The thirtenth Discourse.That his Maiestie ought in the tyme of peace to enterteyne at the least fower regiments of footmen, reduced into the number of 2500. men, as well for the preseruation of mar∣tiall discipline, as to bee alwaies assured of a great body of olde Souldiers.WOrthely is King Charles the seuenth com∣mended, How necessary it is to haue footemen. for his so profitable establishment of the men of Armes, whereof he was the au∣thor. Neither doth the great King Frances deserue lesse praise, in that imitating the aun∣cient discipline, he could finde meanes among his owne subiects to forme a mightie bodie of footmen, wherewith the more to furnish out his warsare: For before there was but small accompt made of them, as is aforesayd. But since the setting downe of good rules, and that the exercise thereof hath ensued, they haue fashioned themselues, and are growne more obedient and valiant. Harquebuts came but little before into vse, which haue made them very terrible and so necessary as they may not be missed. Sith therefore the experience of many warres haue taught that it is not possible to prosecute them well without a good number of footmen, were it not a great ouersight not to lay any foundation of them: Considering that a meane hath bene found how to forme so strong a one of Horsemen? For the same reasons that moued our auncient Kings to ordeyne the one, may vrge them that now raigne to establish the other. In olde tyme the chiefe dif∣ferences of warre were decided in the plaine field: where now they consist in surprises, assaults, and defence of Houlds. Wherein the Harquebuts and Pikes are not only profitable but also necessarie. Now, if wee list to consider the number of Footmen that France mainteyneth in the tyme of peace, they will seeme to be fewe in re∣spect of the Horsemen, who in the tyme of King Henry the second were aboue sixe thousand speares. For excepting the Garrisons of Citadelles and Castles which are there to bee settled, the rest is a 0