Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/80

 strong arm, superior to the musket: yet is the musket a weapon of more use. The gun and the crossbow are of like force when discharged by a boy or woman, as when by a strong man: weakness, or sickness, or a sore finger makes the longbow unserviceable. More particularly, I say, that it was the custom of our ancestors to shoot, for the most part, point blank: and so shall he perceive that will note the circumstances of almost any one battle. This takes away all objection, for when two armies are within the distance of a butt's length only one flight of arrows, or two at the most, can be delivered before they close. Neither is it in general true, that the longbow reacheth further, or that it pierceth more strongly than the crossbow; but this is the rare effect of an extraordinary arm, whereupon can be grounded no common rule.

If any man shall ask, How then, came it to pass that the English won so many great battles, having no advantage to help them? I may—with best commendation of modesty—refer him to the French historian; who relating the victory of our men at Crevant, where they passed a bridge in face of the enemy, useth these words, "The English come with a conquering bravery—as he that was accustomed to gain everywhere—without any stay. He forceth our guard placed upon the bridge to keep the passage." Or I may cite another place of the same author, where he tells how the Bretons, being invaded by CHARLES VIII., King of France; thought it good policy to apparel 1,500 of their own men in English cassocks; hoping that the very sight of the English Red Cross would be enough to terrify the French. But I will not stand to borrow of the French historians—all which, except DE SERRES and PAULUS AEMILIUS, report wonders of our Nation—the proposition which first I undertook to maintain, "That the military virtue of the English, prevailing against all manner of difficulties; ought to be preferred before that of the Romans, which was assisted with all advantages that could be desired."

If it be demanded, Why, then, did not our Kings finish the conquest, as CAESAR had done? my answer may be (I hope without offence), that our Kings were like to the race of AEACIDAE; of whom the poet ENNIUS gave this note, Belli-*potentes sunt magis quam sapientipotentes, "They were more war