CHAP. IX.] USE OF FIREARMS BY CAVALRY. 



229 



After these infantry came 5,000 Gascons, nearly all 

 slingers or crossbowmen. They were light irregular 

 troops, but highly trained in the art of throwing the 

 javelin, the stone or the arrow.' 



Then came the cavalry, a force conscripted from the 

 nobility of France. This pre-eminence in the composition 

 of cavalry was the natural result of chivalry, and, resting 

 upon custom and tradition, was long the established 

 principle. Even two centuries after this time, under 

 Louis XIII., the infantry were punished with the stick, 

 an instrument of chastisement forbidden in the cavalry, 

 where the sabre only was used, because, as the regulations 

 explained, the cavalry were composed nearly altogether 

 of gentlemen. 



These cavalry were magnificently equipped with heavy 

 armour covered with cloaks of silk, and wearing collars 

 and bracelets of gold. The horses were tall, powerful 

 animals, with the tails and ears cut. The armour was 

 beginning to lighten itself a little, for these French 

 knights had abandoned the use of the horse armour 

 made of hide, which was still retained by the Italian 

 men-at-arms. The cavalry were divided into lancers or 

 men-at-arms, and archers or light cavalry. The lances 

 were strong and eflective weapons, well ironed, and in 

 addition to them the knights carried maces. 



The man-at-arms, his page, and his esquires, were 

 ranged together, and evidently formed the heavy 

 cavalry, while the archers were detached and formed up 

 separately, as a distinct corps of light horsemen.* 



These archers, although employed detached, were never- 

 theless still connected with the chevalier, in whose lance 

 they were reckoned for all administrative purposes. 

 They were armed with the long bow as used by the 

 English, and shot long arrows. Their armour consisted 

 simply of the breastplate and casque. Some of them 

 carried javelins, which they used to pierce the men-at- 

 arms whom they might succeed in unhorsing. 



Four hundred chosen mounted archers of the guard 

 surrounded the king, who was accompanied by two 

 ' Carrion, i. 454. 2 ibid. 456. 



