Nathan is taken to the newly-built Arsenal at Woolwich, outside of London, where England is storing up weapons in the event of a Spanish invasion. Here he is allowed to handle a gun for the first time:

    “Pistol brought his face close to Nathan’s and spoke passionately. “Anyone who has ever been an infantryman in battle will tell you that to survive, you need the best, the strongest, the most powerful weapon at your disposal – otherwise you are just meat for the crows, boy, meat for the crows. This is what Robey does not understand. He’s a great swordsman, but he’s never walked on his own two feet into the thick of battle. Robey’s a fine horseman and has looked down at the likes of me, sweating and dying at his horse’s feet, with only my pike or halberd between meself and oblivion. But he has never felt the terror of being knocked to the ground, of wondering whether you will be killed by a man or trampled to death by a horse. If he had, Robey would understand why the infantryman needs a gun – to give ourselves a chance, Nathan.”