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. III. What weapons are the fittest for Soldiers; and that the Pike is not of consequence in these times. (Book 3)

WIse Commanders have alwaies had great care to have their forces, both Horse and Foot, to be well and com∣pleatly furnished with the most serviceable Armes and wea∣pons: for 'tis good Policy to take all advantages in field, e∣specially against such Enemies who neither take nor give faire Quarter; such as are Dragoo∣ners,

Gravats, with some par∣tees of Freebooers and Hanno∣vers; against whom any sort of murthering weapons may be u∣sed: However, for the genera∣lity of weapons, most men will approve of them best, which have these five properties:

First, they should be Defen∣sive against Assaults, fit and able to safeguard the persons of those Soldiers who beare them into the field: these make the Enemy loath to come on, and encourage our Soldiers to make attempt: by this course many great Armies have been discom∣fited. In this regard the Spani∣ard is much to be commended, for he still keeps himselfe in his Armes: but above all others, the

Turkes are vigilant this way; for they in their march against Enemies, move like a compleat Armory for variety and choice of weapons: Our Nation of late hath been much to blame, who against all Orders have many times for the enjoying a little ease, cast away their Armes for the present, though after strict∣ly and severely punished by their Officers for their fault; and though they have been by this course unfit to have made Resistance (if any occasion should have been offered.)

Secondly, 'tis not enough to have weapons for a Defence, unlesse also they can Offend: the former respecting the good of our owne persons, these ay∣ming

at the annoying and de∣stroying our Enemies; 'tis the end of warre to weaken his for∣ces, and to subjugate his Armies by cutting off and lessening his numbers; and therefore those weapons must needs be counted excellent which are fit to bring to passe our intended desires: herein the Polish and Hungarian horsemen are commendable, & it is to be supposed they have learn'd that Custome from their neighbouring Enemy the Turk. And indeed defensive weapons may be used in times of Peace, but offensive are the best for warre: why need men goe forth to kill their Enemies, except they be allowed such instru∣ments as can perform the deed?

Then thirdly, 'tis good, as to have weapons so qualified, so also is it as convenient to have them light and portable: 'tis not to be expected, that a Sol∣dier can fight stoutly upon the suddaine, whenas by long mar∣ches and hot weather he is tired under his Armes: Soldiers should take a pleasure in beare∣ing them, but they should not be burthened under them: Hereupon 'tis thought that Buffe-coats came so much in re∣quest, because they are so easie and comely, and (if good) as fit for defence as common Cors∣lets: The High-Dutch and Im∣periall forces are excellently well accommodated with nim∣ble Armes, being most of them

proper able persons, and also furnished with very light Mus∣quets.

Fourthly, though these three things be fit to be in Soldiers weapons, yet they are then far better, when they come from the hands of the Artificer dex∣trously and sufficiently tempred and made; to effect which, there is no better inducement then to see that the Labourers be paid their wages, (good and certaine Pay being the spurre to Work-men to make their work compleat and serviceable:) and for certain, when they are tru∣ly payed, if they faile in the de∣livering in good Armes, they are then liable to severe punish∣ment by the Magistrate, and are

fit to be made Examples, and discarded their places with Ig∣nominy and disgrace: Our Ar∣my was ill provided for swords, those which were delivered to the Soldiers being so brittle, that with any blow almost they would breake to peeces: there is no Nation that may have bet∣ter then our owne, if care be had; we having first, excellent matter; and secondly, as expert Artificers to give them forme as any Nation, nay, in many re∣spects farre better.

Then lastly, weapons should be so made, that they may be with conveniency, and (as much as can be with advantage too) used in all places, and at all times: for their chiefest virtue

is in their generality of use. Hereupon the short strong Sword is held better then the long Rapier, or (as the Switzer useth) two-handed swords: the Musquet and Fire-lock are held excellent, because seldome can an Army be so instraightned, but that Soldiers may use these with terror and advantage: these are good for all convoyes, marchings, intrenchings, pil∣lagings, onslaughts, neere or farre off; they are easie of car∣riage, terrible in their executi∣on, doing their message quickly and throughly, as after shall be proved.

And though the Musquet be but of late Invention, yet none that ever went before it was

more approved and commen∣ded; nor was any weapon (ex∣cept the sword onely) so gene∣rally received of all Nations as the Musquet hath been. Now for certaine, the Pike hath been of great repute in former times also; yet in these latter losing much of it's antient authority, as being experimentally known for true, that it is not of an of∣fensive virtue against professed Enemies: for it's antiquity is not a sufficient argument to tye our times to conformity to the pra∣ctice of the former; after-Ages having altered and changed, nay, quite left off many kindes of weapons that were antiently in use: Now it shall briefly appear to all, how un-usefull the

Pike is in Military occasions at this present, and that in many respects.