Unscientific nature of feudal warfare.--Consequences of headlong charges.--Tactical arrangements.--Their primitive nature.--Non-existence of strategy.--Weakness of Infantry.--Attempts to introduce discipline.--Rise of Mercenaries.--Supreme importance of fortified places.-- Ascendency of the defensive.--The Mediæval siege.-- Improvement of the Arts of Attack and Defence of fortified places.--General character of Campaigns.--The Crusades 49-61 CHAPTER V. THE SWISS (A.D. 1315-1515). § 1. _Their Character, Arms, and Organization._ The Swiss and the Ancient Romans.--Excellence of system more important than excellence of generals.--The column of pikemen.--The halberdier.--Rapidity of the movements of the Swiss.--Defensive armour.--Character of Swiss armies 62-69 § 2. _Tactics and Strategy._ The ‘Captains’ of the Confederates.--The Echelon of three columns.--The ‘Wedge’ and the ‘Hedgehog’ formations 70-73 § 3. _Development of Swiss Military Supremacy._ Battle of Morgarten.--Battle of Laupen.--Battle of Sempach.-- Battle of Arbedo.--Moral ascendency of the Swiss.--Battle of Granson.--Battle of Morat.--Wars of the last years of the fifteenth century 73-87 § 4. _Causes of the Decline of Swiss Ascendency._ The tactics of the Swiss become stereotyped.--The Landsknechts and their rivalry with the Swiss.--The Spanish Infantry and the short sword.--Battle of Ravenna.--Fortified Positions.--Battle of Bicocca.--Increased use of Artillery.--Battle of Marignano.--Decay of discipline in the Swiss Armies and its consequences 87-95 CHAPTER VI. THE ENGLISH AND THEIR ENEMIES (A.D. 1272-1485). The Long-bow and its origin, Welsh rather than Norman.--Its rivalry with the Cross-bow.--Edward I and the Battle of Falkirk.--The bow and the pike.--Battle of Bannockburn and its lessons.--The French Knighthood and the English Archery.--Battle of Cressy.--Battle of Poictiers.--Du Guesclin and the English reverses.--Battle of Agincourt.-- The French wars, 1415-1453.--Battle of Formigny.--Wars of the Roses.--King Edward IV and his generalship.--Barnet and Tewkesbury.--Towton and Ferrybridge 96-123 CHAPTER VII. CONCLUSION. Zisca and the Hussites.--The Waggon-fortress and the tactics depending on it.--Ascendency and decline of the Hussites.-- Battle of Lipan.--The Ottomans.--Organization and equipment of the Janissaries.--The Timariot cavalry.--The other nations of Europe.--Concluding remarks 124-134 INTRODUCTION.