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and was used by the English infantry, especially against cavalry. 
They were required to be of good stuff, made of good material, 
and with pikes at least r2in. long, and armoured with iron to the 
middle of the staff, like the halberds, which varied in shape at the 
different reigns, and were intended for both cutting and thrusting. 
They were formally carried by Sergeants of foot, and were 
principally used for signalling orders. The cost of a bill was about 
1s. 6d., but the halberd cost 6s. 8d. The partizan was more like 
a Boar spear, having a long short broad or narrow blade, accord- 
ing to the fashion of the times, with or without wings. 
During the first half of the century the Archer was the most 
important soldier, wearing a steel sallett (coelata Cassis, because 
generally engraved or inlaid) they were distinguished by a pro- 
jection behind to protect the neck and were made with or 
without Vizors. They were afterwards termed Sculls, and many 
of them are still to be found in Churches, and are pointed out to 
visitors as part of the armour of some village hero whose monument 
they generally adorn. 
The boots formed part of the dress of the horse soldiers, they 
generally found their way to the Manor House or Hall, and are 
now generally called Oliver Cromwell’s boots. Statutes for the 
encouragement of archery were enacted by Henry VIII. and 
Philip and Mary, in which last reign all lay persons with estates 
worth £1,000 were required to furnish 30 long bows, 30 sheaves 
and arrows, and 30 steel caps. 
The Arquebus was an ancient musket with a very long barrel 
and short stock, which carried a ball weighing nearly 2 ozs. It 
was fired through a steel fork mounted on a staff about 4 feet 
long, which the soldier carried with a match in his other hand, 
and was sometimes cocked by a wheel. 
At first a match was applied to the touch-hole, but afterwards a 
trigger was introduced, a pan with a sliding cover, which was 
pushed through it, when not in use, prevented the ashes of the 
match from exploding the piece. 
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