EXERCISE of the GREAT-GUNS.

The Guns are to be loaded with Powder and Shot, the Water-Tubs in their Places, the Matches lighted, the Crows, Handspikes, Spunge Staves, and Rope Spunges, placed in Order by the Guns, and the Men at their Quarters.

Words of Command.

  1. Take Heed.
  2. Silence.
  3. Cast off the Tackles and Breechings.
  4. Seize the Breechings.
  5. Take out the Tampion.
  6. Take off the Apron.
  7. Unstop the Touch-Hole.
  8. Handle the Priming Wire.
  9. Prick the Cartridge.
  10. Handle the Powder-horn.
  11. Prime.
  12. Bruise the Priming.
  13. Secure the Powder-horn.
  14. Take hold of the Apron.
  15. Cover the Vent.
  16. Handle your Crows and Handspikes.
  17. Point the Gun to the Object.
  18. Lay down your Crows, and Handspike.
  19. Take off the Apron.
  20. Take your Match, and blow it.
  21. Fire.
You much take care, that the Guns do not touch the Side of the Port, when you fire.
  1. Stop the Touch-hole.
  2. Handle the Spunge Staff.
  3. Spunge the Gun.
In spunging the Gun, the Spunge is to be drawn backwards and forwards two or three Times, as well as pushed home strongly, and in taking it out, turn it round two or three times in the Gun. Observe to strike your Spunge well on the Muzzle of the Gun, to cleanse it. If you make Use of a Rope Spunge, observe to shift Ends, and have your Rammer Head at Hand.
  1. Handle the Cartridge.
  2. Put it into the Gun.
You must put the Cartridge in as far as you can reach with your Arm, the lower End first, and seam of the Cartridge downwards.
  1. Wad to your Cartridge.
  2. Handle the Rammer.
  3. Ram home Wad and Cartridge.
Observe to give two or three Strokes, to ram it well home.
  1. Unstop the Touch-hole.
  2. Handle the Priming Wire.
  3. Try if the Cartridge be home.
  4. Draw the Rammer.
  5. Shot the Gun.
  6. Wad.
  7. Ram home Wad and Shot.
  8. Draw the Rammer.
  9. Stop the Touch-hole.
  10. Lay on the Apron.
  11. Run out the Gun.
If you Exercise the Lee Guns, and it blows fresh, you must keep one Tackle hooked to the Ring-bolt on the Deck, near the Comings, and the other Tackle hooked to the Ring, in the Train of the Carriage. But if you Exercise the Windward Guns, keep both Tackles hooked to the Ship's Side, and the Train of the Carriage.

When you Exercise the Lower deck Guns, have your Port Ropes or Port Tackle falls clear, to let fall your Ports in case of too much Wind, and Lanyards to make them fast.

Always, after the Exercise is over, take care to have the Decks clean swabbed, that no scattered Powder be left.

William Mountaine: The Seaman's Vade-Mecum, and Defensive War by Sea: containing the Proportions of Rigging, Masts and Yards Weight of Anchors, Sizes and Weight of Cables and Cordage, List of the Navy. The Exercise of the Small Arms, Bayonet, Granadoes and Great-Guns, Duty of Officers, &c. also Shewing how to prepare a Merchant-Ship for a close Fight. Chasing; … Defensive-Fighting; … Naval Fortification; … An Essay on Naval Book-keeping; …
W. and J. Mount & T. and T. Page, London, 1756. pp 97-100.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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