Genealogy of the family of Forbes

XI
These were naturally more easily kept together, formed chiefly
of infantry, than of the more costly bodies of cavalry — which
could not exist without vast magazines of provisions for the
horses ; a thing impossible in the state of agriculture. Thus
the same cause which probably made infantry the strength
* of Scotland, occasioned its rise into reputation when stand-
ing armies were necessary for princes to maintain. Of the
bands which seem first to have risen into high reputation,
may be mentioned the German and Swiss mercenary black
bands, and the Spanish infantry, which bodies were decorated
with the victories of Marignan, Pavia, and St. Quentin, and kept
the palm of renown till the battle of Rocroy transferred it to
the impetuous valour of the French : thus glory passes from na-
tion to nation, and from system to system. Petrarch, during th&
reign of Edward the Third, expressed himself somewhat as fol-
lows : — " I have seen the grass growing in the streets of Paris,
which in my youth were crowded with students. The French
soldiery has been entirely overcome by the English, formerly
the lowest of all the barbarians, inferior even to the vile
Scotch. It is thus that dominion changes ; it departsf from
the unworthy, and goes over to the virtuous." About the
same period may probably be dated the formation of bodies
of light horse. At Pinkey, Sir Ralph Sadler commanded the
English light horse; at this combat, the Scotch cavalry was
mounted on small horses, and the infantry was chiefly composed
ofpikemen, clothed in sheepskins. The horsemen were called
prickers. The English cavalry and artillery seem to have de-
cided the battle with great slaughter and little opposition on the
side of the Scotch. The French had about this time even a Co-
lonel-Greneral of light horse ; so that from the use of artillery,
matchlocks and the formation of regular standing regiments, the
• We may mention, that in fdward the Fourth's time, Sir Johu
Fortescue says, " The might of the realm of England standeth upon
'"'its archers."
f It is evident that Petrarch was here swayed by the superior rank
which Sruce and £anuockburn had given to Scotchmen.
b 2