Sixteenth and Seventeenth century artillery consisted of a colorful (if not too efficient) array of cast bronze or iron cannon intended for various specialized and general duties. The most powerful of these guns were the siege pieces, the lightest of them were certain swivel guns and wall pieces. The number of different calibers was not only excessive, it was bewildering. Consider them for a few minutes (would you believe an hour?)

Name	Weight of Shot	Powder Charge
Rabinet	0.3 lb.	0.18 lb.
Serpentine	.5	.3
Falconet	1.0	.4
Falcon	2.0	1.2
Minion	5.2	3
Saker	6	4
Bastard Culverin	11	5.7
Demiculverin	9	6
Basillsk	14	9
Culverin	18	12
Pedrero (stone shot)	26	14v
Demicannon	32	18
Bastard Cannon	42	20
Cannon Serpentine	42	25
Cannon	60	27
Cannon Royal	74	30

Nobody would pretend that this list of guns was exhaustive, and it covers only the English types. Other countries had their own variant systems For example, the Spanish Falcon was a 1 or 4 pounder, their Culebrina (Culverin) was a 20 to 50 pounder and their Basilisco (Basilisk) fired a shot of 80 pounds and up! There are, however, certain similarities. Cannon were in general siege Runs and Runs of Culverin or lesser caliber were used In the field. The siege pieces fired a large shot with a fairly low velocity while a culverin threw a smaller shot hard and fast.

When I speak of "throwing the shot fast," however, I refer to its velocity not to rate of fire, which was about eight rounds an hour. The procedure for loading and firing was somewhat complicated.

When the gun arrived In battery and the gunner and his assistants took their places and the drummer beat a roll. After cleaning out the bore of his piece with a dry rammer the gunner generally made the sign of the cross and involved the aid of St. Barbara.

The gunner's assistant then poured powder into the charger or ladle and the runner inserted this into the bore as far as It will go, then turned it over to drop the charge in the chamber. Next the gunner gave the powder two or three punches with his rammer to compact it, then he deposited a second charge in the same way as the first. After having put in and compacted a wad of straw and rags, the gunner sponged out his piece. His assistant handed him a well cleaned ball which he loaded in until it touched the wad. Then, with a roll of guns, the piece was ready to fire.

The master gunner was, of course, no soldier at all, but a civilian technician. In spite of his religious gestures, popular opinion tended to link him with the devil. Despite such nefarious dealings, gunners seldom hid any trouble finding employment, whatever their nationality. The drivers were also civilians. Fusilier companies were first organized to guard gun crews from the enemy and help them from fleeing, since guns were relatively immobile.