In 1623 the English Goverment published a training manual entitled "Instructions for Musters and Arms, and the use thereof" in an effort to improve the military capacity of the National Militia, the Trained Bands. Essentially this was a copy of the basic instructions used by the Dutch Army trained by Prince Maurice of Nassau. It was intended to introduce a standard system of training which could be understood and used by Trained Band officers and soldiers throughout England and Wales.

The Government manual only provided basic instructions, and thus omitted several areas of military training and military information which contemporary soldiers considered necessary. As a result there was a market amongst Militia officers, and those who simply had an interest in military matters, for other military books. London Booksellers were not slow to appreciate the potential for new business (Dave Ryan is a latterday version as these early entrepreneurs!). One of these new publications was "The Military Discipline, wherein is martially showne the Order of Drilling for the Musket and Pike" which was printed for Roger Daniel in 1623. ( 1 )

The main selling point of this book was the series of "Postures" or drill positions used for the handling of Musket or Pike which it contained but it also provided a valuable introduction to the "young" or inexperienced Militia officers on a wide range of practical military knowledge.

The name of the author of this work is not recorded but his comments show that his military experience went back over a period of thirty years and included service with the English Army at Kinsale (1602) in Ireland as well as various European forces. He included one chapter on "The manner of divers Countries in the Arming their Souldiers" for "varieties sake" and the general interest of his reader, describing "what I have partly seene" as well as styles of weapons he had heard of.

The whole chapter provides an interesting illustration of the equipment of foreign soldiers from the viewpoint of an informed English observer.

"Because I suppose it will add some satisfaction to the Reader to understand, how other Nations are Armed, I will also adde for varieties sake what I have partly seene, and wherein Experience goes beyong Report.

The Turkes and Tartars, have little Armour or none at all: yet are the Janizaries Hargubush ( 2 ) on foote, with great semiters ( 3 ) of Damaskus: The Spahies are Horse with Sword and Hatchets hanging by their Saddles: The Chawse ( 4 ) more rich and brave have great Maces of yron, rich Semiters and Targets made of Sinewes: The Tartars both Horse and Foot have Bowes and Arrowes, as the Turkes have; likewise with Targets and very broad Swords, they come in multitudes, and are not afraid of any approatches, but that the Cannon and Trenches hath of late kept them from theor former clamorous throngings, they have excellent Horse, and Horne-rings to shoot without which they cannot Draw their Bowes, and with which they will pierce an ordinary Corslet: The Polacke ( 5 ) is a brave servitor on Horsebacke, and useth a weapon like a Picquer ( 6 ) , which he hangeth on his shoulder, some of them have git Semiters, and all of them have good Swordes, they have long Petronels, and many times fight with Targets: The Foote have Poleaxes to their Swords ( 7 ) which our Gentlemen Pentioners call their Axes, they begin to affect Armes, that is to say Curats and Petronels ( 8 ) , they are yet full of Launces ( 9 ) , but beginning to learn the Discipline ( 10 ) of Europe, no doubt necessity and their owne security will teach them the way to better customes. The Hungarians and Transilvanians Arme much alike, with Pieces ( 11 ) on Horsebacke, Targets and great Hatchets, but he that hath a Target hath no Piece, and hee that hath a Launce hath no Target, and for Armour some have Curats, but very few, yet all that are on Foote have Swordes and Hargobush, but as for the Musket and Rest, it is not much in use amongst them.

The Germanes have a weapon besides the use of many weapons called a Slawmest ( 12 ) , a fearfull one for Execution, and in the fury of a strong arme deviding a limbe from a body; the better sort are Horse, and well Armed, the Foot have some Pikes and great Halberds: they are good to keep a Holde, and honest to stand to their footing, but untoward for Skirmishes, and making assaults. The Italians, Spaniards, and our selves, doe not much differ in Armes, more than wee may a little presume on our Battalians of Pikes, if the Officers foresee, that we doe not Cut them at all. The French were so well Armed that their Fantery ( 13 ) , which is their Gentlemen on Horseback, are supposed invincible, both for the preserving their Honour, and maintaining their Bravery. For looke, what the Romans were wont to call their Cataphrads ( 14 ) , they call their barbed Horses ( 15 ) , yea wee ourselves distinguish them in their Musters by the tytles of Great and light Horse, and have both Launces and Petronels for the Service: In times past they used Crosbowes, and wee Long-bowes, but then Battailes were in more use, and more spacious ground was taken up for the Encounters, as you shall see in the Section of Encamping".

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