A NEW INVENTION OF Shooting FIRE-SHAFTS in Longbows:  
Wherein, besides the manner of making them, there is contained a brief Discourse of the usefulness of them in our modern Wars, by Sea and Land.  
Published by a true Patriot for the common good of his native Country of England.   printer's or publisher's device 
DEUS PROVIDEBIT  
JUSTUS VIVET FIDE  
R Y  
LONDON, Printed by H. L. for john Bartlet, the gilt Cup in Cheapside.  
Anno Dom. M.D.C. XXVIII.   

The Use of FIRE-SHAFTS: together with the manner how to make, and shoot them out of Longbows.  
THe cost, encumbrance, and small avail of Corslets for Field or Fortress in our modern Wars, may be sufficiently known to all experienced men in the profession of Arms; yet dare I not avow, that Bows and fiery Arrows would be more serviceable in all occasions, because the prevalent custom of received traditions, is much more plausible than reason. Only I will lay down some probable (though but imaginary) effects of the one, and some seeming (if not experimented) defects of the other; till time add form and farther credit to the Essay.  
My Overture is no mysterious subtle Artifice, all that can recommend it, is the employment: but if any man be pleased to prove the demonstration, I doubt not of his patience in reading this discourse. Where first I would advice by way of Preface (because by some experience I have learned, how hardly men are drawn to fence themselves against they see not what) that no trained Soldier arm himself by any Argument of mine against the public institution of provisionary Corslets. For those who have ill neighbours (which no so blest estate as ours can ever be without) must suit themselves (if better may not be) with Arms of like defence; lest enemies invited by their nakedness, attempt the deprivation of their liberties, together with the effusion of their blood.  
I know not the just price of a serviceable Corslet at this time; but sure I think it fare exceeds the charge of all that furniture an Archer stands in need off. Besides the daily perquisites when ere they are employed, of oiling, buckles, thongs; small things, but very necessary, and which sometimes can scarce be had for money. Their weight (I confess) is little to an able man, and the fashion not much uneasy for him that hath them shaped to his own proportion: but when slender fare, and hard lodging abate men's strength, and that the shape of body must be constrained within the Corslet (as commonly men see in service;) and amongst trained Soldiers (where the Master to his servant, or the Father to his son deliver Arms as they have made them for themselves, or for some other of more unequal stature) than not to speak of the ridiculous show they sometimes make, the encumbrance is so great that hardly any patience can endure it long. They foul & fret men's , & add extremities to the excess of cold and heat: so that in Winter men are loath to put them on, and in Summer they throw them off in spite of all command. The help is, on a march to put them into Carts, where either much time must be spent (too precious) to pack them up in order; or they must (as commonly they are) be thrown together on heaps, that when they are taken off again upon occasion, they are so bruised, broken, and confusedly disjointed, that men which put them on seem rather restrained in irons, than harnessed with an armour of defence. And though this inconvenience be less sensible in Holland (where sea and intersection of many waters yields convenient transportation by boat, almost to every town) yet the proof they have had even there, may serve to justify the truth of what men find in other parts.  
If Armours were all musket-proofe, and men well able to endure them, their use were excellent for many purposes: but such men scarcely find we amongst many to guard a pettardier, or make discovery on a Counterscarp; works of quick dispatch compared with marches, breaches, or field-skirmishes. But light armours (as we now have them) though complete with head-piece, tassets, gauntlets, will be of no defence against an enemy that mingles bullets with his Arrows: for I seek not to persuade the use of Bows in steed of Guns, but that by due accouplement of both, more hands might in less room be brought to fight at once; a part of chiefest excellence in marshalling of men.  
