The Exercise of Arms

13. How he shall push the Musket somewhat forward, take up the restoriginal: "fourchette"; a forked staff used to support the heavy musket during aiming. again, and hold it firmly in his hand, joined to the Musket without dragging it unless he is too weak, always keeping the muzzle high to avoid harming anyone should the Musket misfire.

14. How he shall properly remove the matchA slow-burning cord used to ignite the gunpowder. from the serpentineoriginal: "serpentin"; the S-shaped metal arm that holds the lit match and brings it down into the priming pan. with the same fingers he used to place it there, without pulling it, for fear of extinguishing it.

15. How he shall put the match back between the fingers from which he had taken it, always holding the Musket at a proper height.

16. How he shall blow away the sparks, in case any remain in the panoriginal: "bacinet"; the small metal tray that holds the priming powder., for fear that the priming powderoriginal: "puluerin"; a fine-grained gunpowder used for ignition. might explode in his face when he goes to reprime, by which he might injure himself; and he shall (to save time) hold the priming flask ready in his right hand.

17. How he shall prime from his priming flask, and not from his chargesThe pre-measured wooden or tin tubes hanging from the bandolier, containing the main powder charge for the barrel., as the awkwardness of the charges would greatly hinder him from firing quickly.

18. How he shall close the pan with his forefinger, as this illustration shows.

19. How he shall shake the loose priming powder off the top of the pan cover, so that the Musket does not discharge unexpectedly when he adjusts his match.

20. And for greater safety, he shall blow upon it again, so that because of the abundance, nothing remains on the said cover.

21. How, in order to reload, he shall turn the Musket and the rest, bringing them down with his right hand toward his left side.

22. How, having turned the Musket, he shall let it slide down along his left side, dragging the rest; and to do this properly, the right hand shall suddenly assist the left.

23. How he shall open his charge with his thumb, letting the rest drag and keeping the Musket off the ground, if he has the strength.

24. How he shall load the Musket with the charges from his bandolierA shoulder belt with suspended individual containers for gunpowder., still letting the rest drag and keeping the Musket raised from the ground, if he is not too weak.

25. How he shall draw the ramrodoriginal: "baguette"; the rod used to push powder and ball down the barrel. with his hand turned, letting the rest drag but not the Musket.

26. How, wishing to take the ramrod short, having turned it, he shall push it against his body, sliding his hand quickly toward the bottom end to be able to more securely thrust it into the Musket; and if he wishes to fire a bullet, he shall take the bullet with the hand (with which he holds the ramrod thus shortened) from his mouth, or from the place where he carries them, and shall suddenly let it slide into the Musket.

27. How he shall press the powder and bullet with the ramrod into his Musket, still letting the rest drag and not the Musket, if it is in his power.

28. How he shall withdraw the ramrod with his hand turned out of the Musket, dragging the rest, and keeping the Musket raised from the ground if he has the strength.

29. And to take the ramrod short again, he shall push it once more against his body as was said before.

30. How, having taken the ramrod by the bottom end, he shall return it diligently and with care to its place.

31. How, wishing to take the Musket back into his hand, he shall move it forward with his left hand, as this figure teaches.

32. How he shall take the Musket back in his right hand near the breechoriginal: "gros verrin"; referring to the thickest part of the barrel or the breech-screw., and shall hold it straight upward, pushing the rest (which is still dragging) as far forward as the cord will allow, to make it return more easily into the left hand.

33. How he shall skillfully, and with one hand, return the Musket to his shoulder, and how (meanwhile) he shall hold the rest.

34. How he shall hold and carry the Musket having returned it to his shoulder.