A treatise of the arms and engines of vvar of fire-works, ensigns, and military instruments, both ancient and modern; with the manner they are at present used, as well in French armies, as amongst other nations. Inriched with many figures. Written originally in French by Lewis de Gaya, author of the treatise called The art of war. Translated for publick advantage.

Of Staffe-Arms.

Sect. 1.

Of the Pike.

THE Pike is a Weapon where∣with Foot defend themselves against Horse in an open Field.

The Pikes environ the Batallions on all sides, and present the Pike to the

[illustration]

The Armature of a French Trooper.

The Musqueton.

The Pistoll.

The Carabine.

[illustration]

The Armature of a Pike man on his Guard.

The Pike.

The halfe Pike.

The Quarter Staff.

The Halbard.

The Partisan.

height of the Horses Counters, whilst the Musketiers fire. A Horse wound∣ed by a Shot, is but thereby the more animated, but when he feels himself pricked with a Pike, all the Spurs in the World cannot make him advance.

This Figure will shew the way of Pikes charging to the Horse.

The Armature of Pike-man of the Guards.

The Explication of this Figure.

• A, The Helmet, which the French call Pot on Head.
• B, The Corcelet.
• C, The Vambraces.
• D, The Tassets or Thigh Pieces.
• E, The Sword.
• F, The Pike.

All Pikes now adayes are of the same length, made of strong Ashe, and very streight; about fourteen or fifteen foot long between the Head and the Foot. The Head is four inches

long, and two and a half broad at the largest place. The Iron Bands at the Head must be long and strong, other∣wayes it would be an easie matter for the Horse to cut off the ends of the Pikes with their Shables.

The French, according to Diodo∣rus, were the first that made use of the Pike;

Jaceunt hastas, quas ipsi lanceas appellant.

And from thence the People of the Chief Province of France, have the Name of Picars; but their Pikes were more like Spanish Lances than Grecian Pikes, which were twenty four foot long between the Head and Foot.

Sect. 2.

Of Spontons or Half Pikes.

THe Spontons or Half Pikes, are made of the same Wood as Pikes are, and have Heads alike; their

[illustration]

The Pensioners Halbard A

The Hungarian Partisan. B

The Battle Axe D

Partisans and Halbards according to the Swisse and Antient Custome. C

Pole Axes E

length is much the same as that of Partisans, and we have the use of them from the Ancients; who carried Pikes six Cubits long, as Arrianus testifies.

Hastas habebant senum cubitorum.

These Arms are much used amongst the Venetians and the Knights of Malta.

Sect. 3.

Of the Partisan.

A Partisan is an excellent Weapon in a Trench, in a Sally, to force and defend a Lodging, to mount a Breach; and in many other occasions, where the Pike would be but cumber∣some.

The Staffe of a Partisan is much of the bigness of a Pike, and is seven or eight foot long between the Head and Foot. The Iron Head is a foot in length, and four inches broad at the largest place; the Exercise of the

Partisan differs in nothing from that of the Pike.

Sect. 4.

Of the Halbard.

THE Halbard is likewise a very con∣venient Weapon, especially when Men come to blows. Its Staff is nei∣ther so big nor high as that of a Par∣tisan, and the Head of it both nar∣rower and shorter, but it is armed with little Hooks, which serve to pull out Fagots, Paniers, and Gabi∣ons, and to take hold of any thing, when one mounts an Assault or Sca-Lado.

Sect. 5.

Of Sythes, Forkes, Axes, and Clubs, or Maces.

SYthes, Forks, and Clubs, are like∣wise used in a Sally, or in the de∣fence of a Breach or hindering a Storm. The Sythes are not altogether like those of Mowers, for their Staff or Handle

[illustration]

Clubs or Massues. A

B

The Axe. C

The Forke. D

Sithes. E

is somewhat longer, and the Blades streighter, or bending a little, after the manner of those which the Tro∣jans used of old.

—Quo turbine cestum Sauromates, falcemque Getes.

Stat. 11 Achill.

The Forks are the same with the common Forks, but they have little Hooks.

There are two sorts of Clubs: The first is, as it were the Staff of a Par∣tisan, at the end whereof there is a Wooden Ball of the bigness of an Eight pound Bullet; stuck full of I∣ron Pikes a Finger long.

The other has a Boul like to the first, hanging at the end of the Staff by an Iron Chain, two foot and a half long; and is used as a Flail for Threshing.

In Salleys, or in the defence of a Breach, Axes are likewise used, such as not long ago were used by the Re∣giment of Clerambaud, or Sourches,

whose Heads are very broad, an•• their Handles or Staves, longer an•• stronger than those of Partisans, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may be seen in the Figure.

The Turks have another kind o•• Club or Mace of Arms, which the•• carry at the Pommel of their Saddle to make use of in a Fight, like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that which the Poets bestow on Her¦cules, called by the Latines, Milita∣ris clava. Maces are no more in use.

Sect. 6.

Of the Quarter-Staff with a Pike a•• each end.

WE may also reckon among Wea¦pons the Staff, commonly cal∣led the Piked Quarter-staff, and by the French, the Staff with two ends 〈◊〉〈◊〉 because of the Pikes of Iron which i•• has at each end: It is made of a ve∣ry strong and eaven Wood, some∣what bigger and heavier than the Wood of a Pike, six foot and a half in length between the Verrils, that keep fast the two pikes of Iron stuck

into the ends of the Staff, which are in length four inches and a half. It is carried on the Haunch like the Hal∣bard, but handled in a different man∣ner, because a man may stand to his Guard with it by turning and flourish∣ing it, and making the half moulinets every way, and in approaches make use either of the point thereof, or in giving a down right blow there∣with.