Musketeer
Engraving by Jacob de Gheyn, 1608


Too heavy for freehand firing, matchlock muskets had to be supported on a forked gun-rest. The musketeers, who wore no armor, carried their premeasured charges suspended from a bandolier. In an attack, they were deployed to the flanks of the infantry to fire their guns. When the cavalry charged, they had to retreat behind the pikemen for protection.