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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: introduction of muskets into the Scottish Lowland service, which,
not being as yet combined with the bayonet, was a formidable
weapon at a distance, but gave no assurance against the enemy who
rushed on to close quarters. The pike, indeed, was not wholly
disused in the Scottish army; but it was no longer the favourite
weapon, nor was it relied upon as formerly by those in whose
hands it was placed; insomuch that Daniel Lupton, a tactician of
the day, has written a book expressly upon the superiority of the
musket. This change commenced as early as the wars of Gustavus
Adolphus, whose marches were made with such rapidity, that the
pike was very soon thrown aside in his army, and exchanged for
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