The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. IX] OF SCOTLAND 153
longe accutissimo ut medium. Lorica
primo conatu hominem facile dissecaret
hamis ferreis conserta muniebantur. Hanc
tunicae corriaceae non minus firmae quam eleganti (nostri Acton
dicunt) superinduerunt. Omnes denique armatura illis leves, ut
facilius si eo angustiarum detruderentur, ex hostium manibus
possent elabi."i
In 1583.— " Leurs armes sont Tare et la flesche et quelques
javellotz qu'ils tirent fort dextrement, et une large espee, avec
le poignard pointu, qui ne taille que d'un coste. lis sont fort
legers a la course, et n'y a cheval si viste qui les puisse devancer,
comme j'en ay veu la preuve plusieurs fois, tant en Angleterre
qu'en
Escosse." ^
Martin, in his Western Isles, says, " The ancient way of
fighting was by set battles, and for armes some had broad
two-handed swords, and head-pieces, and others bows and
arrows."
The author of " Certain curious matters concerning Scotland"
in 1597 says, "They fight with broad swords and axes."
— Moneypennie, who wrote in 161 2, remarks—"Their armour
wherewith they cover their bodyes in time of warre, is an yron
bonnet, and an habbergion, side almost even to their heeles.
Their weapons against their enemies are bowes and arrows.
The arrows are for the most part hooked, with a barbel on
either side, which, once entered within the body, cannot be
drawn forth again, unless the wound be made wider. Some
•of them fight with broad swords and axes."
Beague, in describing the battle of Pinkie, says, " The
Highlanders, who show their courage on all occasions, gave
^
Lesly.— " In battle and hostile en- light, that they might the more easily
counter their weapons were a lance or slip from their enemies' hands, if they
arrows. They use also a two-edged chanced to fall into such a straight."
sword, which with the foot soldier . , „ .,, ^, .
'
was pretty long, and short for the ^'^^^^^ d'Arfeville.-" Their arms
ho.se; both had it broad, and with are the bow and arrow, and some
an edge so exceedingly sharp that at ^^^^s, which they throw with some
one blow it could easily cut a man in dexterity, and a large sword, with a
two; for defence they use a coat of single-edged dagger. They are very
mail woven of iron rings, which ^^^^t of foot, and there is no horse
they
^o
wore over a leather jerkin, stout and
swift as to
of
outstrip them, as I have
^'^en
handsome appearance, which we call proved several times both in
-an Acton. Their whole armour was -England and Scotland.