content_output-085_2 (Q6747)

"One of the greatest helps consist in the pouther and match. For a soldier must ever buy his pouther sharpe in taste, well incorporate with saltpetro, and not full of coal-dust (raw charcoal). Let him accustom to drie his powder, if he can, in the sunne, just sprinkling it over with aqua vita or strong claret wine. Let him make his tutch powder, being finely sarsed and sifted, with quick-pale, which is to be bought at the powder-maker's or apothecarie's; and let his match be boyled in ashes-lie and powder, that it may bothe burn well and carry a long coale, and that will not falle off with touch of his finger. This preparation will at first touch give fire, and procure a violent, speedy, and thundering discharge. Some use brimstone, finely powdered, in their touch powder, but that furs and stops up your breech and tutchole.