BRIEF INSTRUCTION ON THE POR-

TRAITS AND FIGURES, CONCERNING THE RIGHT MA-

nagement of the Musket, for young and inexperienced Soldiers, corresponding by num-
bers of figures on each illustration. And as there are also several portraits for Sentinels, in order to show the Soldier how he shall maintain himself with the Musket and the rest, being fully prepared, thus the precepts agree with each figure according to their number.

THE MUSKET.

1. An ornamental initial P depicts a decorative scene commonly found at the start of chapters in early modern books. Firstly, it is taught to each Musketeer how he shall properly hold the Musket and the restA "fourchette" or rest: a forked staff used to support the heavy weight of a 17th-century musket while aiming. while marching; namely, that having the rest in the right hand, at each step he shall place it on the ground, and shall have a cord attached to it to be able to drag it if necessary, making the spring or the lock of the Musket come against the shoulder, the hand near the thumb-hole, and the matchA slow-burning rope soaked in saltpeter used to ignite the gunpowder. (which must be lit at both ends) between the two little fingers of the same hand, hanging inside the stock toward the bottom, so that (at any moment) he can lengthen it and make use of one of the ends; while releasing the other, he shall also have over his equipmentoriginal: "furniment"; the bandolier or leather belt holding the pre-measured charges of powder. or charges a priming flask with the priming powder, to put the powder from there only into the pan.

2. How, wishing to prepare himself to fire, he shall hold the rest, namely joining it to the Musket in the left hand, letting the rest pass the length of the iron head above the hand, as this figure shows.

3. How, wishing to take the Musket from upon the shoulder, he shall let the rest slide a little in his left hand without the help of the right; he shall lightly take the Musket with the right hand alone at the place of the large screworiginal: "gros verin"; likely referring to the breech screw or a specific balance point on the weapon., because in this place, the Musket being in balance or counterweight, it is found to be lighter, and he shall let it lower a little toward the left hand without bending his body.

4. How he shall hold the Musket upward with the right hand alone, to receive it by joining it with the rest in the left hand, in such a way that he does not let the Musket slide from the other hand, but brings the left hand to meet it and joins the Musket between the thumb and the rest.

5. How he shall hold the Musket joined to the rest in the left hand alone at the balance point, so that it is neither too high nor too low, having the right hand free; and he shall place (for greater steadiness) the elbow against the hip, without letting go of the rest, unless he is too weak or tired.

6. How he shall take the match properly and with advantage out of the left hand with the thumb and second finger, always holding the Musket at a competent height.

7. How he shall carry the match, held with the thumb and second finger, toward the mouth, and shall blow upon it without stooping too much.

8. How he shall push the match with the thumb and second finger onto the serpentineThe S-shaped metal piece on the lock that holds the match and lowers it into the pan when the trigger is pulled., without tightening it with the screw; and to this end, he shall hold the serpentine open according to the thickness of the match.

9. How, with advantage, he shall adjust the match and govern it with the thumb and second finger, so that in an instant he can make it long, short, high, or low.

10. How he shall blow the match and cover the panoriginal: "bacinet"; the small metal tray that holds the priming powder next to the touch-hole. with the two front fingers, fearing that some spark from the match might fall into it, and how he shall conveniently open the said pan.

11. How he shall place the Musket upon the rest, holding the front high, putting the left leg forward, and shall push the rest forward to (then) take aimoriginal: "eniouers"; literally "to cheek" the weapon, meaning to bring the stock to the face to aim..

12. How he shall take aim well, and shall hold the Musket and the rest with the left hand, the right arm raised up, the body turned, the left knee bent, and the right firm—not only for the sake of decorum but also so that the Musket may be more surely held and discharged; care must also be taken that, when wishing to take aim (to do it with grace), he shall set the Musket a little roughly, not against the shoulder but against the chest, and not before the cheek is joined to the stock; if he has not first placed the Musket against the chest, there would be no grace, and much less could one shoot surely, but most often as if halted and in error.