Some men I know have Armours in so great esteem, that they think for a Soldier to quit his sword, is (in extremities) a fault more pardonable, than to cast away his Corslet: their reason is, that though it be bad to lose his weapon of assault, yet much more desperately ill to abandon all the means of self-defence. And examples they allege that in former times, one Soldier was punished for casting away his Target though he kept his Sword: and another was rewarded, for that in like extremity he left his Sword & kept his Target. But if Corslets hold no proportion with the weapons of our modern wars; if Muskets, Carrabines, Pistols, all predomine, then are they now no instruments of self-defence, but mere impediments. And if any will object the advantage of Pike-men armed against a stand of unarmed Pikes, I refer me to the testimony of old Soldiers, how often in their life time they have seen a firm (I say a firm) encounter in the field, 'twixt Piles and Pikes. And yet if so it happen, I know not whether the bodies free agility on the one side, or the temper of an armour on the other, would yield a better means of preservation. But sure I think it is our chiefest disadvantage, that they so seldom entershock; for the thigh-bone, shinbone, & the arms of English, longer than of French, and much less foggy than of Duchess, to take large strides, and retch and wind themselves into all postures, makes much for us at push of Pike; as doth like feature of our Limbs (more apt than of our neighbours) to practise shooting in the Longbow. Therefore what I speak in general of Corslets extends not wholly unto Pikes: for some of them may be of use in open field to supply the intermission of Arrows, as bows might serve to counterguard the slow dispatch of Musketeers, in traversing to shoot and charge again.  
There was a time when Lances were esteemed serviceable, as Corslets at this day: but by discourse & farther trial, men have found that they are bootless in our Wars; & time with better discourse may work the same effect in that I treat off. Mean while the practice of the bow may be received, though we retain the use of the Corslet; for if the one be small encumbrance on the body, the other will be little burden at the back, and if to rest the left hand on the pike, enable men to draw a stronger bow, that ingenious device of serving both together will be best; otherwise to lay the pikes (in time of service) not longest the files (as usually men do) but thwart the ranks, will be no let at all to the Archier, but help to keep him in an even front, and so they will lie ready to take up again when time shallbe.  
Now if the fire-shafrs which are proposed, be of that efficacy which I pretend, no fairer engine was there ever used in war; the cost not great, the encumbrance none at all: they are neat, portable, and so mannageable, that even children may make their sport with them, and youths of any growth may do good service, making their practice only with the common arrows; than which, there can be no more noble recreation. But if at festival times, a Bull (in stead of baiting him with dogs) were tied at stake, or sheweld in with Archiers, conveniently placed upon a Common, or other spacious place; men might then make trial with their fire-shafts (a brave and manlike sport) where happily the madding of the enraged beast (besides inuring men to conflict) would teach some profitable stratagem for war.  
Whatever martial feats by land are left recorded of our nation in old times, have been most commonly achieved by virtue of the Bow; which virtue may be artificially renewed, if a grounded apprehension that bullets are more mortal, take not from us all consideration, that arrows may not only be delivered more speedily, more safely, and in greater numbers at once; but also will flee farther (shot at random) than bullets reach pointblank. Advantages, which well observed, will frustrate all the efficacy, by depriving men of the use of whatsomever other weapon: for Bowmen placed behind a Paraper, a stand of Pikes, or mannuple of Musquettiers, may shower down such incessant drops of fire, like Sodoms' rain, upon an enemy, as will not only annoy the Pikes, and rout the Horse, but altogether disable the Musquettier; as may be gathered by the suppositions which comparatively I shall lay down in that which follows: insisting only upon the regular imbattelling of men, and leaving to discretion the difference of accidental forms, according to the variety of occurrents.  
The form of a regular Squadron, whose body consists of Corslets, leaves a great space of ground before it void; and as much more supplied with idle hands, and those idle hands exposed to inevitable hazard. The whole space before the Corslets, is, and must necessarily be left void; lest the Musquettiers wearied, wanting munition, or otherwise overcharged by any sudden incursion of Horse, should hastily make retreat upon the front of their own Corslets, and so deprive themselves of their own defence: for in that case the Corslets are no refuge.  
