| Title | Harquebushot |
| Origtitle | Plate from John White Drawings |
| Variants | Plate 2 |
| Caption | Detail highlighting the company discharging their firearms |
| Source | 1964 John White Edition |
| Date | 1585-86 |
| Creator | John White |
| Type | Watercolor |
| Origin | Scan of 1964 UNC Edition of drawings |
| Notes | A discussion of the nature and classification of early firearms could consume far more time and space than alloted here. The English company which undertook this expedition fielded the arquebus (referred to in the text as a "harquebush") as it's primary ranged weapon. The term in the late 16th century referred to a lighter match-lock or wheel-lock fired from the shoulder. The contemporary musket was much heavier, required a forked rest to balance while firing, and was rarely used on maritime expeditions where mobility was important. |
harquebushot / harquebushot / harquebushot
Additional Notes
Harquebush / harquebushot – “Harquebush” as a variant spelling of “harquebus” occurs in the Barlowe text, as does the term “harquebushot.” A harquebus in the 16th century, according to the OED, was a generic term for personal firearms, but originally denoted a weapon so long that the muzzle needed to be placed upon a tripod for stability, and it is possible that some of the models brought by Barlowe’s men were of this type. A “harquebushot” – more accurately, “harquebus-shot” – is a measure of distance based on the range of the weapon. [The range of this weapon may be located in the Encyclopaedia Britannica or elsewhere.] - Matt