Samuel Champlain, Part 3

May 20, 2017 bowvsmusket Battles Archery, Fear, Musketry, New World

On his third voyage in 1615, Samuel Champlain again came to the aid of his native allies against an Iroquois fort. Battle was joined on the 10th of October, in what is now Madison County, New York. Champlain ordered the construction of two siege engines for the assault. The first was a tower, taller than … Continue reading Samuel Champlain, Part 3

Samuel Champlain, Part 2

May 9, 2017 bowvsmusket Battles Accuracy, Archery, Fear, Musketry, New World

Again Champlain came to the aid of the Montagnai (Innu) and Algonquin against the Iroquois. This battle is larger than the one from my first post, and this time the Iroquois barricaded themselves in a fortress. On the following day, we all set out together, and continued our route until the morning of the next … Continue reading Samuel Champlain, Part 2

Martino Martini – Bellum Tartaricum, 1654

July 4, 2015 bowvsmusket Battles Archery, Armor, Fear, Musketry

Unlike Polofox, who I posted earlier, the Italian missionary Martino Martini, the author of this history of the Manchu conquest, had actually been to China. He has little to say on the types of arms used, only this: Pages 16-18 But the City [Leaotung] was defended by exceeding many men, who generally were all armed … Continue reading Martino Martini – Bellum Tartaricum, 1654

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

July 3, 2015 bowvsmusket Discourses Accuracy, Archery, Armor, Fear, Musketry, Range, Training

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

William Garrard – The Arte of VVarre

July 3, 2015July 30, 2015 bowvsmusket Discourses Archery, Fear, Lethality, Musketry, Range

The Arte of VVarre, by William Garrad, d. 1587, published posthumously 1591. Page 2-3: He which seekes to attaine and attribute to himselfe the honourable name of a Souldier, must first employ his time in practice of those armes wherewith he means to serue, and so apply his time, that when any enterprise shall call … Continue reading William Garrard – The Arte of VVarre

Jacopo di Porcia: The Preceptes of Warre

July 1, 2015May 7, 2019 bowvsmusket Discourses Archery, Armor, Fear, Musketry

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. ¶ 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