HARPE, Fr. a species of draw-bridge, which was used among the ancients, and which obtained the name of harp from its resemblance to that instrument. This bridge, which consisted of a wooden frame, and hung in a perpendicular direction against the turrets that were used in those times to carry on the siege of a place, had, like the harp, a variety of ropes attached to it, and was let down upon the wall of a town by means of pullies. The instant it fell the soldiers left the turret and rushed across the temporary platform upon the rampart.
HARQUEBUS, a kind of fire-arm, of the length of a musquet, usually cocked with a wheel. It carried a ball of about 3 ounces. Not used at present.
HARQUEBUSIER, a soldier carrying a harquebus.
HARROW, to lay waste, to ravage, or destroy.
HASTAIRES, Fr. soldiers armed with spears. See [Hastati].
HASP, a flat staple to catch the bolt of a lock.
HASTATI, from the Latin word hasta, a spear; so that they may literally be called spearmen. A body of Roman soldiers who were more advanced in age, and had acquired a greater reputation in arms than the Velites possessed, were distinguished by this appellation. They wore a complete set of armor, and always carried a buckler, made convex, measuring two feet and a half in breadth and four in length. The longest contained about four feet nine inches, or a Roman palm. The buckler was made of two boards glued together. These were covered, in the first instance, with a broad piece of linen, which was again covered over with sheep’s skin. The edges, both at top and bottom, were fenced with iron, to enable them to meet the broad sword and sabre, and to prevent them from rotting when planted on the ground. The convex part was further covered over with iron plates to resist the impression of hard blows, and to withstand the violent concussion of stones, &c.
The hastati likewise wore a sword, which they carried girted to their right thigh, and which was called the Spanish sword. This weapon was calculated both to cut and thrust, the blade being very broad, thick, and pointed. Each had moreover two pikes, a brass helmet, and half boots. One of the pikes was thick, and the other of a middling size, and they were in general either round or square. The round ones were four fingers diameter, and the square ones contained the breadth of a side. The small pikes were not unlike to the darts which the hastati, or spearmen, were still obliged to carry.
The pole or staff of these pikes, whether large or small, was nearly five cubits long. The iron which was made somewhat in the shape of a fish-hook and was fixed to the pole, contained the same length. It reached beyond the middle, and was so well nailed that nothing could loosen it without at the same time breaking the pole. This iron was one finger and a half thick, both at the bottom, and at the part where it was joined to the wood.
The hastati or spearmen wore upon their heads a red or black plume, consisting of three straight feathers, each measuring one cubit in height. These, added to their other accoutrements, made them appear uncommonly tall, and gave them a bold and formidable look. The lowest class of hastati, or spearmen, had their chests protected by a piece of brass, containing twelve fingers’ breadth every way. This plate was called a breast-plate. All that were worth 10,000 drachmæ wore a coat of mail, instead of a breast-plate.