This space before the Corslets being then so left void, & the mannuples of Musquettiers being drawn forth to skirmish on the flanques, in any imaginable manner; the Corslets are but so many idle hands, yet stand exposed to great mortality during the skirmish of the Musquettiers: for Corslets are no musquet-proofe, nor dare the Musquettiers draw forth so far before, as to leave them out of reach of the enemy's musket, lest by some sudden fury of Horse, themselves should be overrun ere they could make an orderly retreat. But suppose they make an orderly retreat (for continual motion and agitation, with often bruising of the Musket against their bodies (if nothing else) will force them at the length to make retreat) the succour they shall find on the flanques, or in the rear of the Corslets, will assuredly be very small; for the enemy's Horse advancing forward, and discharging upon a Carico, will in short time so dishearten the Corslets, wounding and maiming in the face, and arms, and other bared parts (if not through the very Corslet) the foremost & bravest of them, that the rest men may believe will easily give ground, and open ranks to an utter overthrow. Or admit at the best, that our Musquetties so discomfit the enemies that we put them to retreat, I say not, that our Corslets will then serve us for no use; but a prudent Commander, I think, will either hold his advantage with Musquettiers, or pursue it to an execution with his Horse; and then no weapon to the single sword, though pistols, pikes, and even musket stocks, are sometimes instruments of execution.  
For a fortress, the chiefest use of Corslets that I know, is at an assault after battery, where (as well within as without) they have been usually employed amongst other weapons. Whether they or other weapons be in that case more serviceable, I need not to contend; it is sufficient that assault and battery is almost every where laid aside. They without make their approaches underground to the ditch, and throw the ditch if it be dry; and if it have water, they pass a gallery to the wall of the fortress, and there mine and blow up, gaining their ground by hand-breadths, and employ their Ordnance only against the flanquers, and to clear the Curtains; for experience hath taught that this way (though more slow) makes an assured passage with less cost and loss of men; chief of those most able bodies and valiant spirits, which at an assault were commonly employed on both sides. And this which hath been said of Corslets without, may show their small avail within a fortress; where the ordinary defence is countermine, retrenchment, fireworks and guns. As for Corslets in a sally, if the Musquettiers pass not the Rampar & Revalins, the use is very little; and if they pass beyond, it is no more than hath been said before in field-seruice.  
These are the deficiences that some years since took up my imagination, and made me consider, whether by the subvention of some other more proportionable engine, the subaltern and slow discharging of the Musket, might not be secured against the sudden fury and swift incursion of the Horse; as also whether the void ground and vacant time might not be more serviceably supplied with fight hands: and my opinion was, that if the arrow could be so enforced with fireworks, as might give no impediment to the flight & quick delivery, the thing were found. But having myself no skill in fireworks (had not mine own over-aboundant leisure invited me since that, to tamper somewhat in such kind of engenry) I had laid aside my conceit of longbows, which I now communicate; beginning as before, with the examination of their benefit for the body of a squadron in field-seruice: where it is evident that the Musquetters may be placed before the front with a mutual defence; for as the Musquettiers are defended by the arrows from over their heads against the enemy's horse, so the archers are defended by the bodies of the Musquettiers (who are in no more danger, but yield more shelter than before) against the enemy's bullets; and, which is the chiefest advantage in fight, all hands shallbe employed at once: for at the same time with the Musquettiers, the Archers may shoot over such volleys of fiery arrows, as shall (though less mortal) give an enemy no less occasion to look about him than the bullers. Or because a total innovation of arms and order may seem too hazardous, where the lives of men and honour of the field are laid at stake; if the fire-shafts, I speak of, flee but tweluescore yards (and I know by some good proof, that they will flee more than fourteen, from any practised arm of common strength) the archers may be placed behind four ranks of Corslets (as many as at once can charge their Pikes to purpose) and from thence without impediment to any of their own (either Pikes or Musquettiers) perform as much as hath been said before. And if the store an Archier bears about him, will not suffice to maintain the fight throughout, one horse for every hundred bowmen, will bear munition as much as will serve the turn; and when all fails, they have their Pike & Head-piece to defend themselves; for these a man may march withal, besides his bow and arrows very easily.  
