# Objections against the vfe of the Bow with the Pike: And the Answers thereunto.

1 Obiect.

The Bow is an incumbrance vnto the Pike, in
Weight, Cloſe order,
Tangling, for Counter-marching,
Wheeling.

Answer.

Firſt, The weight of the Bow, as it is placed, is of no moment; as is explained in the Booke intituled The double armed man. Secondly, for Intangling, either in Cloſe order, in Counter-marching, or in Wheeling : In all which, the Pikeman doth cary his Pike aduanced, and then is the bow directly ouer his head : So that the Bow can be no more incumbrance then his owne body, either to his leader, his follower, his right hand man, or his left hand man.

2 Obiect.

Answer.

The Bow will be troublesome when you cheeke or trayle your Pike.

The Bow is ſo placed vpon the Pike with the Engine, that if any ſuch ſeruice be required, (which is very ſeldome) then may the Bow very readily be flipped off the Pike, and ſo traled therewith, and with as great readineſſe ſlipt on againe: And also checking may be done with great agility.

3 Obiect.

Answer.

What vſe is for the Bow, when you come to cloſe order.

It is obſeruable, that when you draw to cloſe order, it is to receive the enemy at the puſh of Pike, which when you ſo cloſe your rankes, yet in file you allow ſo much diſtance one from the other, which may give your armes liberty for to puſh with your P. ke; which the bow doth no way hinder, or it is placed ſo faſt vnto the Pike, that no trouble is therewith. Befides, when your front ſtands ſo charged, your middle men, and your reere, may do good ſeruice with their arrowes vpon many occafions, for in ſuch cloſe order, you may vſe your bow either againſt horſe or foot.

4 Obiect.

Answer.

Men are not now of that strength to mannage the bow, as hirerof they were, and therefore they cannot now doe ex-
cution as formerly they did.

What we want in ſtrength of our predeceſſors, we make good by our ingeniouſneſſe : For firſt, wee haue the helpe of the Pike, which ſerueth for a Reſt for the bow arme, whereby we draw a very ſtrong bow, as the Booke formerly no-ted doth ſpecifie. Secondly, we haue now more exaſt skill in making both bowes and arrowes, and thereby we can ſhoot further, and more piercing, by reaſon of the aduantage that we haue in our arrowes, which are both nimble and flighty; whereby we are enabled to doe execution at the diſtance of 16. 18. or 20. ſcore yards off. Thirdly, wee doe hereby double ſeruice, both with the Pike and with the Bow aſo, whereas without the Bow, the pikeman ſtands but as a marke for the muskettiers and horſemen, as is explained in the booke formerly named.

5 Obiect.

Answer.

What hurt can the arrowes do against armed men?

There is neither man nor horſe that can be ſo armed, as to frechimſelfe from the ſhowers of arrowes, for euery bow-man may haue two or three arrowes ſtill flying, and therefore not part of the body is free from the arrow; for in the deſcending, it muſt hit either the head, face, armes, body, tlighes, legs, or ſeet, both of the leaders and followers, and to both the middle and the reere of the enemies battell are ſibiect to the arrowes, as well as the front; and likewife both Horſemen, Pikemen, Muskettiers, and alſo Cannoniers, uen al and euery of theſe will be ſo terrified with the obieſt, as well as with the hurt of the ſhowers of arrowes, that the enemy thereby will be made vncapable of doing any ſeruice.

6 Obiect.

Answer.

There are not now ſet battels fought, as formerly wre, anatherefore the Bow is not ſeruiceable as heretofore it was.

Wherefore the Pike or the Musket are ſeruiceable, there vill the Bow be ſeruiceable alſo. Befides, in raine or moift weather the Bow is vſefull: Also with our ſhowers of arrowes we can ſhoot into any Towne, Castle, Fort, or Trench, as likewife to ſhoot fire-workes, as the aforeſaie Bookementioneth.

And now to cleare all other difficulties which may boobieſt againſt the vſe of the Bow in ſeruice by this inuen-
tion; and alſo to giue further ſatisfaction vnto this Honorable Asſembly. If it may ſeeme requisite vnto this Honou-
rant House, to giue order that a ſelected company of Archers may be admitted to performe ſuch ſeruice as hath beene
ſpecified, and alſo time and place convenient for ſuch ſpectators, as your wifedomes ſhall thinke meet for cenſure
theeſof, we doubt not, by God's affiſtance, but to giueuch ample ſatisfaction, that all honourable Commanders and
worthy Captaines and Souldiers ſhall approue thereof.

FINIS.