by Ian Heath. Published by Foundry Books, 1997. ISBN 1 901543 00 5. Hardbound $40.00 U.S.

Those of you who are familiar with Mr. Heath's earlier Armies and Enemies series of books will certainly not be disappointed with his latest effort. This 160 page hardbound book has chapters on the armies of England, Scotland, Ireland, the United Provinces, and the Spanish Netherlands, as well as major battles of the century, 16th century artillery and notes on firearms.

There is so much much interesting information in this book, I don't know where to begin. For one thing, Henry VIII made use of war wagons, the horses being enclosed in the wagons with only their forelegs showing. They were used in the New World to protect against Indian attacks. Other wagons were used on the Continent, these being pushed by poles, much as the keelboats of early 19th century America were.

Ian Heath describes tactics in detail. For instance, the English armies still retaining longbowmen would protect them with pikemen in front. The pikemen would simply kneel down, allowing the archers to fire into the enemy ranks. When arquebusiers began to be used, they would form up before the pikemen, fire, and then fall back to the pike phalanx and get beneath the pikes, crouching and continuing to fire, though obviously only a small number of them could actually remain there for any time. There was a formation called the 'snail', in which firing troops would "...march round in a circle caracole-fashion...in a clockwise direction, firing as they came to the front and starting to reload as they turned away."

Scots tactics changed from the stationary schiltron battles of earlier centuries to engagements of mobile pike columns, charging in echelon, as did the Swiss, with cavalry often dismounting in the lead. The accompanying line drawings show the gradual evolution of Scottish armor, though the Scots still retained older styles of dress "(T)hat looks as if it had probably been handed down for generations." The usual excellent line drawings one has come to expect from Mr. Heath with explanatory text, by the way, have been taken from actual contemporary depictions, not conjecture.

In reference to warfare in Ireland, Mr. Heath goes into great detail. Galloglas were employed until the early 17th century, when an English writer noted that they were "extinct." The 'Redshanks' or highlander mercenaries which were imported from Scotland, often settled in their new homes rather than return to the land of their birth. The army of Hugh O'Neill, better known as the Earl of Tyrone, modernized the Irish army, beginning to get rid of the anachronistic armies of redshanks and galloglasses, and instead employing Irish volunteers, not conscripts, who were paid, provisioned, and would then fight for an entire campaign season, not a month or two. Mr. Heath further provides valuable information in respect to the actual number of troops and their arms as well as their tactics.

The latter chapters dealing with Maurice of Nassau's army and the Spanish Netherlands are equally as informative and well-researched. As is usual, there is an extensive (and helpful) bibliography which I always enjoy perusing, taking notes of books to buy or check out of the library.

Highly recommended and available from The Foundry Ltd., 1549 Marview Drive, Westlank, Ohio 44145, (216) 871-4587.

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