Now because I am fallen into discourse of arranging men in squadron, I may without detracting from any authorised discipline, or from the more approved customs of our graduated martialists (for I will propound it but in case that long bows be received in stead of Corslets) show how in my opinion the Musquettiers may most commodiously shift station in a skirmish; and open place for ranks that follow, & consequently for the whole body (Bows aswell as Musquettiers) to give or gain ground on an enemy, insensibly. And that I may be the better understood, I will express myself by a supposed mannuple of thirty Musquettiers, five in file and fix in front; the foremost rank whereof having discharged, shall sever itself by three in file on either flanque, so leaving space void for the next succeeding rank to advance in even front with the former of those files; where they likewise having discharged their muskets, shall file themselves on either flanque as did the first, leaving like open way for them that follow to draw forward. By which order of succession, the first rank will have leisure to charge again & resume his former place, without retiring to the rear of all, as usually they do, and as indeed is requisite when they will give ground: for then the first rank having discharged, may turn away (three on each flanque) unto the rear, & there rally themselves: the rest, each after other doing the like, and taking place behind, till the whole ground whereon they first began to skirmish be left void, and the way left free again for the foremost rank, without advancing to discharge anew. This I think sufficient to explain my meaning; I will therefore now proceed to show the benefit of fire-shafts for a fortress. where they seem to me incomparably useful as well within as without: for they may be shot from behind a breast of defence, without discovering any part of our body to the enemy. No enemy can so shelter himself in his approaches, but that these fire-shafts may fall upon him. They will put to great trouble and hazard the Cannoneers that ply the Artillery on batteries, where bullets cannot hit them. They will serve to set on fire the enemy's tents and cabening. And the blaze of them in the night will in all likelihood make such discovery, that Musquettiers standing ready to level where they fall, may aim at the enemy as by day, & keep perdues, engeniers, workmen, and those that watch by night in such continual awe, as will greatly hinder, if not wholly drive them from their watch and labour. Yea with reason it may be thought they will facilitate all attempts by night; for the eye of enemy will be so dazelled, and his body so clearly discerned by the multitudes of them, that men may boldly assail an enemy by night, and safely make retreat in all occasions.  
Many other, and indeed indeterminable are the uses that by conjecture may be drawn from such like arrows shot out of the longbow, both by sea and land; in particular to deprive an enemy of the use of his sails at a great distance; for the canvas will take fire like tinder, and vanish by enforcement of the wind in sudden flame, if any arrow fasten in it, as among many some assuredly will do. I may therefore say, that as other parts of that munition which hath been patternd out from heaven in former times, have in this latter age been nearly resembled by ordinary means on earth with great effect; as thundering hailstones by shooting bullets, and making whole towns brimstone, salt, and burning like the overthrow of the four cities, by mines of powder, consisting of brimstone, saltpetre, and burnt coal; so this newer imitation of sharp arrows with coals of juniper, and of mingling hailstones with coals of fire (both which we read of) may be found in the practice (for ease and variety of use) to be of great importance: and in that opinion I recommend it to the welfare of my Country, whose peculiar weapon of advantage it will be; at least for to supply our want of Horse, which we neither can transport to foreign employment in convenient numbers, nor are by nature so inclined to tend with art and industry, as other of our neighbours do.  Sapienter idem.  

How to make and shoot Fire-shafts out of the Longbow.  
LEt the Fire-shafts have one end feathered and shaped, after the manner of an ordinary arrow, and the other end fitted with a pipe of latten, ten inched long or more, at discretion, a bearded head of iron fast glued into it, with a socket of wood, & a touchhole made close by it, with some little reverse to stop the arrow from piercing so deep into a man's , the flanques of a horse, or other mark of easy passage, as to choke the fire. The shaft may be made fast within the pipe (if men so please) with hard wax; which melting as the pipe groweth hot, will make it very difficult to draw the arrow from where it lights.  
Arrows to make a blaze by night, as also those that are to shoot into the sails of a ship or an enemy's tent, must have the touchhole within an inch of the shaft, and the reverse a little above the touchhole, to stay the arrow while the mark takes fire.  
The pipe must be filled with this mixture bruised very small & hard rammed in; Gunpowder & saltpetre a like proportion, & brimstone half so much, with some small quantity of camphir (if men please) to make it operate more strongly where the mark is wet. If the mixture burn too quick, add brimstone; if too slow, add powder.  
To stop the touchhole that the mixture run not forth, & to take fire when you mean to shoot, seethe cotten-candlewicke in vinegar and gunpowder bruised very small; and when it is throughly soaked and well dried, take a small quantity (rolled a little in the former mixture) and stop the touchhole therewith.  
The Fire-shaft being made, and filled in this manner, take the Bow with a match well lighted into your left hand, after the manner of Musquettiers; then hold the Arrow ready nocked in the Bow, after the manner of Archers. Lastly, give fire, return your match, and deliver the Arrow.