While raeding a new treasure - "Philip the Good" by Vaughan, I came across an interestng passage showing that rudimentary drill did exist in some 15th c. armies early on - well before the evidence that marks out the Burgundian ordinance companies. The following passage is taken by Vaughan from an anonymous Dutch chronicler and recorded in 'Livres des Trahsions' Brouwershaven was fought on 13 January, 1426 between the forces of the renegade Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and Jaqueline de Hainault, vs. those of Philip Duke of Burgundy and the towns Dordrecht, The Hauge, and Delft.

"...He describes the disembarkation of the Burgundian army, which consisted mainly of the municipal levies of the Dutch towns loyal to Philip. The Men of Dordrecht, with their red and white hoods, were in the van, followed by the citizen-soldiers of the Hauge and Delft, in black and white. Disembarkation was hampered by an ebbing tide, but for some reason, the English did not try to prevent Philip's troops from leaving their boats and coming ashore. English discipline apparently impressed and possibly dismayed the Dutch. For the English advanced marching in step, ignored a brief salvo fired at them by a cannoneer from Dordrecht, and then suddenly emitted a frightening yell and a fanfare of trumpets and bugles. Holding their fire till the armies were well within range, the Dutch 'shot simultaniously at the English with over a thousand crossbows. But these did about as much harm to them as a shower of rotten apples:' they returned fire with their deadly long-bows and drove the Dutch back in disorder. However, arrows could make no impression on Philip and his heavily-armed knights, who now arrived on the scene. The chronicler points out that Andrieu de Valines was killed by an arrow in the eye because he was not wearing a helmet. Duke Philip was there in person, his banner carried by the lord of l'Isle Adam, whose armour, and the shaft of the banner he was carrying, were soon festooned with numerous arrows that had lodged in them; and arrows dented and damaged many a cuirasse. Eventually the English were driven back onto, and then along a dyke, where the Dutchmen slaughtered them mercilessly, so that scarcely a single one escaped. ' The poor English archers leapt into the ditches and were either drowned, or else they were cut down as they tried to clamber out of them.'

Food for thought and discussion.

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Bob R.