Accuracy

Juan de Palafox y Mendoza – The History of the Conquest of China by the Tartars

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Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Bishop of Puebla in Mexico, was privy to reports of the Manchu conquest of Ming China via the Phillipines. Though he had never been to China himself, Palafox used those reports to write a detailed history of the conquest. Throughout, the Manchu are referred to as Tartars. Pages 521-522 The … Continue reading Juan de Palafox y Mendoza – The History of the Conquest of China by the Tartars

Robert Barret – The Theorike and Practike of Moderne VVarres, 1598

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Barret is another military writer critical of "inueterate conceirers of bowes and blacke billes". Barret asserts the superiority of the firearm over the bow, the corselet over the jack, and the pike over the bill (halberd). I have skipped over the sections dealing with the bill and jack. Pages 2-3 Gent. You haue touched many … Continue reading Robert Barret – The Theorike and Practike of Moderne VVarres, 1598

Raimond Fourquevaux – Instructions for the Warres

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The translator of this discourse, Paule Ive, attributes the original French work to William de Bellay. Everyone else seems to attribute it to Raimond Fourquevaux. According to Wikipedia the original was published 1548. This translation dates 1589. Page 25-26 The Harquebusse hath bin inuented within these fewe yeares, and is verie good, so that it … Continue reading Raimond Fourquevaux – Instructions for the Warres

Alonso De Contreras Witnesses the Accuracy of a Greek Archer

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"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

Musket Vs Rifle: “A letter on the defence of England by corps of volunteers and militia”, 1852

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A Letter on the Defence of England by Corps of Volunteers and Militia by Sir Charles James Napier, Lt. General, is a short essay advocating for the retention of the "tried" musket, rather than the adoption of the "untried" minie rifle. The subject is not strictly related to Bows Vs Muskets, but we do get … Continue reading Musket Vs Rifle: “A letter on the defence of England by corps of volunteers and militia”, 1852

Pequot War: John Underhill’s Landing on Block Island

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The Pequot War was a series of small battles fought between the English colonists of New England and the Pequot tribe, 1636-1638. Two of the English captains John Mason and John Underhill, would later write accounts of the war. Of the two, Underhill's is the more readable and informative. This section tells of the English … Continue reading Pequot War: John Underhill’s Landing on Block Island

A Brief Discourse by Humfrey Barwick- Modernized Transcription

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Humfrey Barwick's pamphlet, full title A Breefe Discourse, Concerning the force and effect of all manuall weapons of fire, and the disability of the Long Bowe or Archery, in respect of others of greater force now in vse, is the most important single source of information concerning the bow vs. musket issue. Sir Roger Williams … Continue reading A Brief Discourse by Humfrey Barwick- Modernized Transcription

History Channel: Bows vs Crossbows vs Guns

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This is a pretty silly pop history demonstration- just what one would expect from the History Channel- but still entertaining to see the power of a heavy matchlock musket. The narrator claims that his longbow can penetrate the final suit of armor at 60 yards, but we won't know, since he never actually hits any … Continue reading History Channel: Bows vs Crossbows vs Guns