The Pike & Shot Society
The Pike and Shot Society is an international organisation promoting the study of the military history of the Renaissance and Early Modern world. For The Pike and Shot Society this period covers the years between 1400 and 1721, a time-span that covers approximately from the introduction of early firearms to the abandonment of the pike as a front-line battlefield weapon - the time of pike and shot. The society is run entirely by, and for the benefit of, its members.
Areas of interest
The society's coverage includes the Wars of the Roses, the Italian Wars, the Wars of Religion, the Thirty Years War, the English Civil War and the War of the Spanish Succession. Outside Europe the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the Samurai of Japan and the armies of the Persians and Mughul Indians all come within the Society's orbit, as do naval clashes such as the Spanish Armada, the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Mediterranean conflicts between the Christians and the Ottomans.
Arquebusier
Arquebusier is the society's highly respected journal. It is A5 in size and 52+ pages long with a colour centre spread. It provides accurate historical information on aspects of warfare from the entire spectrum of the society's period, often supplied from members from all over the world and providing information not otherwise available in English. Arquebusier also includes reviews of books, wargames figures, and other products of relevance to the society's theme.
Mercurius
The society also produces a newsletter of variable length called Mercurius. This contains current news of interest, details of items available for purchase, discounts available, etc.
Publications
The society also publishes a range of books and monographs relating to its theme. These include:
Uniforms and Colours of the Wars of Louis XIV series
These volumes provide the most detailed and comprehensive studies of the armies of the age of the Sun King to have been published in any language. They represent scholarship of the highest standards and will be an essential resource to those who are interested in warfare of the late-17th and early-18th centuries.
- Flags and Uniforms of the French Infantry under Louis XIV, 1688-1714 by Robert Hall. Describes the appearance of over 280 regiment of foot in 140 pages of text and 116 full-colour plates.
- Standards and Uniforms of the French Cavalry under Louis XIV, 1688-1714 by Robert Hall, Giancarlo Boeri & Yves Roumegoux. The appearance of over 170 regiments of cavalry is described in 180 pages of text and 62 full-colour plates.
- Guidons, Flags and Uniforms of the French Dragoons, Militia, Artillery and Bombardiers under Louis XIV, 1688-1714 by Robert Hall, Yves Roumegoux & Giancarlo Boeri. Covering the lesser branches of the French army, it contains 140 pages of text and 29 full-colour plates.
- The Army of the Electorate Palatine Under Elector Johann Wilhelm 1690-1716 by Claus-Peter Golberg & Robert Hall. Contains 144 pages of text and 20 full-colour plates.
Renaissance Military Texts series
The aim of the Renaissance Military Texts series is to make accessible to the general public scarce and important contemporary documents relating to warfare during the Renaissance and Early Modern periods of history. Such items will be of insufficient length to warrant publication as a separate item in their own right, but too long to enable to be conveniently included within the Society's regular journal.
- Vol. 1: Warfare in the Age of Louis XIV. This 94-page volume contains three texts with a general theme of warfare during the reign of the iconic French king Louis XIV. Their subjects are: A journal of the 1684 siege of Luxembourg, written from the French point of view; Extracts from The London Gazette, covering the action at Elixheim on 18 July 1705; The letters of Richard Pope, a junior officer in an English cavalry regiment, who served from the Glorious Revolution to the War of the Spanish Succession.
Other society books
- Marlborough Goes to War by Iain Stanford. An 80 page paperback book describing the campaign and Battle of Blenheim in 1704. It includes a complete OOB for both armies and a reprint of the ‘Blenheim Roll’, which lists all the senior officers of the British Army who participated in the battle.
- Lostwithiel 1644 – The Campaign and Battles by Stephen Ede-Borrett. The summer 1644 campaign in the West of England was an exceptional feat of arms for the Royalist armies and, in contrast, a vivid demonstration of the complete lack of ability of their Parliamentary opponents to work together. The resultant catastrophic defeat of the Earl of Essex's army was, together with the failure at Newbury that autumn, was highly influential in the vote that created the New Model Army in the following winter. Despite this, the campaign is often treated superficially or simply ignored in many histories of the war and no previous detailed history of it has been published, this work aims to correct those omissions. A 158 page paperback book.
