This is an excerpt from chapter VI of John Smith's third book. That is, Sir John Smith the explorer, not to be confused with Sir John Smythe, who wrote a treatise, Certain Discourses (transcription linked), praising the bow over the musket (though the two men have a surprising amount in common). p. 65: This gaue … Continue reading John Smith battles Indians
Month: July 2015
Jacopo di Porcia: The Preceptes of Warre
A military manual by Jacopo di Porcia. Some of the advice is obvious, some silly. This is a text transcription from EEBO. Translated 1544 by Peter Betham. 32. ΒΆ Of gonners on horsebacke. It shal not be vnprofitable to acquaynten and wount your horses, as the duchmen do, to suffer the sytter whyche is a … Continue reading Jacopo di Porcia: The Preceptes of Warre
16th Century Prices of Weapons
https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output=reader&id=DAkHAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA112 Great factoids in this book. Page 105: Bow, best sort- 3s. 4d. " second- 2s. 6d. " third- 2s. Sheaf of livery arrows- 5s. Sheaf of arrows, 8 or 9 inch the feather- 2s. 4d. Page 106: 35 lb. of big shot for the ordnance at 2d. the lb. - 5s. 10d. Page 107: … Continue reading 16th Century Prices of Weapons
Alonso De Contreras Witnesses the Accuracy of a Greek Archer
"I put the Greeks ashore, and went on my way with the caramuzal to the Arm of Mayna, which is not far distant. This Arm of Mayna is a district of the land which is in the Morea, a barren land, and its inhabitants are Greek Christians. They have no houses, but exist in grottos … Continue reading Alonso De Contreras Witnesses the Accuracy of a Greek Archer
Ming vs. Qing
This is a short excerpt from a report by a Ming commander in 1646. Lynn A. Struve, Voices from the Ming-Qing Cataclysm, page 139: "When our troops are beaten, it is because they covet the enemy's horses; instead of hacking at the horses to bring the riders down, they hack at the [mounted barbarians], who … Continue reading Ming vs. Qing
