glistering armour, what acquaintance can there be betwixt Mars and the Muses, or how should a man write any thing to the purpose of that, wherewith he is nothing ac∣quainted.