- Waller's Army. The Regiments of Sir William Waller's Southern Association by Laurence Spring. Of all the generals of the English Civil War, Sir William Waller (1597–1668) probably best expressed its tragedy, referring to it as 'this war without an enemy' when writing to his friend Sir Ralph Hopton, whom he faced across the battlefield. Despite this he was a successful general, earning the nickname ‘William the Conqueror’. After his first army was routed at Roundway Down he received a commission to raise a new army. Although he continued to have victories, such as at Alton and Cheriton, he was never given the resources to follow up these victories. When the regional armies were eventually reformed into the New Model Army, Waller lost his command, and so his military career ended. This book analyses the regiments that made up his second army, which became known as the Southern Association. A 186 page paperback book with 6 pages of colour plates.
- The Art of Gunnery (1647) together with A Treatise of Artificall Fire-Works (1647) by Nathaniel Nye. Introduction and Transcription by Cliff Mitchell. Nathaniel Nye's work, first published in 1647, was part of an ongoing series of such 'Gunnery Manuals' that first began appearing in the 16th century. However it is one of only two whose authors are known to have served during the English Civil Wars. As such it is an invaluable addition to our knowledge of the way that contemporary artillerymen felt that their pieces should be handled and its re-publication in 1670 says a great deal about its success and popularity during the 17th century. A 96 page paperback book.
- ‘An ill jurney for the Englshemen’. Elis Gruffydd and the 1523 French campaign of the Duke of Suffolk. Transcribed by M. Byrn Davies and edited by Jonathan Davies. This ‘most ill-conceived and ill-managed war’ was how Sir Charles Oman, the great historian of Renaissance warfare, described the English invasion of France in 1523. This hopelessly misguided campaign saw an English army meander aimlessly over Northern France to little effect, reaching as far as Montdidier before retiring back to the Channel with its tail between its legs. The story is told largely in the words of contemporary documents and in particularly through the eyes of Elis Gruffydd, an articulate Welsh soldier who left a journal of his experiences full of vigour, freshness and well-developed sense of irony. A 72-page paperback book.
- Elis Gruffydd and the 1544 ‘Enterprises’ of Paris and Boulogne. Transcribed by M. Byrn Davies and edited with a new introduction by Jonathan Davies. An 80-page booklet reprinting a contemporary account of the 1544 English campaign in France that culminated in the capture of Boulogne. Elis Gruffydd's remarkable journal contains a wealth of detail – military, social and political; and from a viewpoint that is hardly ever recorded. Elis was a fully paid up member of the “Poor Bloody Infantry”, and despite attaining the rank of Captain his sympathies were with the suffering soldiery rather than their aristocratic commanders. His harshest criticisms are directed at those in command although he has little time for “idle” soldiers unable to shift for themselves. Opinionated, well informed and thoroughly experienced in the ways of the world his commentary on the expedition is a delight in its vigour, freshness and well-developed sense of irony.
- Thomas Audley and the Tudor Art of War by Jonathan Davies. A 64-page paperback book reprinting a mid-16th century treatise on the art of war, written for Edward VI by a veteran Tudor soldier. An extensive introduction provides a detailed analysis of the treatise. In addition the book also reprints, in detail, the Cowdray House illustrations of the siege of Boulogne in 1544 and the French attack on Portsmouth in 1545.
- The English Companies of Foot in 1588 by Jonathan Davies. A 36-page paperback booklet describing the organisation, equipment, weapons, tactics and standards carried by the English ‘Trained Bands’ at the time of the Spanish Armada.
Wargames rules
- Captain-General by Tom Smith and Iain Stanford. Rules for land warfare in the period 1660–1721
- General-At-Sea by Iain Stanford. Rules for naval warfare in the period 1640–1721
- Husaria by Iain Wilson. Rules for East European warfare 1558–1699
External links