Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	blow_v	match_n	musket_n	2,630	5	15.5126	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53478	A treatise of the art of war dedicated to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty / and written by the Right Honourable Roger, Earl of Orrery.	Orrery, Roger Boyle, Earl of, 1621-1679.	1677 (1677)	Wing O499; ESTC R200	162,506	242

like to have been worsted for the Soldiers were forced to gnaw off much of the Lead others to cut their Bullets in which much time was lost the Bullets flew a less way and more uncertainly and which was worse so many pauses animated the Enemy by making him think our Courages cooled If there be two sizes of Muskets and shot on both ends of the Barrels which hold the shot should be written Lesser and Bigger that in the hurry of a Fight there might be no mistake but that Bullets be distributed according to the Bores of the Muskets I would also propound That in all Field Engagements especially in those where we intend not to cheapen an Enemy but to fall on merrily that the Musketeers would load their Muskets only with five or six Pistol Bullets which will do great Execution especially Fired near and then to fall in at Club Musket I have Experimented this and found it attended with great Success I would recommend the Fire-lock Musket above the Match-lock Musket for several Reasons some of which I shall mention First It is exceedingly more ready For with the Fire-lock you have only to Cock and you are prepared to Shoot but with your Match-lock you have several motions the least of which is as long a performing as but that one of the other and oftentimes much more hazardous besides if you Fire not the Match-lock Musket as soon as you have blown your Match which often especially in Hedge Fights and in Sieges you cannot do you must a second time blow your Match or the Ashes it gathers hinders it from Firing Secondly The Match is very dangerous either where Bandeleers are used or where Soldiers run hastily in Fight to the Budge-barrel to refill their Bandeleers I have often seen sad instances thereof Thirdly Marching in the Nights to avoid an Enemy or to surprize one or to assault a Fortress the Matches often discover you and informs the Enemy where you are whereby you suffer much and he obtains much Fourthly In wet weather the Pan of the Musket being made wide open for awhile the Rain often deads the Powder and the Match too and in windy weather blows away the Powder ere the Match can touch the Pan nay often in very high Winds I have seen the Sparks blown from the Match Fire the Musket ere the Soldier meant it and either thereby lose his Shot or wound or kill some one before him Whereas in the Fire-lock the motion is so sudden that what makes the Cock fall on the Hammer strikes the Fire and opens the Pan at once Lastly To omit many other Reasons the quantity of Match used in an Army does much add to the Baggage and being of a very dry quality naturally draws the moisture of the Air which makes it relax and consequently less fit though carried in close Wagons but if you march without Waggons the Match is the more expos'd and without being dried again in Ovens is but of half the use which otherwise it would be of And which is full as bad the Skeans you give the Corporals and the Links you give the private Soldiers of which near an Enemy or on the ordinary Guard duty they must never be unfurnished if they Lodge in Hutts or Tents or if they keep Guard in the open Field as most often it happens all the Match for instant service is too often render'd uncertain or useless nothing of all which can be said of the Flint but much of it to the contrary And then the Soldiers generally wearing their Links of Match near the bottom of the Belt on which their Bandeleers are fastened in wet weather generally spoil the Match they have and if they are to fight on a sudden and in the Rain you lose the use of your Small Shot which is sometimes of irreparable prejudice I am also on long experience an Enemy to the use of Bandeleers but a great Approver of Boxes of Cartridges for then but by biting off the bottom of the Cartridge you charge your Musket for service with one Ramming I would have these Cartridge Boxes of Tin as the Carabines use them because they are not so apt to break as the Wooden ones are and do not in wet Weather or lying in the Tents relax Besides I have often seen much prejudice in the use of Bandeleers which being worn in the Belts for them above the Soldiers Coats are often apt to take Fire especially if the Match-lock Musket be used and when they take Fire they commonly wound and often kill he that wears them and those near him For likely if one Bandeleer take Fire all the rest do in that Collar they often tangle those which use them on Service when they have Fired and are falling off by the Flanks of the Files of the Intervals to get into the Rear to Charge again To which I shall add that in secret attempts in the night their Ratling often discovers the design and enables the Enemy to prevent it And in the day time on service especially if the Weather be windy their Ratling also too frequently hinders the Soldiers from hearing and consequently obeying the Officers word of Command which must be fatal when it happens whereas the Cartridge Boxes exempt those who use them from all these dangers and prejudices they enable the Soldiers on Service to Fire more expeditiously they are also usually worn about the Waste of the Soldier the Skirts of whose Doublet and his Coat doubly defend them from all Rain that does not pierce both and being worn close to his body the heat thereof keeps the Powder dryer and therefore more fit to be fired on service Besides all this whoever loads his Musket with Cartridges is sure the Bullet will not drop out though he takes his aim under breast high for the paper of the Cartridge keeps it in whereas those Soldiers which on service take their Bullets out of their Mouths which is the nimblest way or out of their Pouches which is slow seldom put any Paper Tow or Grass to ram the Bullet in whereby if they fire above breast high the Bullet passes over the head of the Enemy and if they aim low the Bullet drops out ere the Musket is fired and 't is to this that I attribute the little Execution I have seen Musketeers do in time of Fight though they fired at great Battalions and those also reasonable near It might also do well if the Soldiers tyed their Links of Match about their middle and under their Coats and Doublets instead of tying them to their Bandeleer Belt or Collar for by that means the Match would be kept dryer and fitter for service in time of Action As to the Arming of the Cavalry both for Offence and Defence I am of opinion the Arms we use are as good as any viz. the Swords Pistols and Carabines And if in the Front of our Squadrons we had some Blunderbushes they might be of good use in Fight I