Matchlock Musketeer 1588-1688

The Matchlock Musketeer follows the lives of soldiers armed with this weapon from its adoption by the English in Queen Elizabeth's reign until its replacement with the flintlock at the end of the seventeenth century. The role of the matchlock musketeer changed as improved design and better tactical systems turned the musketeer in infantry formations from a support role into an infantry pikeman. Finally, with the adoption of the bayonet the role of pikeman disappeared altogether with infantry formations armed only as musketeers. The musketeer's experience in battle, skirmish, siege and camp saw both change and continuity during this period, with the common factors of firing and fighting hand to hand, the hardships of sieges, digging trenches, storming a breach, and life on campaign.