Gunners 1661.

 

From J. Callot, Les Exercices Militaires, 1635.

(courtesy Bibliothèque nationale de France).

Another final extract from the theological tourist:

Gunners.

“There is a number of gunners in each town. They wear, in order to distinguish them from other officers, a justaucorps [a French-style overcoat] of red, blue or another colour, which they take pride in, although they are sometimes the principal merchants of the town. They enjoy, in consideration of this role, some privileges, for example not having to go on guard day or night. To make them good at shooting, the town hall presents them with a salt cellar, a silver bowl, or such like, giving it to them in full confidence. There is a cannon royal [probably a very large gun: 34 pounder or 24 pounder], and it is led through the town, where drummers and trumpeters blast out on all sides. Each gunner wears a small silver canon at his throat, attached by a silk cord, and a baton in his hand, with a floral decoration [probably finial work] at the end. They recognise the glorious Saint Andrew as their patron [so not the traditional Saint Barbara].”

M. de Saint-Martin, Relation d’un voyage fait en Flandres, Brabant, Hainaut, Artois, Cambresis, etc. En l’an 1661, Caen, 1667, pp. 468-469.