The Noble and Worthy Science of Defense, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. How the vſe of weapons came, alſo the number of weapons vſed from time to time, with other good inſtructions.
MAN was firſt created naked, without any weapons naturally, ſauing onelyonly hands and feete, which are able to make but a weake reſiſtance againſt any great violence, onelyonly this the hands to thruſt away that which may annoy vsus, and the feete to run from that which may hurt vsus. Now al other creatures except man are naturally armed with ſuch weapons as doth oftentimes kill and deſtroy any other beaſt which doth offend them.
As for example, God in his creation furniſhed the Lyon, the Beare, the Dog, and the Wolfe, and other ſuch like beaſts, whith long and ſharpe teeth and clawes, and they are with them able to teare in peeces and deuour any man or beaſt, which they oppoſe themſelues againſt, now other beaſts there are whoſe ſtrength conſiſteth in other parts, and they doe auenge themſelues in other manner; as the Vnicorne and the Bull, with their hornes, and the force of their heads, ſo that there is no other beaſt or creature is able to abide the violence and force thereof.
Alſo note the force of fowls of the ayre as the fawcon, and the Eagle, what a dangerous weapon is the beake of them vntounto ſuch fowles or beaſts as they oppoſe themſelues againſt.
Likewiſe for venemous beaſts, as the Serpent, the Viper, the Scorpion, and ſuch like, are ſo armed with poiſoned and venemous ſtings, which not onelyonly terrifieth but hurteth and deſtroieth thoſe men or beaſts commeth neare them.
Likewiſe God in his creation made all creatures to ſeuerall purpoſes, but moſt of all for the vſe of man, for ſome he made to feed vsus, ſome to cloath vsus, ſome to ſport vsus, and ſome to carry vsus, and ſome to deſtroy vsus.
Loe thus much by the way of argument, as a preamble to that which I intend to ſpeak of concerning weapons as followeth.
In old time amongſt men the ſtrongeſt cary away the victory, I meane at that time when there was little or no other weapon vſed, but only tooth & naile, hands and feet: now in thoſe dayes many men did thinke that they made a good hand when they ſaued themſelues by flight, or any other meanes, from thoſe which were to ſtrong for them, and ſo the world continued a long time, the ſtrongeſt ſtill carrying away the victory.
For what weapons had they I pray you in the time of Sampſon, did not hee for want of other weapons with a law bone kill and deſtroy a thouſand Philiſtims in a ſmall time without any hurt to himſelfe?
Now at this time if there had been any weapons of more danger put the caſe this. Although Sampſon was charged vponupon ſuch a ſuddaine wherby he had no leiſure to arme himſelfe, yet you muſt vnderſtand and know, that his enemies came purpoſely to be reuenged vponupon him, becauſe he had burned vp their corne: wherefore if there had been weapons they wold hauehave been ſo armed without all doubt or queſtion, and ſo prouided for him, that either they would hauehave wounded or killed him, before he ſhould hauehave made ſuch hauocke or ſlaughter amongſt them.
Againe, what weapons had they when Saingar ſlue ſix hundred Philiſtimes with an oxe goade, as in the third of Iudges there you may read it in the laſt verſe.
But after this as the number of people begun to multiply, and the malice, rage, and fury of man began to increaſe, firſt they began to reuenge themſelues with clubs, ſtaues, ſlings, and darts. And afterward they ſtudied and inuented other weapons and armor for wars, as at the firſt beginning of wars they made Iron chariots, and then they armed Elephants, and horſes, afterwards they found out the forging of ſwords, ſpeares, Bills, Halberts, Iauelins and Partizans, Croſſe-bowes and long bowes, and ſuch like; and eueryevery kind of weapon for more aduantage and danger one then another, ſtill changing onelyonly to make triall of the beſt, for their aduantage, and ſuch they keepe in vſe that were of greater force not only to terrifie, but to hurt and deſtroy their enemies. But of late yeers they hauehave changed all weapons for muskets, Harquebuſh, and Croſſe-bowes, Calieuers, Pikes, Swords, and Rapiers, and ſuch like manly weapons of great danger, eſpecially vntounto the ignorant and vnskilfull.
Now therefore as we are prouided of ſundry kind of dangerous weapons, I could wiſh eueryevery man to ſpend a little time in practiſing to learne skill and cunning at ſuch weapons, as with skill are moſt ſafe to defend, and yet moſt dangerous, and hurtfull to thy enemy, conſidering this that the skilfull and cunning man fighteth without feare; for not only thoſe which vſe the making of armes and weapons are well accepted of, wherein many are accounted famous, & therby making a good liuing for their continuall maintenance, but yet more accepted are they which can vſe weapons well both for defence and offence: for many thereby hauehave gotten ſuch credit through out all the world, inſomuch that Kings and Princes doe a dorne them which are excellent therein with the names of Knights, and ſome with greater titles of honor: wherfore it is a great ſhame for any carrying the ſhape or perſonage of a man, but that he ſhould be ſo cunning and ſo furniſhed with skill and with continuall practiſe, ſo to vſe it, as not only to defend thy ſelfe, but alſo to ſpeake and to diſcourſe of weapons and armes in what company ſoeuer thou come into fitting ſuch a matter.
The Romans ſoone after the inuention of ſwords generally they grew ſo expert and cunning, that they were able and did ſet foorth whole armies of ſword-players, ſuch as are now called Fencers.
It is a wofull ſight vntounto the skilfull to ſee ſo many yong gentlemen, which being once blind folded with ignorance and for want of skill many times loſe their liues in fight, without reaſon or iudgement, and yet ſome ſuch there are which will aduenture; onelyonly they doe it vponupon an aſpiring mind, thinking thereby to get the praiſe of the world, which is to be accounted valorous, and tall men at armes, for to be accounted wiſe and valiant is eueryevery mans deſire.
Wherefore as amongſt the wiſe and ancient writers that euer wrote, wee find the wiſe to prouide in ſummer for winter, in time of peace for wars; for ther is nothing ſo ſure but as that after peace there will come wars, there is no man liuing that although he carry himſelfe neuer ſo vprightly yet at one time or other he may bee ſo wronged that he muſt needes fight: therefore he that is wiſe will be armed before hand, not onelyonly with weapons, but skill; thereby to preuent a miſchiefe if occaſion ſerue, as you ſhal hear more at large in the next Chapter.