content_output-072_5 (Q6551)

men to manipulate it. It was fired from a rest, sometimes forked (fourquine), and sharpened at its lower extremity to obtain a firm hold in the soil, and served also as a ramrod. One man (the culveriner) levelled and held the weapon during discharge, whilst his companion (the gougat) applied the priming and the match, and assisted in loading and carrying the weapon. The culverin was improved at a later date by having the bore enlarged, the stock more bent, and affixed to the barrel by entering into a recess in its breech-end, as shown in the accompanying illustration.